Pensions: the Government is preparing the battle

24th July

Place the masons and painters! Members of the Committee on Social Affairs of the National Assembly completed late Thursday afternoon, discussing the draft law on pensions, with a few hours ahead of schedule. Members will now leave the Palais Bourbon completely delivered to artisans, who have already begun the usual summer work. Return scheduled Tuesday, Sept. 7, even on Monday night at 6 for a special session will begin by examining the same text, but this time in the Chamber.

"It is in times of transition, summarized perhaps one at the Elysee. The real battle will take place from September. "The for Sarkozy are well aware that this first parliamentary stage was a formality. Not surprisingly, the debates have been looped smoothly."The Socialists have just wanted to make a coup by breaking the lock-in twitter discussions with their phone," is a counselor. What the left willingly admits. For now, she preferred surf the weakening of Labour Minister Caught in the case Bettencourt. Godsend for the Socialists, who are careful not to request his resignation.

Paradoxically, the majority seemed more worried by the progress of the case and its component Bettencourt Woerth that by the turn of the debate on pensions. "The left is going clubbing Woerth in September. He held up? "Wonders already a Minister. The Elysee hopes that the summer break will reduce the pressure. Nicolas Sarkozy and François Fillon reiterated that Eric Woerth defend indeed the text on Sept. 7. In other words, he will not be driven to resign by then."It is quiet because we know there is nothing in the record," says the Prime Minister.

"Everything will be decided in September. We are ready for battle. But it also depends on the mobilization in the streets, "says one seat in the PS. Clearly, the left hopes to build on part of the public. Even if the opponents and proponents of reform are divided into two shares more or less equal bad credit pay day loans.

Unions united

Unions, too, prepare to maturity. For September 7 will also be a new day of strikes and protests against the reform that SF has, once again, on Thursday asked the "withdrawal". In reality, most organizations do not believe and do not even dream to win concessions on key points, beginning with the postponement of the age to 62 years.However, they have not conceded the changes on other aspects of the text during the parliamentary debate.

They rely for that on the "pressure" of the street. Will they go over the two million demonstrators, after 1.9 million announced on the evening of the last day of action – successful – last June 24? Not easy to mobilize massively, just days after school starts. Therefore, the central plan to continue their campaign throughout the summer, beach tour in the CFDT distributed a booklet "educational" on reform and its "alternative" possible, the CGT.

The unions will have an advantage: their unity restored. Having refused to sign for months, FOR has joined its competitors, and the CFE-CGC has done the same.It is the only organization to accept the decline of legal age, but she believes that the conditions there pose – including a strong financial closure of the reform – are not met.

Faced with this united front, the government has chosen to keep the ballast drop. He has done at this stage, no specific proposals on issues which he is willing to develop: difficulty, and long careers polypensionnés.

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Carmat listed on the Paris Bourse

13th July

D-Day for Marcello Convite the boss of the small company that wants tricolor Carmat conquer the world with its first total artificial heart biocompatible. This Tuesday, in fact, that the start-up takes its first steps on the Paris Stock Exchange, having packed the heart of investors. In difficult market conditions, the SME accompanied by Truffle Capital, its largest shareholder (30%) and EADS, has done better than expected, raising 14.5 million euros at a price of 18.50 euros per share enhancing from the outset the company 75 million. A great appreciation for its Director General who has taken brilliantly in the year, new to him, the financial road show.

This Italian 57 years, trained in computer technology and speaks five languages, has not missed any arguments to "sell" the young company and its innovative and promising.His prosthesis, implantable total artificial heart developed by Professor Carpentier of the Georges Pompidou Hospital, from 2013 should help save tens of thousands of cardiac patients. A challenge that fascinates Marcello Convite former IBM and Fiat, paid for thirty years in the life sciences. He held until last September to senior posts in the American International Edwards Lifesciences, who had just bought to Professor Carpentier's revolutionary concept of cardiac valves. For Dr. Philippe Pouletty, CEO of Truffle Capital, with the artificial heart (which will remain French …), Carmat has "all the ingredients to become a global technology company beautiful. "A great adventure of entrepreneurs, leading the veteran of the biotechnology industry has also brought public in April and companies Neovacs Deinove.

Carmat is, in fact, primarily a story of men.An R & D secrets first, initiated in EADS by Jean-Luc Lagardere and Professor Carpentier and developed for 15 years by a team of engineers led by former "Mr. International" of EADS, Jean-Claude Cadudal, president of Carmat.

Beside him, the engineer, former head of EADS big projects, and "very good teacher," Patrick Coulombier, also played a key role. It is today, with Marcello Convite DGA society. It was created in 2008 under the leadership of Philippe Pouletty because, after the release of préprototype, "he had to go to the next level." By convincing the engineers of the European giant switch in the start-up and live the adventure.

