10th November

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.

9th November

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.

Germany reduced its growth forecast for 2012

20th October

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."

The G20 rejects the tax on financial transactions

15th October

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.

Italy facing record funding costs

13th September

Italy has had to make a record performance to place five-year bonds Tuesday, which illustrates again the difficulties faced by Rome to finance to sustainable levels.

The euro briefly fell below $ 1.36 and European stock markets have widened their losses after this operation, before these assets back into positive territory in mid-session.

The hope that China will come to the aid of Italy by investing in debt, a prospect that had supported the market on Monday night and Tuesday morning, gradually dissipated, which weighed on the bond issue.

In all, the Italian Treasury has raised 6.485 billion euros, 3.865 billion of new securities to five years, sold at a yield unprecedented 5.60%.

The coverage ratio of the award to five years rose to 1.279, well below that in the last similar operation, where he had established at 1.93.

The cost of financing which faces Italy took off despite the buybacks of sovereign debt in recent weeks made by the European Central Bank (ECB) to support Italy – a program that has led to the resignation sensational Jürgen Stark Friday.

"A disappointing auction, where the relatively low coverage rate is obtained at an exorbitant cost," said Richard McGuire, technical analyst at Rabobank.

The Italian Minister of Economy, Giulio Tremonti, met last week a Chinese delegation, said on Tuesday a spokesman for the Italian Treasury, which did not however want to comment on the content of the meeting.

These offers came a day after an article published in the Financial Times reported that Italy had asked China to support its debt by buying quantities "significant".

EMERGENCY ACTION

Chinese leaders have repeatedly publicly expressed their support for a Euro mired in difficulties.

But according to the Wall Street Journal citing a source familiar with the matter, it is not certain that the talks between China and Italy lead, pointing out that visits of Chinese delegations in Greece and other countries in the region Euro difficulties had raised hopes for investment from the second world economy that never materialized.

The renewed investor concerns about the difficulties Italy has led to a further widening of the yield spread between Italian and German bonds to 394 basis points.

This level is near the peak of 400 basis points reached in August, just before the European Central Bank does not fly to the rescue of Italy in redemption of government bonds issued by Rome.

On Monday, the CDS to five years in Italy has reached a new high of 505 basis points, up 38 basis points, according to Markit, which tracks the derivatives market.This means it costs EUR 505.0000 to guard against exposure to 10 million Italian sovereign bonds.

Italy has entered the center stage of the debt crisis because of its sluggish growth and its debt of 1,900 billion euros, representing about 120% of the GDP of the country.

Italian MPs are looking into the austerity plan introduced by the government of Silvio Berlusconi plans to reduce the budget to balance of Italy in 2013.

The Italian Senate approved on Wednesday through a vote of confidence in the austerity plan intended to bring 54 billion euros according to the Italian Treasury.

Italian MPs will be asked to vote on Wednesday by a vote on the austerity plan of the Italian government said on Tuesday the prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi.

Herman Van Rompuy, European Council President, said that the implementation of the austerity program was crucial not only for Italy but for the euro area as a whole.

According to economists, the cost of a bailout of the country at once would exhaust all resources in the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF).

"On turning the other", when the theater takes over crisis

24th June

Arte broadcasts on Saturday excerpts from "A reversal on the other," a drama into poetry, written by economist Frédéric Lordon. L'Expansion. Com you this. A poem … "On the other reversal" was read in May Centquatre in Paris with Jacques and Denis Podalydès Bonnaffé. You can see excerpts on Saturday June 25 at 0:50 in the show Metropolis "Art and Finance" on Arte.

He is an economist, could not be more serious

But what took him? It would be interesting

To know, frankly, why he wrote

Not another essay, but a real comedy

I would ask him, the big problem is

It does not take reporters with gloves

This upset some people, I even paid the price

It was terrible, one day I will tell you.

The fact is that the theater began Lordon

His text was read in a room CentQuatre

Denis played Podalydès Sarkozy

The room was packed, the audience laughed.

"On turning the other" condenses three years of crisis

While Alexandria, he says taking

Hostage of the State by the markets, these ungrateful

Who took his money, the nasty villains!

For once saved, perfectly requinquées

Against their protector, the banks have avenged

"Down with the servants! Down the deficit!"

"The debt disappear! Faster! Faster!"

The deficit arises course of their rescue

But this point of detail they have quickly forgotten

Their role in the story, they prefer to deny

The thing that matters is that the state is wise

But the guy is extravagant, the irresponsible

And for that we must punish him, to be intractable

The best is yet to speculate on its debt

It will serve as a lesson to the mat.

So that puts the angry Lordon

Look at the edge of a nervous breakdown.

He wrote full articles, books

He says he dissects, analyzes, in vain!

The people remain passive, he notes, he said.

He believes he can not change his fate.

Therefore it was necessary to the drama:

Ideas alone was too theoretical.

The thesis is radical, some would say simplistic

In fact Lordon is "appalled", a Marxist.

The stuffing is published and it caused a sensation

It only remains to make the revolution.

Questions after the change of CEO of Altran

13th June

The Altran share is down sharply Monday in the Paris Bourse, investors wonder about the consequences of the change of CEO of technology consulting and worried about possible new beginnings.

