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SNCF never ceases to celebrate 30 years of its TGV. After the launch last May of a train specially decorated, a new celebration takes place Saturday night in the Gare de Lyon in Paris. The President of the SNCF Guillaume Pepy, and Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, Minister of Ecology and Sustainable Development, will attend a particular video show projected on the facade of the Gare de Lyon which left the first TGV, the September 22, 1981.

A few figures summarize the tremendous success of the first high-speed train developed by Alstom to accommodate all age groups, mobile executives, young, old … In all, nearly two billion passengers have taken in 30 years. 83% of French people have traveled at least once on board the TGV, which now serves 230 stations.

But the station pulled the alarm a few years ago commercial success, the TGV is not an economic powerhouse.The accounts of the industry are deteriorating, the fault, including the tolls the operator must pay to Réseau Ferré de France, the operator of the system for the use of high-speed lines. Today, nearly 30% of high-speed lines in circulation are not profitable. Guillaume Pepy regularly reminded that the company can no longer afford to invest in next-generation trains business cards.

The future railway landscape

Several projects of new lines are under way: the Rhine-Rhone, just opened, the Tours-Bordeaux, Brittany or the Loire region, not to mention the circumvention of Nimes and Montpellier. But others are virtual as the Paris-Caen. The success of the TGV has indeed given to the regions want to have "their" TGV.But the question of funding problem and use increasingly common in public-private partnership, a financing involving the state and communities in building a private group, is not a panacea.

After the festivities, Focus on the rail, a kind of rail Grenelle oragnisé by the Department, will again bring together industry players at round tables austere. Objective: To shape the future landscape railway … and give the French the prospect of other celebrations in the coming decades.

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The people of the East Coast of the United States are preparing for a weekend out of the ordinary. In anticipation of Hurricane Irene, the authorities announced palsy or slowing of most means of transport that normally innervate New York Area. Once is not custom, the inhabitants of the Big Apple, including 250,000 living near the coast are being evacuated, will have to live in slow motion.

For security, the three New York airports – JFK, La Guardia and Newark – will be closed Saturday for aircraft arriving at noon (18 hours Paris time). The flights from these airports, however, may take off until further notice. This is an extraordinary disruption to an area that typically concentrates the air flow one of the densest in the world: each year, as many as 100 million passengers pass through this metropolis.This weekend, more than 8,000 flights should be canceled, according to the site FlightAware.com.

Like most of his counterparts, Air France announced Friday the cancellation of all flights to New York JFK on Saturday and Sunday, while disturbances are waiting on those provided to and from other cities the coast, like Washington, Philadelphia or Boston. The resumption of service, from Monday, could also be laborious and cause further disruption, have also warned the airlines.

Transport suspended

Measure more tangible for the people, public transport will be suspended in the Big Apple this Saturday from noon until probably Monday rush hour flexcheck cash advance. The subway, buses and railways do not circulate.Motorists have also been asked to leave their cars at home until the alert is lifted. If winds exceed this weekend 96 km / hour, the authorities of the State of New York have also warned they would close the main roads towards the city, and some bridges.

Given the restriction of transportation and possible damage caused by the passing of Irene, the inhabitants were ordered to stockpile water and food in preparation for the weekend. "Water is our product that sells best," noted the retailer Wal-Mart on Friday. Many are those who are armed with power generators in case of power failure.

To address these potential damages, the cost could rise to nearly $ 12 billion according to consulting firm Kinetic Analysis, U.S. authorities are preparing to deploy in new ways. 900 National Guardsmen and 2,500 workers in the electricity sector include ready to intervene in case of power failure. All these measures aim to avoid at all costs repeating a scenario to Katrina, the hurricane that was painfully struck New Orleans in 2005.

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At the opening of Wall Street, U.S. indices posted immediately red (around 3%). And losses have widened throughout the session. Accentuating even further their descent, the indices have hurt Barack Obama's speech, who spoke to 20 hours Paris time, the Nasdaq has lost more than 6.5% shortly after the speech. And bad mood has not dimmed until the closing bell on the contrary, the end of the session was sprotive. Finally, the Dow Jones appears falling from 5.55% to 10,809.85 points. This is the first time since October that the index feature finishes below 11,000 points, its worst day in percentage terms since December 2008, a dark period for the financial sector.

