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The Spanish crisis is serious, very serious. It weakens a little more of Europe, its growth and financial system. But, unlike Greece, Spain will not "explode" the euro. Person, even among the fiercest opponents of the single currency is considering an exit from Spain in the euro area. Spain, despite record unemployment, is not on the verge of bankruptcy. Its lending rate to ten years amounted to 5.86% Friday, but they have been higher: 6% mid-April, and 7% in November.

A priori, Spain will not need a bailout General as Greece or Portugal. The Standard & Poor's recognizes itself: the Spanish Treasury has already covered 50% of its funding this year. The country should have no problem to repay its creditors in 2012.

Famine budget!

However, Spanish banks are on the ropes. Savings banks are not the only ones being targeted. There is nothing surprising about that. Unemployment makes mortgage repayments more difficult, weakening bank balance sheets. Massive purchases of Spanish debt by financial institutions of the peninsula, with funds loaned by the European Central Bank (ECB), are not a panacea, far from it, especially if tensions persist in the bond markets.

At this point, the recapitalization needs of the Spanish banking sector are estimated at 50 billion euros: a sum equivalent to half of the Spanish public deficit in 2011. In other words, beyond the reach of government in these times of fiscal scarcity!

But not beyond the reach of the euro zone! The central bankers of Europe, Mario Draghi and Jean-Claude Juncker planchent discreetly on a bailout of Spanish banks able to calm the markets. It would involve the European Stability Fund (EFSF), or the European Stability Mechanism (MES), its successor from 1 July.

Since the alert on the Italian debt last summer, the euro area has assured his rear. It has a "firewall" of 750 billion euros due to cumulative lending capacity of two European rescue fund, the EFSF and MES. For its part, the IMF has increased its resources to $ 430 billion. As for the ECB, it has already injected € 1,000 billion in the banking system, and nothing prevents him to continue

.

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A rating agency on three, Standard & Poor's, has already withdrawn its prestigious Aaa to France. One of its competitors, Moody's, could soon follow, warned the Socialist candidate for president Francois Hollande. In the days following the presidential election.

Moody's placed under the supervision of the French debt rating earlier this year, he said in an interview with Journal du Dimanche. It "will make a decision on May 12, he argued. It will not be a consequence of the May 6 vote of the French. I warn, already, for our fellow citizens that there is no confusion (…) For now, I ask in any case to be assessed by the French and not by markets. "  

How the candidate can know the date on which the decision will fall on Moody's France? Rating agencies maintain absolute secrecy about the content of their deliberations and their timing, until the publication of their decision. To predict the date of May 12, the candidate is based on the deadline set by the agency between his warning to the country concerned and the actual announcement.

Moody's placed the rating a negative outlook on Feb. 14. It can give its verdict – probably too negative for AAA French – in May. However, it would have a year to decide. "She may wait to see what measures are being implemented by the future president, for example until fall, when the budget for 2013 will be presented," qualifies Norbert Gaillard, specialist rating agencies.  

Clearing the ground

Francois Hollande tried to clear the ground, should he be elected, and while his main opponent, Nicolas Sarkozy, waved the threat of an attack against France markets where Socialist victory. Today, has defended the PS candidate, turbulence affecting Spain and Italy but not France. "It is particularly irresponsible for the incumbent to use the threat of speculative movements to persuade voters to abandon the alternation," he pleaded.

The first week of the next president, whoever he is, ahead eventful. First Moody's should actually decide before May 15 the fate of Aaa it attributed to France so far. Then the Commission will publish its opinion on the stability program of France. This document, sent to Brussels last week, details how the government intends to restore the balance of public finances by 2016. Problem: it takes into account neither the promises of the outgoing president, nor those of his socialist opponent.

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The revolution of the gas in the U.S. is running. By midweek, the price of natural gas in New York reached a record low, at less than $ 2 million BTUs (British thermal unit) – the international measure equivalent to 28 m3 of gas. Not since ten years ago to find such a price. The particularly mild climate this winter and falling demand support this decline in prices, but they do not explain everything.

"There are six to seven years, the magnitude of the reserves of shale gas across the Atlantic was largely unknown. Today, operators have mastered better and better their production and extract larger quantities with less drilling, exposes Olivier Rech, cofounder of investment consultant Energy Funds Advisors. Meanwhile, even when they go out of oil, they get associated gas. Under these conditions, the abundance of supply weighs on prices. "

This new situation gives ideas to operators. GDF Suez for example, could invest in the downstream side of the Atlantic, that is to say to provide gas, liquefy it and send it to other markets. However, an investment directly in the production in the U.S. is not on the agenda, warned Jean-Marie Dauger, Executive Vice President of the GDF Suez, in charge of Global Gas and LNG (LNG).

