World and National News

With the popularity of its latest shooter series Call of Duty, Modern Warfare 3, became the best-selling cultural history, the U.S. publisher of video games Activision Blizzard, a subsidiary of Vivendi, has multiplied records. The game has generated over a billion dollars in sales in sixteen days, surpassing the record revenue of cinema film Avatar, James Cameron. Including previous versions of Call of Duty, the previous record of 30 million boxes sold in 2010 was exceeded last year, analysts said.

Therefore, the annual profit of the publisher jumped 159% to a record high of $ 1.09 billion, against 420 million a year earlier. Last quarter, Activision Blizzard has returned net profits, with a profit of 99 million against a loss of 233 million for the same period of 2010. These results have exceeded expectations.

7 million registered players,

"We were able to generate nearly a billion dollars in operating cash flow", says Bobby Kotick, the CEO of Activision Blizzard.

As profits, revenues also reveals surprises. Over 34% of annual sales of $ 4.75 billion from the sale of online games. This is another record in the history of video game publisher that has managed to stabilize the number of customers to its virtual world called "massively multiplayer" World-ofWarcraft, to 10.2 million subscribers.

"We record the fastest growing premium services with our new online gaming service online Call of Duty Elite Subscriber, which has attracted more than 1.5 million subscribers Premium and over 7 million registered players in the service" , says the boss of Activision Blizzard. Subscribers "premium" pay 50 dollars a year "to receive, each month, new content," said Eric Hirshberg, the CEO of Activision, Le Figaro.

The figurines Skylanders

It's "faster than the takeoff of everything I've experienced so far. It's better than what we recorded for the start of worldofwarcraft. But it is also faster than the beginning of paid subscriptions to Netflix, hulu.com or Xbox Live, "says Bobby Kotick. Moreover, the last title Modern Warfare 3, launched in November, has generated alone, over 639 hours of online game. These online versions allow the group to reduce the impact of pirates who have illegally downloaded 4.5 million times the latest installment of Call of Duty, according to the website TorrentFreak.

In addition to its outstanding success with war games, Activision Blizzard has also recorded a score very encouraging with its new game Skylanders Spyro's Adventure, which brings together plastic figurines and traditional video games. A total of 20 million stamps were sold last year. "We are out of stock," says his side Jerry Storch, CEO of retailer Toys'R'Us. The game Skylanders would have generated $ 400 million last year, including some 4 million software units sold. These performances are of Skylanders Spyro's Adventure "the greatest creation of a game for children 6 to 12 years," said Eric Hirshberg.

To renew the genre in 2012, Activision will present next week at the Toy Fair in New York, following his children's game called Skylanders Giants.

ALSO READ:

"Activision is launching his game Skylanders Giants

To save the decline of its magazine group, the head of Time Warner has chosen a specialist in the world of digital media communication. By appointing Laura Lang to head Time Inc.., Jeff Bewkes, the head of Time Warner, has plunged the newsroom of titles such as People, Time, Fortune and Sports Illustrated in perplexity. "She knows nothing about the press and publishing," some have criticized this woman of 56 years who previously headed Digitas, an interactive agency acquired by Publicis 1.3 billion in late 2006.

"It depends how you define the word" press "and" edit "," their replies in advance Laura Lang. The latter has extensive experience in communicating with users, readers of tweets, Facebook addicts and fans of digital tablets.A graduate of Wharton, a prestigious business school of the University of Pennsylvania, she serves on the board of directors of the agency Vivaki (Publicis Groupe) as well as advice clothing company VF Corp.. And Benchmark Electronics, industrial society and electronic engineering.

Why not commit either insurance-in logic to encourage banks to provide easier credit for small amounts to small businesses? The role of banks is to finance the real economy, SMEs should not be suffocated by a restriction or a costly credit.

Should there be a bank for SMEs involving the ISP, OSEO under the auspices of the Deposit?

The subject is to better inform business leaders on existing mechanisms and, for that, the best way is to centralize information in one place, easily accessible, the management could be entrusted either to OSEO, either the Deposit guaranteed payday loan.

