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Degradation by the Moody's rating of Japan, expected by market participants, since the rating agency announced last May that it might lower the note by the country, did not seem unduly disturbed the Cac 40 .Despite a trend rather soft on Wall Street, the Paris index, after opening up 0.99% to 3114.98 points, just lowered its mid-term gains (0.69% to 3105.56 points) before returning frankly on the rise in the early afternoon, to close up 1.79% to 3139.55 points.

At the London Stock Exchange, the FTSE-100 took 1.49% to 5205.85 points, while the Dax-30 from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange gained 2.69% to more openly 5681.08 points.

Investors wanted to be optimistic, pending the announcement by the government, scheduled for 18 hours, a series of measures to reduce France's deficit of ten billion more.

In addition, the United States, the macroeconomic data of the day were quite positive, contributing significantly to support the trend in the second half of the session.According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, orders for durable goods across the Atlantic rose more than expected last month. (+4% Over the month, against a 2.5% increase expected by analysts).

A little later, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) revised its outlook on the U.S. budget deficit. According to this independent body, the budget deficit expected to fall to 8.5% of GDP this year and 6.2% in 2012, when the Bureau so far provided a deterioration of public finances for 2011. Finally, the CBO expects a growth of U.S. national wealth by 2.3% this year and 2.7% in 2012.

However, for the euro area, orders were down in June (-0.7%) after a sharp rise the previous month, according to data from the EU statistics office Eurostat (0.5% expected by analysts).In May, they had jumped 3.6%, driven notably by the orders of capital goods, following a 0.3% decline in April.

On the currency market, the euro remains stable against the dollar. To 17 hours, the European currency was worth 1.4406 dollars against 1.4436 dollars late Tuesday.

The cyclical resume, L'Oreal, the largest decline Cac 40

Oil prices were up on their side at the same time, with Brent who was close to 110 dollars a barrel because of uncertainty about the situation in Libya. A barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery gained 50 cents to 109.81 dollars, while a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October has appreciated by 81 cents to 86 totally free credit score.25 dollars on the New York Mercantile Exchange to 18 cents. A trend reinforced by the publication in mid-afternoon to the unexpected drop in U.S. crude oil reserves.

Values ​​cars, battered in recent sessions, repeat colors Wednesday. Renault leads increases the Cac 40 mid-term, and accounted for 3.29% to 25.55 euros. Michelin climbed 2.12% to 46.53 euros.

However, Total, which should benefit from the outcome of the conflict of Libya, was much increased in recent days.It yields 0.65% to 32.87 euros on Wednesday in mid-session on profit taking.

L'Oreal also declined, from 2.04% to 78.22 euros, the biggest drop CAC 40.

ArcelorMittal: 2.82% to 13.86 euros

In Australia, Macarthur Coal said it continued to seek a white knight to counter the hostile bid from ArcelorMittal and Peabody Energy.

Iliad: + 1.14% to 82.45 euros

A subsidiary of Iliad, Free, filed an appeal with the State Council on the conditions for the government of 4G mobile phone licenses, according to Le Figaro.

Accor: + 1.95% to 23.56 euros

The hotel group has published on Wednesday operating profit rose by 27.5% to 199 million euros in the first half.Accor has also returned to earnings, its net profit amounting to 41 million euros in the first half against a loss of 15 million last year over the same period.

STMicroelectronics: + 2.07% to 4.3 euros

Fitch has downgraded the long-term European manufacturer of semiconductors "A" to "BBB +" with perspective, particularly because of the weakness and lack of profitability ST Ericsson, a joint venture with Ericsson specializes in chips for son-free communication.

In the wake of STMicroelectronics, Alcatel-Lucent is 2.22% to 2.44 euros.

Eurotunnel: -0.51% to 6.03 euros

Eurotunnel said it had suspended the booking of tickets for passengers on the weekend of August 27 and 28, one of the most responsible for the cross-Channel traffic after the filing of a notice of indefinite strike by several unions.

Sanofi: -0.15% to 49.87 euros

Aventis Pharma, Indian subsidiary of Sanofi, confirmed the purchase of business without a prescription Universal Medicare, a non Indian pharmaceutical side. The title was won

Wall Street does succeed in chaining a fourth consecutive session? Nothing is less certain. Within two hours of opening, the futures contract on the Dow Jones was down 0.74% at 11,319 points, those on Nasdaq and the S & P 500 dropping 1.09% to 2182 points to 1.05% to 1185 points.

