Current News Headlines

Very touched by the toxic loans, these loans whose interest rates can soar, the Socialist Mayor of Saint-Etienne, Maurice Vincent, claimed that the government take responsibility. "The Ministries of Economy and Interior are asking us to manage ourselves the question with the banks negotiating with them. But this can not be a solution! "Storm elected.

St. Stephen was able to renegotiate certain loans: from toxics declined from 70% to 34% of its debt. But not all. Because in some cases, banks are asking the community to pay a cash adjustment to transform the high-risk loans in a normal loan. The principle of the balance is logical: the bank must be "compensated" as she would have received in interest rates high – up to 24% in Saint-Etienne with toxic loans.But its amount, which varies according to market conditions, may be prohibitive. "For a loan of 20 million, Deutsche Bank in early 2010 we asked a cash payment of fifteen million. It had no advantage for us, "said Maurice Vincent. Which concludes that most communities are in this case. The Court of Auditors number between 7 and 12 billion the amount of toxic debt, total debt of a community of 160 billion. The mayor of Saint-Etienne believes that the cash payment to pay to get out is now about ten billion euros, given the market conditions. Or communities can not afford to pay such a sum to get rid of loans at risk.Or more precisely, they could afford at the cost of tax increases – from 15% to 20% in Saint-Etienne after its mayor – and lower public spending.

"That's why I want the government set up a bad bank," concludes Maurice Vincent. This structure would take over the toxic loans communities, which would then be freed of the problem. This would be the banks that finance the bulk structure défaisande. And so that would take the loss. So far the government has been opposed to this idea. And the Court of Auditors as well.

Communities have, however, a weapon used today: the trial. Saint-Etienne sued the Deutsche Bank and RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland), including failure to board. The first verdict next year.And in the meantime, the payment of interest is suspended.

ALSO READ

"Richert" 7 billion euros of toxic loans "

"Thousands of French municipalities indebted

Barack Obama knew last night that he should seize the last opportunity to pass stimulus measures. For 32 minutes he has compiled the list of measures characterized as "urgent", intended to support consumption and encourage the hiring in 2012. With a little luck and cooperation from the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, some of these measures will be adopted in early 2012.

In fact, the time is right. The presidential campaign in full swing as early as January. Common ground between Democrats and Republicans are thus virtually impossible to find in March.

To appeal to conservatives, Barack Obama is wearing more than half of its plan to 447 billion dollars of reductions in charges paid by employees and businesses.By halving the payroll tax that finances the retirement program, Social Security, the President went even further than previously thought.

The issue of funding on hold

In the minutes after the speech, John Boehner and Eric Cantor, the two leading House Republicans, said they wanted to do that such measures are discussed. They do not want to obstruct all types of measures: their constituents are just as concerned about the risk of relapse into recession as the Democratic voters low rates payday advance. Other reaching out to Republicans: the promise to submit to Congress on free trade agreements negotiated for a long time with Korea, Colombia and Panama.

Finally, the issue of infrastructure spending, Republicans should also be attracted, even if the chances that they align themselves to finance projects rail transit are slim. Moreover, the proposed transfer of funds to States to preserve the jobs of civil servants might not pass Congress.

Then there is the crucial issue of financing of these measures. Barack Obama has stated repeatedly that they would all be funded. But he did not say how.

It should not provide details until next week, when finally published its plan for debt reduction over the medium term. The White House makes plans to finance these stimulus measures need to be involved in 2012, by savings in the longer term.Republicans, eager to reduce public debt now, will try to find savings elsewhere in 2012, to finance what they will accept the plan Obama.

ALSO READ:

"The Americans are tough on Obama

"Barack Obama Figaro:" Those who attacked us on September 11 have failed "

New blow for SocGen. While the second French bank is particularly turbulent stock market since the beginning of the summer, with a share price halved in three months, she has to face new suspicions. After the unfounded rumors about the supposed risks of bankruptcy, after questioning by U.S. authorities in a fraud complaint on subprime, Societe Generale now sees its relationship with the Gaddafi regime scrutinized. The new Libyan authorities are looking into effect on the investment made by the French bank with the Libyan sovereign fund, the Libyan Investment Authority, reports the Wall Street Journal. Some of these funds would have landed in the hands of people close to the government in place, the paper said.Societe Generale would have paid a certain amount to a Panamanian company, Leinad, to help organize and advise an investment of one billion dollars in 2008. If the exact mission of Leinad is not yet clear, its role has at least been criticized by members of the Libyan sovereign fund, before the start of the Libyan revolt, the newspaper said payday lenders.

