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This is one of the heaviest penalties ever imposed in France for price fixing. The Competition Authority condemned Tuesday the largest producers of bagged flour French and German in total fines totaling 242.4 million euros.

As Le Figaro had revealed (read our editions of March 29, 2011), the institution has identified two antitrust cases, one involving French millers having agreed on prices, and the other a Franco-German cartel to limit to 15,000 tons, from 2002 to 2008, German exports in the Hexagon.

Flour France, sentenced to 8.3 million euro fine, and Axiane Milling, who scoop the most severe penalty (44 million), have decided to appeal. "We have taken note of the decision, which amazed us, said a spokesman Axiane. The penalty amount is disproportionate to the activities of the company, who made last year 167 million euros in turnover which only 15% correspond to the sale of flour in bag. "… ….. A first

This is the first case of this magnitude in the food industry. The Competition Authority has estimated that 11% of the costs to consumers. Moreover, it is the second time a consumer product is concerned by this affair. Last year, a cartel of manufacturers of detergents was sentenced to 361.3 million euros in fines. In both cases, this is a leniency application made by one of the protagonists who revealed the agreement.

"The Franco-German entente has been sheltered from competition German millers French, which enabled them to segment the market and respond with one voice to calls for major retailers such as discount stores," summarizes a spokesman for the Authority's view that the distributors were not aware of these practices.

The severity of penalties is due to the unprecedented duration of the agreement. In fact, since its inception in 1965, France Flour, owner of the famous brand Francine, leader in France, was at the heart of a system of understanding that allowed him to sell the output of its seven shareholders millers. "This is a transparent system of grouping that existed openly and everybody," protests Axiane Milling, one of its shareholders.

Considered a "false nose" Flour France was dissolved in mid-January and Francine brand was sold to one of its shareholders, Nutrixo. The Competition Authority should soon make its decision in another case involving the millers. This time it concerns the sale of bulk flour to bakers.

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After several days of intense negotiations, Greece finally has a new Prime Minister: Lucas Papademos. It took a meeting will still be several hours Thursday morning to get out of psychodrama and political reach a formal appointment.

The banker of 64 years, member of the Academy of Athens since 2006, will thus lead a transitional government, bringing together ministers and conservative socialists. After more than a week of political crisis, punctuated by daily twists, under pressure European and international Papademos was the only man accepted by the entire political class and the best position, given the circumstances, to become the eighth technocrat to take the reins of the executive Greece since the beginning of the twentieth century instant payday loans.Lucas Papademos has worked alongside Jean-Claude Trichet as the deputy governor of the European Central Bank, it enjoys an international reputation and credibility with creditors would be Greece.

If he is charged a lack of charisma, his discretion is unanimously recognized. It is "primarily a support person for the two major parties and Greek will reassure the markets. He is one of those who have allowed Greece to enter the euro area. So he knows the issues and mechanisms of the system. It is critical right now. Then, it is the only one able to ratify the European Agreement of 27 October, "Takis decrypts Bratsos, economic analyst.

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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Steve Jobs, Apple's iconic boss, who invented, among other things, the iPod and iPhone, died Wednesday at age 56. "We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs died today," said a brief statement of the board.

"Apple has lost a visionary and a creative genius, and the world lost an incredible human being," said his successor at the head of Apple's Tim Cook, in an email to employees of the group. "Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple," he said free credit score.

Born in San Francisco February 24, 1955, Steve Jobs was suffering from serious health problems for several years. It was reached in 2004 with a rare form of pancreatic cancer and underwent a liver transplant in 2009.On sick leave since January, he announced his resignation from his position as CEO on August 24, giving the reins to his number two Tim Cook. He reappeared briefly in March, thinner, to present the new version of the iPad, the tablet from Apple.