The Nasdaq, even punished, won 6.90% to 2357.69 points, while the S & P tumbles 6.66% to 1119.46 points.On Monday, European markets have dropped out late in the session, while the Asian markets, have also, finished the day on heavy folds.

When Barack Obama spoke in an attempt to reassure the markets, investors do not stop selling. Worse, they pressed the pedal and drop is even more markets. "The United States still deserve note 'AAA'," said Monday night during a speech Barack Obama, on the downgrade of U.S. debt Friday by the rating agency Standard and Poor's. The U.S. president also defended the credit of the United States but acknowledged a deficit problem. Barack Obama, however, that the economic challenge was surmountable but require political will.

Nothing to do."The deterioration in the rating of the United States is clearly the catalyst for the drop in markets today, but is not the reason, according to Michael Sheldon, chief strategy officer at RDM Financial. Degradation is simply evidence that the U.S. has problems. "

Note that in Latin America, falls are breathtaking. Financial center of Sao Paulo (-8%) and Buenos Aires (-10.73%) plunged. In Chile, the Santiago Stock Exchange (-6.96%) did not record such a decline for 13 years. In Lima, a decline of 7.03% has even led to a suspension of trading an hour before closing.

Gold still a step higher, oil falls below $ 82

Witness the panic in the markets, gold has posted yet another record high and rose 4.25% to 1722 dollars an ounce at 20:30, before returning to 1717 dollars to 22 hours.Oil, however, has dropped by more than 6% Monday in New York, their lowest levels since November. On the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), a barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery finished the session at 81.31 dollars, down 5.57 dollars or 6.4% on Friday.

Paradoxically, U.S. bond rates continue to decline, those same 10 years falling by 8.5% melting at 2.339% against 2.558% Friday. Good to 30 years returned to 3.663% against 3.823%. However, after degradation much faster than expected by Standard & Poor's sovereign rating of the United States, which had never been subjected to such a penalty could have been expected to climb no faxing payday loans.Sign that investors still believe that the U.S. still refer to the bond market.

Moody's said Monday it could, too, by 2013 reduce the debt rating of the United States if the fiscal and economic outlook deteriorated sharply. But she considers it possible in the meantime a new agreement in Washington to reduce the deficit.

Menu macro loaded, with the FOMC in dish

This week, the lower macroeconomic indicator to take the pulse of a threatened U.S. growth will be expected to turn to investors.

From Tuesday, the productivity of U.S. companies in the second quarter and will be scrutinized closely. The risk is to see it getting more than expected, resulting in a logical breakdown of the job. Consumer confidence is also on the menu.But the final communique of the Monetary Policy Committee of the U.S. Federal Reserve (FOMC), from that Tuesday night will go to the most crucial.

Analysts and investors are wondering already if further monetary easing, (3 or quantitative easing "EQ3") can get out. Unless it is an aid to banks, which could begin to experience problems of interbank liquidity, which is preferred. "In all cases, the reaction of short-term market is very uncertain …" says it does at Aurel BGC.

Friday, retail sales will be the second major economic meeting a week at high risk on financial markets worldwide. "The sales figures published by the values ​​of the S & P 500 were clearly disappointing July, underline in this respect analysts Aurel BGC.But the report shows significant employment job creation in the distribution. A figure that looks very uncertain. " The trade balance in June should also be well attended.

Bank of America falls 20%

Meanwhile, the business side, the publications of interim results are less numerous and can only remember very little attention to markets, obsessed by the European and U.S. sovereign debt. Walt Disney reveals in particular accounts on Tuesday, ahead of Cisco in the matter and News Corp (Wednesday) and Nordstrom, Sara Lee, and Kohls (Thursday), and finally JC Penney (Friday).

American International Group (AIG: -9.92% to 22.61 dollars) continues Bank of America (-20.07% to 6.53 dollars), calling him more than $ 10 billion (7 billion euros) losses related to mortgages, it said in the text of the complaint.According to this document, which Reuters obtained a copy, AIG believes it was misled by the bank about securities backed by mortgages, which caused losses. The insurer wants to sue Bank of America to the Supreme Court of the State of New York in Manhattan.

Twenty products absent from the shelves of the pharmacy on the first day of the week. This is the situation that a small pharmacy owner in the fifteenth arrondissement of Paris, a few days of the summer closure of his pharmacy. An almost normal, and shared by many of his colleagues. These problems of supply disruptions, the pharmaceutical companies (LEEM) have also identified a few months. Front-line antiretroviral drugs (treatments against AIDS), insulin, or steroids. In some small pharmacies, such as supply disruptions related antidepressants and vaccines.

