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"The nuclear renaissance is confirmed", says Anne Lauvergeon, president of Areva, commenting on his group's interim results, and highlighting a turnover up 6.4% to 4.16 billion euros and a backlog increased 2.7% to 44.1 billion euros.

The group also reported a net profit of 843 million euros between January and June 2010. But excluding the gain realized from the sale of its subsidiary Alstom Transmission & Distribution and Schneider, who has reported EUR 1.3 billion to Areva, the accounts are in the red.Last year, during the first half, earnings reached 161 million euros.

Operating profit, excluding capital gains, it is clearly in the red at -485 000 000 euros, cons -170 000 000 euros in the first half of 2009.

Impairments chain

The world's largest producer of uranium indicates that it found "a depreciation of 300 million euros on some of its mining assets, because new data looking at futures prices of uranium.

There is also a provision of 400 million euros in late June increased to cover additional costs due to further delays, construction of the EPR at Olkiluoto in Finland.

It was the eighth consecutive allowance increased by Areva on this site.In total, Areva has recorded 2.6 billion euros of provisions for OL3 after the 367 million recorded in the first half cash advance loan. This third generation reactor will cost a total of 5.7 billion euros, while the original price was 3 billion euros.

The site has actually taken four years behind its original schedule, due to a series of technical difficulties. Scheduled to start in April 2009, the EPR should not enter service until late 2012 or early 2013.

An agreement with EDF

This publication comes as the Elysée has just demanded that the builder of reactors and EDF sign a strategic partnership agreement covering all areas of their mutual interest in nuclear energy.

The possibility of the rise in the capital of EDF in Areva will be examined in the context of this agreement.Areva also has proceed before the end of 2010 a capital increase of up to 15% to finance the necessary investments for its development.

Net debt stood at Areva 5.152 billion euros at end June 2010 against 6.193 billion at end 2009, for equity of 8.7 billion.

As part of its financing plan, Areva has also planned to divest its holdings from 25.6% in Eramet and 10.9% in STMicroelectronics, which must remain under public ownership.

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In ten years the state has lost 100 billion euros in revenue. This figure results from the calculations of shock UMP Gilles Carrez, general rapporteur of the Budget, published by Les Echos. What set the scene while the deputies are to discuss Tuesday guidance of public finances, which will set priorities for the years 2011-2013. The challenge: reducing the government deficit of 7.5% in 2009 to 6% in 2011 and to 3% in 2013 to meet EU rules. And convince investors of the seriousness of France.

Since 2000, said Gilles Carrez, 70 billion euros of tax cuts have been granted by the governments of left and right. At the same time, 40 billion of revenue were donated to the Social Security and local authorities. The whole, "without these have been offset by lower expenses!" Gilles Carrez surprised in an interview with Les Echos.

The largesse of governments are particularly focused on tax cuts on income and on the proliferation of tax shelters. Then, down one point from VAT in 2000 has caused an erosion of 40% of revenues.

To redress the balance, the member calls for "an effort on tax revenues and social order of 15 billion euros is needed to demonstrate our commitment to reducing deficits and debt". The markets and rating agencies watch the France at the turn. If they judge announced that the effort is insufficient, the state will see its rating deteriorated and must borrow at higher interest rates.

Effort "just"

Still, the effort "must be fair," Eaton Gilles Carrez. Therefore, "the movement of the plane" tax "should apply to the broadest possible base."Income tax, corporation tax, solidarity tax on wealth, and even VAT should be reviewed.

For example, the 5.5% VAT on food is expected to increase to 12%, defends the member. A measure already excluded by Bercy. On the other hand, Gilles Carrez believes that the biofuel "is developed enough to no longer need to be subsidized.

The group Danone announced Friday the signing of an agreement for the acquisition of Medical Nutrition (NMI), an American company specializing in nutritional supplements for people under medical supervision.

The agreement provides that Danone will pay in cash approximately $ 62 million (51 million) to shareholders of MNI to acquire 100% of the group, Danone said in a statement.

The board of directors of American society has unanimously approved the merger, the CEO Frank A. Newman called "a tremendous opportunity for consumers, employees and shareholders of MNI.

