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Hedge funds refused to make the Greek debt they hold to the exchange transaction, threatening to ask the courts if the offer does not improve liorée.

These funds seek to meet a minority sufficient to block the process, the risk of derailing the debt swap and cornered Greece to bankruptcy.

Greek debt holders should tender their shares before Thursday at 20:00 GMT. In the opinion of Greek officials, the operation is moving in the right direction, even though banks and as well as European politicians have expressed their uncertainties.

"I was warned that many investors think carefully about the options available to them, including that of the judicial path," said Steven Friel Brown Rudnick, a firm which advises investors on possible legal strategies in Greece.

Hedge funds prefer debt securities that are not of Greek law, harder eligible for restricted devices developed by Athens.

McClutchen Bingham, another law firm, said Monday that he advised the holders of 650 million Swiss francs of Greek debt. Investors holding significant amounts of Greek debt came together to find "all the answers to their concerns and protect the rights of holders," according to the firm.

Hedge funds hold more than a quarter of Greece's debt denominated in Swiss francs and 450 million euros of bonds maturing and it might be enough to prevent the Greek government to impose on private creditors to agree to take their losses.

They hope that the government prefers to reach a settlement before May instead of defaulting despite warnings from the Greek politicians who warned that n ' there would be no new offer. 

Failing agreement, the funds could go on the judicial front, even then appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, alleging violations of property law.

This option could however be lengthy and costly for investors.

The New York Stock Exchange opened slightly lower Friday, the market pausing after rising last days in the absence of indicators and key results.

In early trade, the Dow Jones yielded 0.06% (7.80 points) to 12,972.50 points. The Standard & Poor's, wider, fell by 0.06% (0.83 points) to 1,373.26 points while the Nasdaq composite lost 0.05% (1.50 points) to 2,987.47.

The S & P 500 should still show on its third consecutive week.

Among the values ​​for the power group Sara Lee earns more than 4% after the announcement of the demerger of its activities next coffee and tea, along with a special dividend.

Adecco, the global staffing services, announced Thursday a simplification of its network in France which will result in the removal of over 500 full-time positions.

The measure, which will bring together networks Adecco and Adia, loads and require investment of 45 million euros to be included mainly in the second half of 2012, the company said in a statement ;.

Adecco, which France represents nearly 30% of total turnover, recorded in the Hexagon stable revenues of 1.46 billion euros in the fourth quarter of 2011, for a re RESULT operations (EBITA) of 62 million, up 8%. The margin improved 40 basis points to 4.3%.

Over the year, revenues and operating income in France rose 10% to 6.07 billion respectively, and 202 million euros.

In January, revenues fell 9% in France, told Reuters the group managing director, Patrick De Maeseneire. They grew at the same time by 2% in the U.S., said the CFO Dominik de Daniel.

At group level, revenues declined 1% in January, both on an organic basis as adjusted for working days.

"We see a slowdown, especially in Western Europe, as we have already observed in Italy and the Iberian peninsula in the third quarter. Only Germany and some Nordic countries are an exception, "said the CEO told Reuters

. STRONG DIVIDEND RISE

The restructuring comes amid Adecco confirmed its medium-term objective after numbers rather high expectations in the fourth ; me

. quarter 2011 net income attributable to shareholders fell to 133 million euros, against 141 million a year earlier and a consensus at 123 million. Turnover increased by 3% to 5.19 billion euros, as expected.

Of all of fiscal 2011, net income rose to 519 million, better than the forecasted 509 million, and revenue has grown from 10% to ; 20.54 billion, as anticipated.

"With the strong performance in 2011, continued price discipline and strict cost control, we are on track to meet our medium-term EBITA margin of over 5.5 %, "said Patrick De Maeseneire in a statement.

Adecco recorded in 2011 an EBITA margin up 10 basis points to 4%. The EBITA, expected 807 million over the year by analysts, has signed an organic growth of 14% to 814 million.

The Board of Directors will propose to the General Meeting a dividend increase to CHF 1.80 per share for the past year, 1.10 franc against the previous year. Markets expected 1.01 franc.

In exchange, the action of Adecco jumped 6.3% to 48.20 Swiss francs at 10:00 am (0900 GMT), signing by far the largest increase in the index of blue chips in Switzerland (0, 09%) and the largest increase in the European index of services (0.08%).

Analysts welcomed especially strong dividend increase, the proportion will grow at 40-50% of net income adjusted against 25-30% previously.

"But overall, the results are especially strong with a strong cash flow," said Michael Foeth, the bank Vontobel.

Same story at Kepler Capital Markets, where the analyst Matthijs Van Leijenhorst emphasizes that the competitor Randstad has registered a growth of 3% on a comparable basis, against 14% for the Swiss group.

