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Renault wants to build engines in Romania

Sunday Apr 3, 2011

Renault could have done this possible controversy. But a few weeks after pleading guilty to wrongfully dismissed three executives accused of espionage and one year after the turmoil created by the case of the Clio – it planned to relocate to Turkey – the manufacturer must again be accountable.

The group decided to entrust the production of two new engines to its sites in Romania and Spain, he said Friday. The H4 (3 cylinders) and H5 (4 cylinders) are respectively made from 2013 on the site Dacia Pitesti, specialist low cost, and Valladolid (2012). The announcement had been made in these two countries, but Renault had kept the trumpet in France.

This decision could affect the French mechanics Douvrin in the North.The plant, owned jointly by PSA Peugeot Citroen and Renault, the engine produces D4, a less powerful 4-cylinder (60 to 80 horses, 90 horses cons for the H4 and H5 for 115 horsepower). The motor assembly D4 employs 450 people, about 3450. The downturn could cost more than 200 jobs, said the CGT. These positions will not be replaced by the manufacture of cylinder heads and camshafts for the new engines, which could employ 40 people, said the union.

In response, the group has indicated its commitment not to make any plans for layoffs or voluntary redundancy as part of its new strategic plan. But unions fear that retirement will not be replaced.

Lower volumes

"It relocates slowly, even if management tries to minimize," sighs Alain Labarre, CGT Douvrin.The group, however, rejects these accusations. "The H4 and H5 are required to take the place of older models that were almost similar already made in Turkey, Spain and Romania," said a spokesman, adding that such engines "are not competitors D4 Douvrin made. This engine, fitted to small cars like the Twingo and the Clio (as will the H4) and low-cost models, will be "produced in parallel in the coming years," because "it can offer rates aggressive. "

In late January, Philippe De Coene, director of the French mechanics, however, said that the arrival of a small 3-cylinder would "intervene in the market" of 4-cylinder engine manufactured in Douai, as mentioned by Liberation. He said the volume of the D4 engine "will tend to decline," even if "we will not stop producing it in 2013 and he did not" concern "for the job.He added that he "fought to get another engine family."

In 2010, Renault has made 29% of its engines in France, against 85% for PSA. Renault says it will carry, however 40% of its investment in France by 2013. Engine side, the group said it will produce R9M, a 130 horsepower diesel for the Megane to Cleon, Seine-Maritime. A factory will also manufacture electric motors in 2013.

While the new European standards will make diesel engines more expensive gasoline engines of new generation have a bright future ahead of them. H4 and H5 models, which will reduce CO2 emissions by 30 to 40 grams per kilometer, would represent 85% of the volume of gasoline engines for Renault in 2015.


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Wall Street supported by purchases

Tuesday Feb 8, 2011

In lla closing U.S. equities, the Dow Jones advance of 0.58% at 12,162 points. The Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 rise respectively from 0.62% to 1319 points and 0.53% at 2784 points.

Nasdaq acknowledged Saturday that its computer system was hacked, which had interrupted his particular listing more than an hour Friday, January 28. But the index, dominated by technology, should work normally on Monday. A federal investigation is underway to identify those responsible for such intrusions. Part of the system that runs the exchange was not affected by piracy.

Wall Street continues its momentum and finally positive last week. Four times lower than expected for the month of January, job creation were disappointed last Friday, the U.S., but investors reacted positively to the sharp decline in unemployment.Also in the acquisitions, the manufacturer of biomedical testing equipment for Beckman Coulter (9.95% to 82.65 dollars) on Monday announced an agreement to be bought by the industry group American Danaher (2.19 to 49% , 03 dollars), with $ 6.8 billion in cash, including debt.

Household spending and consumer credit

"In the U.S., key economic data this week will be published Friday-state in that regard analysts Aurel BGC-with the trade balance for December and the preliminary estimate of consumer confidence by the University Michigan paydayloans. Wednesday, Bernanke will speak before the House Budget Committee.On the merits, his speech should be close to one he gave last week. "

62 Publication of results of companies in the S & P 500

The agenda of business publications, to the least busy this week, should have more impact on the market: 62 values in the Standard & Poor's 500 indeed reveal their quarterly results. Already since the beginning of the season's fourth quarter, 75% of companies beat the consensus in terms of turnover.