For now, the bank declined to comment on its relations with the sovereign fund Leinad or Libya, says the Wall Street Journal. Societe Generale, however, said she has "worked occasionally with financial intermediaries in countries where it is not directly present."And these consultants are "fully selected and monitored in accordance with our procedures and ethics with the law and in full transparency with the customer," said the group, some have "acted in full accordance with the laws and regulations the sovereign ".

Throughout the reign of Colonel Gaddafi, it was indeed common for large groups pay foreign intermediaries, advisors and consultants to do business with Libya.

ALSO READ:

"The banks back into the market turmoil

"Subprime: Société Générale continued

Apple has made off with digital music. The group of Cupertino recurrence in video on demand (VOD). United States, its download platform iTunes controlled the first half of 2011, 65.8% of movie sales online, says a study by the Institute IHS Screen Digest. According to it, video on demand and downloading films have generated $ 229 million in revenue over the period.

Within a year, Apple has gained almost a point of market share. In parallel, the number two market, the platform Zune Video Marketplace Microsoft lost 2.3 points to 16.2% market share. The disappointment is huge for Sony, whose PlayStation Store will not pick up more than 4.4% of revenues from online video, against 8.2% market share in the first half of 2010.

Only Wal-Mart, with its platform Vudu and Amazon have increased over the period.They control 5.3% (+4.3 points) and 4.2% (0.2) of the market. Both players have recently muscled their offerings in the online video, is launching a range of streaming, or by signing new agreements with Hollywood studios.

"The expansion of the market share of iTunes is a remarkable result in view of increased competition from aggressive rivals some" notes Arash Amel, senior researcher in charge of digital media at IHS. The Apple platform was driven by the growth of the park iPad, special offers on movies and the ability to stream movies from a wireless terminal on a screen Apple TV, IHS analysis.

ALSO READ:

"Apple, a sacred number of mobile computing

"The VOD between a rock and a hard place

"Google wants to get into VOD

Japan is recovering slowly from the disaster of 11 March. On Monday, the government announced a slowdown of 0.3% of GDP in the second quarter. But this decline, of 1.3% annualized, less than analysts' forecasts which projected a contraction of 0.7%. It also shows a marked improvement over the 0.9% decline the previous quarter cashed.

Between April and June, exports fell sharply by 4.9% and is the main factor in the decline. During this period, deliveries of goods have been hampered by the destruction of factories and infrastructure in the devastated areas of north-east of the archipelago. Breaks in the supply chain were found in the key sectors of the automobile and electronics exports pillars.Industrial activity has also been slowed by the nuclear accident in Fukushima that led to the arrest of a significant portion of the reactor pool and therefore a fall in electricity production.

The downward trend was further accentuated by a decline of 1.9% of private real estate investment and a 0.1% decline in consumption. The trauma of the disaster, which killed more than 20,000 dead or missing, has indeed led the Japanese citizens to exercise restraint for several weeks, slowing private consumption, which is usually an engine of growth online cash advance. This slowdown was partly offset by the increase of 3% of public investment.

"We will rebuild Japan"

To observers, this leaves the second quarter, however, consider a rapid improvement in the Japanese economy."If the economy is improving as it takes shape in some respects, it is possible that growth back at the period from July to September", commented Takeshi Minami, an economist at the Institute Norinchukin whose opinion joined the Minister of Finance, Yoshihiko Noda.

For his part, Prime Minister Naoto Kan took advantage of the sixty-sixth anniversary of the surrender of Japan to promise an improvement in the economy. "Our country has emerged from the ruins of war through the efforts of every citizen and overcame many difficulties to date. With these experiences, we will rebuild with determination and force the devastated areas and Japan. "

These remarks have convinced the Asian markets on Monday morning.At the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Nikkei has closed the day on a sharp increase from 1.37% to 9086.41 points.

ALSO READ:

"Japan is rebuilt despite the political doldrums

"SPECIAL: Japan devastated

The Asian market does not yield to panic. After closing up slightly Wednesday, several Asian stock markets are divided down Thursday, but less pronounced than Wall Street and in Europe the day before. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 is again in the red, falling 1.04% to 8945.12 points after finishing up 1.05% yesterday.

Of the places in China, Hong Kong the Hang Seng 1.45% yield while the composite index of Shanghai Stock Exchange rose 0.68% to 1134.65 points. In Seoul, the Kospi index is left in the green, up 0.71% to 1819.14 points after plunging by 4% in early trade.

