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Sometimes there are coincidences that plunge. A few days after Francois Hollande has triggered an outcry in the microcosm football with his proposal to tax 75% on incomes above one million euros per year, the union of professional players (UNFP) has announced a new record membership. Not at 20, 30 or even 50%. Not to … 96.45%, which means that few players playing in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 not to be enclosed in a union.

This score membership record is even more comical that exceeds the standards of the Nordic countries where, at best, three-quarters of employees are unionized (against 8% in France, it must be remembered) payday loans in 1 hour. But also because such a rate – worthy of glory of the USSR – in a profession considered golden demonstrates that unionism and categorical niche, including employees on the most spoiled society, has a future in France.

"At a time when the image of football is too often tarnished – wrongly, need I elaborate? – This unionization rate (…) shows that the professional football player looks at his job, his future, as much as the other, it is his teammate or opponent on the ground ", for his part prefers to deduce the UNFP. When will a syndicate of traders?

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"A tax that could cost

The government calls it "a false flat economy." But simply slowing growth announced Wednesday morning by INSEE (+ 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2011, after +0.3% in the third quarter) is a pleasant surprise. In the midst of turbulence in the euro area, it not only to French growth from to 1.7% in 2011 – a figure that has line width closely corresponds to the expectation of the Government. But it also prevents the entry of countries into recession. In its latest memo on the economy, established in December, the statistics institute saw no improvement emerge this winter and announced a negative fourth quarter.

Contrary to this scenario, the last three months of 2011 were marked by a more or less good performance of all the main drivers of activity. While employment has greatly suffered in late 2011, spending on household consumption slowed without collapsing (+ 0.2% in the fourth quarter, after +0.3% in the third). Business investment has accelerated significantly (+ 1.4% at – 0.4%). As for the deficit, it is a bit small – under the blow of higher exports and lower imports – allowing foreign trade to contribute significantly to both a growth (+0.7 points).

The Minister of Economy Baroin noted in a statement that these results were achieved in "a difficult international environment." But the comments from Bercy sobriety played Wednesday and took care of complacency, the executive knows that the equation of economic and fiscal 2012 has not become simpler in one day.

Appropriations in reserve

In the wake of European difficulties, a GDP contraction is expected in the first quarter of this year (0.1%), before a small growth spurt (also 0.1%) in the second quarter, according to forecasts INSEE. Under these assumptions, the growth overhang at mid-year would be almost nil. Suffice to say that although the government has revised down its growth forecast for 2012 (0.5% against 1%), nothing is won yet. To accommodate this new lens, a 0.6% increase in GDP per quarter during the second half of the year is necessary. But we must go back well before the crisis, in late 2006 and early 2007, to see similar growth rate.

The government has repeatedly said he had put enough money in reserve to hold its trajectory to reduce public deficits without resorting to additional austerity measures. He welcomed the results better than expected on the forehead of public finances in 2011 give him a little oxygen for 2012.

But almost sluggish growth this year would considerably complicate a fragile situation. Half a point less growth, it is about 5 billion more to find. It will take somewhere, have clearly in mind the French: Paris is committed to its partners in Brussels to bring back the deficit to 4.5% of GDP at end 2012. This objective is "intangible", regularly repeats the Prime Minister Francois Fillon. Election year or not.

After a series of accidents due to a falling elevator, with one death occurred Thursday in Paris, industry professionals warn of the lack of safety devices. "The safety of elevators is not effective," denounces Herve Lasseigne, president of the Federation of Independent Experts and Control Offices lifts (Fiebca).

Voted in 2003, the modernization plan, however, elevator provides that after three deadlines (2010, 2013 and 2018), all units of residential housing and office buildings should be standard.But, faced with the often high cost of work (between 5000 and 10,000 euros per lift for the first phase and up to 30,000 euros on average for work completed before July 2013), some owners are slow to meetings of the vote easy payday loans.

The delays are such that "15% to 20% of lifts (especially condominiums)," which should have been subject to new safety standards by the end of 2010, have not yet been upgraded, according to Fiebca. "The situation is very worrying, warns Herve Lasseigne, accident, this may have consequences in terms of civil liability or criminal, for condominium corporations," he says.

The upgrades are not a guarantee of safety. The many renovated elevators are dangerous because "treatments are often incomplete."