"The mountain of pharmacies in these areas have alerted us, says we in the trade association of the drug industry, because in general, breaks off and still found the result of bad weather, or social movements. " This was not necessarily the case in recent months."For some specific drugs, including antiretrovirals, there is a significant difference between the amounts made available to the distribution channel for businesses, and far below the number of units dispensed by pharmacies in town," confirms the organization.

In this case, then those products which go missing? According to Leem, some drugs would be captured by "short liners," the new intermediate appeared recently (4-5 years), whose intervention "aims to capture the margins, and do not have to Unlike the traditional players, a culture of health professionals ", warns Leem.And the controversy grew about the possible disruptive effect that these new players would result in the drug market.

Introduction of quotas

These new entrants are currently only 2.5% of the market for thirty entities in competition with wholesale distributors, who are the traditional intermediaries between laboratories and the approximately 23,000 French owners of pharmacies. "This is especially true for drugs produced and distributed in small quantities, such as antiretroviral (ARV) where their intervention significantly affects the fluidity of the market, says Emmanuel Déchin, general secretary of the Chambre Syndicale in the pharmaceutical distribution (CSRP) , which comprises seven members, representing 97% of the French market."We know that none of these ARV box which is sold is intended for the French market.".

In addition, since the early 2000s in France, every distribution is given by pharmaceutical companies, quotas based on national market share. "We understand the concern of an economic actor such as a laboratory to better control the flow of production, Emmanuel Déchin tempers. But it also induces more rigid and can penalize us and expose us to break. " Today, about 600 drugs on the 5300 allowed the French market are subject to these quotas. And strong demand in France for some products, lead to regular stock-outs on nearly 270 specialties, according to the Union of pharmacists (USPO).

Also, some advance to explain that the pharmaceutical giants, or even distributors, do not hesitate to reserve a portion of their stocks of the more "lucrative". Indeed, patented products still sell for an average of three to five times more expensive in the U.S. than in France. And even within the European Union, large disparities persist. On average, the products can be sold 20% more expensive in Germany than in France, while in Spain, prices are generally lower than 10%. "I do not honestly believe that a laboratory, despite its economic imperatives, can do this type of arbitrage to the detriment of the health of patients' tempers Déchin Emmanuel.

The health minister is prepared to legislate

For his part, and face these charges, the Health Minister Xavier Bertrand was firm: "These systems are known to parallel importation, but I do not want that.What is planned for France should be consumed in France, "he said on Europe 1 radio on Tuesday. He was prepared to legislate if laboratories and wholesalers did not meet their obligations, "or you meet your quota, or I will oblige with a new text, he said. It's a shame to come here but I will not hesitate one second to do so. "

Therefore, to overcome these difficulties, some small pharmacists have no choice but to defeat the usual, explains that another pharmacist in a small pharmacy (800,000 euros of annual turnover): "either we manage with co-major pharmacies that are generally better off than us, or we go directly to the laboratory control. But this can only be temporary, because of course we pay more than the wholesaler! ".For two or three years, the pharmacist admitted being increasingly confronted with such situations, including antiretrovirals and cancer. Clearly, treatments that can not wait. Troubleshooting

Faced with this shortage, Leem and the French Agency for Safety of Health Products (AFSSAPS) have set up emergency solutions (stocks troubleshooting, short circuit …) and special issues to avoid the maximum out-of treatment for patients. A temporary workaround, which can not do without an in-depth study of the new challenges of the French system of drug distribution. What the Department of Competition and Fraud (DGCCRF) seems to be addressing.

In turn, dispatchers did not call for the abolition of quotas, nor to that of intra-EU trade, but felt that the resolution of this issue "very complex" pass through "pragmatism and a sense of responsibility on the part of all actors in the chain, given the economic pressure to which they are subjected. "

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Relief. Is the word that should prevail today on all global exchanges, after U.S. lawmakers passed this night finally put to agree on raising the debt ceiling. At 8:15, future contracts on the CAC 40 advanced sharply from 1.39% to 3724.50 points.

Last week, the inability of the United States to solve the problem of public finances had weighed on investor sentiment. In Paris the CAC 40 was indeed touched its lowest level in session year (3,630.75 points), while Wall Street finished its worst week in a year, despite the intervention of Obama Friday in an attempt to reassure debt.

