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" …

ALSO READ:

"States should they come to the rescue of banks?

Jean-Paul Chifflet: "We have no difficulty in funding us"

LE FIGARO – Your share price has marked a record low 10 August, worse than worst days of 2009. What's going on?

Jean-Paul CHIFFLET – We are in paradox. You mention the low of the action but at the same time, the Crédit Agricole group in the first half net banking record since its inception! We are not the only ones to be attacked on the stock exchange, the whole financial sector is affected (banking and insurance) and even beyond all publicly traded securities.

So why this near-panic investors?

The world is experiencing a structural crisis that has three components: economic, financial and political. This is the first time they are collected and their entanglement makes the situation even more complex. In 2007-2008, the difficulties relating solely to the financial sphere.Today, investor concerns about the economy and growth are strong, with the feeling now that the recovery will be forthcoming in the United States. Then there are doubts about the European sovereign debt and U.S. policy of rigor to establish, particularly in Europe, and the governance of the euro area.

Given the effects of contagion, some raise the specter of a liquidity crisis for banks. Feel the French worried? The are you yourself?

No. Crédit Agricole we have not seen any concern from our customers. In all respects, including liquidity, our situation is good. Crédit Agricole is one of the banks rated by rating agencies in the world. We are the first custodian bank in France, which gives us a significant advantage in terms of liquidity.We have no difficulty in funding us.

U.S. money market funds, however, withdrew funding for European banks …

European banks, and French in particular, must adapt to this new situation. These funds will not be around for two or three months at least. But there are other sources of funding. Based on its treasuries in 25 countries, Crédit Agricole has direct access to central banks, companies or asset managers in Europe, Asia or the Middle East. Our financing program and long-term market was carried out at 90% at end-July. We also have available cash reserves of more than 120 billion euros. I am perfectly calm.

Have you been asked by the New York Fed on your cash?

No.Each controller on every continent requires banks to be mindful of their liquidity. It is a measure of attention that seems normal.

Why the French banks were they stigmatized?

French banks have been more battered by the markets than their European counterparts. The fears that we faced were related to our exposure to sovereign debt and doubts concerning reports of France. Add to this the fact that French banks capture a significant portion of funds from money market funds U.S. $ 200 billion on 800 billion allocated to European banks. This has raised specific questions about the ability of our banks to adjust.

Have you read this summer fiction of Le Monde, which envisioned a nightmare scenario for your group?

This did not please me, I did know.But I respect the freedom of the press.

How do you change the economy?

The recovery will be slow, slower than expected. But so far, we do not get a second recession.

This degradation should it encourage regulators to soften their demands on the banks?

I have only one message: we will adapt to the regulations. However, it would be nice if regulators take the time to add the impact on banks of all the new requirements, capital liquidity, through taxes and surcharges for systemic institutions. Banks are the sherpas of the economy. If their backpack is too heavy and that the oxygen is reduced, it will mechanically eventually impact on growth.It is ultimately the competitiveness of the European economy, these reforms threaten.

Are you going to trim down for credit offered?

Crédit Agricole is the main partner of the French economy. We are the largest financier in France with 471 billion euros of outstanding loans. They have always grown and we want to enroll in a sustainable way in supporting growth. But of course we will have to adapt according to the real economy and the requirements of regular lators.

ALSO READ:

"Greece is less than expected in the Crédit Agricole

The ECB tries to curb the contagion in the euro zone

The European Central Bank (ECB), despite her savior. The guardian of the euro is forced on Monday to intervene in markets to prevent contagion from the crisis of debt to two heavyweights in the euro area as are Spain and Italy. As she had said on Sunday, she started to redeem debt securities of these countries at the opening of stock exchanges in order to lower interest rates.

The effect of this action, has long been demanded by the markets was immediate. At 9:15, interest rates fell back to 10 years at 5.417% against 6.189% Friday. The cost of credit to ten years on the Spanish debt followed the same path, to 5.285% against 6.271% at the end of last week. The agents of the ECB "operations are 20 to 25 million euros over the entire market.We expect that interventions will reach one billion in the order of the day, "said one trader.

