China's growth at its lowest for three years

 

China's growth slowed in the first quarter to 8.1%, year on year, confirming the end of the runaway Chinese engine. The Middle Kingdom and shows its lowest growth rate in three years. The country is hit by falling exports due to the debt crisis in Europe.

The gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 8.9% in the last quarter of 2011. Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Friday, expected to bolster the central government in its choices. In March, Chinese Premier set the objective of growth of 7.5% in 2012, advocating a rebalancing of GDP, still driven by exports and investment in favor of domestic demand. Consumption is doing well: the pace of retail sales accelerated to 15.2% for the month of March. Industrial production grew, meanwhile, 11.9%.  

The World Bank expects a soft landing for the Chinese economy, she sees grow 8.2% this year and 8.6% in 2013. But Beijing remains cautious about the risk of an abrupt slowdown of the economy too. The Government therefore continues to ease monetary policy. Last month, the volume of bank lending surged to $ 160.1 billion, their highest level in over a year.

Inflation, although more moderate than last year, remains under surveillance. The index of consumer prices rose 3.6% last month. Political leaders, fearing that soaring prices will feed social discontent, should continue to ensure that it is controlled.

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Sarkozy addresses the tax exiles

 

After struggling against tax havens in recent years, Nicolas Sarkozy wants to tackle the tax exile. -Candidate for President, it is not acceptable that some continue to enjoy the benefits of French citizenship without paying a penny in taxes. "I want the tax and nationality are now linked," he said on TF1 Monday. The announcement is accurate. "Any tax exile who went abroad for the sole purpose of circumventing French tax must declare to the French administration as he paid tax abroad. And if it is lower than it would have paid tax on income from capital in France, he will pay the difference, "said Nicolas Sarkozy.

Only the taxation of wealth is concerned. But it is precisely to escape the ISF or the taxation of capital gains that some taxpayers go to Switzerland or Belgium. With this measure, the tax exile would have no financial interest. And if the tax exile showed himself recalcitrant? "If he does not pay, he is pursued by the taxman. However, if he wants to escape measurement, it is of course free to take another nationality, "said Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet Monday, the spokesman of the president candidate. There is no question of deprivation of nationality. This type of penalty is very heavy and could be incompatible with European law.

The 2 million French expatriates, those who move abroad for work or for family reasons, for example, would not be affected by the measure. "I say to expatriates, we will change nothing for them," said Nicolas Sarkozy. They therefore continue to pay tax only in the country where they live. French household working in Germany would pay, as now, the German income tax. Yet to translate into law the difference between the expatriate and exiled, leaving the Hexagon for purely fiscal.

Monday, Nicolas Sarkozy referred to the American system. Indeed, the U.S. tax bind and nationality, even more extensive than would be France if Nicolas Sarkozy was elected. For all American expatriates should pay taxes to their homeland! But the U.S. is an exception in developed countries. European states like France operate on the principle of territoriality – you pay tax where you live. This means that the measure proposed by Nicolas Sarkozy, even if limited to exiles, may involve review of the tax treaties signed between France and its partners. A very heavy work. This is also the argument that had been opposed to the president of the PS Finance Committee in the Assembly, Jerome Cahuzac, late 2010 when he proposed a tax on expatriates. It will also calibrate the measure to be compatible with European law which advocates the free movement of persons and equality before tax.

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Clothing protected by a surge of cotton

 

Second largest producer of cotton after China and before the United States, India took the markets short Monday, putting a halt to its exports. Driven by Chinese demand, they were likely to exceed the end of March the 10 million bales exported in twelve months, while the Indian government had to fall to 8.4 million bales its quotas. This political decision intended to favor local manufacturers Monday sparked a 4% increase in the prices of futures contracts for cotton available in May.

Worrying signs of ready-to-wear and conjure the specter of runaway prices experienced a year ago. Francesco Marchi, Euratex, Association of European textile producers, fears "that European producers of fabrics not subjected to higher prices, which will be transferred to brands."