Carried by the prices of raw materials, metals and petroleum experts have closed up. The Alcoa aluminum companies is 1.05%, Chevron and Exxon earns 0.57% 0.78% advance.

Hasbro also climbed from 1.81% to 45.63 dollars after reporting a quarterly profit decline due to limited demand for its fighter figurines, games and puzzles during the key holiday season year-end.

From Monday, Cognizant, FMC, Hasbro, Loews, Lorillard and Pioneer Natural Resources will open, among other things, this ball weekly.

By Tuesday, Walt Disney, Mc Afee, Sara Lee and sacrifice in the exercise, before Akamai Technologies, Cisco, Coca Cola and Whole Foods on Wednesday. By Thursday, it was the turn of C ephalon, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Kraft Foods, PepsiCo or Sprint Nextel (Thursday).


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The euro Quick Start to $ 1.40

Wednesday Feb 2, 2011

The euro broke the $ 1.38 Tuesday evening and continues beyond Wednesday. This level has not been seen since last November. There are less than a month, the European currency was trading under $ 1.30. So she took off nearly 7%, a very substantial increase for a currency.

Why such a surge of the euro? As always, the foreign exchange market evolves fontion many factors, but the spotlight is turned on for a few days the European Central Bank (ECB). President Jean-Claude Trichet left again suggesting that the ECB would tighten monetary policy – that is to say to increase interest rates – to fight against inflation in Europe. In January, the increase in consumer prices was 2.4%, faster than the 2% target set in the European Union.

The ECB should act before the Fed

On Thursday, the ECB will hold a press conference during which it should act to maintain a rate of 1% (as is the case since May 2009). But any change of tone, or word in the speech of Jean-Claude Trichet will be interpreted as a next turn of the screw, which could well take place before that of the U.S. Federal Reserve, the U.S. central bank. "Rates should rise by 25 basis points (0.25 points) to the third or fourth quarter of 2011," predicts Vincent Juvyns, senior strategist at ING IM.

The Fed, she adopts a rather cautious, showing his support for signs of weakness in the economic recovery of the world's largest economy.Numbers of high importance expected on Wednesday afternoon, will be the best guess strategy overseas: will be unveiled and the employment figures in the private sector which should give some indication of the very important report on official monthly Employment and unemployment whose publication is scheduled for Friday. "It would have the numbers of private employment are drastically better than expected so they give a boost to the dollar," Commerzbank analysts warn.

Thus, the mood in the markets are prompting investors to take more risks, which plays in favor of the euro and away from the dollar.

The euro could move to $ 1.45

If one only looks at technical analysis, that is to say, the study by the graphs, the euro is on an upward trend that should propel it to $ 1.43 in short time.ING IM, the euro / dollar should in any case easily cross the $ 1.40 and perhaps reach $ 1.45 after the first quarter.

The next two months are very important for Europe, while major decisions on the European Fund for financial assistance in terms of amount and duration, will be taken, as well as the establishment of Eurobonds (bonds European). "Europe, in my opinion, has no interest in not swell and not to enlarge the European emergency fund, knowing that banks are still convalescing euroépennes and very exposed to the debts of the peripheral countries like Greece, Ireland , Portugal, "says Vincent Juvyns.If this were the case, the impact on the euro would be positive again.

"But from the second quarter, the euro should resume its downtrend, and gradually decreased to the level of fair value say, approximately $ 1.25 towards the end of the year," the head of table at ING IM. Indeed, the good economic indicators released in recent days within the European Union support the euro, while American news, less good, weighing on the dollar. But these waves of publications can still change their mood.

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The CEO of Air France wants to promote safety

Tuesday Jan 25, 2011

LE FIGARO. – In what context did you start the audit on flight safety in your company?

