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The Swiss group has nominated Tuesday for the resumption of the LyondellBasell refinery. Threatened with closure, the site located in Berre is stopped since January 4. Over 350 employees are affected. LyondellBasell refinery in Berre

This is a gleam of hope for employees of LyondellBasell refinery. Threatened closure of the site-Berre l'Etang located in the Bouches du Rhone interested investment group Klesh. In parallel, the Swiss group has already made an application for three Petroplus refineries in Europe, including the site of Petit-Couronne, in Normandy.

The group Klesch just sent following discussions with the Inter advice and a letter of intent after which he expressed interest in buying the refinery and steam cracker, "say the unions CFE / CGC, CFDT, CFTC, CGT and FO in a statement, asking the current management and public authorities to investigate this possibility "with the utmost seriousness." Contacted by AFP, the Swiss refused to any immediate comment

. "A credible alternative to the closing"

According to the unions, this track, initiated by the unions after the announcement in November by the French chemist Arkema a sale of its vinyl (PVC, chlorine) to Klesch, "opens a credible alternative to the closure of the refinery." Fabien Astier, CGT, highlights the consistency of the project, which would develop synergies between the refinery, steam cracker and the Arkema Fos-sur-Mer. Asked about the profile of Klesch, presented by the unions of Arkema, hostile to the sale of vinyls, like a "gravedigger," Mr. Astier said "remain vigilant". "We are not ready to sign a blank check," he warned. The group must "demonstrate its credibility through a machine vision, financial and social in line with our requirements on this site in the interests of employees and the entire petrochemical site Berre," said the Inter.

The current management had announced the proposed closure of the refinery September 27, 2011, after failing to find a buyer, citing "heavy losses". This project, which was to receive 370 of the approximately 1,250 employees who work on the total complex of the U.S. group. LyondellBasell around the Etang de Berre, had resulted in the immediate vote of strike, with blocking units, for nearly two weeks before the granting by the direction of a reprieve. The refinery is currently "mothballed", that is to say, but stopped maintained to be ready to restart in case of buyer, that unions are actively looking.

Values ​​to follow on Wednesday at the Paris Bourse:

* BNP Paribas has announced a net profit halved in the fourth quarter, to 765 million euros, mainly because of a new provisioning on Greece and a significant contraction of its profits in corporate banking and investment because of the crisis in the euro area.

* PSA announced new savings and a comprehensive plan for asset sales, including a partial Gefco, to counter the group's financial position after a 2011 financial year marked by a relapse of re ; net result. 

* DANONE said address with confidence after 2012 achieved its growth targets for 2011 thanks to its good performance in emerging markets where the Group currently generates more than half of its sales.

* AREVA. The internal audit by the nuclear group on the controversial acquisition of the mining company Uramin concluded that a lack of governance and information but does not revealed information indicating the rumors of fraud.

* EADS – Tom Enders, the CEO of Airbus, said he had ordered an internal investigation into the cracks in the wings of the A380 superjumbo.

* M6 hearings on behalf of its flagship chain to pull out of the game in a context sensitive advertising that promises this year, said Chief Financial Officer Jerome LEFE ; bure. 

* PAGESJAUNES announced that its board would propose as an exceptional pass the dividend for 2011, after registering a decline in its revenues and profit margins last year.

* FINANCIAL VALUES – Finance ministers from the euro area agreed by phone to abandon plans to meet Wednesday on the Greek case, announced the president of the Eurogroup Jean-Claude Juncker, adding that another meeting would be held on February 20.

The European Central Bank (ECB) decided to redistribute the profits from its Greek bonds to member states of the euro area, which could then decide to lend to new exhibitions ties as part of an agreement on debt, said Luc Coene, a member of the Governing Council of the ECB. 

* INSURERS – China will implement a major reform of its financial sector which will open the Chinese market for car insurance, said U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

* CYCLING – The first estimate of economic growth in the euro zone in the fourth quarter will be published at 11am, and the trade balance in the region. At 14:30, the Empire State index of February will be announced in the U.S. before the figures of industrial production in January to 15.15 and the NAHB housing index from February to 16h.

In France, the economy grew by 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the previous three months, a figure higher than expected, according to the given ; are preliminary national accounts published by INSEE.

* Carrefour has filed with the AMF (AMF), through Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and Societe Generale, its proposed takeover of Guyenne and Gascogne. 

* BIC has forecast a restated operating margin of the group in 2012 "close to the record level reached in 2011" after last year's increase of 14.7% its net profit at 237.9 million euros. The group will propose an ordinary dividend of 2.20 euros per share (+15.8%) and a special dividend of 1.80 euro per share.

