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Warren Buffett, white knight of American banks in trouble? After investing $ 5 billion in Goldman Sachs in a financial crisis of 2008, the American billionaire announced Thursday that his Berkshire Hathaway fund invested in the same Bank of America (BofA), the first U.S. bank by assets.

Warren Buffett acquires 50,000 preferred shares with an annual cumulative dividend of 6%. The bank may redeem the securities when she wants by paying a 5% premium to the investor. Warren Buffett will purchase warrants to purchase also 700 million shares BofA to just over 7.14 dollars each. The warrants will be exercisable at any time over a period of ten years.

The billionaire has named the CEO of BofA, Brian Moynihan, this weekend. The deal was sealed a few days."Bank of America is a solid, well managed," says Warren Buffett in a statement. He said he was "impressed" by the capabilities of the bank "to generate profits" and "how [the leaders] are acting aggressively to overcome their problems."

The stock has lost half its value since January

Warren Buffett's intervention was welcomed in the markets: the title soared 25% at the opening of Wall Street. It concludes with an increase of 9.44% to 7.69 dollars while the Dow Jones ended down sharply from 1.51%. It must be said that the title was a particularly difficult month of August, falling to 35%. Since mid-January, the stock has lost half its value.

The situation of the bank, which reported a record loss of $ 8.8 billion in the second quarter, investors worried indeed.BofA is weighed down by deteriorating U.S. housing market but also by the problems inherited from its mortgage subsidiary, Countrywide Financial. It has pledged $ 8.5 billion to investors who lost big at the height of the crisis because of its risky financial products they sold.

Analysts estimated so that the bank would soon need a capital increase, the amount could reach $ 50 billion by some estimates. But CEO Brian Moynihan denies again the rumors: "I remain confident in the fact that we have capital and liquidity to our operations, says in a statement he issued Thursday.I recognize along with a significant investment from Warren Buffett is a strong support to our vision and our strategy. "

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Sign that the markets are still very feverish, gold crossed for the first time in its history the bar in 1900 dollars an ounce to more than 1914 dollars exactly. Nevertheless, the Cac 40 was able to continue to rise on Tuesday, after gaining 1.14% to 3051.36 points at the close Monday. The index, which accounted for more than 2% in morning reduced its gains later and was up 1.08% to 3084.37 points at closing.

Of the other major European stock markets, the FTSE-100 from the London Stock Exchange gained 0.67% at end-30 Dax and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is 1.07%.Wall Street closed Monday evening while a cautious rebound Asian stock markets advance slowly, scheduled to open on Tuesday, and more open up if we believe the index futures.

While awaiting the president's speech to the U.S. central bank, Ben Bernanke, Friday, and the publication of the second estimate of U.S. GDP in the second quarter, the same day, the markets remain nervous and are attentive to the situation in Libya where the prospect of regime change seems inevitable after 42 years of rule of Colonel Gaddafi. The wait also dominates the New York Stock Exchange opened in a small increase.

Oil prices retreat slightly

As a result, oil prices are cautious on Tuesday. a barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery barrel of Brent took only 18 cents to 108.54 dollars, after losing 18 cents in early trade.In New York, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October has opened up 66 cents to 85.06 dollars.

On the macroeconomic front, the growth in activity in France has re-accelerated slightly in August, but three months to offset the sharp slowdown that has just experienced. The manufacturing PMI rose to 53.6 points against 53.2 in July.

But, overall, the indicators of the day are at least mixed. The barometer of confidence Zew, who searches the expectations of German financial community, still has significantly declined in August for the sixth consecutive time. Private activity in euro area, it stagnated and remains at a low of nearly two years.

In the U.S., sales of new homes in July emerged declined by 0.7% in July, after falling 2.9% in June, according to figures released Tuesday by the Commerce Department.On an annual basis, the sales trend was 298,000 units, after 300 000 (revised 312000) in June. Analysts on average had forecast 310,000.

On the corporate side, while the regime of Colonel Gaddafi is expected to end, the oil is in the form: Technip wins 1.45% to 60.69 euros and total advances of 1.15% to 33.085 euros.

