The decline in unemployment does not convince the British experts

16th May

Unemployment in the UK fell to 8.2% in March after 8.3% last month. However, he could brush against 9% in 2013. Mervyn King, head of the Bank of England expects lower growth than expected.

Unemployment fell in March in the UK, according to official figures released Wednesday better than expected by economists, who provide a rare good news for UK economy into recession. Unemployment in the UK fell to 8.2% in March after 8.3% the previous month, while economists on average expected a rate of 8.4%.

The number of people looking for work fell by 45,000 over the three months ended in late March, reaching 2.63 million people, said Wednesday the Office for National Statistics (ONS). "The employment figures are remarkably strong." But they "really do not stick with the fact that the UK is supposed to be in recession," said James Knightley, an analyst at ING Bank.

The government, which expects an increase in private employment to offset job losses in officials as part of its austerity plan, hailed a "step in the right direction." But the general secretary of the union confederation TUC, Brendan Barber, for its part held that the figures were "mixed", with a drop in unemployment accompanied by the increase in part-time work and pressure on wages.

Observers of the coup remain cautious thereafter, believing that the upturn is unlikely to last, while the purchasing power of households remain under stress and that economic prospects in the UK as in the euro area are adjacent to the less mixed. "The labor market still does not come in support of a recovery based on consumption", and Judge Vicky Redwood, economist at Capital Economics. Howard Archer, economist at IHS Global Insight cabinet, table and on a peak in unemployment to 2.82 million people in the second quarter of 2013 with a rate of 8.8%.

These predictions stick with the diagnosis of the Bank of England (BoE). Economic growth in the UK in the short term will be "weaker" than expected, said Wednesday its governor Mervyn King at the presentation of the quarterly report of the institution on the economy. In this report, the Bank of England lowered its short-term forecasts, with an annual growth to below 1%, whereas in previous estimates, in February, she anticipated over the symbolic.

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 shares widen their losses

9th May

European shares widen their losses Wednesday in early afternoon, while the German rate in 10 years fell to 1.51%, the situation of Spanish banks stepping up worrisome Market studies on the future of the euro area related to political instability in Greece.

Around 13:00, the CAC 40 index, which lost 2.8% Tuesday, 0.92% to 3096.18 abandons points after winning 0.4% in early trade.

The London Stock Exchange 0.95% yield, the Frankfurt 0.42% while the fall of Madrid up 3.3% with its banks. The pan-European Euro Stoxx 50 index was down 1.18% after a decline of 2%.

Illustrating the risk aversion of investors, the German 10-year yield fell to nearly 1.51% in the morning before rising to 1.52, against 1.55% the day before Closing.

The head of the Coalition of the Radical Left Greek, Alexis Tsipras, charged with forming a coalition government, will visit on Wednesday the leaders of major political forces without credible hope to break the deadlock that threatens up to membership of Greece in the euro area.

In Spain, the government will ask banks exposed to the property sector to provision additional 35 billion euros, it was learned from sources close to the financial negotiations. 

The Stoxx European banks grouping loses 2%, biggest drop sector in Europe.

Destabilized in Belgium, Mariani denies his departure from Dexia

2nd May

Pierre Mariani denied Wednesday a decision on his replacement as head of Dexia, the Franco-Belgian bank being dismantled, and tried to defuse a polemical ; economic initiated in Belgium he would receive a golden parachute when he left.

Several Belgian newspapers reported that the Belgian government would like to replace Karel De Boeck, former CEO of Fortis. They add that Pierre Mariani was ready to leave his position as Group CEO on condition of receiving severance pay of EUR 1.2 million provided in the contract .

Reacting to the press articles, Pierre Mariani has denied having set conditions for his eventual departure.

"The Group CEO has made no request to the Belgian and French about the conditions of his eventual departure contrary to news reports published so far," he Pierre Mariani informed in an email to Reuters.

"No decision on the replacement of the CEO and President (Jean-Luc Dehaene, Ed) Board has been taken to date" he continues. 

"NO GOLDEN PARACHUTE!"

In Belgium, the assumption of payment of severance pay as described by the press was greeted coldly by the government and by politicians.

"Certainly, this should be discussed with the French authorities, as (with) shareholders. But my position is clear: no golden parachute! "Said Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo on his twitter account

." 1.2 million euros of golden parachute for Pierre Mariani is unacceptable as incomprehensible! ", were on their side exclaimed MPs environmentalists in a statement …… Dexia

… already saved from bankruptcy in 2008 by Belgium, France and Luxembourg, was cornered in the fall due to the dismantling of the crisis of sovereign debt

. Luc Coene, the Governor of the Central Bank of Belgium, said Monday Dexia, which enjoys state guarantees for its refinancing needs, would probably need to be recapitalized again

……. .. Since the crisis, the banking group has seen its market capitalization collapse. It is no longer valued on the stock market than about 370 million with a share price below 20 cents.

"CONFIDENCE TO PETER MARIANI"

Asked by Reuters, Michel Bouvard, president of the supervisory board of the Caisse des Depots (CDC), Dexia's largest shareholder with 17.7% stake, has in turn brought ; support for Pierre Mariani.

