Alone, Total, BNP Paribas and France Telecom accounts for one third of total profits. Total remaining the most profitable company in France (by far) Continue along the road and with an increase in profits by 28.1% in the first half of 2010 versus the first half of 2009.Other companies that have successfully managed the first half of the year, L'Oreal and LVMH, the luxury market is still juicy, Sanofi-Aventis and Capgemini, who continue their acquisition strategy.

Bernard Spitz. – Insurers are aware of the state of public finances and ready to participate in the effort. But the "planer" has been heavy handed. These measures are excessively severe: according to our calculations, they could not represent three billion euros, but up to 4.7 billion. Of the 10 billion effort on the niches sought at all, is asking a lot insurers and policyholders. And it is inconsistent with the objective of the economy and employment. Indeed, money from life insurance does not sleep. It is invested in long-term 54% companies in the form of shares or bonds.And the rest financed mainly sovereign debt.

But you knew that the tax shelters were the target of government …

Life insurance is not a niche tax! It is easy to label and all the products that we want to address. In the case of life insurance is particularly unjustified. She has a specific tax regime, as all savings products, which is the logical counterpart of an investment horizon longer term. Life insurance is not a niche, is the principal residence of the French investment!

What action is the worst?

All the measures presented have a strong impact. But the truth regarding the tax on capital reserves would undermine the solvency of insurers at a time when the sector must adapt to turmoil with Prudential Solvency II.It is indeed a drain 1.6 billion on capital of insurers can only affect their competitiveness in terms of solvency. We did not ask the French swimmers to compete in the European Championships with a sack weighted with stones … Do not ask the insurers!

Regarding life insurance, it is not a levy increase. The contract holders will pay just multichannel CSG and CRDS earlier on their compartment euro …

Exactly. However, this measure presents legal problems. The MPT contract, even if it has a compartment in euros and another in units of account, is everything. The product from its compartment euro is assumed that during the settlement of the contract. It will then reimburse the insured the overflow of CSG and CRDS eventually paid.Also, this would mean a very heavy management for insurance companies.

Baroin believes that insurers and mutuals have the ability to not pass on, the new tax agreements supplemental health officials. What do you think?

I fear that this is not so simple. The competition will be between companies, but the tax will necessarily be passed on to policyholders. Is mechanical. The Unocam, which brings together professionals in the supplemental health insurance, had proposed a plan of 3 billion euros in savings on health spending. These are structural reforms of this kind should be put in place rather than increasing taxes.

What do you do to limit the impact of these measures?

We look first to know the exact content of the texts.Then we will make proposals to the government as the national representatives in a positive way. If appropriate regulations improve the competitive environment of our businesses in France and Europe, this will be the best guarantee for tax revenues.

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Avtovaz does not leave this market segment to competition from China or India. Granta is sold 220,000 rubles (5,600 euros). A price that is far below that of a Logan entry-level, hence the idea of the ultra-low-cost.

The rest is a matter of industrial process and sharing platform, the concept dear to car manufacturers and enabling them to lower their production costs.The Granta benefit from the platform of the Kalina, a model launched in 2004 which has not met with great commercial success. "Renault has helped teams Avtovaz to improve the quality of its models," said a spokesman for the French group. In addition, Avtovaz build its new city (of a size comparable to a Twingo) in its factory in Togliatti, 1,000 kilometers from Moscow, where labor costs remain low.

Tomorrow, the export?

For the Russian manufacturer, it is not missing the boat. This will be the first model launched by the "new" Avtovaz. However, the group really need to burnish his image and give it a quick facelift.

The Granta is primarily intended for the Russian market. But, like other Lada, it may be exported. "Renault will use this model was not defined e ', do you know in French. Everything is possible.Includes entry into the Western market for a new model even cheaper than Logan (7,600 euros in entry-level, excluding promotions).

Through Avtovaz, Renault approaching the threshold of new symbolic price of 5,000 euros which had underpinned the launch of the Logan, they are not reached by the group. For now, only few Chinese manufacturers and Avtovaz succeeded. In other words, there is no new car, responding to Western standards to 5.000 euros. The Granta could come fill this gap.

Other models of the group will soon be built at the factory in Togliatti. Beginning in 2012, adapted versions of Logan Lada station wagon and van will be manufactured, followed by Nissan, Renault and then two. A location of production that overcomes the prohibitive tariffs imposed by the Russian government.