* BIOMERIEUX study confirmed the hypothesis of its strategic plan for 2015 but said that its outlook for 2012 were in line with the plan, which forecasts growth annual organic sales of 7 to 9% on average.

BP took advantage Tuesday of the publication of a quarterly profit in line with expectations that it was preparing to fight "vigorously" complaints related to oil spill Spring 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico, which will begin to be heard at the end of the month.

Bob Dudley, chief executive of the British oil company, said that BP was ready to settle amicably "based on fair terms and reasonable "the 600 lawsuits filed against him by individuals and the Federal government.

The hearings is scheduled Feb. 27 in New Orleans. 

BP, Europe's number two oil in terms of market capitalization, has raised $ 1.8 billion, 43 billion (33 billion euros), the cost of cleaning of the worst oil spill off the U.S..

BP, which said it was almost done cleaning, added that the contributions of its partners involved in the disaster it would end in 2012, one year earlier than expected, payments to a compensation fund of $ 20 billion.

The explosion of the drilling platform Deepwater Horizon, April 20, 2010, was 11 dead and dumped more than four million barrels of oil. 

BP also said it raised its quarterly dividend by one cent, bringing it to eight hundred in favor of strong cash flow generated by the rise in Gross.

"This is a positive sign of confidence in the improved operating performance," said Tony Shepard, analyst specializing in oil at Charles Stanley.

Around 24:50 GMT, BP lost over 1% to 483.8 pence, while the index grouping the values ​​of European oil yielded 0.6%.

For the fourth quarter 2011, BP reported a profit at replacement cost of 7.606 billion dollars, a figure boosted by a contribution of four billion Anadarko linked the oil spill, against 4.614 billion a year earlier. 

Excluding items, the quarterly result was up 14% to $ 4.99 billion, compared with 4.89 billion expected by the market according to Thomson Reuters consensus I / B / E / S.

Royal Dutch Shell announced last week a 18% increase in quarterly profit and ExxonMobil adjusted up 2%.

Investors continue to play it safe Friday in anticipation of monthly U.S. employment. European stock exchanges are small increase after opening slightly lower in the wake of the fence undecided on Wall Street, while the Tokyo Stock Exchange ended in decline after three sessions of consecutive increases.

The CAC 40, FTSE 100 and Dax earn around 0.5% each.

Economists expect 150,000 new jobs in January after the U.S. 200,000 in December and the unemployment rate unchanged at 8.5%.

Confirmation of a return in the expansion zone PMI services in the euro zone supports the trend in equity markets. The UK data in this area are already very encouraging. Some investors say the euro area will fall ultimately not in recession.

In the Greek case where we waited for a decision Monday, the European Central Bank (ECB) is studying how to contribute to the bailout of Greece and Athens could return to profit perc us on Greek bonds it holds, by circumventing the prohibition on direct funding of States.

"For now, the anticipation of abundant liquidity in the coming weeks (thank you central banks!) Maintains positive momentum for equities. (…) The CAC 40 is testing the resistance of 3,400 points and long-term moving average to 200 scholarships. The trend remains positive as the index evolves over its oblique upward, "said Franklin Pichard, Barclays Bourse France.

VOLVO earns 1.8%. The Swedish manufacturer of heavy trucks has yet reported an operating profit below expectations for the fourth quarter of 2011.

BT wins 3.4% after the announcement by the British telecoms operator of a result up under its third fiscal quarter despite a decline in billings.

LVMH lost 0.32%, a victim of profit taking after the publication of its 2011 results.

In Tokyo, Sony has awarded more than 8% to 1,435 yen. Investors welcomed the appointment of a new CEO, despite a loss in profit forecast.

The euro has risen more frank in the early morning, well installed above $ 1.31 and approaching $ 1.32 in anticipation of employment figures States United.

Investors are undecided before the employment figures USD.

Oil prices are supported by rumors of Israeli raid on Iran and the threat of retaliation wielded by the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the face ; the oil embargo "in time". and

The new home sales fell 13% in the third quarter. At the same time, housing starts increased by 11%. Professionals denounce the consequences of the austerity measures the government. An employee on a construction site offices and accommodation in Marseille.

The new home sales by developers are still down in the third quarter. They fell in France by 12.9% yoy in the third quarter, according to the Ministry of Housing, which reported Tuesday alongside a 11.4% increase in housing starts and permits 22.6% built between August and October 2011.

