Tax: light drinks would not be spared

The fans thought they were lights beverage spared the tax on soft drinks made by the Government in late August. Did not count on a UMP Amendment / New Centre approved in committee Wednesday as part of the review of the draft budget 2012. While the amount of tax on sugary soft drinks is on track to be doubled, MPs are now looking to expand the scope of this tax on soda beverages containing sweeteners.

The government, which did not include this option in the first place, now says not to exclude the idea. "It is the wishes of the parliament, we will discuss," said the spokesman of the government, Valérie Pécresse, on the set of Canal + on Thursday.

The stakes are high for the government because the sugar-free drinks, but with sweeteners that give a sweet taste, is increasingly consumed.Today, they account for 17% of the soft drinks market with strong brands like Diet Coke or Coke Zero.

No figures have yet been provided about the extra tax revenue that would generate this new amendment, if adopted in plenary session. The previous amendment adopted by the Finance Committee of the National Assembly, to double the amount of tax, also remains to be validated by all the members. By itself, it could generate a windfall estimated at 250 million euros a year, instead of 120 million euros initially planned. The rate of contribution on the sodas would be increased to 6.22 euros per hectolitre in 2012.Then he would be raised from the beginning of 2013, to January 1 of each year, at a rate equal to inflation (excluding tobacco) in the penultimate year.

Support the agricultural sector

As announced in the Figaro, the objective of this expansion drinks with sweeteners is to finance the lower cost of agricultural labor "to allow our farmers to sell their products at the same price as Germany and Spain" explains Valérie Pécresse payday advances. The government has in fact reduced in 2012 from 210 million payroll taxes on permanent farms. The tax will be reviewed and corrected to about half.

The industrial problems digesting the news. "We said from the beginning that it was normal to participate, provided that everyone involved in the fight against deficits.Simply, we do not want to be the adjustment variable of all the deficits that pass and on which we have not much to see, "said Jean-Rene Buisson, president of the National Association of Food Industries (Ania ). The doubling of the tax sodas would, he said, an estimated increase "between 0.2 and 0.3 cents" per can.

No problem for Michel Diefenbacher UMP (UMP): "These drinks, which are not basic necessities, benefit from the reduced VAT rate.They must be able to withstand the additional load generated by this new contribution, "says he in a sub-amendment.

But for now, nothing is yet definitively confirmed nor on the doubling of the tax, nor about its extension to drink with sweeteners.

End of aspartame in system U

The distribution group Système U has chosen to abandon the use of aspartame in soft drinks sold under any brand, starting in January. For the first time a manufacturer makes such a decision. This choice responds to the concerns of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on the effects of this artificial sweetener.

Système U has already banned the use of parabens in cosmetics and Teflon in cookware. Its chairman Serge Papin, expresses his desire to "become a leader in healthy products."

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When you secure a quick cash personal loan, make certain to pay it back on time. Loan pay back time is just as important to consider as when (and how much) to borrow.

The high yields are sought by individuals

The increased volatility in equity markets and the low pay of traditional investments (2% on average for tax-advantaged bank books, money market investments 0.7% and around 2% for bond funds invested in conventional bonds) to encourage More and more investors to find the funds to share so-called "high yield" or directly select actions with good yields.

The temptation is great indeed try to take advantage of very high salaries offered by many CAC 40 stocks: 11% more than expected this year surFrance Telecom, Vivendi 9.6%, 6.9% of GDF Suez and Total and 6.5% of Suez Environnement. These attractive rates are much higher than the average of the CAC 40, which is already high at 4.8%.Level itself almost twice the performance of government bonds to 10 years.

The promise of return is high, but these values ​​traditionally considered defensive have been unable to withstand the market downturn. All titles in the list of the highest yields in the CAC 40 fell in the same proportions as the index. After sharp declines occurred in recent months, however, many experts believe that the values ​​of performance should begin to put up a good resistance in the event of further decline. It would be a good time to get involved.