Pierre-Henri Gourgeon. – We announced in the summer of 2009 that we were going to ask an external mission to help us advance our security. Our ambition is to make the best of what is happening in each of our competitors and to apply it. The day we will do what is best, what one does today, we can say that we reach our goal: to bring our performance in flight safety at the highest possible level of industry. Let me also clarify that this is not an audit of all: we are in all fields, in terms of safety standards and international standards.Our aim was precisely to put our flat organization and see where we could improve beyond the basic rules applied to everyone.

This mission is it related to the crash of Flight 447?

It is certain that the tragedy of the AF 447 has created a desire for change in management, but also the entire staff. The report's recommendations do not deal yet absolutely no accident that we do now know what causes. This is the first time that experts from outside a company come listen and have access to all of its services. We welcomed eight specialists undisputed international dimension. They have issued 35 recommendations on three key themes: our organization, our culture and individual responsibilities.We will apply the most.

What are the key reforms that will be launched?

Example, we will create a new track on ground support flights with a trade to which we give a new dimension: the art of dispatcher. It is a technical expert to intervene in ongoing operational support of our crews in all phases of flight. This craft will be deployed on all our long and medium haul flights. We will provide these professionals the best tools available on the market. This represents a considerable investment of effort by Air France. This new scheme will be phased into service with us at the end of summer, and all flights of the company will be involved in two to three years.It will enhance the safety of our flights, but also the robustness of our operations and responsiveness in case of contingency.

The international team with a strong Anglo-Saxon has probably noticed the cultural differences in the organization of your company.

The subject of unions, and their number of strikes has been raised by the external mission. In the United Kingdom and Germany, you have a single union of pilots who can discuss security issues with management of the company without election issue guaranteed online payday loans. In France, it is culturally more complicated.To take this into account, we created a joint committee comprising all proposals where the pilots' unions are discussed and where all the security measures in a spirit of professional cooperation.

What will you do to improve the skills of your drivers?

We will introduce a measure that, socially, would never last a few years ago, but has been accepted by our drivers, who are well demonstrated great courage and genuine humility. The Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) will conduct a thirty pilots of the company to move into our cockpits until March 2011 and to observe everything that's going to improve our overall safety and operation.Air France is the first major European airline to implement the compliance program, which, beyond the pilot, affects all trades company.

The company management and wider governance are they subject to development?

Yes, we created a committee of safety of flights on the board of directors. This was one of the preliminary recommendations of the external mission. The existence of this new committee to track the highest level of the company all safety indicators. We have also appointed a security officer at the Air France Group. This person will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of our standards of safety within our subsidiaries Britair, Regional and Citijet.In general, we must create more bridges between departments and ensure that safety culture is stronger, even among the ground staff.

Investigations into the AF 447 takes you perhaps take further measures. Are you optimistic that will then start a new campaign's research unit?

We hope that the fuselage will be found, because we absolutely want to know what happened. People working on this campaign are very optimistic, but they were already in the previous season. We must remain cautious. Will we find the black boxes from the plane? Will there be the use? Do we understand what really happened? It is difficult to answer in the affirmative prior to these three questions, but it is our wish. This accident was a real grief for our group.In response, all of us pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, ground staff at all levels, we all want to be the best student and add new pages to the book of aviation safety.


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Bel is considering a bid for Yoplait

Wednesday Jan 19, 2011

Attention, a French cheese may hide another. Lactalis is no longer the only candidate tricolor redemption of 50% of Yoplait sold by investment fund PAI. According to several sources, Bel withdrew an information pack through the transfer process.

Unlike Lactalis, the owner of The Laughing Cow, Boursin Babybel and has no activity yogurt. But the opportunity to acquire a global brand in the ultra-fresh is worth studying closely. The group, which achieved a turnover of 2.2 billion euros in 2009, discusses in any case with the Strategic Investment Fund for a possible co-investment.

Irony of the case, Lactalis is a shareholder of Bel at 24% but without any power, the remaining capital is held by a family holding company no fax payday loans.For its part, the group led by Emmanuel Besnier has not received the file, after the rejection of its offer to $ 1.4 billion for the entire Yoplait to the chagrin of Sodiaal, who wants to remain a shareholder.

A score of candidates participating in the proceedings at that stage. Including Nestle, but PepsiCo. Tenders nonbonding are expected in early February.

