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The Cac 40 widening losses

The day after a session sharply higher on Wall Street and in Asia, the Paris market continued its rebound sharply on Tuesday after rising 2.2% Monday. At the opening, the benchmark index of the Paris Bourse was awarded 1.22%. But at midday, the CAC 40 is pressed into the red (-0.40% to 3141.62 points) with shortness of breath and banking stocks before the release of major U.S. indicators.

Meanwhile, the announcement in late morning, a confidence index of entrepreneurs and consumers in the euro area fell sharply in August may have contributed to this turnaround.Throughout the European Union, the confidence of business leaders and consumers has declined even more significantly, by 5 percentage points to 97.3 points, against 102.3 points in July.

The business sentiment index in the euro zone, published separately by Brussels, also fell for the sixth straight month to $ 0.07 against 0.44 points in July.

Yesterday on Wall Street indices ended the session up 2.2% for the Dow and the Nasdaq 3.3% driven by the consumption figures in the United States. Asian markets followed suit with their American counterparts. In Tokyo, the Nikkei was up 1.22% to 8959.75 points while unemployment is again on the rise for the second consecutive month in July and that retail sales fell by 0.3% from June

The correct orientation of financial markets has boosted oil prices.Asian markets, the Nymex is trading at 87.49 dollars, he finished in 87.27 dollars in New York, up $ 1.90 from Friday. Brent crude traded him to 112.17 dollars.

On the front of the foreign exchange market, the euro fell slightly against the dollar, below $ 1.45, to 1.4392 dollar.

Fears about the health of banks

The day before, call to order by Christine Lagarde bound for European banks has prompted European leaders to defend the institutions of the old continent. "European banks are much better capitalized today than they were a year ago. This was confirmed by stress tests conducted in July, "assured the Commissioner of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn.

But on Tuesday, it was the turn of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to throw fuel on the fire.The IASB believes that the provisions made by banks and European insurers about their exposure to Greek debt have been dumped, reports the Financial Times. According to the newspaper, BNP Paribas and CNP Assurances are particularly concerned by this risk. BNP Paribas was down 0.45% in mid-session at 34.24 euros and CNP Assurances does not earn more than 0.20% to 12.35 euros.

When asked, BNP Paribas said that it had "pre-funded its exposure to Greece in full agreement with its auditors and the competent authorities, according to the plan drawn up by the Union on July 21" to help Greece, according to a spokesman .The bank had said on August 2 had provisioned 534 million euros to compensate for lost value of Greek bonds.

For its part, the CNP said it was "in line with the agreement of July 21," which provided the threshold of 21%, "validated by our listeners no teletrack payday loan."

Also Tuesday, the president of MEDEF, Laurence Parisot, in turn criticized the words of Christine Lagarde, saying his statement "incomprehensible. European banks are strong. And for French banks, we must bear in mind that we have banks among the strongest in the world, "said the boss of bosses of Europe 1.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also generally lowered its economic growth forecasts for 2011 and 2012, leaving unchanged the forecast of Germany for the current year.

Still on macroeconomic indicators will be out today. Before trading, the markets did not take umbrage at the publication of a fall, but strong early sales of new homes in the second quarter in France.

Are also expected in mid-day figures for business failures.

Overseas, the index of consumer confidence, the housing (Case-Shiller) and the minutes of the last Fed meeting will also facilitate the session.

Arcelor-Mittal is growing in Australia

On the corporate side, Arcelor-Mittal (0.45% to 14.41 euros) is about to take control of Australia's Macarthur, world's largest producer of pulverized coal, in association with the American Peabody Energy . The tender offer made by the European steel amounts to 5.16 billion dollars.Macarthur's management finally yielded to the new offer revised upwards by the Arcelor-Peobody tandem: it is 16 Australian dollars (11.8 euros) per share, against A $ 15.50 earlier.

The semi-annual publications are now many, especially among heavyweights rating. Note that the Y real, Havas, Bouygues, Colas, Vinci, Bollore, NRJ Group and Devoteam detail their half-year after the market closes.

