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The Paris Bourse is finally unable to hold above the 4000 points reached Wednesday. Despite the good result sets of JPMorgan in the U.S., caution has led the CAC 40 in this technical threshold. The benchmark index in Paris was then increased its losses in mid-session, yielding 1.32% to 3953.53 points. He finished down 0.90% at 3970.39 points, weighed down by fears about a possible restructuring of the Greek debt and persistent inflationary pressures, particularly in the United States and China.

In Germany, the markets followed the same path, down 0.44% at 7146.56 points for the Dax in Frankfurt. In London, the FTSE losing 0.78% to 5963.80 points. The IPO announcement of Glencore, in the month of May in London and Hong Kong, has hardly been enough on Thursday to revitalize the markets.The introduction of the giant commodities trading could reach $ 12.1 billion.

Operators have followed the footsteps of their counterparts on Wall Street and Asian markets. Time to dissect the business publications across the Atlantic. Japan also remains a concern for markets.The nuclear situation remains tense in the country while the authorities claim that the islands have to find other means to cool the reactor number two of the nuclear Fukushima-Daiichi because of the difficulty of evacuation contaminated water.

Disappointing U.S. jobless claims

Side indicators, markets have kept an eye on economic forecasts, better than expected, the German Government: Berlin expects growth of 2.6% this year against 2.3% during the previous estimate, then 1.8% 2012 and 1.75% per year until 2015.Overseas, the Labor Department has published an index of producer prices rose and weekly jobless claims, which, against all odds, were up: 412 000 385 000 cons last week.

In France, Minister of Economy confirms the decrease to 2.25% of its growth forecast for 2012 against 2.5% previously. Its stability program should be forwarded to Parliament Friday.

On oil markets, investors are plunged into doubt. Oil prices have evolved in a piecemeal in the morning, the market for assessing the impact of high prices on global growth. Around 18 pm, U.S. crude boosts earnings, taking over a dollar and approaching $ 108 a barrel.The courses benefit from the weak dollar and news of a sharp decline in gasoline stocks in the United States.

Side currency, the euro is stable, the prospect of another hike in interest rates in the euro zone offset fears of a forced restructuring of the Greek debt.Around 18 pm, a euro is worth 1.4460 dollars.

Schneider and Tyco: the series

Note side values ​​that banks are among the largest declines the CAC 40: Societe Generale, BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole unleash respectively 2.15%, 1.55% and 2.34%.

Danone: + 1.96% to 47.755 euros

The food group confirmed on Thursday its 2011 goals by announcing an increase of 19.6% of its sales in the first quarter thanks to the synergies of integrating Unimilk in fresh dairy products in Russia.

Schneider Electric: -2.44% to EUR 110

While the group denies any attempt at rapprochement with Tyco International, two sources familiar with the matter confirmed Wednesday that the leadership is seriously concerned by the project.Schneider Electric has approached banks, including French banks on the financing of a possible transaction.

Dexia: -2.74% to 2.76 euros

The Franco-Belgian bank has adopted a list of seven candidates for the resumption of its life insurance subsidiary Turkish Deniz Emeklilik, said Thursday the daily newspaper Les Echos.

Nexans – 0.34% to 66.93 euros

The group announced Thursday that it had been informed by the Competition Bureau of Canada to open an investigation against several cable providers and be part of groups covered by this survey.

TF1: -4.19% to 12.35 euros

The group announced a contract for sale of 100% of his company's games and online paris Solfive SPS, one of whose shareholders is the CEO of SPS.

Renault: -0.73% to 38.145 euros

The changes at the head of the manufacturer and the difficulties of the Japanese automobile industry have no immediate impact on the activities of automotive group in France, said Wednesday the director of manufacturing.Renault also believes that the Russian market could reach 2.4 million vehicles sold in 2011 against 2.2 million forecast earlier this year in favor of extending the scrapping in the country.

Morgan Stanley appreciates Accor

Accor: + 0.45% to 30.66 euros

Morgan Stanley raised its recommendation on the value to be overweight, weight cons online before, and raised its target price from 32 to 37 euros.

Casino: + 1.18% to 70.91 euros

Credit Suisse raised its recommendation to neutral cons underperformance before, and raised its price target on the basis of 50 to 70 euros

Carrefour: -1.27% to 31.035 euros

Several shareholders of the family Defforey opposes the draft that Carrefour plans to split its subsidiaries Property and Dia, reports La Tribune.Thierry and Sophie Defforey have announced their opposition, just weeks after Defforey Herve, son of the founder of the group, which had expressed early April. Their positions around the table were not disclosed. Sophie Defforey owns two million shares in conjunction with Xavier Kemlin, another individual shareholder, the newspaper said.