After staying away for two years, the restaurants, the French again gradually to leave their homes for lunch or dinner. Since January, attendance at schools, fast food at three-star, rose 0.6%, according to research firm NPD. And not about to tighten their belts. Average spending also rose 0.6% in the first nine months of the year.

Another sign of joy: the last quarter, growth in attendance is highest in restaurants with table service, where the addition is much salt in fast food, which represent 68% of visits and 44% total expenditure of the French.

However, the recovery is shy and sometimes chaotic. As a result, many professionals are choosy. "The first quarter seemed to promise a clear recovery this year.

Since one or two years, the French no longer have to wonder whether they should go to a cash or a tax office when they have a tax problem. They now have a single contact. This is the most visible result of one of the largest state reforms undertaken since 2007: the merger of Taxation and the Treasury in a branch of public finance (DGFIP).

This is especially symbolic that this government has succeeded where the team Jospin failed to combine the two tax authorities. In a survey of the merger, commissioned by the Senate Finance Committee, the Court of Auditors said that the reform was carried out on time and that its success is "an achievement in change management."

But the Court also notes that the merger would have been cheaper. "All were first restructuring cost.The question is whether the bill was not too high, "said Philippe Marini yesterday, the president of the UMP Senate Finance Committee during a hearing of the protagonists of the case to the commission.

Between 2008 and 2012, 12,000 jobs have been removed to DGFIP. Despite this, the payroll has been stabilized in 2011 and decline only in 2012 to reach 4.95 billion euros. "From 2008 to 2010, the workforce was reduced by 3%, while the wage bill increased by 1%" Nicole Bricq summarized yesterday, the rapporteur of the commission PS. When asked by Le Figaro, Philippe Parini, the Chief of DGFIP, believes that this performance is good.But yesterday at the hearing, the Court judges were more skeptical.

209 million of additional costs

In the report following its investigation, the Court regrets that the general rule in the civil service, which means that half of the savings from job cuts to be redistributed in additional payments to agents, has been exceeded in DGFIP in 2010 ( 62 guaranteed approval cash advance loans.5% of redistribution) and 2011 (54.8%).

In detail, the Court expressed surprise that the merger premium of 350 euros per year, originally created for the sole agents affected by restructuring, has been granted in 2008 to all members of the DGFIP. Then it has been perpetuated from 2009 and then increased to 500 euros this year. Total cost from 2007 to 2012: 59.5 million euros.However, in addition to this premium, the agents of the DGFIP benefited from the harmonization of remuneration from the top.

"No merger can not be done with a harmonization of salaries to the bottom" replied yesterday a senior official of Bercy, noting that the harmonization alone had accounted for half of the 209 million additional cost of the merger.

"We take the fact of having paid the premiums," added Philippe Parini. "In total, over the whole period of the merger, from 2008 to 2012, we distributed to agents 52.3% of the savings related to job cuts. It is little more than the norm. Overruns in 2010 and 2011 and punctual and will be made up later, "he said in Le Figaro.

Senators of the committee members are themselves worried about the consequences of yesterday's job losses to DGFIP.They fear a decline in the quality of service.

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"Birth of the first centers unique tax

While the government is preparing a new fiscal tightening, because of spending cuts and tax increases, the debate on VAT resurfaced. One of the approaches proposed by the executive would be to create a new intermediate rate, between the rate of 5.5% and 19.6%. This increase targeted VAT would be used to finance a reduction in social enterprises. This was called the "social VAT" in 2007 and now named the UMP "antidélocalisation VAT."

Francois Fillon said last week that the restoration work and housing continue to benefit from a 5.5% VAT. But there are other sectors taxed at the same rate (books, food, water …). This pattern of a VAT has the advantage of antidélocalisation consistent with the government's strategy to improve competitiveness.Many big names of the majority favor this option, as revealed by Le Monde Wednesday payday loans for bad credit. But the subject is politically sensitive.

At Bercy and Matignon, we refused to comment Wednesday, reaffirming that decisions depend on the outcome of EU summit.

However, it seems almost assumed that the new austerity plan will include an increase in corporate income tax, most likely via a surcharge, which weigh down for a few years the current rate of 33.3%. This surcharge would be targeted at large companies (those falling within the scope of the social contribution to the IS and therefore paying more for 763,000 euros IS). For cons, the Elysee remains opposed to a reduction in payroll tax relief for 35 hours.

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"The revision of growth suspended at the top of the EU

The fall was accelerated by Dexia irregularities. A document written by the supervisory authority in 2010 reported several violations of the Franco-Belgian bank, reported Liberation.