Investors remain concerned, however, fearing another recession in the United States and a spillover of the crisis of debt in the eurozone payday loan lenders. The gold and reached new records, crossing first the maximum 1800 dollars.It was worth 1814.50 dollars in the morning before going down to 1785 dollars. Another safe haven, the yen appreciates, and is worth 76.63 dollars, against 76.83 the previous day.

Oil also set off again down in Asia. Yet he had resisted the panic the day before with the announcement of a dramatic and unexpected decline in crude inventories in the United States. In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" lost 79 cents to 82.10 dollars and that of Brent North Sea fell by 1.10 dollars to 105.58 dollars.

.

In the case of debt, time is a luxury that the United States as Europe can not afford. This is the message sent Tuesday by Christine Lagarde, director of the International Monetary Fund. Welcoming the plan against the crisis of the Greek debt presented Thursday by EU leaders, the French hoped "that these bold steps will be followed in the United States and that action in the fiscal area will occur as quickly as possible."

In Washington, "the clock is forever and you really find a solution," insisted Christine Lagarde. Democrats and Republicans can not agree on U.S. debt, then that must be addressed prior to August 2 the maximum amount that the state can borrow in the markets (the ceiling of the debt). Otherwise the U.S. will not reimburse investors.

"Having a default or a significant reduction in the rating assigned to the signing of the United States, an event would be very, very, very serious. Not for the U.S. only, but for the world economy in general, "said the leader of the IMF. In the longer term, the IMF has asked the United States Monday to hand over "the debt to a sustainable path." U.S. debt until recently was considered by investors as an investment "safe".

If it is proved otherwise, the consequences could be incalculable. The United States "can not default on their obligations," said John Boehner, a Republican official in Congress. "The jobs and savings of too many Americans (are) in."

Threat of 'turbulence'

Europe is no exception.After the summit on Thursday, the leaders of the euro area should continue their efforts, Christine Lagarde warned: "The plan was welcomed by financial markets, as evidenced by the stronger euro and lower spreads rates on bonds of the periphery. But the turmoil could easily reappear. For this reason it is essential that the commitments of the summit are implemented quickly. "

Problem: The plan must be submitted to national parliaments for approval. "This will be done in the coming weeks. This will not happen overnight because, as is often the case in many developed economies of the Northern Hemisphere, August is relatively calm. And parliaments are closed, "admitted the director of the IMF. But Europeans do not have the luxury of taking their time.I think there is an expectation that things should move forward and be implemented not only by the countries directly concerned but also by governments who, as I said, kept their promises. "

To help stem the debt crisis, the IMF disbursed $ 330 billion to date, also recalled Christine Lagarde. Given this fact, the IMF might have to seek new funds to its member countries, its director admitted: "In the not too distant future we will probably take an interest in this issue."

ALSO READ:

"Obama blames Republicans for the lack of compromise on the debt

"United States: the specter of a global crisis

"Debt: Why Greece is still sanctioned

• What are they? Rating agencies are tasked, in theory, to assess independently the risk of bankruptcy or non payment of an economic issuing debt securities such as bonds. Clearly, they inform investors of their risk if they lend themselves to such corporation or such State. They each have a rating scale ranging from AAA (triple A) to CCC.

The score is after work for analyzing economic and financial figures and results from a collective decision of the agency's analysts. This is an opinion, say the agencies, not a recommendation to buy or sell a security or a share of a company.

• The impact of the notes. Rating, reflecting the risk of bankruptcy of a company or a state, however, has taken a very important rated entities and investors.For states and businesses alike, a note degraded resulting in an increase in interest rates. So when they want to borrow, it costs more.

Investors should in turn may sell certain debt securities to meet internal and financial regulations. A portfolio manager consists of obligations and will maintain a balance between built-risky securities and less risky. If a portion of its securities, such as Greek bonds, for example, is degraded, it will have to part for not only its portfolio becomes too risky.

• Who owns the agency? Moody's is an American company listed and independently owned up to 13% by billionaire Warren Buffett. Fitch is majority owned by French financial company Fimalac, founded by Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere and 20% of the group Hearst.Standard & Poor's is owned by U.S. publisher McGraw-Hill Companies.

• Who pays? "Typically, a rating agency is paid by the entities who want to receive a note or those that use the note" on a subscription basis, says Standard & Poor's. 2009 according to the scale of the latter for the United States, a large company must pay at least $ 70,000 at the beginning of the rating process, then a subscription of "surveillance" amounting to about half the original amount cash advances pay day loan. Each time it will issue the debt markets, it will perform in addition to a commission of 0.045% of the transaction. The amounts are similar in Europe.