After the relief 10 days ago on Greek sovereign debt, the calm would return to the Paris financial center.After weeks of negotiations, elected Democrats and Republicans have indeed finally found common ground on the amount of new ceiling, avoiding the world's largest economy is in default of payment in the coming days. According to preliminary information provided by the White House, the debt ceiling would be raised to 2.1 trillion dollars, which breathe new life in the United States on the forehead of the debt until 2013, after the presidential elections. This agreement in principle will also enable the countries to continue to borrow on the markets beyond the August 2 deadline set by the Treasury.

The reaction of rating agencies expected

On the other hand, no excessive optimism are to be expected in the financial markets today, at least until the U.S. Congress has not ratified the agreement. The first submission is expected to vote that day.Furthermore, few details have yet filtered on measures taken to reduce the deficit in the U.S., which does not exclude the possibility of deterioration in the rating of the sovereign debt of the United States.

For now, the first tranche of spending cuts of $ 1 trillion is expected. Then a bipartisan special committee of Congress will then be responsible for finding the end of November additional expenditure cuts amounting to 1.5 trillion dollars. A total of 2.5 trillion dollars in budget cuts, all over 10 years. From this point of view, the reaction of rating agencies in this agreement called the "medium term" should be widely followed by the markets.

On the currency front, the dollar has benefited only modestly from the announcement of the night, illustrating the temporary nature of such an agreement.At 8 am, the euro fell slightly (-0.13%) against the greenback at 1.4385 dollar, while it bounces against the yen. Around 6:00, the dollar stood at 76.73 yen 77.58 yen against Friday night cash advance in one hour.

In terms of oil prices were up Monday morning in electronic trading in Asia, where the market relieved by this agreement in extremis. In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery gained 1.53 dollars to 97.23 dollars. That of Brent North Sea crude for September delivery was appreciating $ 1.25 dollar to 117.99.

Macroeconomic side, investors should look carefully at the unemployment figures for the month of June Overseas are also expected to 4:00 p.m. construction spending for the month of June, the ISM manufacturing index for July.

As for values ​​to follow

Last week, the many semi-annual publications were rather disappointing, adding to the nervousness of investors. The pace slows publications this week, though are expected in the next three days the details of the interim bank values ​​(Tuesday BNP Paribas, Societe Generale on Wednesday and Thursday Axa and Natixis).

Eiffage reported a slight slowdown in growth in the second quarter despite a sharp rebound from its construction activities, the division of public works who registered a decrease over the period.

Outremer Telecom. A draft tender offer simplified to the telecom operator was introduced by OMT Invest, a structure controlled by Axa Private Equity, according to a notice to the Financial Markets Authority (AMF) and released Friday.

EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF ENR) has entered into exclusive negotiations with Capital Perceva to cede control of Supra, the fund feeds the project to file a simplified takeover bid at the end of the process.

General Health issued a sharp drop in operating profit in the first half due to exceptional items, but its revenue rose due to higher acute care stays.

Recylex published Friday sales for the second quarter increased significantly, from 32% to 125.34 million euros, supported by an increase of 48% of its business in recycling lead thanks to rising 16 % of lead prices and increased sales volumes.

Air Liquide. The gas giant reported Monday a 11% increase in net profit in the first half, to 750 million euros.It maintained its forecast a "steady increase" in net profit for the year.

Note that Gameloft will publish its interim results after market close, while Le Noble Age unveil at the same time state sales for the same period. The British bank HSBC, which is listed in Paris, finally published its results for the first six months of the year.

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Despite strong criticism from politicians, the public and shareholders, the board of directors of the British group BSkyB has renewed their confidence in James Murdoch, who remains in control of the company. "As you might expect, there was a long discussion on the board (Thursday), concerning in particular the role of the president and the board unanimously reaffirmed its support for James," said Jeremy Darroch, the chief BSkyB, the BBC.