Concentration for

In general, the French group makes it clear that a gas supply in North America is based primarily on a prospective scenario. Understood: the market test medium-term guide strategic choices.

In Asia, Mitsubishi Corporation is also exploring several alternatives. After acquiring 40% in February from a field of shale gas in Canada Encana, the Japanese company is considering a giant project (€ 10 billion investment about) LNG production in British Columbia, the west. Several partners are in discussions, including Shell and Korean Korea Gas – who buys every year 30 million tons of LNG.

This situation of depressed gas prices in North America Will it continue permanently? "Above all, this situation is abnormal. In most regions in the U.S., gas prices are now below production costs. Under these conditions, many are fragile and gas operators in the two to three years ahead, there could be a phenomenon of concentration, says Olivier Rech. The revolution of the gas in the United States will therefore damage among companies.

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It would have been a shame to keep the good news to yourself! With two months ahead of the traditional Accounts Committee of Social Security, the government announced Tuesday that the results "still provisional" general scheme for 2011. The deficit reached 17.4 billion euros, 3.5 billion less than budgeted and $ 600 million better than expected in the fall. This "hole" remains the third highest in the history of Social Security, according to records from 2009 and 2010 mainly due to the crisis. The improvement should continue in 2012.

The relatively good surprise of 2011 comes from the health insurance. Its revenues were higher than expected and expenditures lower. "This is essentially care city," said its director for Voices. For Frederic Van Roekeghem although welfare is "slightly under-funded," balance the books "is within reach, without embarking on reforms brutal." A whiff of optimism that the two favorites for the presidential does not contradict probably because of brutal reform, there is no question in their programs.

A tax on CO2 emissions

Logically, Nicolas Sarkozy proposes the continuation of actions taken. Down drug prices and volumes consumed, rationalization of the hospital with the development of ambulatory care homes nearby emergencies to relieve these …: these measures should help contain rising health care costs in rates historically low of 2.5% per year. Faced with medical deserts, the president candidate wants to multiply nursing homes and assist in the installation in rural areas or the suburbs – an ineffective way to date – without seeing the freedom of settlement. Against the excess fees excessive, he put on the new system of government (voluntary physicians to limit the excess and reimbursement by complementary), which does not yet meet the main question.

Nothing fundamental about the pension reform after Woerth – only promise to pay the basic pension from the first of the month, instead of 8. Finally, funding side, social VAT will alleviate employers' contributions, so the cost of labor.

Francois Hollande,, cancel account this increase in VAT if it comes at the Elysee. He announced an increase of one billion euros per year pension contributions to fund its only specific promise in retirement: the possibility of retiring at 60 for employees who worked continuously for 41 years. But he also outlined on Tuesday lexpress.fr other avenues for funding Social Security is no longer based "solely on the work", "go further" in the financing of Medicare by the CSG in particular. This time it would reduce employee contributions – a measure of purchasing power rather than competitiveness, without maturity displayed. The socialist candidate also evokes a tax on CO2 emissions it would be at the European level, said his entourage. Responsible for the "social hub" of the Holland team, Marisol Touraine also promises to abolish social niches, beginning with the overtime.

What Safely restore the balance "on the five-year", with an increase in health spending of 3% per year. This envelope would enable hospitals to escape the alignment of their tariffs with those clinics, lower. Holland is also focusing on third-party payer in town doctors to limit the use of hospital emergency rooms. And to reduce the amounts paid out of pocket by patients, without increasing spending Safely, Marisol Touraine threat to frame the excess fees by law in the fall, except that physicians accept by there limits through negotiation. As for medical deserts, it envisages the partial transposition of the device begins to bear fruit in nursing: to ban fees for doctors free to settle where they are already many.

What companies are doing to manage the "assholes" rotting the lives of other employees? They have their eyes on their economic performance, they advocate the dynamism and innovation to develop, but they show very little "attentive to these toxic personalities", who happen to be an unnecessary cost but very real for their s Finance boxes?

Deliberately provocative, "Target Zero asshole," the book by Robert Sutton, professor of management at Stanford, in any case a fixed cap at which leaders would be wise to look at things in front. "The assholes are costs that do not appear in cost accounting, but take stock of their damage is not so difficult," he says.