Stocks or mutual funds

There are two ways to play the performance faxless cash advances. The first is to buy direct from companies offering high dividend.But instead of seeking the largest dividend, better focus its durability, good visibility on the evolution of profits and growth prospects minimum without which no development of the company is possible. Therefore rather than focusing only on the most spectacular returns, such as France Telecom, it is better to diversify its choice of titles, such as GDF Suez, Total, Suez Environnement, Vinci, EDF, and Sanofi. Many companies that offer potential returns of 6.5 to 5%.

The alternative is to opt for funds that specialize in this type of security. During the last few months none of them has survived the market downturn, but the restoring force that is the prospect of good pay should start playing in their favor.Many French funds have over the years specialized in actions "high performance". Among these are: Habs return, Ecofi Performance Shares, Performance Oddo, LFP Performance Shares Growth, growth yield values ​​(find details of all these funds Star.fr Morning) or a new fund under Luxembourg law Groupama AM G Fund European Equity High Dividend.

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Industry and households demoralized

Optimism has no place in French industry and households. According to the monthly survey published Friday by INSEE, the synthetic indicator of business climate in manufacturing industry fell by six points to 99 points in September, passing below the 100 that corresponds to the average long period for this indicator. "He finds his level of August 2010," INSEE said in a statement.

As for the index of business climate as a whole (including services, construction, wholesale and retail trade), it falls along eight points to 97 points. Clearly, "the economic climate deteriorated in all sectors except construction," says INSEE.

In detail, the entrepreneurs of the manufacturing industry believe that their past activity slows again.They are particularly concerned to see their order books, global and foreign, are down. The situation is similar in both food processing, electrical, electronic and computer in the car, where the activity is expected in sharp decline in the coming months.

Confirming this gloom, the turning point indicator of INSEE has clearly shifted in the red. If it is not necessarily synonymous with recession, "the index is in all cases the echo of a deceleration of growth in all sectors," explains Sandrine Duchêne, head of the department of economic INSEE.

The financial situation of the French deteriorates

Even pessimistic side of French households, whose confidence index has lost five points to 80 points in September, according to data from the institute poor credit personal loans. This is its lowest level since February 2009.This indicator had a slight gain in July (three points) after months of stability. But in September, households appear significantly higher than in July to anticipate an increase in unemployment (23 points).

To this must be added the concerns of their income: between July and September, the opinion of households on their personal financial situation has deteriorated further, the balance corresponding dropping six points. Thus, the French are less numerous than in July to consider appropriate to make major purchases (-5 points). About their nest egg, they also feel that the time is not conducive to spare, the balance being lost 8 points in its long-term average.

According to Sandrine Duchêne, growth forecasts of 0.5% set in June for the third and fourth quarters will soon be downgraded."Since mid-2009, we tablions on a scenario of sluggish growth," said she. But the accumulation of adverse factors, "as the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, or concerns about the economic situation in the United States and China," cloud the prospects for a real recovery in the Hexagon.

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Crucial week for banks

The week promises to open high risk for the European banking sector in general and French institutions in particular. Literally slaughtered on the stock market since the beginning of the summer, the banks are preparing to face new headwinds. While the Europeans this week to finalize the second bailout of Greece, the rating agency Moody's might, according to some rumors, lower the credit rating of three French banks, BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole and Societe Generale. June 15, the agency had placed under "surveillance" for three months, with "negative outlook" because of their exposure to Greece. If she sticks to what she had said before the summer, Moody's lowered by one notch notes BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole and two notches that of Societe Generale.During the weekend, Moody's and the three banks involved have declined to make any comment.

The Perfect Storm market, this change of note, even anticipated, will be a blow to those banks seeking to reassure investors about their ability to refinance. The climate is harmful: the action of Societe Generale, the most attacked by the markets, has lost 56% since January 1, BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole and 37%, 43%. The European banking index at the same time dropped by 35%.

Troika in Athens

The tension is escalated Friday when the very orthodox chief economist at the European Central Bank (ECB), the German Jürgen Stark, resigned to show his disagreement with the assistance provided by the Mint of the fragile the euro area, including Italy and Spain, as a redemption of their bonds on the market.To make matters worse, banks are reluctant to lend to each other. Deposits from day to day banking in the euro area with the European Central Bank (ECB) are at record levels.

