Business World |

Top of tough week on Wall Street. After opening in a small decrease (-0.1%), the NYSE has widened its losses during the session to close on a net decrease of 1.39% at 10,010 points. The Nasdaq coward 1.56% to 2120 points while the S & P drops 1.47% to 1049 points.

The euphoria that followed the release Friday of the revised figure for growth in the second quarter will not last. Caution has again made its appearance in spite of macroeconomic statistics as bad as expected. Consumption has picked up 0.4% yoy compared to June. It's better than the expected by analysts, who had estimated the consumption growth to 0.3%, according to their median forecast.Spending growth has outpaced that of household income since, according to the ministry, they are divided up by 0.2%, after virtually stagnating in June

The wait has dominated this session because of the flurry of statistics to be published this week. On Tuesday, it will house prices and economic activity in the Chicago area in August and, finally, the consumer confidence that will be published. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will be dominated by such employment with, successively, the ADP employment figures, entries weekly, and finally figures of unemployment and employment in August.

Waltz of mergers and acquisitions

On the corporate side, the dance of mergers and acquisitions continues. 3by (-2.03% to 31.80 dollars) fall after surge 25% to 32.5 dollars on Friday night.As for his suitors, HP (1.47% to 38.56 U.S. dollars) has increased its prices by 3 27 to $ 30, Dell (1.12% to 12.02 U.S. dollars) has aligned its offer Friday morning about $ 27.

The German manufacturer Infineon Semiconductor announced Monday the sale of his division's wireless, which makes components for mobile phones, the U.S. Intel (-2.23% to 17.96 dollars) for 1.4 billion (nearly 1.1 billion euros).

The CEO of Sanofi-Aventis, which formalized Sunday his intention to acquire U.S. biotech Genzyme (3.39% to 69.91 U.S. dollars) to $ 18.5 billion, said that "a lot of time can still drain "by launching a bid, in an interview with Voices dated Monday. But the board rejected Genzyme Monday unanimously the proposed terms.

The Indian government was to meet Monday officials from the Canadian manufacturer of BlackBerry (RIM: -0.88% to 45.59 U.S. dollars) to try to break the deadlock over access to encrypted data from the phone, on the eve of the ultimatum on blocking two messaging services.

French insurer Axa has reduced by almost half its share in the prestigious investment bank Goldman Sachs (-1.97% to 136.66 U.S. dollars), the center of criticism for his role in the Greek crisis, according to documents the regulatory authority of the U.S. markets (SEC).

The U.S. industrial conglomerate 3M (-1.67% to79, $ 65) announced Monday the acquisition of Cogent group (24.40% to 11.09 dollars) to over 900 million dollars (708 million euros) This represents a premium of nearly 18%. 3M will pay $ 10.50 in effect by title Gogent, which posted a closing price of 8.915 dollars Friday.The transaction should be completed in the last quarter of 2010.

In the past, finding a cheap and low cost health insurance posed problems to a lot of people in terms of availability and cost.

Acquisition appetite GDF SUEZ does not dry up. The group chaired by Gerard Mestrallet formalized fortnight ago the takeover of Britain's International Power. This nearly 20 billion euros making it the second largest electricity producer in the world.

This does not prevent targeting a wide range of assets in the energy sector. In Poland in particular, where GDF SUEZ already developing the largest biomass plant in the world with a capacity of 200 megawatts. The group intends to seize tricolor maximum opportunities in this key country in Central Europe. This Friday, however, he was left out of the race for the privatization of the producer and distributor of electricity Polish Energa, estimated 8 billion zlotys (2 billion euros).The Polish Treasury, which has sold 83% of Energa, announced he had chosen for further negotiations between the Czech and Polish groups EMP has Energeticky Prumyslovy Holding.

However, GDF Suez is in the running for the redemption of the third group of the country's electricity, Enea. Currently owned 60% by the Polish Treasury and 19% by the Swedish Vattenfall, Enea is listed at 51% for a price that could reach around 1.2 billion euros, according to Polish daily Parkiet. It provides 20% of electricity in Poland and supplies 2.3 million homes.