Robert Sutton, it is urgent to act because "they swarm." "All companies should adopt the Target Zero asshole because these people inflict considerable damage to their direct victims, organizational performance, but also to themselves." Increased stress and risk of heart attack among those who are victims, increased absenteeism and surge in turnover. Professor Stanford has even delivered a calculation of what costs such as employees at a company: it comes to adding a "for asshole" of $ 160,000 per year!

But what to do to achieve this "Goal Zero asshole"? Here are five recipes by Robert Sutton.

• Choose the right people. Assuming that "hire other assholes assholes," Robert Sutron, suggests that they deviate from the recruitment process or to involve also "civilized people".

• Identify employees pourrisseurs room and spend their time bully and harass others. To achieve Robert Sutton has listed what he called "their twelve nasties" daily. There are pell-mell "personal insults", "threats or intimidation," "humiliation or public reprimands," "hypocritical attacks" ….

• Limit their power to harm. For example by reducing the hierarchical boundaries or too large wage differentials that give them a sense of power and feel like superstars.

• Protect yourself. "The best and safest way is to keep you as far as possible from people and places contaminated by the virus," writes Robert Sutton. If this is impossible, since it's boss that he is only one solution: change the box.

• Be careful not to become "asshole" self. Robert Sutton, we are all "assholes" in power. Then you try not to treat colleagues as competitors and build instead a "win-win exchanges at work."

Obviously the method advocated by Robert Sutton has found its audience. Published for the first time in the United States in 2007, he has sold over 475,000 copies (all languages). It has just been reissued, proof that there is still work to overcome the assholes at the office.

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Kick-off auditions today by the Higher Audiovisual Council (CSA) of candidates for six new free DTT channels. The wise will consider 33 draft lines, from both large media groups as mere associations. Team HD, sports newspaper chain, is the first to be presented on Monday morning. Honey HD channel project for women of NRJ Group, will close the hearings on March 14. The selection of the top six will be known in mid-March for an effective start chains expected to fall.

The candidates will each have 45 minutes to convince the nine members of the CSA. Most cases are planning to develop channels, some of which already exist. Among the suggested topics: the nature and animals (TV Friends of the 30 Million Friends Association), the art of living (or Via Stylia), religion (Catholic channel KTO), theater and entertainment (L NWE rm-TV), music (Ofive TV) and even French excellence (Cocagne).

TF1, M6 and NRJ each have three projects

Large groups of television and radio will be very present during these hearings. TF1, M6, NextRadioTV (RMC BFMTV …) and NRJ Group will each present three projects. The group will present its TF1 channel dedicated to the art of living Stylia and a home shopping channel (Trends 24) and another devoted to fiction TV (HD1). M6 also offer a shopping channel (Shop & Co) and two projects at this stage undisclosed (Hexa and 6TER). The group of Alain Weill, NextRadioTV, will defend his side of his proposed RMC Sport HD sports channel than face Team HD, which officially supported by the National Olympic Committee and French sports (CNOSF), but also a RMC Discovery documentary channel, in addition to its economic news channel BFM Business. As for NRJ Group, he will detail his chain for women Girl HD, a channel dedicated to youth (My NRJ) and another on the heritage (Nosta the TV).

In the press sector, another project supported by the Nouvel Observateur group, associated with Fleurus Presse and Media Participations, bet on creating a chain of knowledge (360 TV). For its part, Lagardère Active TV it will defend the case. Finally, Pascal Houzelot, the founder of Pink TV will present tYou, defending a string of "diversity" and its capital account in Francois-Henri Pinault (PPR), Xavier Niel (Free, BBC), Matthew Pigasse (Les Inrockuptibles BBC) and Jean-Charles Naouri (Casino).

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This is a recurring complaint of local elected officials: the proliferation of standards on the environment, urban planning, accessibility of the disabled, or food in school canteens, leaden local finances. The bill would be about 600 million euros a year, according to the advisory panel for assessment of standards (NECC). The moratorium on standards established by the government since July 2010 has been ineffective, he had to find new weapons. Among them is the proposed law (PPL) of UMP senator Eric Doligé, a proposal that was discussed Wednesday in the Senate. The text can not pass the Assembly before the legislative elections of June 2012. But at the very least, the process is launched.

The main idea of ​​the PPL is that standards may vary depending on community size. "It is absurd that the buildings of kindergartens in Paris, located on several floors in a building, have the same standards as local nursery in a small town, which are on one level," says Eric Doligé. The text also proposes to address the 400,000 current standards. The NECC would consider this stock, including devices older than five years and propose simplifications or deletions. The government would be required to indicate, within six months, the follow-up.

Step

The PPL also creates an instance of mediation departmental standards and simplifies certain procedures, particularly in the field of urban planning.