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Espionage: A Framework licensee will attack Renault

Sunday Jan 16, 2011

According to the letter dated Friday, brought to the attention of Figaro and sent by registered post to "senior position III C" holding the position of "Director of Front vehicle projects since 2006, the automaker said it had received" an anonymous tip involving namely, because (his) supervisor, Mr. Balthazard and indirectly Mr. Tenenbaum, Deputy Program Director electric vehicle "indicating that they have received" bribes ".

Explaining having initiated an investigation, "the responsibility of the compliance" of the company, submitted on January 6 in the "Compliance Committee" – editor's note: "Ethics" – Renault wrote that it "appears from these investigations than have "received money from foreign sources, leading to the conviction, given (its) responsibilities in a vital area for the future of the company (he has) given in exchange of strategic information for the company. "

Renault estimates, without providing details, that "these extremely serious acts indicate an intent to harm the company and constitute a serious and obvious to (its) obligations of confidentiality and loyalty to the company (..)»..

"My client knows nothing about the case against him"

Considering himself "unfairly hurt," Rochette Bertrand decided to strike back against the voices of his lawyers.

His advice Me Christian Charriere-Bournazel, intends on Monday sue for libel direct quote non-public proceedings before the police court. It refers to "the signer of the letter and the Renault is civilly liable," said the former president of the College. "I want to hold those responsible for the Renault to give us what they consider their evidence, since they did not have the reflex to give live to debate as they are now break the life of my client without having taken the precaution to say exactly why. "

In addition, Ms. Charriere-Bournazel has announced its intention to go as fast with Jean-Claude Marin, Public Prosecutor of Paris to learn the specifics of the complaint filed Thursday against X by Renault for "industrial espionage ."My client knows nothing about the case against him, he is put in food to the public and must be justified on the facts which we understand nothing, tenor Parisian rebels. We feel the heart of a trial of the largest Soviet era … "

On the social side of the record, My Marie-Sophie Rozenberg and Sabrina Gabyzon will enter into early next week the Industrial Tribunal to contest the dismissal of Bertrand Rochette saying that "the contents of the letter does not state specific allegations and Renault is based on mere belief can not justify a serious fault fast cash advance. "Both lawyers complain that the disciplinary procedure of the manufacturer is "based on an anonymous letter that does not ensure the reliability of the informant and that does not even mention Bertrand Rochette."

Accused of having opened an account in Switzerland

The executive in question, who maintains his innocence, had written to the director of executive management and senior officers of the Board a letter of two pages including Le Figaro has obtained a copy. Bertrand wrote Rochette being summoned by Patrick Pelata, CEO of Renault, Monday, Jan. 3, for a meeting on "management of the architecture of new vehicles.""So I was very surprised when Mr. Pelata me immediately announced that misconduct had been alleged (..) and that the company had evidence that I was involved in a case industrial espionage related to the electric vehicle with the key money and foreign powers. "

After being escorted from his home by Mark T., a former member of the Police Department for the Protection of the group, Rochette Bertrand says he was "accused of having opened an account in Switzerland on which corporation shall have been made in consideration confidential information that I trasmises to third. Marc T. reportedly said "they had evidence of what he said." "All this is strictly impossible, I suggested to Mr. T. to go to Switzerland to check up on conditions under which this alleged account was opened. "

Remembering be gone the next day early in the afternoon on the TGV to Geneva with Marc T. and one of his colleagues, Bertrand Rochette ensures arriving too late to see this bank account which he repeats all ignore. "It was decided to spend the evening and night in Geneva. Mr. T. we suggested a drink and dinner together, "says Bertrand Rochette. The next morning at breakfast, it was agreed that Messrs. T. and G. pass me up at my room in 10 hours. It was only 11:30 that these gentlemen have "reappeared" and informed me that the visit to the bank, which I still do not know the name, was canceled and we returned to Paris on the orders of Renault .. " This trip would have made abortion "qu'accuenter the nightmare" of the framework in question.

