Archive for the ‘business’ Category

Total: 500,000 tonnes of oil trapped in Dunkirk

March 6, 2010 - 5:31 pm Comments Off

Employees of the Total refinery at Dunkirk, under threat of closure, blocked Friday tanks containing 500,000 tons of crude oil, by removing the pumping mechanisms, three days of a meeting to decide their future.

"We want to refine. We do not want this (oil) crude go away from here, "said Philippe Wullens, Steward South (majority site), evoking a" war chest ". He said Total has made a profit of 200 million euros from the time of purchase of this oil in the fall and today, due to the increase in prices. The employees also say they have learned that the management of Total planned to ensure that oil can be loaded on ships to other refineries."This oil should not leave the tank so that things do not stop," he said, estimating that 400 million euros worth of stock.

Several dozen employees from the site of Flanders, in the case since September, traveled Friday to dawn on the storage area of crude oil located at Gravelines, and disassembled electronic components essential to the operation of pumps used to extract the contents of the tanks. Some components will be given to state services, another in the region and a third in the urban community of Dunkirk, knowing that all equipment is necessary to restart the pumps, said Marcel Croquefer, secretary of the cluster Chemistry CGT Dunkirk cheap payday advance .

A radicalization of the movement evoked

Employees are then symbolically held a lock port of Dunkirk.They wanted to question management port, 18% of turnover depends on the refinery. "This refinery can and must restart now", even if a mutation of the site must be decided for the future, said Croquefer, suggesting a possible "radicalization" of the movement.

If farmers spread manure or milk to express their discontent, "in the refinery there are petroleum products," he warned.

Proposals for the future of the Flanders refinery, which employs 380 employees and 400 people from sub-contractors, should be announced Monday at a central works council (CEC). Employees are expected to travel to many in La Défense on Monday to be heard.

The threat of closure had resulted in late February several days of strikes in all French refineries group.Unions had set an end after the guarantees provided by Total on the future of refining activity in France. Since then, employees of Dunkirk only continue their strike began January 12.

The G7 will maintain recovery plans

February 8, 2010 - 11:36 pm Comments Off

Meeting Friday and Saturday in the Canadian North, while financial markets were concerned, particularly in Europe, the drift of their deficits, major fundraisers of the G7 (U.S., Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Italy and United Kingdom) maintain the cap. They pledge to continue their respective recovery plans. For its part, Europe will address itself the Greek case without recourse to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Furthermore, a tentative agreement in sight to introduce taxation of international banks.

These are the three conclusions of the meeting of the G7 major fundraisers – Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors – Iqaluit. A place almost inaccessible, forcing many ministers to use private jets.The Government of Canada wanted to reaffirm its sovereignty over the Arctic region.

An international taxation

As the host, Jim Flaherty, Canadian Finance Minister, was particularly prescriptive. The problem of Greece should be "managed by the European Union, not by the G7," he insisted to reporters while their European colleagues were reluctant to speak. As chairman of the Eurogroup Jean-Claude Juncker has formally denied the idea that Greece might need money from the International Monetary Fund. As for Jean-Claude Trichet, ECB president, he again expressed his confidence in Greece "to take all actions necessary" in order to reduce its deficit to 3% in 2012 payday loan .The Commission "calls on Greece to explain the tax measures announced and the timetable for their implementation in the coming weeks" and ", more detailed measures to be implemented in 2011 and 2012.

Athens will be placed under surveillance and will be an infringement procedure for lack of reliability of its statistics.

After the announcement of the Commission, the Greek bond yields back down to 6.516% against 6.742% on Wednesday morning around 8:30.

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The CAC 40 limit its losses

February 2, 2010 - 2:04 pm Comments Off

The Paris Bourse opened the week and the month of February, down from 0.48% to 3721.66 points in the wake of the decline on Wall Street Friday. The same applies to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange decline of 0.38% at 5587.5 points, and that of London which yields 0.38% to 5168.64 points. After a week punctuated by a sharp increase from 1.37% to 3.739.46 points, investors should be preparing to take their profits.

Markets were awaiting major publications in the United States. Around 12 o'clock, the President of the United States, Barack Obama has proposed a 2011 budget of 3.834 billion dollars. The White House said Monday that the draft budget for next fiscal year (October 2010-September 2011) showed a deficit of 1.267 billion dollars, down 19% due to higher expected revenue.In the afternoon, indicators follow overseas spending and household income for the month of January (1430), construction costs for the month of December (16 hours), the ISM index of manufacturing activity January (16 hours) payday loan . On Friday, the U.S. GDP figures for the fourth quarter, came out up 5.7%.

The results season of American companies continues its course on Monday with those of Exxon Mobil, the world's oil.

In France, prices for production in French industry decreased by 2.9% in 2009, a decline limited to 1.3% for foreign markets, according to figures released Monday by the INSEE. In all markets (French and exports), the producer prices are down 2.4% a year, says the National Institute of Statistics.In December 2008, prices remained stable (0%) in the industry for the French market.

Sales of new vehicles surged 14% in January by the Committee of French manufacturers (CCFA).

Side currencies and commodities, oil off again on the rise (+0.22% to 73.21 dollars), while the euro strengthens against the dollar (+0.25% to 1.3899 dollars).

