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Axa Thursday completed the sale of part of its UK business group Resolution. A transaction for the equivalent of 3.3 billion euros, reflecting an exceptional depreciation of 1.4 billion euros in the accounts of Axa. The company, however, remain profitable in the first half. Its CEO, Henri de Castries, puts this sale as part of the strategy group.

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 White House is ready to do battle with BP. Pace in London who tries to minimize the diplomatic chill cast by the ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, Barack Obama is stepping up its action against the British group. The U.S. president, criticized for his handling of the spill will travel again on the coast, meeting with leaders of BP, and deliver a formal speech to the nation. Such a device intervention is rare. It reflects not only the seriousness of the situation but also the new turn of the screw that the U.S. government wants to give his handling of the disaster.

Thus, the Obama administration requires that the oil put under receivership on payment of its dividend. The goal is to create a fund to pay the damages claimed by the victims of the disaster.On Sunday, White House adviser David Axelrod said "BP has the resources to cover the damage and we will make sure they will do well." He said an independent management of the fund would ensure that the money will be paid on time.

Discussions in BP

The oil group did not show opposition to the creation of such a fund. The board will discuss on Monday at its weekly meeting. It will also define the issue of ownership policy group that should be announced July 27. According to the British press, the English major is preparing to announce a postponement of payment of dividend payable for the second quarter.

In addition, BP could lose control of its oil and natural gas in the U.S. and be allowed to have business with the federal government as a penalty.But that does not stop there. BP could also pay a fine of up to $ 8.6 billion under Oil Pollution Act.

Largest drop in the FTSE

This greater commitment of the Obama administration to want to pay BP is poorly perceived by investors. The track folds nearly 2.5% in morning London Stock Exchange and sign the biggest drop in the FTSE, which advances it by 0.5%. After sessions particularly volatile oil of the title had already sold nearly 10% last week. Since the beginning of the accident, the market value of BP was reduced by almost 44%.

The United Kingdom is helping to champion its oil. British Prime Minister David Cameron and his finance minister George Osborne reiterated the importance of BP for English and American economies Friday. The group is under fire from critics across the Atlantic for his management of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

According to a spokesman for the Prime Minister, David Cameron, "said he was in everyone's interest that BP remains a financially strong and stable". Nearly 40% of shareholders are British-including 25% of pension funds, and 40% are also Americans. The support of London has boosted the share price BP, whose market capitalization has lost several billion dollars since the explosion of the platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The title BP ended the session Friday up 7.2% in London, and 3.63% in New York.

Less good news for shareholders, BP has decided to suspend the payment of dividends, the Times of London. "The board of directors met Monday to approve the temporary deferral of payment of dividends," writes the British daily. BP has not confirmed the information, but the Chief Executive, Tony Hayward, told the Wall Street Journal that he was considering not paying dividends.

David Cameron is to hold talks on the phone with Barack Obama on Saturday 17h. The exchange promises to be tense: the two leaders must stand firm against their public opinion. The first to defend a large national group, the second to refute accusations of inaction.

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A meeting of consolidation looms on the Paris Bourse. After Thursday's rebound, which helped win 40 auCAC 1.59%, investors should take advantage of this last day of the week to lift the foot. In any case, the path that has been selected by U.S. operators yesterday. The Dow Jones, which had won 2.25% Wednesday, finished the balance 0.06% Thursday. This morning, their counterparts in Asia have followed suit. Thus, the Japanese Nikkei remained in balance throughout the session while the rest of the financial centers of the region declined slightly.

The wait should also dominate this session before the release of highly anticipated monthly report on U.S. employment, which will be published early this afternoon. Yesterday, the markets have had a foretaste of what awaited the publication of a fall, slightly above expectations ds, the weekly number of new unemployed (453,000).The firm ADP, meanwhile, announced that the private sector was announced in May its fourth consecutive month of net job creation (55 000). Despite these figures, the head of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), Ben Bernanke, said he still worried about the employment situation overseas. An hour after the publication of the report, the Fed chairman Atlanta, Dennis Lockhart will speak on the economic outlook and the banking environment.

Note that the second estimate of euro area GDP in the first quarter will be unveiled in the morning.

Thales observed by Christian Estrosi

In an interview with Les Echos published Thursday, Industry Minister Christian Estrosi, spoke in favor of a rapprochement between the players of the electronics and embedded software as those of Thales No teletrek payday advance.

The Strategic Investment Fund (ISF) is mounted in the capital of CGG Veritas up to a little over 170 million euros, or 6% of capital.

France Telecom said Thursday it had abandoned its proposed merger with its Swiss subsidiary Sunrise, a subsidiary of TDC, but did not specify its intentions for other building projects in the country.

Airbus, EADS subsidiary, has registered 73 net orders from January to May, but still lagging behind U.S. rival Boeing, which has registered 111, according to the trade balance of the two aircraft manufacturers.

BPCE, parent company of Natixis, formalized the merger Thursday holdings of shares of Banques Populaires and Caisses d'Epargne.

BNP Paribas, Fortis bought at the height of the financial crisis, announced Thursday an agreement in principle to merge its Turkish subsidiary with that of the Belgian bank.