This week, representatives of the troika (EU, IMF and ECB), to oversee the accounts of Greece, it will return. They had left unexpectedly in early September, saying that Athens had not fulfilled its promises in terms of privatization and economic reforms. The Greek government has given additional pledges Sunday and EU Commissioner Olli Rehn said he was confident in the prospect of an agreement by the end of the month. Time is short indeed: Greece is in dire need of approval from the troika to receive a new tranche of EUR 8 billion taken from the first aid plan in 2010. A refusal would mean the default.Banks that have lent money, would suffer, while heavy losses.

In this context, the debate rages about whether European banks, which hold their balance sheets in packages of loans to countries in fragile states in the euro area are adequately capitalized.

August 27, Christine Lagarde, the executive director of the IMF, had felt it was "urgent" that the European financial institutions reinforce with new capital. Saturday, it reduced his remarks, adding that the figure of 200 billion euro recapitalization needs of European banks was only a preliminary estimate "under discussion" …

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The Paris stock exchange plunges into the red

The Paris Bourse widening its losses. After an opening down 1.19%, the CAC 40 drops 2.43% to 3186.47 points in mid-session and switches under the 3200 points. In Frankfurt, the Dax lost 2.07% while in London, the FTSE loose 1.68%.

The day after a volatile session, which however ended with a small increase, investors are very cautious. On Friday, early afternoon is indeed expected U.S. monthly report on employment. This will be the only highlight of the day."There is not a measure of uncertainty before the employment figures to be published, while the fact that U.S. markets are preparing for a long weekend encourages traders to reduce their short positions," Camron says Peacock, an analyst at IG Markets.

As on Wall Street, who finished the day sharply lower yesterday, as investors take profits after four sessions of consecutive increases. This morning, Asian markets also followed this trend.

In addition to wait before the report was released, traders were disappointed by U.S. indexes mixed. The weekly jobless claims have fallen and certainly the contraction was avoided in the manufacturing sector, but construction costs and productivity plummeted.In addition, the White House confirmed the pessimism about the weakness of the recovery across the Atlantic in scaling back its growth forecasts.

Hesitation in oil markets

As for the oil markets, prices causes a wait of a dispersed way. In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October lost 2 cents to 88.91 dollars a barrel while Brent North Sea crude for October delivery gained 19 cents to 114.48 dollars. In addition to the jobs report, investors feared the consequences of the violent disruption Katia approaching the U.S. coast. In the Gulf of Mexico, BP, ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell began evacuating their staff from oil platforms. The Gulf of Mexico provides a quarter of the production of black gold in the United States.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro has stabilized at 1.4238 dollar.Yesterday, the European single currency fell sharply against the dollar, within the scope of renewed concerns vis-à-vis the health of the euro area, where industrial activity contracted in August, contrary to United States.

Rising energy costs caused a 0.5% increase in producer prices in July in the euro area, as expected, but overall inflationary pressures subside to the extent that the economy of the skate zone.

Values ​​to follow

France Telecom: -0.96% to 13.36 euros

The operator has received numerous expressions of interest for its Swiss division, told Reuters CEO Stéphane Richard, noting that financial market volatility would not affect projects sales of assets of the group electronic check payday advance.

Bouygues: -1.15% to 25.87 euros

The Standard & Poor's announced that it placed the long-term rating of A-group under review with negative implications following the announcement by him of a proposed acquisition of securities.

Total: -1.83% to 33.74 euros

The oil will extend all over France its network of service stations at low prices, after tests conducted last year in dozens of outlets, according to Les Echos.

Safran: -2.12% to 27.18 euros, Suez Environnement: -4.10% to 11.11 euros

Saffron is the best candidate for an entry in the CAC 40, while Suez Environnement, whose price has fallen heavily since the beginning of the summer, should come out, say professionals in the Paris Bourse.

NYSE Euronext: -1.72% to 18.60 euros

The London Stock Exchange has confirmed a press report that it is discussing a possible settlement with LCH.Clearnet.Discussions are at a preliminary stage and there is no guarantee that it would, he said.