Yves de Chaisemartin lost Friday the direction of Altran, the Board of Directors of the technology consulting company has designated Philip Hall to replace him.

At 11.15am, the title fell back from 2.13% to 5.134 euros, thus showing the third largest drop behind Valeo (-2.32%) of the SBF 120 index, down at the same time of 0.12%.

"With what happened on Friday, there are uncertainties in the short term management of the company.It will probably be some heads will jump (even if) Philip Hall will have to avoid a witch hunt not to disrupt society, "said one financial analyst who requested anonymity.

"There are questions such as what will happen with the CFO (Chief Financial Officer Gerald Berge, Ed) is the former right hand of Yves de Chaisemartin," he says pointing out that a departure of director Financial should not intervene before the publication of interim results in a month.

Several analysts, however, believe that everything will depend on the new strategy will be implemented by the new leader and the latter's ability to get along with older relatives Yves de Chaisemartin, particularly within the executive committee.

He has been asked to Philip Hall to conduct a strategic review by country and by business to better focus human and financial resources, accelerate growth both internally and through acquisitions and improve profitability for the bear "at the best ".

"He (Philip Hall, Ed) will tackle the strengthening of Germany, major market, size and insufficient to make a final decision on the future of ADL whose sale was announced a little faster by former CEO risk of destabilizing the teams, "Natixis wrote in a note also wondering about the future of the domestic IT services.

"In the short term, it must secure the support of key managers, especially Cyril Roger, CEO and head of France, and Pascal Brier, and tackle recruitment in France, whose pace is not enough today" adds the intermediary.

Nobody was immediately available at Altran to make a comment.

COR-Eurazeo buys 45% of Moncler for 418 million euros

6th June

Eurazeo announced Monday the acquisition for 418 million euros from 45% of the French specialist in luxury clothing Moncler became its largest shareholder.

The redemption of Moncler, whose enterprise value of EUR 1.2 billion represents 12 times its Ebitda reached in 2010, should be completed in the third quarter, Eurazeo said in a statement.

Remo Ruffini, president and artistic director of Moncler, will retain 32% of Carlyle Capital and 17.8%.

Founded in 1952 in Grenoble, Moncler develops five brands: Moncler, Henry Cotton's, Marina Yachting, Weber & Ahaus Coast, and a license 18CRR81 Cerruti.

Originally a technical brand specializing in down jackets, Moncler has a network of 55 stores in Europe, Asia and North America in 2010 and achieved a turnover of 429 million euros. It employs over 1,000 employees.

Volkswagen launches its planned merger MAN-Scania

31st May

The German carmaker Volkswagen has officially launched Tuesday its bid for MAN, which could give rise to the first European truck manufacturer.

VW has long been considering a merger of MAN and Swedish Scania, majority owned by VW to compete with industry leader and number two Daimler, Volvo. But this project had been thwarted by legal obstacles and the reluctance of Scania.

VW had announced in early May it had increased its stake in MAN above the 30% mark, which according to German law, obliged to make a bid on the entire capital.(See)

This offer particularly low at 95 euros per share MAN is seen as deliberately unattractive, recalling the efforts of the Spanish construction group ACS to strengthen its stake in its rival German Hochtief without having to buy all the shares.

The title was trading at 96.70 euros MAN to 10:20 GMT, up 0.17%.

If some investors accepted the offer, which values ​​the target group to about 13.8 billion euros, VW would be allowed to gradually buy securities MAN on the market and could receive permission from regulators for a reconciliation between MAN and Scania.

VW, which holds a reserve of 20 billion euros, will spend about 1.5 billion euros for 35% to 40% of voting rights.

A partnership between MAN and Scania would save about 400 million euros per year.

MAN will vote on the offer within two weeks to come, "said a spokesman, adding that the group was favorable in principle to a cooperation with VW.

The case falls ill Strauss-Kahn for the presidency of the G20

15th May

The arrest in the United States by Dominique Strauss-Kahn on charges of sexual violence is bad news for the French presidency of the G8 and G20, which relied on its active support to advance his ideas on global economic governance .

The Director General of the International Monetary Fund, whose appointment to Washington in 2007 was supported by Nicolas Sarkozy, could not attend the G8 summit on 26 and 27 May at Deauville, and probably not more than the G20 start November in Cannes.

The IMF said to remain "fully operational" and announced that his number two, John Lipsky, and acting.

However, this American will probably feel differently to that of the former French Socialist Minister of Economy on the Rescue of Greece, Ireland or Portugal or on reform of the international monetary system.

The Elysee Palace refused again on Sunday evening to make any comment on the affair Strauss-Kahn, hiding behind the legal proceedings in the United States.

But they feared to Paris, a French source, that the IMF does more to defend in the weeks and months ahead, as strong a position on the priorities of the G8 and G20 as on assistance to countries in the euro area financial difficulty.

"It will not make things easier, because we relied on an IMF mobilized and that the IMF will have their heads elsewhere," we felt the same source.

"We hope the IMF will remain mobilized in this period of uncertainty, the resolution of international problems that are heavy on file with the G8 and G20 and the difficulties of the peripheral countries of the euro area", they said, however, also source close to the French presidency of the G8 and G20.

It was asserted the same source that France had for its part "no reason" to change its objectives in regard to these two international forums.

"We continue to work with this very important institution (the IMF)," they added.