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Debt crisis: the hope of a European agreement yet repelled

The first pieces seem certainly find their place. But the puzzle is far from complete. The Europeans have agreed on strengthening the capital of their banks, with a budget of up to 100 billion euros. Nicolas Sarkozy was also close to Angela Merkel on the future arsenal EFSF, after a frank discussion in Frankfurt. But there is so much more to do before finding a complete agreement, most detailed and validated by the whole euro area. That is why the French President and German Chancellor confirmed on Thursday night, the sounds that had run all day: a second summit of Heads of State and Government held "no later than Wednesday," after that of Sunday. In addition, Sarkozy and Merkel will meet on Saturday night in Brussels to prepare its crucial deadlines.This new adjustment schedule confirms that markets foresee that this time, European leaders are no longer allowed to make mistakes. The first tangible plans must begin to blur out that night, after a first closed session of the seventeen ministers of finance of the euro.

Recapitalization of banks

In the preamble, the bloc cleared the table of a bulky dossier. They agreed on the recapitalization of banks weakened by the crisis, two months after the IMF has sounded the alarm. The bill, estimated at between 85 and 100 billion euros, less burdensome previously announced. It should allow banks to increase to 9% of their capital ratio "hard" a recognized strength. To achieve this, banks will first use their private shareholders, and if necessary of public funds bad credit payday advance. The EFSF intervene as a last and final resort.Uncertainty remains about the date of implementation, 2012 or 2013.

On Thursday, Paris and Berlin have also tried to dispel the misunderstanding about the previous meeting on Wednesday between the President and the Chancellor. The stakes: the future modalities of action of EFSF and the famous "leverage" critical piece of the arsenal to stop the European debt crisis and prevent contagion.

The German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble ensures that the two capitals are in fact "in total agreement." But he hastens to add that there is still no agreement at European level. French side, it was confirmed by noting that if there is a discrepancy, it is rather with Spain and especially Italy.In Brussels, witnesses of the appointment of Frankfurt continues to describe "a cold atmosphere" between Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel, barely warmed by the announcement of the birth of the president's daughter.

To further complicate the picture, the Greek press spoke of a setback yesterday on what promised to be the easiest section of the summit: the release and payment of EUR 8 billion international loan in Athens. The European Union grows. But the IMF question the ability of Greece to address its long-term debt without the involvement of Europeans more convincing.

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Aid to Greece: an important vote on Thursday in Germany

The green light from Germany, expected today, will be symbolic and decisive. The expansion of the powers of the European Financial Stability (EFSF), with 440 billion euros, as decided on July 21, is one of the keys to the debt crisis in Europe. But it requires the agreement of seventeen members of the euro area.

After France, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and Slovenia, the Finnish Parliament yesterday approved the building.But Finland has still not clear what the additional security that it intended to apply to Greece in return for future loans could be guaranteed in the country.

In fact, while the European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Olli Rehn, said two weeks ago that all States in the euro area have ratified the project at the end of the month, the cacophony in the field is law.

Slovakia has postponed its vote on October 25. His prime minister supports the expansion of missions of the Fund, but are still strong disagreements within the governing coalition. Member of the euro area since 2009, was the only country to refuse to participate in the first loan to Greece last year. And the head of Parliament is prepared to "torpedo" the project."My goal is to ensure that Slovakia will lose billions of euros ( business card…) The European Union does not need our money," he said.

The specter of bankruptcy

Because Greece is still afraid. Czech President Vaclav Klaus, interviewed by American television outside of the last UN General Assembly, said without hesitation that perfectly imagined that "a country so in the euro area." He added: "I'm afraid that European leaders are still spending lavishly to Greece."

An opinion widely shared by Austria, which must meet its Parliament on September 30, and whose foreign minister recently said that one could legitimately "consider bankruptcy of Greece."Like all small countries that have not voted – Cyprus, Estonia, Malta – he ensures that he wants to rely on the results of discussions between Athens and the Troika (ECB, Commission, IMF). But the finance minister said although this ultimate solution is "better than a rescue too expensive."

