World and National News

The French insurer Groupama has released disappointing interim results. Its net profit reached 127 million euros, down 23.6% YoY. The group accuses the shock of the storm Xynthia and high volatility on financial markets.

Its combined ratio of activities damage (sum of management fees and cost of claims in the total premium income) deteriorated to 104.5%: insurance costs thus exceed the premiums. This poor performance is explained by the ravages of storms, but also by the increase in automobile accidents.

Groupama maintains its ambition to achieve by 2012 an operating profit of 700 million euros. In the first half of 2010, this result was limited to a modest 179 million euros."Programs to improve the operational performance will continue during the second semester," pleaded John Azema, CEO of the mutual group.

Groupama has been preparing since early 2006 to go public. The operation would be launched following a major acquisition. Acquisition, still awaited. The time of the introduction has not yet come, but the operation remains in the long-term strategy of the mutual insurer, however, provides the CFO Christian Collin.

"A fragile recovery is underway in France," J. International Monetary Fund in a report released Friday. The international institution chaired by Dominique Strauss-Kahn expects a growth of 1.6% in 2011 and 1.8% in 2012 no credit check payday loans. This is well below the government forecast of 2.5% from 2010 to 2013. The IMF had already lowered its forecast for early July 2010 to 1.4%.

Crucial day on Tuesday for French nuclear. By late morning, the President convened the Council of nuclear policy, simply responsible for developing strategic thrusts of the French sector, based on the recommendations of the report Roussely.

The latter, watched impatiently for several weeks, has finally been published. Or more precisely, a synthesis of some twenty pages, available from Tuesday evening at the site of the Elysee. Originally, the former President of EDF had been instructed by Nicolas Sarkozy to consider the optimization of a sector hurt by the failure of the bidding in Abu Dhabi on the creation four stations of the future.

But more than this summary and fifteen major recommendations, the Council communiqué nuclear policy, also disclosed this Tuesday evening, which proved enlightening.He devotes just the rule of EDF on the sector. Admittedly, this rule was expected, but not necessarily rooted with such intensity.

Not only a strategic partnership agreement between EDF and Areva covering the whole of their common business will be established, but the scenario of a capital input of EDF, Areva will be studied.

So far, Areva group present on the cycle (uranium mining to reprocessing spent fuel) was working on the principle of a capital increase, but a scenario involving a stake EDF No. had never been formally considered.Conversely, in its report published in summer 2009, Jean-Cyril Spinetta, the current chairman of the supervisory board of Areva, had reversed this possibility, considering that it was inappropriate for a client of Areva entered the capital quick pay day loan.

GDF Suez absent

Meanwhile, the Council of nuclear policy has confirmed that the increased initial capital of Areva, to the tune of 15%, would be implemented before the end of the year.If EDF was to enter the capital of Areva, it would be in addition to the 15% threshold.

Meanwhile, the two companies, which face regularly on many issues, are invited to work much more efficiently.

In addition to these developments planned capital, the other major teaching issued by the Council of nuclear policy, largely supported by the report Roussely, based on the total absence of GDF Suez in this folder. However, the group led by Gerard Mestrallet have long aspired to become a nuclear operator of reference in France. It has not been heard, far from it. This should not preclude that GDF Suez may work, as EDF, on the development of a medium-power reactor. Provided that if the Council insists on nuclear policy the considerable potential of the EPR, it also stresses that the range of French reactors should be extended."To better meet the diverse needs of the customer."

In this regard, the report Roussely pin delays of the two EPR sites, one in Finland and one in the Channel.

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The U.S. equity market, should try to regain a little high on Monday. The index futures indeed predict a slightly higher opening on Wall Street. Futures on Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 advancing in effect 0.55% to 1 070.50 points and 0.51% to 1 812.10 points. On Friday, the New York Stock Exchange had fallen heavily, cooled by the low morale of American consumers and a series of disappointments on corporate earnings. The Dow Jones lost 2.51% to 10,099.26 points and the Nasdaq 3.11% at 2 179.05 points. The Standard & Poor's 500 broad, fell 2.88% to 1 064.91 points.

Today on the foreign exchange market, the euro off again on the rise against the dollar in the morning.Investors took advantage of a slight decrease of the single currency during the weekend to make purchases on the cheap, while the greenback was penalized by fears about the strength of the U.S. recovery. The euro was at 1.2959 dollars against 1.2926 dollars on Friday night.

Week decisive

The week will be decisive promises to Wall Street.

The main highlight at the macroeconomic level should be bi-annual speech of the President of the Fed Ben Bernanke on the economy and monetary policy before two congressional committees. He will testify first before the Senate Banking Committee Wednesday, the day when President Barack Obama enact the law on the reform of regulation of Wall Street.And the next day, he will address the Financial Services Commission of the House of Representatives.