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Expected stabilization of the CAC 40 before the U.S. job figures

2nd July

The trading hours of that Friday could mark a break after one week it is true though challenging for investors. Since Monday, the market has lost more than 5%. Of course, markets will pay close attention to monthly statistics showing employment in the United States which will be unveiled before the opening of Wall Street. But they seem they are already included in the indices, because Wednesday the investigation uncovered ADP than-expected figures for private use.

Thursday came another statistics support the poor with claims of unemployment rose 13,000 to $ 472,000 in the figures as at June 26, while economists on average expected a decline to 452,000 over the figure of 457,000 originally announced. This does not suggest the best for this afternoon.

The futures contracts reflected in the opening up of the order of 0.7 to 3362 points.

Note that the meeting in Paris will be exceptionally today around 41 values because of two new entities of Accor.

The trend has been better after the session on Wall Street to limit losses. At the close, the Dow Jones lost 0.42% to 9733 points, the Nasdaq was down 0.37% at 2101 points and the S & P 500 drops 0.32% to 1027 points. This morning in Asia, calm prevailed in the markets.

On the face values, we will therefore:

Bank stocks after doubts about the health of European banks. According to the Financial Times, a score of banks would be forced to raise funds after testing resistance.

Edenred (new name of Accor Services) made its market debut.The award technical reference of the title was set at 11.40 euros, a figure which is located in the lower range of 11-14 euro advanced Tuesday by the chairman of Accor at its general assembly and lower than its During Thursday on the gray market, which was around 12 euros depending on traders.

Accor: according to Les Echos, the group is also about to give the caterer railway wagons Beds French Newrest.Moreover, according to the newspaper, the proposed IPO of Lucien Barriere, another subsidiary of Accor, will be presented to analysts on July 7.

GDF Suez: Standard & Poor's said on Thursday lowered the outlook notes A/A1 group of "positive" to "stable", judging unlikely that the group achieves and maintains financial situation justifying an increase in his notes.

BNP Paribas and BPCE, the parent company of Natixis announced an alliance in consumer credit, which will require the development of a common platform operational from 1 January 2013.

Schneider said Thursday night it was in talks with the city of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on the renovation of the city's power grid. The Tribune reported Friday that the group has secured this contract, the newspaper figure at 1.3 billion dollars (1 billion euros).

Beneteau lowered from 17% to 15% of its target revenue growth for fiscal year 2009-2010 within the scope of delays in deliveries of vessels. The builder of sailboats and motorboats, however, confirmed its target of operating profit to 37.5 million for its fiscal year ending in late August.

Trichet defended the rigor

25th June

"The idea that the austerity measures could cause stagnation is incorrect", said on Thursday Jean-Claude Trichet. In an interview with Repubblica, the president of the European Central Bank (ECB) is opposed to all those who, like Barack Obama, say that plans to reduce public deficits adopted in Berlin, London or Paris, will kill the recovery in the egg.

The U.S. president has sent a letter last week to warn his European counterparts against a premature withdrawal of stimulus policies. It will look this weekend at the G20 summit in Toronto, to convince its partners to soften their plans rigorously.

Wolfgang Schauble, the German finance minister, told him Thursday morning in an article signed for the Financial Times. "Germany knows its responsibility towards global growth," he told the British business daily."Our contribution will be through a role as an anchor of stablity and not digging the debt."

Unlike Bush, Trichet argued that "under present circumstances, policies inspiring confidence will strengthen and not hinder the economic recovery because trust is a key factor today." In this regard, we welcome the German example, "he added. Berlin has presented an austerity plan of 80 billion euros over four years. Italy, following his example, is on the right path, according to the president of the ECB.

The ECB estimates that the eurozone is "within an environment (…) unusually high uncertainty" as stated by Jean-Claude Trichet during his last press conference, June 10"The degree of uncertainty and the level of growth is not writing, it also depends on us." And so, in part, plans rigor that should reassure markets.

However, the billionaire investor George Soros has spoken out against the plans of rigor at a conference on the euro in Berlin, Wednesday evening. They provoke a cycle of deflation (falling prices and slow growth) which will endanger the European project, by the American. A threat that does not believe Jean-Claude Trichet: "I do not think that such risks could materialize, inflation is well anchored."

The European Central Bank has revised down growth for 2011 in early June, as many economists believe that consumption will be greatly diminished because of plans to reduce deficits.The ECB now expects growth in a range very wide ranging from 0.2% to 2.2%, against 0.5% to 2.5% previously estimated.

