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"Conforama has passed its turnaround"

Thursday Apr 29, 2010

"Conforama woke up," says Le Figaro Thierry Guibert, head of Conforama, a subsidiary of PPR, whose CEO Francois-Henri Pinault announced the proposed sale. In the first quarter, sales rose 2.6%. "Taking into account closures, the rally reached 4%, our best performance for two and a half years," said Thierry Guibert, who said "satisfied" while relativizing. "The basis of comparison is favorable activity had decreased by 10% in early 2009. But our performance is strong since January. It is the result of the strategy put in place for eighteen months to address a deteriorating situation constantly. "

Conforama cons Ikea

Better yet, "the last six months, Conforama has regained market share in furniture.This is the first time in seven years, "says Thierry Guibert, who thinks she recovered some of its behind Ikea.

Since 2002, the distributor of household goods lost a point of market share per year. His image has deteriorated, customers have turned away from the sign. Ikea also pleased to Conforama its leading position in France in early 2009.

"I was worried about the economic health of Conforama, its level of supply and its attractiveness," admits Thierry Guibert, who took the reins in 2008. Engaged in a modernization plan, Conforama renovated its stores (181 to date in France) and launched a new concept that gives more space to the world of cooking and decorating. During deployment, it is already present in 12 stores and should be applied to 15 more this year. A design space will be in place this summer in 40 other outlets."From 1 July we will be increasing our offering around the tableware and cooking utensils," says Thierry Guibert, who hopes to have 15% of sales in the decorative end of 2013, against 10% now . However, Conforama could "reduce by-case its offer in small furniture, lounge and bathroom.

Location cleaned

Conforama is also preparing to launch a new brand called Confo Deco, with shops 500-700 m2 quick cash. Located in downtown or mall, they offer a wide range of products – including a significant part in its own brand – in six worlds (night, kitchen, bathroom …). The first store will open its doors in October in the shopping center La Part-Dieu in Lyon. A second is scheduled for early 2011 at the heart of Lille."We want a real concept that will strengthen both the proximity to our customers and our legitimacy in the decoration, hopes Thierry Guibert, who plans to open 3-5 Confo Home each year.

"The goal is to boost activity in an extremely volatile," said Thierry Guibert. In 2009, the decline in sales has not stopped Conforama improve its profitability, with operating income up 6%, with 77 million euros in savings and international relief. "This year, our goal is to significantly improve our profitability," said the chief executive Conforama. Owing mainly to sales growth. "We are in running order to beat the market without watering customers tariff discounts," says Thierry Guibert, who is without mention other signs, such as Goal, which break the price.

Especially as the activity outside France (27% of sales) should not negatively influence the results. After the closure of seven stores in Italy and the Iberian Peninsula, the situation has been cleaned and sales depart.

"Conforama has passed its turnaround," says Thierry Guibert, while acknowledging that "it is frustrating to hear some suggest that we make the bride more beautiful for better sell. Instead, I explain to my team that, regardless of the shareholder, Conforama should be pretty solid for redeployment and create value. "

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Wall Street is concerned about the European Debt

Wednesday Apr 28, 2010

Wall Street in the red. The U.S. stock market reacted badly to the degradation of the sovereign rating of the debt of Portugal. Standard & Poor's said Tuesday it has lowered the rating two levels of long-term sovereign issuer of Portugal, A-A + cons.

The rating agency also lowered by three notches note of Greece, from "BBB +" to "BB +", relegating to the category of "junk", speculative investments.

The President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Jean Claude Trichet immediately to reassure the markets by indicating that it was "no question" that Greece or any other country in the eurozone could default on its obligations. But this ad is not enough.

Around 5:40 p.m., the Dow Jones coward 1.07% to 11.1085 points, the Nasdaq was down 1.41% at 2,488 points while the S & P lost 1.49% to 1195 points.The European financial markets have tumbled at the close.

