Business World |

The U.S. stock markets accentuate their losses on Wednesday. Shortly after the announcements of the Fed, the Dow drops 1.26% to 11,265 points, the Nasdaq 0.44% to loose 2579 points and the S & P was down 1.50% to 1184 points.

In accordance with the expectations of investors, the central bank of the United States announced new measures to support the U.S. economy. It will sell by the end of June 2012 for $ 400 billion of treasury bills and short-term buy for the same amount with a longer maturity in an attempt to lower interest rates in the long term ( it "Operation Twist"). To support the mortgage market, it will also buy real estate securities without increasing the size of its portfolio, according to the Committee.

But markets that find especially its verdict on the economy is not good.The recovery is considered "slow", hence maintaining the rate to almost zero "until mid 2013."

These remarks are similar to those Dufond International Monetary Fund (IMF), which raised the specter of a global recession and launched at policy makers in the world "a fervent call to action". At the same time the institution has significantly downgraded its growth forecasts for the global economy. This is expected to grow 4% in 2011 as in 2012, 0.5 points below its previous forecast of 4.5% last April.

Markets always attentive to the crisis in the eurozone

Investors also remain attentive to developments in the crisis of public finances in Europe.Greece announced on the evening of its intention to launch new austerity measures to convince the Troika of its creditors and obtain payment of a new tranche of aid in October that will allow it to avoid bankruptcy.

Wednesday Rousseff, the president of Brazil, Barack Obama has assured his support for the euro area, together with other emerging countries, as it had already mentioned a week ago.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro lost some ground against the dollar after the Fed. The euro bought 1.3616 dollars late in the session on Wall Street against 1.3702 dollars late Tuesday. The price of a barrel of oil closed lower. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for November delivery ended down a dollar to 85.92 dollars on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex).He had opened down 14 cents, and had rebounded upward after stock figures showing a sharp decline in U.S. reserves.

On the macroeconomic front, sales of existing homes in the U.S. rose 7.7% from July, seasonally adjusted data, the NAR said that sales figures are higher than the median estimate of analysts payday loans.

Microsoft treats its shareholders

The side of values, Moody's said Wednesday it lowered the credit ratings of Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup on the ground that the Federal government may be reluctant to rush to the aid of large banking institutions in difficulty.

The oil company ExxonMobil (+0.11% A74, 09 dollars) will sell of deposits in the North Sea to fellow Apache through $ 1.75 billion in cash, announced Wednesday it.

Microsoft (-0.85% to 26.75 dollars) announced Tuesday evening after the close of Wall Street that it would increase the quarterly dividend 25% used to its shareholders. The dividend paid on December 8 will be increased to $ 0.20 per share, or $ 0.04 higher than the previous one. Also in order to treat his shareholders Microsoft also recalled that he had launched in September 2008 a program to repurchase its own shares for 40 billion dollars. Of this amount, the group can still make $ 12.2 billion of purchases before the scheduled end of the program in September 2013.

Also after the close, Adobe Systems (3.25% to 25.44 dollars) announced better than expected forecasts for the fourth quarter. The group expects adjusted earnings between 57 and 64 cents per share in the fourth quarter, against 58 cents expected by the consensus of analysts.The leading design software issued a profit of $ 195.1 million, or 39 cents Park share in the third quarter against 230.1 million dollars, or 44 cents a share, a year earlier. Turnover increased by 2% to $ 1.01 billion.

Still in the world of technology stocks, Oracle (6.88% to 30.30 dollars) has issued a net profit up 36% to $ 1.84 billion, just above expectations.The turnover to 8.37 billion, also slightly above what had been expected analysts (8360000000).

American Electric Power (-0.30% to 38.20 dollars) and its joint venture with MidAmerican Energy has been approved by the Texas authorities for electrical infrastructure projects for a total estimated at more than $ 520 million.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (0.35% to 1.60 dollars) and Japan's Ono Pharmaceutical has signed a development and commercialization of Orencia, a biological treatment against rheumatoid arthritis.

FMC Technologies (0.56% to 43.37 dollars) has won a contract worth $ 135 million from BG Norge in the manufacture of subsea equipment.

Medtronic (0.37% to 34.95 dollars) will receive 101 million in damages after the trial against the company by NuVasive.