For all of 2011, the number of new homes sold by developers to fall, according to Michel Mouillart, professor of economics at the University of Paris X-Nanterre, between 97,000 and 98,000 against 115,000 in 2010, a down 15%, far from the record 127,000 in 2007. In 2012, Mr. Mouillart expects a further decline to 85,000, far off the figure of the previous crisis (79,000 in 2008). "The year 2012, with 340,000 starts in 2012 against 350,000 in 2011 should mark a decline that feeds the decline in demand. To reverse this decline, it will be tough in the absence of public support for devices private construction, "said Michel Mouillart.

China will begin a cycle of easing monetary policy next month, via a lowering of reserve requirements for banks, a sign that the country feared the consequences of the global economic downturn, according to a survey released Tuesday by Reuters.

Of 19 analysts surveyed, 10 thought that the Chinese central bank will decrease by 50 basis points in the reserve requirement ratio, currently at 21.5%, a level which, according to the bank, affects their profitability and lending capacity.

Two weeks ago, the Chinese central bank said China was ready if necessary to adjust its monetary policy.

Eight analysts believe that the lower reserve requirement ratio will occur in the first quarter 2012 and one analyst expects the second quarter.

Last week, a majority of market participants did not see any easing before the first quarter of 2012, but the worsening debt crisis in the euro zone could precipitate the decision of the Chinese monetary authorities.

Inflationary pressures have led them to meet several times the interest rates and bank reserve requirements since October 2010.

Since then, inflation has decelerated slightly to 5.5% last month, but remains above the official target of 4%.

European shares retreat in early trade Monday, concerns over U.S. debt back in the news as the crisis in the euro zone sovereign has still not been resolved.

At 9:03, the CAC 40 index lost 0.84% ​​to 2971.58 points.

London yields 0.81%, Frankfurt and Milan 0.52% 1.06%. Madrid was down 0.15% after the victory of the Popular Party (right) in the parliamentary elections. The Euro Stoxx 50 index of the principal values ​​of the euro lost 0.5%.

The 10-year rate of the entire euro zone relax with the exception of Greek performance stretches of 16 basis points to 26.3%.

The New York Stock Exchange opened sharply down Tuesday, announcing a referendum on the agreement of the Greek bailout of the country that created a shock and sealed all the world markets, particularly the financial sector.

In early trade, the Dow Jones lost 2.15% to 1.1711,20 points. The Standard & Poor's, larger yield 2.46% to 1221.38 points while the Nasdaq Composite was down 2.52% to 2616.69 points.

Morgan Stanley fall of 9.4% and Bank of American 4.8%, while the index of the CBOE Vix volatility flies over 19% to 35.70.

Groupama said in Monday night to Tuesday its CEO Jean Azema had been revoked and the new management team should improve operating profitability and solvency.

The board of directors of the mutual insurer has announced the appointment with immediate effect as CEO Thierry Martel and Christian Collin as chief operating officer.

"Jean Azema, who was CEO of the Central Fund of Commercial Union Assurance and Groupama SA since June 2000, leaving the company," said Groupama in a brief statement.

A spokeswoman confirmed to Reuters that he had been "revoked", writes Les Echos in an article published Tuesday.

"The priority of the new management team will implement measures to strengthen the solvency of the group while continuing to improve operating profitability," said Groupama in a statement.

Thierry Martel assumed since 1 January 2010 the Directorate General insurance and banking France the mutual insurer.Christian Collin was appointed general manager finance and risk in January 2010.

Fitch has downgraded the financial strength rating of Groupama 27 September last, with a negative outlook, while Standard & Poor's had lowered four days before his note from BBB + to BBB, also maintaining a negative outlook.

Jean Azema said last month that the mutual insurer would give priority to profitability rather than market share gains during the implementation of its new savings plan 2012-2015.

"The stock market listing of Groupama is reported at end of period, that is to say more towards 2015," he added.

Coca-Cola announced Tuesday a quarterly profit that just beat the consensus, thanks to sales growth throughout the world.

The world leader in soft drinks has reported net earnings of $ 2.22 billion, or 95 cents a share, against 2.06 billion (88 cents a share) a year earlier.

Excluding items, EPS was $ 1.03 compared to the consensus Thomson Reuters I / B / E / S, which gave $ 1.02.

Revenues jumped 45% to 12.25 billion, boosted by the acquisition in 2010 of bottling operations in North America, by price increases and a favorable currency impact. Analysts were expecting a turnover of 12.01 billion.

Volume, worldwide sales increased 5%.In North America, the increase in volume is the same, with the addition of new brands being cross-licensing as Dr Pepper. Leaving aside these brands, sales increased 1% in volume in North America.

In Latin America, volume growth is 7%. It is 2% in Europe, 7% in the Eurasia-Africa segment and 6% in the Pacific region.

The action is down in pre-market.