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Optimism in the Paris Bourse

Monday's rebound continues Tuesday in the Paris Bourse. The CAC 40 has started on a flying then accelerated pace. Mid-session, he climbed 3.55% to 2960 points. Elsewhere in Europe, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is 3.36%, London and Milan 2.22% 2.79% while the pan-European Euro Stoxx 50 index 3.09% wins.

Since the beginning of the week, investors won over by a wave of optimism about the outcome of the debt crisis in the eurozone. The spokesperson of European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Olli Rehn Olli Rehn, Europe is considering strengthening the capacity of the European support fund for countries in trouble (EFSF). Rumors press also reported a proposed quadrupling of the Fund's lending capacity to 2000 billion euros. In turn, an official of the ECB, the Austrian Ewald Nowotny, did not rule out declines in interest rates in the euro area.But soon, the German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said that Europeans had "no intention of bailing out" the EFSF.

The Spanish Minister of Economy Elena Salgado also said Tuesday that an increase of two thousand billion euros in the capacity of the European Support Fund "was not on the table." Political leaders are clearly divided on the concrete responses to the debt crisis, while discussions on the payment of a new international loan to Greece, vital to enable it to avoid bankruptcy dragged on. At the same time discontent rises and Athens was again paralyzed Tuesday by a wave of strikes in public transport.

More good news, the constraint on bank lending is beginning to loosen.The private sector credit grew by 2.6% year on year in August in the euro zone, against 2.4% in July. Loans to households grew by 3% in August, while consumer loans to individuals have declined only 1.6% against 2% last month according to figures released Tuesday by the European Central Bank (ECB) . Moreover, housing starts for new homes in France, climbing 8.1% year on year for the period from June to August. However, they mark a slowdown from earlier this year: the pace of growth in the first quarter was still 35.5%. The number of building permits for new homes has increased its share by 9.8% year on year for the same period.

The euro was weakening on Tuesday to below $ 1.35. At midday, the euro stood at 1.3496 dollars, against 1.3523 dollars late Monday.He had fallen in session Monday to 1 paydayloans.3363 dollars, its lowest level since mid-January, prior to recover. As for commodities, gold has recovered slightly this morning at 1640 dollars an ounce after declining over the last three sessions.

Values ​​follow:

The banking sector is driven by rumors of recapitalization.BNP Paribas advance of 9.25%, largest increase in the CAC 40 7.46% Credit Agricole and Societe Generale 8.55%.

Total (2.97% to 32.25 euros) reduced the number of banks in which it deposits funds for fear of a credit crunch in the euro zone, but remains confident in the French settlements, said its chief financial officer the agency Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal.

The CEO of Renault (4.20% to 25.30 euros), Carlos Ghosn, said on Monday to Reuters that he saw no sign of slowdown in global demand despite the debt crisis in Europe and economic uncertainties in the United States.He expects an increase in car sales in the United States in 2012.

The title of the French automotive supplier Aries (18.64% to 7 euros), specialized in the production of aluminum parts, flew Tuesday in the Paris Bourse, with a net income higher than expected in the first half (6.7 million euros, up 31.3%).

Thales (2.08% to 24.58 euros) for its part plans to sell part of its services activities, according to Les Echos on Tuesday. The division, which last year made 81 million euros in sales, employs approximately 500 people. Logica names and GFI Informatique circulating among potential buyers.

Dexia (6.09% to 1.48 euros) is facing a complaint from the town of Rosny-sur-Seine (Yvelines), which has borrowed toxic.The mayor filed a complaint for "organized fraud" and "deception" with a civil court of first instance of Versailles against Dexia Credit Local.

Ipsen (3.56% 22.57 euros) was acquired from the Norwegian pharmaceutical company Photocure marketing rights of Hexvix, its flagship product for the diagnosis of bladder cancer.

The retailer Casino (2.29% to 57.13 euros) saw its price target reduced from 81 to 74 euros by HSBC. Land areas (4.54% to 50.73 euros) for his part saw the recommendation on its title upgraded to "buy" against "hold" earlier by ING.

Neopost (4.05% to 57.23 euros) will release its results for the first half after market.

