All World

Axa was less affected by Greece that the banks

A nice trading day for Axa. The title of the insurer took 4% to 10 o'clock Thursday morning while the CAC 40 is given a little air, with an increase of 0.45%. Investors welcomed the good half done by the insurer that has quadrupled (324%) profit to 3.99 billion euros.

This performance is significantly higher than the expectations of analysts who had expected an average net profit of 3.7 billion. But Axa has mostly benefited from a favorable base effect. The increase in net income is in fact supported by exceptional gains of 1.44 billion euros from the sale of the 15.6% of Veolia capital of the life insurer China Life Taikang and the sale of its New Zealand and Australia."In this environment (of European debt crisis), we publish the results are good, satisfactory and show Axa's fine," said CFO Gerald Harlin, during a conference call.

Confirmation of the Plan 2015

The insurer stands in relation to banks about the impact of the Greek crisis on its accounts no faxing payday loans. While the financial cost runs into hundreds of millions for BNP Paribas (850 million), Crédit Agricole (650 million) and 395 million to Société Générale, Axa has placed "only" 92 million euros in provisions for impairment assets in its bond portfolio of the Greek state.

In contrast, exposure of the insurer in Italy, estimated at 6 billion euros against 300 million for Greece, is much more important."We are confident that Italy is absolutely the means to repay its debt, simply that the European institutions give a stronger signal of support towards Italy for the markets calm down," said Denis Duverne, the deputy CEO of Axa Business on BFM radio.

If the macroeconomic environment remains uncertain because of the turmoil in financial markets, the CEO of Axa, Henri de Castries is "confident". It provides Axa is on track to achieve its 2015 targets.

Lessons learned from the accident of the AF 447

The report was eagerly awaited by the victims' families as well as the entire aviation industry. The Bureau of Investigation and Analysis (BEA) released Friday its third report on the crash investigation of Flight 447, the first after the study of black boxes fished in the spring in the South Atlantic. This report confirms all the information published on Thursday evening lefigaro.fr. It is a mistake of the crew due to icing of the Pitot probes that resulted in the dropping of the device and fall into the ocean. The report describes a crew where responsibilities were not clearly defined between the two co-pilots and in the absence of the captain gone to rest pay day loans. At first the captain, there has been no "explicit distribution of tasks between the two co-pilots."It is then that pilot error was caught, inadvertently, the altitude at the aircraft, did win (lose lift) and then drove down to the ocean. The findings of the BEA is overwhelming for the crew of Air France. "Neither pilot refers to the stall alarm" that sounds, however, continuously for 54 seconds, and "neither pilot formally identified the dropout situation."

The player is used by default in the articles of figaro.fr. Maj7

The IMF releases 3.2 billion euros for Greece

The board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) met Friday in Washington, approved, as expected, the release of a new tranche of 3.2 billion euros for Greece.

It is in addition to 8.7 billion euros released a week ago by the European Union. This round of 12 billion euros is the fifth of the rescue plan 110 billion approved last year. It should enable the country to repay much of its debt maturing July 15 (EUR 2.4 billion to good six months) and 22 July (2 billion euros good for three months).

But Greece, the public debt (354.5 billion euros at end March) shook up the United States, is not out of the rut.Athens calls for a hue and cry a second bailout, a value equivalent to the first, or 110 billion euros, for which the Europeans require the participation of the private sector. A meeting of the Eurogroup in Brussels next Monday, followed by a council of finance ministers the following day was supposed to define its contours. But it will not succeed, as the differences remain significant even within the Union. At best, a decision is expected in mid-September, confirmed the new Greek Finance Minister, Evangelos Venizelos.

Taboo

For many scholars, starting with the rating agencies as criticized in recent days, the private sector's contribution to the recovery plan would resemble a Greek default, since creditors will not get their refunds in time and hour.A nightmare scenario that Europeans seek to avoid at all costs. Without having yet found the parade.

And meanwhile, some still waving the event of a release of the euro area. An expert in Brussels who had requested a report before he leaves office, a judge at the end of the decade "there may well still have 17 members, but the question is whether this will be the same that 'today. "

The subject is taboo, but if Greece were to be found in default, many experts believe that the only way to redress the country's economy would be a devaluation, and thus an exit from the euro. This had been done in Argentina in 2002, winning its currency, the peso, the U.S. dollar.

