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Vinci said Thursday that its subsidiary had won five contracts Eurovia maintenance of road infrastructure in the UK for a cumulative value exceeding 1.7 billion euros.

The contracts, whose initial terms ranging between five and ten years, covering all aspects of road maintenance, such as routine maintenance, inspection and repair works of Art, emergency response, snow removal and street lighting, Vinci said in a statement.

Two of these contracts were won through a joint venture with the American consulting firm Jacobs.

The one, who runs short of personal cards often face losses in the form of loss of new business orders. Running out of business cards is the worst situation one can get in the commercial world.

European households reduced by 0.8% think expenditures for gifts, holiday meals and outputs, according to a study released Tuesday. In France, spending will increase from 1.9% to 606 euros per household. French households plan to increase spending Christmas from 1.9% to 606 euros per household in 2011

Consumers in countries most affected by the debt crisis, such as Greece, are cut in their budget for Christmas, but the French and other Europeans should forget the rigor and loosen the belt a bit this holiday season, according to a study published Tuesday. Christmas 2011 appears as "the last opportunity to have fun, but without folly, before 2012 is awaited with concern," according to the Deloitte study, conducted among 18,354 consumers in 17 countries in September."The French may have gone too far" in some trade-offs since 2008 and "they relax a little," said Antoine de Riedmatten, a partner at Deloitte, saying they want to "have fun", but "with caution ". For 45% of them think that their purchasing power will deteriorate next year, against 36% last year.

Money and books at the top of desired gifts

The French buy more food and great brands for these feasts, having directed forward towards private labels. Similarly, they offer gifts to a few more people and make a little less gifts grouped, he says. If the criteria price and value guide further choices, well-being will also be preferred, as reflected in the intentions of gifts, third place in spa services, care or massage behind the chocolates and perfumes and cosmetics.

In the shadow of the Greek psychodrama, it was necessary progress on the major issues of international economic cooperation. Review of some successes and many failures G20 Cannes. Nicolas Sarkozy has ended with a G20 Cannes press conference, November 4, 2011. REUTERS / Yves Herman (FRANCE – Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS)

He wanted to make a summit unforgettable symbol of his power. But the setbacks in Europe, and the announcement of the referendum at the last minute Greek – have been abandoned, the chairman of the G20 in Cannes, Nicolas Sarkozy, in great difficulties. In the shadow of European psychodrama, the Head of State has still attempted to advance the cause of international economic cooperation. With mixed success. Balance sheet.

To read the official press release here.

Tobin Tax: A Small Step U.S.

It must have been one of the key topics of the French Presidency.Nicolas Sarkozy had even managed to convince Angela Merkel to go along with this idea of ​​a tax on financial transactions to support the development. But not surprisingly, no consensus could be found, too many countries there are still opposed. The head of state, however, has been commended for supporting Barack Obama on this theme, declaring that France and the United States "had a common analysis to help the world of finance to solving the current crisis. "

The German government has reduced by almost half its growth forecast for 2012, confirming fears of a sharp slowdown in Europe's largest economy due in part to the crisis in the euro area.

Berlin expects growth of 1.0% in 2012 and not more than 1.8%. For 2011, the government now plans to grow by 2.9% instead of 3.0%.

"The pace of expansion slowed, as expected," said Economy Minister Philipp Rösler, but added: "Our economy remains on a growth trajectory."

An environment less favorable for export explains in particular the slowdown in growth, the ministry said.

"Domestic demand will become even more the mainstay of economic growth in Germany," he observes."Growth as a whole is that it will almost this year and next."

A tax on financial transactions will not see the day at the international level, as expected, Nicolas Sarkozy, the finance ministers of the G20 Saturday overwhelmingly rejected the initiative.

Delegations American, Canadian, Japanese, Indian or Brazilian were against such a tax, which was one of the flagship initiatives that France hoped to advance during its presidency of the G20.

The tax, which is also reluctant Britain except that it is comprehensive, however, could be created only within the euro area, led by France and Germany.

"It was clear that we need to implement this tax in Europe because there is no support to do a comprehensive plan," agreed the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, after the meeting .

The European Commission has proposed the end of September an EU tax on financial transactions from 2014 excluding the foreign exchange market.

Under this proposal, transactions outside of Europe would also be taxed, from the time they involve a bank or other financial institution of the old continent, to avoid capital flight.