In this new addition to the opening of the hearing officers of Goldman Sachs by the Subcommittee of the Senate. Goldman Sachs (2.46% to 155.48 dollars) will continue to attract the attention of investors. CEO Lloyd Blankfein, Chief Financial Officer David Viniar and Fabrice Tourre are heard in Washington before the Subcommittee of the Senate. While the financial sector following the case closely, so the reform of financial regulation was postponed by the Senate. It remains feared by the banking sector. Concerns focus on the reform activities in derivatives that could affect the performance of the investment bank.

The bank responded in different ways. Bank of America lost 0.22%, Citigroup slumps to -2.27%, while JP Morgan Chase is 0.23%.

Confidence off again

U.S. consumer confidence improved considerably in April, reaching its highest level since September 2008 thanks to greater optimism about the job market, according to the index of employers' organization the Conference Board released Tuesday. The index stood at 57.9 in April against 52.3 in March. He had reached that level since September 2008 which corresponds to the bankruptcy of U.S. bank Lehman Brothers. Analysts polled by Reuters expected at 53.5.

For their part, the prices of residential property in the United States still slightly in February but they registered their first increase in annual rate over three years, at +0.6%.

Herz sanctioned

As for values to follow, investors will have the matter: this is indeed the highlight this week, publication of quarterly results.165 companies to sacrifice performance.

After the close of yesterday evening, several, including Texas Instruments (0.26% to 27.22 dollars), have already published. The semiconductor group has unveiled strong results. The Texan also reassured to 56-64 cents per share on a turnover of at least 3.31 billion dollars in the quarter, against respectively 53 cents and $ 3.23 billion for Bloomberg's consensus.

3M (1.96% to 88.74 dollars) announced Tuesday it posted a net profit of 930 million dollars in the first quarter, up 80%. Revenues climbed 19% in one year, 6.348 billion dollars.

U.S. Airways (1.39%) has reduced its losses in the first quarter. In the first three months of 2010, net loss was $ 82 million against a loss of 382 million a year earlier.The turnover increased by about 15% to $ 4.24 billion, above analysts' forecasts (4.18 billion).

DuPont (-0.84%) reported a net profit of 1.13 billion dollars (850 million euros) against 489 million during the corresponding period a year earlier. Its turnover rose 23.5% to 8.48 billion, against 8.06 billion expected by analysts. The chemist has also raised its forecast for 2010.

Ford (-5.81%) reached a first quarter net profit of 2.1 billion dollars (1.6 billion euros) against a net loss of $ 1.4 billion over the same period last year. Its turnover rose to 28.1 billion dollars against 24.4 billion in the first three months of 2009.

Note that the number one car rental Hertz (-2.72% 14.25 dollars) bought its competitor Dollar Thrifty (-1.07% to 42.61 dollars).It will pay 1.27 billion dollars and 1550 points will earn additional rental. A crucial task for Hertz, which remained in the red in the first quarter with a net loss of 150 million dollars.


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"The airline industry's recovery is not affected"

Monday Apr 26, 2010

More fear than harm. The Icelandic volcano spits ash and under no threat the European sky. The deadweight losses resulting from the disaster are expected to amount to 1.7 billion euros for the airlines, but "the recovery of the airline industry is not in question, according to analysts at Natixis.

There is good news since early March for the sector, with monthly data that highlight improvements in traffic and unit revenue. In addition, IATA (International Air Transport Association) has recently raised its earnings estimates for companies in 2010.

Although the relief is a priority for Asian companies and South America through a more dynamic economic environment, but companies in Europe and North America are also expected to rebound, "but more gradual.

Air France-KLM on the upslope

Natixis Securities is confident for the Franco-Dutch airline AIR FRANCE-KLM: the good news will continue, as the broker, which emphasizes the positive trend registered "throughout the fourth quarter of 2009/2010, with an increase in traffic March, which is one of their busiest months of the year. "The increase – the first 15 months – the number of passengers was thus elevated to 4.7% and load factor improved by 5 percentage points to 80.5% Guaranteed fast personal loans.

The unit revenues are also up compared to 2009 but are still lower compared to 2008.