The CAC was increased by cyclic: Air Liquide (2.85% to 68.22 euros) signed the largest increase in the Paris index.

Schneider Electric: + 2.09% to 86.63 euros

Schneider Electric continues for the second time its tender offer in cash on all shares of Spanish Telvent at a price of 40 dollars per share.

Carrefour: + 0.62% to 18.755 euros

Carrefour announced Monday the appointment of Thierry Garnier, currently executive director of distribution group for growth markets, the Executive Director for China and Taiwan, replacing Eric Legros.

Sanofi: + 1.68% to 49.95 euros

Aventis Pharma, Indian subsidiary of Sanofi, is close to buying activities without prescription Universal Medicare, an unlisted Indian pharmaceutical company to 75.8 million euros, said on Tuesday two sources close to the situation.

Societe Generale: -0.31% to 21 euros

Societe Generale has asked the bank Rothschild to set up a liquidity contract with a budget of 170 million euros to support its action, which has lost more than 40% of its value in a month.

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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Black Series for Chinese railways. After the disappointments of the Beijing-Shanghai line, widely derided by the Chinese Web, is this time a drama that causes the emotion of the public and raises new questions about the reliability of high-speed rail of the Middle Kingdom. The derailment on Saturday night, a fast train in the province of Zhejiang, near Shanghai, has made at least thirty-six dead and more than two hundred wounded.

The flagship of the national technology transformed in the process of death, it was enough to unleash the critics. The subject quickly became number one on Weibo, the Chinese Twitter, where some users even ask for the resignation of the new Minister of Railways, Sheng Guangzu.Determined to reassure public opinion, the central government responded quickly with the dismissal of three officials of the Bureau of Shanghai Railway and the opening of an inspection "urgent" for the entire rail network quickly. It is already the largest in the world with nearly 8000 kilometers. Beijing plans to build 25,000 km of rowing in 2015 and 50,000 in 2020.

"Management very opaque"

An incident signal is the cause of the tragic accident following a storm that would have cut the power supply.The first train came to rest on the line Hangzhou-Fuzhou up to the city of Wenzhou, before a second can come and hit on an overpass, four cars going overboard.

The recent revelations of corruption, which led to the dismissal of Minister of Railways Liu Zhijun, in February and the disappointments of the Beijing-Shanghai line, since its inauguration on June 30, have seriously damaged the reputation Fast Train "Made in China" held by the Chinese insecure themselves savings account payday advance. But the accident Wenzhou available as a "bloody lesson to all of the rail industry in China. This should be the starting point for standard rail safer, "said an editorial in the very official Global Times."The main problem of Chinese trains, the Ministry of Railways and its management very opaque bidding," says Thibaud Voïta, a researcher at Asia Centre.

Media and Chinese researchers close to the government are desperately trying to save face. While the label "100% Made in China" was praised at the opening of the Beijing-Shanghai, he suddenly recalled that part of the DNA is also imported Chinese railway. "The key technologies, such as control systems and the locomotive from overseas and they are perhaps not safe," said Professor Wang and the University Transportation Southwest Chengdu, known for his special train.

Today, the drama of Wenzhou could not only slow the pace of network expansion, but also jeopardize the future of the train overseas Chinese.Other emerging markets in South America or the Middle East were, however, referred to in Beijing.

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After another clash Friday night between Barack Obama and Republican representatives in Congress, the White House will again this Saturday, the scene of fierce debate between Bush and senior Republican and Democratic policies. A new summit meeting, almost the last chance to try to finally find a compromise on measures to offset the U.S. debt, on which are fighting foot by foot for weeks the two historical parties.

Are expected at the White House to 17 hours (French time) John Boehner, Republican leader of the House of Representatives, Harry Reid, the chairman of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, the leader of Republican senators and Nancy Pelosi, head of the Democratic minority in the House, all four urgently summoned by the president.

Obama too demanding

That night, the U.S. has escalated in the power struggle between elected Republicans and Democrats. Having failed to reach an agreement with Barack Obama, Republican John Boehner, slammed the door to negotiations with the president.