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"Week crucial for Greece

More than 200 cities in Ile-de-France to screen

Capital has become expensive, the Parisians are more likely to succumb to the charm of the suburbs. Consequently, the prices of old apartments (June 30) have soared over 15% year on year in the inner suburbs, with peaks of 20.5% in Courbevoie, + 20.3% in Montreuil, + 19% Boulogne-Billancourt, + 18.4% in Maisons-Alfort … Increases that will not last forever, however, predict notaries, holding that the creditworthiness of buyers is not without limits. In outer suburbs, the increase was over one year wiser (+ 7.2% for older apartments, 6.4% for houses), sufficient in all cases to clear the hole in 2009. But in the second trimester 2011, the market for old apartments fell by 0.7% in Seine-et-Marne, 0.8% in the Essonne, 1.3% in the Val-d'Oise .. . One department in four, Yvelines, remained in the green (+ 1.7%).The beginnings of a turnaround?

"Selling price of old houses in the second quarter of 2011 (Part 1) (pdf)

"Selling price of old houses in the second quarter of 2011 (Part 2) (pdf)

Moody's ready to break down the French banks

Three months after threatening to degrade the notes of BNP Paribas, Societe Generale and Credit Agricole, put under surveillance, the U.S. rating agency Moody's could increase to act shortly shortly. According to sources familiar with the matter, the decision was "imminent." "It comes at the end of three months to impose surveillance," says a source. The rating agency that had accompanied its implementation in June under the supervision of a negative outlook was indeed clear the way for a deterioration in credit ratings. One step for BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole and Societe Generale for two.And because of their exposure to Greece amounted to 4 billion euros to BNP Paribas, Société Générale 1.6 billion and 320 million to Crédit Agricole (June 2011 figures).

With the crisis of government debt in the euro area, to which Europeans are struggling to meet, investors are increasingly worried about the strength of the European banking system. The situation has become such an outflow of Greece in the euro area is openly discussed by senior politicians in Germany and the Netherlands. In exchange, banking stocks suffered a pounding in order. Since the beginning of the year, BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole and Societe Generale have lost between a "large" third and 60% of their value.On the first day of September, the losses of the three titles are respectively 17.45%, 22.33% and 27.69%.

Analysts relativize

Especially, a controversy arose in late August on the valuation of debt securities by certain Greek French banks. The IASB, the body responsible for setting international accounting standards, criticized some financial institutions are not named, have valued their claims on the Greek state in ways internal development rather than by using market prices. Which would have allowed banks to spend less severe impairment in their accounts. Even if they have applied a discount of 21% on government debt they have in their accounts, the three banks still have about six billion euros of Greek sovereign debt.

Some analysts relativize however, the scope of the surveillance on June 15 the three French banks by Moody's by saying that the other two rating agencies, Standard & Poor's (S & P) and Fitch attributed to them have lower grades. Crédit Agricole SA is now rated "Aa1" by Moody's, and BNP Paribas and Societe Generale are rated "Aa2". S & P assigned the notes 'AA' with a negative outlook to BNP and "A +" with stable outlook to Crédit Agricole and Societe Generale. Fitch is on his side to "AA-" with stable outlook to BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole, and "A +" with stable outlook for Societe Generale.

Low morale in Asian stock markets

Good humor gives way to doubts about the Asian stock markets. This Friday, the main financial centers in the region are displayed in red, the footsteps of Wall Street yesterday. The U.S. stock market ended the session on a sharp decline, investors who do not wish to comment before publication of the monthly employment by the Department of Labour. Moreover, indicators were mixed deleted the enthusiasm that had allowed the NYSE to chain four sessions of consecutive increase. While manufacturing is still growing and the weekly jobless claims fell, construction spending and productivity fell. In addition, the White House has lowered its growth forecasts.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei has started on the day down 0.89% and has cut its losses during the day.At closing, he gave up 1.21% to 8950.74 points, plunging below 9,000 points reached Thursday. The Topix, wider, has sold 1.09% to 769.78 points. In addition to disturbing signs in the U.S., traders took the opportunity to take profits after six consecutive sessions of gains. Side values, the technology sector, which had supported the coast yesterday, is now under attack. Sony lost 4.30%, 5.12% TDK, Sharp 1.57%. Toyota and Honda respectively lost 1.74% and 2.35% after poor sales figures in the United States.