What ideas will you be strong in the context of presidential elections?

There is no question for the CGPME to give voting instructions.

The concern of earlier this week gives way to relief. After completing a session in the balance yesterday, marked by a small rise in the Nikkei 0.16%, Asian stock markets will resume after the announcement of the plan to stem the crisis in the eurozone. The benchmark index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange rose on Thursday from 1.63% to 8891.28 points.It's the same for other Asian financial centers: the Hang Seng index of Hong Kong Stock Exchange gained 1.74% to 19,399 points, the CSI 300 Index 0.26% 2658.42 Shanghai points, the Kospi Index Seoul 1.42% to 1921.29 points, the S & P / ASX 200 Index 2.43% to 4345.80 Sydney points, the BSE Sensex 30 in Mumbai at 0.20% 17,288.80 points and the FTSE Straits Times Singapore 1.63% to 2814.99 points.

Shortly before 4 am, France, Germany and the euro zone countries are agreed after intense negotiations with creditor banks on a 50% discount on debt securities Greek removing the last obstacle to a comprehensive plan of response to the debt crisis. The contribution of the private sector, coupled with an effort of the States of the euro area of ​​130 billion euros, will bring the Greek debt of over 160% of GDP today to 120% in 2020, said Nicolas Sarkozy.The French president also said that the means of relief funds in the euro area (EFSF) would be "multiplied" in order to reach "1.4 trillion dollars," or "1000 billion euros." For Nicolas Sarkozy, "the summit has to adopt elements of a comprehensive response, an ambitious response, a credible response to the crisis in the euro area". Even if the plan is still very fragile if the economy of Greece does not improve, he said.

The surge in the yen threatens Japan

For its part, the IMF Executive Director Christine Lagarde welcomed the "substantial progress" made at the EU summit in Brussels, welcomed the leaders of the euro area have set up "a program that will respond to the crisis in the region ".Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, for its part considered that a "new era" began in Greece, speaking of a "new beginning" with this debt reduction Greek.

On the macroeconomic front, the Central Bank of Japan announced Thursday a further easing of monetary policy to fight against soaring yen that threatens the recovery of the Japanese economy.The institute has decided to increase 5 trillion yen (47 billion) purchases of treasury bills, increasing to 55,000 billion yen (519 billion) the maximum amount it spends on purchases of government bonds, corporate bonds and other financial securities, and loans at preferential rates.

The euro has strengthened

In addition, retail sales continued to decline in Japan in September, from 1.2% yoy, due to the fall in purchases of TVs after an exceptional run in early summer, announced the Ministry of Economy Thursday. However, car sales have stopped their dive.Consumers remain cautious overall spending due to fears generated by the earthquake and tsunami in the northeast of the archipelago on March 11 and the Fukushima nuclear accident they caused.

Side values, the action of the group of cameras Olympus flew more than 20% Thursday at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, following the resignation of its CEO Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, accused by his British predecessor Michael Woodford to have overcharged acquisitions between 2006 and 2008.

The euro has strengthened, buoyed by hopes of resolving the crisis in Europe. It was worth 106.26 yen and 1.3975 dollars in Tokyo Thursday morning, 1.3908 against the dollar and 105.98 yen in New Yok the night before.

Finally, oil was up, after the sharp fall the previous day in New York.In electronic trading in the morning, a barrel of "light sweet crude" gained 1.11 dollar to 91.31 dollars a barrel while Brent North Sea crude for December delivery took 70 cents to 109.61 dollars.

Despite successive reforms, the future of pensions remains uncertain. According to the circle of investors, it is expected that the replacement rate – that is retired from the last wage – down in the next twenty years. Middle managers, especially, will be penalized with lower returns on supplementary schemes. Individuals are aware they will have to save to preserve their future purchasing power. They can do this by reducing their taxes. Several savings products can indeed be a winner on the tax.