Gold and oil unscrew

On Thursday, black oil

Last week was full of emotion on the oil markets. Until Wednesday, investors were rather good mood. The courses were on the upside with a barrel of "light sweet crude" from 93.26 dollars to 95.41 dollars in three days. Even moving to London Brent crude rose from 111.57 to 113.51 dollars over the period. The markets were so carried away by the renewed optimism in financial markets about the prospects of Greece avoid default. Moreover, the price rises as a result of lower stocks of crude and gasoline in the United States and following the Fed's decision to keep interest rates low.

Then, everything changed Thursday. That day, the IEA countries are brokers by surprise by announcing their intention to use their reserve stocks to put 60 million barrels on the market.This decision, which will lead to a sharp increase in supply leads to a sharp fall in markets: the barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in August finished Thursday at 91.02 dollars black while in London on IntercontinentalExchange, the price of Brent North Sea due to the same tumbled 108.02 dollars. Always concerned about this decision, the markets have been volatile Friday session one, barely worn by positive economic indicators in the United States. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for August delivery ended the week at 91.16 dollars and Brent at 105.52 dollars.

In New York, the courts show a fall of 8% over the last two weeks, and even about 20% from their peaks in early May.

Gold through turbulence

Such as oil, gold was a very quiet start of the week.The yellow metal, a safe haven par excellence, was then boosted by lingering fears surrounding the budget crisis in Greece and the risks of contagion to other countries in the euro area. Wednesday, the day after the vote of confidence from Parliament to the government, even an ounce rose to 1558.25 dollars, not far from its high of 1577.57 dollars.

Then on Thursday, the shock wave that hit the oil markets hit gold. It continued until Friday. On these two days, the precious metal lost nearly 50 dollars, falling Friday to 1504.85 dollars, its lowest level in a month. The nervousness of investors in commodities gained the metal shelter. She was more accentuated by a sharp rise in the dollar against the euro adversely affected by the crisis in Greece.On the London Bullion Market, an ounce of gold finished Friday at 1514.75 dollars at auction in the afternoon.

In the wake of the gold, silver, rose significantly until Wednesday, before dropping more than 6% the next two days. The gray metal finished Friday at 34.73 dollars per ounce. Pulled down by the plunge in gold and the rising dollar, an ounce of platinum finished Friday at 1696 against $ 1829 dollars a week earlier, while an ounce of palladium ended at 739 dollars against 810 dollars in September days earlier.

Base metals with no direction

As for base metals, it was time for hesitation. Nickel (22,130 dollars per tonne), lead (in 2564 dollars) and zinc (in 2251 dollars) are the only ones to show increases.For others, the context was too heavy with the uncertain outcome of the case of Greece and the signs of slowdown in the U.S. and China which was happening at a push of the dollar. All these elements made the metal less attractive to investors very suspicious vis-à-vis the commodity markets since the fall of oil prices.

The copper market barometer, was not supported by the latest report of the International Group for the Study of copper (ICSG), which indicates a production surplus of 18,000 tonnes in March. On the LME, the tonne of copper for delivery in three months ended down at 9,044.50 dollars on Friday.

Wheat, corn and soybeans down

The prices of food have not been affected last week by the Action Plan of the G20 countries to fight against the volatility of agricultural products.In Chicago, the investors had more eyes turned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which is published this week reports on acreage and stocks by. Meanwhile, warmer weather since early June fueling a decline in prices. Bushel of corn (about 25 kg) for September delivery ended Friday at 6.55 dollars (4.6% on the week), the soybean contract for November delivery rose to 13.10 dollars ( -1.7%) and a bushel of wheat due in September ended at 6.61 dollars (6.6%).

Note that in London, cocoa prices were supported by the "swollen shoot", a viral disease that threatens the harvest cocoa in Ivory Coast, according to observers. However, prices have limited their gains over the weekend, affected by a rise in the dollar.On Liffe in London, a tonne of cocoa for September delivery was worth 1867 dollars and on the NYBOT-ICE U.S., the contract for the same term finished in 2967 dollars.