Natixis reported Thursday a net profit above expectations in the fourth quarter of 2011, the bank is able to compensate for the decline in revenues in market activities s by controlling its expenses.

The bank, a subsidiary of BPCE (People's Bank-Saving), reports that fourth-quarter net income of 302 million euros, down 32% compared to last quarter of 2010.

According to the Thomson Reuters consensus I / B / E / S, analysts on average expected a net profit of 263 million.

In FY 2011, net income stood at Natixis 1.56 billion euros, down 10% compared to 2010. There is $ 2.6 billion for its parent BPCE.

Relatively less exposed than other French banks to sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone, Natixis said to have yielded in the last quarter of 2011 to 1.6 billion euros in assets in his bank Financing and Investment Banking (CIB) and two billion euros in assets in its portfolio of toxic assets.

In exchange, the Natixis shares gained 7% to 2.50 euros to 10.30, outperforming the European Banking (0.74%). At this price level, the title wins 28.5% since the beginning of the year after falling 41% in 2011.

In a research note, CM-CIC Securities said the "resilience of the economic model" of Natixis.

In corporate banking and investment income of Natixis were down 20% in the fourth quarter. However, they grew 6% in the Investment Solutions division and 2% in specialized financial services.

Constraint as the other banks to adapt its activities to the crisis, Natixis plans to eliminate nearly 280 positions in the BFI. It takes the same time be more selective in choosing clients and wants to stop certain activities of non-strategic markets.

Natixis will pay a dividend of 0.10 euro per share for 2011.

For comparison, BNP Paribas and Societe Generale have finished 2011 with profits of respectively 6 billion and 2.4 billion euros. Net income for the Crédit Agricole group stood at 812 million euros.

In late 2011, the capital ratio of hard Natixis, said core tier one, stood at 10.2%.

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 number of registered employment center has again sharply in October. The unemployment rate could pass the symbolic threshold of 10% this year as the economy is threatened lights of a new recession. Explanations. Agency employment center in Nice

Unemployment continued to fly in October in France: the number of job seekers without activity (category A) has again increased sharply in October, 1.2%, or 34,400 people, to reach 2.814 million , according to figures released Monday by the Ministry of Labour. The total number of people seeking work, including those engaged in a reduced (categories A, B and C) also increased by 17,200 to 4.193 million people (0.4%).

Fever market does not seem to stop. So many voices calling for the ECB buys massive amounts of government securities in difficulty to break the panic and speculation. But is this really the solution? ECB

In the state of current market panic, the ECB is more than ever figure of last bastion of the euro area. Provided, however, she agreed to play this role … Italian interest rates still evolving around 7% Thursday, an unsustainable level on the scale of a few months. And fears of contagion from France have propelled the difference in interest rates between Germany and France to a new record (204 basis points difference, France into debt at a cost of more than two times higher).Sign that it is a disruption of markets, interest rates of other states in the euro area AAA rated – such as Finland or the virtuous Netherlands – are also affected.

In this context, increasing the pressure on the European Central Bank in order to redeem government bonds heavily attacked. The Nobel Prize in Economics Paul Krugman recently called for greater involvement of the ECB. "It should send a clear message and say" we buy as many (sovereign debt) than necessary. "In France, many economists on the left are also campaigning on this issue. Even in Germany, there are voices in this sense Like Peter Bofinger, an economist and adviser to the German government. "It's not attractive … But we must clearly realize that it's an emergency.

After having declined slightly in September, prices of consumer goods in supermarkets rose by 0.2% in October. Carrefour supermarket in Antibes.

Prices of consumer goods in supermarkets are starting to rebound in October, with an increase of 0.2% over one month, after stability in September, announced Thursday the National Institute of Statistics and Studies economic (INSEE). Over one year, prices rose 3.2%.

In hypermarkets, these prices rose 0.2% last month after falling 0.1% in September. In one year, rising prices in hypermarkets reached 3.4% compared with a decline of 0.7% a year earlier. In supermarkets, prices rose 0.2% in October, after stability in September. Over one year the increase was 3.3%, after falling 0.4% in October 2010.

Mersen, ex-Carbone Lorraine, which confirmed its 2011 objectives, supported by strong solar activity, and Asia, said he was careful, however, for 2012 due to economic climate remains uncertain.

The specialist in graphite solutions and electrical components still expects a double-digit organic growth and operating margin above 12% of its turnover.

"The macroeconomic environment is what it is, that is to say today very uncertain, so there is little visibility (for 2012)," said Thomas Baumgartner, CFO, at a conference phone.

