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.

With a heritage of 1.17 million, Francois Hollande is he rich?

12th May

Yes and no … The new president issued his declaration of assets. Well above the average of the French, it is also below that of his predecessors. Francois Hollande has assets of 1.17 million euros. Does that make him a rich?

During the 2007 presidential campaign, Francois Hollande, then first secretary of the Socialist Party, gave his definition of rich: more than 4000 euros per month. This Friday, now the president has made public, as is tradition, heritage. Heritage Francois Hollande totaled 1.17 million euros. It includes a house in Mougins, on the heights of Cannes, worth 800,000 euros. Holland is also part owner of two other apartments in Cannes. He also reported owning furniture for 15,000 euros. Finally, it has three bank accounts totaling about 8000 euros, and life insurance of 3550 euros. Then, Francois Hollande is he rich? It depends on perspective.

Yes, if you compare his assets to the French average.

On average, each household in France has a heritage worth 259,000 euros according to INSEE. At 1.17 million, that of Francis Holland is more than four times. It appears even in the richest 10% of the population, who have a wealth of at least 552,300 euros. However, it is not among the wealthiest 1%: to be part of this club, the bar is 1.9 million euros. Francois Hollande may well be a president "normal", its heritage, it is very much higher than normal.

No, if we compare its assets to that of previous presidents

Nicolas Sarkozy declared, after his election in 2007, a heritage of 2.7 million euros divided into two life insurance policies. And, unlike Francois Hollande, said he also had 100,000 euros of jewelry, gold and other art objects. In 2007, Jacques Chirac left the Elysee with a had a wealth of 1.4 million euros, made up, including Castle Bity, in Corrèze. As for Mitterrand, his heritage was 9.7 million francs as it leaves the Elysee Palace in 1995, about 1.48 million euros. It mainly consisted of her apartment in the Rue de Bievre in Paris and his home in Latche, in the Landes.

No, if we consider that rich is someone who pays ISF

Reform of the ISF of Nicolas Sarkozy, in 2011, increased the threshold of wealth tax: it now accounts for taxpayers with a heritage than 1.3 million euros. At 1.17 million, Francois Hollande did not pay the ISF. He does not pay with the promised reform of the tax. Certainly it provides a slice of 0.55% on assets ranging from 800,000 to 1.3 million euros. But only the assets in excess of 1.3 million will pay this additional tranche.

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.

Bertrand said that unemployment figures will be bad in March

26th April

Travauil Minister Xavier Bertrand said that the situation on the employment situation "remains difficult". The numbers of job seekers in March will be published in late today to 18. The Minister of Labour and of Health Xavier Bertrand

Labour Minister Xavier Bertrand said Thursday that the situation on the employment situation "remains challenging", but the first quarter of 2012 will be "better" than the last in 2011, while the numbers of job seekers will be published in March in late afternoon by his ministry. "We will remain a difficult situation, everyone would expect, given the economic climate. That said, we will have a first quarter of 2012 to be better than the last quarter of 2011," said Minister interviewed on LCI data of March.

"We will not be satisfied with this path, we must do much more and much better in terms of outcome," he said. "You have to have a significant and sustained decline in unemployment and, for that, we need major reforms much larger still," he added. As he was questioned about whether the figures for March – the last of the five-year period – will be bad he repeated: "the situation remains difficult." In February, the number of job seekers without work in France had increased for the tenth consecutive month reaching 2,867,000 people, or 6,200 more than in January.

Wall Street opens sharply lower

23rd April

Wall Street opened sharply lower Monday, as foreshadowed future, weighed down by the constant concern that represents the European debt crisis and by poor statistics in the euro area.

The result of the first round of French presidential and the imminent resignation of Prime Minister of the Netherlands with the prospect of early parliamentary add a touch of additional uncertainty coming from Europe.

The contraction of private sector activity in the euro area has increased more than expected in April, which could jeopardize the upcoming release of the region of the recession.

In early trade, the Dow Jones lost 0.9% to 12,909.08 points, the S & P 500 drops 1% to 1,364.87 and the Nasdaq Composite 1% to 2969.65.

Pfizer lost 0.66%. Nestle said Monday it agreed to buy child nutrition activities of the pharmacist to 11.85 billion U.S. dollars (8.99 billion euros) in cash, beating well on Danone.

Hasbro reported Monday a net loss of $ 2.6 million in the first quarter, amid lower sales in North America. The action yields 2.87%.

Xerox has released a quarterly earnings decline, investment in services has weighed on its margins. The action still earns 2.8% after the maker of copiers and printers has said it expects a rise in profit in the second quarter.