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But the horizon may darken in the coming months. "We expected a good performance of consumption with purchases made ahead before stopping the car scrapping and entry into force of up 2 points from VAT, says Jesus Castillo, Natixis.In addition, new restrictive measures and labor market will always influence the damaged second half. "

Social unrest

• Budget: tough decisions on niches
• Pensions: outline of the reform should remain
• Towards the compulsory insurance underwriting loss of autonomy
• The delicate capital increase
• 2011 upturn expected for the job
• Paris wants to reform the international monetary system

Of the four returnees that Nicolas Sarkozy has had to manage since his election, now is probably the trickiest. Very politically charged, the fall will also heavy economically. Number of reforms and sensitive issues facing the head of state and government who begin their Wednesday Cabinet reentry in a tense social climate.

Contrary to tradition, the vote of the Finance Bill 2011 will not be the first meeting of the economic return.It will be preceded by consideration of the Assembly, from September 7, the pension reform. The fiercely contested between a Labour Minister, Eric Woerth, weakened by the controversies that have continued over the summer, and an opposition determined to block any progress, including the extension to 62 years of retirement age.

But the pressure in this landmark case – the Head of State intends to establish his image as a reformer, especially with financial markets – especially coming from the street. Unions, braced against a reform they consider "unfair and ineffective", the French call en masse to protest on September 7. A mobilization that looks very well attended, in the street, transport and some public services where strikes were not hard to exclude. This day of action will not be the last.Meeting Monday at FSU, the unions agreed to see the 8 "decide how to proceed quickly, probably before September 29, when a euromanifestation against the austerity policies.

Behind the social issues lies the question of growth. For despite the increase of 0.6% of GDP in the second quarter, the horizon remains uncertain. And the downward revision of 0.5 percentage points of growth for 2011, together with further cuts in public spending and tax loopholes, reflects these uncertainties. "France has suffered a negative shock with its strong and deep recession of 2008 and 2009, says Philippe Waechter, director of economic research at Natexis Asset Management. A policy is too restrictive in order to quickly rebalance public finances will penalize the economy. "The paradox of this situation is summarized by the rating agency Moody's.This concern, last week, the deteriorating situation of public finances States rated "AAA", inviting them to structural reforms to rebalance their accounts. On Monday, the same agency cautioned, however, put the European states against a too rigorous, which could negatively affect their growth and influence their debt. In short, the government must practice strict management of public finances without too strict. A delicate balancing act …

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Budget: tough decisions on niches

In Paris while the CAC 40 has lost about 5% in just four sessions of sharp decline – 10.5% after winning nine consecutive sessions of gains – the hesitation gave way late in the session at a beautiful hike .The CAC 40 gained 1.61% at 3576.45 points.

The euro was down, circa 1750, at 1.2337 dollars (-0.40%), while the gold – even likely – is still dealing $ 1,250 (-0.29%).

A well-attended American Statistical

At the European Central Bank, the M3 money supply fell by 0.2% in May, and remains unchanged over the month. Credit to private sector in euro area gained 0.2% in May over one year, after increasing 0.1% the previous month, according to preliminary results announcement on Monday by the European Central Bank

On the macroeconomic front, U.S. consumer spending rose 0.2% after remaining flat in April, according to statistics released Monday by the Commerce Department. Economists and analysts polled by Reuters had forecast an average increase of 0.1%.

The household income has risen in parallel by 0.4% after rising 0.5% a month earlier.Real disposable income has increased it by 0.5% in May after rising 0.6% the previous month.

The savings rate of Americans has reached 4.0% against 3.8% in April, which represents an additional savings of 454.3 billion annual rate, the highest level since September.

The index of consumer prices PCE excluding food and energy, rose 1.3% over the last 12 months, the Commerce Department said, against 1.2% in April.

But the statistic most watched this week will be the number of applicants for overseas jobs, which will be released Friday, which should mark a break in trend, with new positions expected destruction.But a rebound in employment in the private sector is also expected on Friday to reassure the markets, analysts said Aurel Bgc.

The tax credit: disagreements

Priority of Paris and Berlin, the tax credit has received a cold reception in Toronto at the G20. Despite support from Washington and London, the final communique does not mention the tax lip as a legitimate option for banks to charge up the pieces of the crisis.

