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The Swedish truck manufacturer Volvo was reported Friday in a lower than expected earnings for the fourth quarter of 2011 and again expect a lackluster fiscal 2012, penalized by a dip in the European market.

From October to December, operating income of world number two sector stood at seven billion Swedish kronor (791 million) while analysts had forecast of 7.2 billion, according to Reuters.

The last quarter of 2010, Volvo had generated operating profit of five billion crowns. 

After enjoying the full recovery of demand in 2010 and during most of 2011, European manufacturers of heavy trucks must now deal with the crisis of sovereign debt in the euro area and fears of a slowdown in global economic activity.

"We maintain our assessment that the market 'Europe of 29' will be about 220,000 trucks in 2012. We anticipate a slow start to the year and a gradual improvement, "the group said in a statement

." We maintain our forecast of continued growth of the North American market at about 250,000 trucks in 2012, "he adds

…… The … backlog fell 7% in the fourth quarter, but the fall is more dramatic in Europe where it has shrunk 24%, overshadowing the 22% increase observed in America The Swedish North

. thinks that the truck market is now stabilizing, albeit at a low level, and should pick up gradually over the years. 

Volvo shows and more optimistic than its competitor Scania, who warned this week that it would reduce its workforce and the volume of some of its investments in anticipation of weak demand in the first half of 2012.

The title Volvo opened up 1.4% to 92.00 crowns.

According to the Uruguayan Minister, Louis Almagro, Nicolas Sarkozy was very upset to see that its proposed regulation, including tax havens, were not retained. Nicolas Sarkozy.

Luis Almagro, Uruguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs, said French President Nicolas Sarkozy was "very upset" with "the failure of the French strategy at the G20" and that he expressed in his statements on tax havens cause of a crisis with Uruguay.

"I think his statement (was dictated by) the bitterness and is linked with the failure of the French strategy at the G20", held in Cannes (south-eastern France) in early November, said M . Almagro in an interview published Thursday in the weekly Busqueda. "The four or five worn by strengths (Nicolas) Sarkozy at the G20 were rejected, as (the idea) to cap prices or on financial issues, etc..He used the G20 as a political platform, but it emerged weakened because the final statement did not address its program. I think it was upset and he has expressed in this unfortunate statement, "he added.

In early November, Nicolas Sarkozy said after the G20 summit that tax havens would be put "beyond the pale of the international community." He said that was part of the capital Montevideo which "did not have a legal framework for the exchange of tax information." These statements have angered Montevideo. The French government then explained that it was a statement on behalf of G20 and not of France and expressed its confidence in the willingness of Uruguay to fight tax evasion.

The rating agency Moody's warned Monday about the risks posed by the rise in yields on French government bonds on the rating of sovereign debt of France in a context of uncertainty on growth.

"The sustained high funding costs amplify the fiscal challenges facing the French government in a context of deteriorating growth prospects, with negative consequences on credit", written Kockerbeck Alexander, an analyst at the agency.

Moody's announced in mid-October that it would monitor and assess the stability of the perspective of the French Aaa rating within three months.

The Greek government expects a budget deficit reduced to 5.4% of GDP in 2012 assuming implementation of the proposed debt exchange expected to reduce the burden of public debt, according to the proposed final budget submitted Friday in parliament.

Excluding the impact of the debt swap (PSI), the project includes a deficit equivalent to 6.7% of gross domestic product next year after 9.0% this year.

The exchange of debt should lead to an issue of new bonds with a nominal value of EUR 70 billion and the payment to bondholders deprived of 30 billion euros in cash.

The parliamentary debate on the budget next week to begin by examining the text in committee, the plenary vote is scheduled for 8 or 9 December.

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.

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.

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."

Burberry has released results for the second quarter of 2011 better than expected, supported by new store openings and strong demand in China.

The British luxury group said it had not yet seen any slowdown in demand despite uncertainty about the evolution of global growth.

The group, which manufactures waterproof and leather for a century and a half, announced Wednesday an increase of 29% of its turnover to 463 million pounds (529 million) for April-June

This performance is close to 30% in the first quarter and higher than the average forecast of 10 analysts polled by Reuters, to 448 million pounds (512 million).