Note also in Japan the establishment of the new government. The new prime minister, Yoshihiko Noda, awarded the finance portfolio to a member relative novice, Jun Azumi, 49, and former host of the public broadcaster NHK low fee payday advance. Yoshio Hachiro, a former member of the Social Democratic Party, was appointed Minister of Commerce.Motohisa Furukawa, a former adviser to the Ministry of Finance, will be economy minister.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng lost 1.32%. The Internet sector is also battered the image of Lenovo (-1.53%) and Alibaba.com (-2.37%). In Shanghai, the Shanghai Composite was down 1.28%. In Hong Kong,

In Korea, the Kospi drops 0.82%. The S & P Australian loose 1.42%, weighed down by mining. BHP, trucks from the coast, losing 1.83% while Rio Tinto was down 1.26%. Only the Indian Sensex remains in the green, up 0.63%.

Oil mixed

Oil prices were mixed on their part Friday morning in electronic trading in Asia, where the market wait before issuing the monthly report on employment in the United States, and while approaching the U.S. coast the violent disturbance, Katia.In the Gulf of Mexico, which supplies a quarter of the production of black gold in the United States, BP, ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell began evacuating their staff from oil platforms. In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October lost 2 cents to 88.91 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery gained 19 cents to 114.48 dollars.

The Asian market reassured by Wall Street

The Asian market continues on the way up. Thursday again, investors are driven by the mood of U.S. markets which closed yesterday on a fourth straight session in the green. The European market has also sent positive signals. Investors are reassured by the Fed does not exclude to use new tools of monetary easing to support growth, as well as encouraging indicators.

The Nikkei above the 3900 points

In Tokyo, the Nikkei, which started the day on an increase of 0.63%, jumped 1.18% to 9060.80 points at closing. It thus goes beyond the psychological barrier of 9000 points for the first time in two weeks. The technology sector is facing in the image of Casio (3.91% to 504 yen) and Kyocera (2.28% to 7160 yen). Sony (1.98% to 1698 yen) and Toshiba (0.90% to 334 yen) also support the rating.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng up 1.10% to 20,760.80 points, also pulled up by the technology sector. Foxconn wins 3.10%, 3.64% Lenovo, Alibaba.com 5.33% and 2.30% Tencent Holdings. The Shanghai Stock Exchange a little more concerned about risk tightning money while the government has reaffirmed it a priority to price stabilization. The Shanghai Composite lost 0.61% to 2829.41 points.

The Australian S & P gained 0 payday loans direct lenders.63%, the Korean Kospi is 2.10% and 1.59% of India Sensex.

China: good news macroéoconomiques

Also Thursday, the good news fell in Asia. The index of manufacturing activity in China reached the final 50.9 in August, against 50.7 in July. The first estimate of the index of purchasing managers HSB had reported a slight slowdown, with a flash PMI at 49.8 in August from 49.3 in July.PMI purchasing managers suggests that "manufacturing activity is stabilized despite the tightening of monetary conditions in the country and soft demand abroad," said Ker Chung Yang, an analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore .

In Japan, new vehicle sales, excluding mini-models, were down 25.5% in August compared to the same month last year, to 216,510 copies.

In Australia, retail sales figures were stronger than expected last month, up 0.5%.

Oil up

Oil prices were also up Thursday morning in electronic trading in Asia. In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October gained 21 cents to 89.02 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery 29 cents to 115.14 dollars.

Xavier Bertrand: "There is no question of fatalism"

LE FIGARO – The decline in unemployment in the early years seems to have forgotten. Are you discouraged by the new bad number?

Xavier Bertrand – Unfortunately, it is in the same line as the previous two months. Not surprisingly, with growth at 0%, not to mention that July is traditionally bad (9 increases in the last 11 years). But this does not detract from my belief that unemployment will go back down. Social plans are declining. Redundancies do not go back. The acting, which is always a precursor, is good. Job creation is strong even though they are largely absorbed by the increase in the labor force. And new measures we have taken in recent months, including learning, will begin to bear fruit. Nadine Morano, we hope to be many more such apprentices in September.There is no question of fatalism.

Where are we on assisted contracts?