The analysis bureau raised its price target on the value of 13 to 14.5 euros, explaining that such enthusiasm on the titles for the upcoming IPO of Amadeus, April 29 in Madrid. The travel booking company expected to raise between 1.25 and 1.36 billion euros to reduce its debt.This will be the most important introduction of European market since the beginning of the year.

Finally, the ash cloud, which should be operational in losing about 150 million euros in Air France-KLM estimated by Natixis, does not alter the optimism of the broker or investor: the Air France-KLM shares climb 1.63% on Monday to 10 hours and rate 12.45 euros. A similar level to that recorded at the beginning of the closure of major airports in northern Europe because of the cloud.

British Airways shares soar 2.6% at 239.8 pence on the London Stock Exchange.

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The United States is more optimistic about recovery

Saturday Apr 24, 2010

The U.S. administration smiles again. On leaving the G20 meeting in Washington Friday, Timothy Geitner has been shown. The Treasury secretary now considers that the recovery in the United Etatx will be driven by the private sector in 2011, implying that the economy will need at that time a support plan. "We are quite certain," he assured.

This is the first time since the end of the U.S. recession in the summer of 2009 that an American official raised the possibility of autonomous growth in the United States. In his speech, the more optimistic on the U.S. economy in mid-April, the central bank chairman Ben Bernanke had told Congress that the recent economic evidence "suggests that the increase in final demand would be sufficient to ensure recovery Economic moderate in coming quarters. "He did not, however, ventured to advance a date for a possible self-sustaining recovery.

These perspectives on the future economic conditions are more optimistic than the Treasury Secretary has made since his arrival at this position in January 2009. They are based mainly on economic indicators better than expected since the beginning of April.

Deficit

Asked how the administration intends to reach its deficit reduction monster, Timothy Geithner has again shown reassuring. According to him, Washington has promised to focus on deficit reduction in 2011. A date that coincides precisely with the arrival of a real growth driven by private sector efforts to lessen the fiscal stimulus.The U.S. deficit reached yet about 10% of GDP in 2008-2009 and could rise to 10.6% for the current fiscal year, which ends in late September.

In this regard, the U.S. Treasury Department said Friday in a letter to the chairmen of both houses of Congress and heads of the parliamentary opposition, that he saw sharply lower its estimate of the total cost of all measures rescue the financial sector taken by federal authorities since the beginning of the crisis. The ministry is now talking to a maximum of $ 87 billion, less than 1% of GDP.

Program to support the liquidity the Fed rescue of AIG, Chrysler and General Motors, through the aid homeowners in distress a year ago, the Treasury estimated that the losses of the state would reach 500 billion dollars, or 3.5% of GDP."This means that the federal budget deficit and public debt will be substantially below what was expected before," the Treasury.

The return of job creation

On the employment front, the optimism is also relevant. "Next month, I think we will create between 100,000 and 200,000 jobs," said Vice President Joe Biden on Friday during a trip to Pennsylvania. "At the White House, some say to me: 'do not you progress too'. Well, I'm here to tell you that in the coming months we will create between 250,000 and 500,000 jobs per month, "he added.

For now, the unemployment rate remains high at 9.7% of the workforce. "I'll tell you something, folks. We have not stumbled badly in the fall.As well we have designed our plan to end the crisis, we have a lot of good news on the road to recovery, "assured Joe Biden.

These statements come as the U.S. economy has created jobs in March in a way never seen for three years: 162,000 net jobs were created this month, according to figures from the Labor Department. The country began to "see the end of the tunnel," according to President Barack Obama.

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Obama criticizes Wall Street and defends his reform

Friday Apr 23, 2010

During a speech Thursday at the University Cooper Union in New York, Barack Obama forcefully defended his plan for banking reform. Faced with dozens of top leaders of institutions in New York, Bush has denounced "the furious efforts of professional lobbyists to shape this legislation in a way that serves their own interests."