As for the days to come, is also a whole bunch of statistics, including real estate, with housing starts tomorrow and sales of existing homes on Thursday.

The week will also see another round of results.

According to specialists of Aurel BGC, the main publications of the week are those of IBM (now), Goldman Sachs, PepsiCo, State Street and Johnson & Johnson (Tuesday), Altria, of Eaton, eBay, EMC, Coca Cola, Wells Fargo and Qualcomm (Wednesday), 3M, AT & T, Caterpillar, UPS and Microsoft (Thursday) as well as those of Schlumberger and Verizon (Friday).

Also note, always on the side of values, the Wall Street Journal, Motorola is close to a deal to sell its business network supplier Nokia Siemens Networks for 1.2 billion dollars. Last month, Motorola announced its desire to split the company into two in the first quarter of 2011 with a side activities supplier network and the other the mobile phone business.

Also according to the Wall Street Journal the company Emirates Emirates Airline is expected to announce today an order for 30 aircraft over long-haul Boeing 777 aircraft.

The CAC 40 is left substantially in the red half an hour after the opening of Wall Street. After opening on a note hesitant index in Paris gained 0.77% to 3609.53 points. but the announcement of disappointing results that are mixed and macroeconomic statistics have undermined the morale of the few investors present that day in the markets. At 16 hours, ACC drops 2.5% to less than 3,500 points.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro is strengthening its progress against the dollar. Fears about the economic recovery in the U.S., more and more vivid, weigh on the dollar.At mid-session, the euro was worth 1.2971 dollars against 1.2941 dollars the previous day.

On the macroeconomic front, consumer prices in the U.S. declined for the third consecutive month in June because of falling energy prices, official figures released Friday showing that inflation remains contained in a context of stagnating domestic demand. The index of consumer prices adjusted for seasonal variations show a decrease of 0.1%. Economists and analysts polled by Reuters had expected a price stability after a decline of 0.2% in May

The morale of U.S. households has deteriorated in July fell to its lowest level in 11 months because of fears about the economy, according to preliminary results from the monthly survey Thomson Reuters-University of Michigan.The index of consumer sentiment stood at 66.5 against 76 in June and 74.5 expected by economists to Reuters. The index measuring consumers' judgments on the current economic situation has emerged to 75.5, its lowest level since November 2009, against 84 expected and 85.6 last month.

The banking and automobiles in the spotlight

After the adoption Thursday of the reform on Wall Street and encouraging results from JP Morgan, the bank is well oriented on Friday: Societe Generale rose 0.49% to 38.02 euros and Credit Agricole was up 0.58 % to 9.34 dollars and BNP Paribas gained 0.62% to 49 euros.

The car values also outperform the CAC 40.They benefit from the announcement of Renault, with its Japanese partner Nissan will invest 300 million euros in the construction of a plant of Russian automaker Avtovaz order to produce together a small car from 2012, reported the Nikkei business daily. The Renault share gains 1.80% to 35.06 euros, bringing in its train rival Peugeot, which climbs as 2.26% to 24.24 euros payday loan lenders.

On a visit to Tokyo, Prime Minister Francois Fillon said France was "open" to the entry of Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in the capital of the nuclear group Areva (-1.67% to 335.15 euros) .

Carrefour (-0.16% to 35.28 euros) published a quarterly revenue slightly exceeded expectations thanks to its positions in emerging countries and announced the signing of a new partnership in China.Over the period April to June, the group saw its turnover totaling 24.92 billion euros, up 6.3% over one year.

Seb (-0.10% to 58.5 euros) has announced an increase in sales in the first half due mainly to a favorable currency impact and good dynamic emerging countries. Its turnover grew by 13.1% at current exchange rates and 9.4% at constant exchange rates.

Lafarge (+0.33% at 41.31 euros) concluded Friday the sale of 11.2% of its business in Malaysia for a net total of 141 million euros in the divestment program initiated by the World number one cement.Following this, the group will remain the principal shareholder of LMCB with a 51% and will retain management of the business.

Axa to discuss its Asian subsidiary

Axa Asia Pacific (AAP) and its parent, Axa (1.35% to 13.55 euros), and National Australia Bank (NAB) to discuss extending the period of exclusive negotiations between the two parties. NAB hopes to acquire 100% of PAA and has proposed that $ 11.5 billion (9.13 billion euros).The Australian Competition Authority has so far opposed the transaction.

Pierre & Vacances (-3.45% to 53.7 euros) has warned that tourist bookings for the fourth quarter was marked by delay on the month of July, in the context of crisis, after essentially flat sales in the third quarter .

Stallergenes (3.83% to 57.10 euros) Thursday revised its annual targets upwards, after posting a 14% increase in turnover in the second quarter, owing mainly to increasing sales of its blockbuster drug the Oralair. Specializing in the treatment of allergies, has achieved a turnover of 47.3 million euros in the quarter and $ 110.6 million over the period (13%).

