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Essilor International shows a rebound in sales of 15.8% in the first half to 1,926 billion euros. The world of ophthalmic lenses has seen its sales boosted by several acquisitions such as U.S. and Signet FGXI Armolite. In all, Essilor has acquired or increased its stake in thirteen companies in the first half, representing an additional turnover of approximately 80 million euros.

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%.

After failed negotiations with the British Prudential, the U.S. insurer American International Group (AIG) is considering other alternatives for its subsidiary Asian life insurance, AIA. Among them, the IPO. "We expect AIG to sell AIA is seeking through an IPO, which will take more time to finalize," warned the credit rating agency Standard & Poor's cited by the Tribune on Thursday. However, according to the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, citing "sources close" to Generali, the Italian insurer is interested in the activities of IAA in the Philippines and China. A spokesman for Generali questioned by AFP, said he was "very premature to talk about" a possible interest group for those assets.The group expects that "AIG waives the original hypothesis (ie the IPO, Ed)" to position themselves as the problem of prices "which has stopped all candidates" was resolved.

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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LE FIGARO. – Activation Plan aid to Greece Will there be enough to reassure the markets?

BART VAN ARK. – Nothing is less certain. If using the rescue plan EU-IMF had become inevitable due to the rates imposed by markets, one plan will not help. It will take others. Because Greece can not simply put in order its public finances. She will have to undertake structural reforms, which, by definition, are long and painful. It must focus on its productivity, decreased significantly, and quickly find a way to create jobs.

Before release the money, should there be a new dose of austerity in Greece?

To have a chance to be swallowed, the pill should not be too bitter. If you cut too much spending, it will exacerbate the risk of recession.At the same time, Greece has to reassure the markets over the medium and long term, by engaging in a meaningful and specific reforms. It is not shocking to ask Greece for new safeguards.

The risk of contagion to other European countries there in recent days?

I do not think. Markets are well sorted. Portugal and Spain are in very different situations of Greece. Although Portugal has a similar financial problem and a serious deficit of structural reforms, the situation is less dramatic than that of Greece now payday loan. As for Spain, much larger economy, it began structural reforms, and its banking sector is stronger.

The cohesion of the euro area is at risk?

I do not think so.The eurozone saw, for sure, his first financial and economic crisis. But this is not the end of the Euro! This crisis, which I find exciting force, in contrast, Euroland more economic integration. Europe must urgently address this need for economic integration. There is no other way. The hypothesis of a breakdown of the euro area is not realistic to my eyes.

More integration, it means there a belt tightening for everybody?

In the short term it seems inevitable. Public deficits rise between 5% and 10% of GDP. They strike even the most virtuous countries such as Germany, which will perhaps five years to return to fiscal sanity. The euro area has become credible.In the medium term, more integration, it means more responsibility for each other in their economic policy.

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Meanwhile investors are turning away en masse Greek government securities. At midday, the rates of Greek government bonds to 10 years have reached a record high since the country's entry into the euro area. The yield on government bonds rose to almost 8.3% against a little over 7.85% yesterday. Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou has again tried to reassure, but in vain. The day before Athens had yet succeeded without any difficulty, to put 1.95 billion euros of Treasury bonds to three months at a rate of 3.65%.

For companies with over 50 employees, the countdown has begun. On 1 January 2010, those who are not covered by a sector agreement will be entered into an agreement or plan of action for the employment of seniors, with the unions concerned. While the fine provided for non-compliance with the law of frightening companies weakened by the crisis – it will amount to 1% of payroll – Labor Minister Xavier Darcos said Sunday in columns of a Parisian down the deadline for companies with fewer than 300 employees. These SMEs have three more months to comply with the law.

For companies with more than 300 employees, however, including "more than 1,000 agreements have already been adopted," the law will apply."Businesses must take this opportunity to end a tremendous waste of skills and social innovation by offering training, mentoring, part-time" said the minister.

France deplores, with 38% of senior operating, one of the worst rates in the European area. Called to order by Brussels after the relative failure of a first inter-national agreement in 2005, the government now hopes "to achieve the fastest possible EU target 'of 50% of 55-64 years at work. Left to threaten with a stick especially feared in times of crisis.