Most of the bosses of big banks such as JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America or Morgan Stanley, had not moved to hear this lesson in civics."I am here today because I believe these reforms are ultimately not only in the interests of our country but also in the interest of our financial sector," argued the President of the United States.

"Some on Wall Street have forgotten that behind every dollar borrowed or exchanged is a family that wants to buy a house, finance the studies of one member, create a business or saving for retirement," said Barack Obama. The President relies on the unpopularity of the major New York banks to overcome Republican opposition. The charge of fraud brought against Goldman Sachs by the SEC, U.S. financial markets authority, maintains that state of mind.By their excessive risk taking, the largest financial institutions are held accountable by the crisis that nearly triggered one second Great Depression.

The "surcharge" balance

A version of the financial reform has already been passed in the House of Representatives in December. The text gives the executive the power to dismantle a large financial institution in difficulty. It forces to standardize financial derivatives and to rank them on organized markets transparent. The possibility of requiring commercial banks to abandon their activities altogether derivatives is proposed by some Democrats.

The reform also creates a new agency to regulate financial services to the general public.Barack Obama also wants to cap the size of banks and ban those who have access to the discount window of Federal Reserve to speculate on their own account. The Republican opposition was fierce against the idea of creating a new fund to rescue banks fed by a surcharge for banks. Conservatives see it as an institutionalization of the principle of systematic rescue large banks irresponsible. The possible loss of this part of the reform would respond to their wishes.


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The euro remains on a downward trend

Wednesday Apr 21, 2010

EUR / USD: The euro on a downward

Torn between good ZEW index of German industrialists in April and perennial concerns about the finances of Greece, the euro was hesitant. On Wednesday, he nevertheless resumed its downward trend started yesterday, when discussions begin in Athens techniques to study details of the mechanism of financial assistance that the country could then activate it if necessary.They should last about ten days after placement interviennet by Athens Treasury bills to three months worth of 1.95 billion euros.

The Bundesbank president Axel Weber has implied that Greece might need 80 billion euros of financial assistance to avoid bankruptcy, nearly double the amount provided by the European plan.

"Despite a modest rise in risk appetite, the euro remained under pressure during the night while the gap between Greek and German bonds rose to a new record of 478 basis points in the night, however, observed Michael Hart at Citigroup.

Pictet notes that "the return to rising world stock markets – after overruns linked to the case Goldman Sachs and the ash cloud Iceland – has left the dollar marble.

For Pierre-Antoine Dussoulier, president of Saxo Bank, the consensus presages a downturn in the euro.Support for the euro / dollar stood at 1.3280. One that is close, while the euro traded under $ 1.34 today, to 1.3387 to exactly 13 hours.

"Until then, support has remained resilient, but if it is broken, then the euro will fall to the next support, referred to 1.2455 dollar per euro, or levels in March 2009 and November 2008. The resistance is placed it, to 1.38 euros, but there is little chance that the euro is growing so very short term, the official said.

The pound sterling rose

While political discussions are underway with our neighbors across the Channel for the upcoming elections on May 6, the British pound is a positive trend, encouraged by the price index from March to well above expectations at 0, 6% against 0.3% expected.

It is 86.96 pence per euro and 1.5391 dollars on Wednesday.

Asian currencies purchased

Led by the change in monetary policy from the Bank of India Monday, Asian currencies continue to rise. As the NOK, which rises against the dollar at 5.8953. Even in Australia, the Australian dollar strengthens against the dollar and euro.

Canadian Dollar coveted

The Canadian dollar (CAD) remains the motto of all desires: while the Bank of Canada has hinted it may raise rates, the latter finally maintained at 0.25%. The loonie has flirted with parity from 1.0161 to 0.9941 Canadian dollars to 1 U.S. dollar. The momentum keeps a downward trend on Wednesday.

The central bank of Canada announced an upcoming recovery.It could then be the first monetary tightening of a G7 country.

