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Jerome Kerviel has expressly acknowledged on Wednesday before the Paris Criminal Court, have committed crimes (embezzlement, forgery and uttering, hacking into a computer system) against him and makes it run five years in prison. While it seeks to introduce a nuance that relates to his defense – "the bank knew everything."Still, after a long and detailed questioning of the court, the president Dominique Pauthe and his two assessors, perfectly complementing the former trader at Société Générale could not dodge the onslaught of the Crown.

The prosecutor, Jean-Michel Aldebert, head of the financial section of the floor, asked him: "Have you created fictitious transactions to mask losses or gains?"

Jerome Kerviel: "Yes, Eliot [note: the computer system available to all].

-Have you provided false explanations to your hierarchy?

Non-credible explanation, yes.

Have you crafted fake e-mails?

Yes. "

But the magistrate, silhouette dry, sharp profile of a bird of prey, hushed tone, did not finish.He comes back three days during which, in early 2008, the montages of the trader-delusional about 50 billion euros pledged not covered market that will drive 4.9 billion of losses-have been uncovered: "During the week weekend of January 18 to 20, you do nothing to help the Societe Generale. Why?.

Jérôme Kerviel: "On Saturday the 19th, I was asked only about 1.9 billion that had won in 2007. I was impressed, intimidated, stressed by the officials that I had never seen …

-You sound like a person telling police custody on drugs! You had positions totaling 50 billion, why do not you say?

"It was not the topic this time bad credit payday advance. I answered the questions on the 1.4 billion point.

A few minutes earlier, the accused had replied on the same theme to questions, subtly, by Judge Virginia Tilmont. Especially this one: "Did you feel that challenge the system?"

Jerome Kerviel: "Absolutely not. In trading rooms is a little stash of national sport [note: some of its activities]. Everyone does, I perhaps more than others, but I tried to bring the most money in the bank. " A good little soldier, somehow, even if his methods were not always orthodox.

The boom is fully stretched to their consideration that Mr. Metzner. The lawyer for Mr. Kerviel comes out of his sleeve-mail dated Dec. 17, 2007, from the time his client has 1.4 billion euros and is preparing to invest 50 in the disastrous conditions that known.This email is signed by a certain Raymond Bunge supervisor Claire Dumas, who represents the SocGen this trial. It reads: "Good soldier must learn to disobey more out of the box".

Mr. Metzner Jerome Kerviel: "It reminds you what you asked?

The accused, not surprisingly, all smiles: "Yes."

So what if, as noted by Ms. Dumas, that assessment involved an employee of the department, which had no time to play with the funds lost money from his employer. What matters, after the wrong time spent by Jerome Kerviel, is having the last word. Jean Veil was understood that launches the formula fetish Mr. Metzner: "We agree. And for the first time, the bank puts the laugh on his side. In CHIP is a trick for the defense.

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The market for nuclear reactors following "an upward trend," according to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MIH). The conglomerate of Japan believes that dozens of these reactors should be located in Europe by 2030. And he does not miss the boat. The group is announcing Wednesday the signing of a letter of intent with the Spanish group Iberdrola Ingenieria y Construccion. His goal: to increase its chances of winning several bids for the construction of nuclear power in Europe. "We hope thus to accelerate the introduction of our advanced pressurized water reactors EU-APWR in European countries," MHI said in a statement.

Specifically, the agreement provides that if a contract awarded, MIH supports the manufacturing facilities and the provision of essential equipment.For his part, Spanish will be responsible to install, the grouping of devices and materials that their test. The offer of MIH is based on a pressurized water reactor of 1,700 megawatts (MW), whose rights have been designed for the Japanese market, and adapted to European standards and regulations.

MIH is not his first partnership with a European group. The Japanese already collaborating with the French Areva in a joint venture called TDD, which is developing a medium-power reactor for countries wishing to launch their first nuclear power.

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A cloud of 200 million dollars (148 million euros). That bill, by far, the paralysis of traffic due to the cloud of volcanic ash, according to an estimate made Friday by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This amount corresponds to "the financial impact (…) day in terms of lost revenue," said a spokesman for IATA said in a statement.