For now, the ECB does not need to intervene heavily to turn the trend. "The rates were very high last week, there was little trading volume. So when the ECB came into action, it does not take much to return to the market, "said Cyril Beuzit. "If this continues, the ECB would have to increase the volume of its purchases until the States of the euro take over, to the best end of September."

If the ECB has reluctantly restarted its buyback program, it is against the involvement of European capitals to accelerate the implementation of the reform adopted at the last summit in late July fast cash loans. Friday night, Rome decided to accelerate its austerity plan.The ECB have also sent a list of conditions to the Italian government to help him. Sunday, Paris and Berlin and had to reaffirm that States would take over from the ECB by the end of September. At that time, the new version of the European financial stability to intervene in the markets, should be passed by national parliaments. In the best case.

Divisions within the ECB?

"Certainly, the markets will test the will by then the ECB warns Cyril Beuzit. We think it may surprise by intervening massively, even if the tools are not cut out for that. "Still, the central bank is torn internally. Thursday, representatives of the Netherlands, Finland, Austria and Germany at the ECB executive board voted against any intervention in favor of Italy and Spain.

Sunday's decision has probably not been taken unanimously, advance Gilles Moec economist at Deutsche Bank: "It depends how far the opponents of the ECB are ready to go. If they are ready to submit their resignation in the balance, and only in this case, the lack of unanimity may be a problem. "Considered a risk, however small the economist.

ALSO READ:

"The Paris Bourse recovers its downward trend

"Gold through the roof of 1700 dollars

"The consequences of lowering the American note

Mortgage: rising interest rates slows

If prices continue to increase, rising interest rates tend to slow down on its side. The latest results of the Housing Credit Monitoring / CSA published Monday, the average rate charged by banks for getting a home loan rose to 3.90% in July, or 0.04 basis points over that in June.

It's much more at the end of 2010, where it reached a low of 3.27% on average, before rising sharply in the first quarter of 2011. In the early months of the year, interest rates have taken nearly 10 basis points per month, before slowing gradually to rise in the second quarter.

Because the factors that competed so far in the rise in interest rates now seem not to have to play. "The increase began in November 2010 was related to liquidity constraints imposed by the Basel III.To satisfy them, the banks have increased their margins on new loans paperless payday loans. Today, this adjustment – of around 70 points to 100 basis points depending on the establishment – is probably done, "said Michel Mouillart, an economist at Paris X-Nanterre.

Other factors, however, could take over. The cost of money, in particular, could rise because of uncertainties related to the amount of sovereign debt. For the moment, "this factor did not play," said the economist. But it is already expected that the three-month interbank rates and increasing to ten years until 2012, drawing upward those for mortgages. "The movement of rising interest rates should continue," predicts ultimately Eluère Olivier, an economist at Credit Agricole.

Increase the duration of loans

Photo credits: Jean-Christophe Marmara / Le Figaro

The display stands up well with JCDecaux Asia

No doubt, the economic model of JCDecaux continues to prove itself. In the first half, sales of the French group, world leader in outdoor advertising, organic growth (excluding acquisitions and currency effects) of 5.8% to 1.17 billion euros, higher than the communication sector, which is between 3 and 4%.

The growth remains strong with a good spread of activities. The dynamism of the Asia-Pacific, representing 19% of sales and grew by almost 20%, but the rest of the world (Middle East and Latin America in particular) helped offset JCDecaux weak activity in France (+0.6%). This is still weighing a quarter of turnover.Similarly, Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain and Italy) continues to suffer.

Among the major activities of JCDecaux, the decline in activity in the display (-3.7% as reported) is offset by the growth of income in airports and public transportation (subway, bus), which jumped nearly 17% over the first six months of the year. A segment of the market in which JCDecaux has invested heavily in recent years.

