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Asian stock markets are diving into the red on Tuesday. As in Europe and on Wall Street, investors are still worried by the problems of sovereign debt hitting the euro area and the United States. France is again threatened by Moody's AAA rating, which places her under surveillance increased and Spain is still attacked on the bond markets, despite the political transition of the weekend.
The disappointment is great after the "super-committee" responsible for the debt of the United States, which announced Monday not to have reached an agreement between left and right. The twelve members of the joint committee were responsible for the deficit of 1200 billion and had until midnight Wednesday to address their recommendations. President Barack Obama assured that the United States were not at risk of default.He said he was determined to keep the pressure on elected officials and threatened to veto any attempt by Congress to mitigate the budget cuts that are now automatically take effect.
Standard & Poor's and Moody's reported that U.S. credit rating would not be affected by the failure of these discussions. But Fitch said it would take by the end of a decision on the consequences of the failure of the "super-committee".
"Big disappointment" expected by Japan
In Japan, the new lock worried. Japanese Minister of Finance, Jun Azumi, fears a "big disappointment" of markets. The negative effect is felt at least on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which leaves 0.40% to 8314.74 points at closing.
Late fees; car payments, an unexpected hospital visit. Those are legitimate reasons to secure a fast cash personal loan.Action Housing continues the state court
Having long raged about the punctures of the State Budget, Action Housing, the former 1% housing, just go on the offensive. Reportedly, the joint body attacked last Friday before the Paris Administrative Court of the State's decision to withdraw 3.7 billion euros between 2009 and 2011. These funds are used to finance the Anah (National Housing) and ANRU (National Renewal). "We made an informal appeal with the government against the decree fixing the puncture but we never received a reply, said Jean-Pierre Guillon, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Action Housing. We decided to attack the government for abuse of power. "
Smart devices
If Action Housing is the case in court today is with an idea behind the head.Last July, the government has said that he would collect 3.25 billion euros over the period 2012-2014. To sweeten the pill, the Secretary of State for Housing, Benoist Appeared, has committed to implement clever financial engineering to boost the cash flow of Action Housing. "But we have no documents indicating that commitment forward Jean-Pierre Guillon. If the minister changed, the following may not feel bound by that promise. "More generally, Action Housing, which collects 0.45% of payroll companies, believes that this aspiration will prevent it from fulfilling its mission . For example, he does not see how it could fund 45,000 homes for young people as he had promised a few months ago.
With this lawsuit, it seeks to pressure the state to be released in the coming weeks the decree laying down the drain of 3.25 billion between 2012 and 2014.
The Asian market in the dark red
Asian operators in turn penalize the poor performance of U.S. jobs. On Monday, the major exchanges in the region are in the red on Monday, after falling more than 2% on Wall Street Friday and that of almost 4% in Paris. As elsewhere, the Asian stock markets suffer from fears of recession in the United States. The U.S. Department of Labor has announced Friday that the U.S. economy has not created any jobs in August, while analysts were hoping 70,000 net new hires. The ministry said the unemployment rate held steady in August at 9.1%.
In Japan, the Nikkei started the session on a drop of 1.37%. An hour of closing, he gave up 1.86% and sinking below the threshold of 9000 points to 8784 points. In Hong Kong and Shanghai stock markets lose respectively 2.17% and 1.63%.The Korean Kospi fall more heavily to 3.21% while the S & P Australia fell by 2.30%. The Indian Sensex lost 1.18% in turn.
Financial and technological attacked
As for values, the indices in the region are pulled down by the financial sector. In Tokyo, Nomura Holdings (-4.64%), Mitsubishi UFJ (-2.34%) and Shinsei Bank (-4.55%) decline severely. In Sydney, Macquarie Group (-3.70%) and Westpac Banking (-3.12%) drop. In Hong Kong, HSBC Holdings lost 2.23% and -1.69% Bank of Communications.
Similarly, the technology sector is affected by fears of a slowdown in global demand. In Japan, TDK lost 3.84%, 4.39% Fujitsu, Ricoh and Sony 4.42% 3.69%. These latter values are also impacted by a still too strong yen against the dollar. In Korea, LG drops 3.7% while Hong Kong, Lenovo lost 2.46%.
Oil down
Oil prices were also misguided Monday morning in electronic trading in Asia, depressed by the poor figures on employment in the United States. In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October lost 59 cents to 85.86 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery 74 cents to 111.59 dollars.
In Australia, the energy sector is penalized. Santos lost 4.92% and 4.32% Oil Search.
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.
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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.
The Cac 40 up sharply after the U.S. agreement
Relief. Is the word that prevails today in all of world stock markets, after U.S. lawmakers passed this night finally put to agree on raising the debt ceiling. In the wake of the Asian stock markets, the benchmark index in Paris advance to its first weekly session of 1.28% to 3718.38 points.