Player Figaro BFM

Solidarity and ecological travel. The idea is gaining ground in the minds of many tourists. This practice has a name very trend: the "sustainable tourism". According to the definition given by the World Tourism Organization (WTO), it is a holiday that "meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future. "

Whether it's a humanitarian mission in Africa, a trek in the Sahara or the ascent of Kilimanjaro, this type of travel always organized around four themes, according to Yann Legendre, coordinator at Libertalia specialist stays abroad lasting. The first two are the exchange and outreach to the local economy. "Sustainable Travel, accommodation is homestay or in hotels, buy food at the local producer, operate a local bus," said he. Next is the protection of the environment.Specific example: instead of buying bottled water which may pollute the tour operator is investing in a filter pump. "We saved the purchase of 9,500 bottles last year," notes Libertalia. There remains one of the most important aspects: the local development projects. This is not a logic of love ", explained Yann Legendre. "We have identified local actors engaged in a dynamic project that we donate 30 to 60 euros per passenger," he adds.

For those who opt for sustainable tourism in the Hexagon, the basics are the same. In the villages of the network Cap France, vacationers are being such offer "kits picnic" without any packaging pollutant. They sort the waste, swim in heated pools with solar panels and eat fresh produce from local agriculture."This is a tourist friendly environment with a local proximity and social," says Jean-Michel Coeff, president of the network.

Contrary to popular belief, sustainable travel is not more expensive. "Investments are included gradually over time," says Jean-Michel Coeff. For trips abroad, the price stays is generally equivalent to those of traditional tour operators and even cheaper because the organizers did not pay any commission to providers or agencies over.

Boom offers

Since the early 2000s, the offers are multiplying on the web. Tour operators are mostly from small associative structures are already active in the sector sustainable. But the traditional tour operators are also well represented on the niche, the image of Voyageurs du Monde free credit report and score.The travel specialist tailor even claims to have adopted this approach for many years. "It's not just a fad, it is a binding approach we impose," said Frederic Lavaud, project sustainability. According to the latter, responsible tourism has become a corporate philosophy: "We have adopted a responsible for all travels. We check for instance that our partners pay their employees well. We have a corporate foundation which helps local people. In Asia, some of our destinations travelers take away the excluded villages now live a little better through these visits, "he adds. According Voyageurs du Monde, the client would become very attentive to these questions: "People are sensitive to the choice of partners and very critical if we are not in line with what we propose.This is progress. "

Libertalia confirms the trend: "Our customer base is doubling every year since 2007. There is a real awareness, a desire to return to the essence of the journey is the encounter and discovery. "

Credibility problem

Despite this enthusiasm, the trip is still a sustainable niche. According to the WTO, the 935 million tourists who took the road last year, it represents only a small portion still unencrypted. For if consciousness is actually at work, the acting out takes longer than expected. "There is still a gap between this important awareness and its translation in terms of holidays. For tourists, holiday means to live freely. People do not want to be imposed on things, "admits Jean-Michel Coeff."And for some it is a concept bobo, an ecological cult," he adds.

This credibility problem, mentioned by several tour operators, requires the industry to organize. In 2004, a group of tour operators create the Association of Tour Operators Themes (ATT). The last issue to each operator audited by the certification body AFNOR label "Acting for Responsible Tourism (ATR)." But this system is far from unanimous. "The criteria are too light and too expensive certification" portion Libertalia who prefers to make his own evaluation grid. For its part, France Cape Town in 2004 launched his own label Owl Nature. In short, it is still difficult at the moment to see clearly.

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LE FIGARO. -The markets are highly concerned in recent weeks of debt crises. In this context, the economy has not she also helped to disrupt?

Jean-Michel SIX. -If, of course. And we must start by saying that in times of summer holidays, the markets, which were then much lower volumes, overreact to any new economic situation. The lower the index is up or dive in a much more important than what happens in winter.

Right now, they are rather dive …

For several months, both sides of the Atlantic, the signals on growth are not good. United States, including employment prospects are very disappointing. In fact, employment is not really left since the 2008 financial crisis.Labor mobility is limited due to the housing crisis: moving to take a new position, which is much the United States, is difficult because it becomes difficult to sell his house. As for household consumption, it is significantly weakened by the debt levels of Americans. A total of 2011 should result in a 2% growth, which is very disappointing for the U.S., where the pace of activity is generally much higher than in Europe.

Europe, precisely, is it in a perilous situation?

