The decision to sell 10 billion dollars in assets and more would occur just after BP announced a swelling of her bill to $ 8 billion today, while a month and a half earlier, the note was 4 billion dollars. In addition to the means used to seal the oil wells, oil giant gradually perform compensation for the victims' families, fishermen and residents, while continuing the cleanup.

When BP has reported a loss in its quarterly accounts abysmal end of July, a provision of $ 32.2 billion was included to address these future expenses. The group had relied on $ 20 billion for families and nearly 3 billion for cleaning.

10 billion more for sale

According to British newspaper, the staff is weakened to market the 26% stake it holds in the largest U.S. oil field, located at Prudhoe Bay in Alaska. A transaction that could bring him 20 billion dollars.

Negotiations are also on track to sell international assets, a value between 5 and 10 billion dollars at its Russian joint venture TNK-BP, including a "large number" of offshore deposits of North, according to the Sunday Times.

A month ago, BP has sold nearly two billion dollars in assets to a consortium of British group of Colombian Ecopetrol (51%) and the Canadian company Talisman (49%). And one month earlier still, the group confirmed it would be pulled apart from its marginal activities in Pakistan and Vietnam, but without specifying their value.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

European standards they penalize the industry?

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

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

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

You do not fear a relapse of the economy?

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

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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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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.

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 Italian 57 years, trained in computer technology and speaks five languages, has not missed any arguments to "sell" the young company and its innovative and promising.His prosthesis, implantable total artificial heart developed by Professor Carpentier of the Georges Pompidou Hospital, from 2013 should help save tens of thousands of cardiac patients. A challenge that fascinates Marcello Convite former IBM and Fiat, paid for thirty years in the life sciences. He held until last September to senior posts in the American International Edwards Lifesciences, who had just bought to Professor Carpentier's revolutionary concept of cardiac valves. For Dr. Philippe Pouletty, CEO of Truffle Capital, with the artificial heart (which will remain French …), Carmat has "all the ingredients to become a global technology company beautiful. "A great adventure of entrepreneurs, leading the veteran of the biotechnology industry has also brought public in April and companies Neovacs Deinove.

Carmat is, in fact, primarily a story of men.An R & D secrets first, initiated in EADS by Jean-Luc Lagardere and Professor Carpentier and developed for 15 years by a team of engineers led by former "Mr. International" of EADS, Jean-Claude Cadudal, president of Carmat.

Beside him, the engineer, former head of EADS big projects, and "very good teacher," Patrick Coulombier, also played a key role. It is today, with Marcello Convite DGA society. It was created in 2008 under the leadership of Philippe Pouletty because, after the release of préprototype, "he had to go to the next level." By convincing the engineers of the European giant switch in the start-up and live the adventure.

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Reportedly, the two bids, some thirty pages each, are accurate. The trio SFA-Prisa-France Telecom plans to inject 100 million euros (10 million from a bank loan) in the group for 67% of the capital. Perdriel propose to hold 45% of the capital, against 35% and 20% for Prisa for France Telecom. Stephane Richard's group plans to inject about 40 million euro offer for the shares of Lagardere, whose 7 million for the participation of 17.27% in Le Monde and 33 million for the 34% interest in the Interactive World .This values the total equity of the group (after debt) to around 40 million euros …

Create a foundation

For its part, the trio offers Pigasse-Niel-Bergé would book the group's employees a surprise. In addition to 110 million euros available for 65% of the capital, the trio was ready to fund "the possibility of personal companies of the group to return to their blocking minority," a reliable source. Thus, Pierre Bergé undertake, if its bid is successful, to create a foundation in which he would pay ten million for the company personnel can see their share increase by 20% (at the end of recapitalization) to 33%, the blocking minority."The relevance of this investment lies in the fact that it would pay the passage of the tickets out of shareholders Lagardère and Prisa diluted by the recapitalization," says one.

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A conciliator bedside World

The brown bean has been the stars of the markets in London and New Yorker last week. The tonne of cocoa for July delivery climbed to 2,350 pounds in London, its highest level since January 21 last. In New York, a ton for the same maturity has reached 3211 dollars, its best performance since February 1. Friday, prices were flirting with the same levels at 2336 pounds a ton on the Liffe, and 3186 dollars on the NYBOT.

The rebound by a recovery in global consumption of chocolate. The volume of cocoa stocks rose 16.17% in North America. Another factor in the rise: speculative buying. They returned in force in this market, driven by the potential of emerging countries including China.

In contrast, coffee prices fell, hit by rising dollar.The dollar rose Thursday to 1.3202 dollars per euro, its strongest level since April 2008, amid concerns Greek. On Liffe in London, the Robusta for July delivery was trading at around 1,325 dollars per tonne on Friday against 1385 dollars for the same term contract last Friday. On the NYBOT New York, he posted 131.60 cents 132.10 cents a pound against the pound last week.