Last week, the inability of the United States to solve the problem of public finances had weighed on investor sentiment. In Paris the CAC 40 was indeed touched its lowest level in session year (3,630.75 points), while Wall Street finished its worst week in a year, despite the intervention of Obama Friday in an attempt to reassure debt.
After the relief 10 days ago on Greek sovereign debt, optimism is therefore in the financial Parisian.After weeks of negotiations, elected Democrats and Republicans have indeed finally found common ground on the amount of new ceiling, avoiding the world's largest economy is in default of payment in the coming days. According to preliminary information provided by the White House, the debt ceiling would be raised to 2.1 trillion dollars, which breathe new life in the United States on the forehead of the debt until 2013, after the presidential elections. This agreement in principle will also enable the countries to continue to borrow on the markets beyond the August 2 deadline set by the Treasury.
The reaction of rating agencies expected
On the other hand, no excessive optimism sustainable are to be expected in financial markets, at least until the U.S. Congress has not ratified the agreement. The first submission is expected to vote that day.Furthermore, few details have yet filtered on measures taken to reduce the deficit in the U.S., which does not exclude the possibility of deterioration in the rating of the sovereign debt of the United States.
For now, the first tranche of spending cuts of $ 1 trillion is expected. Then a bipartisan special committee of Congress will be responsible for finding the end of November additional expenditure cuts amounting to 1.5 trillion dollars. A total of 2.5 trillion dollars in budget cuts, all over 10 years. From this point of view, the reaction of rating agencies in this agreement called the "medium term" should be widely followed by markets in the coming hours.
On the currency front, the dollar has benefited only modestly from the announcement of the night, illustrating the temporary nature of such an agreement.Around 6:00, the euro slipped against the dollar at 1.4385 dollars against 1.4395 on Friday, but climbed against the yen at 111.67 yen against 110.41 Friday. For its part, the dollar set off again up significantly against the yen at 77.63 yen after briefly reached 78 yen, 76.73 yen against Friday night.
In terms of oil prices were up Monday morning in electronic trading in Asia, where the market relieved by this agreement in extremis. In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery gained 1.53 dollars to 97.23 dollars. That of Brent North Sea crude for September delivery was appreciating $ 1.25 dollar to 117.99.
Macroeconomic side, investors should look carefully at the unemployment figures for the month of June (11am).Overseas are also expected to 16h construction spending for the month of June, the ISM manufacturing index for July.
As for values to follow
Last week, the many semi-annual publications were rather disappointing, adding to the nervousness of investors. The pace slows publications this week, though are expected in the next three days the details of the interim bank shares. After the U.S. agreement, the entire sector was also well oriented (BNP Paribas will publish Tuesday, Wednesday Societe Generale, Natixis and Axa and Thursday).
EADS announced this morning that the takeover from Apax Partners Vizada, a provider of communication services for 673 million euros, the second largest acquisition in its history. The transaction will be financed entirely by cash.
Eiffage reported a slight slowdown in growth in the second quarter despite a sharp rebound from its construction activities, the division of public works who registered a decrease over the period.
Outremer Telecom. A draft tender offer simplified to the telecom operator was introduced by OMT Invest, a structure controlled by Axa Private Equity, according to a notice to the Financial Markets Authority (AMF) and released Friday.
EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF ENR) has entered into exclusive negotiations with Capital Perceva to cede control of Supra, the fund feeds the project to file a simplified takeover bid at the end of the process.
General Health issued a sharp drop in operating profit in the first half due to exceptional items, but its revenue rose due to higher acute care stays.
Recylex published Friday sales for the second quarter increased significantly, from 32% to 125.34 million euros, supported by an increase of 48% of its business in recycling lead thanks to rising 16 % of lead prices and increased sales volumes.
Air Liquide. The gas giant reported Monday a 11% increase in net profit in the first half, to 750 million euros.It maintained its forecast a "steady increase" in net profit for the year.
Note that Gameloft will publish its interim results after market close, while Le Noble Age unveil at the same time state sales for the same period. The British bank HSBC, which is listed in Paris, finally published its results for the first six months of the year.
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The government is mobilizing to the development of telework
Working from home one or two days a week: an impossible dream for most of the French, a reality for many Americans or Scandinavians. While telecommuting is over 30% in Finland, Sweden or the United States, it reaches 18% on average in Europe, it lags behind true in France with a rate of 9%.
However, telework is now greatly facilitated by the development of broadband networks and the boom in smartphones. But the benefits are many, for the employee, but also for businesses and the community. For the employee, it reduces stress, travel time, can increase efficiency and to better balance professional and personal life. For the company, it is a source of local savings and productivity gains.It is also an element of flexibility because it can help extend the service to customers, allowing more time slots adapted to their needs. Finally, for the community, promotes telework planning, reduced emissions of greenhouse gas emissions and relieving congestion. Thus, according to estimates, telecommuting one day a week could reduce by 5% carbon emissions.