"The growth of Mersen was very strong across all areas (…) And we recorded very high billing in the sun ", he added, however.

The group reported Tuesday sales up 11.1% at constant exchange rates in the third quarter to 207.8 million euros, an increase of 14.1% in the first nine months of year to 627.1 million euros.

"Asia represents over 25% of consolidated turnover of the group, over 37% Europe and North America 32%, so we have a well balanced business," observed the Chief Financial Officer group.

Mersen began several years ago marked a profound change in its output segment of the automobile and its focus on solar, wind and emerging markets.

The stock closed Tuesday up 2.12% to 28.19 euros, giving a market cap of around 559 million euros. Since the beginning of the year, as yields 17.81% after rising by 35% in 2010.

In September, French investors withdrew more money from their life insurance policies than it invested. Net outflows which had been observed only twice since 1997. Explanations.

Life insurance is on track to lose its status as a favorite investment of the French? They have in fact removed in September of 11.5 billion euros of their life insurance policies, for a collection of only 9.7 billion. Is a net outflow of 1.8 billion, according to the French Association of Insurance Companies (FFSA). The event is rare. "Not since the collapse of Lehman Brothers to record outflows over the collection in October and December 2008. Since 1997, and the creation of monthly indicators for this type of investment, there has been, taking into account the month of September 2011, three months of negative balance "ensures Philippe Crevel Secretary General of the circle of investors.Why is this?

The crisis … but not only

"Collapse of awards, signs of recession … The start of the flight of investors is linked to economic and market uncertainty. People do not know what will happen to their money in the long term, or insurance Life is a long-term investment "analysis Philippe Crevel. "The environment encourages individuals to anxiety out of stock or bonds" in Le Figaro said Pierre de Villeneuve, Chairman of the Committee of the FFSA life. But all is not the fault of the crisis. Some even think that its effect is marginal. "There is no effect of panic at all.The returns of life insurance are relatively stable and the people know, it remains very popular "advance Cyrille Chartier Kastler, president of consulting firm Facts & Figures, specializing in insurance.

A significant leak in the richest

He said the decline in collections is due to a growing disenchantment of investors richer for life insurance due to a reform put in place a year ago and a half. "Since then, private management contracts (over 120,000 euros of savings) have their performance limited warranty. The government did not want to be guaranteed a higher return to a type of life insurance rather than another, "he explains. Result, private management contracts, which accounted for 25 of the 120 billion collected by life insurance in 2009, are being "strongly reduced" as the president of Facts & Figures.

Demographic factors

"The aging population is also more and more retirees draw on their life insurance for current expenses, as some households in times of crisis," said Le Figaro Bernard Spitz, President of the FFSA. In addition, many of the contracts seem to arrive today at maturity, making them easy to buy. According to the circle of investors, 64% of the outstanding life insurance has over 8 years and 47% of contracts over 12 years.

Yields less attractive

In the 2000s, life insurance used the net returns of 5.3% on average. Ten years later, in late 2010, this rate is only 3.4%. And for 2011, Facts & Figures anticipates yields between 3 and 3.1%. If it remains very attractive, life insurance suffers from the decline continues, very reassuring for investors."Added to this the fears of an increase in the tax burden of its performance, related to the context of rigor. An increase in taxation would make life much less cost" analysis Philippe Crevel.

Competition for real estate

In the opinion of all experts, real estate appears to be the main competitor of insurance. It represents a safe haven, with high efficiency in the eyes of investors, including easier. "The stone is also good protection against inflation," says Cyrille Chartier Kastler. "In Paris, for example, 54% of transactions are not loans. Buyers are good money somewhere. They drain on the part of their life insurance" advance Philippe Crevel.

Then come the investment banking, including booklets boosted short-term."Banks in search of cash, have directed their clients to the bank books by offering rates comparable to those of life insurance, or even higher. The non-hazardous liquid savings has increased by more than 11 billion euros in the second quarter of 2009, "says the secretary general of the circle of investors.

"No event" or "end of the big time"?

However, the situation of companies and the sustainability of life insurance policies do not appear immediately threatened. When an individual agrees this type of contract, the company invests the money in currency values ​​or bond, they sell at the time of outflow. "The diversification of investments and their management over time in a supervisory narrow sector soundness guarantee" assures Bernard Spitz.

"And then, outflows of 1, 9 billion is a non-event," said Cyrille Chartier Kastler.It is true that in view of 1.367 trillion in assets of life insurance, it still represents a drop of water. Still, the rise of stocks slows over time. From December 2010 to September 2011, the total amount increased by 29 billion euros, against 72 billion over the same period a year earlier. "The great period of growth in life insurance is behind us," concludes Philippe Crevel.