The tax does not, however, concern individuals or operations on the primary market sovereign debt and current share price.

The figures given by the Community executive cover a 0.1% tax on exchanges of shares and bonds and 0.01% on the exchange of products.

The device could raise some 30 billion euros per year, according to several preliminary estimates in the Community executive.

According to a recent survey by the Commission, 65% of Europeans are in favor of this tax.

The very slight decrease (-0.1%) the number of job seekers with no activity was offset by higher (0.5%) of the total number of people seeking work, including those engaged in a reduced . Agency employment center in Nice

The number of job seekers without work (Category A) in France has declined slightly in August from 0.1% after three months of increases, to 2.754 million people, according to figures released Monday by the Ministry of work. However, the total number of people seeking work, including those engaged in a reduced (categories A, B and C), has again increased in August by 0.5% the previous month to 4.148 million in people.This number is up 4.3% year on year.

After four months of reflux from January to April, unemployment has gone the way of rising from May to July along with the slowdown in growth (which was nil in Q2). In total, since the beginning of the year, the number of job seekers without work rose 29,000 people. The increase over one year (from August 2010) is 2.3%. It is 4.3% over the year including applicants who have worked reduced.

By age, the situation improved slightly for young people but deteriorates again for seniors.The number of job seekers in all categories, under 25 years decreased by 0.4% in August on a month (-1.3% yoy), while that of job seekers over 50 years increased by 1.2% (+14.6% yoy). The long-term unemployment also continues to grow: the number of registered unemployed for over a year has increased 0.6% from July and 8.7% year on year. The average length of job seekers registered in categories A, B, C, end of August 2011 is 455 days.

Unemployment remains at 9.3% at end 2011

A month, entries for the end of fixed term contracts (-0.2%), redundancy (-5.5%), first entries (-6.4%), times of activity (-3.6 %) and other cases (-4.8%) declined. Entries for other layoffs are stable. Those for the purpose of temporary assignment (5.2%) and resignations (+1.2%) have increased Revenge.The outputs for employment times reported (-4.6%), came into training (-14.7%), research stops (-5.2%), radiation administration (-11.1%) and other cases (-8.1%) declined. Radiation for failure discount for their part, rose by 6.1%. In total, the number of entries is higher than output.

The government is committed to increasing the unemployment rate below 9% by the end of the year. Unemployment insurance for its part considers that rising unemployment will continue this year and 2012. According Unedic, the number of job seekers without work is expected to increase again this year to 36,700 and 55,500 in 2012. In all, the end of 2012, 2.8 million people and 4.4 million inactive with reduced activity would be included on the lists of employment center.

A study released today by Coe-Rexecode is hardly more optimistic.According to the Institute of conditions close to the business, the GDP should grow lights this year by 1.7% and 1.2% next year. The French economy would create 195,000 jobs in 2011 and 115,000 in 2012. The level of unemployment, however, remain high at 9.3% and 9.1% end 2011 end 2012.

Lagardère was forced to significantly revise down its forecast for operating profit for 2011 because of the difficulties encountered by the sports center in the first half.

An adjustment of annual objectives of the media group was expected, with Lagardère early March release a forecast that does not take into account the ongoing sale of its assets in international press whose impact is estimated at 35 million euros for exercise.

The surprise comes from Lagardère Unlimited, the results were significantly lower than expected by the group for the first half, forcing it to revise down further his ambitions for the year to expect a decline in the 5 to 7% of its recurring EBIT before associates (operating profit) media.

Without even considering the sale of its international magazines, the group could achieve a growth "somewhat positive" in operating profit in 2011 due to the underperformance of its sports division as it was previously an increase of about 10%.

"I remain very confident in the fact that sport is an engine of growth for the group in the years to come," said managing partner Arnaud Lagardère, in a conference call."What we have seen, this is not a problem but a problem of strategy execution."

It has set itself the ambition to make the pole a world leader in sport by 2015, investing over one billion euros since its inception, but the smallest of the divisions of the group has never been profitable.

After a blip in 2010, Unlimited had back hair of the beast in the sporting calendar for a more favorable but the division was weighed down by the first half of the items, including a dispute over cricket in India as well as implementation problems that resulted in an overhaul of its management.