At issue this time, according to Boehner: will the Democratic president to push through $ 400 billion of additional tax increases. A demand unacceptable, according to Boehner, while the two sides had previously agreed to a ceiling of one trillion dollars in additional tax revenue.This Saturday, the threat of a default by August 2 of the world's largest economy has thus further increased.

Of default formally excluded

The President has convened a number of political leaders to an emergency meeting Saturday afternoon at the White House to try yet again to reach compromise. Both sides say they are confident of raising the debt ceiling (14.294 billion U.S. dollars), reached on May 16, but whether common ground had been reached on the amount of the uncapping. Barack Obama and John Boehner have ruled out a formal non-payment within 10 days.

But the talks still face the question of the amount of budget cuts and debt reduction.Republican side, John Boehner said that after the new clash, he preferred to look to the leaders of the Senate to find a "reasonable" on these issues. Which casts a big doubt about the outcome of negotiations Saturday with the president, which is called Boehner. Democratic side, Barack Obama is prepared to assume full political responsibility to raise the debt ceiling in order to unlock at least for a time, the status quo. "If that's all Congress can do, I will sign an increase in the ceiling to take us to 2013," the president said.

Obama recalled that he had proposed to the Republican's $ 1.65 trillion spending cuts various offers an "extraordinarily fair" said the president.But still not enough for John Boehner, who accuses the president's inability to take "tough decisions" on reducing public spending. Boehmer wishes to bring to the 3 trillion budget savings over 10 years.

Ds critical deadlines

The time to find common ground is critical. The readiness of Barack Obama to convene a further meeting this Saturday is a sign that the U.S. president does not want to wait until the deadline of August 2 to reach an agreement. "We have more time in front of us," he said.

Recalling that Wall Street opened Monday, the president pointed to the impact on financial markets of such uncertainty. "Americans are outraged" by the inability of Congress to act, he said.This willingness to find a solution is also shared by the Republican camp, in which counsel highlighted the urgency of an agreement by Monday. What then leave both parties ten days to write a non-redundant legislation and get it validated by Congress.

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A TV for unlimited calling. Sony chose an original niche to highlight its TV connected: video conferencing over Skype, a service that allows free calls, provided you have an Internet connection.

If Japanese is not the only one to offer this service – Samsung, LG and Panasonic offer it as well – it is the first to make it as widely promoted. This choice is indicative of the state of the market for connected TV, which is considered a powerful source of growth for manufacturers, but that is slow to take off. For now, in fact, consumers are not rushing to acquire these new displays, including the additional cost can reach 20%. Now, Sony has chosen to generalize the TV connected to nearly all its range: 90% is provided.The ability to enjoy a free video conferencing service, regardless of the destination of the call could be a vehicle purchase.

Microsoft, another winner

But this initiative also risks alienating the telecom operators, who see emerge a new type of competition. However, competition is already fierce between service providers that continue to add "free" to their offering. Not to mention the risk of flooding posed to Internet networks likely this additional data traffic.

The highlighting of Skype, which is a service offered by Sony on its TV connected, enter the group's strategy to "bring consumers to their television, they gradually abandoned in favor of their PC, smartphone or tablet.The President of the Japanese giant, Howard Stringer, has willingly TV connected as an element "family structure" which may again find themselves in a room.

Although, paradoxically, the fact chat on his television to watch television prevents! Indeed, if technically nothing prevents the embedding of a "picture in picture, television channels are radically opposed to the idea of ​​content that eludes them inserted in" their "emissions. And even if the content is generated by the viewer himself.

For TV makers, adding new services, including Skype is the illustration, also aims to maintain the value of their products in a market where prices are falling fast.

Finally, the main beneficiaries of development of the offer should be Skype and its new owner Microsoft.The software company was criticized for having paid dearly (8.5 billion dollars) the service provider, has everything to gain. Since March, banner ads can be inserted into the video chat. On the big screen, they will be better highlighted! The benefits of Skype may finally take off.