The problem of Europe is the growing divergence between North and South. This is something that worries the markets, which are asking what does that mean in terms of consistency of the euro area.Then, after a strong first quarter, it was believed that the air hole is the second passenger (once the effects of the earthquake in Japan absorbed and oil back to lower levels). But we realize that the sequence is also likely to be poor.

Markets can they regain composure?

It is quite possible to restore calm in September thanks to coordinated action. What happened in July is that we have simultaneously witnessed a loss of U.S. leadership, unable to break the deadlock of debt and a crisis of leadership in Europe in a context crisis on public finances. This is exactly the opposite which would have required!

So how about it?

First, we must continue the work on European Governance. This is critical. Second, the timing of implementation of the second plan is important for Greece.The European Financial Stability Fund will be endowed with significant firepower, which is to say the least-welcome, but there is some impatience markets. It is important not to drag the national parliaments to adopt the device. The political signal must come quickly. Finally, the ECB has played its role, it must continue to appear reassuring.

That's what she tried to Thursday …

The measures announced by President Trichet, in particular the resumption of purchases by the ECB on secondary markets, are extremely positive.

Investors do they always trust in the euro area?

Yes. Investor confidence, especially in emerging countries has not disappeared. She even remained strong, as evidenced by the excellent performance of the euro since the beginning of the crisis.The euro zone faces a crisis of governance, not a crisis of its currency.

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While the ongoing wrangle with Casino in Brazil has shifted in favor of its competitor, Carrefour has released Wednesday a turnover in line with expectations. Group sales in the first half amounted to 44.6 billion euros, up 2.7% at current exchange rates (+ 2.5% at constant exchange rates) and 0.1% in comparable excluding petrol, adjusted for the calendar effect. Sales for the second quarter amounted to 22.4 billion euros, up 1.6% at current exchange rates, but down 0.2% on a comparable basis, excluding petrol and excluding the calendar effect .

While the group had mid-June, revised down its operating income to 35% in France, it now expects a decline of 23%, due "mainly to France."Lars Olofsson said that "Carrefour has set up an action plan in order to achieve the target set by the Group to grow its sales and EBIT in 2011."

Uneven performance in France

In France, the performance is mixed. Lars Olofsson deplores a "unsatisfactory performance of hypermarkets," whose sales are down 3.3% excluding petrol in the second quarter and adjusted for the calendar effect, after falling 1% in the first quarter.

However, Carrefour welcomes the performance of its stores. Carrefour Market and saw its sales grow by 1.3%. As for Carrefour Planet, "the four stores models continue to show sales growth in double digits."In Asia, growth remained at 5.3%, with an increase of 8.3% in China.

In exchange, Carrefour began declining after the announcement of these results. After losing 3% on opening, the title was eventually closed up 1.52% to 22.325 euros in the last trade. The CAC finished up 0.51%

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Critics of the authorities are far from the decision of the rating agency Moody's: brutal. The German government and the European Commission on Wednesday challenged the sanction of the agency against Portugal. The country, which enjoys an international financial assistance, was relegated Tuesday category called "speculative" by Moody's.

"Not only the timing of the decision by Moody's is debatable, but it is based on hypothetical scenarios absolutely, not at all consistent with what is implemented," said the spokesman of the Commission Amadeu Altafaj. "This is a regrettable episode, which raises again the question of the relevance of the behavior of rating agencies." Even suspicion in Paris."It's not the look of a rating agency that will solve the case of the tension of sovereign debt and budget crisis," insisted Wednesday morning the new Minister of Economy Baroin.

Limit the "oligopoly"

You have to put limits on "oligopoly" enjoyed by the three global rating agencies such as Fitch, Moody's and Standard & Poor's, has claimed for its part, the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble. He said not to believe that the decision of Moody's based on any justification. The efforts of Lisbon go even further than its creditors demand, he argued. The Portuguese government has also protested against the sanction of Moody's, as in previous damage.

