Italy adopts final plan of austerity

The Italian Parliament has given its final green light Friday to a strengthened austerity plan to bring the country away from the debt crisis and attack markets awaiting test results of resistance experienced by 91 banks Europe.

After being passed to the charge Thursday by the Senate, the austerity plan of nearly 48 billion euros has been voted permanently in the afternoon by the Chamber of Deputies with 316 votes to 284 against and two abstentions, a speed unprecedented in the history of Italy, and suggestive of a "miracle" to the President of the Republic the former communist Giorgio Napolitano.

Italy, attacked by the markets last week, had to accelerate the adoption of this plan as a spread of the debt crisis in the country could kneel throughout the euro area including the Peninsula is the third largest economy.

Uproar inside the country

The austerity plan, however, raised a storm of protest within the country. "This plan is yet another crap, it affects poor people," denounced Friday in an interview with Corriere della Sera Antonio Martino, former minister Defense of Silvio Berlusconi. The president of the employers' association Confindustria, Emma Marcegaglia, for his part denounced a plan "based on substantially higher taxes."

Italy is being targeted by the markets because of its huge public debt of 1900 billion euros, representing about 120% of GDP, which is dangerously increase the cost of borrowing for the country.Among the measures to reduce the deficit include the launch of a privatization plan in 2013, the introduction of user fees, freezing salaries and hiring staff, a severe reduction of tax deductions and allocations of local local, as well as more severe conditions for pensions. The Bank of Italy, which has raised slightly its growth forecast for 2011 from 0.9% to 1%, felt that a continuation of the debt crisis would have a "significant cost".

The very large public debt remains the most vulnerable point of the Italian economy, especially in this climate of great uncertainty and fear of the markets, "said in an interview with La Repubblica the EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Olli Rehn.

(With AFP)

Sony will reopen Wednesday its PlayStation Network in Japan

Sony will begin a new chapter Wednesday. Services PlayStation Network (PSN) for online games, and Qriocity for video, will reopen Wednesday in Japan. This is the last country in which Sony has to return to work "normal". Mid-June, the NSP has opened in South Korea and Hong Kong. The group was waiting for the approval of the "authorities" after hackers suffered since early April that forced him to interrupt his service. "We will restore the entire PSN as soon as possible, as soon as the national authorities will be comfortable with the protections we have put in place," explained the beginning of June, Le Figaro, Kaz Hirai, who became president last week Sony games division. He left his position as general manager Andrew House, Welsh origin, like Howard Stringer, the chairman of the Sony Group.

The matter is serious.More than 100 million accounts were hacked Sony, whose 77 million just for the PSN. The data on 23 million credit cards in use were recovered by "hackers" Pirates of the Internet. The group's data center in Tokyo, located in San Diego, has been more than a dozen attacks.

The origin of piracy, according to Kaz Hirai spoke with Le Figaro, at the show for video games? "I do not know who the pirates who want the Sony group as a whole. Individuals or groups of "hackers" are attacking us to tell the world that they were able to pass our security checkpoints. We have suffered denial of service from a group of hackers known as Anonymous, related to the fact that we have tried to protect the intellectual property of the PlayStation 3. But it does not seem that there is a link between the group Anonymous and piracy.It does not appear that there is an increase in fraud since the breach in the PSN. We have not been contacted by consumers who have complained of the misuse of their personal information. Or personal data were not stolen, the target of hackers did not use the information, but to tell the world that the FBI, Sony or another company were attacked. "

The investigation is ongoing. The group of pirates "Lulz Security", which has decided to disband, has posted online more than 2 million customer names from Sony. One of its alleged members was recently arrested by Scotland Yard.

Faced with these attacks, Sony has taken in May, a provision of 14 billion yen (120 million euros). This amount should be reassessed after the latest attacks? "No, says Kaz Hirai.The biggest potential risk was the breach of the PlayStation Network. Thus, the estimate is based on the attack. But we are not sure what information is taken or the potential misuse of data could be made pirated. Our service was closed and we made an offer to return to clients who have returned over the network online. That's why we made this estimate. "

The injury picture is not yet rated. But Sony is comforted by explaining that "customer loyalty is incredible." For "where we have restored the PSN service, 90% of the activity returned to normal. This is the case in the United States and in most countries where we have restored. Less than 1% of customers ask to close their account on PSN. That's why we are very grateful to them.We can not thank them enough. This incident would not have happened, "admits the president of the division games.

Meat: The Mayor wants to renegotiate the price

Facing the worst drought since 1976, farmers have to contend with a rare forage whose cost increases, and meat prices down sharply. An equation that puts some farms in particularly difficult financial situation.