Total: -0.98% to 41.64 euros

The oil group announced at the conclusion of a works council the establishment of a voluntary redundancy plan than a hundred people per year until the end of 2017 in the refining industry in France, excluding staff posted , reports La Tribune.

Unibail Rodamco: -0.94% to 152.40 euros

The group announced Wednesday that yielded three malls and hypermarkets in Sweden to a consortium led by Grosvenor Fund Management for 268 million euros.

Bull: + 1.33% to 4.45 euros

The group has been chosen to supply a supercomputer research center at Rokkasho in Japan as part of research into controlled nuclear fusion project ITER-related.

Bourse Direct: + 39.82% to 1.58 euros

The group recorded an increase of 25% of its sales in the first quarter to 8.4 million. The online broker, Boursorama competitor, reported 52,000 accounts at end-March.

Pierre et Vacances Carrefour and publish their turnover in the second and the first quarter after market close. Stallergenes Mercialys and reveal their first quarter results at the same time.

Coup de theater in the world of chemistry. The Belgian group Solvay has in fact launched a friendly takeover bid on all of Rhodia's capital to create a global industry leader.This new package will weigh more than 12 billion euros of turnover (7.1 billion for Solvay in 2010 and 5.23 billion for Rhodia) and intends to increase its development in high growth markets representing 40% of Sales for the new group.

"The complementary industrial activities of Rhodia and Solvay should give the new set of balanced representation in its various market segments (specialty chemicals for consumer products, construction, automotive, energy, water, environment, electronics …)" , the company said in a statement.

A 50% premium

The offer, which values ​​the company at 3.4 billion euros, will be at a price of 31.60 euros with an ex-dividend of 0.5 euros. Excess of 50% to the closing price of Rhodia Friday. It will be entirely self-funded by Solvay company said.Signed on Sunday and having received the approval of both boards, the transaction was facilitated among others by the sale in September 2009 of its subsidiary in the U online payday advance.S. pharmacy Abbott Laboratories for 4.5 billion euros. This offer will now be presented to staff representative bodies of the two groups and submitted to regulatory authorities, the group added.

Solvay said the anticipated annual cost synergies of EUR 250 million within three years. But no major restructuring is planned as part of the reconciliation, the group provides. "This is a friendly offer," stressed the president of Solvay Christian Jourquin during a telephone press conference. Thus, the CEO of Rhodia, Jean-Pierre Clamadieu become a member of the Executive Committee of Solvay and might even succeed as CEO of Christian Jourquin Belgian chemist.

Anyway, this operation completely reshuffles the cards in a sector where the former subsidiary of Total, Arkema (5.9 billion euros in turnover in 2010), now sees his runner in France Rhodia him pass.

The names of PPR and Prada had been raised. Both groups would ultimately not pursued. After confirmation by Hermès its intention to separate the 45% stake in the Jean-Paul Gaultier, have accelerated discussions with other candidates. According to Les Echos newspaper, they would be three in contention: the Catalan group Puig, which controls including Nina Ricci and Paco Rabanne, the Swiss company Richemont and Chinese Fung Capital, the financial arm of the family Fung. The latter comes from elsewhere to acquire the shoemaker Robert Clergerie, already owns Cerruti.

Exclusive negotiations

Exclusive negotiations could be opened with one of three contenders in the coming days. For the intentions differ according to the potential buyer. The Chinese group Hermes would remain the capital of fashion. Richemont, would prefer to fully resume the hand.In all cases, the creator – Jean-Paul Gaultier who is seeking a shareholder loan to finance its international expansion, particularly in Asia – should yield a marginal part of the 55% stake it owns.

The valuation of the house Gauthier is discussed: from tens of millions and hundreds of millions of euros. The house would have recorded a total turnover of 22.5 million euros in 2009, a fall of 19% over the previous year.