The Perp: still little used

The most universal of these savings products is also the least known. The popular retirement savings plan (PERP), established to encourage the French to build and open to all, hard to seduce.According to figures from the French Federation of Insurance Companies (FFSA), 27,000 new Perp were subscribed in the first half of 2011, 2% more than in 2010, but the number of building plans has stagnated at around 2, 1 million since its inception in 2004. "It produces a tunnel that compares poorly with the life insurance contracts, where the funds are not blocked until retirement and also offer a tax advantage," said Marc Darnault, Associate Optimaretraite consulting firm.Perp of the main asset is the ability to deduct contributions from taxable income, with two limitations: the amount deducted must not exceed 10% of earned income, and must remain lower for the 2012 tax return, to 28,281 euros – 10% of eight annual ceilings for Social Security (Pass).

The placement is especially interesting for those imposed in the higher brackets (30 and 41%) of the Income Tax Act and is most appropriate as thirty fifties. The Perp suffers from a disability second. The sums are blocked until retirement recovered mainly in the form of an annuity.Only 20% of funds can be "removed" capital (they are then subject to withholding tax of 7.5%), except in special cases (acquisition of a principal residence indebtedness, disability …) "The Perp is a wager on life expectancy, "says Marc Darnault. The pension amount is difficult to assess in advance and then it will suffer the same tax that the pension provided by the general scheme, namely the scale of income tax after deduction of 10%.

The Perco: the advantage of leaving capital

In comparison, the Retirement Savings Plan (PERCO), which allows the retirement funds out an entire capital – option selected by three-quarters of investors – more attractive.Reserved for the minority of employees whose company has set up this device (about 2.8 million people affected), it has experienced in 2010 an increase of 27% over 2009, according to the French Association of Financial Management (AFG). Some 690,000 employees have passed and the stock reached 4 billion euros on 31 December, an increase of 35% in one year.

The Perco can be powered both by the employee, who can contribute a maximum of 25% of its revenues, as the employer of up to triple up to a maximum of 5,656 euros per year. These payments are exempt from social charges and tax. Only the CSG (7.5%) and CRDS (0.5%) must be paid. "It's a little device binding is a management tool. It may in fact be powered by the profit-sharing cheap pay day loans.Since 2010, half of it is also paid directly to the Perco, "said Philippe Crevel, general secretary of the Investors' Circle, which advises to choose security, particularly at the approach of retirement. "It should also be careful because insurers who manage packages often encourage more risky," warns Marc Darnault.

Préfon: The Perp of the Public Service

This optional retirement plan is open to staff and those who worked for a time in the public service. He met with mixed success. Only 3.7% of potential members contribute to gain points Préfon. A lack of interest that can be explained by the low incentive to contribute, the Pension Plan of the Public Service to ensure a replacement rate of 75%."This has made less sensitive to the officials the opportunity to purchase additional pension that private sector employees, including the replacement rate is 50%," says Philippe Crevel. In addition, the level of pension paid will depend on the pension point value, passed annually in the board. A rather complex system that does not allow the insured to have a clear idea of ​​what it touches.

The Préfon was dusted in early 2011. If the principle is the payment of a pension supplement in the form of annuity (taxed at the rates of income tax after deduction of 10%), it is now possible to recover 20% of the money invested capital (taxed 7.5%). Its main attraction is nevertheless able to reduce its income tax by contributing.As for the Perp, amounts paid annually to the Préfon are tax deductible within the limit of 28,281 euros for 2011 income.

Madelin: a necessary complement to the self

Created to encourage self-employed (merchants, independent artisans, professionals, leaders of society … self-employed) to accumulate savings and a pension insurance scheme Madelin contracts are tax-advantaged. As for the Préfon and Perp, contributions are deductible from taxable earned income (BIC or BNC). The device is even more advantageous, since the deduction of 10% of income to a maximum of 28,281 euros plus an additional deduction equal to 15% on income between 35,352 euros (the maximum Social Security for 2011) and 282,816 euros (eight times in the past). The maximum deduction is set at 65,401 euros."Contributing to this diet is all the more necessary for the self that the benefits of their pension base are lower than for employees," said Marc Darnault.