National Australia Bank has found three candidates may be interested in acquiring a platform investment Axa Asia-Pacific by Australian newspaper on Friday.

Atos Origin has tabled an offer for the resumption of WorldPay, a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Scotland, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Jean-Louis Beffa, the chairman of Saint Gobain, has formalized his departure at the annual general meeting Thursday. His successor, Pierre-Andre de Chalendar confirmed its objective of a rebound results in 2010 and said to expect solid growth in operating income in the first half, compared to the same period last year.

From 1 July 2010 will require some additional documents to send a letter. The price of the stamp of the priority letter weighing less than 20 grams will increase from 0.56 to 0.58 euro, an increase of 3.5%. The economic costs will also increase by two cents to 0.53 euros.

This is the sixth increase in eight years. The price of the stamp for a letter of less than 20 grams had already earned a penny last year. But Post said she "is in the average tariffs in Europe even though the universal service commitments of the post office and geographic constraints are higher in France" instant payday loan.

"The rising price of stamps will have a minimal impact on the household budget, or approximately 0.10 ? per month per household," the statement said.In addition, The Post said they considered the economic situation by adjusting charges for companies depending on their situation: there will be no change for major mailers and the increase will be 0.6% Small and medium enterprises.

A colossal sum greater than the budget of the National Education (61 billion). Highly concentrated: 16 niches alone capturing half the cost for public finances.

However, it is often those most economically useful. So goes there for the two most expensive devices: reduced VAT for maintenance in housing, which supports the construction sector and limit the black, and the research tax credit, which helps innovation.

Even finding the side of households, half the cost of tax loopholes is on tax cuts on income. It includes the premium for employment, the benefits of life insurance or the tax cut for working as employees at home. Suffice to say that these niches are very popular among the French! What makes the issue politically sensitive.In addition, certain devices have become political symbols untouchable, like reduced VAT in restaurants, promised by Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy obtained payday loans online. Finally address the benefits of retirees is not straightforward.

To avoid the worst abuses – some taxpayers paying more tax because of all these devices – Parliament has capped the niche end of 2008. He then reduced that limit last year. A taxpayer can not reduce income taxes by using loopholes in the tax in excess of an amount equal to 20 000 plus 8% of its taxable income. And almost all devices are now individually capped. Including niches overseas.

But reducing the niche 2 billion per year is a task far more difficult. Two competing options.Gilles Carrez, the UMP rapporteur of the Finance Committee in Parliament, hopes all planing devices 5% to 10%. The rate of tax reduction for use of an employee at home happen for example 50% to 45%. Bercy wishes to address the niches with the least sense. Elysee Matignon and have not yet decided.

The Swiss owner of the venerable jewelry brands Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels and Jaeger LeCoultre Watchmaking, Piaget and Vacheron Constantin, starts strong in electronic commerce. Richemont has launched an offer to acquire 100% of the commercial site with Anglo-Saxon Net-a-porter.com. He already owns one third of its capital. The deal values the start-up to 394 million euros.

Net-a-porter is one of the best success stories of fashion on the Internet. Founded in 2000 in London by Natalie Massenet, an Englishwoman raised in France, former fashion journalist in American magazines, it distributes worldwide about 300 items from great brands rather pointed, like Jimmy Choo, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen . The offer is presented in magazine format. The company based in London and New York last year realized a turnover of approximately 134 million euros.The founder sells 18% of the affair it still held, for an estimated 70 million euros. She will remain in place, deeply involved in its development.

"Given the amount, it is clearly a strategic investment, says it does among the Richemont instant payday loan. Net-a-porter will, like all our houses, totally independent. This will not become a channel for the group and we are pleased that the site continues to work with external marks. "So far, the Swiss has a modest presence on the site, including via its label Chloe.

Richemont nevertheless demonstrates a firm belief in the future of e-commerce for luxury. "These are consumers who will decide," Does it tempers in Geneva. So far the industry has been very careful – if reluctantly – to invest the net.The adventure of LVMH in the early 2000s in its U.S. e-luxury.com was cut short. According to a recent study by Precepta, web weighs only 3% of worldwide turnover of luxury. That figure could reach 4.7% in 2011, representing a market of 7 billion euros. The brands like Boucheron (a subsidiary of PPR), Cartier, recently the United States, Ralph Lauren and Gucci come gradually. Yoox.com The Italian, who has just come into stock, has developed a multi-brand and manages many e-shops for claws.

The index futures are predicting a slightly higher opening of U.S. markets. Shortly before the opening of Wall Street, futures on indices Standard & Poor's 500 and 10.8501961,50 points.

The U.S. markets have ended on a stable note Friday. The Dow Jones gained 0.08% to 10850, 36 and the Nasdaq 100 0.18% to 1952.63. The values of consumer durables and clothing and basic materials have gained ground. Conversely, those software and services and facilities and health services have been abused.

For U.S. investors await today in early afternoon revenues and expenditures of households for the month of February.