BlackBerry breaks teeth on the shelves

There is no cause for celebration. After having downgraded its forecasts for its first quarter, Research In Motion (RIM), the Canadian manufacturer of BlackBerry, is predicting a difficult year 2012 (year ended March 31). Thursday evening after the close of trading, the group reported poor results for its first quarter, significantly down compared to previous quarter performance. At three months, sales of BlackBerry fell 11% to 13.2 million units. Consequently, the turnover will decline from 12% to $ 4.9 billion and profit down 10% to 695 million.

Layoffs

"The slowdown we saw in the first quarter continued in the second and delays in new product launches in late August lead to lower than expected forecast for the second quarter," said Jim Balsillie, co-president of RIM .He also announced a restructuring plan that will lead to a downsizing of the company to "avoid duplication." Without giving more details on its size payday loans. The group currently has approximately 12,000 employees worldwide.

The words of Jim Balsillie on the Group's financial strength has not reassured the markets. Nor does the sales duPlayBook, the tablet group, including 500,000 copies were sold in six weeks. This figure is almost too good to be true. It fits perfectly with the objectives the group, but failed to mention that it comes on the market one year after the outbreak of hostilities initiated by the iPad.Moreover, sales of PlayBook are well below those from Apple, which sold nearly 2 million iPad in two months.

Consequence of the performance against the first quarter and the bleak outlook for the future, during the informal session transaction after the market closes, the title has sold more than 15% yesterday in New York.

ALSO READ:

"BUZZ MEDIA – BlackBerry launches its Tablet PlayBook in France

iOS 5 and icloud: updates to the iPhone

Serious competition from Google's Android, Apple gave Monday a facelift to the iPhone. Surrounded by a cohort of leaders, CEO Steve Jobs introduced from San Francisco, California, the new version of IOS, the operating system behind the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch. This software, including a 5 iOS draft was made available to developers on Monday, will be available for the iPhone 3G, iPhone 4, iPad iPad 2, and the latest iPod touch here in the fall short term personal loans. Here's what we can learn from this presentation.

Devices iOS archive their data on Wi-Fi and 3G. Photo credits: Kimihiro HOSHINO / AFP

Rights football: showdown between the LFP and Canal +

This Friday at 11 am, the Professional Football League (LFP) will kick off the award of broadcasting rights of football championship of France from 2012 to 2016. The stakes are high, because these fees represent 668 million euros per year for professional clubs. This year is the outstanding total. On the one hand, the LFP to maximize its revenue, on the other Canal +, L1 traditional broadcaster, wants to reduce his bill, a current amount of 460 million euros. In 1999 and 2004, the LCS had raised the stakes by pitting Canal + and TPS. GST but was bought by Canal +. In 2008, the LCS had found a new ally with Orange which spent 208 million per year for the big game on Saturday evening and mobile rights. But Stephane Richard, the new CEO of France Telecom, has thrown in the towel. Canal + remains only candidate.

Between the LFP and Canal +, a real dialogue of the deaf.From the outset, the encrypted string against this plague tender premature and believes that she wants only to maintain its current offer with the big game Sunday night and three magazines. For his part, Frederic Thiriez, president of the LFP, claims that the outcome of the tender should be equal or superior to 668 million today. The economic equation is complicated: how to achieve this amount if Canal + does not put more than 460 million? The hole is potentially 200 million.

Prize Structure

"Not at all," Jean-Pierre Louvel tempers, chairman of the Union of Professional Football Clubs UCPF. "With the explosion of smartphones, the mobile may be worth lot more than the current 60 million paid for by Orange. Secondly, the LFP can make its product more attractive by improving its exposure with a game Friday night and a special day during the winter break, "he says online payday loan lenders.In fact, the LFP and the law firm Clifford Chance should put together a bid with many prizes: a match on Friday evening, a Saturday afternoon games on Saturday evening, a Sunday at 2:00 p.m. , games on late Sunday afternoon and the big poster on Sunday evening. Added to this lot and the three mobile magazines.

Canal + contends that the splitting of lots reduced the value of the whole and that the chain can not explain the matches from Friday evening to Sunday evening on the air. Above all, the group believes that the key is not lots but structuring the necessary reform of financing of French football. This can mean a reduction from 20 to 18 clubs of L1 and a lower financing League 2 which receives 19% of the amount of football rights, or 120 million euros per year.Clearly, to reduce the bill of football, Canal + offers to save on money paid to the L2 and concentrate on the manna of human L1 18 clubs instead of 20. Categorically rejected suggestions by Jean-Pierre Louvel the UCPF. "The L2 is used to form the top players and eliminate two clubs L1 would have serious consequences on the regional economy." But the big clubs, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, Bordeaux, Paris … might be tempted by a championship tighter.