Stability in third quarter

In total, the group chaired by Jean-Charles Decaux can boast flashing in green. The increase in sales has led to a mechanical increase in the margin, but less than that expected by analysts. Net income group share resort, it, up 46.3% to 95 million euros. The slowdown, however, marked between the first and second quarter.Segment of street furniture (almost half of the activity), growth was almost zero from April to June, a jump of activity against 5% in the first three months of the year. This cons-performance due to the continuing difficulties in Europe and the loss of several concessions to large shopping centers in the United States.

The group gives no margin target. He anticipates only "organic growth of its sales in line with the second quarter. "In other words, we must continue to do with the difficulties in Europe. "Knowing that the bases of comparison are not favorable," argues Jean-Charles Decaux. Organic growth was over 11% in the second quarter of 2010.

"Our media is the one most resistant to the crisis," says the boss.JCDecaux expects the continued urbanization of the planet and the rise of digital (11% of the activity in transport) to continue to grow. Not to mention possible acquisitions.

Harry Potter translated into Tibetan desperately seeking sponsors

Norgy Puchunggal, head of the drafting of the Tibetan Youth Newspaper, fell in love in 2003. He spent two years translating into Tibetan Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, then a year for the second novel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. At 40, he now attacks the other five volumes.

Not only did his translations were not reported, but it was found that in cities of Tibet parents are not interested in novels translated because they have nothing to do with the studies their children. In the country, the price of these books, 28.8 yuan (about 3 euros), making them inaccessible. So, Norgy Puchunggal, which has partnered with the Youth Foundation of Tibet desperately seeking sponsors to distribute free Harry Potter.

The apprentice sorcerer and his magic wand would they hear? The Commission for Banking Supervision in China has given the green light to the creation of a regional bank in Lhasa, with a capital of 1.5 billion yuan (161 million), funded by the regional government institutions and fifteen including several major public and private companies. Just now the spell.

The Paris Bourse down

Back in the red for the Paris Bourse. At the opening on Monday, the CAC 40 index drops 0.76% to 3813.50 points. Just relieved by Greece, where the leaders of the euro area have managed to agree on a rescue plan, investors are concerned about the United States. The elected representatives of the U.S. Congress again tried Sunday to reach an agreement on raising the debt ceiling, but without success.

While the Speaker of the House John Boehner had slammed the door to negotiations with the White House on Friday night, negotiations continued behind the scenes throughout the weekend between the Democratic allies of President Barack Obama, the Senate majority and their Republican opponents, who control the House of Representatives. But John Boehner told his troops on Sunday night that no breakthrough had yet been obtained.The head of the Republican majority in the House, Eric Cantor, considered the arguments of President Barack Obama "politics and indefensible."

The situation becomes very tense nine days of the deadline mentioned by the Treasury before a default. This morning, this concern has led to a relapse of the Asian markets. For their part, the U.S. markets, which had already ended Friday without direction, were on the downside Sunday night in electronic trading at the end of the weekend.

Greece is also in the news: Moody's today lowered the country's sovereign rating of "Caa1" from "It" with a development, saying the country was still facing major challenges medium-term credit.

Oil down

On the currency side, the dollar is penalized. The euro is rising against the greenback at 1.4367 dollar.Oil is also down. In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for August delivery lost 1.08 dollars to 98.79 dollars. That of Brent North Sea crude for September delivery lost 60 cents to 118.07 dollars.

The American situation is also the only concern when no market indicator is expected on Monday.

Values ​​to follow

Areva: -1.83% to 24.88 euros, EDF: 0.28% to 27.24 euros

The new president of Areva, Luc Oursel, who succeeded Anne Lauvergeon end of June, will make his first official Monday by hosting one of its plants EDF's CEO Henri Proglio, showing the warming of relations between the two groups. EDF and Areva have signed an agreement at that time technically and commercially, prior to a more ambitious partnership signed in September low fee cash advance.

Banking

Crédit Agricole (-1.87% to 9.25 euros), BNP Paribas (-1.75% to 47.96 euros), Societe Generale (-1.75% to 37.41 euros), Axa (-1, 60% to 14.10 euros) suffer from degradation of the note of Greece by Moody's.

