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As to give grist to G20 ministers meet farm late Friday morning in Cannes, the FAO food price index released yesterday registered a sharp decline after months of increases. It stood at 216 points in October, its lowest level in 11 months. "Prices nevertheless remained generally higher than last year and remain very volatile," says to FAO, the UN Food and Agriculture.

The fight against price volatility in agricultural commodities is precisely the heart of the priorities that the ministers of agriculture have taken in June in Paris during the holding of a special agricultural G20. These will draw Friday a first assessment of this work."The challenge for leaders is to find ways to constrain the natural volatility of the courses without mask or minimize the aggravating factors which tend to look the part of financial markets," said Didier Rousseau, expert industry the agri-food consulting firm Weave Same day payday loans. Volatility can be explained according to the expert by "the increase in global food demand, the emergence of biofuels or the occurrence of weather-related disasters."

The five commitments that will be discussed and reviewed at the G20 agricultural Cannes

• Establishing information system on agricultural markets (AMIS). Hosted by the FAO global database that aims to improve transparency and information on agricultural markets of four major crops for food security (wheat, rice, corn, soy).

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.

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."

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While Christine Lagarde is the favorite to head the International Monetary Fund, his two rivals try to put a spoke in the wheels. The Governor of the Central Bank Israeli Stanley Fischer, freshly candidate initially put forward his training as an economist, which he said is "essential" to lead the organization in Washington during a crisis. The Minister of Economy and Finance has followed a career as a lawyer. "You need an intellectual framework," he said in an interview Monday in The Wall Street Journal. He added that there was "great in the past director of the IMF who were not politicians."

For his part, another rival of the Minister of Economy and Finance, the Governor of the Bank of Mexico, Agustin Cartsen, regrets the perpetuation of the domination of Europe on the position of boss of the IMF since 1946."There could be a conflict of interest between the IMF and the European Union if the French Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde was taking the head of the institution," he said business cards. We would have a situation where borrowers dominate a creditor institution. I think it's a problem that must be addressed. "

Carstens sees Christine Lagarde elected

This did not stop to see the Minister of Economy and Finance elected. "The chances for Christine Lagarde of getting elected are very high. I am sure she will make a good CEO, he told a conference at a research center on international economics from Washington, the Peterson Institute. This does not prevent him from criticizing a victory for Christine Lagarde he considers almost gained.

As for Christine Lagarde, she tries to gather as many supporters, including the United States that have not yet made their choice. They are however allowed to compliment Agustin Carstens, deeming it "highly competent". While the name of the future director of the IMF must be known by June 30, the fight promises to be full.

In the United Kingdom, the austerity spared any sector, not even the cellar of Her Majesty's Government, which provides for eighty years banquets and official functions. "I seriously considered deleting the cellar, but all indications are that we will save taxpayers by preserving and reforming it in order to finance the purchases of sales of some raw targeted," said Secretary State for Foreign Affairs, Henry Bellingham, charged with managing the cellar official.

"Sales of targeted stocks of high value" will save half a million pounds – 571 000 – in five years. The cellar of 38,000 bottles British government account, whose value is estimated at one million euros.

The earthquake that rocked the small Spanish town of Lorca and killed 8 people, has struck a very agricultural area and little industry. An advantage when it comes time to estimate the cost of the disaster. Insured losses (excluding public infrastructure), however, could represent "tens of millions of euros," said Baunay Yorik, director Ubyrisk and specialize in the study of natural hazards.

"The earthquake seems to have caused more damage than the information from its one magnitude 5.1 on the Richter scale, could suggest," says the consultant. "This reflects the fact that the epicenter was only 10 km from the surface." Nothing to do yet with the earthquake of 2009 that destroyed the Aquila, Italy: he had killed 308 people and cost nearly $ 2.5 billion. Nothing to do with either the earthquake and tsunami, which struck Japan in March.This disaster will cost 217 billion euros.

A region rather poor

Wednesday's quake hit a rather poor part of Spain. The Autonomous Province of Murcia, where Lorca is only in effect for only 2 no teletrack payday loans.5% of gross domestic product compared to its 3% of the population. "Beyond the human cost and trauma it caused among residents, the earthquake is unlikely to have major economic impact," said Jesus Castillo, an economist at Natixis. "But the consequences can be severe for some small local contractors whose production tool has been damaged by the disaster."

Lorca is also home to a factory in Swiss cement giant Holcim. "The 53 employees are safe," a spokesman reassured the group Thursday morning. "The site itself has undergone some very minor damage, which does not involve the production chain.Power was cut, the plant discharged and engineers currently auscultate the site. "The group does not specify how long the plant will remain shut down.

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Reassured by the denial of Greece about extra help the European Union, the CAC 40 closed up sharply Tuesday. The stock market continues to move in the rebound for good performance on Wall Street Tuesday and Asian stock markets Wednesday morning. The Cac 40 rose at the opening of 4,062.43 points to 0.23%.