In contrast, three of Basel, the beginning of compromise seems to be emerging.The reform of financial regulation will be based primarily on strengthening capital standards imposed on banks, not the end of 2012 before.

On Monday just before noon, bank stocks are well oriented, but unequally: BNP Paribas stands out, gaining 2.48%, Societe Generale has assembled no more than 0.70% and 0.02% Credit Agricole.

Banques populaires Caisses d'Epargne According to information Wansquare, BPCE Foncia has decided to withdraw the sale. The preparation of a new law on directors and the rout of Urbania Group took account of the sale of the land.

Casino: -0.08% to 62.72 euros Jean-Charles Naouri, CEO of the group, delivered at Figaro's strategy to cope with a sluggish consumption in France, however, offset by continued momentum abroad.The boss has no plans to float Cdiscount and will focus more on small and medium format hypermarkets (6 000-8 000 square meters), rather than the hypermarkets.

Trigano will on Monday publish its turnover for the third quarter of fiscal offset. Shares rise 1.07% to 14.705 euros in mid-day.

LE FIGARO. – You transfer some of your activities in Great Britain. Would you withdraw from the country?

Henri de Castries. – No, no way. It is not out of the United Kingdom but we concentrate, as in our other markets, segments on the most strategic and fastest growing.Therefore we give only a part of our life insurance in Britain: the activities of traditional life insurance, as we had also stopped developing in 2002 because they no longer matched the expectations of our customers while being highly capital consuming. However, we maintain a portfolio of more modern products, whose growth prospects seem high and where margins are more consistent with the group average which is between 15% and 20%. Moreover, the operation does not damage insurance, or health.With this transaction for 2.75 billion pounds (3.3 billion euros), we derive the capital that we can redeploy where customer needs are the greatest.

Is this a turning point in your strategy? And should we expect AXA on acquisitions in emerging markets?

The crisis has caused a market decline and a new distribution of growth areas. It has not changed the major principles of our strategy, instead. We'll continue developing our core businesses for damages, life insurance, asset management through organic growth and, opportunistically, through acquisitions. The developed markets still have good growth prospects, even if only from the effect of demographic changes, but we work in parallel on an allocation of our resources to emerging countries in Asia, of course, but not only.There are actually three other major areas of expansion: the Central and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean area and Latin America. In Asia, growth is actually attractive. But the modalities of development of foreign players are still complex, especially in China and India. So do not confine our ambitions to these two major markets.

In Asia, the failure of the attempted takeover by Prudential AIA offers does it generate new opportunities?

Prudential was willing to put a price on the table that seemed very exaggerated. Our priority in Asia today is to conclude the transaction on Axa Asia Pacific. Then we'll see …

In Europe, the prudential rules could push banks to divest their insurance subsidiaries. Axa is he interested?

We observe closely what is happening.But no movement of magnitude is possible – for Axa as with all other major players – as we are not clear about what will be the regulation of the bank and the insurance. Then we will examine the opportunities. But I prefer to say at the outset that we, the insurers will not be easy these suppliers of capital as some might hope. We are ready to balanced partnerships with banks. But the distribution network – in this case banking – should not count on us to collect commissions unreasonable.

What about your thoughts on the construction of a new business plan?

It is actually an ongoing process, but we do actually re-adjustment of our business plan in light of the crisis, which has changed the level of our market and changed their dynamics.The result of our thoughts on our new objectives will be known early next year.

How do you rate prudential reforms as they prepare?

Insurers who had managed to remain faithful to their trades have weathered to the crisis. No European player has needed to raise capital. We agree with the economic approach to Solvency II proposes that risk, but be careful to calibrate as insurers meet an essential mission: they are long term investors, thus stabilizing the natural system. Nobody has an interest in an excess of zeal on the part of the prudential regulator activity handicap players like us. Therefore, the new standards should not result in additional capital needs. More broadly, these reforms raise a fundamental question: Europeans' appetite for risk.This is a new phase of debate on the precautionary principle: there is too much caution can be harmful. In this case, it can cause no growth. It must strike the right balance.

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The markets have literally beaten to a few minutes left to return to the green. Before that, the entire session was marked by a gradual decline of the indices, itself caused by the publication of a round of disappointing macroeconomic indicators:

– Entries weekly unemployment rose in the United States during the week to June 12, at 472 000 460 000 against the previous week, according to the Department of Labor. Economists had expected jobless claims averaged 450,000. The entries of the week to June 5 were also revised up from an initial estimate of 456,000.