Complementary products

The statement said the "strong complementarities" the two companies "in terms of product lines and distribution channels."Those would cater for the NMI especially the elderly, while those of Nutricia subsidiary of Danone, are primarily intended for infants.

NMI has recorded a turnover of 16 million dollars for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2010, multiplied by ten in seven years. Its activities will be integrated into medical nutrition division of Danone, which last year generated in North America 70 million dollars. Danone considers medical nutrition as "the most attractive category of food."

The computer maker Dell said Thursday after the close on Wall Street have spent a sum of $ 100 million to settle charges related to an investigation by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), the regulatory authority of U.S. markets , about his relationship with Intel and its accounting practices.

The legal provision pushed Dell to revise downwards its forecast for first quarter 2011. Net income for the company is reduced by $ 100 million to 341 million dollars. In turn, earnings per share decreased by 5 cents to $ 0.17 Easy Pay day loans.The result before exceptional items is not affected.

The SEC investigation into accounting practices and financial Dell and its business relationship with Intel, accused of anti-competitive practices, the computer maker said in a statement. Dell said it is in discussions with the SEC to settle amicably the investigation, adding that this did not imply recognition or denial of suspicion.

Following the announcement, as Dell was losing 2.5% in trading after-hours trade.

In an interview on RMC Info radio on Wednesday morning, the president of the SNCF, Guillaume Pepy announced three measures to better inform customers of the railway, victims of disruptions caused by the strike now in its eighth day.

SNCF undertakes to publish on Friday on its website and in the press, the list "train by train those who ride or not" for his customers are accurately informed about the conditions of their journey.

Another point, there will be more bookings on the main rail-route to the south-east, that is to say where the strike is the most followed. However, the reservations already made will remain valid.Guillaume Pepy has finally announced that there will be "measures of reimbursement for customers affected by the strike, but the details will be given after consultation with associations of users.

Do not give "bonus to strike"

Guillaume Pepy said also do not want to negotiate with the strikers saying only that "it is simply a bonus to strike from the premium to trading." Indeed, the two unions on strike, the CGT and the South have made the request a separate negotiation.Also it is "optimistic" about the round table proposed by management to all trade unions on April 21.

He also stressed that the minimum service was "pretty well" and that "all trains that were scheduled have been circulating," welcoming "the 96% of railway workers", they "were stoned for the past eight days to protect our customers maximum.

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The crisis is good for the atmosphere! Figures released Thursday by the European Commission confirmed. In 2009, 12 569 industrial facilities belonging to the EU subject to a quota system for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have seen their greenhouse gas emissions fall by 11%.

Main reason for this improved environmental performance: the recession. Manufacturers must report annually their copy in Brussels on March 31, that provide estimates of their emissions of CO2 duly verified. Crisis forces, thousands of factories have emitted less tons of CO2 that the annual ceiling that has been allocated for the period 2008-2012.In other words, "there is a huge surplus of allowances," says Emmanuel Fages, an analyst at market CO2 Orbeo, a subsidiary of Societe Generale.

When the allocation of quotas by country and by industry, by 2008, some sectors have been able to negotiate generous limits, said Emmanuel Fages. This lobbying coupled with the crisis allowed them to return today holders of "carbon credits" worth tens of millions of euros, they may at their discretion to sell on the market. Thus, preliminary analysis of 12 569 lines of picture released Thursday in Brussels, European steelmakers (including mining) are left with 93 million tonnes of CO2 "in his pocket." In the spot market price on the spot exchange BlueNext Paris (12.65 euros a tonne on Thursday), this represents 1.17 billion euros of Treasury.The cement for their part have 53 million surplus allowances (670 million) cash fast now. As electricians, they have instead passed their overall ceiling of 100 million tonnes of carbon they will buy on the market.

In France, among the 1 118 facilities (power plants, boilers) subject to quotas, ArcelorMittal, with its two plants Gandrange and Mediterranean, has a surplus of 2.9 million tonnes, 36.9 million treasure euros at market prices. Ten plants of Lafarge cement totaled 1.3 million tons, 16.9 million euros.