At the London Stock Exchange, the FTSE 100 was stable at 6015.88 points and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, the DAX 30 is 0.33% to 7526.56 points.

On the macroeconomic front, companies in the manufacturing sector have revised upward their forecasts for investment this year and now expect a 15% increase, according to the quarterly survey conducted by INSEE and published on Wednesday . In the previous survey in January, business leaders the industry planned to increase investment by 14% in 2011.

United States, are on the agenda: foreign trade in March (1430), the weekly oil inventories (16:30) and the figures of budget execution in April (20 hours).

On the podium of the largest increases include LVMH's Cac 40 (1.25% to 121.80 euros), EADS (0.81% to 21.69 euros) and France Telecom (+0.48% at 15, 78 euros).Conversely, Accor (-0.72% to 29.83 euros), Alstom (-0.50% to 42.54 euros) and Saint-Gobain (-0.43% to 46.93 euros) display largest declines.

Good results for ArcelorMittal, Dexia disappoint those

Dexia 2.33% to 2.64 euros

The Franco-Belgian bank Dexia has reached the first-quarter earnings of 69 million euros, down 68% year on year largely as a result of the transformation of the group, according to results released Wednesday.

ArcelorMittal: -0.55% to € 25.15

ArcelorMittal on Wednesday a net profit of 1.07 billion dollars in the first quarter and revenue up 27.3% year on year to 22.2 billion dollars, and aims to improve its profitability in the second quarter.

Hermes: 1.42% to 164 euros

Hermes reported on Wednesday sales rose 25.5% in the first quarter to 637.1 million euros.The luxury house has confirmed its growth target of 8% to 10% of its sales throughout the year.

BNP Paribas 0.28% to 54.28 euros

BNP Paribas is expected to announce on Wednesday on the occasion of its General Assembly (1530) Michel Pebereau replacing the current chief executive Baudouin Prot, which will take effect in December according to Le Figaro.

Michelin: 0.21% to 67.93 euros

The group of tires for the first time opens the door of his leadership to a non-member of the Michelin family, according to the daily Les Echos. Current CFO, Jean-Dominique Sénart be officially named general partner, on Friday.It could succeed Michel Rollier, CEO of the company and cousin of Edouard Michelin, his predecessor, great-grand-son of the founder accidentally disappeared in 2006.

TV rights: Canal + continues with NHL ruby

Canal +: -0.48% to 5.57 euros

Canal + has reached an agreement with the National Rugby League (NRL) to retain the rights to broadcast the Top 14 over the next five seasons for a total of up to 158.5 million euros.

Eutelsat: 1.34% to 30.17 euros

Eutelsat, which states have visibility "very strong" on the end of 2010-2011, noted on Tuesday its annual sales target and found it well placed to exceed its forecast EBITDA of light one quarter growth of 10%.

Nexity: -0.27% to EUR 36.30

Nexity, which holds its general meeting on Wednesday, confirmed Tuesday its annual targets, despite the fire on a building site in Defense in March, after rising 2% of its backlog during the first quarter.

Maurel & Prom: 0.98% to 14.87 euros

Maurel & Prom has reported a quarterly revenue up sharply thanks to the rise of production of the oil in Gabon and the restart of its well Ovhor-2 in Nigeria.

Turnovers: Thales after-hours trading

Alten: -0.05% to 28.24 euros

Alten raised its forecast for organic growth in turnover for the whole of 2011 after posting a jump in its business in the first quarter, driven by increased investments in its markets.

Assystem said Tuesday organic growth target of around 10% of its turnover in 2011 after a strong first quarter marked an acceleration in France.

Bourbon: 4.31% to 34 euros (largest increase in the SBF 120)

Bourbon reported Wednesday a turnover up 23.8% in the first quarter 2011 with the commissioning of 55 new vessels and the gradual recovery of the market.

Thales will publish its first quarter sales and Meetic, its quarterly results after-hours trading.

Besides BNP Paribas, Eramet, JC Decaux and Nexity hold their general meeting on Wednesday.

The rigor is no longer appropriate for the big bosses of the banking sector. Aid paid by the state and now repaid their business reaping the effects of recovery, there are incentive bonuses, considering the annual reports and press reports, clearly an upward trend for 2010. While many top executives of French banks had waived their bonuses the previous two years, 2010 has signed the back of generous salaries.

In addition to a salary of 1 million euros, up from last year, the head of Societe Generale, Frederic Oudéa, reaching his first bonus since he took office and the Kerviel affair.Bank boss of the highest paid, he will receive a variable remuneration amounting to 598,400 euros paid immediately in cash, plus a paid deferred until 2015 to comply with European Directive CRD3 applicable since 1 January 2011. In total, the variable compensation paid for 2010 could reach up to 3.2 million euros, according to the calculation of Echos.

