World and National News

Opening in fall of 0.25% at 10,015 points, the Dow Jones continues on the downward slope. The 10,000 points are close, while Monday and Tuesday, the index has already fallen sharply.

On Wednesday, new orders for durable goods in the U.S. rose 0.3%, much lower than expected in July, and after two consecutive months of declines. A further blow, when an increase of 2.8% was expected, especially by public transport, with the Farnborough Airshow (47 billion dollars in one week).

Fears of a slowdown in economic activity grows with each new bad news in that order. Just yesterday, sales of existing homes fell more than 27%, which has shaken global stock markets.And U.S. growth should be revised down sharply on Friday.

The technology followed

As for values, technology, which derive from several days down the coast, remain controlled. Especially since they are also often at the heart of big mergers and acquisitions.

The investors thus have an eye on Cisco (-0.9% to 20.93 dollars) and Dell (0.73% to 11.67 dollars), penalized by expectations of raising its bid for 3PAR (-1 , 07% to $ 26.75).The maker of data storage systems has announced on Tuesday he gave three days at computer maker Dell to revise upwards its bid after bid "probably higher" Hewlett-Packard ( HP, 0.37% to 38.53 dollars).

The saga of the hostile takeover of mining giant BHP Billiton (-1.12% to 64.69 dollars) – which today presents its annual results, with net profit more than doubled in 2009/10 to 12.72 billion dollars – the king of fertilizers Potash (-1.42% to 146.99 dollars), seeking a white knight, bounces. The U.S. stock regulator, the SEC said on Tuesday the freezing of financial assets of two Spanish, one part of Banco Santander, on accusations of insider trading in the attempted takeover of Canadian fertilizer producer Potash mining group BHP Billiton.

On the occasion of the presentation of its accounts, however, BHP Billiton is used to calm speculation the event of any significant raising its hostile bid of 39 billion dollars (30 billion euros) Potash fertilizer leading manufacturer in the world, despite the magnitude of his war chest.

The U.S. computer giant Apple (-0.15% to 238.58 dollars) is close to a deal with Disney media groups (-0.5% to U.S. $ 31.98) and News Corp., parent of chains Television, Fox to offer their series to rent on iTunes, said Tuesday the New York Times.

Campbell, world number one soup, advances in its acquisition of Britain's United Biscuits, and more specifically, its branch Biscuits, which represents three-quarters of its business.

When you are searching for car insurance it's important that you do your homework and shop around. I would suggest you get at least 3 quotes from 3 different companies so you can make your own decision.

The index futures Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 fell back modestly, respectively, from 0.04% to 1049.40 points and 0.17% to 1770.75 points in mid-day. The Dow Jones is projected to open in tiny drop of 0.06%

The U.S. stock market could then recover a bit, after falling heavily on Tuesday night. They have been depressed by the announcement of resales of existing homes to a record low. The Dow Jones has sold 1.3%, barely above the 10,000 points, to 10,040.45 points exactly. Fears of a slowdown in economic activity grows with each new bad news in that order. Especially since U.S. growth should be revised down sharply on Friday.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the new macroeconomic indicators should be more optimistic than yesterday. Sales of existing homes could well rebound.Orders for durable goods may for them be more frank increase in July. An increase in relative terms, however, because it will rely heavily on transport, especially for orders received in July, at the last Farnborough Air Show (47 billion dollars in one week).

As for values, technology, which derive from several days down the coast, remain controlled. Especially since they are also often at the heart of big mergers and acquisitions.

Investors keep an eye on Cisco (-2.5% Tuesday in closing) and Dell (-3%), penalized by expectations of raising its bid for 3PAR.The maker of data storage systems has announced on Tuesday he gave three days at computer maker Dell to revise upwards its bid after bid "probably higher" Hewlett-Packard ( HP).