The Paris Bourse closed this week very agitated in the green. This Friday, the CAC 40 ended on a net increase of 4.02% to 3213.88. The London Stock Exchange gained 3.04% at the close, the DAX 3.45% to 5997.74 points, Milan 4%. But everywhere, the sessions have been very volatile in trading volume lower than the previous day (4.84 billion euros in Paris).

The CAC 40 is thus fell into the red immediately after opening up 0.17%. It still yielded 1.59% in morning before rising slope, and show an increase of 2.09% to 3154 points in mid-session.Around 16:15, the Paris index gained 2.76% to 3174.79 even despite the publication items, across the Atlantic, two mixed macroeconomic statistics that have hampered the enthusiasm of investors in New York.

Retail sales in the U.S. in July and were up 0.5% (after 0.3% in June), but the U.S. consumer confidence has it, fell in August. According to an index released Friday by the University of Michigan, which stood at 54.9, its lowest level since it is established, either since 1966. This drop has surprised analysts who had forecast a smaller drop to 62.5.

No growth in the second quarter

On the macroeconomic front in France, INSEE reported this morning from zero growth in the second quarter in France (0.0%), against an increase of 0.9% in the first quarter.Inflation also slowed: the consumer prices fell by 0.4% in July, resulting in an increase of 1.9% over the year (against 2.1% from June 2010 to June 2011 ).

Faced with these new investors are so cautious again after a week marked by extreme market volatility, which saw the CAC 40 push the psychological threshold of 3000 points during the session Thursday. Investors were finally reassured by the announcement of a meeting between Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on August 16 to issue joint proposals on the governance of the euro area.

Bank stocks rebound

Since the ban on short selling in the securities of eleven banks and insurance companies to counter the extreme volatility of the stock market values, the latter continuing their rebound started the day before, the image of BNP Paribas (4, 91% to 37.47 euros), which issued a statement Thursday night to reaffirm the strength of its capital, Societe Generale (3.15% to 23.72 euros) and Credit Agricole (1.77% to 6 , 49 euros).

Natixis wins 7.26% to 3.06 euros and signs the largest increase in the CAC.

Carrefour jumps more than 5%

Other values ​​to follow, Carrefour pulls out of the game: the way ahead vigorously 5.13% to 18.85 euros.U.S. giant Wal-Mart have mandated UBS to investigate the acquisition of the Brazilian subsidiary of French retailer, according to Reuters citing a source familiar with the matter.

Goldman Sachs lowered its recommendation on Lafarge (-0.17% to 28.96 euros) and withdrew the title from its list of recommended values ​​in priority to the purchase.The intermediary has instead built his list to Saint-Gobain (3.72% to 34 euros) and Vinci (2.42% to 35.3 euros).

Europacorp (3.13% to 3.30 euros), the production company of Luc Besson, Thursday reaffirmed its goal of a return to balance for the current year, despite a sharp decline its turnover in the first quarter.

Derichebourg (2.98% to 3.63 euros) on Thursday confirmed its target of improving its annual net income, after recording a sharp increase in sales over the first nine months of the year.

ALSO READ:

"Short sales suspended

"French banks in the spiral of fear

"What rating of France deserves it for his debt?

The timing could not be worse for Levi's. The king of denim, which had just launched its new global campaign "Levi's Legacy" earlier this week, was forced to turn back to the UK market. The spot, shot in Berlin before the events in London, reveals, in fact, scenes of young people in clashes with security forces. Demonstrations, riots, smoke: the images are too echoed the news, depending on the brand:

Called "Go Forth" (On the Move in French), signed by the advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy American, calls young people to take their destiny. The message is reinforced by the recitation of a poem by Charles Bukowski, The Laughing Heart, to the very explicit (your life is your life / do not be discouraged by a tender moist / Be on the lookout)."Because of what's happening in the UK, we have temporarily postponed the release in cinemas and on Facebook in the country," said a spokesperson for the brand with the Daily Mail. He added that "Go Forth to embody the energy and events of our time. She does not speak of a political movement or a specific theme, but rather evokes optimism, positivism and the entrepreneurial spirit. "

The spot has also been removed from the official Facebook page for the brand. "We have all witnessed the recent events that took place in London and other cities in England. It is difficult to see a glimmer of hope amid the violence. But looking good, you will see it no fax payday loan. Not one of the riots and chaos. But through its citizens who take the broom to clean up their cities. It is through their pioneering spirit that make change possible, "says Levi's on Facebook.