For Eric Doligé, this text is a first step. Once the elections are over, the senator wants to put on the table the 2005 law on disability law that forced utilities to make all buildings accessible to disabled people in 2015. "The cost of work – 17 billion – is too high to communities," said Eric Doligé.

His solution? Make the service, not local, necessarily accessible. "The employee asked the public service would come down on the ground floor to meet the disabled person. City Hall would no longer need to install a lift or other special equipment, "says the senator. Still, this subject is highly sensitive, both politically and humanly. Another idea, often mentioned, would increase the powers of the NEAC, to give this advisory body veto power. Gilles Carrez, Rapporteur UMP budget to the Assembly, is favorable.

The NECC could finally block orders it considers absurd. Such as the recent decree stipulating that social and medico-social will offer four to five dishes for each lunch or dinner to their residents, dishes that need to be tailored to their tastes and habits!

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The government fiercely defends his proposed "employment tax"-a reduction in labor costs funded by an increase in VAT and the CSG on capital income. Supporting figures, experts Bercy want to show the economic virtues of the device, introduced Wednesday in the Cabinet, on behalf of "competitiveness" of France. Competitiveness that the report of the Court of Auditors, presented Wednesday, deemed necessary to strengthen.

As announced by the Head of State, effective October 1, work will never be the main source of funding for family policy. Reform is to reduce employer costs by 13.2 billion full-year (3.6 billion by 2012). The family contributions paid by employers will be removed for salaries between 1.6 and 2.1 SMIC (2290 euros net), then eased on a sliding scale up to 2.4 SMIC (2620 euros net). This rate was calculated Bercy, a gain of 40 euros per month for a minimum wage, 120 euros to 159 euros and 1.6 SMIC 2.1 for minimum wage. In all, according to the ministry, 14 million employees are affected by the measure.

International competition

This will benefit "to the sectors most exposed to international competition (80% of manufacturing jobs and 97% of jobs in agriculture are concerned)," argues the report of the Cabinet. The Department of Finance estimates that the reform will result in the creation of 100,000 jobs in 3 years. The Executive held Wednesday to register false face of opposition, who had spoken of a "gift to the banks." "This is nonsense! Wages in finance are higher than our target, "argued a ministerial adviser. Which also indicated that the device would benefit "proportionately" more for SMEs than for large groups, since they will reap 47% of its fruit, although they represent 40% of payroll in France.

To offset the cost, the government intends to increase from 19.6% to 21.2% the standard rate of VAT, also on 1 October. This measure will yield € 10.6 billion per year in stride. Given the controversy, the government ensures that it will not make up prices. First, he argues, because 60% of household consumption are exempt from VAT or enjoy a reduced rate will remain unchanged. Of the remaining 40%, three quarters of the products are manufactured in France, their prices will not rise … as long as companies pass on the reduced charges. Only imported products subject to the VAT increase, that is to say 10% of household purchases, could therefore lead to higher prices, ensures Bercy, while betting that "strong competition" will limit the inflation .

To complete the financing of the reform, the general social contribution (CSG) on capital income will be increased by two points, from 8.2% to 10.2%.

Still not convinced, the PS again spoke Wednesday of an economic mistake "that will weaken consumption and will therefore result in growth and employment". Francois Hollande warned that he would cancel the measure if they win.

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The biggest shop shows the world may soon see the day in Paris. The luxury group Richemont actively preparing to open a palace watches of 2250 square meters on two floors, which would be represented as 60 brands ranging from entry level to luxury. This store may be substituted for the brand Old England, old shop of the 19th century, strategically located between the Opera and the Boulevard Haussmann in the heart of the capital. According to the website dedicated businessmontres.com, Richemont should benefit from the commercial end of the lease granted to the current property owner to get their hands on the site. Neither the luxury group, nor the SFL, owner of the walls has to comment that "rumor".

Sources close to the discussions say, however, that the real estate transaction is scheduled for over a year.Richemont has even approached the great names in luxury and watch as LVMH, Swatch and Rolex to tell them about the operation. If the participation of the latter to the final draft to be confirmed, Richemont has already convinced major retailers such as Audemars Piguet Breitling or to be part of.

The Swiss group is currently in discussions with Bucherer, another big name in the jewelry and luxury watches, in order to leave the management of this huge store. Few in France, it has been favored by Richemont because of its extensive experience in managing multi-brand stores. In addition to his label, Bucherer has a network of 15 stores which are marketed brands Rolex, Piaget, TAG Heuer, or Longines. It also has other stores in Austria and Germany.