In addition, Ipsen (8.62% to 24.05 euros) announced revenues up 5.3% in the first half.He also announced an upward adjustment of its sales forecast for 2011 in favor of a less pronounced decline than expected sales in general practice.

Hermès International climbed 1.86% to 263.35 euros before preparing to publiecation on Wednesday, excellent interim results, widely anticipated by the market after the increase last month by the group's growth forecasts sales and profitability. From January to June, sales of luxury brand famous for its bags and silk scarves were up 22% to EUR 1.3 billion, more than expected by analysts, according to data released in July .

The French shipowner CMA-CGM said that 2011 should be "a good year" for the group, claiming to have already funded the bulk of its investments for 2011 and 2012.The company said to have $ 1.7 billion (1.17 billion euros) in cash at the end of June, July and have paid $ 550 million bond line, while press reports evoked ago few weeks of possible cash flow problems.

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Wall Street ends on a rebound after Fed speeches

A disappointment, yes, but short-lived. After opening down moderately, Wall Street initially widened its losses after the speech, as expected, Ben Bernanke. This involved the measurement of the Fed to support the U.S. economy at annual meetings of the Fed's Jackson Hole (Wyoming). But the New York indexes were quickly taken: at the close, the Dow Jones gained 1.20% to 11,283.17 points. The S & P 500, wider, takes 1.49% to 1176.57 points. The Nasdaq dominated by technology advance on its side of 2.47% to 2479.44 points. Over the whole week, the Dow gained 4.3% and the S & P 500 4.7% and the Nasdaq 5.9%, reversing some losses last week.

The Fed chairman did not communicate further decisions to boost growth, leaving the possibility of a new monetary easing later.Yet he managed to reassure the markets by stating that "the foundation of growth" were still there in the United States. "It is clear that the recovery after the crisis was much less robust than we had hoped," he acknowledged, however,

He also announced that the Fed would meet two days in September, instead of originally planned to study, among other things, instruments designed to bring a new economic stimulus money. Ben Bernanke promised that his institution will "do its utmost" to ensure growth and price stability.

Concerning the debt crisis in the eurozone, "I trust," he said, convinced that the Europeans will do what it takes to get by.

Just in Europe, the indices sank after the speech of Ben Bernanke: The CAC 40 ended the session on a drop of 2.30%, the Dax in Frankfurt loose 3% and the FTSE 100 in London 2.13%.Yesterday Wall Street had already ended down sharply in anticipation of disappointing announcements from Ben Bernanke. This morning too, the seats were won by Asian nervousness.

GDP revised down

Before the appointment of Jackson Hole, investors were aware of the second estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter. During this period, U.S. GDP grew by 1% annual rate over the previous three months, said the Commerce Department, revising and down 0.3 points his first estimate of growth in the spring published in late July. Analysts had forecast a less pronounced rate revision, to 1.1%, according to their median forecast.

As for currencies, the euro is regaining ground against the dollar after the speech of Ben Bernanke. To 22h (French time), the European currency was worth 1.4486 dollars against 1.4378 dollars on Thursday night.As for the oil markets, U.S. crude oil ended up slightly, and snapped a series of four weeks of losses. Since Monday, oil gained 3.11 dollars or 3.78%. On the Nymex, the contract on October U.S. crude (WTI) finished with a gain of 7 cents to 85.37 dollars baril.Dans the same time, Brent advanced 0.61%, or 68 cents to 111.30 dollars.

Wall Street should open normally by Monday morning as Hurricane Irene is expected to reach the East Coast of the United States this weekend. The New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday ordered the mandatory evacuation of more than 250,000 New Yorkers living in vulnerable coastal areas before Saturday 17 hours. "We intend to be open for trading Monday.We have a device to respond to such events, to the market to function while ensuring the safety of our staff, "said a spokesman for the New York Stock Exchange AFP.

Values ​​of the day

On the corporate side, Madison Square Garden (1.31% to 23.14 dollars), Frontline (-0.15% to 6.47 dollars) and Royal Bank of Canada (-2.69% to 49.89 dollars ) must be published.