In the spotlight since the outcry over the wiretapping scandal in the UK and the abandonment of the News Corp. offer. the entire bouquet of satellite channels paid, son of Rupert Murdoch resisted so pretty well. It must be said that under his leadership, BSkyB can not stop producing exceptional results.During the fiscal year ended June, BSkyB managed to attract 426,000 new customers to over 10 million users. What increase its annual turnover by 16%, to 6.6 billion pounds, or 7 and a half billion euros. Operating profit, up 23%, even more than the symbolic billion pounds (1.14 billion euros). In short, BSkyB is a real cash cow for its parent News Corp., Which holds 39.1% stake. And that is why Rupert Murdoch would put both hands on the entire group. An ambition he had to drop against the scandal caused by tapping the News of the World. The penalty was immediate the London Stock Exchange: title BSkyB plunged nearly 15% in July.

Very angry shareholders

Faced with obviously very angry shareholders, BSkyB multiplies the gifts.The group will hand out a total of one billion pounds through a share buyback program of 750 million pounds and a dividend increase of 20% to 23.28 pence per share. James Murdoch, who is also chairman of News International and Executive Vice President of News Corp., Has certainly won a race, but it is nevertheless not completely out of the woods. The natural heir of the empire, Murdoch could be again required to explain himself to MPs in the summer. British MPs seek, in fact, to understand why James Murdoch supported them, during his hearing, there are about ten days, he was not aware of the extent of fraudulent tapping, as of News International's former colleagues say otherwise.

Besides, sources from the board of BSkyB, quoted by the BBC, the support of the Board of satellite package does not go on forever, if new evidence calling into question the credibility of James Murdoch, chairman of the British broadcasting company since 2007, its role could be reviewed.

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The lull will not last long. A week just after the EU summit that was to stop the crisis by helping Greece, markets fall back into distrust. The plan of 109 billion euros, which would act as a sedative, is no longer effective. "While Greece is doing a little better than before the summit. But Wednesday the gap between interest rates Greek and German, the reference, has widened. Another day or two like this and the country will end up worse off than before, "notes Paul Donovan, economist at UBS.

Feared the contagion to other fragile states (Spain, Italy) was not stopped. Their rates have continued to climb and investors are questioning the limits of the plan presented last Thursday.

Inaccuracies

For the first time, investors will be strongly encouraged to participate in the rescue effort in Greece.Problem: lack of market information needed to assess how the financial industry will lose this game. "Financial institutions are supposed to have the three options, but these are not detailed in the European statement last Thursday", wonders Justin Knight, in charge rates for the euro area at UBS. The banking lobby, the Institute of International Finance, which participated in the negotiations, estimated probable losses for the sector to about 20% of total investments in the Greek debt.

Slow and laborious operation

EU leaders decided to put more tools available to the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), the mechanism to assist states in need. The latter, which could only provide the states, will now buy the debt of these countries if attacked by the markets.Such action requires great responsiveness. However, the EFSF will have to wait to obtain the unanimous agreement of Member States before acting. "It is as if a city council should meet every time before sending firefighters extinguish a fire," concerned the analysis of ING, who would have liked a more flexible operation.

Not enough resources

The EFSF could also not have the means to exercise its new powers. Laurence Boone, euro zone economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said it would take 290 billion euros to defend Italy and Spain if they were attacked by the markets Payday Loan for Bad Credit. However, it has only 220 billion euros available. "The lack of risk to amputate the Fund's effectiveness," the economist concluded. A member of the European Central Bank (ECB) said it would increase the envelope of EFSF to 1000 billion euros.Economists European Centre for the Study of CEPS for their part feel the need to 4000 billion euros.

Not generous enough for Greece

European leaders have relaxed the conditions under which they provide loans to Greece, Portugal and Ireland. The repayment period was extended and the interest rate was lowered to 3.5%. Insufficient, according to analysts at Nomura: "The average interest rate on the Greek debt should be below 3% to enable it to achieve its goals of reducing its debt to 2031, ie to fall below 90% of gross domestic product (GDP). "The rating agency Standard & Poor's therefore believes that a new Greek debt restructuring will be needed in two years.

Not enough integration

The German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, has himself acknowledged Wednesday: the summit does not mark the end of the European crisis of debt. "A deeper economic union, including debt issues debt securities in Europe, is needed before we can declare overcome the crisis of debt in the euro area," said Michala Marcussen, chief economist at Societe Generale CIB.

In the end, "a supranational institution with real power to limit public deficits is essential," ING slice. It is the dream of Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank on the move: a European finance minister who would enforce fiscal discipline, over the states.Until such a reform, economists predict further mounted fever, until the appropriate remedy is provided.