On assisted contracts, CAE 222 435 (non-profit sector) were signed in late July, there are still 200,000 to be filled by the end of the year next CIE (businesses) there are still 34,000 of the 62,000 expected this year. Many assisted contracts co-funded by the departments will also be released in the second half. I also expect a significant commitment of councils and they play the game totally! Gard, where I was Friday, has proposed assisted contracts to 2.1% of recipients of RSA, it increased to 10%, which is our national goal, it would make 1500 people out of unemployment! Or it would cost the department 411 euros per month, against 467 for the current RSA.

Employment center director must change and adopt a more decentralized operation no later than the end of the year.Should speed things up?

We can not wait until the end of the year. Each agency will have a "drawing rights" on training, will be delegated more funding, allowing it to be much more responsive. The administrative part will be lighter with fewer indicators to inform. I remember the beginning of September the social partners and all those involved for me they confirm their agreement for the implementation of this new roadmap.

You loaded earlier in the year the sub-prefects to ensure the "connection" between job seekers and business leaders who, in the same area, have difficulty recruiting. This gives does it work?

Where there is a total momentum, the results are undeniable, even if it is too early to give figures.This coordination also involves the activation of the "local public service employment" in a pool which includes employment center, local missions, houses of employment, communities, business leaders … It's not necessarily spectacular, but it's effective. I meet again all the sub-prefects of France in September to set up action plans in each employment area, and next week I will hold a video conference with regional directors of employment center and the regional prefects quick cash.

A new device, providing better compensation and enhanced monitoring to retrenched, will be in effect on September 1. But it is the purpose of fixed term and temporary employment that increase.Is it necessary to invent devices for these cases?

We will be attentive to the suggestions of the social partners, the Prime Minister receives these days.

The budget for the job will he planed, given the savings measures announced Wednesday by François Fillon?

Tradeoffs are made by the president and the prime minister: he will be fully preserved in 2011 as in 2012.

Is it time to reduce the Employer contribution rebates on overtime, which amounts to increasing labor costs?

For the employer, the trigger, it is not the exemptions is the fact of having more work. And I remember that employee side, the logic of buying power is fully preserved, the changes will not remove one euro cent for employees in overtime.

The tax on very high incomes will be 3%, from 500,000 euros. The government will leave there to tighten the criteria, as part of the majority want?

Parliament will have to discuss, this is normal. Simply ask the question shows that the principle of this tax, which I defended from the beginning, is now widely accepted. The demand for justice is understood by all. For the same reason, I support the approximation of taxes on labor and heritage announcements Wednesday also go in this direction.

The complementary health are likely to raise their rates after being taxed more than one billion additional …

Nothing have to. A number of them are private companies that show significant benefits and therefore have room to maneuver.It is indeed a tax on insurance contracts, not the insured, in contrast to an increase in user fees such that we did not want.

The anti-deficit plan provides ten times the revenue increases that additional savings. Can we make more efforts in that direction?

We remove the tax loopholes. There is no general increase in taxes, as advocated by the Socialists and the way they do it is a real brand in the local communities they lead. This would be a policy that would break the prospects for growth. But it's true, France is a country with a high level of public spending and taxes. Pension reform, the non-replacement of an official two … reduce public spending.I am confident it will go much further in the coming years, do not hesitate to come back some expenses by asking systematically question: what people really value for money? The efficacy and justice must be the two criteria of the expense.

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 offers a respite

Wall Street fell sharply Wednesday recovering almost its closing levels of the end of June, clings to the balance at the opening on Thursday. The Dow Jones gleans indeed 0.03% to 12,307 points, while the Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 are respectively 0.06% to 1306 points and 2767 points to 0.07%.

The bad news accumulated including the announcement of a slowing U.S. economy by the Fed on Wednesday night. In its Beige Book, the Fed noted that "economic activity continued to grow, but the pace has diminished." The two black dots for the United States continues to use, with "moderate increases in employment" and a labor market "remained calm," and real estate, where "activity remains weak," according Fed.

The weak economic recovery is not the only concern.The other fear comes from the U.S. sovereign debt and the apparent lack of progress in Congress six days before the deadline after which the U.S. may default in payment. The White House has acknowledged Wednesday night thinking about how to run the U.S. federal government if Congress does not get along by 2 August on raising the debt ceiling, exposing the country to default.