* Definitions

• Forex: For Foreign Exchange, foreign exchange or market analysis • technical analyst or chartist. She studied graphic evolution courses. The research in the historical price behavior involved in a situation to predict the evolution of financial securities. • Pips: Price Interest Point. Unit rating for foreign currency. It designates the last digit is used: in the case of the euro, the fourth decimal place. • Trend: trend. • Range: Range. • Support: value as the price has little chance to pass down. • Resistant: value as the price has little chance of exceeding the rise. • EUR: Euro, USD: U.S. Dollar, or U.S. dollar JPY Japan Yen or Japanese yen, GBP: British Pound, CHF: Swiss franc .


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Cloud and Goldman Sachs suffers the CAC40

Tuesday Apr 20, 2010

The shockwave of the complaint Friday Constable American markets spread throughout the weekend. And one can see that the effect does not settle this Monday, while Asian stock markets are being hit hard by the announcement of the SEC's complaint against the U.S. bank Goldman Sachs to fraud, subprime.

Friday night, European markets have all fallen sharply after the announcement until the closing. In Paris the CAC 40 tumbled 1.94%, to finish the session under the 4,000 points to exactly 3 986.63 points.

On Monday, in the early exchanges, the flagship index evolves Paris were down 0.62% at 3961 points, settling in the 4000 points.

To follow Monday

No statistically significant anticipated this Monday in France and Europe. In contrast, the United States, the composite indicator of economic activity in March, released at 16 hours, will be closely watched.Side companies, Halliburton, IBM and Citigroup will publish their results in the first three months of the year. Three large trucks, respectively, in the petroleum, computers and banks, also highly regarded by investors.

This morning, were published sales for the first quarter of the group in communication consulting, Havas, and the automotive supplier Faurecia.

For the first (0.15%, to 3.91 euros), the activity was recorded up 1.4% thanks to a positive economic downturn in North America and Latin America.

The second (4.07%, 16.63 euros) cleared the first three months of the year a turnover of 3.2 billion euros, an increase of almost 60% over first quarter of 2009.Faurecia raised its growth forecast twice yearly.

Soitec publish its activity shifted after-hours trade (turnover in the fourth quarter) online cash advance. The securities were down 0.54%, to 11 euros.

A cloud supervised

The cloud of ash gives a halt to the aviation sector. The first estimate "conservative" established by the International Air Transport Association reported a cost of around 150 million euros per day for the sector.

According to analysts, it is difficult to quantify the losses of the airlines. But the flights accumulated losses – 63,000 this weekend as estiamtions – and the consequences concern.

To follow on Monday sector values, such as Air France-KLM (-6.3%, to 11.65 euros) in France, Lufthansa, Alitalia, British Airways, etc..

In addition, the fund took Qatari Diar 5% stake in leading environmental Veolia Environment (-1.67%, EUR 25), commits and industrial cooperation. With the participation of around 650 million euros, Qatari Diar is the fifth shareholder of Veolia. He will get a seat on the board of directors and will maintain its securities for three years.

Renault (-0.17%, to 34.4 euros) has decided to withdraw from the joint venture created to commercialize the vehicle low cost "Logan", and is considering launching a new range.

Side car, the first quarter was finished in beauty for vehicle sales in Europe. : 11.1% in March."The French are among the big winners" of the market upturn, according to Natixis Securities, while BMW continues its leadership against Daimler.

Credit Agricole (-1.55%, to 13 euros) and his Chinese counterpart Citic will enter into exclusive negotiations to create a global platform, including Cheuvreux and his nugget Asia, CLSA.


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Wall Street dampened by case Goldman Sachs

Saturday Apr 17, 2010

The U.S. stock market lost ground on Friday, all won during the week, and highs from session to session were badly broken. The announcement, shortly after the opening of Wall Street, the SEC, Goldman Sachs, which continues to fraud "Subprime" has dampened global finance.The bank securities were unscrewed from 12.8% to 160.7 million.

The U.S. stock market watchdog, the SEC announced Friday it was suing the U.S. investment bank "fraud" on the sale of investment securities linked to subprime mortgages.