One publication of turnover is expected this Friday: Etam Development.

"This is not because there is the economic crisis that the climate crisis is over!" While in Paris on Thursday to meet with parliamentarians and French employers, the European Commissioner for Climate, Connie Hedegaard, continues to carry the torch the fight against greenhouse gas emissions. Proof that it should not lower our guard, even though the cold winter in Europe was an illusion, the past twelve months have been, globally, the warmest ever recorded.

Asked about the carbon tax at the borders of the European Union (EU) dear to Nicolas Sarkozy, Denmark's answer, in accordance with the wishes of the French president, the European Commission has discussed this mechanism among the various instruments to reduce CO2 emissions in a communication dated May 26"But I prefer to leave it in the toolbox."

A trade war

As the British Government and several of his fellow commissioners, Connie Hedegaard think raising the price of imported goods like Chinese steel example, according to their carbon footprint is "extremely difficult to implement." Most importantly, "Is that such a measure would help the Chinese to be constructive?" Asks she, fearing a trade war if the environmental barrier was erected on the borders of the EU. One of the arguments of French supporters of a "border adjustment mechanism is that it may help to avoid relocation of jobs to countries where less stringent rules on carbon can produce cheaper.Better to engage in innovation and green growth to create jobs in Europe, contends Connie Hedegaard, as echoing the credo of the Obama Administration.

Former Danish Minister of Environment, which, as such, has chaired the conference in Copenhagen, believes that for the modest agreement in December 2009 ripped credible, rich countries should honor their commitment to pay this year 10 billion dollars promised to the most vulnerable. The finance ministers of Twenty-Seven detailed in May and pay their share of 2.4 billion. These additional funds, a majority of donations and a minority of loans will be paid directly by the Member States. To date, recipient countries have not seen the first euros of new funds.

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The CAC 40 may play yoyo Monday. After booting up from 0.43% to 3362 points, the key index in Paris fell back into the red within an hour after the start of the session: -0.19% at 3342 points

Elsewhere in Europe, even the Footsie in London returns to equilibrium (-0.05% to 4835 points) after starting the day up 0.45%. The German Dax, which climbed 0.34% at the opening, back up 0.08% at 5839 points.

The caution at the beginning of the week, as in Asia. On Friday, the CAC 40 finished on a small increase of 0.25% after a volatile trading. All investors anxiously awaiting the monthly figures for U.S. employment, which were more troubling than expected 125,000 jobs lost in June but 83,000 in private creations against 33,000 in May, and unemployment fell to 9.5%.The U.S. markets have fallen back slightly after the announcement, but their European counterparts have remained on the upside.

The CAC 40 lost 5%, however the last five days. Investors can not follow Wall Street Monday as the U.S. stock market is closed after the national holiday. On the side indicators in France, the PMI services will be published. For the euro zone composite PMI index, and the sales details will also be announced.

The banking supervision

Dexia (0.61% to 2.81 euros) received the assumptions of Stress tests requested by the European Union on the eve of the weekend and is currently being examined, according to chief executive of French bank Belgian-Pierre Mariani.

BNP Paribas (0.70% to 44.51 euros) has sold its subsidiary of consumer credit BNP Paribas Personal Finance Belgium funds Apax Partners SA and Altamir Amboise. The sale is part of the commitments made by BNP Paribas to the European Commission following the acquisition of Fortis in Belgium in 2009.

Zodiac Aerospace (+0.48% at 37.67 euros) has agreed to buy German Sell.It is the third acquisition transaction in two months for the group led by Olivier Zarrouati.

Carrefour (1.23% to 32.53 euros) will close unprofitable stores sixteen in Belgium at the end of the month as part of the restructuring of its assets in the country, while strengthening its partnership with Mestdagh. The group expects these closures savings of about 25 million euros per year.

Air France KLM (0.64% at 9.66 euros) will face a new competitor on the field connections to Africa. The Airline Oxygen Africa should get the green light for launch in the coming weeks.

France Telecom (0.28% to 14.24 euros) must submit to the press, about 11 o'clock this morning, its strategic plan for the next five years.He wants to have more than 300 million customers worldwide by 2015 against about 200 million today, "said Stéphane Richard, CEO of telecoms group, in an interview published in Le Parisien on Monday.

Total (0.01% to 36.19 euros) does not study the acquisition of BP, but would be willing to consider the acquisition of certain assets if they were on sale, said Friday the CEO Christophe de Margerie.

PSA Peugeot Citroen (0.84% to 21.05 euros) announced it acquired for an amount of 244,925,000 euros, part of the bond issued in 2001 and maturing in September 2011. The takeover was launched June 21, 2010 simultaneously launching the bond issue of 500 million euros due five years.