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The hassle of Barack Obama before the G20

19th June

The U.S. president, Barack Obama wrote to the Heads of State and Government of the G20 countries, who will meet on 26 and 27 June in Toronto, Canada, to inform them of three concerns: the "significant weaknesses "the private sector demand in some economies of the G20 and their dependence on exports, the state of public finances and reform of the financial system.

"I also want to stress that exchange rate determined by the market are essential to global economic vitality," wrote as Barack Obama, who is of course referring to China, which Washington believes the currency, the yuan, is artificially under -valued, preparing a showdown with his counterpart, Hu Jintao.

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Banks: Operation truth about the accounts

18th June

European Banks Are they healthy? The question that torments the markets will soon find an answer. Indeed, European leaders have agreed to the request of France and gave the green light to publish the detailed results of stress tests (stress test "in English) which are subject garndes their banks. The 27 hoping to reassure markets worried discover surprises.

These reviews are intended to reflect the ability of banks to withstand extreme financial and economic conditions. Currently, those made at European level on a score of major banks remain confidential.Last year, only general trends were made public, including the fact that European banks were sufficiently capitalized to face a severe deterioration of macroeconomic conditions.

First published in late July

Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed at his press conference that the publication of these tests would take place in late July as desired by Paris. Earlier in the day, Christine Lagarde, French Minister of Economy, had told Reuters: "I am very positive about this publication. There is nothing worse than the rumors and doubts about the banks. " The Minister is confident, remembering that French banks have so far yielded positive results. These displays of the solvency ratios for the time, satisfactory. In the opposite case, Christine Lagarde said the banks to recapitalize.

Madrid triggers debate

The day before, the Spanish central bank had announced the forthcoming publication of the results of these tests. The newspaper El Pais had found the ad "unprecedented in the euro area. The Madrid Institute hopes to dispel the doubts now hanging on the strength of its banking sector. The Spanish governor of the Bank believes that the current rumors greatly amplify the difficulties of the Spanish financial industry. He hopes that the markets "are fully aware of the situation in the Spanish banking system."

Banks reluctant

Further to the announcement in Madrid, the German government long reluctant, finally decided to give the green light too. But Berlin has yet to convince its banks. German institutions showed far opposed the publication of these results.

Successful tests of Moody's

The European Central Bank will also favors the publication of these tests. In the eyes of the central bank, the operation of transparency is able to reassure the markets. And regulators have reason to be optimistic. Indeed, European banks have recently passed the tests of strength by Moody's. The rating agency has increased the stress tests to thirty European banks from ten countries, and concluded that they have a level of capital sufficient to take further losses.

The tax loopholes rabottées 10%

4th June

The tax shelters will soon be planed 10%, Francois Fillon warned on Thursday morning in the East Republican. After announcing in early May that he wanted to make five billion euros in savings over five years on tax shelters, the prime minister said his program. The government opted Does the deletion of niches, or a general decline in their level? "Both," explained Francois Fillon.

"In each case, some niches will be deleted. And there will be a movement of the plane by 10%. With exceptions because it should not increase the cost of labor, "he says. Over the years, it is indeed accumulated more than 400 tax loopholes, intended for particular social groups or economic sectors. In total, the Telemachus to win for the state accounts for almost 75 billion euros.

For in order to cope with a deficit which currently stands at 7.5% of GDP, the resources available to the government are now limited, said the Premier. A tax increase seems difficult in France, both the level of tax burden is already high. "Within the euro area, we are among those who have the highest rate. Again, our margins are limited, "said the Premier. More limited, for example, those of our German neighbors.

No removal of tax charges

Same for the amount of charges. "In some sectors, the competitiveness gap with Germany reached up to 20%. We can not win over the German economy, "said Francois Fillon. No question, therefore, to remove some relief.Neither, as announced Wednesday Georges Tron, the Secretary of State for Public Service, to lower or freeze the salaries of civil servants, which may depend on the success of pension reform.

Only possible levers mentioned by the Prime Minister in the East Republican, in addition to the tax loopholes, reducing social spending and a freeze on the allocation of local communities. "But we will not touch the RSA," said Francois Fillon.

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The Beijing city wants to impose a single flat

1st May

After one child, the unique apartment? The Beijing city government announced on Friday of "tough measures" to curb rising property prices, reports the Xinhua news agency. Among these measures, families will no longer buy a new apartment. The municipal authorities also prohibit banks to grant mortgages to families buying their third and well beyond. The loans will be more accessible rather than "to persons not resident in Beijing who can not prove they have paid their taxes and social security contributions in the city for at least a year," the agency details Press.