In order to relieve the profession, the Minister of Agriculture Bruno Le Maire today called the various stakeholders in the sector – farmers, manufacturers and distributors – to get around the table to renegotiate the price of meat on the rise, by the end of June FNSEA had claimed last week to hold such negotiations, under an agreement signed in early May under the auspices of the Minister. This agreement, however non-binding plans to open discussions when production costs increase beyond a certain threshold, as is the case today because of rising feed prices business card."Farmers, particularly small meat producers are in a terrible situation. [...] They are tired of seeing prices fall. They need to have a price signal, "held Friday Bruno Le Maire.

Some slaughterhouses have to refuse applications

The red curve represents the evolution of prices in 2011, the blue 2010 prices, the prices in black in 2009, and the dotted black 2008 prices of adult bovine animals at the entrance to the slaughterhouse.

Portugal: two aid plans exist

What is the real plan of assistance to Portugal? Since Friday, the question is on everyone's lips in the country. Doubts have been launched by the third television station in the country, Sic, who spoke of the existence of two different versions of the plan signed by the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with the Socialist government resigning.

Thus, a first version of the document, signed May 3 by the Socialist government after talks with the troika (EU, IMF, ECB), has been submitted for approval to the two main opposition parties, the PSD (center right) and CDS (right). But it is another version of the text, including changes in schedule, which was eventually signed officially by the government on May 17 in Brussels at a meeting of EU finance ministers.

A surprise for the opposition

This revelation has caused controversy in the country, forcing the Ministry of Finance to explain. In a memo to reporters, he confirmed the existence of "ad hoc adjustments" between "the draft memorandum of agreement" developed in Lisbon and "the final version signed by the Ministry of Finance, the Governor of the Bank Portugal and the European Commission on May 17 payday loan.

Similarly, the outgoing Prime Minister Jose Socrates said the parties had signed "two documents, one with the European Commission, the other with the IMF, and the final text did the" make compatible . But for its part, the president of PSD, Pedro Passos Coelho says "not having been informed of these differences," which he said "are not just small adjustments."

For the socialist Jose Socrates, this mess falls at the worst time. The Prime Minister, who resigned in March following the rejection by parliament of its austerity program, is indeed a candidate to succeed himself for early parliamentary elections on 5 June. This Saturday, surveys conducted for the newspaper Publico and Expresso weekly show that PSD collects between 33.9 and 35.8% of the vote, beating the Socialist Party, credited with 32.3 to 34.1% of voice. CDS (right) remains in third place with 11.3 to 13.4% of the vote.

(With Agencies)

ALSO READ:

"SPECIAL REPORT: Europe, states face bankruptcy

After Japan, the fall in industrial activity in France

Surprises in the industry. Production fell unexpectedly in March, activity in the manufacturing of picking up 1%, offsetting a rebound of the same magnitude in March, reports the INSEE. The industry as a whole fell 0.9% in March, after +0.5% in, February.

Virtually all sectors are in the red in March. The most dramatic decline is undoubtedly out of road car production, which lost 4.3% in one month, after 2% in February. The end of the scrapping partly explains the sudden stall. "The supplies seem to suffer from the Japanese crisis," also argues INSEE. The earthquake and tsunami, has paralyzed parts of the archipelago where factories subcontracting to automotive know-how.For example, the manufacturer PSA had to slow down its production in Europe because of a part for diesel engine developed exclusively on a Japanese site affected by the disaster. In addition, all transportation registers down -4.2% (against a rebound of 2.4% in February).

Also penalized by shortages of components due to events in Japan, activity in the electrical, electronic and information technology has continued to decline in March, to -1% from -0.9% in February. The agrifood sector displays a production decline of 0.4%. In this as in the automotive sector, "it remains unclear how much of the decline in production due to malfunction of the Japanese industry and what proportion by lower demand," says Dominique Barbet, an economist market at BNP Paribas.

The production of energy and water, on the other hand, fell 0.7% against 1.2% in February. In construction activity also declined by 0.3% after -0.2% in February.

Quarterly Progress

The poor figures of March are not enough to spoil the balance on the first quarter. From January to March, manufacturing output jumped 3% from late 2010, and the industry as a whole by 2.1%.

This increase is due to the boost given by the maturity of scrapping the transport sector (+3.1%) and the catch-up effect in refining (+21.3 %) after a fourth quarter of 2010 severely disrupted by strikes.

ALSO READ:

"The Japanese economy paralyzed after the quake

Portugal in the Greek system

The country is preparing for two years of recession. This is the price of economic modernization demanded by the IMF and the European Union to pay the 78 billion euros of assistance plan, after the rescue of Greece and Ireland.