The saga of the hostile takeover of mining giant BHP Billiton (which today presents its annual results, with net profit more than doubled in 2009/10 to 12.72 billion dollars) on the King of Potash Fertilizer in search a white knight bounces. The U.S. stock regulator, the SEC said on Tuesday the freezing of financial assets of two Spanish, one part of Banco Santander, on accusations of insider trading in the attempted takeover of Canadian fertilizer producer Potash mining group BHP Billiton.On the occasion of the presentation of its accounts, however, BHP Billiton is used to calm speculation the event of any significant raising its hostile bid of 39 billion dollars (30 billion euros) Potash fertilizer leading manufacturer in the world, despite the magnitude of his war chest.

The U.S. computer giant Apple is close to a deal with media companies Disney and News Corp., parent company of TV channels, Fox series to offer their rent on iTunes, said Tuesday the New York Times.

Campbell, world number one soup, advances in its acquisition of Britain's United Biscuits, and more specifically, its branch Biscuits, which represents three-quarters of its business.

Potash did not find "white knight", but, as expected, refused the offer considered inadequate for BHP Billiton. It is thus a failure for BHP Billiton, one week after Potash rejected his friendly offer of 38.6 billion dollars. "The board of directors of Potash Corp. is unanimous in its opinion that BHP Billiton's offer significantly undervalues the group and reflects neither its number one position in a strategic sector or our growth prospects unparalleled, "said the CEO of the Canadian group, Bill Doyle in a statement. The Canadian group calls its shareholders to reject hostile bid also BHP Billiton.At the London Stock Exchange, the markets welcomed information: the action BHP Billiton gained 2% to 1,857.50 pence in a market up 0.80%.

Confirming the information conveyed by some media as the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, Potash studying "alternative transaction" with other potential buyers. "Discussions are taking place with several of these third parties in order to generate value-creating alternatives" Potash Corp. has developed.

The Wall Street Journal, a consortium led by a Chinese investment fund, Hopu Investment Management, is studying the possibility of submitting a bid to Potash.As for Bloomberg, he argues the tracks of Chinese Sinochem and Brazilian Vale.

The world's largest producer of potash hopes to make this operation more than 39 billion dollars (30.7 billion euros) proposed by BHP Billiton.

The Anglo-Australian mining giant BHP Billiton last week announced a hostile takeover bid that values Potash Corp. of around 40 billion dollars, 31 billion euros, which opened formally on Friday.

LE FIGARO. – How do you improve your sales and your profits in the first half?

Benoît Potier. – It's an interesting semester. It marks both a recovery in volumes directly linked to the global economy and an upturn in industrial projects. The industry again expressed his interest in the preparation of the future.

We found the pre-crisis levels in virtually all market segments. Only construction accuses six to twelve months behind schedule. Offset restart cycles. Overall, growth in volumes that logically resulted in 10% of our turnover, which grows in all businesses and geographies. However, Air Liquide is one of the industries that were more resistant, with a decline of only 5% in 2009. Moreover, our turnover is 4% higher than the first half of 2008.In this period of euphoria that some groups show up to 30% growth, it is important to see what is the basis for comparison. Our results were up 12% over the same period in 2008.

You can find levels of profitability higher than pre-crisis. Your business has changed significantly in two years?

There is a real disconnect between emerging and mature economies. Our sales increased by 6% in mature economies and 30% in emerging which represent 20% "only" the activity of the group, or two thirds of our growth. In twelve months, the distribution of our investments has changed structurally. It went from 50/50 between emerging and mature to 80/20.However, be careful not to bury the mature markets, growth of 6% is good, there are many industries that satisfied with them.

But to give you an example, our sales in China in the first half of 2010 rose 65% and they had also increased last year. China is catching up with the level of industrialized countries in streamlining its industry. There is no excess production capacity. Typically, we have seen closure of four sites steelmakers, grouped into a larger one. The latter now invests in technology and modern capabilities. All the industrial world benefit.

Chemistry, property and equipment, how do you explain that the whole industry registered a sharp improvement in its growth and profitability?