"Personally, I have every confidence in Pierre Mariani," said Michel Bouvard. "When you are in managing a complex issue, which is the case, it is better that he who began managing the file management ends until one goes to the next step. "

"I did not speak on matters of internal governance of Dexia," he nonetheless added.

Since the decision late last year to dismantle Dexia, the Belgian authorities have carried out the nationalization of retail banking activities in Belgium while France has decided to return via the CDC and the Postal Bank, the activities of local government financing.

The European Commission must still approve the plan and set the price that Dexia will have to pay in exchange for 90 billion euros of state guarantees provided. 

Dexia posted a net loss of 11.6 billion euros in 2011, and some analysts said the bank could continue to generate losses in the coming years.

Although in sharp decline, the size of the stock of Dexia is considered by some analysts as systemic because a failure to pay the bank would have incalculable consequences for the entire sys European Banking me.

European shares up slightly at mid-session

27th April

European shares fro up slightly at mid-session Friday, good earnings reports of companies that are somewhat forgotten the downgrade of Spain by S & P the day before.

Caution is especially appropriate that investors expect this afternoon the publication of the first estimate of U.S. GDP in the first quarter and the confidence index of Michigan on consumer sentiment.

In Paris the CAC 40 rose 0.29% to 3238.62 points. In Frankfurt, the Dax gained 0.08% and London, the FTSE is 0.31%. The pan-European index Stoxx 50 was stable (0.04%).

The construction industry supports the European equity markets, the index Stoxx600 of construction and materials climbing 1.7%. The fund is boosted by the good results of Vinci, whose title climbed 3.7%.

The cost of insuring against a default of Spain was up after a deterioration of the country's rating by S & P. CDS (credit default swaps) and five years on Spain took 12 basis points to 480.

Sign of tensions in the bond market of the peripheral countries of the euro area, the Italian Treasury has had to endure, during a broadcast of € 6 billion of sovereign debt, the expensive ts funding for bonds to five and 10 years at the highest since January.

Down against the dollar after the announcement of the degradation of Spain, the euro resumed in mid-day, to 1.3179 dollar.

The yen, it weakened against the dollar and the euro after the decision of the Bank of Japan to increase its program of asset purchases to support the economy.

The semi Sodexo supported by Latin America

19th April

Sodexo announced Thursday for its first half 2011-2012 sustained growth in results due to the dynamism of Latin America and North and its recent acquisitions.

The group, whose results are in line with expectations, remains cautious, confirming its overall annual forecast, but tightened its organic growth target of sales around a range of 6 to 7% against 5-8% previously.

Beyond this internal growth, acquisitions should make an additional contribution of about 4% in consolidated sales, said Sodexo, which has also maintained its aim of increased about 10% of operating profit for the year. 

"We must be cautious in a macroeconomic climate remains uncertain and is still marked by inflationary pressures on food costs," he said during a conference call on Group CEO, Michel Landel.

The growth of continental Europe should remain "soft" by the end of the year, he added.

In the medium term, the world number two behind the catering Compass UK confirms its objective of achieving average annual growth in its consolidated turnover by 7% and reach an operating margin ; rational consolidated 6.3% at the end of the fiscal year 2014-2015. 

Operating income increased 14.5% to 559 million euros in the first half of the year based on a turnover of 9.07 billion euros, up 6.4% organic. This result reflects a favorable accounting adjustment of EUR 26 million related to the cost of pension plans of the group in the UK.

Around 9:25, the title showed a slight decrease (-0.5% to 60.07 euros). Revenues rose 8.3% since the beginning of the year for a market capitalization of 9.4 billion euros.

The activity of Sodexo was supported in the first half by a series of acquisitions in France, Brazil and the United States (with Lenotre respectively, Puras do Brasil, Broset Roth) and by the services provided by the group during the Rugby World Cup.

The group, whose rate of net debt to equity is 38% against 26% a year earlier, will continue to focus on organic growth but did not exclude small acquisitions.

Real Estate: prices fall for the first time in Paris

30th March

The price per m2 of existing homes totaled at the end of January 8340 euros on average, 30 euros less than in October 2011. Prices in the Ile-de-France, for the same period were down 0.6%. This trend is not sustainable. Paris real estate. St. Pierre Semard, in the ninth.

Prices of existing homes fell slightly in Paris, in 8340 euros/m2 average for the period between November 2011 and January 2012 instead of 8370 euros/m2 previously announced Thursday night the Chamber of Notaries of Paris-Ile de France. The downward trend in prices began in late last year, is confirmed, indicate notaries in a statement.  

Moreover, the promise of sale entered recently, which presage the final price trends, highlight the value of apartments in the capital between 8100 and 8200 averaged euros/m2 end of May, confirming a trend slightly downward (-2 to -3.2%), after a sharp surge in prices which had led to an annual increase of 21.3% in late August 2011.

For the entire Ile-de-France, house prices in Ile-de-France, for the same period were down 0.6%. The largest decrease is observed in Seine-Saint-Denis (1.4%), while a decline of 0.3% in Paris proper.

