Excluding currency and acquisitions, growth in turnover is 5.9%, "in line with its annual target," the company said in a statement.

Sales of optical equipment and lenses, more than 92% of group turnover, rose by 10.7% as reported. North America, Essilor which makes 43.5% of its activity, grew by 8.1% as reported.The rise of Europe, which represents 39.6% of sales, rose slightly less (6.4%). Latin America, however, mark a sharp increase of 47.1% to 88.6 million euros, barely 5% of sales.

Net income for Essilor is down slightly from 1.3% to 197.5 million euros. The group is penalized by the provision of 41.5 million euros to pay the fine imposed by the German competition authority (Bundeskartellamt) for formation of cartels.Adjusted for this provision, net income reached 238.8 million euros, an increase of 19.3%.

Essilor confirms its annual targets

"In the second half of 2010, in a context of renewed activity still fragile, Essilor will pursue the strict implementation of its strategy of growth based on new products, geographical expansion, acquisitions and organic conquer the environment range, "the group said.

This announcement had already acquired majority stakes in two U.S. since the end of the first semester in the laboratory and in the Gulf States Pasch. Essilor has also sold its stake in early August Sperian Protection which represented 15% of capital.This sale will record a gain of 27 million euros in its accounts in the second half.

The manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses confirms target for 2010 sales up 5% to 7%, excluding currency and strategic acquisitions, and margin contribution stable excluding acquisitions and strategic change IFRS. In the first half of 2010, the margin of Essilor has eroded slightly over the same period in 2009, yielding 0.1 percentage points to 18%.

At the Paris Bourse, the title Essilor yields 2.74% to 46.88 euros at 10:00. It displays the largest drop and the CAC 40, itself in decline 0.62%.

The Beige Book released Wednesday evening by the U.S. Federal Reserve and state is a better overall economy than before.Both at the point of manufacturing and services.

Sightseeing, the report underscores the strong momentum in the areas of San Francisco, New York, Minneapolis, Richmond, Kansas City and Atlanta, although the latter regrets a decline in leisure travel in the Gulf of Mexico, an area affected by the noirée tide.

On the consumer front, consumer spending during the early summer have increased overall, particularly in Dallas, but in most areas, this growth has remained low.

In the property and the trend is less successful.While the tax credit to Etats6unis expired last April 30, the Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Kansas City have suffered declines in construction activity, one can read in the Beige Book.

Finally, employment has gradually improved in several areas, like New York, Chicago, Richmond and Atlanta, but has stagnated for example, Boston and Dallas.

On Wall Street, the investor response is negative. The major indexes have bent the publication of the Beige Book (20 hours, Paris time). In the end, the Dow Jones ended up on a decline of 0.38% to 10,497.96 points, the Nasdaq is up 1.04% to 226.56 points and the S & P by 0.69% to 1106.13 points.

Note that this information valuable as its Chairman of the institution, Bernanke said there just a week before Congress the slow recovery, without announcing new measures to support the economy.Please note that Friday, all eyes will be the publication of the first estimate of U.S. GDP for the second quarter of 2010.

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If the Office of Tourism Osten-sur-Mer laments a decline in attendance of about 10%, traders stand more negative findings."The customer is down 30% to 40%," says Pascale Soussi Restaurant La Terrasse in Sin-sur-Mer. "And it was discussed among traders: It's the same for everyone. At the restaurant La Marina, sixty meals are served daily on the usual hundreds. At the Hotel du Port, Osten-sur-Mer, Sophie Ramon prepare a statement even less favorable in the hotel which was flooded by 82 inches of water in late February and closed more than a month, attendance was halved.

Three campgrounds closed

In case the destruction of several campsites and many second homes have contributed to empty the streets of the town. A La Faute-sur-Mer, the municipal camp was finally closed and that the Blue Waves should not reopen until April 2011.As for camping Municipal The Sting-sur-Mer, it is only half available: caravans and tents can again take up residence in the "upper" since July 1. But the other part, where you could rent mobile homes, chalets and caravans, remains closed for repairs. It represents, in itself, a hundred beds and less.

Overall, La Faute-sur-Mer, about 8000 tourists were least expected, on the 35,000 usually greeted each summer. Added to an unfavorable economic situation by traders, these accommodations are destroyed a significant shortfall.