Faced with financial

The Polish Treasury, which had suffered an initial setback in 2009 when the only bidder, German RWE, had withdrawn its proposal, would have received this time five bids.These persons, in addition to GDF Suez, would appear EDF, Iberdrola of Spain, Italian Enel and Polish Kulczyk.

In Germany, GDF Suez is very interested in gas storage sites, sold by ExxonMobil and Shell oil companies, reported Friday a close group. The energy giant would face in the battle for assets valued at one billion euros in financial sector competitors. The infrastructure management subsidiaries of Deutsche Bank, Axa and Prudential are also candidates. Germany, third largest market in terms of GDF Suez supplies gas, is the second largest source of storage for this resource. The energy company it already has 600 million cubic meters (m3) of storage, and it would, if he can buy the two sites Uelsen Harsefeld and northwest of the country, its total capacity to about 1.5 billion m3.But France, with 10 billion cubic meters, will remain by far, its first storage area for gas.

The proposed acquisitions are still the order of the day, recalled yesterday a spokesman for GDF Suez. The merger with International Power, mainly funded by transfer of assets, slightly affects the budget of 10 billion investment that the group has set for 2010. And in the first half, investments, acquisitions and development operations or industrial maintenance, were $ 5.5 billion.

Subtracting the transfers of assets in parallel, GDF Suez had yet to end June with a bonanza of 7 billion euros to invest.

ALSO READ:

"GDF among four candidates for Energa

New twist in the drama of the French ship Financial. As stated Wansquare, Saade family, owner of CMA CGM, has initiated discussions with the Belgian billionaire through its capital increase required by the creditors of the group. These negotiations were still preliminary notified to the Commercial Court of Marseille. Brother Albert is not alone. He would lead the discussions in partnership with another French investor.

In this tandem plus the Strategic Investment Fund (ISF) has always said he would participate in this capital increase valued at approximately $ 750 million. Qatar Holdings, which in turn has made an offer earlier this month, would not be totally ruled out by Saade.

This is one of the largest employee share plans in recent years. GDF Suez, which offered about 200,000 employees worldwide to receive shares of the group, welcomed the success of the operation. Nearly one third of employees (over 67,000) have said "yes", for a total of 25 million shares and 535 million euros. Exceeding the ceiling set by the board (almost 500 million). "Few groups are engaged in transactions of this magnitude," said Sami Toutounji, partner at Shearman & Sterling, except for example, recently EDF, which has far exceeded this amount, or Axa who approach regularly.

The staff of GDF Suez will thus receive 1.1% stake in Arcelor. Turnout was highest in France, Belgium, Italy and Germany.Outside Europe, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and the United States recorded the most sales Payday Loan for Bad Credit.

The employees of GDF Suez could buy shares at a discount of 20% over the past 20 trading days. Is 19.78 euros per share. The firm abounded these subscriptions, offering titles such as 10 to 10 purchased, subscribed for 50 or 20. Employees could also prefer to invest with no discount, but with a guarantee on invested capital (and insurance to recover at least their implementation) and performance-indexed monthly changes in stock price. Both formulas have been as successful as the other one.

"ALSO READ:

"Employee ownership resists rather well to the crisis

"GDF Suez preparing a bid for International Power

"GDF renegotiate the price of gas

Industrial projects of Renault in Russia are becoming clear. In cooperation with its Japanese subsidiary Nissan, the automaker in diamond should invest 300 million euros in the construction of a plant of national carmaker Avtovaz, which holds 25% stake. The goal: to produce three new small car from 2012.

This information has been reported by the Japanese business daily Nikkei, citing the chairman of Avtovaz, Igor Komarov. The total investment on the site amount to 400 million euros, Renault and Nissan, taking on two of them three quarters.

The models will then be marketed by each group its name, from 2012 or 2013 will come out every year with assembly lines, 150,000 Renault, Nissan 75,000 and 75,000 vehicles Avtovaz Lada brand.One way for the firm of Togliatti (980 kilometers southeast of Moscow) to benefit from technologies developed by the Franco-Japanese. Last March, the three partners had already announced the creation of a new common structure to increase the use of parts produced in Russia and improve the quality of suppliers.