"In addition to lost revenue for airlines costs to change the routes of their machines and take on passengers and equipment stranded in various airports," he added. This is a "first conservative estimate".

According to many analysts, the closure of airports in North Europe was difficult to quantify an impact on the finances of airlines. Experts estimate that it will depend on claims from customers.More recently prefer to postpone their flight, the more it will limit the losses to the industry.

"While we have no visibility on the duration of these disturbances, it is difficult to say what is the cost for companies," Marina J. Devitt, the Irish Goodbody brokerage told AFP.

An invoice of $ 30 million for Air France

In the ladle, it is possible to obtain an estimate by dividing the annual turnover of a company by the number of days during which the aircraft remain grounded. Based on this rough, it is possible to establish that Air France-KLM is 30 million euros and 25 million for British Airways, advance a Paris-based analyst.

In Germany, total paralysis of traffic is expected to weigh on the entire industry to the tune of 50 million euros in total per day and "less than 10 million euros a day" for Lufthansa, said analyst Per-Ola Hellgren, bank LBBW, told AFP. An invoice less salty than the recent pilots' strike which had cost ratio of 48 million euros in total.

Finally, the "one-time impact on earnings of the Irish Ryanair should be low since most of the operational costs will be avoided, except for aircraft rental and labor costs," notes the brokerage Irish NCB.

Rush predictable

Companies should still limit the damage thanks to the predictable rush of customers at the end of the flight ban. The aircraft should then record load factors much higher than normal, making profitable at the same time much better flights.

Without waiting to preliminary figures, the titles of European airlines fell in stock this Friday. By mid-afternoon, Air France-KLM took down 2.21%, British Airways fell by 1.94%, 2.26% Lufthansa.

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Le Figaro. – Northrop and EADS waive answer the call for bids for the tanker to the U.S. military …

WELSH Louis. – We are not going as this tender is clearly in favor of the Boeing B767. The specifications are intended for a smaller aircraft than the Airbus A 330 without taking into account the superior capabilities of the latter. I regret, because we have the best aircraft, which has won every competition in the world, including Britain and Australia, against Boeing. It was useless to file an appeal. I'm not sure the American taxpayer will be a bargain for the U.S. military, it has a plane less modern, less capable than Great Britain, Australia, Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates.

You build a factory in Alabama?

The site of Mobile in Alabama would assemble the tankers.Therefore, this assembly project in the southern United States is no longer valid. This decision does not affect our overall interest to the U.S. market. We have to develop.

In what trades do you develop in the United States?

For now, we look rather acquisitions of medium size, including the United States, but not exclusively. As for trades beyond the defense, we bear a special interest in services and security. But everything is a matter of expediency.

The euro-dollar is she always so critical?

Of course! And the euro at 1.35 dollar remains strong. I remember I started Power 8 in 2007 to address just one dollar to 1.35. This is not because we went from 1.50 to 1.35 as the dollar problem is solved! EADS had 9.8 billion euros at end December 2009.

What will you do with that war chest?

The Net Cash position is considerable, but we will in the next four years, reaching a peak of investment on the A 350. We must maintain a sufficient level. It is essential to maintain the trust of our customers, who pay installments four to five years before delivery of their machines. The cash position is also an important component of our rating. It is therefore a priority for us to protect it. Airbus beats records of shipments, but profitability is average.

The economic crisis is still there.Are you planning to launch a new savings plan?

In 2009, our accounts are strongly marked by the provisions on the A 380 and above on the A 400M (1.8 billion euros) and by currency effects, whose overall impact is negative in 2009 2.5 billion euros compared to 2008! Apart from these "special items" Our operational performance is satisfactory. End of 2009, we completed a year ahead of the expected savings under Power 8, or 2.1 billion euros. Power 8 + begins now and will run until 2012. To date, I have no plans identified new savings plan, but I do not want to tie my hands and we must be able to react to changes in our environment.

How do you see 2010?

I remain cautious, but we now have better visibility and greater confidence in the robustness of our backlog.We send a strong signal by deciding to increase the production rate of A 320. They spend 34 to 36 per month from the end of 2010.