The Paris daily reprieve in Normandy

 

The new, bad, is not yet official but could be announced to employees on a works council to be held Monday, February 27: Paris Normandy could file for bankruptcy. According to the union SNJ, the regional newspaper, owned by Hersant Media (GHM), after considering a social "scale" would be forced into this solution and, more broadly, the entire division titles Norman Group Hersant Media, which includes, besides Paris-Normandie, Havre Free daily newspapers, Le Havre-Presse and The Progress of Fecamp, and their weekly supplements.

The direction of DRG does not comment. But the situation of his pole Norman is actually very difficult. The paid circulation daily Paris-Normandie has dropped 23% since 2006 to just 52,606 copies at last count of OJD. That of other securities decreased by 26% in five years.

"We fear to a social minimum, at worst a bankruptcy filing," said the AFP-Benoît Marin Curtoud, delegate from Paris to Normandy SNJ.

Discussions with the Belgian Rossel

While DRG is continuing discussions with the Belgian group Rossel to create a joint venture of leading regional dailies in France, the pole Norman seems to be a final hurdle before the conclusion of an agreement. According to the SNJ, the Company Norman publishing and printing (SNPEI), which publishes such titles and employs 365 employees including 114 journalists have registered last year a deficit of EUR 2 million and annual sales of around 40 million.

For the Hersant Media Group, which has already had to close last November Comareg (Released Sold) resulting in the heaviest social of 2011 in France (1650 employees), the liquidation of Paris Normandy would be a second crushing defeat.

Loss history published Monday by the German manufacturer Q-Cells solar panels, receivership last week to the French pioneer Photowatt, bankruptcy of the American Solyndra, despite a half-billion dollars in loans guaranteed by the Obama administration … The horizon of the PV industry seems to have dimmed in recent weeks.

Last date black cloud, so the results of Q-Cells, which Monday posted a quarterly net loss of EUR 57 million, a quarter of sales, itself down 43% year on year cash advance to savings account. The bad news have plunged the action Q-Cells up to 30% on Monday in Frankfurt. The German company cited "market environment significantly more difficult than expected."

End of Mission Didier Quillot. The Chairman of Lagardère Active, the branch of Lagardère Media, is leaving the group he joined in 2006. It will be replaced by Denis Olivennes, who now heads the information hub of Lagardère Active (Europe 1, Le Journal du Dimanche, Paris Match and Newsweb). Arnaud Lagardère person has informed its employees on Monday at the headquarters of Lagardère Active, in Levallois-Perret.

Didier Quillot has carried out a dual mission: first sell the regional daily press (Provence and Nice Matin) Hersant Media Group, then the international press, including international editions of Elle magazine, to 651 million euros, the American Hearst. It also comes to sell the 34% that held in the Lagardere Interactive World, the Internet subsidiary of the group Le Monde. Only in control

Denis Olivennes, who continue to steer Europe1, takes over to a new stage.Upon his arrival in September 2006, Didier Quillot, former head of Orange, was primarily to Lagardère Active, ex-Hachette Filipacchi Media, "a leading international publisher of multimedia content in the markets and multigéographie" . The group was then "not good enough," the admission of the new boss. On a turnover estimated at 2.2 billion euros, Web activities weighed only a few percent. The other part of his mission was to change the group "a strategy of alliances and acquisitions in the digital."

This is the case with several operations "structuring" the redemption of the end of 2006 Newsweb (sports.fr, boursier.com, autonews.fr) for 75 million euros, then Jumpstart Automation, an online advertising in the U.S. United paid 60 to 80 million.

Barroso wants to recapitalize "emergency" banks

"The speed of the European Union should not be that of its slowest member," hammered José Manuel Barroso on Tuesday before the European Parliament. In the aftermath of the rejection of strengthening the European Fund for assistance to indebted countries (EFSF) by the Slovak Parliament, the President of the European Commission urged member countries to continue efforts to stop the contagion of sovereign debt crisis in the area euro. Jose Manuel Barroso called for a recapitalization "emergency" banks as part of a "roadmap" gathering proposals from the Commission to support the banking sector.The latter, weakened by the debt crisis, is under pressure from the collapse of the Franco-Belgian Dexia facility.

Bank recapitalization should be conducted in a "coordinated" by members of the euro area to counter "the threat of systemic crisis that is taking shape," said José Manuel Barroso. Specifically, it proposes to raise the minimum capital "hard" of banks, without giving precise figures. To achieve this, banks must first use of private sources of funding and, if necessary, seek the support of the national authority. If the state is not able to provide the necessary assistance to the bank, a loan will be contracted by the EFSF.