Arcelor-Mittal: -3.84% to 14.51 euros

The group plans to resort to short in the fourth quarter at its plant in Florange (Moselle), and will ask 600 of the 3,000 employees of the plant to take RTT in September, officials said Thursday a union source

Sanofi: -2.28% to 50.25 euros

The group confirmed Thursday it has reached an agreement with Pfizer to produce in France generic versions of Lipitor, the cholesterol featuring the American group.

Neopost: + 8.80% to 55.49 euros

The group raised its forecast of annual sales for the second time, following an accelerated growth in the second quarter, thanks to the dynamics of North America.

As for recommendations:

EDF: -1.89% to 21.24 euros

Goldman Sachs has revised down its price target on the title, which goes from 49 to 31 euros, while remaining for purchase.

Carrefour: -3.60% to 17.52 euros

HSBC lowered its recommendation to "overweight" to "neutral" and target price of 30.50 to 20 euros.

Pernod Ricard: -1.03% to 61.28 euros

Bernstein lowered its price target from 76 to 67 euros.

Stallergenes: + 0.71% to 49.75 euros

The laboratory of immuno-allergic Thursday announced a net profit up 18% in the first half to 23.7 million euros, benefiting from the "business growth" and a "moderate increase spending research and development. " In the process, Oddo is to reduce its recommendation to neutral.

MEDEF Summer University: the owners remain optimistic

The storm that hit financial markets and threats on the European and American do not worry the bosses from all over France who participated Thursday in the second day of the MEDEF Summer University organized on the campus of HEC Jouy-en-Josas (Yvelines). After facing the worst financial tsunami in September 2008, they are determined to stay the course. "Companies that seek growth, continue to seek growth. Those who curl up, continue to shrivel, says Stephen Bernard, Bernard Controls CEO and Chairman of the MEDEF TPE-ETI. The only danger could come from the banks if they change their attitudes vis-à-vis SMEs. We are regularly out on all the work done during the crisis of 2008 to pursue a genuine dialogue with the bankers.I am confident because companies can not grow without banks. "

In July, a survey conducted by the MEDEF Ile de France, reported a cautious business leaders in investment and hiring in the coming months. They showed a greater reluctance at the beginning of the year. Recent events have not changed their perception. "Business leaders know that the current financial difficulties do not have the same basis as in 2008. They are not fooled. A company is not only its market value cash till payday advance. Its value, it is men and what it produces. French banks are solid. Order books are good. The agenda is full of my business, "says Marie-Christine OGHLY, president of MEDEF Ile-de-France.

Emerging growth opportunities in

"What strikes me is the gap between the health of businesses and the macro-economy.I am reasonably optimistic. Large companies and other clients maintain their investments, "says Christian also Poyau, president of the Micropole services company that has acquired a Chinese company in May. "I just take stock of our activities in China that are developing as planned. The company fundamentals are good. We should not only focus on the U.S. economy. The world has changed. China, Brazil grow. I do not believe in a deep recession in the United States. I am confident because companies have growth opportunities in the world. " This observation is also that of Christophe de Margerie, Total CEO: "The growth in emerging markets is not to our detriment. It helps a lot when things go less well, "said the boss in this major group, listed on CAC 40, who attended a session on the theme" Réespérer. "A word that bosses are determined to make them.

The concern again lead the CAC 40

Friday promises to be as black as the night before at the Paris Bourse. The CAC 40 was launched on the day down 0.37% to 3064.49 points. But around 9:40, the drop is accelerating: the Paris index unscrewed from 3.44% to 2970.13 points, releasing the threshold of 3000 points. London and Frankfurt lost respectively 1.10% and 1.36%. 2.19% loose Madrid, Milan were down 2.14% and 1.76% in Zurich.

Operators are struggling to recover from their emotions after the new European stock markets plummeting and U.S. Thursday. This morning, Asian stock market sent negative signals with indices in very sharp drop. This bad mood due to a surge in concern about the state of the global economy, reinforced by poor indicators of the Atlantic.Bad index measuring the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing activity in the region, lower sales of existing homes in July, new jobless claims rising again during the second week of August … All signs of the apparent stagnation of growth in the United States.