Tiffany (9.35% to 69.01 dollars) reported Friday a profit of 69 cents per share in the second quarter, while the consensus gave 70 cents. Sales came out at 872.7 million (consensus: 786 million). The jeweler raised its guidance range for the BPA 2011, it now expects between 3.65 and 3.75 dollars. (Consensus: 3.56 dollars per share).

HollyFrontier (7.17% to 70.73 dollars) has reported a dividend increase of 17% to 8.75 cents.MTS Systems (-1.09% to 34.55 dollars) also announced a 25% increase in its quarterly dividend.

Pandora Internet Radio (-2.50% to 8.20 dollars) which made its IPO in June, on Thursday posted a net loss of $ 3.18 million in the second quarter of its fiscal year offset, and sales more than doubled, exceeding analysts' expectations.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (9.31% to 8.57 dollars) has reported a quarterly profit of $ 8.8 million or 12 cents per share against 2.2 million a year earlier. Sales jumped 11% to $ 97.9 million.

Boeing (-2.78% to 62.80 dollars): 787 Dreamliner, its new aircraft, for which more than 800 orders have already been registered, received Friday certification authorities in the U.S. civil aviation.The first deliveries of the aircraft, the Japanese company promised to All Nippon Airways, lagging about three years, due mainly to disruptions in the supply chain components.

The United States lost their "AAA" rating

The penalty was expected but it still sounds like a shock. In the night from Friday to Saturday, the rating agency Standard and Poor's (S & P) has dared to lower the rating for government debt of the United States, and deprived of their "AAA" for the first time in history . S & P said in a statement it had degraded to the next level this note, the best possible, to bring it to 'AA +'. It also lowered its outlook to "negative", which means that Standard and Poor's believes that the next time the note will change, it will be to be devalued again. The United States were rated "AAA" by S & P since the creation of this agency in 1941.They remain in the other two major agencies, Moody's Dean (since 1917) and Fitch Ratings.

Standard and Poor's, which had warned in April that it was considering lowering, justified its decision with "political risks" to see the country taking insufficient measures against its budget deficit. For her, the political debate on these issues is not up to the problems caused by a debt of more than 14,500 billion. "The plan for balancing the budget on which Congress and the Executive have recently agreed is insufficient compared to what, in our view, would be needed to stabilize the dynamics in the medium term public debt" said S & P, citing the law known as "control the budget" passed Tuesday.

S & P is the second rating agency to downgrade the American note, after the Chinese – less powerful – Dagong.Other – mostly American and French Moody's Fitch – are currently at Triple A.

The U.S. public debt to more than 100% of GDP

The first power of the world is, well, so sure before. The United States and joined Japan, Spain and Ireland have lost that status envied payday loan lenders. The loss of this seal of excellence is expected brutal impact on the financial markets, difficult to imagine right now. But while the financial world is upside down, the risk that markets continue to dive is high. The announcement of S & P comes in effect when the markets were closed for the weekend, closing on both sides of the Atlantic one week black.

China, by far the world's largest creditor United States, found that she had "every right now to require the United States to address their structural problems of debt."Second World holder of U.S. debt, Tokyo assured him that his confidence in the U.S. Treasury and its strategy of purchasing these bonds were unchanged. In France, the Minister of Economy Baroin reiterated his "total confidence in the strength of the U.S. economy."

Two days ago, the U.S. debt has passed a symbolic milestone. Because it exceeded the threshold of 100% of GDP, just after raising the debt ceiling by Congress. The United States saw their public finances sealed by the harsh recession that crossed their economy from late 2007 to mid-2009. Since then, economic growth has returned, but they are not able to restore the health of their public finances. According to estimates by the International Monetary Fund, they should acknowledge this year, with about 9% of GDP, the highest budget deficit of the G20 countries, except Japan.It is sixteen countries rated "AAA" by Standard and Poor's, four of the G7: Germany, Canada, France and Great Britain.

(With AFP and Reuters)

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Wall Street down before the Senate vote

Wall Street starts again in the red on Tuesday. In early trade, the Dow Jones lost 0.57% at 12,063 points, the Nasdaq 0.51% to loose 2731 points and the S & P drops 0.69% to 1279 points.