Ile de Re also shows a small decrease

A few dozen kilometers south of La Faute-sur-Mer on the Ile de Ré, the damage from the storm were less important. "The island is absolutely destroyed!", Recalled the manager of a hotel restaurant.A campsite for a works council remains closed this season and the hotel Odalys does not welcome new visitors that from 31 July.

Le Relais Thalasso, also closed after the storm has finally reopened its doors on July 4. Four months of work have been necessary for the institution to recover from the flooding that devastated forty rooms. "Today, activity resumed normally," said facility director Didier Gireau. Our forecast for the month of August are in the standard, or even good. We have made efforts to forget the flood and that the center image is not tarnished. "

But many merchants and restaurateurs of the Ile de Ré deplore this was a small decline in attendance. Some highlight the consequences of the storm, others are pointing the finger particularly the unfavorable economic environment."The economic situation is worrying," says director of Ile de Re Tourism, Catherine Senand, refusing to incrimer the storm that left "little effects" on the island. She admits that the season has "started slowly, but expects a better August.

A "moderate" impact on departments

For François Riou, assistant executive Tourist Board of the Vendee, the impact of Xynthia remains "very moderate". Only 2% of the Vendee coast has been destroyed by the storm, "a tiny fringe" which does not affect his view, the department's tourism season. Faced with a peak at half this year, local tourism professionals will therefore want reassurances on their prospects."Only two campsites are closed on the 400 account the Vendee," he recalls.

Even finding across the neighboring department: "After the storm, only 3% of the infrastructure of Charente-Maritime have been affected," said Stephane Villain, president of the Tourism Committee of the department. "The summer looks very good," he says. "The reservation rate is substantially identical to that of 2009 which was a very good year." And we promise to visitors that the hospitality will be at appointment: "People have worked hard to accommodate visitors in very good conditions," says Stephane Villain. They may be even better than usual ".

The image of the region involved

The image of the Atlantic is at stake, as evidenced by the television campaign to promote tourism in the Vendee.Circulated in early June, the commercials were intended to "remind the values of hospitality and tourism" of the department, according to François Riou.

The regions affected by Xynthia therefore trying now to convince visitors that they are again ready to welcome them, with their usual charm and tranquility.

State Street Bank (9.9% to U.S. $ 36.64) outperformed all other banks, which also have very good performances, like Bank of New York Mellon (6.35%), Northern Trust Corp. (+ 6.92%), JP Morgan (4.95%), BoA (4.55 %)…

On the foreign exchange market, the euro remained stable against the dollar.It was trading at 1.2628 dollar. The day before, the euro had increased after the publication of an improvement less-than-expected activity in the services sector in the United States, highlighted by the index of purchasing managers published by IMS .

After the disappointment of Friday on the employment figures, investors should be particularly careful this week to weekly figures for unemployment benefits that are to be published Thursday.

At the dawn of interim results

On Wall Street as on most other major world places, operators should play the card of caution this week before the opening of the interim results season.

Today, the discount retailer Family Dollar Stores (-8.14% 36.23 dollar) has released disappointing interim results. This is the only company in the S & P 500 to publish its results this week.Within the Dow, the ball begins, as always, with results from Alcoa (3.23% to 10.54 dollars) July 12, next Monday.

Always on the side of values, Google (3.24% to 450.2 U.S. dollars) said Wednesday that it still awaiting a decision on renewing its operating license in China, needed to operate the largest Internet market in the world, said a spokesman for the American company and a Chinese official.

Thursday came another statistical support with the recent claims of unemployment rose 13,000 to $ 472,000 in the figures as at June 26, while economists on average expected a decline to 452,000 over the figure of 457,000 originally announced. This does not suggest the best for this afternoon.

The CAC 40 displayed an increase of 0.75% within minutes of opening to 3364 points and advanced more moderately by 0.29% to 3349.73 points shortly after noon.

Note that the meeting in Paris will be exceptionally today around 41 values because of two new entities of Accor.

The trend has been better after the session on Wall Street to limit losses. At the close, the Dow Jones lost 0.42% to 9733 points, the Nasdaq was down 0.37% at 2101 points and the S & P 500 drops 0.32% to 1027 points. This has encouraged the European markets to dare a technical rebound this morning. This morning in Asia, also dominated the calm markets.

On the face values, we will therefore:

Bank stocks. The banks borrowed yesterday less cash than expected to the ECB, were reassuring.But, according to the Financial Times, a score of banks would be forced to raise capital after testing resistance. Societe Generale 33.585 to yield 0.84%, BNP Paribas 1.72% to 44.24%, Credit Agricole stabilizes.