Nervousness investors won again a few hours of a meeting in Paris between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The two leaders are to discuss ways to implement to improve governance in the euro area and contain the problems of sovereign debt. No decision is fundamental to expect from this meeting, warned a spokesman for Angela Merkel yesterday, let alone on the front of the Eurobonds claimed by many investors. The latter will not even up for discussion.And it is this fact which disappointed observers who expected progress on the subject. In Europe, markets are plunged into the red.

European growth disappoints

The bad mood is also expected to result from the publication of European indicators disappointing that send negative signals about the health of the euro area. Germany, European locomotive, reported a surprise slowdown and sharp growth in the second quarter. The entire euro area saw growth of 0.2% after increasing 0.8% in the first quarter.

United States, the agenda includes the release of housing starts, prices for import and export and especially of industrial production.This indicator is closely watched as markets worried about more and more sluggish growth of the world's largest economy.

Values ​​to follow

On the corporate side, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Dell and Saks must publish their quarterly results on Tuesday.

Agilent Technologies has reported after-hours trading Monday a profit of $ 330 million, or 92 cents a share, in the third quarter, up 62% turnover is up to 1.69 billion.

Berkshire Hathaway would have taken a stake in the retailer Dollar General.

The CAC 40 is headed for a fifth straight session of steep decline. At the close, the index fell further by 1.07% to 3672.77 points. A decline – the fifth in a row – but much more moderate than what was found during the session. The CAC is in fact fallen to a record low since the beginning of the year while the issue of U.S. debt continues to plague investors, while European issues remain a concern.

But about 17 hours, Barack spoke and pressed to agree to raise the debt ceiling of the United States. A speech that reassured Wall Street, and thus the European markets, which is still bleak.Especially since the U.S. side, a series of bad economic data has dampened investors (growth, activity in Michigan, and moral Americans).

Finally, the week, the CAC 40 index lost 4.25%.

In London, the FTSE-100 index of the main values ​​lost 0.99% on Friday at 5815.19 points. The DAX index in Frankfurt ended her down 0.44% at 7158.77 points against 7190.06 points on Thursday.

The financial sector at half-mast

Adding to the nervousness of the markets, the rating agency Moody's is considering lowering the rating of Spain. As a result, the financial sector shows further losses on the stock market: Crédit Agricole loose 2.36% to 8.61 euros, Societe Generale drops 2.44% to 34.73 euros, Axa was down 2.56% to 13.11 euros, and BNP Paribas was down 2% to 45.46 euros.

Another sign of investor confidence that spreads, bond yields fragile countries in the euro area increased further, imposing astronomical cost of funds. Spain has seen its rates to ten years to rebound above the 6%. And on the foreign exchange market, the euro was immediately dropped below $ 1.43 in the morning before to recover. Around 17:30, the European currency was worth 1.4392 dollars against 1.4324 dollars on Thursday night (0.45%).

Household consumption is rising again

On the macroeconomic front, the cost of French household consumption of manufactured goods in June rose 1.2% in May after falling 0.3%.The producer prices in the industry have generally stabilized in June on the French market (-0.1%) following a significant drop in May (-0.5%).

Veolia Environnement, the largest decline Cac 40

The markets also react to the new burst of business publications.

Veolia Environnement: -9.50% to 15.80 euros

Veolia Environnement has warned that 2011 would not achieve its objective of growth in net profit due to provisions and write-downs that will pass in its half-year to 800 million euros no faxing 1 hour payday loans.

Michelin: -34.18% to 58.66 euros

Michelin has raised its annual target volumes after a first half marked by an increase in profits and sales. The automotive supplier is now an increase in volumes "of about 8%" against at least 6.5% previously.The net half of the group grew from 33% to 667 million euros and sales of 21% to 10.1 billion.

Saint-Gobain: + 2.15% to 40.40 euros

The group confirmed its operational growth goals for 2011, after a surge in net profit in the first half (53.3% to 768 million euros) due to higher volumes and selling prices.Management has indicated to always be an IPO Verallia, its subsidiary in bottles and glass jars, after the postponement of this operation in June.

Total: -1.52% to 37.78 euros

Oil giant Total said on Friday net profit down 12% in the second quarter to 2.7 billion euros, due to weak refining margins in Europe and the cessation of production in Libya.

EDF: -2% to 26.46 euros

EDF issued a net half-year up 54% to 2.6 billion euros, thanks to its increased nuclear generation in France, and announced target for the period 2011-2015 an average annual growth of 5 10% of its net income.