The opening is dominated by pessimism as consumer spending of U.S. households fell against all odds by 0.2% in June, posting their first decline since September 2009. Economists surveyed on average expected a rise in expenditure of 0.2%.

The expected green light from Senate Tuesday evening

Concerning the agreement on raising the debt ceiling, the doubts persist. "Some have pointed to the fact that the rating agency S & P claimed four trillion dollars in deficit reduction over 10 years against only 2.5 trillion currently being negotiated by members, analysts said Aurel BGC.Maintaining the "AAA" is far from being elected … Many skeptics have left open the possibility of adoption of this agreement by the Congress. "An expected adoption tonight. The Senate must decide, in fact, after the House of Representatives that preceded it from that Monday night.

"I think the show we attended in Washington, a significant number of parliamentarians of this country leaving the threat of a default, really made a lot of damage to the confidence" of investors in the economy American, for his part, said U.S. Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithnern, on ABC.

Oil side, the opening of the Nymex, oil prices melt, due to poor statistqies the day, who fear a future decline in demand.To 15 hours, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery was trading at 94.36 dollars, down 53 cents.

Results of companies to follow the corporate side, several major publications are planned this week, starting on Tuesday by Pfizer (-1.05% to 18.81 dollars). The group released better than expected earnings for the second quarter, the jump in sales of animal health products offsetting lower sales of drugs, the heart of the business group.

Google (stable at 606.71 dollars) this weekend began testing a new service, "Google Hotel Finder", dedicated to finding hotels. Positioned competitor specialized sites like Hotels.com "Hotel Finder Google" is used to search the dates of their choice, depending on the number of stars of the institution and the average scores given by customers.

Hewlett-Packard (-0.48% to 35.03 dollars) has decided to drop now $ 50 U.S. price of its new tablet, the TouchPad. This rate adjustment, presented as a promotion valid until September 10, is valid until September 10.He places the version of the tablet features a 16GB storage to 449.99 dollars, and the 32 GB to 549 dollars, just one month after the beginning of the commercialization of TouchPad.

Coach (-4.72% to 62.31 dollars), a leading U.S. brands of accessories, recorded a jump of 24% of its annual net profit in 2010-2011 (year ended July 2) at 881 million dollars, and expected to grow over 10% in the future, according to a statement released Tuesday.

Hyatt Hotels (1.96% to 39.52 euros) announced earnings for the second quarter better than expected, while saying he intended to open a number of "significant" new hotels in the future.

GM (-0.79% to 27.87 dollars) reported Tuesday a 7.6% increase in sales of vehicles in the U.S. in July, thanks to strong sales of Chevrolet, the one of the leading brands of the manufacturer, and the good performance of new models.

Raids by giants of video games on small publishers are ongoing. After the announcement of a Memorandum of surrender by PopCap Games Electronic Arts (0.32% to 22.02 dollars) and the acquisition by Zynga a mobile games publisher in Canada, is the Japanese Sony which went on the offensive by offering Sucker Punch. The American development studio publishes games for consoles, the PlayStation family, including "Sly Cooper" (PS) and "inFamous' (PS3).The amount of the transaction were not disclosed.

Amerigroup (7.47% to 51.65 dollars) is expected to jump at the opening, title, earning more than 5% in electronic trading before the opening of Wall Street. The group of health care services announced yesterday it has won a contract to develop its business in Texas.

The IMF wants to avoid defaults in the U.S.

Avoid default at all costs. It's essentially the message sent Wednesday to the U.S. government by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while Republicans and Democrats still have not found common ground to allow an increase in the ceiling of the debt of the United States .

Past the deadline of August 2, the Treasury Department, which has already reached the borrowing limit currently set at 14 300 billion, has warned that it would no longer enough to pay the bills of the state and that it would not be able to meet its loan repayments. For the IMF, the worst-case scenario could result in a lowering of the AAA rating of U.S. sovereign debt."The risk of a distant downgrade the United States and a sudden jump in interest rates on the debt of the federal government more generally could cause further turmoil in global financial markets," explains international organization in its annual report on economic conditions in the country.