Concerns about U.S. growth fears add to the debt crisis in Europe, European banks are the first to bear the brunt. In its Thursday edition, The Wall Street Journal reported on fears the U.S. Federal Reserve on the liquidity of European banks. And for the first time since February, the European Central Bank (ECB) has given a major dollar loan to a European bank, whose identity was not revealed.An action that reinforces doubts about the ability of banks to refinance.

Morgan Stanley has added his two cents to panic, explaining that she perceived the United States and Europe as "dangerously close to recession." The President of the European Union, Herman van Rompuy, tried Thursday to calm the mind by ensuring that there was "no new recession" in sight. And this morning, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed that the U.S. economy was "resilient". In vain.

"The bears are back"

"The bears (pessimistic players, ie) are back in force that night, after disappointing U.S. economic indicators and renewed fears about the stability of European banks, which prompted investors to push the button sales," said Ben Potter, an analyst at IG Markets in Australia."There seems to be getting ready for a weekend very ugly, with a market dominated once again by fear and panic," he added.

Gold reached a new record Friday morning in Asia, to 1,837.50 dollars per ounce, due to the concern. And oil, which fell 6% in New York yesterday, continues to fall in morning trading. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery lost 1.69 dollars to 80.69 dollars while that of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery gave 68 cents to 106.31 dollars.

No significant indicator that could reverse the trend, are expected on Friday.

Values ​​to follow

The banking sector

European financial stocks, which had been rolled by a renewed tensions in the interbank market and concerns about the short-term refinancing of banks are still misguided.BNP Paribas (-3.22% to 33.11 dollars), Natixis (-2.90% to 2.81 dollars), Credit Agricole (-2.70% to 6.06 euros), Société Générale (-2, 69% to 21.02 dollars) and AXA (-0.56% to 10.28 euros) are in the red.

Danone: -1.75% to 46.05 euros

Nestlé, the group became a favorite activity for infant formula, Wyeth, Pfizer subsidiary, valued at approximately ten billion dollars (seven billion euros), officials said a source familiar with the bank.

Technip: -3.67% to 57.77 euros

The French engineering group said it had received a letter of intent on the part of the American oil company Anadarko for the construction of an offshore platform for the Gulf of Mexico.

Asian stock markets without direction

Asian markets are very cautious on Tuesday. Despite the encouraging signals sent by the European and U.S. markets yesterday, investors in the region remain on their guard. Indeed, everyone expects the outcome of the meeting between Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, to improve governance in the euro area. "Investors will await the details of the meeting of eurozone GDP figures and the same region for the second quarter," said Ker Chung Yang, an analyst at Phillip Futures Oil in Singapore.

Against this backdrop of feverish expectation, the main index of the region play yoyo. Nikkei and Tokyo Stock Exchange best illustrates these movements. After opening up 0.58%, the latter no longer display an increase of 0.30% in mid-session. An hour of closing, it loses 0.01% to 9085 points.

Same hesitation in Hong Kong and Shanghai.The first stock exchange gained 0.41% to 7 hours while the latter gives up 0.30%. The Australian S & P lost 0.59% and the Indian Sensex gained 0.59%. The Kospi Korean, who had missed the rebound of the previous day because of holiday, takes 4.40% at the same time.

The technology sector responds to the purchase of Motorola Mobility

As for values, the Asian technology sector reacted sharply to the announcement of the acquisition of Motorola Mobility by Google. In Japan, Softbank, one of the operators who distribute Apple products, is illustrated by a decrease of 0.70%. In Hong Kong, Foxconn, Motorola partner, flies to 14.58%. In Korea, Samsung is gaining 4.53%.