PPR: – 0.65% to 129 euros

Net income for the PPR increased from 16.1% to 450 million euros in the first half, above analysts' expectations, driven by sales of luxury goods (22.6%) while the distribution, which he wants to separate, were down 2%.

EADS: -0.41% to 24.2 euros

Europe's EADS confirmed its outlook for full year 2011, despite the decline of 41% of its net profit in the first half, to 109 million euros, hit by accounting for revaluations related to changes in interest rates exchange.

CGG Veritas: -3.17% to 23.54 euros

CGG Veritas, which suffered last year the moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico after the explosion of a well operated by BP <BP.L>, posted a second quarter loss of $ 38 million (27 million), including $ 17 million of non recurring refinancing costs, against a profit of $ 8 million.

Schneider Electric: -1.51% to 101.15 euros

Schneider Electric now expects an operating margin for 2011 of 15% in the low end of its initial expectations, said CEO Jean-Pascal Tricoire, in an interview with Les Echos on Friday.

From our correspondent in London

Despite a series of desperate measures taken last month to try to save the company, Southern Cross, the largest group of nursing homes in Britain, will have to end its activities. The company is in a position of near bankruptcy and will have to transfer all of the 752 homes it had to other management structures. Agreements are already being negotiated for a third of them. The listing of the group Southern Cross was suspended Monday for the London Stock Exchange.

An announcement has angered unions and associations for the protection of older people, worried about the future of 31,000 residents and 43,000 employees of the group.The bankruptcy of a private operator managed by investment funds of the City is also very bad news for the government to David Cameron, the reform of public health plans to provide a much greater role to the private sector.

Southern Cross tried last month to set up a restructuring plan which included the sale of hundreds of homes and the deferred payment of a quarter of rents for 752 homes, but these efforts have not been sufficient.

The magnitude of the crisis had forced the Prime Minister to take a stand last month. David Cameron was first started by saying that the state did not intervene in a private matter, but ended promise that he would do everything to ensure the situation of pensioners affected.A spokesman for Downing Street said Monday that no retiree "does homeless" because "there are currently about 50,000 places in the country" in nursing homes.

Reduced spending

The fate of Southern Cross also challenges the rapid privatization of the medical sector and assistance for the elderly in Britain for twenty years, a trend initiated by the Conservatives but pursued by Tony Blair. More than two thirds of homes in the country, many of which provide a public service, are now managed by private companies. The quality of their service is also criticism since private retirement residence with seven scored "poor" or "inadequate" in the inspections, said the Financial Times.

The cause of the collapse of Southern Cross is quite simple.The group had signed leases with annual increases of 2.5% guarantees but finds himself in is at odds because its major customers, municipalities and communities, reduce average spending of welfare benefits by 10% year, due to the combined effects of losses due to bad investments during the financial crisis and the massive budget reduction plan launched by the government Cameron.

This is the unfortunate consequence of a strategy set up by Blackstone, the investment fund that took control of the group in 2004. The fund wanted to increase the financial profitability of the group by selling its stock of homes, at a time when the UK property market was in a bubble.

Sudden brake on the French economy. The second quarter growth should be two times less than anticipated previously Banque de France (BDF), the institution announced Friday. It reduced its growth forecast to 0.2% for the period April to June, against 0.4% previously and 0.5% in its first estimate. The government expects growth of 2% over the year.

This revision severe downward is motivated by recent activity indicators published by the monetary institution. She recorded a decline in June industrial output (4 points to 99 points) and a slower growth in services (-1 points 99 points). The activity, however, should be stabilizing, according to forecasts from the BoF.

Reduced consumption

"The growth in the second quarter will be much less impressive than the first, reflecting the end of the phenomenon of stock recovery in business and the decline in consumer spending due to inflation and the decision of the premium the case, "said Mathilde Lemoine chief economist at HSBC France. It is also banking on 0.2% growth over the period.

These figures confirm the slowdown in recent months in France, after a very dynamic first quarter. The leading index of activity came out in late June PMI fell sharply, reaching a lowest level in eight months, to 55.4 points. "Industry as services are affected by a drop in new orders, which does not bode well for future growth," Analysis Ken Wattret, chief euro zone economist at BNP Paribas.

French exports did not spark either in recent months (0.9% from March to May), particularly because of slower sales in Asia. However, the French manufacturers seem to keep their spirits up. The INSEE index posted in June were up 3 points to 109 points. A level above its long-term average.