Sales in stores, on a comparable basis, increased 16% in the second quarter, against 15% in the first, led by demand in New York, London, Hong Kong and Dubai.

Sales in China rose 30%, a development in line with the first quarter.

Burberry said it maintained its expansion plans, adding that he was ready to adjust if the signals of a slowdown in demand for luxury goods.

The coalition parties are divided on aid to Greece. The Prime Minister threatened to resign if the Slovak Parliament does not vote, this afternoon, strengthening the EFSF. If the vote is negative, the mechanism of rescue of Greece is paralyzed. Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova and the president of Freedom and Solidarity Movement (SaS) Richard Sulik in negotiations for el parliamentary vote of expanding the EFSF on 10 october 2011.

The Slovak coalition parties, on the brink because of a profound disagreement on strengthening the Rescue Fund of the euro area (EFSF), should continue their last-minute negotiations Tuesday morning, a few hours of the crucial vote in Parliament . A small party of the four-party coalition, the Freedom and Solidarity Movement (SAS), is willing to torpedo the EFSF during the vote, expected in the afternoon.

Facing the worst crisis since the installation of his cabinet in July 2010, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova threatened to resign if the coalition could not agree, according to the Slovak press. According to news agency SITA, has offered to link the vote on the EFSF a vote of confidence, to resign if the strengthening of the Fund does not go to Parliament or to resign before the election. "I will make a responsible decision, by tomorrow morning, on the proposal that I will do my coalition partners," she said Monday, without further details. She said it was his "ability to govern" is at stake

Bratislava does not pay its contribution of 7.7 billion EFSF

To enter into force, the expansion of EFSF must be ratified by 17 countries in the euro area.Entry into the euro area in 2009, Slovakia is the last of its members have not yet ruled on this issue. Malta has given the green light Monday night. Considering that the Slovaks are too poor to pay for the mistakes of others, the head of SaS Richard Sulik opposes EFSF, unless that Slovakia is provided to pay its contribution of 7.7 billion euros to the fund increased to 440 billion, a possibility already excluded by Brussels.

His liberal and Eurosceptic movement also requires Bratislava gets a veto on future disbursements EFSF and may disengage from the ongoing European Stability Mechanism (ESM) intended to replace the EFSF in 2013. A negative vote of Slovakia paralyze the financial rescue mechanisms decided on July 21 at a summit of leaders of the eurozone help the financially troubled countries, including Greece heavily in debt.

The ruling coalition in Bratislava holds 79 of the 150 parliamentary seats and therefore does not have a sufficient majority without the 22 members of the SAS. If the SAS continues to block the vote in Parliament, the coalition would seek the support of the opposition Social Democratic Party (Smer-SD) of former Prime Minister Robert Fico (62 deputies). But it said it would not support the EFSF unless obtained major concessions: a government reshuffle or early elections.

The ruling coalition in Slovakia will have to overhaul the government or call early elections if it does not find a majority in parliament to ratify the reform of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), said Sunday the main opposition party.

The country, with only 5 million inhabitants, could hinder the ratification process of strengthening the powers of the Fund reform validated so far by 14 of the 17 countries in the euro area.

The center-right coalition of Prime Minister Iveta Radicova hard to achieve a parliamentary majority on this vote, which is expected by October 14, since one of the coalition parties, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) is refuses to support.

"Either the government approves the EFSF and the coalition will do well by itself, or the ruling coalition is not able to make such a decision and will have to rely on the help of the opposition, but with consequences on the functioning of the ruling coalition, "said Robert Fico, Smer party leader, during a televised debate.

The Smer, which has nearly 40% approval rating in the polls, supports the reform of EFSF but refuses to reach out to the coalition.Robert Fico said that it would overhaul the government or call new elections if it failed to unite.

"We are ready to support the EFSF, but if we do, that means no more ruling coalition in Slovakia," said the former prime minister Iveta Radicova predecessor as head of government.