Axa, while welcoming the agreement reached by EU leaders on Greece, the insurers of the French Federation of Insurance Companies (FFSA) said they consider positively their participation in the project initiative of private investors in As part of the options.

Score: -0.24% to 18.50 euros

The reinsurer Scor said on Monday a 22% growth in constant currencies, the treaty renewals in non-life and specialties of the 320 million of premiums up for renewal in mid-year.

Saint-Gobain: -0.69% to 42.18 euros

The group will buy the network and Brossette Build Center in Wolseley.

Unibail-Rodamco: 0.51% to 158.30 euros; Klépierre: -0.13% to 27.14 euros

HSBC has initiated coverage of Unibail-Rodamco to "overweight" with a target price of 175 euros and raised its recommendation on Klépierre to "underweight" to "neutral."

LVMH: 0.08% to 129.35 euros

Consob is considering a complaint from an investment fund over the price offered to pay the French to buy the balance of Bulgari, confirmed Sunday a spokesman for the Italian stock market.

Total: -0.11% to 39.41 euros

The oil amounts to ten billion dollars (seven billion euros) of investment needed to develop the oil field north of Moho Bilondo off the coast of the Republic of Congo, said its CEO, Christophe de Margerie.

Valeo: -3.94% to 45.35 euros

The group announced Friday that its U.S. subsidiary Valeo Inc., based in Troy, Michigan, had received a request for information from the U.S. court as part of an antitrust investigation.

Fimalac: 0.29% to 27.90 euros

The group announced a sales increase of 11.9% on a comparable basis to 515.8 million euros in the first nine months of fiscal year 2010-2011.Its subsidiary, the rating agency Fitch Ratings has led to an increase of 11.7% of its turnover over the same period to 401.5 million euros.

After market, Seb and Klépierre publish their half year results, April Group will announce its earnings for the second quarter, Faiveley the first quarter. Mercialys and STMicroelectronics will publish their results for the second quarter.

Wall Street would open slightly higher

Moody's has pushed the debt of Ireland in the category of investment "hedge" by reducing the country's rating by one notch to "Ba1" with a negative outlook, saying the country might have needed new injections money before returning to the market.

Some officials of the Federal Reserve were willing to further easing in monetary policy if the recovery was too soft to flow back as long as unemployment and inflation is slowing, according to the minutes of the last meeting of the U.S. central bank released last night.The Fed had not so far as clearly suggested that a third series of so-called quantitative easing could be considered after the end of the second round of $ 600 billion at the end of June

Good news this morning, with the growth of China's GDP reached 9.5% in the second quarter, a faster pace than expected, which supported the Asian markets this morning.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro has stabilized at 1.4061 dollars against 1.3974 dollars late Tuesday while oil drops. In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for August delivery lost 41 cents to 97.02 dollars. That of Brent North Sea crude for delivery yielded the same 43 cents to 117.32 dollars.

On the macroeconomic front, investors will also monitor the continued publication of results of companies in the United States.Alcoa opened the ball of the ads on Monday after closing. Its earnings were revealed in below expectations, but its sales exceeded estimates and Alcoa has confirmed its forecast for demand growth in aluminum.

JPMorgan Chase will be the first major U.S. banks to issue, with results expected tomorrow, the same day as Google, which will set the tone for the technology. Investors will know very quickly if the U.S. financial sector has suffered from the decline in trading activities. These results also give a taste of the figures will be announced later by European banks.

According to Thomson Reuters data, the results of listed companies on the S & P 500 should show an average increase of 7.3% compared to second quarter 2010.But this increase could be higher if a majority of companies beat the consensus.

Wave of redemptions

Meanwhile, mergers and acquisitions continue to multiply on Wall Street.

The side of values, Electronic Arts has announced the acquisition of PopCap Games, a provider of video games for $ 1.3 billion including $ 650 million in cash, 100 million and the balance in action in the form of contingent payments by December 2013. In addition, the company should record a first quarter loss per share 0.37 to $ 0.40 against a loss of $ 0.24 per share last year.The turnover should be between 500 and 525 million against 539 million a year earlier.