In the automotive sector, emissions of four plants Peugeot-Citroen reflect the depressed activity. PSA has a credit of 138 000 tonnes.Even Disneyland in Marne-la-Vallee, low emitter of greenhouse gases but nevertheless subject to quotas liberates carbon credit of 3 650 tonnes. The raw data do not explain the case of crisis or the effect of efforts to produce heat and electricity more green.

Should we expect massive sales of CO2 by companies tempted to rake in cash, and thus a decline in the price of carbon on the European market? Although official figures for CO2 emissions, one indicator of demand for this very special market, falling only once a year, and analysts expect the industry. "There is therefore no surprise," says Emmanuel Fages. "We do not wait more sales," says the analyst Orbeo.

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During the worst crisis in the global economy since 1929, electronic commerce has continued to grow. The turnover posted by online merchants reached 25 billion euros, up 26% in one year. Growth continues at a speed so rampant: the activity has increased tenfold since 2002. Electronic commerce now weighs just over 4% of retail sales (excluding food and pharmaceuticals) paydayloans . And projections are optimistic, according to the Federation of e-commerce and distance selling (Fevad), who presented the results Tuesday, the amount could reach 46 billion by 2012. The increase in 2009 was fueled in particular the creation of 17,000 new commercial sites, two every hour!

With the boom of smart phones, networks running at full speed for surfing the Web, connect to social networks, send email, video, SMS … As the family expands again with the arrival of "Nexus One" by Google the networks they might saturation? For with the arrival of these phones and multifunction keys 3G networks face increasing traffic without precedent: it will double from one year to another, according to Frederic Pujol cabinet Idate. At Vodafone, he has been multiplied by four!

Several operators have paid the price, such O2 in Britain, which recognized that the iPhone had saturated its London network in recent months, preventing him from making and receiving calls.AT & T, the United States, has experienced the same situation, which led its director of information services that the iPhone was his worst nightmare!

French mobile operators, trained by the British example, take this seriously. But no doom, all three believe that the situation of French networks, which they invest each year is immune to failure.

Heavy investment

"This is a subject on which we are very vigilant but without real concern, says Jean-Marc Tassetto, general manager marketing and public SFR. On the one hand, we invest each year in our network for sizing, or even 1.4 billion euros this year. Secondly, we propose solutions to our customers to address the increase in traffic. "SFR, which has two million SFR-Neuf box connected via Wi-Fi, opened the Wi-Fi to its mobile subscribers.Secondly, SFR is the "femtocell," these small antennae on the DSL box, which should also help alleviate traffic in mobile networks. Finally, Vodafone has introduced a policy of "good practices" to exclude a few users who clog the network with abuses.

Besides the use of iPhone users stabilizes. "The first customers were using 500 to 600 Megabits per month, today the average is 300 megabits. That makes sense: once you've discovered the applications from the App Store, you return to a more reasonable consumer, "says Jean-Marc Tassetto.

Even finding in Orange and Bouygues Telecom. "Bouygues Telecom has no risk of saturation. We have two times less customers than our competitors and yet a similar network architecture.In the current state of the network Bouygues Telecom can triple its capacity because we did not use any bandwidth. The increase of traffic justifies a posteriori all the investments we have made in our 3G network, "says Emmanuel Forest, deputy CEO at Bouygues Telecom. Know sizing the network to customer needs is just the heart of the business telecom operator. "Anticipating the saturation is what we do since our inception in 1996. Each year we add radio cards needed in the network. The phenomenon is expected, and anticipated no difficulties, neither technical nor financial, "he concludes.

The suspense was lifted on the eve of a meeting of oil cartel in Luanda. Abdallah el-Badri, secretary general of the organization, said Monday the consensus between the different member countries. An increase in OPEC production "is not in the radar" for next year, he also said, saying the current price levels were "very comfortable".

"Stocks (…) are a little high," then said Abdullah el-Badri, adding that the cartel, which is not less than 40% of world production, was to "bring them back to reasonable levels."

It has, finally, stressed the importance of meeting production quotas imposed on member countries. In late 2008, OPEC had agreed to remove the oil market 4.2 million barrels per day (bpd) to stem the collapse in oil prices which had touched $ 30 a barrel.In November, the 11 members bound by quotas (excluding Iraq) pumped 1.6 million bpd more than its official ceiling, according to the International Atomic Energy.