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The world's leading consumer is again in top form. The annual accounts ended June should show an increase in turnover of 5% over last year, when sales reached 78.9 billion dollars. Bob McDonald, who took over the group in the middle of the crisis in July 2009, was last week in France for his first visit since taking office. This former military academy at West Point, who spent five years in the U.S. Army before joining Procter in 1980, his book Figaro battle plan to win every year 200 million new consumers.

Click the preview to enlarge the graphic

As announced in Le Figaro, the agreement on supplementary pensions signed last spring is unfavorable to executives who have raised several children, so much so that the CFE-CGC, the union executive has decided to attack the text justice.

The agreement signed in March after lengthy negotiations in effect alters the rules of pension bonus if families "many." From 1 January next year, the increase will be only 10% whatever the number of children cared for by the frame from three. The rule still in force today is much more favorable since the pensions of executives can be increased by 8% to 24% depending on the number of children.

Cap

Adjusted parallel, the amount of increase is now capped at 1,000 euros per year. Emmanuel Grimaud consulting firm optimization retirement Maxims, asked on Europe 1 this morning, made the calculation of the shortfall.For an executive who has had four children and affects 2700 euros monthly pension, the bonus is 2000 euros per year today. With the new rules, it does affect more than 800 euro mark, that is to say 1200 euros less each year. If we relate this loss to the number of years spent in retirement, 25 years on average, the loss of purchasing power reached 27,000 euros says the expert.

Emmanuel Grimaud said that once, future retired executives must make it their calculations, especially if born before July 1951.In some cases it may be more interesting for them to liquidate their retirement before the end of the year rather than waiting for the entry into force of the new text, and this even if they have not paid all quarters necessary for the full rate.

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U.S. markets open slightly higher on Monday after a sharp decline Friday. Leaded by the accumulation of signs of slowdown in the global economy, the Dow Jones closed down by 1, 42%, to 11,951.91 points. The Dow Jones gained 0.35% to 11,994.07 points, the Nasdaq ahead by 0.40% to 2654.17 points and the S & P 500 rose 0.35% to 1275.37 points.

Like doubts about the financial situation of Greece weighing on European markets, U.S. investors should not however find a frank optimism as the Obama administration does not provide a convincing response to the U.S. debt.Hence the nervousness on Wall Street recorded, for 6 weeks, all finished in the red.

No waiting indicator

In the absence of major macroeconomic indicators and publications from the companies, markets keep an eye on the ongoing discussions about whether or not to raise the debt ceiling. From this point of view, the main concern is the possibility in the coming weeks, the U.S. can not cope with effect from 2 August to some of their repayment obligations, if the cap was not raised.

Side currency, the euro lost some ground against the dollar Monday in a market without much direction still hanging on the progress of discussions between EU leaders, who are struggling to find agreement on how to continue to help financially Greece.MP in the afternoon in Paris, the European single currency was worth 1.4379 dollars against 1.4348 dollars on Friday night.

On oil markets, prices started to fall Monday in a cautious market that awaits the decisions of Saudi Arabia on a possible increase of its production. Around 24:10 in Paris, a barrel of Brent North Sea crude for July delivery was $ 118.66 dollars on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in London, giving 12 cents from Friday's close. In electronic trade the New York Mercantile Exchange, a barrel of light sweet crude (WTI) for the same period lost $ 1.19 to 98.10 dollars.

As for values

Banking supervision

Financial stocks could benefit from an article by the financial weekly Barron's pay day loans.The newspaper said the major banks like Bank of America (+0.29% to 10.88 dollars), Citigroup (0.71% to 38.19 dollars), Goldman Sachs (0.96% to 137, $ 23), Morgan Stanley (0.71% to 22.85 dollars) and Wells Fargo (1.26% to 26.61 dollars) are undervalued on the stock market and could see their progress as 25% of the next year, says the financial weekly Barron's. These shares are currently traded at levels close to or well below their book value, the magazine added.

Boeing: 0.80% to 73.27 dollars)

The will sell six Boeing 777-300ER to Thai Airways, which will also acquire eight Boeing 787 leased from ILFC.

Allied World Assurance: -1.88% to 56.98 dollars

The group will buy Transatlantic Holdings for $ 3.2 billion in shares, giving birth to a group of insurance and reinsurance with an ever wider and greater implementation. Transatlantic Shareholders will receive 0.88 share for each Allied as they hold the equivalent of 51.10 dollars per share, representing a premium of 16.1% over the closing price on Friday.