According to the circle of investors, 61% have an independent contract Madelin (including retirement). The FFSA counted 899,000 contracts outstanding of 1.1 billion euros. The funds invested – usually on euro fund or units of account such as life insurance – are recoverable in the form of an annuity (taxed at the rates of income tax). No events capital is possible except in very specific cases of bankruptcy or disability of the investor.Finally, unlike other retirement investments, payments on contracts Madelin must be regular.

ALSO READ:

"Investments: Solutions for the future

"Retirement at age 62 receive 5 billion euros in 2015

"Life insurance? Invincible!

"Transforming its RTT in retirement savings

A sequence at high risk for economic diplomacy opened on Friday in Paris with a G20 Finance Ministers, which ends in mid-afternoon today. The summit precedes the meeting of European heads of state, October 23 in Brussels, to enable Europe to get united at the top twenty richest countries in the world, at Cannes, 3 and 4 November. The road is marked. But after the race progress is uncertain. The subjects of accumulated tensions between developed countries, amid Sino-US tensions around the issue of exchange rates.

Aware of the pitfalls, Paris, who chairs the G20 seeks to avoid the reasons for tension. First objective: to show that Europe is determined to solve the crisis of its debt, which raises concerns around the world.To do this, nothing better than to show the strength of the Franco-German couple at a luncheon on Friday at the Elysee, bringing together around the president, the French finance minister and Baroin his German counterpart Wolfgang Schäuble.

"We have made good progress on the path to find how to package a comprehensive and lasting agreement," said the French way out. For Baroin, progress has been made "on the joint bank recapitalization," he may say no more.According to European sources cited by Bloomberg, the euro area is working on the assumption of a default of 50% of Greek debt and would have identified seven options to boost the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), from the processing bank the simple assurance of securities issued by the countries most vulnerable.

Individual Solutions

Paradoxically, this sacred union between France and Germany is no longer visible in the markets guaranteed high risk personal loans. Yesterday, the spread between ten-year French and German was 93 basis points, to the detriment of the former. Never since the creation of the euro area, France has borrowed as much from Germany even though the absolute rates at ten years French remain historically low.In the eyes of financial markets, it shows the weakness of leeway in Paris, to boost the EFSF or possibly refinance its banks.

The other cause of tension that the French Presidency is to avoid global order. At their working dinner last night, finance ministers from the G20 should discuss ways "to ensure global growth strong, sustainable and balanced", as agreed for three years. But unlike previous summits, where everyone was asked to revive its economy, the solutions will be this time individual. "At Cannes, each country will come with two or three steps to support its economy depend on the fiscal space of each other," says Bercy. What display a facade of unity.

However, the Twenty will not avoid the reasons for tension.The heaviest between China to the United States, since the passage by Congress in Washington, a bill denouncing the undervaluation of the yuan. The newest arrived yesterday: the emerging propose strengthening of $ 350 billion financial capacity of the IMF for help, among other things, to finance Europe. A proposal that has received a plea of ​​receiving U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, for whom the IMF has "largely sufficient resources to deal with the crisis."

ALSO READ:

"Europeans and concerns of the world at the G20

The trend remains bullish on Wednesday at the New York Stock Exchange. The Dow Jones opened up 0.42% to 11.4460 points and the Nasdaq 0.80% to 2603 points. Like the European markets, Wall Street resists not the Slovak Parliament on strengthening the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF). Tuesday, after four sessions of strong gains in a row, Wall Street ended in a disorganized. Investors chose to garner a share of profits.

On the front of the debt crisis in the eurozone, the European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso presented this afternoon at the European Parliament its proposals to support the banking sector. It should be "emergency" recapitalize the banks, he said.He also called for increasing the EFSF and accelerate the replacement of it by a permanent, mid-2012 instead of mid-2013.

In Slovakia, a second vote could be held Friday with the support of the left opposition. "It's not good news but I trust the authorities of Slovakia to hold a second vote," said Wednesday morning the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Alain Juppé on radio France Info. For its part German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that strengthening the EFSF be ratified "in October." The Slovak Parliament was the last to vote on the strengthening of the European relief fund.Indeed, the unanimity of the country is essential to confirm the agreement reached by the Heads of State on July 21.