IPO CANAL + FRANCE STILL SUSPENDED

The chief financial officer Dominic D'Hinnin said the shortfall was $ 40 million for the first six months, adding that some of the difficulties likely to continue in the second half.

"Sports has really collapsed, and it's not over," said Conor O'Shea, an analyst at Kepler Securities."The only positive is that this activity was considered low enough and at least the other divisions have posted results in line with expectations".

In the first six months of the year, the Media recurring EBIT before associates spring down 6.9% at constant exchange rates to 168 million euros to a total turnover of 3.72 billion euros.

The market was expecting an average of 178 Media recurring EBIT before associates million for a turnover of 3.673 billion euros, according to estimates by six analysts.

The group's performance was supported by the Services division, which owns the chain of newsagents and bookstores Relay, thanks to the sustained level of air traffic.

The publishing division, however, continued to suffer from dwindling sales of "Twilight" vampire saga by Stephenie Meyer successful, but should return to growth in the second half, said Dominic D'Hinnin.

Lagardère Active, which includes including Paris Match and Europe 1, has its share decreased by 3.1% on a comparable turnover excluding international magazines including the assignment to the U.S. was cordoned off for Hearst most end of May.

Asked about the proposed IPO of 20% held by the group in Canal + France, Arnaud Lagardere has confirmed that the current market conditions did not allow for time to consider a resumption of the process, suspended after the Japanese earthquake last March.

Asked if Lagardère could return to the table in discussions with Vivendi holding the remaining 80%, Dominique D'Hinnin said, "we want to sell and that's it."

Before the publication of results, Lagardère has closed up 2.26% to 23.80 euros. Since the beginning of the year, as a sign down nearly 23% while the index of pan-European media has given 14.34%.

Barack Obama, vacationing on the island of Martha's Vineyard grouse, on Saturday accused the Congress of a slow economic recovery by blocking measures "common sense" meant, he says, help create jobs and growth.

In his traditional speech recorded weekly radio broadcast Wednesday on his tour bus in the Midwest, the U.S. president that the draft law, currently at an impasse, concerning the construction, trade and taxes, would "boost "an economy half-mast.

"The only thing that prevents us to pass these texts is the refusal of some on Capitol Hill to put national interests before those of their party.This is the problem today is that hinders the country, "he said in his speech, also available on the Internet.

With a national unemployment rate stuck at over nine percent, the chances of re-election of Democratic president may depend on its ability to convince the electorate's ability to get the economy back on track.

He was criticized for the choice of Martha's Vineyard as a summer resort, the island, located on the east coast of the United States, is a haven for millionaires, when 14 million of his compatriots are unemployed.

The White House insisted that the Chief Executive, who is a regular at this place for family vacation, spend most of his nine days off to "floor" of a recovery plan and the fight against unemployment that it will issue in a speech scheduled for early September.

CALL TO REPUBLICANS

In his speech on Saturday, Barack Obama acknowledged that the United States were far from healthy.

"We are in a difficult situation. We are in a terrible recession.So we need people in Washington, people whose job is to manage the affairs of the country, the people you elected to serve – we need to solve problems by putting aside our differences, "Has he said.

The Republicans control the House of Representatives while the Senate is in the hands of Democrats.Both parties are at loggerheads on how to get the country out of its massive debt.

In a statement on behalf of the opposition Republican Governor John Kasich of Ohio, for his part, felt that President Barack Obama was wrong to impute to others the responsibility for the current impasse on Capitol Hill.

"Divided government is no excuse for doing nothing," said the former chairman of the Budget Committee of the House.

"It does not replace the authority of the President of the United States.I hope that President Obama listen to his fellow Republicans as well as to get the economy back on track by creating jobs and manufacturing growth ".

The governor of Ohio has also invited his side to show more interest in the trade-offs.

"It is equally important that the Republicans are not rigid about working beyond the party lines when the stakes are high," he added.

"We can compromise on policy as we do not betray his principles."

Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy were opposed to the creation of Eurobonds, though presented as an anti-crisis. Explanations. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy during a press conférecne at the Elysee Palace August 16, 2011.

Until the last moment, the markets have hoped that the magic word is uttered on Tuesday night at the mini-summit between German Chancellor and French President. Las. The Eurobonds, the European bonds, which could present a solution to the debt crisis, are still not on the agenda. Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel will remain strongly opposed, while the debate is growing in Europe. Result, stock markets go down, disappointed by the weakness of the Franco-European.