Beijing is the first city of the Middle Kingdom to announce detailed measures to tackle speculation, China Daily notes.The cities of Shenzhen (Guangdong Province) and Shanghai would also work on a plan to regulate sales of homes in the wake of measures announced by the government since the beginning of the year.

Under the economic stimulus package introduced in late 2008, priority was given to the promotion of real estate lending. Result, prices in the industry have taken a very strong upward trend, especially in large cities, Natixis said in a note. So much so that some observers suggest the hypothesis of a housing bubble.

The French unanimous support Greece

29th April

If the political debate in Germany is keen on supporting Greece, no such thing in France. The Socialist Party will vote in the state next week's Budget Act that allows Paris to pay 3.9 billion euros in Athens in 2010. And this Wednesday, the hearing for two hours, the budget minister, Francois Baroin by the Finance Committee of the Assembly took place in a consensual atmosphere. "Everyone agreed it was necessary to go fast. We can not let go of Greece, especially since the effort required of his people is heavy, "recalls Jerome Cahuzac, Chairman of the PS Committee. Alarmed by the weakness of governance of the euro area and lamenting, for some, the absence of a European monetary fund, members hoped that the rescue is accelerating. "Many were disappointed that the summit of heads of state that takes place May 10," said Gilles Carrez, the general rapporteur UMP.What the minister said "it would be even more dangerous to yield to a form of precipitation.

Debate on the interest rate

The only objection was on the interest rate of 5% which Paris ready to Greece three years. The Socialists, Fran?ois Hollande and Henri Emmanuelli it was too high. But Jerome Cahuzac is more nuanced and noted that this rate is the result of a compromise between heads of state.

Still, the French government should actually earn money in the transaction, since borrows around 2.13% at five years. Baroin has been noted that the plan for Greece "is not an expense to the taxpayer! Is this why the consensus in France? "I believe above all that unlike Germany we have a culture of state intervention," said the UMP J?r?me Chartier."It is logical as German citizens, who have made sacrifices to repair their public finances, are more reluctant than the French, who were not virtuous," says the centrist Charles de Courson.

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Goldman Sachs accused of deceiving customers

28th April

From our Washington correspondent

Goldman Sachs has managed to earn 3.7 billion dollars in betting, starting in 2007, the collapse of the mortgage-market. In doing so, the giant Wall Street acted against the interest of some of its customers, which it sold securities that he knew "toxic". This is the conclusion, after months of investigation, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the U.S. Senate.

Tuesday, during public hearings stretched on Capitol Hill, Lloyd Blankfein, the head of the giant Wall Street, has categorically denied these allegations."We do not speculate massively downward in the housing market and we certainly do not bet against our clients," he was forbidden under the spotlight, saying that even on the mortgage-market, Goldman Sachs has lost about $ 1.2 billion in 2007-2008.

"Nobody in the management of Goldman Sachs has never asked me to bet on a decline in the subprime market," added before skeptical senators, Joshua Birnbaum, the former head of structured products of the bank, also on the bench defendants.

Convinced otherwise, armed with emails and internal documents seized in the bank, the debonair Senator Carl Levin, glasses pavement at the end of his nose, led a determined assault Tuesday. But the chairman of the committee was confronted with a wall.He vainly tried to tell the past and present officials of Goldman Sachs called before him (including one French employee), how could they believe in the quality of debt issued by mortgage lenders whose reputation was terrible. Receivables classified as "business of shit" in an email exchange between two bank officials. "How many of these" affairs of shit "did you sell to your customers? asked, exasperated, Senator Levin fast cash advance. You've sold hundreds of millions. "

Bankers Daniel Sparks and Michael Swenson, impassive without being arrogant, but obviously confident of the merits of their point of view, seemed not to understand or what they asked or what they were charged.They also questioned the methods of calculating profits of Goldman Sachs selected by the committee.

Battle of Senate proceedings

According to Senator Levin, the investment bank has yet actually decided in late 2006 to a major cleanup of its accumulated risk on securities backed by the real estate markets whose collapse loomed. By discipline, to limit its risks and if possible in the hope of profiting from the trend, the bank had sold to investors and deliberately chosen for their credulity his titles too "toxic"."We have not been systematically and significantly" net short position "on derivatives of residential mortgages in 2007 and 2008," replied Lloyd Blankfein.

Meanwhile in the Senate floor, Democratic leaders and Republicans arguing over procedural votes before engaging in substantive debate on the reform of Wall Street. The Conservatives want by all means restrict the scope of Democrat Bill before it is submitted to a plenary debate in the room. A compromise is always likely, because both parties want to correct the excesses that precipitated the financial crisis.But the Republican minority wants to take his time, while Democrats want to take this case Goldman Sachs to prohibit such banks that have access to the discount window the Fed to speculate on their own account.

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