Berlin and Paris commitments marchésLes reassure the weekend by Germany and France had restored some hope to the financial markets. Last Sunday, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel have in fact committed to respond "lasting and comprehensive peace" to the crisis in the euro area for the G20 summit in Cannes, 3 and 4 November. About the difficulties of the European banking sector, the two leaders said they were "determined to do whatever it takes to ensure the recapitalization of our banks." But again, the "details" to be specified later, and the EU summit scheduled for October 17 and 18 was postponed to October 23.After several missed appointments with the financial markets, Europe hopes this time strike a blow to stop the contagion of the crisis in the euro area.

The euro will always be a "hard currency", has also assured Angela Merkel, following Slovakia's rejection of strengthening financial relief funds in the euro area. On the foreign exchange market, the euro was virtually unchanged munching 0.05% against the greenback at 1.3658 dollars.

Alcoa opens the ball quarterly results

In the U.S., the season of quarterly results of large companies began Tuesday after the close of Wall Street. As usual, the aluminum giant Alcoa kicked-off for these publications. Including follow on Wednesday, PepsiCo, and Thursday, JPMorgan Chase and Google internet group and finally, Friday, Mattel.Analysts bet on an average increase of 13% earnings per share for the third quarter.

The group Alcoa (-3.25% to 9.97 dollars) reported, after market, a net quarterly profit of $ 172 million, an increase of 182% over a year and a decrease of 47% the previous quarter. Revenues jumped 21% year on year to 6.4 billion. In 2011, Alcoa still expects growth of 12%.

For his part Infosys Technologies (6.57% to 56.12 dollars) also announced after the market have achieved in the second quarter of fiscal 2011 to 2012 (ended September 30) with net income of $ 411 million, against 374 million last year while sales rose to 1.75 billion dollars against 1.5 billion a year earlier.For the full fiscal year 2011/12, the group expects a turnover of 7.08 to 7.2 billion dollars.

The Canadian Research In Motion (-2.34% to 23.84 dollars) a Wall Street side, affected by major failures affecting the Blackberry, is facing a revolt by disgruntled shareholders calling for the sale or replacement of its leaders then that its action has already lost 60% since the beginning of the year.

For its part the world leader in lithography for semiconductor, ASML (5.14% to 38.03 dollars), also listed on Wall Street believes that there will be a slowdown in growth in most segments semiconductors, with the exception of technologies related to tablets and smartphones.

This is the new fad on the web. Vestiairedecopines.com is the top site that enables passionate fashion to sell part of their wardrobe to help buy other items. This site, created two years ago, has already brought together a community of 600,000 members connected in a vast social network.

Today, advised by Clipperton Finance, the site raises 7.5 million euros to the U.S. investment fund and its shareholders Balderton Ventech history. This capital value to the site between 20 and 25 million euros. On that occasion, Bernard Liautaud, a partner at Balderton Capital and former founder and CEO of Business Objects, will join the board of vestiairedecopines.com to advise the company in its international expansion.

"Vestiairedecopines.com experiencing very strong growth driven by the community.On the site, we selected 45,000 articles fashion products, clothes, shoes, shoes, accessories are discussed live by the community before being purchased. When we receive the product, we inspect its condition before shipping to the buyer. Nearly 200,000 items were circulated in 2011, representing between 350 and 400 orders per day package. Our business volume in 2010 represented 3.3 million and we expect to increase this volume by 4 in 2011 to 12 million and it should still be multiplied by 3 in 2012, "explains Sébastien Fabre, co-founder of the site and CEO.

If the site is also available in French, the community, it is already international in 17%.Mainly British and Germans who come to the French fashion articles and advice from members.

Britain and Germany

Vestiairedecopines.com is going to quickly open a site in English and in German by the end of the year, while centralizing the packages still in France. In the longer term, the site will address the United States by implanting a logistics service. But before considering expansion abroad, it will have to change its name, is certainly very vestiairedecopines.com French, it is unpronounceable in English!