The recession is expected to "2%" this year and next year, warned Thursday the Portuguese Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos, for 2011 is double what was originally planned. Unemployment is also expected to jump up to 13% in 2013 before declining in subsequent years.

"The program is tough, but necessary and right," acknowledged the European negotiator Jürgen Kröger. "The economy will face significant headwinds in the coming three years," said Premier Poul Thomsen of the IMF, which provides for recovery "in the first half of 2013." But donors stressed that there was little alternative.The Portuguese economy is suffering from under-competitiveness and "without this package, the reforms have been more rapid and painful," assured Mr. Thomsen.

The program rests on three pillars: fiscal adjustment, with lower expenditure equivalent to 3.4% of GDP, especially in health and pensions, continued structural reforms, with an extensive program of privatization and an overhaul of legislation work and dynamic financial sector, with the establishment of a safety net 12 billion euros to banks in exchange for an increase in their capital ratios fast payday loan. The details will be formally adopted at the Eurogroup, May 16

Lisbon Area will stay out of the market for almost two years.The interest rate paid on the portion IMF (26 billion euros) will be calculated on a basis of 3.25% in the first three years, and 4.25% thereafter, according to a senior official of the Fund.

Sacrifice unpopular

The package will, however, far less than many feared, reducing the deficit more gradually than expected. But the sacrifices incurred unpopularity is likely to take center stage at the approach of parliamentary elections on June 5. The main opposition right-wing has already hinted that he would support him. "It must be clear in the campaign that the future government will implement this program," however, hammered Mr. Kröger. Portugal will need the funds by 15 June, the date of repayment of a loan of 4.9 billion euros.

It will also silence the growing discontent in Europe face the new rescue.Before Lisbon, he had help Athens (110 billion euros) and Dublin (85 billion), without reach to prevent speculation on a debt restructuring Greek. In Finland, the Portuguese plan hostility looms over forming a coalition government. And Germany voices were raised yesterday to ask that Portugal first sell its gold.

ALSO READ:

The IMF demands guarantees in Lisbon

The war began in savings

"Frankly, I am interested in your money": this clash of the BNP did not last long in the 1970 No bank would dare today to show his frontispiece, yet it has never been so relevant. Whether at the counter or on the home pages of online banks, retailers are currently struggling to raise cash from businesses and some 200 billion saved every year by French households paydayloans. All opportunities are good. A mortgage? Some lenders offer more attractive rates if the borrower is guaranteed to leave a cushion of deposits.

Prudence expected on Wall Street

The index futures Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 advanced 0.06%, respectively, to 1355.70 points and 2404.25 points 0.10% to about 13 hours, suggesting opening of U.S. stock markets to equilibrium Friday. Yesterday, the Dow ended the session up 0.57% to 12,763.31 points.

Household consumption to menu

After finishing up the day, Wall Street might react to various macroeconomic indicators on the agenda this Friday: from 14.30, will be unveiled expenditure and income of households in March. Will be detailed figures on consumption of households and the PCE price index based inflation measure. Thereafter, at 15.45, the Chicago PMI index, indicative of economic activity in the region in April, then at 15:55, the second estimate of the index of consumer confidence in April, awarded by the University of Michigan .

Merck, Chevron and Caterpillar publish their results

On the corporate side, Chevron will release its first quarter results before the market opens, and Caterpillar.

Merck has announced a net profit in the first quarter more than tripled over the same period last year, which was impacted by costs of merger with Schering Plough. It amounts to $ 1.04 billion. The pharmaceutical group has slightly raised its annual forecast.

The groupeMicrosoft (up 1.25% to 26.710 dollars) will for its part, very guarded, after publication, on Thursday after the market close, with net income up 31% to 5.23 billion dollars for the third quarter of fiscal offset. A performance that does not stop him being left behind parApple (-0.97% to 346.75 dollars).Based on the number of shares and excluding special items, earnings amounts to 61 cents, above the 56 cents expected by analysts. The turnover shown up 10% to 16.43 billion, despite the climate of "mixed" for the PC market.

The executive employment rebounded with the recovery

Virtuous circle. According to the Quarterly Business Tendency note published today by the Association for the use of frameworks (APEC), the upturn in the market for the employment of executives, up 10% yoy in the first quarter, will persist throughout the year. "This should result in increased recruitment of executives between 3% and 10% on the year," welcomes APEC. More than one in two firms planning to hire at least one frame in the second quarter of 2011, or 10 points higher than last year, and 17 points more than two years ago, during an economic crisis.Levels of recruitment have found their rhythm early 2008.