Restructured, Avtovaz returned to the green

This announcement follows the presentation on Thursday, the financial restructuring plan Avtovaz, which plans from Renault investment of 240 million euros in the enterprise technology and materials no fax cash advance. In return for this, and in accordance with his wishes, the French manufacturer keeps intact its stake in the Russian manufacturer, while the conglomerate state Rosstechnology increases his (29%).In contrast, the investment bank Troika Dialog sees its participation diluted. The cards will be reshuffled in 2012. Like all builders in the country, Avtovaz has benefited greatly from program scrapping set last March by the Russian government, which has also planned to extend it.

At the price of a heavy restructuring, the group that there is less than a year, was on the brink of the abyss, even recorded a profit of 1 billion rubles in the second quarter (25 million euros). Nevertheless, the models produced by Avtovaz, including the famous Lada, are far from holding the rope against the European competitors, even if the manufacturer holds 30% of Russian market. "He does not let the success of the plan of scrapping done overshadow our true goal: to modernize the company, recently recalled the Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin the President of Avtovaz, Igor Komarov.Under the watchful eye of the Kremlin, the objective of the three manufacturers, Renault, Nissan and Avtovaz, is taking 40% of Russian market in 2015.

ALSO READ:

"The Russian Avtovaz plans to be profitable this year

As usual, Alcoa starts the ball results in the United States. And the least we can say is that it starts well. For the second quarter, the U.S. producer Alcoa aluminum in the green came back in the second quarter, with net income of $ 136 million, against a loss of $ 454 million a year earlier, and praised the "prospects excellent.

The turnover reached 5.187 billion dollars, well above the 5.02 billion forecast underlying the market.

Consumption of aluminum prospects up

"The growth of our revenues and our earnings due to higher volumes of end markets and gains from our productivity program," said CEO Klaus Kleinfeld said in a statement issued after-hours trade .He added: "The outlook for Alcoa and the aluminum are excellent.

The group also said it had received during the period April to June, in addition to higher volumes and productivity improvements, favorable currency effects and a reduction of energy costs, which more than offset a slight reduction in selling prices.

"Given this improvement in final demand, we are raising our projection of consumption of aluminum 10 to 12% this year" in the world, "he concluded.

At the New York Stock Exchange, Alcoa has lost the action Monday at the close 0.64% to 10.87 dollars in a market up 0.18%.

The French will they give a hard time in government? After the presentation of the draft pension reform by Labour Minister Eric Woerth, a survey of Le Parisien in France * Now provides an overview of their state of mind. In disagreement with the reform, of course, but with few illusions about a possible return back. The government has hinted it is true for several months that a reform of the pension system was inevitable, like the steps already taken in neighboring countries.

According to the poll published in the Thursday edition of Le Parisien, 60% of respondents said they in fact disagree with the proposed pension reform. A higher proportion of no surprise among supporters of the left (73%) than among supporters of right (24%).Traders, businessmen and artisans are also those who most support the reform, while workers and employees are the most heavily opposed.

Mobilization June 24

In total, 52% of respondents who consider the reform "unfair" and "not effective". Another aspect of the survey that could worry the government: they are 78% believed that the reform could generate important social movement. A concerted effort is already scheduled for June 24. It will "definitely strong, we do not fear," warned Eric Woerth Thursday morning on RTL. The unions, however, until Friday, when the project should be tabled several boards including the notice is required to reverse the project.

The government could include concessions on long careers and arduous.However, it should give way on the legal age of retirement, increased to 62 in 2018. Eric Woerth, Wednesday night on TF1, was very firm on this point: "We will not return to age-related measures because they are serious and socially acceptable," he warned. A delay on which the French did not have no illusions: they are 52% believed that the Socialist Party does not reintroduce the retirement at age 60, despite recent statements of Martine Aubry in this direction.

* Survey conducted by telephone, on a representative sample of 940 persons aged 18 and over, by the quota method.

ALSO READ:

"REACTION: Aubry denounces Reformed pensions" irresponsible "

»COMPUTER GRAPHICS – Retirement: what will change

"INTERVIEW – François Chérèque:" This reform is a provocation "

"Retirement at age 62: the project is on the table

Less than a year after coming out of bankruptcy, the American General Motors seems on the road to recovery. The Detroit group has returned a net profit in the first quarter for the first time in nearly three years to 865 million. "This is an incredibly important step. We are very far from where we were last year, "said Chris Liddell, chief financial officer of manufacturer on CNBC. GM had continued to accumulate losses in 2009 and had received nearly 50 billion dollars of government support in total.