The body responsible for regulating the banking sector would have directly challenged the previous management but also the leaders still in office. The report was quoted as saying, "number of findings concerning mechanisms for managing derivative positions are likely to contravene the regulations." Regulators cite "in 2007 and until 2008, the disclosure of Dexia Credit Local has remained evasive about the increasing risks, including the CEO and directors were aware. She ignored the violations of regulations and monitoring liquidity risk. "And the report says "the information to the public was not accurate, precise and sincere."

These omissions or falsehoods for the purchase of a portfolio of bonds and speculative securities amounting to 100 billion euros, an "illogical financing local government, the report quoted by Liberation payday advance lenders. Regulators also suggest a failure on the part of the Dexia value of this portfolio of assets, both at the time of purchase as to resale. Worse, the leadership in place deliberately magnified the value of assets. The "overvaluation is estimated at at least 2 billion euros." Auditors such as Deloitte and Mazars have closed their eyes, the report said.

Loans to shareholders to purchase securities

The management team in place is also not spared.In a letter dated September 4, 2009, the report stresses that "the director of the institution has provided an underestimation of the volume of transactions."

Meanwhile, the Financial Timesaffirme that Dexia has paid 1.5 billion euros in its first two institutional shareholders before 2008 so that they carry out acquisitions of securities of the Franco-Belgian bank. But Dexia would, at the time, not breaking the law then in effect. The question is whether the court will examine the case Dexia.

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"The dismantling of Dexia is an act

Markets take a breather. After four sessions chained up in a row, the CAC 40 lost 0.25% to 3153.52 points. The volumes remain thin. About 2.7 billion changed hands on the great values ​​of the Paris stock exchange. Operators have benefited from the strong performance of the last day to reap a share of profits.

Lack of energy also in other major European markets, which ended in a disorganized. In London, the FTSE fell symbolically 0.06%, while in Frankfurt the Dax was up 0.30%. Of the European indices, the Euro Stoxx 50 slipped 0.50%.

Wall Street was also on the reserve. In session, the Dow fell by 0.26% and 0.35% Nasdaq clawing. Investor caution was reinforced by the expectation of several major events.In Europe and the United States.

For specialists in Barclays stock, the markets were essentially "focused on the voting Slovakia for the ratification of the European Financial Stability Fund." Slovakia is the last of 17 countries in the euro area to decide. In order for this tool, designed to help fragile countries in the euro area to work, the votes of 17 countries in the euro area is needed.

Opening of the ball results on Wall Street

Febrile, investors have minimal response to green light by the Troika, comprising the creditors of Greece, the release "early November", a new tranche of the loan in Athens, vital for the country low interest rate personal loans.

The outgoing president of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, also dampened investor optimism.He said that "for three weeks, things have deteriorated, the crisis has become systemic."

The launch of the quarterly earnings season in the U.S., added to the uncertainty, while the U.S. economy is idling.

As usual the aluminum giant Alcoa will open the show of these announcements after the close of Wall Street. These publications will tell more about the economic outlook of the world's largest economy, which continue to worry the markets.

Bank stocks up

In Paris, as in the rest of Europe, however, the banking sector continued its forward march.José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said on Wednesday that he would "proposals" concrete to the European Commission on the recapitalization of European banks.

Credit Agricole SA has gained 1.12%, BNP Paribas was up 2.96% and 5.28% Societe Generale. Operators, disoriented and obviously out of inspiration, wore special attention to the beliefs of analysts. Vallourec (-1.42%) and Aéroports de Paris (-0.85%) have seen their recommendation downgraded by JPMorgan and Essilor (-3.83%) by Morgan Stanley.

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The Louvre is just a trial balloon. Haier, the giant Chinese electronics and appliances, a partner in the last Asian Film Festival in Deauville, is found now official sponsor of the exhibition "The Forbidden City in the Louvre," while the group Fosun, active in the steel industry, mining, property development, distribution and services, financed the catalog.

"This is the first time that we sponsor an event abroad. Traditionally Chinese companies involved in the financing of aid to natural disasters, earthquakes or floods. They argue that very few art events. But we made several acquisitions in Europe and you want to get closer, "says Jane Zhang, director of brand and strategy Fosun.

This, indeed, holds 9.5% of Club Mediterranean.It has also invested in a chain of jewelry and fashion accessories in Greece. Haier, meanwhile, set up last year, the seat of his European office in Paris. For one as for the other, cultural patronage that they are discovering can be a powerful tool to better integrate. But the payments remain a state secret.