As part of his "dismissal for gross misconduct," Bertrand Rochette was served Friday the obligation to surrender on the field its "laptop, badge, car, mobile phone, credit card, and all business records (he) might have kept. "

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Snow: Sarkozy calls for reflection on the management of the crisis

Sunday Jan 2, 2011

The snowfall from the end of December he will serve as a lesson for the future? That's what qu'espèrent the Head of State as industry players. Around Christmas time, a third wave of snow that had fallen upon France had strongly disrupted rail and air traffic. At the airport of Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, 50% of flights had been canceled and some busy days. The lack of anticipation of this climatic episode, and gaps in information available to passengers include culprit.

Presenting his wishes to the officials, Nicolas Sarkozy said Saturday that such a disruption of transport in France was "not acceptable". And advocated that "to be engaged without delay a study on how to improve crisis management.""When we face such situations, our means of action, our modes of organization are called into question," says the head of state. Nicolas Sarkozy has once again promised "appropriate action" to implement quickly. However, it excludes the possibility of equipping France "in expensive equipment that would be used only on very rare occasions": "We're obviously not a country in the Arctic Circle payday loan lenders. [...] One can understand that the service be disrupted by the weather, but not that users have the feeling to be abandoned, "he said.

Lack of coordination

Some airlines have also expressed concern on their side this Sunday morning on France Info lack of information available to them during this snowfall.Stressing that it is ultimately the airline is responsible for compensating customers disorders, a senior airline complains that he has not always been able to make an informed case for lack of information Airport from Paris. "There is no real coordination between authorities, airport and airlines, and has been three years since we face this kind of difficulty," says Jean-François and Domaniak, president of Euroaipost.

Another official put even directly involved ADP. "Why, if the responsibility of the airport is in question, does it not pay?" He asks. He was surprised especially because if the European Union requires companies shall bear the costs incurred by delays to passengers, the airport, it "does not pay a dime to compensate the airlines' .


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Spain: Flights resume after strike

Monday Dec 6, 2010

The first flights took off from Spanish airports late Saturday afternoon after almost 24 hours of a wildcat strike by air traffic controllers who has blocked hundreds of thousands of passengers on the ground at the dawn of a great weekend holiday weekend in Spain.

Two thirds of the Spanish air traffic controllers on strike since Friday night, have now returned to their positions, 109 of 159 strikers, allowing the reopening of the total airspace. The Minister of Transportation s Jose Blanco, however, does not return to normal traffic before 24 to 48 hours. Large foreign companies – Air France, KLM, EasyJet, RyanAir …- and the national airline Iberia have announced the cancellation of all flights until Sunday.

State of alert

The Spanish government had met this morning to decide what action to take to the air controllers' strike that paralyzed the country, and had declared a state of emergency. A fateful decision. Under this decree, air traffic controllers can be mobilized and strikers are punishable as criminal, up to the prison. This decision means "that the controllers are summoned to their posts and if not, they would be in the crime of disobedience under the military penal code," said Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba. This is the first time the government took such action since the death of General Franco in 1975. On Friday the government had already assigned to the Army the responsibility for air traffic control.Without success, the airspace has remained closed.

Opposition to the maximum working time

Air traffic controllers have abandoned their jobs late Friday afternoon to protest against a measure adopted shortly before the Council of Ministers, peaking at 1,670 hours per year working time.

This is part of the device of partial privatization of airport management Authority (Aena) adopted by the government under new anti-crisis measures. The Minister of Public Works, Jose Blanco, condemned what débryage wild as a form of "blackmail."

Tourism accounts for 11% of Spanish GDP and the Spanish hotel confederation said that these disruptions in air traffic would result in a shortfall of millions of euros for the industry and a blow in terms of tourist destination image Spain.

(With agencies)


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Frameworks have changed in twenty years

Friday Nov 26, 2010

Over the past two decades, the population of managers in the private sector has risen sharply, from 2 million in 1990 to nearly 3.5 million in 2008. At the same time, accelerated its feminization (34% women against 24%). But behind these figures hide important changes, highlighted by a survey of APEC (she had performed a similar study in 1990)

• Less power to influence

If managers always believe play a role in business, the way they look at their environment is quite negative: 51% consider that their situation "has changed unfavorably in recent years." In 1990, there were only 12%.Furthermore the crisis, they highlight the globalization of the economy financialisation, the vision of "short-term approach" leaders finally increased pressure which alters the organization of their work.