From their side, wheat, corn and soybeans show a slightly more moderate increase than last week. Wheat finished 491.50 dollars on Friday in Chicago (2.24% on the week). A bushel of corn finished at $ 3.54 while that of soybeans ended 9.96 dollars on Friday in Chicago.

The plates still on top

As for precious metals, platinum rose to 1,754 dollars per ounce, a price he had not seen since July 2008.For its part, palladium reached 572 dollars per ounce, the highest since March 2008. Friday in London, an ounce of platinum finished 1725 against $ 1708 per ounce last Friday. The ounce of palladium finished at 555 dollars against 532 dollars a week earlier.

Gold however has continued to weaken. The courses have been affected by the case Goldman Sachs, like many other financial assets No fax pay day loan. On Monday, after the announcement of a prosecution for fraud by the SEC, gold has plunged to 1,124 dollars per ounce. The rising dollar has not helped to support markets.On the London Bullion Market, an ounce of gold ended at 1139.50 against 1151.50 dollars Friday dollars last Friday.

The ounce of silver followed gold ended down at 17.89 dollars Thursday.

Base metals: copper runs out of steam

Star of the market in recent weeks, copper has seen more difficult days this time by returning to below $ 8,000 per tonne, down over 2% in 5 days. The markets saw a dim view of the rising dollar.

Aluminum, which had hit its highest level since late September 2008 to 2494 dollars per ton during the Friday meeting, a cash drop of 6.5% over the week. According to analysts, the offer would be so abundant that China should become a net exporter of aluminum this year.

Nickel, which reached are higher in two years last Friday (27 595 dollars per ton) is decreased again.It was worth 26,930 dollars per tonne on Friday.

Oil boosted by good U.S. data

Oil ended sharply higher on Friday above 85 dollars a barrel. The contract on June U.S. light crude ended on an increase of 1.7%, to 85.12 dollars a barrel. For his part, Brent North Sea took 1.84% to 87.25 dollars.

"The very good statistics of new home sales was favorable to the crude," said Robert yawg, Vice President MF Global.Sales of new homes rebounded strongly in March to 26.9%, the fastest pace since April 1963, at 411,000 units annually against 324,000 in February, ending four straight months of declines.

Prices were also supported by rising demand in China and Greece's decision to engage the support mechanism of the European Union and the IMF.

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Compared to one year in 2009 particularly salty on the front of local taxes, the slight increase looming for 2010 seems almost like a lull … "Elected officials have until April 15 to vote on 2010 budget, but many have anticipated the future. My first impression is of limited and moderate increases, "said Philip Lawrence, in right-wing chairman of the Finance Committee at the Association of Mayors of France. Lille, Strasbourg, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nice, but Pau, Mulhouse, Toulon: many municipalities have opted in 2010 not to raise tax rates and residential property taxes. And the increases are reasonable in Albi (1.9%), Marseilles (2.9%) and Toulouse (4.2%), even if the increase goes wrong in the Pink City where opposition has denounced the absence of investment justifying rate increases.Exemplary, the city of Rodez is even lower than 1% of its tax home this year, but this case is extremely rare!

In terms of departments, which also accuse households, the situation is identical. The Gard and the Rhone, for example, have opted for stability. The increase was 1.8% in the Upper Rhine and Lower Rhine and 2% in the Cotes d'Armor. The general council of the Aisne himself has chosen to increase property taxes but to lower the tax. Finally, one region has raised interest rates: Alsace. It is true that the regional councils were encouraged to moderation, in this election year!

Play it safe and limit investment

The electoral cycle also explains the relative wisdom of Commons this year. The mayors have used their first full year term in 2009 to increase the tax pill, so you do not have to be taken thereafter for unpopular decisions.The rate freeze comes in Nice and after soaring 14.8% in 2009! "Faced with crisis, the municipal councils play caution and prefer to limit the investments. In Seals, for example, I do not remake the road, "says Philip Lawrence.

The behavior of the departments is more surprising since they are much affected by the surge in social spending. "But higher taxes do not tell us enough. The general advice is therefore resigned to cut spending in grants to associations for example, "says one to the Assembly of the departments of France (ADF).Or they choose to enter into division, as the President of the General Council of Seine-Saint-Denis, Claude Bartolone, who intends to vote on Thursday a budget deficit – which is illegal – in protest against the decline social benefits paid to his department by the State in the sum of 75 million euros.

Still, the picture is far from idyllic for the taxpayer. Firstly because even in places where rates are stable, their taxes will increase by 1.2%. Indeed, property taxes and housing paid by households are a multiple of a tax rate (passed by elected officials) with a base consisting of the rental value of housing. But this basis is adjusted this year by 1.2% nationwide. Then, all elected officials have not given up the hype tax. In Paris, the rates will still rise by 8%. Even punishment in Perpignan, where taxation was wise for nine years.In addition, there are finally some surprises Tax garbage collection, which jumped 20% incidence in the urban area of Marseille.

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