Main obstacle: the manager
With this in mind, Eric Besson, Minister of Industry, is determined to eliminate the backlog of France. Pragmatic, he launched a study on the practice of telework in large companies. The results of this study will be published later this year.Conducted by the consulting firm Greenworking, this study aims to identify best practices and identify key success factors to foster the spread of teleworking in France. More than a dozen major companies have already agreed to participate in the study.
In the public sector, negotiations on telework in 2011. In the private sector, a dozen agreements were signed last year in large groups in the CAC 40. Based on volunteering, telework arrangements have been set up at Renault, Alcatel-Lucent, Dassault Systems, EDF, France Telecom and Microsoft. Axa, which has 76 telecommuters, the goal is to move to 200 people by the end of 2012.
But the brakes remain. Rather than legal, they are primarily cultural.Some employees are more justification in their work attendance and their results. But it is mainly the managers who are often opposed, fearing the loss of part of their power and status … Even if, ultimately, the overall results of their teams are improved.
German banks at the forefront in Greece
If European leaders want to involve rescuing investors from Greece, they will have to negotiate primarily with German banks. They are in fact those who hold more government debt, amounting to $ 22.7 billion (15.5 billion euros), according to figures released Monday by the Bank for International Settlements. The French came second, with an exposure of 15 billion dollars (10.3 billion euros).
A total exposure of all European banks in Greece's debt stands at $ 52.3 billion (35.8 billion euros). By adding the two other countries receiving EU aid and the IMF, Ireland and Portugal, the figure stands at 100 billion euros. German institutions hold almost two thirds of this amount.
Particpiation private
Friday, EU leaders said they reached agreement on the extension of aid to Greece. About 60 to 65 billion euros that the new plan would cost a quarter, or 15 to 20 billion euros would come from the private sector. He would ask investors to reinvest in Greek debt money recovered when their bonds mature.
Such an initiative would demonstrate that participation in the effort from the private sector has been explored, "said Justin Knight, strategist at UBS AG, quoted by Bloomberg. "This could lead to voters to accept a new European public aid" to Greece business card. The Germans would, however, according to Die Welt, go further and require banks to extend loan periods, exchanging bonds maturing by other securities of a longer duration.
Default risk
However, "some sources suggest that asking banks to exchange the Greek bonds could trigger precisely a failure," says Luigi Speranza, an economist at BNP Paribas CIB. The rating agency Fitch estimates for its part in a note published Monday that even an exchange of debt on a voluntary basis, if it is unfavorable to creditors, may be considered a "credit event", ie ie a payment default.
In this context, EU leaders are walking a tightrope. Especially since the European Central Bank reiterated Monday his opposition to the restructuring of state debt. "Imposing a discount to private investors can seriously disrupt the real economy and financial creditor and debtor countries, has said Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, board member of the institution.Therefore a restructuring would be done as a last resort, that is to say when it is clear that the debtor country can not repay its debts. "
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Nuclear RWE and EON angry and France under pressure
The German government "plays with the competitiveness" of the country by accelerating the dropping of the atom civilian judge the boss's number two Germany's RWE, the megaphones and nuclear. Juergen Grossmann said that Germany wants "a future without major international groups in the energy sector," it said in the daily newspaper Bild on Wednesday in reaction to the decision of the German state of halt atomic energy by 2022.
For its part, the country's leading sector, EON, warned he would sue the position of Chancellor Angela Merkel to accelerate the abandonment of nuclear energy, and in particular not to abandon the tax nuclear fuel, saying that this tax "raises legal."The tax was created as a part-cons to a longer than twelve years of the life of the 17 nuclear reactors in Germany, decided last year and then canceled in a hurry after the disaster of Fukushima. She must report 2.3 billion euros per year in the German state. Proceeding in the same sense that Jürgen Grossmann, the group has also ensured that such decisions penalize investments in renewables and disability meet its European competitors.
A meeting Thursday, June 9 in France
In France, the pressure rises. On Wednesday morning, the Energy Minister Eric Besson announced on 9 June a meeting of the energy system to assess the consequences of the German decision. He acknowledged that France Info France would be affected "in the short term," deprived of a source of imports, when drought increases the need for electricity."The immediate halt of the seven nuclear plants in Germany removes about 10% of its electricity production", which means that "Germany will no longer be able to export, or much less," said Eric Besson.
The minister also said that delaying the opening of the public inquiry into the proposed EPR nuclear reactor Penly – it was to open on Wednesday 1 June – did not mean a "stop the process of public inquiry to Penly, recalling that President Nicolas Sarkozy had reaffirmed the nuclear option.