The euro against the dollar stable

Macroeconomic side, new jobless claims in the U.S. fell after mid-July to their lowest since early April, according to figures released Thursday by the Labor Department. At 398,000 in seasonally adjusted data for the week of July 17 to 23, the first time in three and a half months that the estimate of unemployment claims dropped below the 400,000 mark.It is still awaiting figures on the promises of sales in the U.S. that will be particularly monitored 16 hours today.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro lost more ground against the dollar. It is trading around 15.30 U.S. $ 1.4265, down 0.72%. Oil prices, they were in small drop at the opening in New York, in a market trying to regain a foothold in the very quagmire of American debt crisis. Around 3:10 p.m., the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), a barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery was trading at 97.00 dollars, down 40 cents from the previous day.

Sprint Nextel fall, Symantec is appreciated

The side of values, Symantec (3.99% to 19.15 dollars) reported for the first quarter of 2011/2012 a profit of $ 172 million, or 22 cents per share. Turnover was up 15% to 1.65% to 1.65 billion.For the current quarter, the company expects a growth in turnover from 12% to 13% minimum to 1 655 to 1 675 billion.

The chemicals group DuPont (1.76% to 53.20 dollars) shows a marked increase. The company announced on Thursday a net income up 5% in the second quarter, better than expected and raised its annual forecast results for 2011. Net income rose to $ 1.21 billion in the second quarter, against 1.15 billion last year, according to a statement from the group. DuPont also raised its annual earnings forecast "because of positive expectations for global growth."

However, Sprint Nextel (-15.70% to 4.35 dollars) falls after posting a quarterly loss Thursday than expected from April to June, the third largest U.S. mobile phone registered with more departures than arrivals of customers.Its loss widened to $ 847 million, 28 cents a share, against 760 million, 25 cents per share, a year earlier.

Exxon (-1.82% to 81.79 dollars). The tanker has reported a quarterly profit below expectations, in the refining business was worse than expected.

Colgate Palmolive (-0.25% to 85.28 dollars) announced quarterly results slightly above analysts' expectations, the good performance of international sales offsetting poor sales performance in North America. The manufacturer of toothpaste and care products posted a profit of $ 622 million over the period, or $ 1.26 per share for a turnover of 4.19 billion. Financial analysts anticipated $ 1.25 per share and 4.18 billion.

Visa (0.66% to 88.33 dollars) reported Wednesday a quarterly profit up 40%, while announcing the establishment of a new tariff structure for American traders. The first global network card payments reported earnings per share, excluding special items, of $ 1.26 while analysts had expected $ 1.23.

The investment fund Blackstone (0.06% to 17.38 dollars) is in talks with the American Medical Informatics Emdeon for a possible bid. The Wall Street Journal, the purchase price could reach $ 3 billion, including debt, if an offer materializes. The company Emdeon, which must publish its results on August 8, specializes in services and financial management software for physician offices.The Nashville company expects a turnover of 1.1 to 1.13 billion in 2011.

The Ford Motor Company (0.81% to 12.47 dollars) on Thursday announced plans to invest one billion dollars in a second plant in India to take advantage of the rapid expansion of the internal market and achieve its growth objectives.

Aflac (5.32% to 46.50 dollars) on Wednesday released after the close of Wall Street, earnings per share in the second quarter from 0.6 dollar against 1.23 dollar last year. The company maintained its forecast of growth of operating profit per share of 8% in 2011 and 2% to 5% in 2012.

Ameriprise Financial (3.78% to 53.52 dollars) announced earnings per share up 22% for the second quarter to $ 1.25.The amount of assets under management rose 17% to $ 670 million.

Cliffs Natural Resources (-4.95% to 88.96 dollars) has issued an earnings per share for the second quarter rose 52% to 2.92 dollars, thanks to acquisitions and higher prices for iron ore .

Murphy Oil (-6.23% to 62.75 dollars) made a profit of 1.6 dollar per share in the second quarter, up 13% thanks to higher crude oil and improved refining margins and retail margins.