It's a little more than Baudoin Prot, CEO of BNP Paribas, which in turn will receive a fixed salary unchanged from the previous year, but a sharp rise in bonuses. About 1.67 million awarded in total, 60% will be paid in deferred over two years with conditions. His total compensation could reach 2.47 million euros as well. Last example, the boss of BPCE, former deputy secretary general of the Elysee Perol, who waived his bonus last year easy payday loans.According to AFP, he will receive 1.05 million euros to this title, for a fixed salary unchanged at 550,000 euros.

Variable pay "balanced"

If the amounts received are variable up substantially, however, banks have generally respected the requirements of European directive adopted in 2010. Transposed into French law by the end of last year, it sought to control the compensation of employees of banks that may affect the risks taken by their institution. To get them interested in long-term results, a fraction ranging from 40% to 60% variable compensation should be paid for example over several years, subject to results.

But according to the directive CRD3, this variable compensation should be "balanced" with respect to the fixed remuneration. And that's where the shoe pinches.As said the European Commissioner Michel Barnier to services in the columns of Liberation on Saturday, "behaviors have not changed as much as you want. The banks have not complied with the spirit and letter of our directive. " If French banks do not face good students, British officials are still better off. The new boss of Barclays saw himself awarded a bonus of 23 million pounds.

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If, in the very heart of the crisis, the French government has relied on a policy to boost investment-oriented, because he knows that eating is a hexagonal solid growth. A study published Friday by the INSEE has once again confirmed: the actual consumption of households French volume was 13% higher than the average for 27 European countries in 2009.The differences in spending have also been significant – in a ratio ranging from one to three – the Luxembourg being the largest consumer, the Romanian bringing up the rear.

France "is part of a group of six countries (with the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Austria and Denmark) that have a comparable level of consumption (between 12% to 16% more than the European average, after adjusting for purchasing power parities), noted INSEE.

Nevertheless, all Europeans do not spend their money the same way … If a German is spending more than its European neighbors to furnish his home, a Spaniard and an Italian consume more hotels and restaurants, and an Englishman in clothing and shoes.

Cultural reasons

For cultural reasons, the French consume more to eat and drink at home than their neighbors.On average, they buy "three times more fish a German and a half times more meat." By contrast, consumption of products from cereals and soft drinks are higher in Germany than in France. Allen consumption of alcoholic beverages is also above the European average.

But that does not mean that the French drink more! This may "reflect the different levels of scope in products purchased," said INSEE. Compared to their neighbors, they also consume more for housing, transportation, recreation, health and education, but less on clothing and restaurants.

The actual household consumption expenditure includes supported by government, including education, health, or housing.These costs "vary in a ratio of one to three and a half years between Bulgaria and Denmark." Level in Germany is close to the European average, while that of France is greater than 25%. The study finds that finally, despite a tightening, the price levels differ between countries of the European Union, "although these countries belong to the same economic union." In France, in 2009, prices are 14% higher than the European average. Logically, the prices are higher in countries where the standard of living is too.

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In Brussels

The debt restructuring is no longer taboo Greek nor the Ministry of Finance in Berlin, or Frankfurt, headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB). For the first time on Monday, an official with the ECB discussed a possible rescheduling of debt repayments Greek, which should reach 340 billion euros (150% of GDP) at year end.

The restructuring is "not an option," said the Dutch governor, Nout Wellink, faithful to the official policy of the ECB. But to honor its debts "may sometimes take longer than expected.Sometimes this can lead to a restructuring – but not in the sense that some would defend – which leads to a longer maturity debt, "he added, in response to questions from students at the University of Tillburg, Netherlands.

Although measured, this evocation goes beyond the usual discourse of the ECB, very hostile to the idea of ​​restructuring. Just last week, Governor Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo said that this scenario would be "devastating" to the markets that the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers.

Fear of contagion

The German Finance Ministry, Wolfgang Schäuble, who was the first to break the taboo this winter, yet working very seriously on this assumption.

More recently, Clemens Fuest, chairman of the department advisors, considered this issue "inevitable make quick cash."This weekend, Lars Feld, one of economic advisers to Angela Merkel, said that the restructuring was "the only way forward so that Greece is a little relieved that creditors and help to solve the Greek problem" .

Prudente, Greece prepares the ground for this hypothesis, while repeating that there was no question of restructuring. "It is better that it still extends the repayment period of 110 billion euros that we have lent our partners and we further decline in interest rates," said Monday the Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou, in an interview with Liberation. The EU has already lowered in March the interest rate on its loans and rescheduled repayment.

Concerned about the risks of contagion, Brussels continues to exclude the scenario of restructuring."It does not and will not be part of our strategy," hammered on Monday, European Commissioner for Financial Affairs, Olli Rehn, citing implications "potentially devastating for the country itself and for the eurozone as a whole" . Athens has set up programs "very ambitious," he said. On Monday, the yield of ten-year bond rose by 14 basis points to 15.80%.