Portugal is trying to implement an austerity plan, negotiated in exchange for 78 billion euros in loans from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. No significant event has occurred in recent days on the forehead Portuguese fast payday loan no faxing. The decision by Moody's still dramatically raised the interest rate at 10 years of Portuguese debt, which has never been far from the German rate, the market benchmark. The total cost of insurance against the risk of bankruptcy of the country for its part, jumped on Wednesday at midday more than 100 points to 870 points, according to Markit.

"Bias" against Europe

The Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, himself a Portuguese, said he regretted "profoundly" the announcement by Moody's. This "adds a speculative element" in an already tense, he said."I particularly regret because of the timing and magnitude," he said, adding that "there may be some bias in the market when it comes to assessing the Europe ".

The struggle between European governments and the rating agencies is not limited to Portugal. The rating agency Standard & Poor's Monday questioned the plan outlined by Paris and banks to launch a second aid package for Greece, with private participation. The agency has determined that such a measure would require it to place the country in trouble in a situation of "partial failure". To which German Chancellor Angela Merkel, strong supporter of charging the private sector, responded that it was necessary to trust the European institutions.

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A real domino effect took place on European markets on Friday. First, it is the course of Italian banks, which fell sharply on the Stock Exchange shortly after the opening session. The title of Intensa Sanpaolo bank has started the day down 8%, then recover slightly to finish down by 4.26% to 1.70 euro at the Milan Stock Exchange. Another Italian bank, UniCredit, was suspended from trading because of excessive volatility of its stock, before resuming, and to close down by 5.54% to 1.363 euro.

According to traders, the dramatic decline in bank stocks is related to the Italian publication yesterday of a debt rating from Moody's. The rating agency has in fact threatened to lower the score of 16 Italian banks and two national financial institutions in the coming weeks.A decision, which followed the warning on the sovereign rating of Aa2 Italy, Moody's is considering possibly lower. The agency believes that the Italian economy is ill-prepared for a higher interest rate of 1.5% by the European Central Bank (ECB).

Spanish banks also under pressure

A similar scenario occurred at the Madrid Stock Exchange, where banks Santander and BBVA in closing yield 1.42% and 1.07% respectively. This fall, besides the influence of Italy, is amputated little optimistic comments by a member of the ECB Executive Board Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo. According to him, the difficulties in debt continue to hamper the recovery in growth in major economies of the European Union."Despite signs of recovery, the crisis continues and we are not prepared to see the end," he said in a speech at the University of Malaga, adding that the euro area is in the epicenter of the global financial crisis.

In order to save taxpayers the full cost of a new bailout of Greece, the Spanish government has asked banks and savings banks in the country to maintain custody of Greek sovereign debt over the next five years business card templates. In addition, the second aid package to Greece is expected to reach 110 billion euros at the European level, with the private sector contributing to 25% of that amount, according to sources. This pressure on the Spanish banks in a financial uncertainty, have also contributed to the decline in bank stocks in Madrid."We had a little bit of panic in markets with statements from each other on Greece," said one trader in Paris in an interview with Reuters.

French and British banks affected

The debt crisis in the euro area and uncertainties regarding the financing of the plan of aid to Greece depress shares of banks of several European markets. In the wake of Italian and Spanish banks, Natixis closed down -3.67% at the Paris Bourse, where she Clesse red lantern CAC 40. The other listed financial institutions in Paris, AXA (-2.45%), BNP Paribas (-2.13%), Crédit Agricole (-2.04%), and Societe Generale (-1.78%), also end down the charts.

The same quake on the financial sector took place in the City of London, but to a lesser extent. Standard Chartered yielded -0.95%, and the title of Barclays fell by -1.9% to closing of the London Stock Exchange.HSBC even managed to finish the session in the green, gaining 0.3%. Despite the concerns of the Policy Committee on Financial debt crisis, the Federation of British banking shows that banks already use their profits to build their own funds. But some analysts now fear that their ability to lend to households and businesses suffer.

Latest bad news for the banking industry on Friday: Moody's lowered the debt rating assigned to the two country's banks, Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society to Caa1 from Caa2. This decision was taken in response to what the Irish government, which said last week will bear the losses of these banks with their bondholders. These two Irish banks are not publicly traded.