Open the Forbidden City

As many as 350,000 Chinese visited the Louvre last year. The country is now the fifth largest foreign tourists to the museum, behind the United States, Brazil, Italy and Russia. So Wan Jie, head of Artron, specializing in printing, which was not 50 years, is very interested in the Young Patrons Circle of the Louvre.All they need to pay 2,000 euros per year if they are under 40 years beyond 5000 to be included, says Christophe Monin, head of development and sponsorship of the museum.

"The demand from wealthy individual to the corporate philanthropy is very strong in Asia, but their goal is to first do something for their country," says Nathalie Sauvanet, BNP Paribas. In its own way, Chen Dongsheng, president of Taikang Life Insurance, is a pioneer in China. He is a founding member of the China Social Entrepreneur Foundation and one of the best friends of the owner of Fosun, Guo Guangchang. He believes that "companies need to focus on modern culture."

It is also believed that Wang Yamin, deputy director of the Museum of the Forbidden City in Beijing. It does not hide it, the Louvre gives him ideas. The palace is full of treasures that can not hardly watch the public.They are crammed into the reserves of the City. If he succeeded in attracting Chinese businesses, it could more easily escape by appealing to the state. The tourists would stay longer when on the site. "The Forbidden City needs to develop cooperation with private companies," he pleads.

Christophe Monin, for whom "patronage is essential today," just waiting to help. But in the meantime, the Louvre would like to create a Chinese version of its multimedia guide … he hopes to be financed by entrepreneurs from the Middle Kingdom.

A new session promises to be eventful Thursday on Wall Street. In early trade, the Dow posted a loss of 2.70% at 10,869 points, the Nasdaq lost 2.72% to 2468 points and the S & P drops 2.71% to 1135 points.

Like European and Asian stock markets, Wall Street is not immune to the anxiety surrounding the health of the global economy. This pessimism has been going on yesterday and pessimistic of the U.S. central bank. The Fed has held that the U.S. economic recovery was "slow" and threatened by "high risk". The central bank, in this context, announced an operation to extend the maturity of the assets it holds up to 400 billion dollars by June 2012."You can interpret this decision as the Fed's will not to launch three quantitative easing (monetary easing to boost the U.S. economy, ed) immediately, says Arnaud Poutiers, executive vice president of IG Markets.

The general concern about global growth has been reinforced by 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.

In France, the growth of private sector activity in September fell to its lowest level since the beginning of the recovery in 2009, while in Germany, the composite PMI, which includes industry and services, has emerged to 50.8, its lowest level since July 2009 against 51.3 in August.

The U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner also said Thursday in Washington that the slow economic growth was a challenge "greater" than the debt and that the governments around the world should give priority to support growth .

On the issue of European debt disturbing fact, little progress.Greece has just announced yesterday it will launch new austerity measures to get the funding it needs Troika in October to avoid bankruptcy.

Bad news on employment front

The announcement of a rise in weekly jobless across the Atlantic is not reassuring. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 423,000 people registered as unemployed during the week of September 10 to 17. The consensus of analysts expected 420,000 new applications for unemployment benefits.

Other important indicators, such as managers' index index advanced sprix estate, are in the program.

In this context, oil prices plunged more than 5% Thursday to open in New York, returning to their lowest levels in a month.On the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), a barrel of "light sweet crude" for November delivery traded at 81.28 dollars, down 4.64 dollars (5.4%) compared to the previous day. On the currency markets, the euro continued to sink against the dollar: the euro back below the $ 1.35 dollar to 1.3462 (-0.82%).

Values ​​to follow

On the corporate side, Bank of America (-5.02% to 6.06 dollars), Wells Fargo (-2.02% to 23.23 dollars) and Citigroup (-4.47% to 24.38 dollars) should still suffer from the deterioration of their rating by Moody's. The agency that the state may fly to their rescue.

Fedex (-10.15% to 65.14 dollars) has reported an EPS according to the consensus of $ 1.46 in the first quarter, a turnover of 10.52 billion dollars.

United Technologies (-7.16% to 69.51 dollars) will buy the equipment manufacturer Goodrich Aviation (10.06% to 120.50 dollars) to $ 16.5 billion (12.2 billion euros) cash, a transaction that would be the largest acquisition of U.S. industrial giant in 10 years.