Always on the side of values, UDR announced the acquisition of three housing estates for community $ 687 million and four development projects for $ 375 million.

Validus Holdings Ltd submitted a proposal for redemption Transatlantic Holdings (TRH) at a price of 55.95 dollars per share.

In addition, the Icelandic company that collects money for the site Wikileaks has sent a complaint to the European Commission against the credit card giants Visa and MasterCard for blocking since the end of 2010 donations to the site, his lawyer said Wednesday.

Also note, the U.S. court on Tuesday approved an initial payment of $ 272 million to victims of the scam of the old American financier Bernard Madoff by the liquidator of the fund, Irving Picard.

Fuel prices: The Sparks Fly between Total and the state

The increase in fuel prices is again up for discussion Tuesday. An interview will take place during the day between the Minister of Economy Baroin and CEO of Total, Christophe de Margerie. It warned that rising oil prices would be passed to the pump. Fuels should be increased from one to four cents more when they have already returned about two cents last week.

The government, for its part, wishes to inform that he "will remain very vigilant: there is no question that this effect is faster in case of decline," said the ministry in a statement. "This commitment by fuel distributors and the government ensure its respect."A meeting between Christophe de Margerie and Energy Minister Eric Besson is also scheduled for July 19.

Policies in the running

In this time of holiday departures, policies are indeed in line to demand that the impact of oil price increase is gradual. Prime Minister François Fillon has ruled that the proposed Francois Hollande to freeze fuel prices during the summer fell within the "demagoguery." "We must also tell the truth", that is to say "that oil will rise" over time, said the Prime Minister on Europe 1. And rather than to invent solutions that make no sense if not to influence the growth or the French taxes, we must work on alternatives to oil. "

François Fillon also said he "found that in June, the decline has been very well reflected by the distributors.It's a little less sure about the month of May, we are doing checks. " It responds to the controversy that has swelled after the statements of Xavier Bertrand: "When the oil increases, prices (pump) increase immediately. When the oil drop, it is always more time. We must stop to consider that the French have no sense, "denounced the Minister of Labour on Sunday. "To say that the price evolution is faster in one direction than another is not fair," retorted the President of the French Union of Petroleum Industries (Ufip), Jean-Louis Schilansky. Christophe de Margerie, in turn, ensured that the increase would take place Monday "as gently as possible."

Within the Socialist Party in the countryside for the primary election, the subject has provoked many reactions among candidates.Martine Aubry, said she was "very shocked by the decision of the President of Total" to pass on the rise the rise in oil prices: "I found both indecent and even provocative." To offset the price increases, the candidate suggested to lower the TIPP (domestic tax on petroleum products) and "tax the super oil profits."

"What is unacceptable today, it's that kind of inaction before a real scandal, said on his side Segolene Royal on BFM and RMC-TV. Total has 10 billion euros in profits (in 2010, note) and when the price of crude oil production decline, this decline is not passed to the consumer. " Finally, the spokesman for the PS, Benoît Hamon, assured that if the left came to power in 2012, "the impunity of the oil companies" would be "finished".

ALSO READ:

"Fuel prices will rise again

"Good tips to save fuel

»COMPUTER GRAPHICS – Change the fuel prices

La Bourse de Paris brings out the 3800 points

Rain of bad news and stock prices in free fall: markets reconnect with painful memories. Investors reacted badly because the new rescue plan for Greece: after being disturbed by an incident technique over an hour, the Cac 40 closed the session on a drop of 0.63% to 3799.66 points .

Featuring Dax index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange was down 0.19% to 7150.21 points in closing. For its part, the London Stock Exchange lost 0.38% to 5693.39 points.

In Milan, the stock market fall of 2.01% at 19,692 points after the warning from the rating agency Moody's on Friday night. The agency said Friday it planned to lower the debt rating of Italy, currently set at "Aa2."The agency said the risks to growth, financial markets and the government's ability to reduce the deficit.