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"All global markets are wondering whether U.S. policy makers are able to compromise and reach agreement on the debt." Here is essentially what Sunday said the secretary general of the White House, Bill Daley. Adding that financial markets are prepared to live very stressful day, Bill Daley has brought into the hands of President Obama and Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner. Both said last night their will to reach agreement by Sunday night (Paris time), a few hours before the opening of Asian markets.

Just relieved on the question of the end of the Greek fire, after the adoption of a new plan Thursday to help Greece, all the concerns of operators should indeed focus on the United States, where elected Democrats and Republicans are still debating on what to do to reduce the U.S. debt. After another weekend of heated discussions, the status quo is always appreciated. Nine days is the time left now to senior U.S. policy makers to tune their violins. If no agreement is reached by Aug. 2 on raising the debt ceiling (about 14,300 billion) as well as budget cuts and additional taxes, the world's largest economy could be in default payment at the beginning of next month. Which would surely induce panic in the stock market.

Fear of a deterioration in the rating of sovereign debt

Even without going to default, the risk of a stock drop on the American question remains possible payday advance lenders. According to the White House, a simple short-term renewal of the debt (to which scenario we are heading according to Republican Senator Tom Coburn) could lead to a deterioration in the sovereign debt rating by U.S. rating agencies. These sanctions are rarely applauded the stock market, especially when they concern the world's largest economy. Waiting to see the Asian markets the first consequences of the new fruitless discussions of the weekend, analysts stress the importance of the issue to investors.

"The markets have liquidated" Friday, they had learned during the day the failure of negotiations between the White House and Republican opponents of a plan to reduce long-term deficits, said David Kotok, chairman of Cumberland Advisors. But now "the markets have had time to digest" and determination displayed by both others to avoid default is reassuring. Still, that nervousness should remain in force next week on the large world. After removal of the threat of the eurozone, the political debates around the indebtedness of Western countries have not yet finished obscure markets.

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In the first six months of the year, the European Central Bank, through the 17 national central banks in the euro area, has withdrawn from circulation approximately 296,000 counterfeit euro banknotes. A figure down 18.8%. As usual, these are the breaks of 20 and 50 euros that have been copied the most, with respectively 43 and 36% of counterfeit notes detected. Thus, the probability of having one day turn a fake is minimal, since currently, 15 billion euro banknotes circulating in the world with 13 billion in the hands of 330 million Europeans.

How to recognize a counterfeit bill? "First is the button: the ticket must be firm and crack when it is bent, and some inscriptions in relief is palpable. Then you look at it: we mark the traditional watermark, the black security, we detect signs of security by transparency, etc..And then tilts: the band or disc holographic silver toggles the face value and the € symbol, "said Francis Coustin, communications director of the Bank of France, stating that there are eight recognizable security features of immediately, then another series of signs visible with ultraviolet light, which traders often have, and finally other signs that only the European Central Bank and national central banks can detect. In all, there are 63! (See the interactive presentation of the security features of the ECB)

The ECB shall ensure consistently maintain its technological edge on the counterfeiters, who face risks thirty years' imprisonment and 450,000 euros fine. The Bank of France, also a civil party, does not claim a symbolic euro in damages.Within the Eurosystem, work is underway to develop a second series of euro banknotes, the theme will look like the current (see box).

A ticket is damaged, torn, not calcined is not lost

Think again if you think the ticket you just go to the machine, or your child has torn, is worthless. While it may legitimately be refused by your merchant, but the Bank of France, she will be able to replace them. In extreme cases – ticket sales, burned, burned, mutilated, wet, soft, bonded, etc.. – It is always possible to be "paid" but for a fee of 20%.

Francis Coustin the occasion of the exhibition Euro: the exhibition at the Cité des Sciences and Industry at La Villette (Paris XX) until September 4 – which comes in a fun way about the history of the euro, its manufacture, the security features of tickets, etc..- Chronicles the misadventures of people who burned their tickets, ensuring that parts of the Vatican, Monaco or San Marino (Italy) should be retained as they are rare … and therefore valuable, but warns, however, that collecting tickets francs (date of exchange limit, February 17, 2012) does not promise any profit, "they will be worth nothing then strictly."

Euro: the exhibition, organized for the first time in France, the European Central Bank and the Bank of France, has already attracted over 100,000 visitors in recent months in Europe, from Barcelona to Tallinn via Rome or Berlin.

Cotton in the mass circulation

• How does one manufacture a ticket?