– Consumer prices in May have suffered their biggest drop since a year and a half under the ambit of the sharp drop in energy costs. The index of consumer prices adjusted for seasonal variations show a decline of 0.2%, the biggest drop since December 2008. Economists and analysts were predicting a similar decline after a decline of 0.1% in April.

– The current account deficit widened in the first quarter to 109 billion dollars, or 3% of GDP, compared to fourth quarter 2009. This is his third consecutive quarterly increase since the low of $ 84.4 billion in the second quarter of 2009, when the international commercial exchange had significantly contracted due to recession.

– The index of industrial activity in terms of the Federal Reserve of Philadelphia has emerged significantly weaker than expected in June and called for a fragile economic recovery in the United States. The index came in at 8 in June as against 20.9 expected and 21.4 in May The employment component falling in the negative, at -1.5 against 3.2 in May, the lowest since November 2009.

– The index of U.S. leading indicators registered a record high in May, according to the Conference Board, suggesting that the recovery of the U.S. economy will continue. The index rose 0.4% to 109.9, after having stagnated in April. Economists projected an increase of 0.5%.The index should continue to increase but more modestly in the coming months due to an unemployment rate still important.

Little comfort in Brussels

The markets were also attentive to the summit of European leaders in Brussels today. Following discussions, the French president Nicolas Sarkozy has sought to reassure markets about the financial health of Spain. Thus, any rescue plan would be the agenda, contrary to rumors markets.

European shares closed higher on a small, grim. The euro, however, is ironed for the first time since late May over the threshold of $ 1.24, to 1.2413 dollar to 18 hours.

AOL supervised

On the side of values, according to several American media, the internet group AOL (1.66% to 22.65 dollars) is about to give the social network Bebo to an investment fund, Criterion Capital Partners, a small fraction of the price he had paid to take it two years ago.

Always on the side of values, FedEx (-0.05% to 78.11 dollars) Wednesday reported a quarterly profit slightly above expectations.

Also note Apple (1.73% to 271.87 U.S. dollars) which said it had registered more than 600,000 bookings for the new version of the iPhone during the first day of marketing.

JM Smucker (6.58% to 61.55 dollars), a group specializing in food, has reported a turnover of 1.07 billion dollars for its fourth fiscal quarter and a Earnings per share (EPS) of $ 1.07 before exceptional items.

Pier 1 Imports (2.62% to 8.23 dollars) a manufacturer of furniture, for its part, reported an unexpected profit adjusted under its first fiscal quarter in favor of improving its sales business on a comparable basis and its margins.

In Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Nicolas Sarkozy urged the European Commission to "accelerate its work" for an "enhanced supervision" of financial markets in a joint letter to José Manuel Barroso. Thus, Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy felt that "there is an urgent need for the Commission to expedite its work with regard to the enhanced framework of sovereign CDS market and short sales, and this before the July Ecofin all possible courses of action. "The Heads of State put forward "the return of high market volatility, which makes it legitimate to wonder about some specific financial techniques and the use of certain derivatives such as naked short selling and credit default swaps (CDS).

Financial reform expected U.S. June 26

Across the Atlantic, there is evidence that financial reform should come from next June 26. Indeed, Republican Barney Frank and Democrat Christopher Dodd, father of the original text on financial reform, agreed yesterday on a planning committee that would allow the Senate and House of Representatives to harmonize their versions. For now, both houses of Representatives have both passed a different version of the text. Elected officials from each chamber are now trying to work on a common version.Congress hopes to be ready for the G20 to be held on 26 and 27 June in Toronto and where regulation of the financial sector will be a central theme. The final text could be adopted just before the recess of parliament in early July. It will then be submitted to the U.S. president Barack Obama for enactment.

Adoption of a system of circuit breakers

Also in this effort to regulate the financial sphere, the system of "circuit breaker" required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could come into force next Monday. It provides for a suspension of trade in a way that would have fluctuated more than 10% in less than five minutes on the market. With this rule, the Constable of U.S. financial markets hoping to avoid the stock market panic like that of May 6.The SEC is considering extending these fuses, which concern the time being listed companies in the Standard & Poor's 500, over a thousand companies.