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Airbus was the first indicted for manslaughter on Thursday in connection with the investigation into the crash of Flight 447, Rio Paris, who has 228 victims on 1 June 2009. As for the manufacturer's lawyers, it is indicated that this indictment "will allow Airbus to gain access to the trial record" and it is hoped "that the investigation will be to avoid conflicting expert opinions that last for years and were finally beaten in the face, easily during the trial. "

In the current survey, the questions are based on the failure of feedback between Air France, Airbus and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) about incidents of Pitot probes (the instruments of speed the unit).Numerous incidents of icing were recorded before the disaster but have not led to a real alert to changes sufficient material certifications as well as changes in crew training.

Conspicuously absent from this first series of indictment is EASA who escapes the French court but says she will do "everything necessary to shed light on this accident and to advance aviation safety."

Air France and Airbus, it also questions the relevance of an indictment now, while the fourth phase of research of the wreck is expected to begin next week and that the discovery of the wreck, even its black boxes could shed light on the conditions of this mysterious catastrophe.One argument put forward Thursday by Thomas Enders, the Airbus boss who said "désaprouver" firmly that decision and the judge "premature."

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Two days after the catastrophe, the destruction of the earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan on Friday are still difficult to assess. Thing is certain: the earthquake will have "a significant impact on economic activity in many sectors," warned Sunday the spokesman of the Japanese government, Yukio Edano. Consequences that should be in the tens of billions of dollars. According to the specialist risk management AIR Worldwide, the cost of single earthquake (excluding damage caused by the tsunami) is expected to reach $ 34.6 billion.

In the short term, the destruction caused are indeed enormous: infrastructure damaged production facilities at the stop, the areas impacted are placing great weight in the economy.If the worst-affected region, that of Tohoku, north-east coast, only 8% of Japanese GDP, that of Kanto, which houses including Tokyo, by contrast produces 40% of national wealth.

GDP contraction in first quarter

Besides stopping the oil refinery of Cosmo Oil Ichihara, east of Tokyo, the activity of the Japanese nuclear industry, which produces between 25% and 30% of national electricity production, is seriously compromised. Eleven of the fifty reactors are currently stalled, while an explosion in one of two plants in Fukushima, northern-eastern countries, has caused extensive damage and the evacuation of all population within a radius of 20 km. In total, electricity generation is expected to fall by 25%, warned the Minister of Commerce.

Result of these temporary closures of production facilities, "the GDP could decline again slightly in the first quarter," predicted the AFP and Wolfgang Leim, economist at Commerzbank. To calm markets Monday, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) announced it would undertake a "massive injection of funds," the order of 220 to 340 billion euros. The BoJ has also provided the equivalent of 490 yen to 13 million euros banking institutions in the northeastern Japan to help them cope with many requests for withdrawals that followed the earthquake unsecured personal loans.

Growth boosted by reconstruction

In the medium term, however, the Japanese economy could rebound strongly.Drawing a parallel with the Kobe earthquake in 1995, Takuji Okubo, senior economist at Societe Generale, said that reconstruction should generate an increase in activity, and the need for people to renew their property damaged boost consumption. The sectors of construction, steel and telecommunications sectors should benefit fully from the increased activity post earthquake.

"After the earthquake of 1995, Japan's GDP grew 1.9% in 1995 and 2.6% in 1996, while the average growth of the Japanese economy over this period was 1.5% . Consumption grew 2.2% between 1995 and 1996 against 1.1% on average between 1995 and 2004, "said Takuji Okubo.

Risk on debt

The Japanese bank Nomura, which also anticipates strong growth in the Japanese economy in the medium term, says his side as the stimulus state has played a key role in 1995 to revive the economy."Immediately after the earthquake, the government passed an emergency budget which has contributed 0.3 points to GDP growth in the second quarter 1995 and 0.5 points in the third quarter. We anticipate a similar response from the authorities, "notes Peter Westaway, economist at Nomura.

The opposition conservative Japanese has already announced its support for extraordinary measures promised by the center-left government. A situation which should not, however, help improve the financial health of Japan, whose debt stood at 200% of GDP. The rating agency Standard and Poor's has also recently lowered the debt rating of Japan, considering that the country's budget deficit will remain high in coming years. Moody's did its part Friday that the earthquake should not cause a subsequent breakdown of the score attributed to the Japanese debt.

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Marionnaud finally head out of water. Past five years, the brand has suffered from the change of shareholders, a succession of branches and the loss of his position as number one in France. Changes made in two and a half years by Miek Vercouteren – sent by the Chinese group AS Watson, a shareholder of Marionnaud since 2005 – are beginning to bear fruit. After four years of decline, the network has seen its sales grow last year, 1.5% in value and 2% by volume in a market up 2.6% in value and 1.6% volume according to the NPD.