But the main highlight of the week on the macroeconomic level is expected Friday with the release of monthly statistics of unemployment in the United States.But U.S. markets will be closed as usual April 2 for the Friday that precedes Easter. Investors can therefore respond to the employment figures as the following week. They should focus their attention until the "Leading indicators of employment 'perception of the labor market by households, with the Conference Board survey from Tuesday, then the number of ADP private practice Wednesday. According to the makers of "Aurel BGC, the consensus of economists expect a sharp rebound in job creation."But, "this movement is partly technical, related to the reintegration of people who temporarily lost their jobs because of weather conditions in February …" add the specialists Aurel BGC.

Other key indicators of the week will be Tuesday house prices and an estimate of consumer confidence, Wednesday the index of activity in the Chicago area and the numbers of orders in February. Thursday last week's meeting, the market will focus on the ISM index of manufacturing activity and construction spending in March.

On the currency markets, the euro continued to recover against the greenback after the announcement last Thursday of an agreement between the countries of the eurozone to help Greece with the participation of the IMF.The euro was trading above $ 1.34 in the morning.

The values listed, Chinese, Geely signed Sunday an agreement with Ford on the acquisition of Volvo cars. The sale had been expected for several weeks, the Geely group wishing to build a Volvo plant in Beijing for its domestic market. Ford said the transaction was $ 1.8 billion and would be finalized during the third quarter.By selling Volvo, bought 6.45 billion dollars in 1999, and Ford sells the latest brand of upscale pole he had wanted to be and which also included Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover.

According to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, Verizon Communications, the second mobile operator in the United States, is in talks to merge with Vodafone.

Companies are also starting to communicate on the cost of health reform. AT & T announced a provision of 1 billion, Caterpillar announced a 100 million dollars and Deere & Co, an extraordinary expense of 150 million. The impact of this legislation on corporate performance is difficult to estimate the short term. The new law eliminates many tax deductions that companies used to reduce health costs for retirees.

Credit Suisse said Thursday that its chief executive Brady Dougan had received 19.2 million Swiss francs (13 million euros) in cash and stock for the year 2009, making it one of the leaders the more lucrative banking sector.

This high level of pay, despite the profits generated by the bank in 2009 and its recent efforts to make its system more transparent compensation, likely to raise criticism from shareholder activists and political parties in Switzerland, where the Parliament debate new wage rules including the introduction of a ceiling on salaries.

In detail, the head of the Swiss bank has received a base salary of 1.3 million Swiss francs and a bonus of 17.9 million.

Huge side of France

"Such compensation for the CEO of Credit Suisse seems huge in terms of what affect the patterns of French banks," says Cyril Bellanger, at Proxinvest. At Societe Generale, Frederic Oud?a received 1.11 million euros of fixed and variable."He had no options or free shares," says analyst research firm specializing in executive compensation.

At BNP Paribas, Baudouin Prot has received 950,000 euros of fixed and 1.4 million bonus. The bank emerged in 2009 a net profit of 5.8 billion euros (+93%), third in the ranking of the best banking performance in 2009, after Barclays and Santander.

Other DGs have refused their bonuses

In Britain, the CEO of Barclays John Varley declined – as in 2008 – to receive his bonus for Payday Loan Bad Credit . The British bank posted a profit doubled to 10.4 billion pounds over the past year, crushing all its European competitors.The institution intends to distribute 1.5 billion in cash bonuses.

Same attitude towards Royal Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh: Stephen Hester has waived his bonus. The Scottish bank posted a net loss after minority interests of 3.6 billion pounds, about 4.1 billion euros, against a loss of 24.3 billion the previous year.

Back in Switzerland, the CEO of the first institution in Switzerland, UBS, Oswald Gr?bel has waived its variable pay and decided to reduce his base salary of 2 million Swiss francs to 850,000 francs (583,000 euros).It is the responsibility of the Investment Banking Division which was the better off for the year 2009 with a premium of 12.5 million Swiss francs, or 8.6 million.

In late January, in a context where wages are banking scandal in the United States and despite a profit of nearly $ 5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2009, Goldman Sachs has decided to limit the pay of the hundred top leaders based the United Kingdom, one million pounds (1.13 million euros).

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The Internet of tomorrow is on track. Cisco Systems on Tuesday launched a new twelve times more powerful than its competitors. Its name: the CRS-3.

The U.S. telecom equipment shows its capacity of 332 billion bits per second, indicating that it is possible to download the entire Library of Congress in a second. Or for a billion people watch a video simultaneously. This service delivers "the foundations of the new generation Internet," says John Chambers, Cisco's boss.

The operator AT & T has tested "successfully" the device in the context of testing a "backbone" – the core telecommunications network to interconnect networks smaller – a 100 gigabits between New Orleans and Miami bad credit personal loan lenders . A world premiere.

This announcement comes almost a month after the internet giant Google has announced its intention to become a pioneer of Internet access at very high speed installation in the coming months networks hundred times faster than ISPs exist in the United States.

Around 18:30, the Cisco Systems shares lose more than 0.15%, to 26.1 dollars, after having degraded to about 1% just before the announcement. "Investors had anticipated this announcement at least one day before," said one analyst.

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