The crisis has hit so hard that companies do not have any choice.They had to rest fundamental questions about their structures, their capacity, so their exposure to market, their management parameters. I think all industries are now much stronger than before the crisis. Faced with problems of liquidity and access to financing, companies have strengthened their balance sheets. Their debts are either stable – for those who invest and continue to grow, it is the case of Air Liquide – is declining.

What do you recommend to stop the loss of competitiveness of French industry?

It is a vast subject. The ideal solutions for the industry have not yet been found in Europe and in different countries. Whether as a planned or coordinated, it seems that Europe has not sufficiently defined what strategies or industrial sectors in which it wants to occupy a leadership position.It means rather the leaders speak on a national solution, which is logical, but we do not have European body for industrial communication, unlike the U.S., China and Japan which are three countries integrated and better than us in the definition of industrial strategy. We are losing a major card: The strength in unity. In addition it must maintain a production base in Europe, since that's where ideas materialize. Without production, we have more innovation, but only for research.

European standards they penalize the industry?

Europe does not want to be a hindrance, but it seems to suffer from the narrowness of the missions that have been determined in different organs. The European Central Bank is there to control inflation while the Fed has a wider role.The European Commission organizes the market, ensures fluidity but has no mandate to make Europe competitive beyond its borders. It does not take sufficient account of the external markets. The European institutions can improve.

What makes you confident for the end of the year and may be beyond?

The resumption of growth projects. Signing of contracts shows that the client is ready to commit and so are we. Every time we sign a contract, we bring a stone to the growth of 2012-2013, or even 2015.

You do not fear a relapse of the economy?

The answer is clear: no. We have seen nothing that points in the first half as a direct risk. Since the crisis, we follow the weekly volume of gas consumed by our customers.In case of "double deep", it would stop producing customers, making maintenance. This is not the case. The situation is normal. It must occur because the world consumes. We are almost out of the zone of turbulence to go toward growth, even if the signal "attached belt" remains lit.

ALSO READ:

"Air Liquide is still growth in 2010

Turnaround at the Paris Bourse. The CAC 40, which had started the session on a drop of 0.59% to 3473.48 points, the green is gone over in around 10:30 am and continues to increase its gains since. Halfway through, the key index in Paris gained 1.48% to 3545.56 points. After the opening of Wall Street, the ACC has added to his lead to cross over the 3600 points at closing and post a gain of more than 3.05% at 3,600.057 points.

Main explanation: the set of indicators published in the euro area, which show a recovery in the private sector. Can better results than expected for a large number of American business.

– Composite Index Purchasing Managers (PMI) of the area rebounded in July for the first time in three months, to 56.7 points against 56 points in June, according to the firm Markit.In detail, the PMI manufacturing stood at 56.5 in the first estimate in July against 55.6 in June, while economists polled by Reuters had expected 55.2. The equivalent index for services rose to 56.0 against 55.5 last month and a consensus of 55.

– The industrial orders in the euro area recorded its strongest growth for 10 years + 3.8% in May from April and 22.7% compared to May 2009. Economists and analysts surveyed last week by Reuters on average expected stability for May compared to April and up 20.2% over one year.

– The German manufacturing PMI index stood at 61.2 against 58.4 seen in June and 58 expected by economists. As for Britain, the Office for National Statistics reported a 0.7% increase in retail sales compared to May and 1.3% over one year.Economists and analysts on average had forecast a rise of 0.5% a month to month and 1% compared to June 2009.

In France, INSEE announced before market that the morale of French consumers had stabilized in July after five months of degradation remains unchanged at -39, -40, when analysts had expected. The business climate indicator in industry climbed two points to 98, well above the 94 expected by observers. This is its highest level since July 2008. According to INSEE, the order books are filling up again but are still scanty.