The sign displays the same attitude offensive, seeking twenty sites to enhance its network. "We do not target the standardization of our network, since the proximity and diversity is our strength," says Le Figaro Vercouteren Miek, implicitly replying to criticism of the heterogeneity of its shops precisely."We seek to establish ourselves in both downtown and in shopping malls, with a preference for cities of about 50,000 inhabitants, like Los Angeles for example.

Even if the Director-General focuses on improving quality, it hopes to close the gap with Sephora, which strengthened its leading position in 2010. The market share of the subsidiary of LVMH rose 7.7% thanks to new outlets.

Until recently, the management priority of Marionnaud was elsewhere. In 2009, costs were reduced – resulting in job losses – a school-house training was created to refine the advice given in magazines, and the range has been revised."Noting that 70% of customers only buy perfumes, we launched our own range of treatments at affordable prices," illustrates the general manager.

Offer heterogeneous

According to NPD, fragrances account for two thirds of sales in selective perfumery (including department stores) in France, care and makeup accounted for 20% and 15%.

Proud of its price positioning that allows it to recruit clients, Marionnaud highlights having adapted its offer 'preferences and habits of each customer as to the size of each store (ranging from 20 to 900 square meters). The same products are not available everywhere, but thanks to the mesh of our network and our web site our customers can access the whole range, "tells Miek Vercouteren.Remains whether the marks will put up with this new management …

Besides its proximity, the brand wants to differentiate its services. Almost all of the beauty has been renovated to 4 million euros in 2010. The management is preparing to spend tens of millions of euros to revamp the perfume in three years. By the end of the year, "a hundred will be resurfaced under the new corporate identity unveiled in the spring," explains the manager. Initiated in 2007, the previous attempt to unify a disparate network, a legacy of successive acquisitions, was inconclusive. Miek Vercouteren ensures that its shareholders will continue to make "the necessary investments."

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The redemption price would be fixed in April, and the report advocating the "right price competitive" known until mid-March. According to the Journal de Dimanche (JDD), the findings of this report, ordered the former director general of INSEE Paul Champsaur, "are ready and recommend the price of 39 euros per megawatt hour (MWh).

The new law on the organization of the electricity market (prefecture), which shall enter into force on 1 July, stipulates that EDF, the incumbent electricity, must yield to its competitors – GDF Suez Direct Energy and other Poweo – up to 25% of the electricity produced in nuclear power plants. The selling price must be set by ministerial order. This new mechanism is expected to boost competition in an industry dominated by ultra-EDF.More than three years after market opening to competition, the French are indeed remained mostly faithful to the regulated tariffs.

Reflect production costs

EDF had voted for a rate set at 42 euros per MWh, Henri Proglio, CEO of the group, believing that selling below this limit would mean the "looting". Alternative suppliers, including GDF Suez, hoping for a price closer to 35 euros per MWh.

To fix the wholesale rate at 39 euros, experts have focused on the impact that the price on your household. The increase for the public, would be at least 35% over five years with the wholesale price of 42 euros asked by EDF free business cards. It would be 30% at 39 euros, a level considered more reasonable by the Champsaur report, according to the JDD, or 5% per annum by 2015.Difficile to go below, however, according to the report."If the government does not overly increase the rates for individuals, it should not set a price too high for manufacturers," said a relative of Paul Champsaur quoted by JDD. Nome law specifies that the award should reflect "economic conditions of production" of nuclear power plants and it will be "consistent" with a specific tariff to business, Tartam (transitory regulated tariff for market adjustment) .

Friday, Energy Minister Eric Besson had told AFP that "nothing was adjudicated" and that dialogue "continue."He said that this price would be fixed "by a decree signed in April, after an arbitration of the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister."

(With AFP)

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As if the Net was a library, millions of French were foraging. They listen to music albums, find videos, consult books sometimes. And leave with no pay. All are unaware of hijack in a digital world where everything seems free. Although 49% of Internet users recognize "illicit consumption" on the net as the first investigation of two large samples and proved that Sunday by Internet Piracy!