"These risks may also have important global implications, given the central role of Treasuries (U.S. government bonds, Ed) in global financial markets," said Fund."Of course, the federal debt ceiling should be raised quickly to prevent a severe shock to the economy and global financial markets."

"We will reach an agreement"

Shortly after the publication of this report alarmist, President Barack Obama stepped into the breach: "The Vice President Joe Biden and I will continue negotiations with the leaders of both parties in Congress as long as necessary. We will reach an agreement that will require our government to live within its means, "he promised at a news conference, adding that the consequences of a lack of agreement would be" substantial and unpredictable " . "Nobody wants to compromise the quality of the signing of the United States. Nobody wants to see the United States into default. We must seize this moment and do it quickly, "said Bush low interest rate personal loans.

Back to the wall, the Treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, has again urged the opposition to vote on the increase. "The U.S. is now forced to borrow about 40 cents for every dollar spent. Your proposal to let the debt cap at this level would require removing about 40% of all payments from the state. Such deep cuts would be felt by every American, and may cause the economy back into recession, "he warned.

The IMF, which is already looking beyond the vote, said that the Administration should seek "a quick consensus on a comprehensive plan for fiscal consolidation in the medium term, based on realistic macroeconomic assumptions.The main challenge for economic policy is to implement a sustainable and significant rebalancing of the budget while ensuring that the recovery remains fragile, remains on track. "

Growth 'modest' perspective

Regarding the pace of recovery in world's largest economy, the IMF has maintained its forecast of growth of 2.5% in 2011, already given June 17 as part of its global forecasts. He was counting on 3% in January and April of 2.8%. "We anticipate that growth will remain relatively small, private demand is not taking up slowly and the support of fiscal policy is removed," wrote economists from the IMF.They see "a slow decline in unemployment," a further debt relief for households "likely to weigh on private consumption in the years to come," an investment that would return "to more normal levels" and exports helped by "the recent depreciation of the dollar. "

The IMF is less optimistic than the U.S. central bank, which is between 2.7% and 2.9% economic growth yoy in the fourth quarter.

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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

The chances of Christine Lagarde at the IMF confirms

Christine Lagarde is likely to succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn to head the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In any case, the scenario that emerges, as the Japanese business daily Nikkei, citing sources close to the international finance on Wall Street. The newspaper said the French Minister of Economy, the only officially declared candidate with the Mexican Agustin Carstens, get the support of the United States and Japan, the first two countries of the organization by number of votes. Also according to the Japanese daily, this support would be provided by Washington and Tokyo from June 10, the official date of filing of nominations.

No reaction from Tokyo at the moment on these assumptions, the finance minister Noda Yoshikiko having limited to clarify that the new IMF chief should be chosen through an open, transparent and based on merit.

Priority to emerging

These signals confirm a nomination well under way for Christine Lagarde. But out of interest, no premature triumphalism. The French minister continues his world tour to defend his candidacy and try to answer the demands of emerging countries in search of better representation.

These are also priority figure in his travels. After being in Brazil May 30, she will visit India on Tuesday, then in China. In total, four or five days of campaigning in Asia "" listen to the voice of these countries on the IMF and possibly take into account their recommendations into its program, "according to his entourage. Finally on June 10, the Minister will travel to Lisbon to meet his African counterparts.

In its international campaign, Christine Lagarde also can probably count on strong support from Germany.Monday's visit of Angela Merkel in Washington to discuss with Barack Obama instead of the IMF is emerging from this point of view of good omen. It could allow the German chancellor to convince Washington, if not already done so, whether to support the European candidate.

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The Paris Bourse uptick

Keep the 4000 points will be the goal of the day at the Paris Bourse. This threshold was consolidated yesterday with an increase of 1.63%, amid relief on the Greek case. Germany indeed abandon the idea of ​​restructuring the debt. Information that was also relieved Wall Street and Asian markets yesterday.