Stunt involuntary RIM

Even if the manufacturer of jeans trying to detach events, riots in London have a real spotlight on its new advertising campaign. A promotion that seems to also affect involuntary RIM, the maker of BlackBerry. His e-mail service that equips its phones BBM, known to provide a guarantee of confidentiality of trade, is under the spotlight. Now it plays an important role in organizing the riots. The British press also devotes a large part in deciphering the events.

But this stunt could serve the image of RIM on the UK market.Already some voices calling for the closure of the service in England, prompting the direction of the Canadian manufacturer to announce, without further detail, cooperation "with local telecom operators, the police and government" of the country if so requested.

This collaboration could involve the closure of the service. The risk is important for the Canadian manufacturer that could alienate her young local clientele. According to a study released last week Ofcom, the BlackBerry is currently the favorite of the English smartphones of 16-24 years (37%) to the iPhone (25%).

ALSO READ:

"The hunt has been launched on the Internet thugs

The financial strength seems clear on the business side rather than states. Illustration of the disastrous state of American finances, the new number one smartphone, Apple has nearly $ 76 billion in cash and U.S. 73 billion. This represents what the world's largest economy may still spend before reaching the limit of the debt secured by the U.S. Congress (14.294 billion U.S. dollars).

Apple has just completed a record quarter with increases of 125% in profit and 82% of its revenues.With a market capitalization of $ 362 billion, the group "at the apple" appears as the second wealthiest company in the world stock market behind Exxon Mobil and its 395 billion market capitalization.

While Republicans and Democrats are torn in several weeks on the issue of debt, U.S. companies their bets. "One reason why companies put so much money aside is that they want to shelter financially cope with financial uncertainties in the U.S.," said Laurie Simon Hodrick, professor at Columbia University . He added: "As long as the threat of default by the U.S. government continues, U.S. companies will have to pay any interest that way." The war chest of U.S. companies is estimated at 1.2 trillion dollars.

CEO of TF1, Nonce Paolini, on Tuesday morning could formalize its proposed application to the Higher Audiovisual Council to bring to its free streaming news channel, LCI. But even before this request may be made, TF1 is already under the spotlight.

The subsidiary of the Bouygues group has indeed provided a strong rebound in net income increased 60% in first half year on year, to 118.6 million euros. As for further cost reductions, the television group posted a net increase in operating income over one year, 78.6% to 186.5 million euros. The cost of the grid of the TF1 channel has in fact declined by 482.6 million euros to 423.6 million. Good performance hailed by investors since the title was climbing to 11 hours of 6.80% to 13.59 euros, the largest increase in the SBF 120.One of its main competitors, M6, which must also publish its results on Tuesday but after-hours trading, climbing from 0.77% to 15.74 euros. Meanwhile, the Cac 40 was down 0.57%.

This policy of cost reductions initiated since 2008 had been welcomed on Friday by the U.S. rating agency, Standard & Poor's, which had raised a notch note of the group, believing that these savings would result in a better rentatibilité. The TF1 group has recorded a marked improvement in its operating margin, which has doubled in a year to reach 18 cash advance in one hour.8%."These statistics confirm, quarter after quarter, the effectiveness of measures taken to change positively the economic model of the group" welcomed the television group, which has however avoided giving details of its profitability target medium term.

Lack of visibility

In contrast, sales of the TF1 Group, which owns the Eurosport channel, TMC or LCI, fell slightly from 0.5% to about 1.3 billion euros. "Unlike last year, TF1 did not broadcast major sporting events (like World Cup soccer)," the statement said. But the group is satisfied with a return to growth in advertising revenues in the second quarter (+0.7%) after a decline of 2.6% over the first three months of the year. Of all the activities, the advertising revenue shows an increase of 4.7% to 905.2 million euros."The group remains more than ever mobilized to consolidate its leading position in the field of information and entertainment on the TV market and / or free," says TF1.

This slight decline in sales, however, makes the television group cautious about the stability of the whole of 2011. It evokes a persistent lack of visibility on the changing conditions.

Lefigaro.fr – What conclusions can we draw from the first published results toMember United?