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.

European shares end up sharply

17th April

European shares ended sharply higher Tuesday, boosted by a Spanish award whose success is due to a sharp rise in interest rates and by the unexpected rise of the confidence index of German investors.

Paris closed up 2.72% to 3292.51 points after having crossed a zone of resistance around 3,260 points.

London gained 1.78%, Frankfurt and Madrid 2.65% 2.28%. The Euro Stoxx 50 index of large values ​​of the euro area took 2.86%.

The performance of the German government bond (Bund) and 10 years stood at 1.76%. The rate of the 10-year Italian BTP also remained stable at 5.48%, and that of the Spanish equivalent of eased 2 basis points to 5.9%.

The euro was steady at the end of the afternoon against the dollar, around 1.3130.

Greece puts his policemen to rent, 30 euros per hour

8th April

This operation is of course to re-inflate the coffers. The police equipment, like helicopters, can also be rented from private individuals. Police for rent, 30 euros per hour.

Police for rent, 30 euros per hour: whoever can afford it can now in Greece seek the reinforcement of security forces and their equipment, an innovation designed to pump up the public coffers, said Sunday the Ministry of protection of the citizen.  

The department confirmed in a statement late March the adoption of a ministerial decision to this effect, "in order to amortize the cost of using equipment and infrastructure of the police, and to modernize."

This reform, which was adopted in secret, had just been revealed by the Sunday newspaper Proto Thema sensational, including, according to police sources, the recently appointed acting Minister Michalis Chryssohoidis, who has enjoyed little of n ' have not been informed in due course. According to Proto Thema, the bill varies from 30 euros per hour for a police officer, or 40 for a patrol car, 200 euro for a celebrity or 1,500 for a helicopter.

According to the Ministry, this lease will concern only "exceptional cases", and will not receive the required approval only if it does not reduce the operational capacity of the body. The range of services offered ranges from "the escort transportation of hazardous materials or works of art", to "support people" or filming.

These services were "available for free" for years, the ministry said, is regularly accused of in recent years to grant favoritism and opacity in any police protection to the costly political and economic elite of the country. The department also relies on what the practice would spread "in many countries of the European Union".

Deficit of state budget to 24.2 billion euros in February

6th April

The budget deficit of the French state stood at 24.2 billion euros in February against 28 billion a year earlier, according to data released Friday by the Budget Ministry.

Expenses (general budget and levies on revenue) reached 63.6 billion in February against 57 billion a year earlier.

Revenues (net of refunds and rebates) totaled 45.4 billion euros against 40.2 billion a year earlier. 

"The positive trend (from February 2011-Ed) is mainly in respect of expenses, for a faster pace of expenditure recognition, and respect revenues, for the record, in January 2012, an exceptional product for the allocation of authorizations to use radio frequencies, "the ministry said in a statement.

"The net tax revenues come up from one year to another," he says. "This positive development is consistent with the forecasts used in the last supplementary budget."

As for spending, their progress "is consistent with the prediction of the supplementary budget for 2012".

The government deficit is the main component of the public deficit, which also includes financial statements and those of local communities.

In 2011, the deficit has been 5.2% according to the first estimate published by INSEE.

France has committed to reducing the public deficit to 4.5% of GDP in late 2012 to return in 2013 to the EU limit of 3%. The government recently revised its 4.4% target for this year.

The Socialist candidate for president, Francois Hollande, currently leading in the polls, has also committed to reducing the deficit to 3% in 2013, after s 4.5% in late 2012. He plans to balance the public accounts in 2017.

The IMF valid payment of 5.17 billion euros in Portugal

4th April

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Wednesday the payment of 5.17 billion euros in Portugal under the assistance program recovery of public finances.

The IMF cites recent progress in budget reforms including the restructuring of public sector enterprises.

The Fund and the European Union have set up an aid to Portugal over three years totaling 78 billion euros.

The bailout and the austerity measures that accompany it are beginning to bear fruit: Wednesday, Portugal was able to borrow on the market 18 months, the maximum term Long since his ouster issued the bond market in March 2011. 

According to Nemat Shafik, Deputy Director of the IMF, Portugal will ensure a vigorous implementation of the program to regain market confidence. She adds that the deficit target for 2012 should be achieved.

"The implementation of policies under the program has progressed well and the first signs that the economic adjustment required is taking place," said Nemat Shafik.

The IMF has established an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Portugal, which allows faster access to credit. The fund said to have distributed 18.56 billion in this context.