The improvement in the first quarter, according to the group, mainly due to higher sales (turnover is up 40%), combined with cost control. GM was robbed of four brands including eight in the United States, leaving only Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and Buick. The group emerged from bankruptcy in July, eased some of its debts.He completed repaying $ 6.7 billion in loans from the U.S. and Canada in April. The U.S. Treasury still holds 61% of capital.

ALSO READ:

"Automobile: the U.S. market smiles again

Greece will not wait long for the counter. Two days after the formal adoption of the aid plan of 110 billion euros in its favor, Athens seeks payment of an initial tranche of 20 billion euros, according to a government source quoted by AFP. The IMF should participate in this first installment to the tune of 5.5 billion euros, the rest from member states of the European Union.

Time is short. The Greek state has to repay a maturity of 8.5 billion euros on May 19 or next week. This is not all. "We must add all refunds coupon (interest on debt, Ed) of bonds issued in May in previous years, and there have been many," said Patrick Jacq, a strategist at BNP Paribas rate. To which must be added interest on the debt issued in foreign currencies.In total, it is not ? 8.5 billion that Greece should pay by the end of May, but between 11 and 12 billion euros, according to the calculations of the strategist.

Also remains an unknown: the short-term funding of deficit cash quick. Fortunately for the Greek government, after sending his letter to the European Commission, the Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund, Athens would receive 20 billion almost immediately, or "maybe in the day" according to a government source.

Because Greece has no choice now. She can no longer fund normally markets because of high interest "prohibitive," explained April Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou.

European aid comes not without consideration.The government has defied the unions and established an austerity plan of unprecedented severity, with the aim of reducing the deficit by almost 14% in 2009 to 8.7% in 2010. Events are also scheduled for tomorrow late Wednesday afternoon in Athens to protest against the severity.

See also:

"SPECIAL CASE – Greece, a challenge for Europe

At a time when travel is no longer the preserve of a few explorers, the Expo is no longer just visitors to travel around the world but rather to give them vacation ideas. The Chinese are now just under 55 million to go outside their borders on vacation. By 2020, they will be 100 million. This will be the tourist population of the world's largest. And some countries are willing to settle for a small portion of these new visitors. "We want to capture a share of this growth. That's why we joined the program joined the Nordic sells northern Europe as one destination for Chinese tourists, "says Palsson Hrein, Consul General of Iceland in Shanghai and commissioner of the Icelandic flag Expo 2010, which has made tourism one of the three themes of the exhibition.The Icelandic Minister of Tourism will make even the Expo June 17 This day is an opportunity for Reykjavik to invite Chinese travel agencies and journalists specialized in tourism.

The correlation between tourist attraction and intention to visit the pavilions of the exhibition is obvious. The United States, Australia, Japan, Thailand, France, Italy and Spain were the most popular pavilions during the test days of the Expo last two weeks. They are also the countries most popular with Chinese travelers.

The smaller nations or absent from the traditional tourist tours competing ideas to attract maximum visitors to their pavilions electronic check payday advance. They hope to offer a promotion that no travel agency can never offer them."This is a unique platform to build the brand image of a country," said Debby Cheung, director of Ogilvy Public Relations in China.

Denmark did not hesitate to move her Little Mermaid bronze for the first time outside of Copenhagen. The exhibit coming to the center of the Danish flag to the end of October. Operation successful communication since the advent of the statue has become a major "buzz" of Chinese Painting Expo. The calculation is simple, with three million visitors a year, the Nordic country can hope to show one of its landmarks twice more tourists in half the time. Luxembourg followed suit by bringing his G?lle Fra (Golden Male), moved the Monument of Remembrance to the entrance of the Luxembourg flag Shanghai.

Others offer a real experience.In front of a screen that broadcasts images of snowcapped mountains, visitors can smell the Swiss chalet mountain air, spread by machinery, just before getting on a chairlift athentique rooftop while green building. "This is an opportunity to do direct marketing that does not stand in the next decade," says Frank Serrano, head of the France Pavilion at Shanghai.