In which areas should Europe launch major projects?

We need a common vision that inspired the creation of Airbus and Ariane. Europe can raise it again this ambition? I am sure nothing better mobilize European public opinion that such programs, which embody the best that Europe all treaties and speeches. The subjects are not lacking. Of course, aerospace, defense and space: EADS was created to be the partner of such programs, but also in major projects in energy and environment. European countries face similar challenges.Why did they not meet together? It would be good for European industry.

How do you plan to revive the industry Nicolas Sarkozy?

I am grateful to the president to deliver the industry on the front of the stage. There is no strong, stable, independent, not industry, and the loss of industrial substance of our country is a major concern. I also agree with the diagnosis of the president on the loss of substance. It reached France more than Germany or Italy, but it actually concerns all of Europe. This calls for a clear industrial policy and European French. It is to reassess all policies: education, taxation and social security, hours of work on life skills, competition, money, support research and innovation, etc.. With the objective of strengthening the competitiveness industry.Such a policy must be based on a social dynamic for everyone to be involved.

Some of the decisions announced by the head of state will they have an impact on EADS and Airbus?

Here are two examples where the impact is direct. The first concerns the priority given to sectors and relations outsourcers / contractors: it is a major issue for us, which we are already working with our supplier. EADS buys each year for more than 10 billion euros in France. We signed a few weeks ago the charter of the subcontract. Second example: the national loan will support the technological developments needed for future generations of aircraft, helicopters or space launch.

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A plan to support French industry

On Tuesday, March 23 will be placed under the sign of the claims to the station, while at least three unions (CGT, UNSA, CFDT) has initiated a notice of strike and trigger a series of social alarms, to ensure "continuity" the strike on February 3, according to Didier Le Reste, the CGT.

On 15 February, five confederations – CGT, CFDT, FSU, Solidaires, Unsa – announced they were organizing a day of strikes and demonstrations inter employment, purchasing power, public services and pensions.

At the strike of February 3, about one-third of the railway had stopped work to support employment.

A report that is poisoning the debate

All unions in the public company denounced the ongoing reorganizations involving reclassifications and job losses (including freight), a deterioration of working conditions and managerial methods based, according to them, solely on financial criteria.

There are about a month, a report of the Court of Auditors noted that for the SNCF, the reform of 35 hours penalized the company public to address the opening of its monopoly to competition and revealed particular gaps productivity with its competitors low fee payday advance .

According to the report published today, law enforcement has led to increased numbers of staff from 7000 to 7500.However, "the additional staff that the reform had resulted represents almost half the number of posts abolished during the seven subsequent years, totaling approximately 15,600 officers between 2002 and 2008.

Southern Rail reserved

Workers Power has decided to turn to hold its own demonstration in Paris, while leaving open its regional organizations to participate in joint rallies in the provinces, while the CFE-CGC was not involved in the day.

Sud-Rail, Third Force Association at the station who is campaigning for a renewable greece, reserved its response but said "part of the inter-day."To delegate Alain Cambi, "after a day of strike action is needed now."

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Philippe Zaouati released last October "Responsible Investing: in search of new values to finance" published by Lines benchmarks.

Lefigaro.fr / jdf.com – What is the impact of the crisis on the demand for socially responsible investment (SRI)? Philippe Zaouati We first asked whether the crisis was not going to put the SRI in the background, because of other challenges faced investors (liquidity, market downturn). But in fact it has strengthened doubts about the liability of investors, and the need for simple products, with maturities of medium or long term. Historically, every crisis in financial markets has strengthened a little more investor interest in SRI: this was particularly the case after financial scandals related to Enron, WorldCom, or Vivendi.And this growth occurs with a ratchet effect: in other words, when we begin to invest responsibly, because we are convinced of the usefulness of these investments, there is no return back. But such products, now recognized by institutional investors remains unknown individuals.