Edenred (new name of Accor Services) made its market debut. The award technical reference of the title was set at 11.40 euros, a figure which is located in the lower range of 11-14 euro advanced Tuesday by the chairman of Accor at its general assembly and lower than its During Thursday on the gray market, which was around 12 euros depending on traders. In the first exchanges, the title earned more than 24% to 12.24 euros.

Accor is mishandled and lost 5.18% to 23.420 euros. According to Les Echos, the group is also about to give the caterer Rail Wagons-Lits to French Newrest.Moreover, according to the newspaper, the proposed IPO of Lucien Barriere, another subsidiary of Accor, will be presented to analysts on July 7.

GDF Suez (EUR 22.99 0.86%). Standard & Poor's said on Thursday lowered the outlook notes A/A1 group's "positive" to "stable", judging unlikely that the group achieves and maintains financial circumstances justifying an increase in his notes.

BNP Paribas and BPCE, the parent company of Natixis announced an alliance in consumer credit, which will require the development of a common platform operational from 1 January 2013. The BNP Paribas gained 2.09%. Natixis yield 0.41%.

Schneider (0.59% to 81.37 euros) said Thursday it was in talks with the city of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on the renovation of the city's power grid.The Tribune reported Friday that the group has secured this contract, the newspaper figure at 1.3 billion dollars (1 billion euros).

LVMH (+0.34% at 85.49 euros) is about to acquire a Brazilian company, the leader of the country of the online sales of perfumes and cosmetics.

Beneteau lowered from 17% to 15% of its target revenue growth for fiscal year 2009-2010 within the scope of delays in deliveries of vessels. The builder of sailboats and motorboats, however, confirmed its target of operating profit to 37.5 million for its fiscal year ending in late August. The title resists: he won 3.32% to 11.06 euros.

If Washington does not 300,000 as teachers, firefighters and police officers are threatened by new cuts, from California to upstate New York. Some 84,000 civil service jobs have already been eliminated by U.S. states since the beginning of the crisis. "People are suffering. We want the economy continues to grow faster. We want to see an acceleration of job creation, "said David Axelrod, an adviser to Obama.The latter supports the project being developed in the Senate that provides $ 23 billion for the salaries of state officials, in addition to 25 billion dollars to cover the expenses of state health and benefits the poor.

Tax increases and deficit

Other provisions are included in the package the Senate. It is an extension of benefits for long-term unemployed, as well as various tax breaks to municipalities and the research budgets of companies. A portion of these expenses is expected to be financed by tax increases. One concerns some investors in private equity and venture capital funds. But the amount released from the controversial tax planning is estimated at 19 billion dollars cheap pay day loans.The other would affect the oil companies, companies whose popularity is at its lowest because of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Each barrel sample of their offshore platforms is awarded a fee of 41 cents against 8 cents so far.

The use of these funds to increase deficit has attracted serious opposition from Republicans and a growing reluctance on the part of Democrats. The latter, in view of the November parliamentary, are sensitive to anger more and more voters to soaring public debt since the accession of Barack Obama in the White House. "We are tired of spending increases" summarizes Steny Hoyer, leader of the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.The recent primary elections have shown that conservative fringe of the electorate is mobilized for candidates of a new profile, hostile to public spending.

Republicans, concerned about the danger of massive job losses of teachers and firefighters, insisting that the exceptional aid to states financed by spending cuts in other budget items.

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The law finally approved American finance

The boss of AIG would have been willing to accept the bid for Prudential

The solution of the IPO remains the preferred solution by AIG. According to most analysts, the rating of AIA could yield 15 billion euros. We are still far from the $ 35 billion U.S. insurer hoped to realize from its sale to Prudential, but it would be a way to wait the U.S. Treasury while giving itself the means of selling activities that will repay the 182 billion dollars spent by Washington to save the U.S. insurer.According to U.S. media, Robert Benmosche was ready to accept the offer from Prudential to 30.4 billion dollars, but the Board of Directors of AIG has opposed.

Check Stock Exchange, AIA could also become an attractive target for other insurers. An analyst of Credit Agricole, the subsidiary of AIG achieves better operating results than those of Prudential Asia (15% against 7%).

Once listed, AIA could recover activities of Prudential

According to the Times, AIA might even win market share if its subsidiary Prudential's Asian operations. The British newspaper even suggests the possibility of recovering AIA activities of Prudential of interest.And again according to the Times, Tidjane could finally keep his post of director general, despite criticism from its shareholders in particular.