To date, 27% of companies in the S & P 500 have released their interim results, ie 135 companies and 75.6% of them have announced profits above expectations. We left for a good year. This week, the big banks (Bank of America, Citigroup Wells Fargo), were quite surprised in a good way, even if we remain cautious on the interpretation of their figures. Past two years, they have spent many provisions in their accounts, and use it sometimes to beautify their results today. Only Goldman Sachs really disappointed. By sector, energy, basic materials, and technology are doing so well, with respectively 40.3%, 45.3% and 13.7% increase in expected profits for the second half.Note that the consumer sector is basic to the sentence, with an expected fall in profits by 2.1% over the period.

How to explain this performance better than expected?

It has been two years since the publications of societies are generally above expectations. The restructuring made by the companies during the crisis are now bearing fruit. It is currently for companies in the S & P500 on levels of operating profitability of 15% … levels rarely reached. We must remain cautious because the potential for improving these margins is now limited. On the sales side, the expected increase for 2011 is 9%.

The second reason for these surprises is simpler. Analysts are sometimes influenced by the companies that encourage them to be very cautious in their forecasts.This is to avoid disappointment in the markets.

These publications are good they had a positive impact on the markets?

Yes. Google, for example, jumped 12% on the day of the announcement of results exceeding all expectations. The same goes for Apple. While some feared an impact on the financial problems of supply of components of the iPhone (from Japan), the group announced record profits. In the process, his title was up 4.5%. However, always put these results in a corporate market. In the first quarter 2011, the markets were at their highest, and the announcement by a company results in line with forecasts had very little impact its share price Payday Loan for Bad Credit.Today it's different, a confirmation of expectations or a nice surprise on a publication is much appreciated.

If the earnings season continues on the same trend, then markets could leave freely on the rise?

It's not that simple. The market impact of the debt crisis in Europe and the United States is very strong. We are actually in the eye of the storm with these macroeconomic issues, with a market that has stalled in May and operators who are positioned defensively. However, there is a real potential to rebound … as long as the market wants good focus on microeconomics. We are quite optimistic on this point because the next ten days, operators should see much more clear about the solutions in place for at least partially solve the problems of debt.In Europe, the solution to Greece has already restored air markets. And the United States, we can not stay on the current status quo for removing the ceiling on debt. Once this is clarified, the market will again focus on the prospects, and we could have a good August. Especially with a price / earnings ratio of 14.2, we are still 15 to 16% below the valuation levels of 2007, while corporate profits are 10% higher than they were at the time.

What are the sectors that should perform better in your opinion?

Technology stocks seem on track to rebound in the wake of good results from Microsoft, IBM or Intel.The good news in the industry are also positive for the energy sector, which could also rebound strongly, especially the coal industry, where mergers are again more frequent. More generally, there is a return of large transactions, which is another favorable factor for the markets rebound. This is the case for the acquisition was announced, the U.S. by Express Scripts Medco Health to $ 29.1 billion.

ALSO READ:

"Nokia still face the trouble Apple and Google

"A triple expansion plan to calm markets

"No non-payment of Greece, by market

It is an agreement to both the financial and industrial software publisher based in Sophia-Antipolis, near Nice, has just concluded. The Japanese company Canon will spend 8.6 million euros to acquire 15% stake in publicly traded small business since mid-May By the way, he brings 2 million additional cash.

But it is mostly a vast geographical diversification and access to complementary technologies that the Japanese manufacturer of cameras and office systems gives Median Technologies. "Canon is located around the world and is highly complementary to our society in the imagery. It offers solutions such as MRI, while the expertise of Median Technologies is rather centered on the scanner.He also has a data management activities ("Data Management"), which will facilitate the deployment of our offer cloud computing ("computing pooled at a distance"), "said Fredrik Brag, founder and CEO of the company founded in 2002 .

Canon has already invested in Supersonic

Median develops software for interpretation of medical images in two and three dimensions to facilitate the detection, diagnosis and monitoring of cancers. LMS solutions, approved by the Health Authority (FDA), are already used in hundreds of hospitals in Europe, the United States, Australia, Korea. Median Technologies installs but also in the market for clinical trials conducted by major laboratories."Our solutions help them to evaluate responses to treatment at first and then develop tests companions (of tests to segment the profile of patients)," said Fredrik Brag. The SME has already reached an agreement with three of the ten leading pharmaceutical companies and preparing to sign a new contract with another giant before expanding its outreach to other health actors. Its sales – which amounted to only 1.1 million euros last year – to more than triple within the next two years and then explode.