The U.S. stock markets still grind of black Monday. In early trade, the Dow Jones lost 1.08% at 10,879 points, the Nasdaq 0.68% to loose 2451 points and the S & P lost 0.95% to 1143 points.

Investors in Europe, in Asia and the United States fear that Greece is not able to meet these budget commitments, which threaten to bankrupt the country and aggravate the crisis in Europe. The German Minister of Economy Philipp Rösler has also not ruled out a bankruptcy ordered Greece to save the euro.

These uncertainties weigh heavily on European banking stocks, weighed down by their exposure to sovereign debt but also by fears about their solvency and funding.Specialists in Harbor Advisory today "Wall Street will evolve with European banks, whose main problem is exposure to sovereign debt."

United States, Barack Obama will submit to Congress today plan to revive the economy and jobs announced Thursday, said on Sunday a senior White House. The President will renew his call "to Congress to adopt this bill, which contains the kind of proposals to grow the economy and create jobs."

Week is low in business results – the retailer Best Buy and diverse manufacturing Pall is the only component of the S & P 500 to publish figures – investors will focus primarily on a series of macroeconomic indicators.The latter include retail sales, the producer prices and consumption as well as statistics on the manufacturing sector.

Note, however, leading indicators of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published this morning, reporting a "slowdown" of the world's major economies.

The euro and oil fall

In the wake of renewed tensions, the euro fell against the dollar, the euro remained sharply lower against the greenback Monday, falling below $ 1.35 even briefly, as a result of a new access market panic response to the crisis in Europe. Mid-session in Paris, the single European currency was worth 1.3603 dollars against 1.3649 dollars on Friday night. Earlier, the euro fell to 1.3495 dollars, its lowest level since Feb payday advance online. 16. The euro also fell to its lowest level in a decade against the yen.The euro bought 104.64 yen against 105.91 yen Friday. In the early morning, the euro fell to 103.90 yen, its lowest level since June 2001.

Under pressure from a stronger dollar, a barrel of oil has also dropped on the ground. In electronic trading in the morning, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for October delivery lost 1.23 dollars to 86.01 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery at $ 1.02 111 $ 75.

Values ​​to follow

The side of values, the French group Technip Engineering said Monday the acquisition of the entire capital of the U.S. Global Industries (51.36% to 7.80 dollars), a specialist oil services submarines, on the basis of a valuation of $ 1.07 billion (770 million).Technip will pay $ 8 cash per share, Global Industries, a premium of 55% over the closing price of its prey Friday night on Wall Street.

For its part, the online retailer Amazon (0.88% to 213.26 dollars) would be in discussions with publishers to launch a book rental service digital subscription, said Sunday the Wall Street Journal in its edition line.

After the unexpected departure of the patron saint of Internet giant Yahoo!, Carol Bartz, rumors of a union between Yahoo! (-2.21% To 14.16 million) and AOL (-2.72% to 14.32 dollars) have resurfaced. The CEO of the Internet service provider America, Tim Armstrong, have consulted with investment companies to test investor appetite for a reconciliation between the two groups advance Bloomberg.Tim Armstrong become the leader of the group.

For his part, Hertz Global (-2.54% to 9.58 dollars) has extended the date of its offer for Dollar Thrifty (-1.22% to 64.08 euros) Automotive Group (DTG) until November 1 .

Wynn Resorts (3.04% to 153.25 dollars) through its subsidiary, Wynn Macau has announced the acquisition of land over 20 hectares to the government of Macau for approximately $ 193 million. The plot, located on the Cotai area, should allow the development of a resort and recreation.

Alain Minc is an essayist and near the head of state.

LE FIGARO – The government Wednesday presented a series of measures to reduce the deficit. Austerity, winning all countries, no risk does not reduce growth?

Alain Minc – No, because we are in a new paradigm. The French were the first more concerned with issues of debt through employment. With the power budget, we can rebuild the confidence of economic agents: households are encouraged to thaw out their savings and consumption, business investment. It is manufactured and growth. Submit a budget that would encourage lax instead to save more and thus consume less.The triptych in a world crushed by the weight of the markets is, under budget, trust, growth.

What steps should be taken virtuous?