In Australia, Qantas is one of the highest values ​​followed.The airline announced Tuesday a major restructuring over five years, which involves the elimination of 1,000 jobs, the purchase of 110 Airbus A320, delaying the delivery of six Airbus A380 jumbo jets and business development in Asia . Qantas will launch and a low-cost airline by the end of the year, Jetstar Japan with two Japanese partners, Mitsubishi Corp. and Japan Airlines (0.81%). The action of the Australian company climbed 1.77% in Sydney.

Oil down

As for the oil markets, oil was down in morning trading in Asia: a barrel of "light sweet crude" lost 45 cents to 87.43 dollars and that of Brent crude gave 42 cents to 109.49 dollars.

The oil market, as global stock markets, fears for several days a new slowdown in the world, against the backdrop of sovereign debt crisis in Europe and sluggish growth in the United States.

Fruits and vegetables producers' anger

Was rotten to the producers of French fruit and vegetables. Multiply these actions to raise awareness of the state of their precarious economic situation. Vegetable growers now call their members to "strike of public payments," inviting them to no longer pay their payroll and other taxes. "I did not revive the disastrous situation of 2009, laments Angelique Delahaye, president of vegetables in France. Treasuries of our 40,000 businesses are very tense, 10% to 15% risk of extinction. We invite them to put themselves insolvent employer contributions to the MSA, deadlines and other bank charges. We must keep what little cash we have left to pay our employees and our local suppliers, "she says.

The gardeners feel they have lost 20% to 40% of their turnover since the crisis of cucumber, late MayAfter the questioning of vegetables by the German authorities in the bacterium E. coli, there has been a surplus of vegetables in the European market. With, as a consequence, a collapse in prices. These never reached the levels of last year payday loans. First victim, the tomato, which is officially in economic crisis last week.

Finally, the bad weather came to tarnish the situation. "The winter vegetable pot-au-feu or those consumed in béchamel as cauliflower are selling well right now over their cost," says Angelique Delahaye.

Targeted actions

Fruit growers are hardly better off. They have the advantage of cross-over for the holiday challenge on the road. "Sos Fruits, Europe guilty, absent policies …" be able to read on the tolls or stickers on banners hung on the bridges of the A7."We sell our fisheries currently 30 cents below our cost, deplores Regis Aubenas, producer of peaches in the Drome, the cause of this action by the FDSEA. We call policies to regulate the market so that the Spanish leading provider of fisheries in Europe, stop the dumping by selling eg 35 cents per kilo in Hamburg at Lidl. "

The player is used by default in the articles of figaro.fr. Maj7

Axa was less affected by Greece that the banks

A nice trading day for Axa. The title of the insurer took 4% to 10 o'clock Thursday morning while the CAC 40 is given a little air, with an increase of 0.45%. Investors welcomed the good half done by the insurer that has quadrupled (324%) profit to 3.99 billion euros.

This performance is significantly higher than the expectations of analysts who had expected an average net profit of 3.7 billion. But Axa has mostly benefited from a favorable base effect. The increase in net income is in fact supported by exceptional gains of 1.44 billion euros from the sale of the 15.6% of Veolia capital of the life insurer China Life Taikang and the sale of its New Zealand and Australia."In this environment (of European debt crisis), we publish the results are good, satisfactory and show Axa's fine," said CFO Gerald Harlin, during a conference call.

Confirmation of the Plan 2015

The insurer stands in relation to banks about the impact of the Greek crisis on its accounts. While the financial cost runs into hundreds of millions for BNP Paribas (850 million), Crédit Agricole (650 million) and 395 million to Société Générale, Axa has placed "only" 92 million euros in provisions for impairment assets in its bond portfolio of the Greek state No teletrak payday loan.

In contrast, exposure of the insurer in Italy, estimated at 6 billion euros against 300 million for Greece, is much more important. "We have no reason to reduce our exposure to Italy and Spain," said Henri de Castries."We are confident that Italy is absolutely the means to repay its debt, simply that the European institutions give a stronger signal of support towards Italy for the markets calm down," said Denis Duverne, the deputy CEO of Axa Business on BFM radio.

If the macroeconomic environment remains uncertain because of the turmoil in financial markets, the CEO of Axa, Henri de Castries is "confident". It provides Axa is on track to achieve its 2015 targets.