On Wednesday, the CAC 40 is moving slowly from 0.14% to 4014.84 points. Elsewhere, the London Stock Exchange opened down slightly, the FTSE-100 index lost just 0.05% to 5986.93 points. Frankfurt, by contrast, began with a gain of 0.23% to 7310.56 points.

Already in Asia, the euphoria gave way to doubts after the announcement of a further slowdown in manufacturing activity in China. PMI purchasing managers of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) fell to 52 last month, cons 52.9 in April.For its part, HSBC has calculated a PMI to 51.6 for May, against 51.8 in April, and noted "a continued moderate growth in manufacturing output accompanied by an easing of inflationary pressures" on last month.

The U.S. employment program

These new investors also encourage Parisians to moderation. Especially since a series of important indicators is expected:

In France, the unemployment rate fell slightly in the first quarter of 2011, to 9.2% of the workforce in France (9.7% overseas departments included), down 0.1 points compared revised figure for the fourth quarter of 2010, INSEE announced Wednesday.

In Europe is provided the manufacturing PMI in May.Then the United States, employment will be honored with the study Challenger (1330) and the monthly ADP (1430), both published before the traditional employment report from the Labor Department, scheduled for Friday . Are also scheduled in the U.S., construction spending and ISM manufacturing.

As for currencies, the euro remains stable against the dollar in morning trading at 1.4427 dollar. For its part, the oil rises, still worn by the announcement on Greece.In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for July delivery took 30 cents to U.S. $ 103 while that of Brent North Sea crude for delivery gained 31 cents identical to 117.04 dollars.

Operators under supervision

As for values ​​to be followed:

Axa: 2.02% to 15.14 euros

The group, which has detailed a plan Wednesday to strategic investors, will sell its Canadian subsidiary to Intact Financial.

Peugeot: -0.37% to 29.30 euros, Renault: -0.15% to 39.36 euros

Registrations of new cars rose 6.2% in May

Schneider Electric: 0.22% to 114.85 euros

The group announced Wednesday a takeover bid of $ 2 billion (1.4 billion euros) to Telvent, a specialist in systems for managing energy infrastructure, water and transport.

France Telecom: -0.57% to 15.81 euros, Bouygues: -0.11% to 32.06 euros, Vivendi +0.15% at 19.42 euros

The mobile phone may be carcinogenic but no formal proof establishes the link between mobile use and brain tumors, cancer specialists have said Tuesday the World Health Organization (WHO).

Arkema: -0.35% to 75.90 euros

The group will enter the CAC Next 20, the antechamber of the CAC 40, and CNP Assurances will be withdrawn with effect from 20 June, the Council decided on scientific evidence of NYSE Euronext Paris. In a statement, Arkema said that NYSE Euronext enters the CAC 60 and the Large NOC is withdrawn.The reverse operation is performed for the CAC Mid 60.

Neopost: -1.16% to 61.50 euros

The group announced an increase in its turnover in the first quarter despite difficult conditions in Europe and confirmed its targets for 2011.

Theolia: 8.40% to 1.42 euros

The group announced Wednesday it had signed an MoU with the National Electricity Morocco (ONE) to develop and implement an entire fleet of 300 megawatts (MW) in Tetouan near Tangier.

Lagardère: 0.51% to 28.52 euros

The group has completed the bulk of the sale of its international magazine to Hearst, which should have a negative impact of EUR 35 million on operating profit of Lagardere Media for 2011.These disposals will impact is the objective announced in March a growth of around 10% of its 2011 operating profit at constant exchange media, which included the magazine internationally.

Neopost: -1.17% to 61.49 euros

The group announced an increase in its turnover in the first quarter despite difficult conditions in Europe and confirmed its targets for 2011.

Belvedere: -1.39% to 61.50 euros

The CEO challenge the fines against him required by the representative of the college's Financial Markets Authority (AMF).

Bourbon and Atos Origin today hold their general meetings.

Libya placed its petrodollars in Europe

Gaddafi's Libya, where she placed her money? Part of the answer was made Thursday by the publication of a report of internal financial Libyan sovereign fund, the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA). This document, dated June 30, 2010, was uncovered by the British NGO Global Witness. It reveals very conservative management has been made of the $ 53.3 billion (about EUR 38 billion) held by the fund, which are now subject to a freeze by the EU and U.S. authorities.