Personally, I hope a large extent: the 27 EU countries simultaneously increasing their two-point VAT rate. It would be readily absorbed and deficits would be reduced immediately. But it's not for today. Apart from that, we need to focus on controlling government spending. There is still some leeway in this area. But that will not help if we do not address local government spending. It will also examine the non-controlled welfare state, in other words, take action politically and technically difficult to better control health expenditure.This last point requires a long process.

How?

The government is against the wall on its forecast deficit of 4.6% of GDP in 2012, and will do anything to achieve it. But with regard to the defense of the AAA, it was France as a whole is forced to cope. This note is a "national treasure" co-owned by all the French. You need to have well aware that nine months of the presidential elections, the statements of the two main governing parties in France, right and left, are scrutinized by credit rating agencies. The left would be as responsible as the right to lower the note in the coming months if she is economically unsuitable proposals during the campaign.

But the "golden rule" will not be passed.

No, because the Socialist Party opposes it.It is very unfortunate: it is important to give the Constitutional Council the power to censor a budget law does not respect their commitments. The Socialists had better vote to commit to the "golden rule" by requiring counterparties to the government. This would have given them a "chastity belt" in case they win the election.

Are you in favor of a tax on high salaries?

There is a problem obviously symbolic. It is of course legitimate, in the present context, it takes effort – exceptional – the rich. This should take the path of a direct tax levied on high income of around 0.5% above 150,000 euros, rising to 4 or 5% over one million euros for example.But beyond a fiscal contribution, I regret that senior executives have increased their earnings in recent years and today signed manifestos calling for a higher taxation of high income! Their real responsibility is not to engage in excesses of the social contract of their own business. Also, I think we need to align the taxation of capital on that work payday loan lenders. It is not normal for the first shows a gap of 16% with the second (PIT + CSG).

The debt crisis in Europe is cause for concern?

Yes, more worrisome than the upheavals stock as a debt crisis can block overnight access to a State for financial markets and freezing its banking system. However, the ECB has a tool box to avoid it. By the way, we must remember that we are facing a debt crisis, not a euro crisis.I do not know what the crisis of an overvalued currency by 20%, as is the euro against the dollar. Objectively, fears about the financial strength of big countries (Italy, Spain) in the euro area do not make sense.

Yet fears about their health are strong cyclical.

Spasms current will of course impact on growth. Everything will depend on the duration of shocks and jolts coming. This impact could be on the order of 1% of global GDP. That said, we are in a situation radically different from the 2009 recession. You can not compare the balance sheets of banks in September 2008 to today, undoubtedly the best. Three years ago, they were packed with toxic assets.Today, traders are concerned to see them hold treasury Italian! You have to be stupid to believe that the right of a State such as Italy, able to tax a very large domestic savings, are as dangerous as subprime. Italy will never default because if Italy jumps, Germany, which is one of its major suppliers, and jumps as the global economy collapses. This will not take place.

Banks, especially French, you seem so strong enough to weather the storm?

Of course. The markets speculate on Societe Generale, thinking she might suffer from a default of Italy or Spain.But if these two countries are lacking, all banks in the world will fail: it would be blind to believe that a single major bank like Societe Generale, can fall without all its competitors plunge with it! That's why the world will never let down Italy and Spain. By the way, I do not understand the attitude of major European banks, which in times of crisis cut their credit lines to their colleagues believed to be the most fragile. The banks are all connected to each other and should instead show their solidarity.

Rating agencies are they guilty of the current situation?

The big banks and investors are primarily responsible for the weight gained by the three major rating agencies in the world.These financial institutions, for reasons of economy, have removed their analytical services, de facto subcontractor that activity for credit rating agencies. Basically, the only real complaint that can be sent to these agencies is that they do not know the note states – who do not notice as a business. Judge the soundness of a country requires a great culture of the local economic history. For example, the agencies never take into account the weight of the informal economy. But in a country like Italy for example, this economy is from 25 to 30% of GDP, which changes considerably the situation in terms of credit analysis. As the United States, they are the backbone of the global financial system. As such, they are above any notes!