The decrease in the number of transactions recorded for several months, was temporarily halted because of the reform leading to higher taxation of capital gains on property that, with effect from 1 February 2012, caused an influx of sales. Thus, from November 2011 to January 2012, 43,000 existing homes were sold, an increase of 6% over the same period 12 months earlier, and even 32% in central Paris.

After the records set last year, the Paris notaries had anticipated the end of February the prospect of a market downturn of the former in 2012 on the entire region, suggesting a decrease of 5 to 10% less a "new rebound of the financial crisis". But this break "will be sustainable only if new construction is accelerating sustainable in Ile-de-France for several years," had they warned. In the provinces, prices are expected to experience the same slope, according to forecasts by the INSEE.

COR-2011 Results up to Dentressangle

29th February

The group of transportation and logistics Dentressangle Wednesday announced financial results increased in 2011 but noted that economic conditions had deteriorated in late 2011.

The company saw its turnover increase by 5.6% at constant scope and exchange, to 3.576 billion euros. The EBITDA (EBITA) increased 17% to 130.4 million euros while net income rose from 57.2 million to 63.3 million.

"Dentressangle has seen since the end of 2011 signs of slowing economy and observed high volatility of demand for its customers early this year , "the group noted in a statement.

The company, which does not give forecasts for 2012, will offer its shareholders a dividend of 1.25 euro per share for fiscal 2011, against 1.10 euros a year before.

Result and prospect of lower than expected sales for Dell

22nd February

Dell on Tuesday announced a profit below expectations on account of its fiscal fourth quarter and forecast sales below Wall Street forecasts for the current quarter This has reduced the action in the off-market transactions.

The world number three personal computers is expected to drop 7% of its revenue this quarter compared to the previous. Revenues for the fourth quarter being raised to $ 16 billion, this amounts to provide a revenue of $ 14.9 billion for the first quarter, while Wall Street expects about 15.2 billion.

The fourth quarter result also showed lower than expected despite healthy sales to businesses (5% yoy, to $ 4.9 billion).

But sales to the public sector showed signs of weakness (-1% to 3.9 billion). The consumer sales were down 2%.

"With a turnover of 65 billion dollars, it takes time to move the needle toward the most relevant sources of income of a strategic perspective. And for now, we do sees no sign of progress, "says the analyst of ISI Group, Brian Marshall. "It will take time for Dell to right the ship."

PC makers are struggling with falling demand, as consumers tend to turn increasingly to mobile devices like the Apple iPad, while floods in Thailand restrict the supply of some components.

Excluding items, Dell reported earnings of 51 cents per share in the fourth quarter while the market was expecting 52 cents.

Gross margin for the quarter was 21.1%, against 20% a year ago.

Sarkozy wants to broaden the conditions for Sunday

18th February

Currently, only businesses in tourist areas can open on Sundays. Nicolas Sarkozy, if elected, will extend these conditions, says Frédéric Lefebvre. Frederic Lefebvre, Secretary of State to the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry, responsible for trade, craft, small and medium enterprises, tourism, services, professional and consumption

President Nicolas Sarkozy wants, if re-elected, "broaden the conditions for opening of shops on Sundays," said a statement read on his behalf Friday by Secretary of State for Trade Frederic Lefebvre. It's "give you more freedom, it's growth for your business is employment for the French," he added, among others, in this statement read to the Estates General of Trade at Bercy.  

This measure is also "purchasing power" for employees and will "strengthen the tourist attraction that France is strong," the statement added, without specifying what form these would take "flexibility" in opening Sunday. The Trade Council of France asked him the opportunity for traders to open free from 10 to 12 Sundays a year, even when they are outside the tourist area.

The Labour Law of Sunday August 10, 2009 can store openings on Sundays that vary with the type of business and location (specific tourist areas or perimeter). Apart from cases under that Act, all stores may open five Sundays a year on administrative authorization.

The net result of Euler Hermes up 12%

17th February

Euler Hermes announced Thursday an increase of over 12% of its net income, thus resisting a challenging economic environment in Europe.

In a statement, the global credit insurance shows an operating profit of 471.7 million euros (consensus Thomson Reuters I / B / E / S 466 500 000 ), a net profit of 330.3 million (332.5 million consensus) based on a turnover of 2,274.9 million.

The group, a subsidiary of German group Allianz, and proposes a dividend of 4.40 euros per share, up 10% over last year (EUR 4.34 consensus). 

The net combined ratio of Euler Hermes – which measures the profitability of business written in claims costs related to premiums received – is content to 70.0% (against 68.7% in 2010), which corresponds to its target.

Regarding 2012, Euler Hermes estimates that "the world economy is on the ropes".

"The issue of sovereign debt, particularly in the eurozone, the reduction in public spending, weak growth and rising unemployment will affect consumption and investment, both public private, "the group. 

Euler Hermes, which anticipates an economic slowdown and said it had prepared for alternative scenarios, however, provides that an application for credit insurance is high and expected to increase March-May% of its premiums in 2012.