The tender may thus be complicated. The LFP has put a reserve price on all lots, it might be unsuccessful. Negotiation of mutual agreement between the LFP and Canal + could then be opened. And if all lots not find a buyer, the LFP has the possibility to expose some matches on its TNT channel future pay, CFoot.This channel will be widely distributed on satellite and cable ADSL and fans can subscribe to monthly or deed.

Sarkozy the premium will not necessarily "cash"

Latest offs were made. The bill establishing the principles of the premium that Nicolas Sarkozy wants to force companies with more than 50 employees – which distribute profits up – to pay their employees is written. It should be sent next week to the State Council for approval.

The clarifications concern the concept of exact dividend taken into account. It will not be the total amount of dividends paid, but the dividend per share. The scope of company concerned has also been refined: in a group, it will be the parent. Thus, if the dividend paid by the parent increases relative to the average of the previous two years, all the subsidiaries and dependent must pay the premium. They display or not benefits rise.For groups present in France but whose head office is abroad, the measure will apply to employees in France so the "highest parent situated on French territory" has increased its dividend.

Another clarification: it is possible, by collective agreement, to offer employees something other than cash free credit report and score. The "premium" for example, could give the appearance of a surplus or profit participation, an assumption of a mutual or a bonus share issue. Only principles: the benefit must be made public (that is to say, to benefit all employees and not to certain categories), pecuniary (it must be equivalent to a sum of money) and new (it should not have been granted previously).

For the rest, nothing changes.The amount and terms of the premium must be negotiated within the company, under the same conditions as the participation or incentive. And failing agreement with the organizations representing the staff, for setting out is only for company management. No company with over 50 employees will benefit from exemptions. The premium will be exempt from normal social security contributions – but subject to 8% of CSG-CRDS and 6% social package – up to a ceiling of 1,200 euros. As at the date of entry into force: this year.

ALSO READ:

"This will change the premium for employees

Positive market reaction after the death of Bin Laden

Thunderbolt in the night from Sunday to Monday: in a speech from the White House, Barack Obama announced death of Osama bin Laden, killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan. The President has confirmed information from a top U.S. official relayed by several media outlets including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Markets, the announcement of the death of the leader of al-Qaeda had an immediate effect: the dollar has suddenly turned upward against the euro.

The greenback is thus dropped below the $ 1.48 mark to 1.4771 dollar exactly five o'clock, Paris time, against 1.4864 dollars two hours earlier. Similarly, the greenback was trading at 81.66 yen 80.96 yen against just shortly before. The death of public enemy number one U.S. pushes investors to buy the greenback as the dollar continued to drop in recent weeks.The weaker dollar intensified since the decision of the U.S. central bank (Fed) at the end of last week to maintain unchanged its policy of very low rates.

Similarly, oil prices fell back by 1.3% to 112.39 dollars on U.S. markets. The silver prices are also falling by almost 13%. The futures contracts U.S. already announced a rise of nearly 1% of the major indices. As for U.S. Treasury bills to 10 years, they fell back by 2.4 basis points.

"A source of concern is raised in the Middle East," which has led to lower oil prices and hence an increased demand for the dollar, "said Tomohiro Nishida, operator Chuo Mitsui Trust and Banking, cited by Dow Jones Newswires. Daisuke karakami, economist at Mizuho Corporate Bank, but warned that the new did "not support the dollar long term."According to him, "the Fed policy is more important for the dollar. The dollar will remain weak against other currencies, except the yen, the Bank of Japan is also providing to keep rates very low for long.

Elsewhere, Asian markets were also buoyant. While the Chinese stock exchanges are closed on Monday, the Nikkei 1.5% advance.

ALSO READ:

"Osama bin Laden was killed

The Paris Bourse pauses

The CAC 40 will not stack with a seventh consecutive month of meeting this Friday. Or so that presage early trade. At the opening, the benchmark index in Paris begins with a decline of 0.27% to 4093.61 points.