Gilead Sciences: -1.42% to 39.66 dollars

The biotechnology company, world leader of HIV treatment, said Friday it received a subpoena to submit to the court documents relating to its manufacturing methods, quality control and distribution.

Blackstone: +0.12% to 16.62 dollars

The group and the specialist debt Avenue Capital talk with investors in order to raise five billion dollars to invest in bond markets, reports the Sunday Telegraph.

VF Corp: 12.23% to 103.03 dollars Timberland: 42.48% to 42.73 dollars

The group announced Monday the acquisition of the apparel brand Timberland outdoor sports for $ 43 per share and a total of two billion dollars. VF Corp. expects this acquisition will allow it to add approximately $ 700 million to its turnover in 2011.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has the alarm on the third world economy. Consequence of the earthquake on March 11, its economists expecting a decline of 0.7% of GDP for the whole of 2011. The Fund is particularly concerned for the country's debt, which will reach 219% of GDP at end 2011, and finds that the debt reduction must remain the priority of the government.

The latter, which has just passed a supplementary budget of 33 billion euros to finance the first necessities, wants to pass through Parliament a law authorizing it to issue bonds and launch a second budget by August.

But the Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, in power for a year, is increasingly challenged, including in his own camp. Opponents blocked the law and want to relinquish power as soon as possible. They propose to form a "grand coalition", a sort of unity government."Given the limited scope exists to reduce expenditure, fiscal consolidation should be based on a comprehensive tax reform, built around a progressive rise in consumption tax," the IMF analysis.

A solution that Naoto Kan has long dream. Set at 5% today, this fee could rise to 10% in 2015-2016, calculates the government. Yet it must be at least 15% for only "half way done," the IMF tranche.

On Thursday morning, Veronica has resigned to go through the door of Deco, the charity for families in debt. "To keep a little dignity and do not lose your head," the young woman slips, looking weary. At age 41, mother of a boy of 7 years, Veronica is unemployed, as her husband who had to close its microenterprise. Riddled with debt, the couple has any income to EUR 400 for unemployment benefits, for 2500 euros in charges refund! They have no less than ten credits on the arms: property, auto, personal, card purchase … not to mention the liability of the company, social security arrears and income tax. Today, Veronica sees no alternative but to initiate insolvency proceedings. "To start over, she hopes.All our goods will be confiscated, it will be under supervision of a director for five years, but then finished the debts, they will be erased. "

A little behind, hidden behind thick glasses, square Pedro feverishly bothers her phone number. If using Deco is an attempt to renegotiate two loans: a consumer loan of 8500 euros contracted with Cofidis and a mortgage of 15,000 euros to the Central Fund deposits that could not pay despite the sale of his house in August 2010."I look forward to rescheduling or pay only the interest, time to recover."

The difficulties for this young professor began after the dismissal of his wife in 2009 and in January he has lost 200 euros from his salary, the first result of government austerity measures, so that today his income does not exceed 1,500 euros, to pay a rent of 650 euros, ongoing expenses and academic studies of her two children. "We can not do it. It has sought help from family, but it's hard for everyone, the quadra confesses. For the first time in my life, I went to the food bank. "

Examples such as Pedro or Veronica, the association received more than twenty per day, not counting the numerous letters bad credit unsecured personal loans.They are between 30 and 45, they are engineers, professors, lawyers, employees … a simple high school education or higher, an average income of 1,500 euros, an average of five credits in their passive but often much more. In 2010, Deco has received 17,372 applications, twice more than in 2008, owing much to job loss.

Cumulative effect

Natalia Nunes, head of the division of debt, also denounced the irresponsibility of financial institutions, which for years have opened the floodgates of credit, facilitated by attractive interest rates, but also households who, " lack of financial education, have left illusions. "The illusion with the entry into the European Union is to have grown to become a rich country. Credit is very recent in Portugal, it dates from 1990.It was a real revolution in a country of culture rather closed, "says Natalia.

Result, in 2009, according to the Bank of Portugal, the rate of household debt amounted to more than 130% of their disposable income. And for Natalia, for sure, the problem will intensify in the coming months with the recession and the restrictive measures imposed by the IMF-EU agreement. "There will be a cumulative effect between the abolition of tax relief, cuts in welfare, freezes wages and pensions, rising prices and interest rates," explains the manager. Ironically, this makes the success of collection companies. "It would create a weekly basis. They are there to exert psychological pressure, they even go to the neighbors, "denounces Natalia. On the mode of cobrador do fraque (collector habit), a local tradition in which the collector, dressed in black coat, says his victim …