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U.S. stock markets close an increased very slightly on Thursday. The Dow Jones is 0.07% to 12,402.76 points, the S & P 500 gained 0.40% to 1325.69 points and the Nasdaq rose 0.78% to 2782.92 points.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro rebounded against the dollar on Thursday, helped by speculation about a coming increase in Chinese investment in the European sovereign debt.By late evening in Paris, the European single currency was worth 1.4135 dollars against 1.4083 dollars late Wednesday.

On the macroeconomic front, the U.S. GDP grew 1.8% in the first quarter, according to the second official estimate of the growth of winter, which confirms the original figure while analysts thought it would be revised upwards (consensus expected 2% growth).

New jobless claims in the United States are divided on the rise during the third week of May, 424,000 according to figures released Thursday by the Department of Labor (cons 414,000 the previous week), while analysts expected a decline, to 400,000.

Freescale Semiconductor revises downward its ambitions

The side of values, the scoring title Freescale Semiconductor will begin Thursday.The group says it still hopes to sell 6.5 million additional shares by June 1, in addition to the 43.5 million already invested. Freescale has set a price of $ 18 per share when it had advanced a range from 22 to 24 dollars in early May.

Microsoft: 1.98% to 24.67 dollars

The investment fund Greenlight Capital, a shareholder of Microsoft, wants to remove the CEO of computer giant, saying that Steve Ballmer is a man of the past best payday advance.

Computer Science: -13.02% to 38.35 dollars

For his part Computer Sciences announced yesterday evening after the close of Wall Street have registered for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010/2011 earnings per share of $ 1.09 against $ 1.16 and $ 1.66 expected year past. Turnover was 4.2 billion, stable over one year.Over the full year, EPS fell 10.4% while turnover remained stable at 16 billion dollars.

Liberty Global: 1.51% to 44.92 dollars

Also after the close of U.S. markets, Liberty Global has received an indicative offer from Foxtel to buy back its subsidiary Austar United Communications owned 54.2% at a price of 1.52 Australian dollars per share, valuing the share of Liberty Global to nearly one billion Australian dollars.

NetApp: 6.92% to 55.31 dollars

NetApp reported for the fourth quarter earnings per share of $ 0.59 against $ 0.53 expected and $ 0.5 last year, while turnover reached 1.4 billion dollars against 1.2 billion last year.For the quarter, NetApp expects earnings per share of 0.52 to $ 0.57 and revenues of about $ 1.5 billion.

Google: -0.30% to 518.13 dollars

Also of note, Google has unveiled a contactless payment solution developed by MasterCard and Citigroup. The owners of Android phones will eventually make their phones instead of their credit card at the checkout.

In Greece, the IMF Dominique Strauss-Kahn was among the first to sound the alarm. Without openly contradict the assurance of Europeans, as many economists doubted the success of the rescue plan launched a year ago: Too many deadlines, not enough growth.

Monday in Brussels, twelve months after betting that Greece would be in 2012 on the markets to finance its deficits, the countries of the euro went to the inevitable: the appointment is missed, the Papandreou government will need aid of fifty billion by 2013 in addition to 110 billion made a year ago, and the question is, nagging about the ability of Athens to one day repay her debts.

What the German liberals of the FDP already denounced as a "bottomless pit" is primarily a political problem for Angela Merkel.Since the beginning of the crisis of sovereign debt, German politicians proved less willing than others to raise money for the taxpayer at any price stability in the euro area.

To divert a debate as to poison repetitive, Germany now proposes to extend the repayment schedule in Athens. In consideration of a new fiscal tightening, would be the way to relieve the cash Greece and reduce all credits claimed on the rest of the eurozone.

78 billion euros to save Portugal

Wolfgang Schäuble, the Minister of Finance since Sunday added a condition sine qua non: "All credits will be rescheduled as well, that is to say, both those made by private banks as those granted by the various bailout fund set up by the EU and the seventeen countries of the euro.