Goldman Sachs and one of its leaders, Fabrice Tourre, are accused of defrauding investors face while making "misleading statements and omitting material facts on certain financial products linked to subprime loans when the market U.S. housing prices began to collapse. "

In the end, the Dow Jones lost 1.13% at 11,019 points, after fielding a sixth straight session Thursday to increase, the Nasdaq drops 1.37% at 2481 points and the S & P 500 1.61% loose in 1192 points.The thresholds symbolic of the 11,000, 2,500 and 1,200 points respectively have been taken down.

Trust settles

Another bad news on the front of the statistics: the U.S. consumer confidence index calculated by the University of Michigan came out in strong decline, to 69.5 in April, the lowest since November last. Economists had forecast about 75, after the index registered 73.6 in March.

Moreover, housing starts in March hit their highest level since November 2008, to 626,000 units annually. The economists had expected 610,000.

Google view

Later publications of the day, Bank America ok fell more than 6% to U.S. $ 18.31 No fax pay day loan. The bank recorded a net profit of 2.83 billion dollars in the first quarter, or 28 cents per share.It is far better than had been expected by analysts.

General Electric has folded, he of 2.62%, to 18.99 dollars while the conglomerate reported net earnings were down 32% to $ 1.87 billion, or 21 cents per share. Again, it's better than expected.

Google announced Thursday after the close of U.S. markets have performed over the first three months of the year a net profit of 1.96 billion dollars, 6.06 dollars per share, against $ 1.42 billion (U.S. $ 4.49 per share) over the same period last year. In the first three months of the year its sales climbed 23%. The securities have stalled, however, of 7.59%, to 551.76 dollars.

A cons-sense, Mattel manages to rise from 0.38% to 23.84 dollars.The world's leading toy has unveiled a profit of 7 cents per share, or 25 million over the first three months of the year.

In addition, the Financial Times, real estate investment fund Whitehall Street International managed by U.S. bank Goldman Sachs has lost almost all its value, or 1.8 billion dollars (1.3 billion euros) .

On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal revealed that another major U.S. bank Morgan Stanley had lost 5.4 billion dollars (3.95 billion euros) in investment properties, including the headquarters of the European Central Bank Germany.

Always on the side of values, yesterday, UPS, considered a good barometer of economic activity in the United States, announced a sharp rise in profits.


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Foreign tourists have abandoned France in 2009

Wednesday Apr 14, 2010

Less foreign visitors in France, under French abroad. Like all other sectors, the tourism industry (6.4% of GDP) has been overtaken by the economic crisis. If some 74 million visitors have crossed the borders of France last year that attendance has shown a decline of 6% compared to 2008.

The British (-17.3%), Spaniards (10%) and Americans (10%) were abandoned by France, who still remains the premier tourist destination.

The balance of payments deteriorated sector. Indeed, if the parties are less French tourists, foreigners have spent less. The surplus thus fell to 7.4 billion in 2009, against 8.5 billion a year earlier and 12.8 billion in 2007 loan payday instant.

The balance of payments deteriorated sector.Indeed, if the parties are less French tourists, foreigners have spent less. The surplus thus fell to 7.4 billion in 2009, against 8.5 billion a year earlier and 12.8 billion in 2007.

The hotel industry has suffered a decline in attendance of 4.9% in 2009 with a decline of 11% just for foreign customers.

The situation was particularly bad in the overseas territories: the attendance of the hotel fell 19.4%. A severe decline that experts say the crisis, but also by the general strike occurred in the Caribbean.


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Cacophony union on pension reform

Tuesday Apr 13, 2010

Eric Woerth, Minister of Labour in charge of pension reform on Monday received the representatives of unions and employers. Feedback gathered at the exit interviews showed deep antagonisms and augur of delicate negotiations to achieve a reform of the system.

