Mar 6




Renault expects to achieve over 47% of its sales outside Europe in 2012 and reach the 50% in 2014, said Tuesday the group commercial director of the diamond.

"It has been said that in 2012 there would be 47%, I think it will be over," said Jerome Stoll told Reuters during the show press days of the Geneva Motor Show.

"For me in 2014, it will be half of our sales outside Europe," he added.

Renault has achieved 37% of its sales overseas in 2010 and 43% in 2011, against only 17% ten years ago.

For the current year, the group maintained its forecast of sales growth through global markets such as Brazil, Russia and India, and despite European market expected a decrease of 3 to 4% by Renault. 

"It is true that the beginning of the year is lower in Europe than previously thought. I wait a bit to see if it requires that redefine the pre ; visions market over the year, "said Jerome Stoll.

Mar 1




Adecco confirmed Thursday its margin target in the medium term after posting quarterly results generally close to the most optimistic estimates.

Net income for the interim working group fell to 133 million euros over the last three months of 2011, against 141 million in the same period a year pre ceding paragraph, while analysts on average expected 123 million.

Its quarterly revenue rose 3% to 5.19 billion euros, an amount consistent with the consensus.

Of all of fiscal 2011, net income rose to 519 million and the turnover has grown from 10% to 20.54 billion. The consensus anticipated 509 million for the benefit and to 20.54 billion revenue.

"With the strong performance in 2011, continued price discipline and strict cost control, we are on track to meet our medium-term EBITA margin of over 5.5 % ", said CEO Patrick De Maeseneire in a statement.

Adecco recorded in 2011 an EBITA margin up 10 basis points to 4%. The EBITA, expected 807 million over the year by analysts, has signed an organic growth of 14%, to 814 million euros.

The group warns that its revenues fell 1% in January compared to the same month last year, both on an organic basis as adjusted for working days.

The Board of Directors will propose to the General Meeting a dividend increase to CHF 1.80 per share for the past year, 1.10 francs against the previous year. Markets were expecting 1.01 franc.

Feb 28




The new home sales fell 10.5% in France in 2011. A trend that continues in January. New homes are less popular.

The new home sales by developers in France fell by 10.5% in 2011, according to the Ministry of Housing. Housing starts also falling sharply for the month of January 2012 compared to the previous month.

A total of 103,300 new homes were sold by developers in 2011, a decrease of 10.5% over 2010, according to figures released by the Ministry. During the months of November and December 2011 and January 2012, the number of starts of new homes rose to 114,087, an increase of 26.6% over the same period a year earlier.

But this statistic hides a sharp decline in housing starts in January that, with a total of 29,659, is down by more than 14,000 units compared to December 2011. "This is a historic fall for the month of January compared to December. Jmais We had seen that since the creation of these statistics in the early '80s," said Michel Mouillart, professor of economics at the University of Paris West.

Over the last twelve months (February 2011-January 2012), the number of starts, with 380,209 units, an increase of 19.7% over the previous twelve months. The number of building permits has meanwhile increased by 20.6% to 121,563 units for the months between November 2011 and January 2012, compared to the same period a year earlier. Over the last 12 months (February 2011-January 2011), the number of building permits issued is 466,197, up 15.1% over the previous 12 months.

Feb 26




The major emerging powers of the world have publicly rejected Sunday the principle that the presidency of the World Bank amounts to a de facto American personality and said consider making their own application when the mandate expires Robert Zoellick.

The finance ministers of all BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) met this weekend on the sidelines of the G20 summit held in Mexico and came to ; the conclusion that the presidency of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick will leave in June, must be open to all countries. 

"Nominations should be based on merit and not on nationality," he told reporters the Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega.

Another official of a member of all BRICS said that consideration would be engaged on the relevance of a joint bid in the competition to be proposed by the U.S. . "It's certainly a discussion we have," he said.

An unwritten rule that dates back to the end of World War II is that the United States occupies the presidency of the World Bank while the International Monetary Fund amounts to a European.

The issue of maintaining the rule has already arisen when replacing Dominique Strauss-Kahn to head IMF, while emerging powers are playing an increasingly important the global economy. Senior management is finally returned to the French Christine Lagarde.

"It's time to break with old traditions wishing that the United States and the European Union share the two seats this time and we must make greater efforts to reach a consensus," said South African Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan.