The good news is a bit overshadowed the remarks of Ben Bernanke on the U.S. economic recovery. Judge it still too slow and the outlook remains uncertain, paving the way for new measures to support monetary policy.These ads were yesterday meant to topple the Red Wall Street, while the U.S. stock market is moving in the green throughout the session credit reports free.

The bank climb until the stress test

Investors also await with anticipation the release Friday of the results of resistance testing What happened to the European banks. In an interview with Le Figaro, the Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde said she was "totally confident" about the results of French banks.

The banking sector appears up on Thursday, the eve of the results of stress tests of European banks.BNP Paribas (4.76%), Societe Generale (5.08%), Credit Agricole (5.55%) or Dexia (3.74%) were searched

Good resistance values related to the automobile

The supplier Faurecia (1.15% to 15.49 euros) announced before market coming out of the red in the first half of 2010, net income of 102 million euros against a loss of 365 million a year earlier. The group has also sharply raised its guidance for full year. Peugeot (3.15% to 23.73 euros) and Renault (3.36% to 34.26 euros) react to this new optimistic that counterbalances the announcement of a sharp decline in car registrations in Europe in June

For his part, Remy Cointreau (0.65% to 45.14 euros) announced a turnover in the first quarter of 2010 to 2011 of 170 million euros, up 23.6%.The group will propose a dividend of 1.30 euro to the general meeting of July 27, 2010.

Plastic Omnium (2.13 to 38.90 euros%) has announced a net profit of 72.3 million euros in the first half against 8 million euros a year earlier. Turnover amounted to 1.518 billion euros and the group expects a second half "dynamic".

Technip (7.42% to 52.07 euros) published a decline in its net profit by 8.7% to 106.1 million euros for a turnover down 14.3% at 1 48 billion euros. The objectives are confirmed.

Naproxcinod of Nicox rejected the U.S.

NicOx (-21.07% to 2.24 euros) could be heckled.The FDA, the authority of medicine in the United States, has rejected his request for the U.S. market Naproxcinod of this treatment against osteoarthritis, a product NicOx expects a lot.

Unibail-Rodamco (5.42% to 147.70 euros) on Wednesday decided to distribute 1.8 billion euros to its shareholders, or 20 euros per share in respect of a return of capital. The land has issued a recurring earnings per share of 4.70 euros in the first half of 2010. The band reveal all its first-half results after market close.

Optimism in the sky world. A few days before the opening of the Farnborough Airshow in the United Kingdom, Boeing set the tone. The American manufacturer has announced on Thursday it had revised upwards its forecast of orders for new aircraft by 2029.

In a report released in London, Boeing presented its annual outlook 2010. "The global market is in much better shape than last year, but challenges remain," said Randy Tinseth, vice president for marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, the branch's civil aviation manufacturer.Capitalizing on global growth than expected, Boeing expects that "the air traffic registered an increase this year, both for passengers and freight," said Randy Tinseth.

In the long term, Boeing said a total of 30.900 anticipate orders to the horizon 2029, a figure up 6.5% compared to the forecast of 29,000 made last year. These new orders represent a total 3.6 trillion dollars (2.788 trillion euros). For Boeing, the demand will be sustained in particular by increasing the number of LCCs and Acceleration replacement by airlines for their aircraft models écononomes fuel. And of course, by the "economic recovery".

A recovery that will boost air traffic.According to Boeing, the world air traffic will increase by 5.3% per year by 2029, with the number of passengers carried increased 4.2% per year over this period.

The most prominent aisle

To meet this demand, Boeing is betting on the single-aisle aircraft segment, which will benefit from the appetite of companies to lower costs. This type of aircraft has become the face of long-haul for a decade, says the U.S. group's report. "The airlines will choose to offer more flights using aircraft with more efficient (in terms of fuel consumption, Ed), rather than managing fleets of aircraft much larger," says Boeing. Consequently, the market for large aircraft (type 747 and beyond, namely the Airbus A380's competitor) will account for only 720 units, totaling 220 billion dollars.