• Daniele Karniewicz (CFE-CGC): President of the National Fund for Pension Insurance (CNAV), also charged with negotiating on behalf of the union executive (CFE-CGC) pleaded for a shield retreat "that would ensure a minimum level, that is to say a percentage of final salary for each activity that affect. "It is imperative that we find a consensus together, not to say on what lever we will play for pensions, but to say what level of pension is to be preserved for all private sector employees," she said on BFM Radio .The CFE-CGC is the only union to push for a postponement of the legal retirement age and wish to conduct a "reflection on the duration of activity."

• J ean-Claude Mailly (FOR): Secretary General of Pensions work force has already warned it was "not negotiable" for the union to reach the legal age of retirement set 60 years or the duration of contribution. "If the government really wants to push (…) the right to leave at age 60, or extend the term (contribution Ed), discussions began, it will be the beginning of the confrontation," he warned on France 2, before being received by the Minister of Labour.There is "no question of having to accept one way or another to have to work longer," even "because life expectancy is increasing," the emphasis has hammered the track of increased contributions and the tax issue for example by deleting "some exemptions which have been made in recent years, like the one on capital gains from subsidiaries, representing" 20 billion (euros) in three years, "he said.

• Laurence Parisot (MEDEF): President of the employers' movement said Monday that it was not "continue to resolve the pension issue by a steady increase in contributions" to employers or employees. She however refused to specify what tracks were preferred by the MEDEF before the Board of Retirement Guidance (NRC) does not publish financial simulations expected Wednesday.

• Fran?ois Ch?r?que (CFDT) national secretary of the CFDT has criticized the agenda provided by the government on pensions, considered "too short" for a thorough reform, and reiterated his commitment to retire at age 60. Play on the traditional parameters of risk "to accentuate the existing inequalities in our pension systems," he said, citing "those who started working young, those with heavy work, inequality between men and women and those in precarious paths.The CFDT had hoped "everything on the table and study the various pension systems division that exists in Europe to see that, or those that are most suited" to the French situation.

• FSU: the first union of the state civil service, said in a statement that it would oppose "to further cuts" on pensions. The union, which will be received by April 22 the Minister said that the pension system should allow to "maintain the standard of living" by guaranteeing a pension from 60 years earlier for jobs considered particularly difficult. "Since 2003, reforms have led to severe deterioration and decline of pensions, particularly penalizing women employees who have experienced unemployment, job insecurity, part-time," insists the FSU.According to the union, the Public Service, "the staff had to delay their retirement for six months on average and have seen them at the same time reduce repo rate by 1.5%.

• Jean-Francois Roubaud (CGPME): President of the General Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CGPME) said that "it will increase the length of working time" to resolve the pension issue in France and has said hostile to any additional taxation. "I proposed to index on life expectancy, there will be 41 in 2012 and I think that setting 42 years in 2020 seems a measure that could be reasonable.""We know we can not remain in the state where we are and we back into the wall if you do not change anything," he said after a meeting with the Minister.

• Jacques Voisin (CFTC): The chairman of the CFTC has expressed concern over the lack of a government proposal on the issue of new funds for pension schemes, following his meeting with Eric Woerth. "There is nothing, nothing on the issue of funding, nothing on the enlargement of the plate," he said. "We feel that the minister is on its two parameters: age and duration of contributions, and no other parameters in perspective," he said reiterating the CFTC's refusal to touch retirement 60.He called for "broadening the base of funding to capital income" and stock-option.

• Jean-Michel Baylet, president of the Radical Left (PRG) Francois Fillon has asked to "quickly check political parties represented in Parliament to associate them to work" on pensions. "They want reform in particular that allow everyone to have, at the age of retirement, a disposable income at least equivalent to the minimum wage." "As necessary, the guaranteed minimum income will be financed by taxes," he says.

• Beno?t Hamon: The spokesperson of the Socialist Party (PS) has denounced the "taboo of funding" of pensions, calling for a tax on financial income. "Today, there is no single way possible.And the only taboo that exists in that area, it is taboo (…) funding the government refuses broader base of employer contributions, "regretted Mr. Hamon on Europe 1. "If you extend the contribution period and it is very difficult to obtain adequate employment period for a full pension, the immediate consequence is the decline of pensions," he says.


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