Robert Zoellick warned in February that he would not seek a second five-year term. Countries have until March 23 to submit their nominations to the estate.

The United States said they would present a candidate but have not yet voted on its name.

The names of former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, the current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or the U.S. ambassador to the UN Susan Rice were e ; immediately proceeded.

The Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, however was not interested in this position.

The World Bank is the primary global institution responsible for providing development aid to poorer countries.

Feb 23




The gloomy economic outlook could convince the EU to show some flexibility on deficits of countries like Spain, but the tidal wave of fiscal austerity will continue until the debt crisis will not be overcome.

The European Commission publishes its updated economic forecasts Thursday for 2012 and 2013 for 27 economies of the bloc. According to several sources, they show a significant drop in activity and will spur debate among member states on a revision of targets for this year and next year.

A European official working directly on the case told Reuters on condition of anonymity that the current targets would gradually appear untenable and could be adjusted upon publication of economic forecasts Spring, May 11

"The (European) Commission does not want to look ridiculous by insisting on unrealistic goals and there will be adjustments," he said. 

According to three other sources of high rank, the Commission could allow member states to go beyond a few decimal points their goals for 2012 while keeping unchanged those of 2013, when most European countries promised to return to below 3% under the Stability and Growth.

The EU executive could also decide to defer a year, until 2014, achieving this goal to reflect the change in environment since the publication in November An estimate of the growth was still 0.5% in 2012 and 1.5% in 2013. 

REVISION "SMALL OR VERY SMALL"

For several weeks, several countries, including Italy and Spain have questioned the paradigm of austerity inspired by Germany and called for a shift of policies e ECONOMIC towards less spending cuts and measures to support the growth and fight unemployment.

European leaders have addressed this issue in late January at an informal summit and on Monday, Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and eight other countries felt that the euro area should try to focus on reactivation of growth in the EU rather than solely on fiscal consolidation. 

Spain is particularly under the spotlight since the new center-right government announced in December that the deficit would reach 8% of GDP or more in 2011, well above the pre ; visions.

If Madrid continues to provide, at least in public, that the deficit will be reduced to 4.4% this year, the threat of a recession makes this task almost impossible.

One source said that Spain and other countries hoped the Commission would show a certain "understanding" while many economies are facing recession in their second three years. This source added, however, that we should not expect a revision other than "small or very small."

According to the Wednesday edition of the newspaper El Pais, the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy could request within ten days to review the Community executive from 4.4% to 5% over the current target of deficit reduction.

Rajoy and his economy minister, Luis De Guindos, met with Jose Manuel Barroso, Commission president, and Olli Rehn, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, last Tuesday Aftern s that Reuters found that Brussels plans to sanction Madrid for not sufficiently reduce the deficits. 

NO APPETITE NORTH

The economies of both the euro area and EU shrank by 0.3% over the last three months of the year and despite signs of stabilization, analysts questioned ; s by Reuters believe that activity will fall by 0.4% in the euro area in 2012 before recovering to sluggish growth in 2013.

But, with a support plan for 130 billion euros to Greece only adopted and faults are doing day in Portugal, the European Commission and countries whose fiscal position is the most sound estimate that deficit reduction must remain a top priority. 

"Y-Will there a discussion of deficits in the Eurogroup? Perhaps, but there is little or no appetite or sympathy at all for a softening of goals," explained , a European source involved in discussions. "Ask the Belgians, or the northern countries (EU) or the Germans."

Under pressure from the European Commission, Belgium has announced the freezing of € 1.3 billion of expenditures in excess of 11.3 billion euros in savings already announced es. The country has no intention to be flexible with their peers.

Germany, Finland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg are also reluctant to revise downwards the targets because they believe that fiscal consolidation is a precondition for a sustainable growth in the future and that the European crisis is above all a crisis of confidence.

"Review downward targets would be of no help," the source said, adding that it would also undermine the credibility of the new rules on monitoring deficits and debt which the EU has since the crisis began in 2009. 

Under these rules, a country must now submit its budget to advance to the Commission and can be automatically sanctioned and fined in case of deficit greater than 3% of GDP and debt greater than 60% of GDP.