Bankers value of AIG's Asian subsidiary of AIG's life insurance between 32 and 36 billion dollars. A range that corresponds to those of Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, respectively, between 32 and 34 billion and $ 34 and $ 36 billion.

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The object of his scorn? The refusal by Roselyne Bachelot, Minister of Health, to implement the tariff adjustment in 2007 and decided that should have been implemented … in June 2008. "We need the signatures and commitments are respected," he insisted.This refusal to do so amounts to wipe their feet on their partners and to deny the value of the medical procedure and the physician's role in our health care system. "

The agreement signed just before the presidential election provided that doctors should reduce the amount in consideration of their prescriptions. An objective written ambiguously, that has not been reached and thus explains, among other things, the refusal of the Executive to reassess the rates.In retaliation, the CSMF calls on all private physicians to begin April 12 a "protest" to demand respect for their word.

Arbitration Rules April 20

All GPs are invited to price the consulting firm at 23 euros – unless the patient refuses to continue to be reimbursed on the basis of 22 euros – and the home visit at 33 euros No fax cash advances. All specialists must apply the "C2 consultant" (consultation at the request of the attending physician) to 46 euros and the doctors office and facility listed in the table guards should require the payment of fines.

The CSMF enters "window: Arbitration policy" to push his claims.This procedure, carried out by Bertrand Fragonard, the president of the High Council for the Future of Medicare, is to set the tariff applicable to physicians between the signing of two agreements. Its conclusions should be made public on April 20 instead of 12 as originally planned. "If we do not succeed, everything will be blocked for at least eighteen months," said Michel Chassang. For three years we expect. Commitments must be remaindered. "Pressure necessary for the arbitral settlement should not, he said, proposing the passage of consulting GPs at 23 euros.

The CSMF said it would take no tomorrow – the day when the Supreme Court must rule on the subject – in the strike launched by its competitor MG France to seek alignment of pricing on the generalist specialists ."Let us begin by asking to implement this agreement before considering the next," said Michel Chassang justified.

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Investors seemed reassured by the latest statistics. The U.S. trade deficit fell to 37.29 billion dollars from 39.9 billion in January. For specialists Barclays Exchange, "it is a pleasant surprise to the extent that economists were expecting a deficit of 41 billion dollars." Other good news side of the labor market "listings weekly unemployment fell to 462,000 from 469,000 the previous week.

On Wall Street will be sitting under the sign consumer with the publication of sales information for the month of February and the preliminary estimate of consumer confidence.Business inventories for the month of January will be published in late afternoon.

Shortly before the opening, futures on Nasdaq 100 and Standard & Poor's 500 advanced 0.01% respectively at 1925.50 points from 0.06% to 1151.30 points.

On the side of values, the CEO of Citigroup has pledged a return to profitability of the bank. The state could get rid of all of its shares within twelve months. The title of Citigroup rose 30% since the beginning of the month and by 20% since the stock market Monday.

For several sessions throughout the banking sector enjoys a renewed interest from investors. On Thursday, he was also concerned by the failure of talks in the U.S. Senate to reform the financial system.After several months of effort, Senator Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, has not succeeded in concluding an agreement between Republicans and Democrats on this bill to reform the banking system.

In the energy sector, Devon Energy, a specialist in the production of oil will sell at BP Plc for seven billion dollars of assets located in Brazil, Azerbaijan and the Gulf of Mexico.

Note also the manufacturer of semiconductor National Semi-conductor announced after the close of the NYSE, a profit of 53.2 million, or 22 cents a share against 18 cents expected by analysts' consensus. Turnover was 361.9 million against 348.6 million expected by analysts.

In a letter dated March 10 released Thursday by the Elysee, the three leaders and the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou proposed that the European Commission "due diligence as soon as possible an investigation into the role and impact of Speculation on CDS (credit default swaps, Ed) the obligations of European states. " CDSs are contracts to exchange the risks of default of a company or a state.Speculation on these CDS are singled out in the financial crisis currently Greece, heavily indebted.

Minimum holding period of CDS

"If this investigation was to expose abuses of market or that it exhibits evidence that speculation has an impact on interest rates, we will quickly review and action as appropriate, adopt laws and regulations necessary to end, "adds Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy, Jean-Claude Junker and George Papandreou cash till payday advance