In the absence of recapitalization, the banks should not pay bonuses or dividends, said Jose Manuel Barroso.Their exposure to sovereign debt should be evaluated "in a transparent manner overnight pay day loans."

The EFSF, rose to be replaced mid-2012

In addition, the sixth tranche of aid to Greece must be paid, said the President of the Commission. The country should also get a second loan that would be based on "sufficient funding for the participation of public and private sectors."

Other Commission proposals: the EFSF must be increased to "maximize" his strike force. This must be done through a "leveraged" with no financial guarantees for new states. In addition, Jose Manuel Barroso called again to accelerate the establishment of permanent mechanism should succeed the EFSF. The "European Financial Stability Mechanism" (MES) is projected by the President of the Commission, to take effect mid-2012, not mid-2013 as planned.With 500 billion euros of lending capacity, this mechanism would directly buy the debt of the states in the primary market, not like today only in loans.

Finally, José Manuel Barroso is also income, without naming them, the "Eurobonds", or "Eurobonds", mentioned as a solution to the debt crisis. The Commission will present by the end of the year, a proposal to allow the creation of the "obligations of stability."

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A gold coin for sale 200 euros

She has it all in these turbulent times. The piece that sells for 200 euros on Monday, the Monnaie de Paris is solid gold. A metal sought by individuals particularly since the financial turmoil. The 50,000 copies (999 per thousand of gold) are sold on the website of the Paris Mint www.monnaiedeparis.fr at its headquarters in Paris and in 1000 post offices.

For collectors, it is a copy of most in the series of Euro regions (silver coins with a face containing the names of 27 French regions). "This piece represents a safe investment, since it still be worth at least face value," it says to the Monnaie de Paris. An argument that has more weight than other investments are sad mine.

When she threw parts of the regions 10 euros in cash (one model per region), the Monnaie de Paris had found at his door in the morning thousands of individuals. And the quota available on the Internet had passed in less than a morning on a one-piece per second. Fans will do so many this time? Gold is the ultimate safe haven, but today it is no longer 10, but 200 euros to be paid to pocket a new gold coin. Verdict noon.

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Bid rates on bank books

The French, who have cash to invest are spoiled for choice. Since early September, the war of books has flared up: banks, especially those dedicated to the Internet, engaging in a battle of promotional offers to attract home savers' deposits. They need the cash to finance themselves with it.

Some institutions are content, as in the past, offering a promotional rate of 4.5% or 5% (3 to 3.3% after tax) for two or three months for the opening of a new booklet . The good thing is short lived as the remuneration then falls to 1.75% or 2%. This string – display a high rate for a short time – is well known to subscribers.

Other institutions so attempting to stand out by offering lower rates, but longer guaranteed.This is for example the strategy of Cortal Consors (BNP Paribas), initiated by the summer. The property offers on new books 3.25% gross, but for 12 months (up to fifty million). Another subsidiary of BNP Paribas, Cetelem, also puts forward a savings account strictly identical conditions.

Rates guaranteed for one year

A fixed fee for one year is attractive for investors tired of "doing bounty hunting", that is to say, to transfer their capital from one institution to another and from one book to another, to take advantage of new offers short term personal loans. Other institutions are on the same register, even more cleverly. BforBank, a subsidiary of Credit Agricole, has revived some of its customers by promising 3% guaranteed, again for a year.But unlike other promotional offers reserved for the opening of a new book (or new installments of a book already exists), BforBank promises to serve this rate on any outstanding, that is to say also to amounts already invested in the booklet provided only "activate" the promotional offer.

That all customers BforBank not rejoice too quickly! The promotion was targeted: only those whose libretto is not too BforBank garni – and do not cost too much in interest to the bank – received the proposal. BforBank wishes to draw the subscriptions, but not at any price ….

The war is won booklets also in the field of customer segmentation. Like passengers on a plane, none of which paid for his ticket at the same price, investors who subscribed have the same book – a few months later – at all the same pay.Those who wanted to transfer their money have sometimes been offered to extend more interesting than those who leave the bed.