The detailed values to follow

Bussereau ensure the maintenance of TGV lines

January 19, 2010 - 3:01 pm Comments Off

Following an article in financial daily Les Echos, published on Monday, announcing the forthcoming elimination of certain routes deficit (axes Paris-Arras, Lille, Strasbourg, Nantes and Strasbourg), the Secretary of State for Transport, Dominique Bussereau said on RTL on Tuesday, ensuring that no TGV line would be removed. "The SNCF is a public company, it belongs to all French", said Dominique Bussereau. The state is 100% majority, and naturally she has goals of profitability, competition. Still it has a public service missions, missions planning.

A spokesman for the SNCF had indicated on Monday: "There is no specific plan for the removal of sailings," but a "matching supply with demand." A communication that does not convince Dominique Bussereau."I found the denial of the station a little soft, so I say things clearly," said Secretary of State.

No conflict with William Pépy

Dominique Bussereau has refuted the idea that the future increase in tolls, to finance the renovation of the rail network and that the SNCF, could jeopardize the TGV model. "I said that if the state increases in tolls is that the first line paid by taxpayers are also used by foreign trains," he said. "It is that everyone pays, and that the French taxpayer does not subsidize one day railways German or Italian.

Secretary of State for Transport has also denied being in conflict with the president of SNCF Guillaume Pepy, hostile to the higher tolls. "Guillaume Pepy is an excellent president of SNCF, he said.Just when we increase the tolls, two-thirds to leave the station since RFF (Reseau Ferre de France) gives money to the station for which manages and maintains the infrastructure. It's give and take. "

Wall Street opens at equilibrium

December 31, 2009 - 7:23 pm Comments Off

For the last meeting of the year, the U.S. markets move down slightly: the Dow Jones lost 0.07% at the opening, and the Nasdaq Composite yield 0.08%. The volume should be particularly weak in a few hours and Eve in the absence of significant news on the business side. Entries weekly unemployment have been lower than expected, which could support the trend.

The rise of the euro is lower because of "good" figures of unemployment in the United States. The euro bought 1.4372 dollars against 1.4386 dollars in early morning.

Good indicators Americans support the dollar because they "reinforce expectations of an early withdrawal of measures to support the economy in place by the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed)," explained brokers ETX Capital.

On the currency front, the dollar is declining due to adjustment of positions at year end.Futures on the Nasdaq 100 and S & P 500 are respectively increased by 0.09% to 1878.50 points from 0.14% to 1123.70 points.

As for values to follow, we will keep an eye on Ford. Geely has announced that it was supported by the Chinese government to acquire Volvo, the Swedish subsidiary of Ford Motor. "Without government support, the transaction could not be done," said Gui Chengyu, CEO of Geely Auto, quoted by Reuters. "The ultimate goal is to list Volvo Award," added the officer.The first private Chinese automaker also said it expected robust growth of automobile sector in China next year, with support from Beijing.

AIG has announced the departure of its Legal Director Anastasia Kelly, who was to receive millions of dollars in compensation to départ.Le U.S. government imposed in October cuts in executive pay of the seven companies have been bailed out by the more 'State, including AIG.

The Paris Bourse sets a new annual record

December 28, 2009 - 10:07 pm Comments Off

The CAC 40 continues its progress towards the 4000 points. The latter closed up 0.88% to 3947 points in a market where trading volume remained low (1.170 million). Optimism is the same in most international markets. The Frankfurt Stock Exchange broke the 6,000 points for the first time since September 2008. In Asia, the indices were equally oriented, taking advantage of such remarks by the Chinese premier, who has called for further fiscal stimulus in his country.

The British markets will be closed at the Boxing Day. No indicator is expected today, neither Europe nor the United States.

As for the oil markets, a barrel of light sweet crude trading at $ 78.75 (+2.09%).The euro rose to 1.4395 dollars (0.14%).

Mixed reaction to the disappointment of the consortium

The CAC 40 is pulled by the title GDF Suez (1.85%). For its part, EDF is 1.23% to 41 euros. According to the Sunday Telegraph, the sovereign fund Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is considering joining the Canadian Pension Plan for an offering of eight billion dollars over the distribution of electricity to EDF in the UK. Total wins 0.82% to 45.37 euros. The three titles are rising stock market while they were part of the consortium, unsuccessful competitor for the contract of 40 billion dollars in the United Arab Emirates to build and operate four nuclear reactors. Only Areva, which was also part of this consortium, fell by 1.81% to 344.40 euros.

From their side, banking stocks such as Credit Agricole (+1.23%) and BNP Paribas (1.19%) are directed upward.Societe Generale is also shaped by mid-session (1.20%). The group could have a new shareholder in the person of the Russian businessman Vladimir Potanin. The shareholder of Norilsk Nickel said Friday it was considering the possibility of taking a minority stake after 2010. Out CAC 40, Natixis lost 0.67% to 3.41 euros.

Cyclicals well oriented

The good figures on car sales in December also bring mixed reactions on the stock exchange. Peugeot is an increasing trend (1.51%) but not the Renault brand (-0.03%). As for suppliers, Michelin signed the largest decline of ACC (-0.61%) and Faurecia loses 1.07% to 15.25 euros. Valeo gained 0.25% to 24.5 M €.

The cyclicals are well oriented. Saint-Gobain is 2.40% to 38.48 euros, and sign the second best performance of the CAC 40, while Schneider Electric gained 1.41% to 80.03 euros.In contrast, defensive stocks are declining in the image of Lafarge, which lost 0.31% to 57 euros.

Sperian gaining 3.15% to 50.90 euros. The group announced Monday the signing of five banks with an agreement to refinance its debt coming due in June 30, 2010.