Today, about 90% of revenue comes from credit rating agencies rated entities, is Norbert Gaillard, in his book "The rating agencies' published in The Discovery.

• Conflicts of interest.The crisis "subprime" mortgages at risk, has highlighted the limitations of the current agencies. Paid by companies that want to be noted, agencies are sometimes tempted to assign a higher rating than actually deserved to win a contract to the detriment of its other two competitors.

A former analyst at Moody's, Mark Froeb, has launched scathing attacks against his former employer before the Commission of Inquiry on the financial crisis in the U.S. Senate. "When I left Moody's (2008, Ed), the worst fear of one analyst was not necessarily something that would jeopardize the market share of Moody's, to cause harm to its sales ( …) and losing his job accordingly, "he complained. However, an analyst should only concern "to contribute to a rating that would be false."

• Agencies very profitable.With the increasing complexity of financial markets, the agencies argue that it is becoming increasingly expensive to analyze the risk of failure of economic actors. Therefore, in the 70's, they began to charge companies to notaient.

This business model provides a very high cost to agencies. Moody's expects an operating margin (operating profit to net sales) of between 38% and 40% in 2011. Standard & Poor's 43% in the first quarter of 2011 alone and Fitch 58% for the year 2010/2011 shifted.

Once published Tuesday, the opinion of the Advisory Council pensions, the decree formalizing the transition to 41.5 years of contributions from the 1955 cohort could be taken quickly. CNAV request, to inform as soon as its nationals. The beneficiaries of the "long career" born in 1955 are, in fact, likely to retire on January 1.

The Ministry of Labour does not seem to see any objection, saying anyway have little choice: "The law is written Fillon very imperative low interest rate personal loans. Things mechanically apply, depending on life expectancy, "an official analysis.PS and unions denounced the prospect of a longer contribution period: CGT sees a decline in disguise of pensions, the CFDT talking about additional victims of the reform of 2010.

ALSO READ:

"Retirement: towards a further tightening of the rules

"Retirement: the reform comes into effect

The Paris Bourse is expected to remain on the path to higher Friday morning after a nice session already saved up last night having completed 40 leCac an increase of 1.48% to 3892.21 points. The Greek situation reassured the financial world yesterday, as the Greek Parliament finally adopted the unpopular austerity plan, paving the way for the release of a next tranche of aid from the European Union and the Fund IMF. The euro has risen, moving at more than $ 1.45 this morning.

If no statistical significance is expected today, investors will monitor the U.S., where the issue of debt escalates. One report indicates that U.S. lawmakers should agree within three weeks on raising the debt ceiling, or the country will default.Timothy Geithner, the Secretary of the Treasury, would resign.

The figures in the automotive market

The Committee of French Automobile Manufacturers (CCFA) will release figures this morning the car market for the month of June and the first half.

Renault breaks the price of his Renault Twingo, faced with falling sales, will sell for the first time one of his vehicles, the little Twingo at a price lower than the Logan, the model input range of its Romanian subsidiary Dacia, according to La Tribune.

PSA is increasing in India The automaker is expected to invest 620 million euros in building its future manufacturing site in India, according to Les Echos. PSA will implement this facility in the state of Tamil Nadu, south of the country.

EDF EN signs a big contract

EDF.EDF Energies Nouvelles, a subsidiary of French group dedicated to renewable energy, has signed with the Danish Vestas Wind Systems for the use of wind turbines in Europe and the United States. The contract could provide the French operator up to 2000 megawatts over the period 2012-2014. The transaction amount was not disclosed.

LVMH.Philippe Pascal, who led for ten years, watches and jewelry division of LVMH, has been appointed adviser to Bernard Arnault, CEO of the world's number one luxury.

Areva said Thursday that the strategy developed since the creation of nuclear group by Anne Lauvergeon was a "success" and that his replacement did not involve a change of course.

EADS said Thursday the success of the acquisition, through its subsidiary Eurocopter, the Canadian aerospace supplier Vector Aerospace, 98.32% of shares were made to the offer made in late May.

TF1 announced Thursday to be in negotiations to become the sole shareholder of Metro France, the eponymous owner of the free newspaper which claims 2.4 million daily readers.

Carrefour has signed an agreement with Pixmania, the specialist in consumer electronics, to catch up in online sales of non-food.

Bénéteau sailboats world's leading manufacturer, said that sales in the first nine months of fiscal year 2010-2011 and the level of its order book allowed him to confirm its objective of annual turnover of 920 million euros.

BioAlliance announced Friday the launch of a capital increase of EUR 16.6 million to accelerate development of its portfolio of orphan drugs in oncology, particularly Livatag.