And those who have transferred their capital elsewhere without closing the book are offered more attractive rates for recharging …

Canal + TV enters the plain by buying Direct 8

Canal + has crossed the Rubicon and wants to become a major player in free television in France. Thursday, the group led by Bertrand Meheut announced the takeover of Direct 8 Direct and Star, two DTT channels free of the Bolloré Group. Initially, Canal + buys 60% stake in the TV division of Bolloré Media and awards it operational control. In three years, he may redeem the remaining shares. The operation was buckled in 48 hours! "I know and appreciate for a long time the leaders of Vivendi, Jean-René Fourtou and Jean-Bernard Levy, and Bertrand Meheut, CEO of Canal +.I am very pleased to be associated with such a good team, "said Vincent Bollore, Bollore Group CEO.

Gone are the days when the giants were the audiovisual respect the Yalta on TV: TF1 and M6 to the largest piece of the free TV, Canal + in the world of pay-TV and its 11 million subscribers. In France, the two families have substantially the same size: just over 3 billion euros for free TV financed by advertising and about $ 4 billion to pay.

After struggling for years to ensure a near-monopoly on pay TV (up to buy its rival TPS), it will not take long to Bertrand Meheut to tumble into force on the television commercial. Now a subsidiary of Vivendi will have three frequencies of DTT: iTV, Direct 8 Direct and Star.Be as much as TF1 and M6 more than the group which, in addition to the namesake chain, has only W9. For Bertrand Meheut, this operation meets the logic of "creating strong audiovisual groups able to defend themselves both on the live broadcast on the non-linear over the Internet. This will increase the value of our programs will experience an exclusive first exhibition in pay and free TV in a second. And pay-TV business is our heart. "

465 million for Bolloré

If this sounds like a declaration of war groups TF1 and M6, the marginalized, at the same time, the few independent French media landscape, and BFMTV NRJ12. With the launch of DTT in 2005, the Higher Audiovisual Council wanted to bring new players in the PAF: Bolloré Group AB, NextRadioTV and NRJ Group.But since the first two have sold their frequencies. Claude Berda NT1 and TMC has given its ally TF1. Bolloré sells Direct 8 Direct and Star in Canal +. The two remaining independent are the big losers. For its part, Bolloré Media made a good deal. Since 2005 he has invested hundreds of millions of euros in Live 8 and 70 million euros for the acquisition of Direct Star. Five years later, it enhances its flagship TV to 465 million euros! The channel Direct 8, mini-general, would be about 350 to 400 million euros. Direct Star would be a hundred. "We have successfully completed the first phase by creating Direct 8 from scratch and placing it among the first of TNT.But for the second phase, which will see all the media groups to engage in significant competition on the content, we decided to partner with a large broadcasting group, "said Vincent Bolloré. The myth of an audiovisual largely open to competition turns into a clash between three private-TF1, M6 and Canal + – and a public group, France Televisions. With their financial firepower, the first three will fight a war without thank you for the acquisition of content.

Add to this a sharp competition for advertising. Canal + now has a board weighing 400 million. Bertrand Meheut is trying to calm things down by stating that "this partnership does not change the industrial landscape, since we are in the continuity of existing channels. We are small in this market for free TV. "He recalled that "TF1 and M6 are, conversely, present in the pay television." It is unclear whether this is enough to calm things down, because, at the same time, the president of Canal Plus says it does not want to "abandon its free channel Canal 20" under channel offset. In this case, Canal +, which exceeds the number of authorized frequencies (maximum seven), should sell two. "It will sell certain frequencies paying," he says. The chain may be referred planet, present on the DTT.

This comes on the eve of the presentation of the report of Michel Boyon, president of CSA, the future of DTT. It is now a fait accompli. The media landscape is recomposed without him. If Canal + bought Direct 8 Direct and Star, the future of DTT is widely drawn.The TF1 group is in a strong position to demand not only the transfer of its news channel LCI of DTT (where it is marginalized) to DTT. But Nonce Paolini, CEO of TF1, claim compensation as a string, which should be TV Breizh. For its part, the M6, if he will not be weakened, will support its claims. He also wants to transform its pay DTT channel Paris Première chain free. And he also wants compensatory chain among its two projects WikiTV M6 family.

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