The High Authority for the dissemination of works and protection of rights on the Internet wanted to better understand its target. It is particularly wide. A rebellious teenager and the penniless, plus almost all French males. Only seniors seem deaf to the sirens. The more than 40 years are still 32% admit to illegal consumption of culture on the net. The thirtysomethings are particularly fond of downloading.More than half say they hack (55%). They borrow a third of the works that are not paid to authors. They do so almost on a par with the younger, which consumes 39% of pirated works. The phenomenon is also prevalent in the provinces in Ile-de-France, as if the computer was abolished regionalism.

Behind the statistics austere, two profiles emerge, it remains to be refined. The attacker is above all a man. For younger children, download is natural. A generational phenomenon. Music has always been available, not for sale. "Why pay what you can get free" they said. Moreover, their purchasing power is limited. A quarter of under 24 do not buy anything on the net … And customers would probably not record companies, even as piracy would be impossible. Nearly 30% spend less than 20 euros per month for this type of purchase.Older children, however, pirate and consume at once.

A third said he was ready to migrate to legal offers

The figure of the hacker easy seems to dominate the age group 25-39 years. Often over-equipped with high tech equipment belonging to the upper classes, he spends more than other cultural products on the net legitimate. This often shows militant elite. She refuses testing, perceived as backward, against the tide of history and dissemination of culture. Christopher, head of SMEs, "uploads movies he would not see Cinemad anyway" and criticizes, in a speech contractor, "the big boxes that refuse to adapt to the world Current and want to retain huge margins instead of reinventing the modèleéconomique payday loans in one hour.Cedric, 39, computer scientist, he celebrates the opening to the world: "I have found that Korean films in the networks that I will never see in theaters in Paris." Louis, crazy music, swears he "discovered on the net that artists will often see them in concert." After 40 years, habits persist. Albert, 47, editor, displays his collection with pride: "I have at least 4,000 films and hundreds of rounds. I started to download five years ago American series that take years to emerge in France while I immediately found on the net. Since then, I still "justified" he.

Whether casual or seasoned, these pirates are a generation rooted in the wide web and its culture of free. In November, just one month after sending the first emails from Internet Piracy, still 52% provided do not want to change behavior. Men are more stubborn.Conversely, women seem more receptive to the virtues of control hoping Hadopi aid creation.

Overall, a third appears ready to move towards a legal tender. Results considered encouraging by Internet Piracy. Early warnings have already driven millions of hackers out of peer to peer networks, the famous file-sharing system, for free between Internet users. Without any move towards offering legal. "Many have retreated into formulas just as illegal outside the control of Internet Piracy, like downloading video or streaming movies" assures Paul da Silva, president Pirate Party.

Music producers in the SNEP meeting however noted a sharp increase their online sales in 2010. "They go beyond the $ 100 million retail and represent 15% of turnover in the sector," says David El-Sayegh, director of SNEP.The platforms have streaming music on a roll. "We are less pessimistic than before," says El-Sayegh. "The Hadopi was necessary to remember that culture has a cost. But we must still wait to take stock. " If Internet Piracy has not altered the behavior of Internet users, moving a third of current legal offer to hackers would already be sensitive enough even to service the economic model of culture on the net, because this represents millions of people …

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The return of French tourists stranded in Tunisia began Saturday and will pick up Sunday with the chartering of twelve additional aircraft by tour operators to repatriate most of the vacationers who want the end of the weekend. "Much effort has been made by tour operators with twelve additional flights" in addition to regularly scheduled rotations, told AFP Rene-Marc Chikli, president of the association of tour operators Ceto.

Saturday morning, Rene-Marc Chikli believed that these early returns would spill over the weekend several days, considering the logistical problems faced by tour operators, between keeping the curfew in Tunisia and difficulties to find aircraft, crews and slots flights. Finally, the situation has released over the hours, especially in the afternoon."Basically, 100% of customers will be back Sunday night for most major tour operators, subject to external events," he said Saturday evening. "Substantially all" of French tourists stranded in Tunisia will be returned Monday, said Sunday the National Union of Travel Agents (SNAV).

Travel agencies have thus repatriate by Sunday evening the two-thirds of their 8,000 clients present Friday in Tunisia, according to figures from the State Secretariat of Tourism. For those who want to stay, said Rene-Marc Chikli, "we did sign a waiver."

Departures remain suspended

Repatriate as much guests simultaneously request to establish a well-oiled logistics, routing passengers from their hotel on arrival in France. "We do not start with an airplane like a car.It is not enough to go to the garage and put the key in the ignition, "says Jean-Pierre Mas, co-president of the network of travel agencies" AS Travel (Afat and Selectour), which has 1,500 customers in Tunisia payday loan.