They also feel that their influence on the conduct of business has declined significantly in two decades and felt "increasingly isolated" in their business. "But this distance does not necessarily mean the failure or rebellion, says Apec.This can also be the mark of a more balanced work.

• A critical look at HR policies

If a majority of executives (53%) consider that the strategy implemented by the management of their business will "in the right direction," one in two think their leaders "are not paying attention to working conditions of employees", only 42 % say they "care about the future of their staff", while they are only 35% believed that "when leaders make decisions, they care about their human impacts fast payday loan no faxing."

• Five categories

The APEC study identified five categories of executives. The Satisfied (27%). With an almost total confidence in the leadership of their company, they are in full agreement with the strategy implementation. The Pragmatic (23%).Located primarily in a contractual relationship, seven in ten are willing to leave their employer in the near future. The Dissatisfied (19%). They are dissatisfied with their working conditions and prospects. The Overwhelmed (17%). Their over-investment in their business seems to have a significant impact on their privacy. Finally, the distances (14%). They are very critical, including vis-à-vis their journey, but they have a good life balance-professional life.

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The Paris Bourse consolidates

Saturday Oct 30, 2010

Wait and prudence prevail Paris Stock Exchange on Friday. The CAC 40, which had rebounded 0.50% to close Thursday through publications in above expectations of heavy odds, starts small drop of 0.15% to 3828.71 points.

As in Asia this morning, the U.S. macroeconomic news may bounce back today due to a slowdown of publications on this last day of the week. Main question mark for investors: the plan to support the U.S. economy is expected to be unveiled by the Fed on Wednesday. Speculation surrounding sow doubt in the minds of operators for several weeks. Second issue: the midterm elections in the United States.Whichever push Wall Street fences scattered for two days, which is not to reassure European markets.

This Friday, the macroeconomic news is also particularly busy overseas. In early afternoon, the Commerce Department will release the first estimate of third quarter GDP. Then follow the Chicago PMI and consumer sentiment for October.

As for currencies, the euro lost ground against the dollar. The single currency traded at 1.3879 dollars (-0.46%) before the commencement of trading.

Autolib: Bolloré Bookmark

Bolloré Thursday posted a turnover up 27% for the third quarter, to 1.8 billion euros. Moreover, according to Le Figaro, the union gave mixed Autolib earlier this week his preference to the offer of the Bolloré group, compared with those of Notice-RATP-SNCF and Veolia, Vinci Park.

Sanofi-Aventis announced Thursday the acquisition of BMP Sunstone to 520.6 million dollars (374 million euros), which allows it to strengthen in the field of public health in China. Genzyme on the record, Chris Viehbacher, head of the group, dismissed the claims of the biotech and is willing to extend the expiration date of its takeover bid.

Stallergenes said Thursday night that made an offer for Wendel holds 45.87% in its capital. In a statement, Ares explains that both parties have entered into exclusivity period to finalize the transaction. This would be achieved at a price of 59 euros per share.

The Italian conglomerate CIR announced it had abandoned IPO for its subsidiary health KOS and instead sell some to fund capital Axa for 150 million euros.

Veolia Environment has given the green light from the European Union for the purchase of several assets in the UK United Utilities water and water treatment.

Publications Thursday

Fimalac said Thursday sales up 8.9% for all of its 2009/2010 financial year thanks to revenue growth of its credit rating agency Fitch Ratings.

The General Health has reported an operating profit increase over the first nine months despite a revenue decline, affected by divestments.

Toupargel Thursday lowered its forecast for 2010 after a decline in sales in the first nine months of the year.

Latecoere announced Thursday an increase of 7.3% of its turnover in the third quarter, giving a fall of 4.4% over the first nine months of the year driven by its flagship aerostructures. The focus group confirmed a 2010 sales similar to 2009 and a return to growth in 2011.

PPR announced an increase in sales of 13% in the third quarter, reflecting a continued recovery of its distribution activities and the rebound of luxury.

Unibail-Rodamco is to issue its revenue in the third quarter after market close.


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