Finally, over the next two decades, Boeing sees the Asia-Pacific than in North America as the first global airline market. According to the manufacturer's calculations, the Asia-Pacific will account for 43% of global air traffic by 2029.

To further extend the Dreamliner?

In this horizon rather than a black cloud emerged, however: the delivery of first Boeing Dreamliner could be postponed until early next year while the U.S. aircraft maker said earlier this month that it would intervene in the fourth quarter 2010. If ever the first delivery was a new delayed, the delay from the original schedule – May 2008 – would exceed two and a half years.

ALSO READ

"Where is the world aviation?

"Boeing and Airbus have been fighting for years

"New technical faults on the Boeing 787

The words of François Fillon is rare. Very calculated. No frills. A fortiori, when the prime minister decides to hold a press conference at Matignon. The first three years. This means if the head of government who just beat the longevity record of Jean-Pierre Raffarin chose solemnize a media intervention to seventy minutes.

Following the success of union mobilization against the proposed pension reform, Francois Fillon has stepped into the breach. Only behind his desk, the man of the previous pension reform in 2003, has no trouble capturing the subject. For ten minutes he hammered a message: the government will not budge on key pension reform. Especially not the raising to 62 the legal age of retirement."There can be no question of going back to what is the foundation of reform," he warned while leaving open the possibility of adjustments in other components of the project. "With the President of the Republic, we do our duty," he said, denouncing the balance of Martine Aubry, who has never "nothing" done to reform pensions. The number two PS Harlem Désir immediately blasted an "end of inadmissibility to the French" and a "strategy of contempt.

Closes on pensions, Francois Fillon has become frankly martial when he addressed the issue of recovery of public accounts. In the absence of Nicolas Sarkozy went to Toronto for the G20 summit and before the announcement next week of budgetary decisions, the Prime Minister gave the tempo.If the word is always strictly taboo in his mouth, he has taken a further notch by preparing the French to "extra efforts".

From the beginning of the week the Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde and Secretary General of the Elysee, Claude Gueant, have succeeded in the media to prepare minds for a new round of screws. Donning the costume of Raymond Barre Matignon in 1976 presenting his first austerity plan, Francois Fillon hammered. Drawing on the same register as his distant predecessor, it took time, "Do not expect me to be a weakness guilty.It is time to break the spiral of debt. "

Challenging the word rigor, Fillon has warned that there would be bad news: "If growth were to be slightly less buoyant than expected, we should not shrink from the need for additional efforts." For the first Minister (as Christine Lagarde) appears to be no illusions about the growth forecasts. Proof? He has already planned, "according to the situation," amplify the movement of the plane on the tax loopholes 5-8500000000 to offset the shortfall.

Christian Blanc must repay

This will be blood and tears. Francois Fillon, who was signed in 2006 a book entitled France can bear the truth, was not afraid to break the taboo Friday Sarkozyist of higher taxes: "We intend to eliminate or reduce many tax loopholes and social.So these are tax increases. "This time, it said.

Incidentally, the Prime Minister took the opportunity to prepare his ministers to painful measures. Severus, he recognized the "shortcomings and failures" without mentioning explicitly the cases involving members of his government (Christian Estrosi, Alain Joyandet, Rama Yade, Fadela Amara and especially Christian White). He admitted that there was "still room for improvement" to the ministers to show "exemplary".Francois Fillon, who has asked his Secretary of State Christian Blanc to repay their bill of 12,000 euros cigars, will announce "in the coming days," a "hardening" of the rules relating to accommodation, travel and lifestyle of Ministers.

Anyone who continues to dream of the "perfect lens" of a government limited to fifteen ministers expected already to be ruthless about limiting the number of ministerial advisors. A good way to rhyme "exemplary" and reducing government spending.

