Concerns about the health of the U.S. economy may once again to weigh on the markets in Paris. In the wake of Wall Street the day before and Asian stock markets this morning, the CAC 40 is expected to open sharply lower at least about 2%, according to forecasts, having already fallen by 1.6% in the previous session.
Markets should sanction and the decision of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) on Wednesday. In fact, the Central Bank of the United States announced new measures to support the U.S. economy. It will sell well here in late June 2012 for $ 400 billion of treasury bills and short-term buy for the same amount with a longer maturity in an attempt to lower interest rates in the long term (an "Operation Twist").To support the mortgage market, it will also acquire real estate securities without increasing the size of its portfolio, according to the Committee.
However, markets did not appreciate his verdict on the economy, noting the "continuing weakness" of the labor market, with an unemployment rate of "high" of 9.1%, coupled with "significant risks "related" tensions in global financial markets. " "The opinion of the Fed on the economy is deteriorating a lot and it seems it can not do much with the Republicans (he) asked not to intervene," says Yutaka Miura, analyst at house brokerage Mizuho Securities, the Dow Jones Newswires.
Thus, the market had expected better, especially after worrying about the International Monetary Fund.The day before, the institution headed by Christine did not hesitate to raise the specter of a global recession and launched at policy makers in the world "a fervent call to action". At the same time the institution has significantly downgraded its growth forecasts for the global economy. This is expected to grow 4% in 2011 as in 2012, 0.5 points below its previous forecast of 4.5% last April.
Beijing sees its manufacturing activity deteriorated
To this must be added the emergence of concerns about the economic situation in China. Manufacturing activity in the country has deteriorated in September, reaching its lowest level in two months, according to preliminary PMI bank HSBC said on Thursday. PMI Purchasing Managers calculated by HSBC in September reached 49.4 against 49.9 in August, knowing that a figure below 50 means contraction."We are seeing a moderation in growth as in the past two months. Fears of a hard landing of the Chinese economy are unjustified, "said in a note Qu Hongbin, the chief economist for China at the bank.
In addition, investors are increasingly worried about the evolution of the crisis of public finances in Europe no fax cash advance. Greece announced Wednesday its intention to launch new austerity measures to convince the Troika and obtain payment of a new tranche of 8 billion euros in October that will allow it to avoid bankruptcy.
On the foreign exchange market, the dollar was up against the euro. It was worth 1.3544 dollars per euro, against $ 1.37 the day before in Asia.Oil falls as himself down under the effect of a rise in the dollar and pessimistic forecasts from the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) for the world's largest economy.In early electronic trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for October delivery gave up $ 1.21 to 84.71 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery lost $ 1.26 to 109, $ 10.
On the macroeconomic front, France, the index of labor costs in industry, construction and service sector in the second quarter will be released at noon.
In the U.S., the weekly claims for unemployment benefits will be unveiled at 14.30, and the composite indicator of economic activity for the month of August in 16 hours.
Earlier this afternoon, the markets also expect the statements of Robert Zoellick and Christine Lagarde, respectively president of the World Bank and IMF Executive Director, at the opening of the annual meetings in Washington
Values to follow
• Banking
BNP Paribas, which has seen its share price unscrew more than 50% in three months, may request assistance to private investors understood the Financial Times. Analysts said that the institution may seek to raise up to EUR 2 billion from investors from Qatar and Abu Dhabi. However, an assumption that sweeps by the Director General of the bank Baudoin Prot.Investors also will keep an eye on Societe Generale and Credit Agricole.
• Saint-Gobain
The group has conducted Wednesday through placement of a bond issue in two tranches for a total of 1.75 billion euros with an average maturity close to six years and an average coupon of almost 4% in the refinancing of debt specialist construction materials. The transaction was heavily oversubscribed as the order book has reached the aggregate for the two tranches over seven billion from nearly 400 investors.
• Danone
The company launched its next bond issue of € 500 million due 2016.
• BioAlliance
The group announced Wednesday the confirmation of the clinical trial schedule Livatag against the primary liver cancer, starting with the pivotal Phase III in 2012.The company also reported a residual income of 1.02 million euros in the first half.