The Eurobonds, what is it?

These are bonds issued in Europe.To avoid the sharp disagreement between interest rate bonds issued by different states in the euro area, it could issue its own securities markets. The rate is an average for that individual member countries are financed. This system would in some way to centralize the refinancing of the member countries of the euro area via a new product under the guarantee of the 17 member states.

How do they present a solution to the debt crisis?

Because of the doubts hanging over the strength of the European economy, some countries are now unable to obtain financing in the markets on acceptable terms. Obligations stamped with European countries, like Greece, Ireland, Spain and Italy, could be financed under much better conditions.If that is increasingly demanded by the markets, because they fear that, like Greece, other countries have their notes soon spoiled by the rating agencies. The risks of bankruptcy then cause a domino effect on all countries in the euro area, which would directly threaten the survival of the single currency. Currently, the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), created in 2010 by members of the EU, is a kind of substitute for Eurobonds, because through him all states provide for the repayment of debts to 440 billion European euros.Some states want it to reach 1,000 billion euros, but Paris and Berlin are opposed.

Why France and Germany do not want Eurobonds?

The idea of ​​a Eurobond is not new, but it has always encountered opposition from Berlin, as the best student in the euro area does not put out the fires for the last class. In fact, mechanically Eurobonds would increase the cost of credit rated countries such as Germany. Today a 10-year bond issued by Germany costs the country an interest of approximately 2.3% when the same bond issued by Greece is an interest of 15.26%.According to recent estimates of the famous German Ifo institute, the additional cost of Eurobonds for the German budget and would amount to 47 billion euros per year.

In addition, Paris and Berlin are concerned that these obligations could discourage European countries most low scores, like Greece to undertake needed economic reforms, that is to say the drastic reduction of their budget. But the reason most sensitive is primarily political: the creation of Eurobonds involve a scrutiny of the European Union on national budgets. Understand, a lot further economic federalism. Before discussing the sharing of debt, we must consider the budget and tax harmonization, particularly explains Nicolas Sarkozy's entourage.Ireland, for example, maintains a more advantageous tax system to attract companies.

However, in recent days some reluctance in Germany begin to break. For the first time Tuesday, members of the CDU party of German Chancellor Angela Merkjel lifted the taboo of Eurobonds, while the debate is growing in the country. "It does no good to see things in black and white. (…) I do not think (Eurobonds) be an instrument of the devil," said MP notably Johann Wadephul CDU at Handelsblatt in a statement. Last Sunday, the conservative daily Die Welt, which said that Berlin "does more, ultimately, a transfer of funds to government bonds in common."The maintenance of the euro area as a priority for Germany.

Who is in favor?

In France, the PS is favorable long, Francois Hollande has even made some of his presidential program. On Wednesday the former Prime Minister Laurent Fabius has also expressed its "disappointment" considering that Nicolas Sarkozy had made a "major mistake" by ignoring the common obligations. In fact, the left parties of different countries are generally more favorable to this system, like the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), which argues for months to create and eurobonds in return for a increased scrutiny of Europe on national budgets. In recent days new voices have emerged in the debate, such as Italy, whose economy minister said this weekend be conducive to the solution of Eurobonds.The Spanish Minister of Economy Elena Salgado for its view that the "Eurobonds" were "good idea" that can make its way, but is "not on the agenda," some countries such as Spain to "make change" to appease the "reluctance" in Germany. Side markets, many investors see the birth of Eurobonds responding adequately to the attacks on weaker nations in the euro area.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange finished Monday up 1.37%, taking in turn the path of recovery from the European and U.S. markets late last week.

The Nikkei gained 122.69 points to 9,086.41 and the Topix, broader took 8.93 points (1.16%) to 777.12.

GDP figures, published earlier today in Japan, reported a smaller than anticipated contraction in the economy, with a decline of 0.3% against -0.7% expected and 0.9% in quarter above.

As the Osaka Securities Exchange, the operator of the Osaka Securities Exchange, finished up 8.6% to 410,500 yen.The daily Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Saturday that the Tokyo Stock Exchange plans to become the purchaser via a takeover bid.

Toyota, Honda and Sony have outperformed the market by winning respectively 2.91%, 3.43% and 3.93%.