ALSO READ:

"Pensions: the Government will not retreat

"The Elysee will impose a dose of austerity departments

No change in the short term. But the door remains ajar for two more months. Nicolas Sarkozy held a meeting this FRIDAY on pension reform in the presence of several ministers: Baroin (Budget), Georges Tron (Public Service) and Eric Woerth (Labour). Following this meeting, the President of the Republic has decided to send as is the bill (see the text in its entirety) to the Councils for review. No editing for now, is therefore proposed for this text which provides a gradual increase in the age of retirement until age 62 in 2018.

However, the executive says ready to developments on three issues dear to the CFDT: the situation of people who started working before age 18, taking into account the hardship and treatment of poly-pensioners (of persons covered by several pension plans) low fee payday advance. The special case of poly-pensioners had hitherto not been mentioned in the text of the reform presented Wednesday.

Nicolas Sarkozy has asked Eric Woerth offer him "at the latest before the start of parliamentary debate in September, possible developments on these topics.

ALSO READ:

"Pensions: unions call for mobilization

"Pensions: a majority of French opposed the reform

"CASE-Retirement: Issues of reform

The announcement was delayed but brutal. While markets have somewhat relaxed their attention on Greece, the rating agency Moody's downgraded four notches Monday of the note of most indebted country in the euro area, "A3" to "Ba1". After his colleague Standard & Poor's, the second of the three agencies have downgraded the debt of Greek in junk bonds.

The announcement comes as setbacks. "Moody's has not sufficiently changed its ratings on European countries, the sudden it went off the crisis," Norbert J. Gaillard, a consultant to the World Bank and specialized rating agencies. The degradation of the note in Greece four notches therefore reads as an attempt to "catch up past blindness," said the economist.

A blindness that also concerns Spain, according to some analysts. And the investors live badly."What is it to follow a triple A rating agency that a country undergoing a difference in rates reflecting the risk very high?" Critic Jean-Francois Robin, strategist at Natixis, referring to Spain . The latter receives the same notes that France and Germany, so it pays interest rates much higher.

Sign of disapproval or casual coincidence? Pierre Cailleteau, the head of the sovereign rating from Moody's, that is to say, fixing States Notes, recently left the company. The agency would not comment on his departure.

Stoicism

Greece, or Spain, are textbook examples and betray policy at Moody's. The agency notes in effect "through the economic cycle", without giving too much importance to the market turmoil. This stoicism was removed Moody's market reality, but had a beneficial effect.The agency has helped calm the markets by keeping his notes. His rivals, degrading the height of the crisis, have instead fueled the panic.

Now, even out of season, the degradation of the note in Greece by Moody's has led to protests. The European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Olli Rehn, said that Moody's decision on Greece on Tuesday "comes at a rather surprising and unfortunate, following the agreement on a program of macroeconomic adjustment between Greece, the Commission, the ECB and the IMF. "

The 2009 winter was mild for the group Club Mediterranee. During this semester, the first of its 2009-2010 fiscal year, the leisure group has indeed returned to profitability, generating a net profit of 3 million euros. Last year at the same time, he posted a loss of 22 million euros. The group's turnover shrank by 5.5% during the winter of 2010 compared to the same tourist season in 2009. This decline reflects a market "sluggish" and the impact of the ash cloud reached by the volcanic eruption in Iceland, which paralyzed air traffic in April, the company said in a statement released Friday.This damage has impacted the group's net profit amounting to 5.6 million euros, 3.7 million euros on operating income of the business village, which stood at 28 million euros over the six low fee pay day loans.

Club Med said it will accelerate its development in China this year, reaching 30,000 customers in the country and become "the leader are high quality vacation all inclusive. Chinese customers has grown 40% in winter 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.

The Summer is also favorable for the group. Welcomed the results of winter, Henri Giscard d'Estaing, the CEO of Club Mediterranee, underlines that "the level of bookings was already showing the number of customers higher than last summer due to late booking.Bookings have increased 18% and over the past eight weeks. However, they remain "in line" with the level of bookings at the same time last year.