To make the paper is bleached cotton fibers (only one note is made of cotton) in a water bath at high pressure and high temperature.The resulting pulp is then passed through a paper machine. To obtain the special paper, called Paper Trust, own bank notes, are incorporated in the paper some security features such as watermarks and security thread.

• Where do we manufacture the tickets?

In Europe, paper is supplied banknote paper to the fourteen high-security printers who print the euro banknotes in the European Union. In France, since 1915, tickets are no longer manufactured at Bercy, in Seine-et-Marne, but Chamalières (print) Auvergne – nothing to do with Valerie Giscard d'Estaing, who became finance minister from 1962 to 1966 -, and Vic-le-Comte (stationery). A year earlier, the Paris site was briefly occupied by the Germans, hence the decision to relocate the "safe" to an area less exposed.

• How many tickets are made in France?

In 2010, 2.45 billion tickets were delivered by the Manufacturing billest which 1738 billion euro, central banks outside the euro zone commander in France tickets. Every day, these are some 6.7 million tickets that are born in Auvergne.

• Where do the tickets then?

Once made, the tickets are sent to branches of the Banque de France equipped with crates. Then carriers (Brinks, etc.). Come back to supply banks, which themselves carry out their distributors, or retail, which brews each day astronomical amounts of cash, and merchants.

• How long does a ticket?

Tickets and circulate from hand to hand, and come back regularly and the Bank of France, which sorts all tickets at once, to put back into circulation as tickets safe and in good condition. To do this, sorting machines at high speed are used to check in a split second the authenticity of tickets. Notes unfit for circulation are destroyed and replaced.Finally, an average, the average life span of a 5 euro note is fourteen months and that of a ticket 50 euros for three and a half years.

• Some rules to know:

– A merchant has the right to deny him a ticket that looks suspicious, a merchant can refuse to cash more than 50 pieces in a single payment, a merchant has the right to refuse a big ticket for a small purchase: the customer must to the extra-A trader does not have the right to refuse display notes 100, 200 and 500 euros denying a legal tender banknotes is punishable under the Penal Code-If I a ticket printer or scanner, I am off-the-law.

The design of banknotes and coins

• Tickets continennent all a European monument and a bridge. But if some drawings look fiercely at a known site, none really exists.In December 1996 that ended the contest European models of the euro banknotes, which was won by Robert Kalina, designer of the National Bank of Austria. Gaphisme inspired by the architectural styles of seven periods in the history of European culture: the classic notes of € 5, the novel for those 10 euros, Gothic for 20euros, the Renaissance for 50 euros Baroque and Rococo for 100 euros, glass and steel to 200 euros, and the architecture of the twentieth century for 500 euros.

• As for parts, the idea was that they have a common European side (battery) and the national side (face). A European competition was then held to select the number of common sides. The winner was Luc Luycx, graphic designer at the Royal Belgian Mint. And in the end, the 17 countries of the euro area are some 136 different pieces move.The choice of the national side has done differently in each country. In Italy, the themes were selected by viewers of the Italian channel RAI. In monarchies, the effigies of kings were most often represented.

"Join the game" Rally France Euro 2011 for children aged 9 to 12 on www.euro.ecb.eu

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Time is running out. While the U.S. may be in default of payment if no agreement is reached on the debt by August 2, Barack Obama issued an ultimatum. Before starting a meeting in 75 minutes Sunday night with parliamentarians, the U.S. president and said "must" that Congress reached agreement on the debt within 10 days.

After discussions between key leaders of Congress – Democrats at the head of the Senate and the Republican majority in the House of Representatives – Barack Obama said he will hold a press conference Monday at 17 noon, Paris. The negotiations between elected to continue thereafter.MPs also plan to meet every day until they reach an agreement, says Bloomberg.

Despite the optimism displayed by the U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who believes that "the U.S. will not default," the discussions on key topics such as tax increases or program of government spending have little progressed. Republicans and Democrats continue to disagree on the remedies to lower debt. "It is appalling that the president and his party continues to insist on the need to raise taxes in a crisis when they refuse to reduce spending," said the spokesman of the Republican minority in the Senate at the end of meeting Sunday night.For her part, Nancy Pelosi, representative of the minority Democrats in the House of Representatives, is confident that "a consensual agreement is reached (…) it could, she says," include more cuts in public spending but on a longer period. " But she says being uncomfortable with the idea of ​​"saving billions of public health."

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