The scenario is dictated by the desire to Berlin not to suggest to voters that he pays only instead of banks. He received on Monday, supported by Austria and Luxembourg. But it gives a cold sweat in the financial community and the European Central Bank (ECB). For many it is the first step towards a "restructuring" of Greek loans: in other words, debt forgiveness as an extension of time, lower interest rates, reduced principal or a cocktail of three .France and its banks heavily engaged in Athens, are against "all forms", repeats Christine Lagarde.

Shortly before the Eurogroup meeting on Monday night, the Barroso Commission has begun to cut corners. A restructuring would present "devastating consequences" for public and private creditors and Greece would be better advised to look for new resources in the accelerated implementation of its privatization plan. But "arrangements are always possible," said spokesman Amadeu Alfataj.Divided on the Greek case, the Europeans are, however, were more divided over the issue Portuguese EU finance ministers gave the go-ahead for a bailout plan for Portugal, which provides 78 billion euros in loans to joint the IMF in exchange for austerity.

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The NYSE has hesitated Thursday. After starting down (-0.20% for the Dow Jones), the indices have found the path to higher late morning due to a rise in oil prices. At closing, the Dow Jones gained 0.52% to 12,695.92 points, the Nasdaq is 0.63% at 2863.04 points and the S & P advance of 0.49% to 1348.65 points.

This return was made in the green at the same time as the rise in oil prices. The latter, who had also opened lower at 96.96 dollars, recovered after a sharp color correction yesterday, the falling dollar has helped offset concerns about the request. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for June delivery gained 76 cents, or 0.77%, to finish at 98.97 dollars a barrel, having fluctuated between 95.25 and 100.49 dollars.Brent for the same period has gained 41 cents to 112.98 dollars a barrel, after having moved between 110.15 and 114.56 dollars.

Greece worries

The caution remained, however, put: "The concerns about Europe and the debt crisis with the International Monetary Fund warning of a risk of contagion from the situation in Greece, the indicators of China earlier this week, The warning from the International Energy Agency on oil demand, it all comes out at once and shower market, "said Phil Flynn of PFG Best Research.

The fiscal situation in Greece still disturbs the meeting.Thousands of Greeks have shown Wednesday, the day of general strike against austerity measures and privatizations decided by the government that seeks new international aid to avoid a debt restructuring of the country.

In the wake of these events, the euro fell sharply against the greenback, falling below $ 1.42 Wednesday. But about 20 hours, the single currency rises. The euro bought 1.4266 dollars at that time against 1.4193 dollars late Wednesday.

The jobless claims fall

On the macroeconomic front, retail sales rose slightly less than expected in April in the U.S. (+0.5% against 0.6%), posting their smallest increase in nine months as rising prices Food and fuel accounts for household spending.The producer prices have increased them by 0.8% in April according to figures released Thursday by the Labor Department, more than expected by analysts who had forecast 0.5%.

New jobless claims fell to 434,000 during the first week of May, according to figures released Thursday by the Labor Department, down nearly equal to the unexpected increase in the previous week.

Finally, business inventories rose more than expected in March, while sales posted their largest gain in a year, suggesting that first-quarter GDP will be revised upward, said Thursday the Commerce Department.Inventories rose 1.0% to 1.476 billion dollars, its highest level since November 2008, while economists polled by Reuters had waited an increase of 0.8%.

The energy sector rose

The oil companies, heavy odds, penalized yesterday by falling prices, have contributed to their rise Thursday in the image of Chevron (+0.52% to 102.79 dollars).

Cisco (-4.78% to 16.93 dollars) unveiled for the fourth quarter 2010/2011 sales of $ 1.67 billion, up 9% and net profits tax of 168 million dollars against 184 million last year. For the current quarter, the software company believes that business prospects are mixed and the current quarter will be "low" according to the leaders.

The publisher of security software and antivirus software, Symantec (5.20% to 20.42 dollars) has announced earnings per share of 38 cents against 36 cents expected by analysts, and a turnover of $ 1.67 billion also exceeded expectations of analysts who had forecast $ 1.6 billion.

Google Internet group (-0.07% to 535.05 U.S. dollars) will launch next month the first computers using its new operating system chrome, representing a total challenge to the business model of Microsoft with its Windows system.These computers manufactured by Acer and Samsung, will have the distinction of having the browser Chrome only software preinstalled.