Thomas Cook France (700 customers), Fram (1,600 customers), New Frontiers (200), Marmara (790 customers) have confirmed their aim was to repatriate passengers Sunday night unless unexpected. "If flights do not land in France in the airport of departure we will organize post-delivery" by bus or train, said Marmara. Club Med, which has only one village open right now, has finally found airline seats for its 130 customers and 35 "GO" Europe of 91 that the operator has decided to repatriate. "For the French, who bought a flight, travel agents are mobilized to locate them …which is not easy with the difficulties of mobile telephony in Tunisia, "says Jean-Pierre Mas.

All departures from vacationers to Tunisia remain suspended until Monday inclusive. The tour will then decide depending on the situation in the country to extend or not the freeze starts. Friday night, the Quai d'Orsay has indeed advised all non-emergency travel to Tunisia. For customers who are not parties, proposals to postpone travel, without charge, at a later date on Tunisia or wherever made.The events in Tunisia under the case of "force majeure", professionals find themselves "freed from their traditional obligations to people traveling or refund if there is a change," told AFP Emmanuelle Llop, Lawyer specialized.

"They do not offer refunds spontaneously because they do not always this possibility, including travel agents who have more funds," she says.

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The 54,000 French employees of Renault are in shock. Three senior leaders of the group are suspected of having disclosed information on its future electric vehicles outside, according to internal sources. They were laid off Monday, said the executive, who cited "revelations of serious undermining strategic interests, intellectual and technological enterprise." This Thursday on RTL, the Industry Minister, Eric Besson, J. Case "serious" and said that "economic war" is adapted to this situation.

The case of industrial espionage revealed by AFP, whose magnitude is unprecedented at Renault, is something of an earthquake. One of the defendants on the committee steering group, which has twenty-seven members and is chaired by Carlos Ghosn, the CEO.This, according to several sources, Michel Balthazar, director of the division upstream projects and services, joined Renault thirty years ago. One of his subordinates, director of advanced vehicle projects, has also been incriminated and laid off. This branch is located in the heart of the group's strategy, since it is responsible to reflect on future vehicles, including electric cars.

The third part involved is attached to a division just as sensitive, the "plan, product and program." Unlike the other two, he worked exclusively on electric vehicles, as deputy director of the project.

Is unprecedented in this type of case, the three suspects were on foot the same day. Everything leads us to believe they were operating in concert. It could then be an organized system of selling information to the outside.The question remains who and why. A nearby industrial Renault ahead two tracks. A competitor or supplier may have been interested in the progress of Renault-Nissan in the development of its battery power. Another avenue: information on the electric motor development.

No complaint

The facts alleged against the three executives from Renault to go back this summer. In late August 2010, a "whistleblowing" was brought to the attention of the Ethics Committee at Renault, says the manufacturer. "The investigation that followed led to a layoff conservatory" of these people early in the week. These executives were ordered Monday to leave the field office. A layoff conservatory allows a company to dismiss an employee poses a risk to its operations, pending disciplinary action.The group has so far not complained.

"We feel it's a nightmare and that we will wake up," said one employee. This story is even more traumatic than the electric vehicle is the flagship project of the group, through which – with its ally Nissan – Renault wants to create a similar break with what had been successful with his Toyota Prius hybrid. Renault-Nissan wants to become the world leader in power, which he says represent 10% of global sales in 2020. In total, the group has invested 4 billion on this program. Renault will launch four electric vehicles over the period 2011-2012: Utility Kangoo Fluence family sedan, the compact and Zoe quadricycle Twizy.

The automotive industry is yet deemed to be one of the most secretive, as sales depend on technological advances.PSA Peugeot Citroen and Renault are also the first patent applicants in France, with respectively 1265 and 906 recorded in 2009. Already, more than 200 patents have been filed by Renault or are being considered solely on the electric vehicle. Nearly 1,700 engineers working on this project this year Technocentre at Guyancourt.

The electric heater is one of the most sensitive areas. Nissan has a joint venture with Japan's NEC to develop and manufacture the key component, which is the subject of a global battle. Renault-Nissan leading the way with 1.5 billion euros invested in the battery before its competitors Chinese, Korean, American, Japanese and German, according to Roland Berger.The Franco-Japanese targets a production capacity of 500,000 cars and electric batteries per year in 2013.

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