Some believe however that SRI is primarily a marketing argument for management companies. What do you say? Of the managers who are interested in SRI, some are primarily interested in the potential of this market. But there are also many houses management that invest in dedicated teams, recruiting specialists extra-financial analysis, in addition to traditional financial analysts.For example, at Natixis AM, we recruited seven people who analyze only the environmental and social impact of companies and their governance, and this team will be strengthened in 2010 through new recrutements.De such dedicated teams bring their own assessment socially responsible companies, and not confined to incorporate the findings of CRAs extra financial times are updated every year or every two years. It is therefore essential for an asset manager to bring its own expertise in their management choices.Similarly, if a manager is satisfied with the credit ratings established by Moody's and Fitch to make its investment decisions, it is not serious.

How do you explain that Islamic finance is more media that SRI investments, while their positions are close? The investment managers in the Anglo-Saxon are designed as fund exclusion: companies whose products or practices do not respect the moral convictions upheld by the fund are excluded from the portfolio. It's the classic case of defense industries, tobacco, wines and spirits, not to mention companies in pornography and games. The philosophy of these funds is very close to the ethical funds, such funds islamiques.Mais there are other types of SRI investments, including those who advocate an approach of "best student", which are most prevalent in France by example.In these funds, the managers invest in every sector of companies that provide the greatest effort in limiting the impact of their activities on the environment, which seek to make social policy and governance. The general public just yet understand the logic of such funds, which are to encourage good practices, but whose message is not very clear. This probably explains why these funds are less known and less publicized so that thematic funds on the environment or renewable energy, for example.

How do you expect demand investment managers? The demand will undoubtedly increase in coming years.Starting next January, the regulations require each such company to include at least a savings fund solidarity among all funds offered under the company savings plan, it goes in the right direction to develop the SRI and solidarity among the general public. Finally, I am convinced that the share devoted to the institutional SRI, which represents between 5% and 10% today, could double or even triple within three years. Good students in social practices Respecting the environment does not suffice for a company is held responsible. It must also be transparent in its management, and be the guarantor of good social practice. Beginning with the rejection of child labor. But this social criterion also considers the role that the company gives to its employees, through such consultations.Among the good performers in terms of social practices, Natixis currently distinguishes Boiron, Orpea, Sanofi-Aventis, Essilor, Technip, Sodexo, Randstad, Ansaldo, EDF Energy and new GDF Suez.

The Committee Juppe-Rocard "on the strategic investment priorities and the national debt" has completed its work on Wednesday. His report will be presented November 19 at the president will announce in early December that the action he intends to give. Of the 22 committee members all signed the document, except one who required a period of reflection.

The total investment proposals contained in the report turn, according to our information, around 35 to 36 billion euros. "Some final calculations must still be done," says one familiar with the matter. This does not mean that France actually borrow such a sum. 13 billion euros will come from such recycling loan funds last year to banks that they are poised to fully repay the State.Similarly, on some specific projects (Digital Innovation), private companies will be asked to intervene to assist the public.

Overall, the report Juppe-Rocard justifies the need for investment in expenditure for the future, because "it has not been done for decades," while stressing the situation particularly tense of French public finances which prevent to borrow beyond a certain threshold. "There is no question of breaking the signing of the France versus Germany," insisted Wednesday Alain Jupp? on Radio Classique.

Specialized Agencies

If the mission did not address the question of how borrowing (or specific markets) however she insists on the need to control the use of these funds.And suggested including the creation of a very limited number of specialized agencies in the monitoring of specific programs, such as for investments in renewable energy or digital.

Similarly, with regard to investment areas, the commission did not go into details of specific projects. She preferred to reason according to logic of major programs to launch, with the guiding research and innovation. Higher education will be especially cherished. The mission recommends including giving the large educational institutions (universities and colleges) of equity. This particular to enable them to build bridges with business by creating centers of excellence comprising laboratories, innovative SMEs and teaching areas.

The mission is also in favor of an ambitious program for the transport of the future.In particular, the cities will be encouraged to develop transport infrastructure with low energy consumption. This will be the basis of the future city in which the report devotes part. Finally, any program will involve the "life sciences (biotechnology), to launch major medical projects. A subject which is particularly Nicolas Sarkozy.