The Frankfurt Stock Exchange is in equilibrium at 7475.22 points. In London, the markets are closed. The wedding day princely between William and Kate was indeed decreed holiday.

Investors follow the footsteps of Asian markets, Tokyo without (closed due to holiday) were very hesitant after the announcement of a U.S. growth slowed in the first quarter. In Paris as in Wall Street, many traders were yesterday conceded that the new had yet been burdened by other negative indicators.

Decline in German retail sales

For this last day of the week, risk-taking should be smaller.In addition to the marriage, the eyes will be on the expected flurry of statistics. In France, the producer price of French industry continued in March for the sixth straight month of sharp increase their movement, spurred by soaring oil prices, Insee said Friday. The increase is 0.9% from the previous month, after +0.8% in February

German retail sales fell unexpectedly in March in Germany, as consumers bought fewer groceries on the shelves and textiles in a month where inflation has exceeded 2%.

In the euro area, unemployment is on the agenda.

Then the United States, the festivities start with the incomes and household spending in February (14.30) and the Chicago PMI for April (15.45) and the index of consumer sentiment this month ( 3:55 p.m.).

Side currency, the euro remains strong against the dollar at 1.4847 dollar.Oil markets appear, they, down, worried about the state of the U.S. economy. A barrel of light sweet crude for June delivery lost 45 cents to 112.41 dollars and that of Brent North Sea also June delivery yielded 17 cents to 124.85 dollars.

Values ​​to follow

News companies should also serve markets:

Total: -0.31% to 42.87 euros

The tanker jeudila announced takeover of U.S. manufacturer SunPower solar panels in view of creating the "world leader in solar energy."The group also released Friday the results up in the first quarter, thanks in particular to the sharp rise in prices of oil and gas, but production was down by 2.3% mainly because of the Libyan crisis.

Accor: -0.46% to 30.11 euros

The group announced Friday to study a possible sale of the catering Lenôtre, as part of his refocusing on the only hotel trades.

GDF Suez: -0.27% to 27.69 euros

The group announced the launch of a new subsidiary trading on energy markets with the ambition to compete with industry heavyweights such as Barclays, Goldman Sachs, and E. ON EDF Trading

Legrand: -0.05% to 30.40 euros

The group announced the acquisition of SMS, a leading Brazilian electric inverters, in order to strengthen its position in a growing market.

Ingenico: 0.53% to 33.27 euros

The group denied on Thursday evening news reports that he would be interested in the activities of online payment from Hi Media.

Gifi: 4.23% to EUR 64

Ginestet family announced Thursday its intention to launch a simplified tender offer for the shares Gifi delist the distributor of first prizes.

Vinci confirms its objectives

Saint-Gobain: -0.56% to 46.89 euros

The group confirmed its 2011 targets after a first quarter marked by an acceleration of growth in its business thanks to the contribution of most geographic areas where it is present and better weather.

Vinci: 1.09% to 45.25 euros

The group also confirmed its full-year after a turnover up 25.4% in the first quarter, above market expectations, driven by acquisitions last year and its activities in the construction and energy.

Compagnie des Alpes: stable at 22.74 euros

The group reported Thursday a turnover up 5.8% for its first semester of the 2010-2011 fiscal year to March after a winter characterized by early snowfall.

Group Crit: 1.47% to 23.45 euros

The group again expressed confidence Thursday for earnings growth in 2011 after having posted a revenue increase of nearly 22% in the first quarter.

Saft: -2.54% to 30.47 euros

The group confirmed on Thursday its forecast for revenue and earnings for 2011 after releasing first quarter sales up 11%.

Bull: -4.91% to 4.45 euros

The group confirmed Thursday that the goals the group has set medium term, after realizing the first-quarter sales were down 0.9% to 270.8 million euros.The group also said that orders had risen to 313.8 million euros in Q1.

Fimalac: 1.23% to 29.66 euros

The group reported Thursday after the closing sales up 21.1% to 341.5 million euros thanks to the rise of nearly 17% of revenue from its credit rating agency Fitch.

Renault (-0.23% to 40.58 euros) will hold a meeting this Friday to 15 hours.

Belvedere will unveil its fourth quarter results, EDF Energies Nouvelles in sales the first quarter and Trigano its second quarter results.