Canon, whose 2010 revenues totaled $ 45.8 billion, relies heavily on imaging in the health sector. The Japanese giant announced earlier this year it would invest $ 9 billion by 2015 in medical technology companies.Before turning to Median, in December he participated in fund raising 34.5 million euros in Supersonic Imagine, a small d'Aix-en-Provence who has developed an ultrasound system to ultrasound.

The Alibaba China could become a major player in the field of operating systems for mobile phones just as Android, IOS, or WP7. In fact, according to the Wall Street Journal, the Chinese e-commerce specialist, prepares to launch its own operating system (OS). But this new system has a particularity: it is based on the cloud, literally the "cloud computing". In other words, this new system will store the user data on remote servers. Such OS therefore requires a connection to broadband Internet in all circumstances.

This project should be launched in the third quarter of this year, said the American daily. Initially, the system should be accessible only to the Chinese market but "nothing says it will not be used elsewhere after," said a source familiar with the journal.

This launch marks another milestone for Alibaba, more used to make software and especially shopping sites online. Like him, more and more companies are trying to afford the lion's share in the growth market of smartphones. Another Chinese, Baidu, Google's competitor frontal China would launch its own OS for the Chinese market, based on the technology of Google Android. If these Chinese projects are completed, Apple, with its own system IOS, Microsoft Windows 7 Phone and Google, which has the Android operating system, could see their global market dominance eroded.

The Paris market continues to fall on Thursday, a reflection of what has been observed in Asian markets this morning and the decline in U.S. indices yesterday. Wednesday evening, the Cac 40 lost 0.15% and ended at 3871.37 points in a very dynamic market, with over 7.1 billion traded on the benchmark index of the Paris Bourse. And on Thursday, sitting in the middle of the index still declined 1.34% to 3819.50 points.

PMI purchasing managers in the euro area fell in June to its lowest for twenty months to 53.6 points, confirming a slowdown in European economic activity.The growth of private sector activity in France has slowed more than expected in June.

European side, European leaders find themselves on Thursday night in Brussels at a summit to try to reassure their ability to stem the endless debt crisis in Greece and prevent contagion throughout the euro area, which worries more and more abroad. Other items on the agenda: the confirmation of the appointment in November of the Italian Mario Draghi as President of the ECB to replace Jean-Claude Trichet.

The publication of the memo on the economy of France, to be released at 22 o'clock tonight, will be watching. In addition, the G20 agricultural ends today. In addition, Christine Lagarde, a candidate for the general direction of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), spends his oral exam today in Washington.The maintenance of his rival, Mexico's Agustin Carstens, was held Tuesday.

United States, a report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on Wednesday warned against an explosion of net public debt, which can reach 100% of GDP by 2021 if nothing is done to correct the current trajectory. In addition, the U.S. central bank is now focusing on a GDP increase of less than 3% in the fourth quarter. New measures could be considered if the economic situation deteriorated.

On the currency markets, the euro fell sharply against the dollar on Thursday, as the market digested the Fed announcements. The single European currency was worth 1.4254 dollars against 1.4349 late Wednesday.

EDF denies

The CAC 40, only Pernod Ricard rises in green: + 0.06% to 66.49 euros.But in the SBF 120, Lagardère stands: + 2.33% to 27.40 euros. Areva takes him 0.59% to 25.50 euros.

Side drops, banks suffer: BNP Paribas lost 1.86%, 1.69% Societe Generale, Credit Agricole and Natixis 2.1% 2.08% while trades a private sector participation to a new aid plan to Greece. European banks resisted, however, a defect in Greece, according to Bernard de Longevialle, head of bank ratings at Standard & Poor's. Note that BNP Paribas bought 25% of Findomestic to the bank Intesa Sanpaolo for 629 million euros and now holds 100%.

EDF (-1.23% to 25.78 euros), which plunged 3% yesterday at the meeting, had to deny rumors of leaks in nuclear plants in France instant credit reports.The CGT has nevertheless confirmed that called for an end of a reactor at the plant in Seine-Maritime Paluel due to extraordinary levels of radioactivity. The electrician has admitted it yesterday "an accumulation of small differences" after the publication of an article Mediapart citing incidents in series.

In addition, the dean of French nuclear reactors, the central Fessenheim, would be allowed in the coming days to continue to operate for ten years.

EDF is also increased to 96.71% of share capital and voting rights of EDF Energies Nouvelles after the public offer launched on its subsidiary, announced Thursday the AMF in a statement.