The first results of the survey of 102,000 employees of France Telecom are falling, and they are not in favor of the operator. "Felt generally very degraded", "weakening the physical and mental health of some employees'" work atmosphere tense, even violent "are some of the findings prepared by the firm specializes Technologia at the end of the investigation since mid-October in France Telecom. A summary of 75 pages which had access to the Associated Press was delivered Monday morning to both management and unions of the operator.

They were more than 80,000 employees of the group or 77.9% to the questionnaire prepared by Technologia, Workforce oldest in the company and the most experienced showing particularly concerned.

"A functional mobility badly accompanied"

The summary report shows the "strong concerns" of employees surveyed, with the consequence including the loss of the "pride of belonging to France Telecom" and "felt generally very degraded." They were in fact 96% say that proud of this membership cons only 39% today. The difficult working conditions, with a "weakening of the physical and mental health", mainly those in charge of sales and "interventions customers.

More generally, the investigation reveals a "functional mobility badly together," and a "geographical mobility of non-sensitive framework, thus confirming an earlier observation made by many employees.In total they are 55% declare themselves "somewhat dissatisfied" on a professional level, and 65% believed that their working conditions have deteriorated, according to the CFE-CGC.

Moreover, "social relations deteriorated" are found among non-executives, including a "major failure of management" and "working atmosphere tense, even violent.

"The diagnosis is indicative of the internal situation" responded Patrice Diochet the CFTC, adding hope that "this diagnosis is a detonator." "We must use this tool to put pressure on the ongoing negotiations on stress," he added.

Playing the card of transparency in anticipation of these results, France Telecom announced a total of 32 suicides among its members for two years. The operator has not yet made public its reaction.

Nearly 4 000 passengers per month this summer with tourists, 3 500 this fall against a thousand a year ago. Since the price rose 9.40 euro to 1 euro, whatever the length of the journey, the bus is "furiously trend in the Pyrenees-Orientales. The council did not expect when he decided in autumn 2008, to experiment the bus at low cost.

This success has not sealed the accounts of the county transportation department. "Last year, explains its director, Patrick Remy, revenues amounted to 900 bus 000. This is exactly the same budget line this year. Increased attendance has offset the lower price. We even managed to retain new users. "To balance the accounts, the services have been streamlined, including by replacing scheduled by demand services to avoid driving empty buses.In 2012, all municipalities will be well served. In the wake of the Pyrenees-Orientales, but also the Alpes-Maritimes, 29 departments have chosen this formula for the single rate between 1.50 and 2 euros.

While Free is soon to land on the mobile phone market, operators are in battle. SFR puts together all the stops to improve coverage of its 3G mobile network.

Behind the obligations contained in its license, the operator covers only 80% of the population, instead of the 98% required. Rival Orange is also delayed but to a lesser extent, since it covers 85% of the population. Bouygues Telecom, which started later, he is ahead: it already covers 79% of the population for a requirement of 75% in late 2010.

This topic will be up for discussion with the regulator (Arcep) in December. Orange and SFR, which could theoretically fine, should actually commit to a new schedule of obligations.

SFR, which has invested 1.4 billion euros in its network in 2009, promises to invest at least as much this year.A reminder that the business of mobile operator needs to have deep pockets. Meanwhile, he announced Tuesday the sale of a new cabinet, "SFR 3G Home," sold 299 euros. Clean the box Web client, this case is actually a mini-antenna technology ( "femtocell"), is improving coverage at home.

"Tool of comfort"

"It is a tool of convenience for our customers. This provides a good mobile coverage in the back room, for example where the mobile goes wrong, where in his second home, "says Jean-Marc Tassetto, general manager marketing and public SFR. 82% of subscribers who do not pick up well at home, would be interested in this type of product, according to the operator. Another initiative SFR announced Tuesday the launch of an offer Internet access via satellite (from 34,90 euro per month dish included).It is for 500 000 homes, located mostly in rural areas, still lack access to ADSL. SFR for the occasion partnered with satellite operator Eutelsat. Such an offer has already been launched in early 2009 by Orange.

Along with improved network coverage, the operator must also cope with the sharp increase in traffic. Indeed, with unlimited internet boom on phones, consumers are now e-mail, surfing, downloading video, music streaming. All activities demanding network capacity, leading all operators to invest to avoid saturation.