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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.

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.

Unibail-Rodamco said Wednesday night anticipating a growth in recurring earnings per share by about 4% this year after suffering a weaker than expected decline in 2011 in the context of consumption, however, difficult and unstable. Europe's leading commercial real estate has also maintained its target of annual growth in recurring earnings per share of between 5 and 7% on average over the period 2013-2015. "For 2012, the group remains confident about the growth in rents. This perspective is based on strong fundamentals: a low vacancy rates, as limited effort, rents rise and cost of debt content "said in a statement Unibail-Rodamco. The company explains that caution is when the impact of the crisis in the euro area consumption and the situation of teachers, however, can not be ignored. "The net assets has increased, thanks to growth in rents, which is a very positive point. ANR spring with a premium of 15% over the share price, which shows the value remains price, "said Thomas Aubert, the French manager at AM. Before the publication of these results, Unibail-Rodamco has indeed ended with a gain of 2.72% to 150.80 euros, compared to its net asset value (NAV) ERPA triple net stood at 130.70 euros at end-December (4.9% compared to end 2010). Analysts consensus Thomson Reuters I / B / E / S awaited a NAV 131.18 euros. PRIME on sales net rents stand at 1.262 billion euros in 2011 against 1.257 billion a year earlier. Shopping centers on net rents reached 984.1 million euros last year, up 2.4% year on year. At the end of December, the recurring earnings per share of the group came out down 2.6% to 9.03 euros, 8.89 euros against expected by analysts. When publishing its interim results in July, the group reiterated its outlook for a decline in recurring profit for 2011 of between 3% and 5%, given the impacts the exceptional payout in October 2010 and its program of asset sales. Unibail will propose to the General Meeting the payment of a dividend of eight per share in cash, representing a distribution of 89% of its recurring earnings per share as the market expected an average 8.08 euros. Despite the difficult financial markets in 2011, the group rated "A" by rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings, has raised a total of 3.1 billion euros of new financing , medium and long term, in the form of bank loans and bond issues. "It is also interesting to note that even on desks, Unibail managed to achieve growth while all sales were made at a premium," said Thomas Aubert, the net rents of offices increased by 4.2% on a constant basis. Unibail-Rodamco, the market capitalization of 13.8 billion euros, sold 1.084 million euros of non-core business assets and 242 million euros of assets from offices in 2011, with an average premium of 7.8% over the last values ​​of external expertise. The portfolio of development projects of the group, who will deliver this year including the mall Lyon Confluence, the end of 2011 amounted to 6.9 billion euros, 1.5 billion already spent. The market value of the portfolio of Unibail-Rodamco amounted to 25.9 billion euros late last year, up from 1.4 billion end of 2010.

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.

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. "

Confidence will be key to reviving growth in the U.S. economy and soothe the anger that swells around the global financial system, determined by the Director General of General Electric, who said he understood the movement of "outrage" of Wall Street.

Jeff Immelt, who heads the world's leading manufacturer of aircraft engines and electric turbines is also senior adviser to President Obama for employment and the economy.

"Until we have restored confidence, we can not move forward," he said at a conference organized by Thomson Reuters in New York.

He called for exercise of "empathy" with respect to the crowds of protesters occupying Wall Street and parade through the United States last month to denounce the excesses of the financial system, inequality and the economic crisis.

"Unemployment reached 9.1%. Underemployment is even higher, especially among young people without a university degree," he listed. "It is natural to assume that people are angry."

"The only way to solve this particular problem is growth," he said. "If unemployment is falling, people will feel better.If unemployment rises, people will feel even worse, what happens on Wall Street, no matter what the reform of finance. "

Jeff Immelt also commented on the debt crisis in the euro area, which worries financial markets worldwide and has already pushed major banks like Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase to announce layoffs.

"The most likely scenario is that Europe has a low growth for a long time," he said.

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.

Nokia, faced with declining sales and profits, announced Thursday the elimination of 3,500 positions, including the upcoming closure of its plant in Cluj, Romania.

The closure of the Cluj result in the layoff of 2,200 persons.Nokia also plans to eliminate 1,300 positions in its other division Rental & Commerce, which includes the world leader in digital mapping Navteq.

These staff reductions are in addition to a program unveiled by the group in April to achieve 1 billion euros in savings, and including the removal of 4,000 jobs.

The world's largest maker of mobile phones by volume is facing a decline in sales and earnings after announcing in February that now employ the operating system from Microsoft for its smartphones.The first of them well equipped arrive on the market later this year.

The action Nokia has lost half its value since February, investors feared that the group would lose much market share until the launch of its new smartphones and no longer able to fully regain thereafter.

Around 9:10 GMT, the action to Nokia gained 0.96% 4.22 euros, while the European sector index electronics progressed from 0.17%.

Nokia also announced it would inject with Siemens € 500 million in their joint venture Nokia Siemens Networks, headed by Jesper Ovesen would succeed Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, former CEO of Nokia.

GDF Suez and Spanish Iberdrola announced Friday they would wear 50% participation in each NuGeneration, a joint venture created to develop a new generation of nuclear power in Britain, following the decision of Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) to withdraw from the joint venture.

GDF Suez and Iberdrola, in a joint statement, reiterate their "strong commitment" in NuGen and adds that "there is no reason for the decision to interfere with the SSE project or schedule."

"As expected, the final investment decision should take place by 2015 for commercial operation of new nuclear power plant around 2023," they affirm.