The plan does not relieve the Greek market

Despite a new rescue plan for Greece launched last night by finance ministers in Europe, markets remain worried and disappointed: "Investors continue to demand a quick solution is not the working time of European political authorities. The difficulties in finding compromises will continue to maintain the highest concern, "warns one at CM-CIC. After the reassuring words of French and German leaders who have displayed a welcome unity Friday, the firm tone adopted by the ministers said that the issue will be very long to resolve.The central bankers in the eurozone have defined the conditions of payment of a further tranche of loans in July, but the finance ministers of the euro area indicate that the release of the loan must be accompanied by the vote of a new plan of austerity and privatization by the Greek Parliament. Banks and other private creditors and participate in this new plan. However the contours of that plan remains to be defined.

In an interview with The Tri bune, the Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders compare failure of Greece to the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers. He said the risk of contagion is real."If Greece was the first to default, then the looks would turn to other countries such as Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Belgium can be but also France."

On the currency side, the euro rises gently sloping against the dollar: the time of closing in Paris, the single European currency was worth 1.4315 dollars against 1.4301 dollars on Friday night. In addition, oil continues to fall sharply, quoting under $ 92 in New York.

The banking sector still suffering

The banking sector suffered the brunt of the growing concerns over the Greek debt and the risk of contagion to other countries in the euro area.Natixis lost 1.52% to 3.50 euros, Axa loose 1.32% to 15 euros, Crédit Agricole drops 0.99% to 10 euros, BNP Paribas was down 0.86% to 51.75 euros, Societe Generale de 0.83% to 38.76 euros, excluding CAC 40, Dexia yield 2.24% to 2.22 euros.

All eyes are turned to the Paris Air Show, which opens Monday. Bad news for Airbus (parent company: EADS: -0.84% ​​to 21.26 euros) last night, an incident of a private Airbus A380 giant aircraft flight, the aircraft had struck the wing a building while it was towed to the taxiway of the airport. But a Korean company has agreed to lend one of its A380 for the demonstration. Boeing, he launches the new version of its popular 747 jetliner, highly anticipated. Both manufacturers have launched the traditional race for orders.

In addition, the CEO of EADS, Louis Welsh, said the sale of 22.5% stake held by French and German states could be done without exposing the group to a hostile takeover, note leFinancial Times. Louis Welsh evokes an existing structure "extremely hard" for the development of the company.

NYSE Euronext (0.11% to 23.28 euros) announced Monday in a statement the actual launch on July 11 of the first platform for bond trading companies in Europe, the project has given the go Green of the Financial Markets Authority (AMF).

Areva (-3.91% to 25.53 euros) / EDF (-0.84% ​​to 25.96 euros). According to reports in The Tribune, Nicolas Sarkozy has warned a week ago the CEO of EDFHenri Proglio the departure of Anne Lauvergeon.He finds himself in a strong position.

Saint-Gobain (-0.77% to 41.42 euros) received a volume of orders representing 90% of the shares Verallia proposed under the IPO of its subsidiary in glass packaging, said Monday two Sources close to the operation. Saint-Gobain has set an indicative price between 29.50 and 36 euros per share for the IPO, and hopes to draw 958 million euros from the sale of 40% Verallia.

Sanofi (-0.71%, to 52 euros) An investigation into a corruption case involving employees of the pharmaceutical group in Germany was opened, said Sunday a spokesman for prosecutors in Verden. "Sanofi confirms that there is an ongoing investigation and that he will cooperate with the authorities related to this investigation," said his side a spokesman for the group.

PSA Peugeot Citroën (0.10% to 29.03 euros).The mayor of Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis), Gerard Segura, announced Friday it had requested an appointment at Industry Minister Eric Besson for clarification on the future site of PSA Peugeot Citroën.

Publicis (0.01% to 38.29 euros). The French group bought the Chinese Genedigi, specializing in public relations, events and digital marketing, with about 400 employees, for an undisclosed amount, he said Monday.

"CONTEST: Estimate the Cac 40 in late June

ALSO READ:

"With ZEHST, EADS gives an heir to Concorde

"Le Bourget private A380 because of a stupid accident

"Aid to Greece: the private sector put to