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 fall of the euro makes people happy at EADS. Interviewed by the Financial Times Deutschland, the chief financial officer of Airbus, Hans Peter Ring said the group saw again upgraded its earnings forecast after the fall of the euro. The manufacturer was expecting $ 1.40 to euro. However, the single currency has now reached its lowest level in four years at 1.1894 dollars.

This is a boon for EADS, which occurs in the euro area and therefore pays the majority of its costs in euros, but which generates most of its sales in dollars. If Hans Peter Ring said that the rate of the euro would have no impact on short term profit for the group, he still said he would have a positive effect on turnover. "It seems that this will be different about our income because we have more volatility.Therefore, our revenues could be better than what was previously expected. "

No significant impact in the first quarter

In the first quarter, the impact of the fall of the euro on the results of the group was not significant but if the euro maintains its current course, the first signs should appear in 2012, and the effect could be strengthened 2013. "We must be patient," says the CFO. In an interview with German weekly Welt Am Sonntag, Chairman of the Board of Directors of EADS, said Bodo Ubber parity ideal for Airbus would be $ 1.20 per euro.

As expected, the group should increase the proportion of sales paid in dollars."I think we would be shortsighted if we changed this strategy," said Hans Peter Ring.

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Until Friday 20 hours, 23 French airports will be closed. Should the traffic resumed after that, it should be very disturbed, Air France warned. It is unnecessary to call the airports closed, which are unreachable. A?roports de Paris also discouraged to go there without checking with the airline that the flight is assured.

Telephone services of these companies are often saturated, websites are a good alternative, or the site of Aeroports de Paris to see which offers flights already canceled.

In general, European companies are obliged by offering passengers the choice between a refund within 7 days and a deferral of travel within 30 days after the originally scheduled departure date.However, they do not have to pay additional compensation because the delays and cancellations are related to unpredictable weather. It also means that companies are not obliged to cover costs incurred by this hazard (taxis, hotels, etc..).

Air France

The company ensures that passengers whose flights had been canceled may defer their travel or to redeem the tickets. However, Air France has added any details as to the details of the loan, but should do so in the day.

For more information:

Schedules, delays, cancellations

Phone: 3654 (0.34 euro per minute) or by sending SMS flight number 6 3654 (example: AF2062).

Lufthansa

In case of delay or cancellation, the German company committed to providing a place for the next available flight.It also offers ticket refund passengers who choose to cancel their travel and offers a change of booking without charge to people who want to postpone to a later date, stating that this change could be done "within existing terms of the note, "without elaborating.

For more information:

Schedules, delays, cancellations

Reservations and information: 0 892 231 690 (0.34 euro per minute)

Alitalia

No information on ticket refunds.

Schedules, delays, cancellations

Reservation Center: 0 820 315 315 (0.12 euro per minute)

BA

A change of date or destination is possible (or nearest town in the same country).The new trip must be held within three months after the date of the trip.

For more information:

Schedules, delays, cancellations

Change their booking online

Reservations and information: 0 825 825 400 (EUR 0.15 per minute)

Customer relations: or 0825 892 892 01 42 94 73 21

Iberia

The company will accept the changes of tickets purchased before April 15 and travel planned until April 17 departing or arriving in Paris, London, Dublin, Brussels, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Berlin and Moscow. Customers can choose a new date or another destination without having to pay penalties. These changes may be made until April 29, and new tickets issued will be valid until June 30The series aircraft IB7000 made by British Airways between London and Madrid will obey the same conditions.

For more information:

Schedules, delays, cancellations

Information: 0 825 800 965

Easyjet.com

You can take another flight or refund the amount in line after having verified its cancellation. EasyJet guarantees a refund within 30 days (follow the directions on the site). The flight changes may themselves be selected at any time within 30 days of cancellation.

For more information:

Schedules, delays, cancellations

Phone: 0 826 10 33 20 (0,15 euro per minute)

Ryanair

Nothing special on the website of Ryanair on this particular disturbance. General information on flight cancellations are available here.

For more information:

Schedules, delays, cancellations

Telephone: 0892 780 210 (0,34 Euro per minute)

Other companies

All numbers of airlines are available in the directory of Airports of Paris.

For their part, tour operators are not legally required to reimburse the expenses incurred for travel packages. "It's a case of force majeure which exempts professional liability indemnification, compensation or provide benefits to its burden," said Jean-Marc Roze, the secretary general of the National Union of Travel Agencies ( SNAV). The case of force majeure must meet three specific criteria: "to be unpredictable – the situation is unpredictable as ever happened before, and irresistible – we can not prevent the event from occurring, and insurmountable – the situation once arrived, they can not go against it.

However, tour operators, however, arguing Friday studying the best way to help their customers.

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