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Virtual operators have built a true position
On Monday, the Post Office is officially launching its own mobile phone service for individuals, known as La Poste Mobile. Launched via the SFR network, it provides another example of diversification into telecoms. The opportunity to take stock of the growing power of these operators without their own network, but both rely on niche marketing and / or community to get a place alongside the historical giants such as Orange , SFR and Bouygues.
• What is a MVNO?
The acronym stands for MVNO Mobile Virtual Network Operator. Translated by "mobile virtual operator" or "no operator's own network," he means an operator who does not have spectrum or infrastructure.Appeared in France in 2005 to deregulate the telecom sector, so these new actors use an existing network, content to buy from the incumbent operators (Orange, SFR and Bouygues) of the minutes of their telephone then sell to their customers under their own brand, and to freely set their rates. The lack of investment, extremely heavy to develop its own network, allowing them to offer more competitive rates of around 15% to 30% depending on the offers. However, funding for equipment (reimbursement of part of the phone purchased at the time of signing the Contract) is often low or even zero. Hence the overall time commitment shorter than big operators.
• Who are the main MVNO?
According to the criteria Arcep (Regulatory Authority for electronic communications and postal services), are considered only MVNO operators virtual assets is not controlled mainly by a network operator. The first, and one of the oldest among them is Virgin Mobile, which uses the Orange network and accounts for about 2 million customers after a gain of 161,000 customers in the first quarter of 2011.Other MVNOs independent, we find NRJ Mobile, Omer Mobile (Virgin Mobile, Breizh Mobile, Mobile Casino, Mobile Tele 2) Afone, Auchan Telecom, Carrefour Mobile, Coriolis Telecom … According to Arcep, MVNOs controlled by operators network are German Debitel (SFR), Mobisud (SFR), Ten (Orange) and Neuf Cegetel (SFR).
• What is their weight against incumbents?
According to the latest figures from Arcep, the market share of these operators has reached 8.4% in the first quarter of 2011, 5.294 of customers / lines, against 7.5% a quarter earlier (4.7 million customers / lines). A jump rarely observed, partly due to terminations "without charge" offered by the incumbents when the VAT hike in telecom.In the first three months of the year, Orange, SFR and Bouygues have lost about 542,000 customers, cons 566,000 SIM cards earned by virtual operators. Long, these MVNOs have struggled to take off, remaining stuck on the 5% market share. In France, the number of virtual operators is generally the average of other European countries, but their relative weight remained below the European average (13%). To observers, the weight could quickly exceed 10%.
• Why market share has it difficult to take off?
At first glance, this growth remains weak. However, "at the time of their appearance there are 4 or 5 years, we would not bet on this rate of progress," an expert analysis of the sector.For cause, "the mobile market is marked by a certain inertia, with only 25% of subscribers who switch operators each year, for, most often spend an incumbent to another."
Especially since the captive customers of Orange, SFR and Bouygues is accentuated by long periods of time commitments (usually 12 or 24 months). With growth in the number of subscribers increases by a further 3 to 4% per year, "at the end, the MVNO capture each year between 9 and 10% of gross new subscribers," concludes the analyst. "In five years they have managed to build a position not so bad, with marketing means much more limited than those of larger operators."
• MVNOs are they a threat to Orange, SFR, Bouygues?
Certainly, the presence of these players has driven prices down, in a market long remained oligopolistic.However, network operators also have an interest in the existence of MVNOs, praising them as their network, and offering some of their services (voice, customer service …) they optimize the use of their infrastructure. They can also grow rapidly in population or niche clientele where they are still very present.Some MVNOs have indeed relied on population categories (geographic, cultural, ethnic, business, etc.). By taking control of the MVNO, the incumbent attracts new customers with offers less traditional but particularly well adapted to a particular population segment.
• The licensing 4G is it good news for these operators?
The terms of the call for tenders launched May 16 by the Ministry of Industry for the licensing of fourth generation (4G) to exploit frequency at very high speed, was a priori well received by MVNOs. They consider that the division of lots allows small operators to try their luck. However, unlikely that one of them decides to enter only the dance.Eric Besson, Minister of Industry, Energy and the Digital Economy, believes that "nothing prevents the entry of a fifth mobile operator (with Orange, SFR, Bouygues and Free ). But technically and financially, the operation would be a miracle.
"The ticket to a single lot on the frequencies in the 2.6 GHz band is 150 million euros, said an analyst in Paris. Now, a new entrant can hardly afford a single lot, as it would soon be limited in terms of throughput, and therefore very little competitive. " Moreover, beyond the high price of lots, the acquisition of licenses from a new entrant assumes that subsequently develops its own network, and thus it furnishes a hand in his pocket. For example, Free, who began to build its own 3G network after obtaining his license two years ago, has estimated its capital to 1 billion euros over five years.And this just for the antennas. Unless several MVNOs together to diversify the sector with network operators, only Free seems to be able to shake the current landscape.
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