Libyan managers have a taste of Europe: they have put about 60% of assets, particularly in France. At June 30, 2010, Societe Generale manages the LIA AIF for $ 1.05 billion (after a loss of 750 million euros in three months), BNP Paribas for $ 10 million.

Major French companies

At June 30, 2010, the Libyan sovereign fund also owns 536.6 million euros in shares of companies quoted on the Paris Bourse. One of them, Lagardère, the LIA is placed in the "strategic", with an investment of $ 62 million in market value. Other major French companies in the portfolio "not strategic", such as France Telecom (53 billion), Vivendi, Suez-GDF, EDF, or Danone. The LIA was then invested tens of billions in each.

The fund's management is very opaque, it is impossible to know what equity it holds today in the French companies.A clue: According to statistics from the Bank of France, financial institutions hold in their coffers hexagonal 8,233,000,000 ($ 5.8 billion) of Libyan origin at December 31, 2010.

A prudent strategy

"Then in mid-2010 many uncertainties still hang over the global economy, management remains extremely cautious LIA," says Philippe Waechter, head of economic research at Natixis AM. He holds to this date 60% cash, 10% bonds and 8% of shares. "This defensive strategy used to limit risk, continues the economist. This did not prevent the LIA wiping lost between the first and second quarter 2010, 4.53% of their capital to $ 53.3 billion (37.8 billion euros).

The details revealed by this paper could resume the hunting of Libyan assets, frozen since early February by a European decision, said Fabrice Marchisio, a lawyer specializing in this field. He said "this will require financial institutions that have dealt with Libya to register with the authorities if they have not already done."

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Air traffic disrupted in Northern Europe

Thousands of passengers were stranded on Tuesday morning in Scotland as a result of the eruption of Icelandic Grímsvötn, which continued Monday spit a heavy cloud of ash and begins to disrupt air traffic in northern Europe. Eurocontrol, the European organization for aviation security, announced that 252 flights were canceled Tuesday.

Indeed, while Europe's airspace remains open, some companies have already taken action. British Airways has decided, "a precaution" to ensure no link between London and Scotland until Tuesday 14h (local time). For its part, the Dutch company KLM canceled sixteen flights between Amsterdam and the northern United Kingdom and Air Lingus and Easyjet have suspended their relations towards Scotland and northern England. In contrast, the British government has ruled out a total closure of its airspace.The Irish Aviation has also ensured that "all airports remain open," although "some flights could be affected by restrictions imposed by other European service providers."

The Scandinavian countries are also affected. The cloud reached Tuesday western Norway and Denmark. However, according to the Norwegian operator of airports, the impact on air traffic remains "very limited" for now. Ashes should be extending south of the country by the end of the day. In Denmark, the airspace was closed below 6000 meters on north-west. Delays and cancellations were reported at the airport in Copenhagen.

'No threat' for France by Thursday

"The cloud should reach the end of the day on southern Scandinavia, Denmark and parts of northern Germany," Eurocontrol said Tuesday.It could then move to France and northern Spain in midweek, "if volcanic emissions continue unabated," says Eurocontrol. Information figaro.fr confirmed Monday by the French Pascal Scavina forecaster. Monday night, the Secretary of State for Transport has, however, wanted Thierry Mariani reassuring. "For the next 48 hours, there is no threat, no risk.From Thursday, all depend on the nature of the eruption, "he said on France 2.

After the eruption of Eyjafjöll a year ago, the scenario of complete paralysis of European airspace could it be repeated? According to Thierry Mariani, "it will not take any risks but we can certainly go through some clouds of ash without any damage to the engines and therefore without any risk."

On Monday, the force of the eruption of Grímsvötn was still considered "important" by the Icelandic Meteorological Services. If the main airport in Iceland, the Reykjavik-Keflavik, reopened Monday night, civil aviation was unable to say whether he would remain operational on Tuesday.

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