EADS (1.30% to 22.14 euros).The low-cost Malaysian airline AirAsia has placed a firm order for 200 Airbus A320 Neo, a record in civil aviation in the number of devices including vendus.Grâce this mega-contract, the total firm orders for Airbus is to about $ 58 billion for 621 aircraft. The buyers of the Airbus A400M signed a framework agreement on the development and maintenance of the fleet of the future military transport aircraft. Furthermore, after signing an order for sixteen billion dollars with Indigo.American Airlines could also favor the European aircraft manufacturer at the expense of its rival Boeing.

Air France-KLM lost 2.06% to 10.21 euros.

Dassault Systemes (-0.96% to 57.18 euros, the largest decline rating) expects a double-digit increase in sales in the aerospace and defense between 2010 and 2014 thanks to the many innovations offered by these sectors, Reuters said Wednesday its chief executive Bernard Charles said in an interview.

Automobile manufacturers seek to diversify their income and increase customer loyalty.

Peugeot (-0.40% to 29.77 euros) PSA installed production capacity that should allow it to manufacture more than 30,000 hybrid vehicles per year, reports La Tribune. "At Sochaux, we expect a potential of 70 to 80 units per day," says Serge Isler, project 3008 Peugeot hybrid.In addition, PSA has manufactured in Rennes, Brittany, just over 15,000 Peugeot 508 equipped with the same technology, the paper said.

The vaccine against typhoid Sanofi (-0.36% to 52.63 euros) was granted the status of "prequalification" of the World Health Organization (WHO), prior to its use by UNICEF and other international agencies, a first for a vaccine of this type, the group announced Thursday.

PPR (-0.60% to 116.80 euros) holds 87.4% of the U.S. manufacturer of sports clothing Volcom at the end of its tender offer (OPA) is friendly and able to reach 90% capital by playing an option, according to a statement released Thursday by the French group.

"COMPETITION – Estimate the Cac 40 in late June

.

Pressure mounts on the management of Air France-KLM. 144 MPs of all persuasions have signed the petition launched by Bernard Carayon, UMP deputy from the Tarn, to induce Air France Airbus in favor of a mégacommande long-haul aircraft. Monday, Pierre Lellouche, the Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, has announced its intention to meet with Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, the CEO of Air France-KLM to seek "clarification" on its intentions. The meeting should take place this afternoon.

For the government, bad foreign trade figures – which widened to over 7 billion euros in April – have sounded like a severe reprimand. Particularly for companies whose shareholder is the State. Air France-KLM, it holds that "15%" of capital.But Pierre Lellouche believes that the company can "pass the buck" in a state that has "greatly helped" the group "when he had problems with Brussels." A similar approach to reprimand respondent last week to PSA Peugeot Citroen, after the revelation of its possible plans to close two factories in France. PSA is not a public company, but it has benefited from state funds during the crisis.

Strategic choice

The political pressure put on Air France is the extent of the challenge: a mégacommande – the first made jointly by Air France and KLM – a hundred long-haul aircraft. The project is described as historic by the leaders of Air France-KLM themselves: it should be in the tens of billions of dollars. The verdict of the direction the company should have to fall shortly after the general meeting in early July.Now, executives of Air France-KLM believe that the announcement will probably be delayed for several weeks, "the time that the discussions become less passionate."

Internally, the political turn taken by the back hurts. Bernard Pedamon, the pilot representative on the board of directors of Air France said he was "surprised and discontented." "These are the strategic choices that can be for an airline. It is a commitment for another twenty years to respond to economic considerations, he says. Currently, we are witnessing the return of our old demons. The days when you could bring in managers office at the head of the company or impose choices of planes is a bygone era. "

Currently, the weight of the two aircraft manufacturers in the fleet of the company tricolor is not identical.On all its long-haul aircraft, Air France totals 63 Boeing against Airbus 35. The company has indeed bought many Boeing 777-300 at a time when Airbus had no exact equivalent. However, all of its medium-haul (or 153 units) are Airbus.

The controversy of recent days is all the more surprising that for several months, officials of the fleet of Air France have expressed their intention to mix Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. "The case studied by our teams for the purchase of these devices are not made on a corner table," says an executive of the company. "We are studying a number of criteria: the choice of engines, the maintenance cost, the impact on our maintenance activity …" considerations rather distant from the campaign themes.