Last month, 25 of 27 Member States have even gone further by agreeing to a rule limiting their deficits to 0.5% throughout the primary cycle.

Feb 21




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.

Feb 12




Tens of thousands of protesters gathered Sunday around the Greek Parliament and some clashed with police a few hours of the vote by MPs on a bill consisting of austerity measures such drastic and unpopular required by the EU and the IMF in exchange for a new rescue plan.

Greek Prime Minister of Greece Lucas Papademos warned against the "economic chaos" in case of rejection, while Germany has warned that Greece should stop being a "well bottomless "`.

After three days of tension and political threats, Parliament began shortly after 14:00 (12:00 GMT) to examine the bill to save 3.3 billion euros thanks to lower wages, pensions and job cuts public. 

The vote must take place before midnight (2200 GMT), said the finance minister, Evangelos Venizelos, "because on Monday morning, the banking and financial markets should have received the message that Greece can and will survive. "

"If the law is not adopted, the country will go bankrupt," warned the Minister that a Communist deputy threw the pages of the bill on the floor of the Assembly.

About twenty members of the coalition of Lucas Papademos have threatened in recent days to vote against the text and six government members submitted their resignations, but the Prime Minister will still theoretically supported by a large majority.

But the Greek population does not intend to accept the new austerity measures without saying anything. 

"The Greek people RAISE"

Tens of thousands of people gathered in the afternoon around Parliament to lobby MPs, the largest mobilization for months.

"Enough is enough!" Exclaimed Manolis Glezos, 89, a veteran of the extreme left.

"They have no idea what it means to an uprising of the Greek people. And the Greek people, ideas all political persuasions, is beginning to lift, "said the hero of the resistance to the Nazis during World War II

.

"annihilation These measures will not go", he further promised, mouth covered by a mask to protect themselves from tear gas fired by police to de pledge Syntagma Square, Parliament

. Some protesters responded by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at police ….. At least fourteen

…. protesters injured were taken to hospital, police said, and about fifty others treated on site , mostly for choking. At least eight policemen were also injured.

"There is tear gas into the interior of the Assembly," said an MP, Panagiotis Lafazanis.

The new austerity plan is the price to pay for the release of an aid program of 130 billion euros from the EU and the IMF – the second since 2010.

Greece has to touch the money before March 20 to repay a state loan of 14.5 billion euros.

"Bottomless well"

Germany has turned up the heat a notch Sunday warning that Europe expected actions and not words.

"The promises of Greece are no longer sufficient for us," warned the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble. 

Referring to the new austerity plan in which the Greek deputies must vote this Sunday, the minister said in an interview published by the Welt am Sonntag that the previous did not e ; tee implemented in their entirety.

Wolfgang Schäuble said that the Germans are largely in favor of an international aid to Greece. "But it's important to say that it can be a bottomless pit. This is why the Greeks will finally have to clog the well. Then we can put something. At least people are now beginning to realize that it will not work with a bottomless pit.

"Greece must do its homework to become competitive, it requires a new rescue plan or some other way that we do not want to (…)" he says referring to an output the euro area.

Asked if such an outcome is possible, Wolfgang Schäuble responds: "Everything is in the hands of the Greeks themselves. But even in that event, on which no table, they remain an integral part of Europe ".

"We are pleased to offer our assistance, but we should not give others the impression that they have not done enough. Each state is responsible for itself," explains he said.

Nov 27




Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy are considering the establishment of a Stability and Growth limited to a few countries in the euro area, the Welt am Sonntag reported on Sunday.

A new deal would avoid waiting for a treaty reform could drag on, the newspaper quoted German government sources.

German Chancellor and French President could unveil the next week this proposal as part of a plan against the debt crisis.

"Based on these measures," the newspaper, "there should be a majority in the European Central Bank for a more strong capital markets.

Nov 21




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%.

Oct 28




Softbank, a telecommunications operator which is not affected by the rising yen, jumped 8.37% on first half results historic, while the electronics group Sharp and construction equipment manufacturer Komatsu gained 6 respectively, 2% and 5.58% despite the downward revision of prospects for their result.

The surge in the yen to a new record high against the dollar, however, limited the gains.

The Nikkei rose by about 4% since the beginning of the month, while the U.S. S & P has won over 13% and move towards its biggest gain in a month since October 1974.

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