The U.S. internet group Yahoo! (-0.17% To 17.17 dolars) is still buffeted stock exchange after revealing that a subsidiary of the Chinese payment service online Alibaba Group, where he has a major stake, was passed under the control of boss Jack Ma of Alibaba

The rating agency Standard and Poor's said Wednesday evening that she fell a notch to "BBB" rating of the chemical group Dow Chemical (-0.21% to 38.92 U.S. dollars) with a stable outlook, due to the progress of its results and its prospects for debt reduction.

Also note, the leaders of telecom operators AT & T and T-Mobile (+0.13% to 31.42 dollars) clashed Wednesday night on U.S. lawmakers skeptical of their merger at $ 39 billion, announced in March . "Now four companies control nearly 90% of the national market of mobile telephony," said Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy. He called the competition authorities and Communications to conduct an extensive review of the transaction.

In Paris, investors should be wary this Tuesday as the day before the European and U.S. indices were trembling face the prospect of lowering the debt rating of long-term U.S. from rating agency Standard and Poor's. This morning, the effects of this threat is felt: in Asia, the main financial centers are displayed in red.

The session will be moderated by toufefois a series of publications. This morning already, and Essilor Zodiac unveiled their quarterly sales figures. Tonight, one of L'Oréal is expected. Side economic figures in France, the PMI flash (First estimate) Markit will be announced at 9:00. European side, the new car registrations in the EU for the month of March will be known at the same time. At 11 hours, the balance of payments in the fourth quarter of 2010 the euro area is known.United States, is expected to 14:30 starts in March housing.

On the currency front, the euro fell sharply against the dollar on Monday night, however briefly falling below $ 1.42, weighed down by renewed concerns over the debts of the most fragile countries in the euro area, although United States have themselves received a stern warning.Oil also fell back after a warning from Standard & Poor's, but the situation in the Arab world will continue to drive prices upward

Essilor confirms its objectives

Specialist ophthalmic equipment has confirmed its annual targets by announcing Tuesday an increase of 13.4% of its turnover in the first quarter thanks to its good performance in Asia and Latin America.

Zodiac Aerospace announced Tuesday it raised its forecast operating margin for the year 2010-2011 after having almost doubled in the first half thanks to the recovery confirmed the aviation sector. The aerospace equipment now expects an operating margin of 13% – against 12% and 13% previously – on the basis of one euro to $ 1.30.

LVMH saw sales growth accelerate in the first quarter despite the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, while analysts had forecast a slowdown in the growth of global luxury goods giant.

Edenred announced an increase in its turnover and volume of issuance in the first quarter thanks to strong performances in Latin America, while those in Europe are more mixed.

Soitec has reported an increase of 34.4% of its turnover in 2010 thanks to a rebound in demand in the fourth quarter and expects an operating profit "slightly positive" for the year.

Michelin announced Monday the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese groups and Double Coin Huayi for the creation of a joint venture dedicated to the production of tires for the Chinese market.

Audika confirmed its target of annual sales by announcing an increase of 8.6% compared to the first quarter of 2011.

Guyenne & Gascogne posted a turnover up 4.5% in the first quarter of fiscal 2011, mainly supported by higher fuel prices during the period.

Le Noble Age has reported a 11.3% increase from its operating revenue in 2010 to 179.9 million euros and said it expects for 2011 an increase of 7% at constant perimeter.Its operating profit gained 30.3% to 17.2 million while the group of nursing homes and health facilities was counting on $ 16 million.

April Group announced Monday the acquisition of the Elco, based in Montreal, a broker specializing in risk of damage for which the activity represented 10.5 million euros last year. Elco, which employs 80 employees, will be consolidated into its accounts from 1 April.

Theolia announced Monday it had charged an operating loss in 2010, hit by a major disposal plan that has sealed its production of electricity for its own account.

L'Oreal will publish tonight after the close of trading in its quarterly revenue and Spir Communication, and Transgene aufeminin.com.