Graduates or experienced managers

Almost all sectors benefit from this improvement, including industry (59% of companies in this sector have recruited at least one frame during the first three months of the year, or 12 points higher than a year ago) , engineering, R & D (86%), consulting and business services (55%) and computer services (90%). Only construction and medico-social results show lower than last year at the same time, "although the outlook remains favorable to recruit" Apec shade.

If young professionals with several years of experience are always' the prime target for recruiters, "a beautiful part will also be reserved for graduates and highly experienced executives, unloved in recent years.Hiring intentions are regarding the effect on net increase over last year: nearly one in two firms who will recruit in the second quarter and has given his chance at a fresh graduate or a manager over twenty years of experience. Be, respectively, increases of 14 and 11 points in one year.

48 applications per offer

Recruitment target mostly business executives (42%). But the improvement in the industry will also lead to increased recruitment in specialized functions of production sites and technical services such as maintenance, procurement and quality.Technical studies, especially popular in engineering and R & D progress on these six points in one year to reach one in four businesses now.

Replacement of departures (for retirement, resignation …) remains the main explanation envisaged recruitment (41% of cases). But more than a third of companies also cite the development of activity as the main reason for recruitment.

Last sign of a strengthening labor market frameworks: a job entrusted to Apec has generated, on average, 48 applications during the third quarter of 2010. Ten less in a year. Employers are more likely to report difficulties in finding suitable candidates – 61% against 55% last year – even if the trend is still to longer delays in recruitment.The share of hires still being three to six months after the publication of the offer is stable at 23%. And this especially in functions where the offerings attracts fewer candidates: computer (72% recruitment difficult), and R & D studies (68%) and industrial production (67%).

The rebound is confirmed by the Paris Bourse

Achieved. Shaken by the deteriorating situation in Japan's nuclear, the CAC 40 was able to reconnect with the 4000 points in mid-session, after finishing on Tuesday a net decrease of 1.54%, below the psychological threshold. On Wednesday traders try so successful ascent, in the footsteps of Asian markets. The CAC 40 advanced 0.79% to 4,008.04 shortly after midday.

Same trend in London and Frankfurt. After opening in the green, clinching the two exchanges respectively 0.97% and 0.85% in mid-day.

Markets react without panic to the new aftershock of magnitude 5.8 that struck today north-eastern Japan and shook buildings in Tokyo. In addition, they host without the excessive pessimism downward revision of economic forecasts of the archipelago by the government.In a report, it says that the earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear disaster that struck the country will impact on a "temporary" consumption and consumer confidence, exports, industrial production and employment. The triple disaster, whose total cost amounts to about $ 300 billion, will require a supplementary budget of 4000 billion yen (33 billion). "The economy, which was improving, experiencing a phase of weakness, because of the consequences of the great earthquake northeast of Japan," says the government.

Gust Statistics

In this context, progress is therefore no euphoria. Especially since many key indicators are expected to analyze both sides of the Atlantic.In France, consumer prices rose 0.8% in France in March from the previous month and one-year inflation accelerated to 2%, show statistics released Wednesday by the INSEE.

In the euro zone industrial production rose 0.4% in February compared to January, when it grew by 0.2%, according to data released Wednesday by the EU statistics office Eurostat.

In the U.S., retail sales and March business inventories for February will be at the rendezvous, like the weekly oil inventories. The Fed's Beige Book will also be particularly scrutinized for 20 hours across the Atlantic.

Side of the oil markets, time is decreasing. Concerned by the level of demand, investors pull down prices.Shortly after noon, a barrel of light sweet crude for May delivery, accounts for 0.29% 106 $ 56.

On the currency markets, the euro rises against the dollar and reappears slightly above $ 1.45.

Total in the viewfinder of S & P

As for values, Alcatel-Lucent (6.16% to 3.997 euros) recorded the largest increase in the CAC 40 to Accor (2.30% to 30.875 euros). Alcatel is supported by an increase of recommendation from Morgan Stanley to overweight value, weighting cons before.

Schneider Electric: + 0.09% to EUR 113

The group has denied this morning to be "currently" in discussions with Tyco International today.The Daily Telegraph announced Tuesday that Schneider Electric had sent a letter in which he showed his interest in an offer of $ 30 billion on Tyco International, from the perspective of giving birth to the world's leading security systems.

Areva: -0.10% to 30.89 euros

The nuclear expert said Wednesday it has won a contract for the installation of a solar thermal concentrator coupled to the coal-fired Kogan Creek, operated by CS Energy in Australia.

Total: + 0.75% to 42.255 euros

Standard and Poor's lowered the long-term credit rating of the oil group to "AA-" cons "AA" previously, with stable outlook.

Casino: -0.80% to 69.76 euros

The group confirmed on Tuesday after its goals have increased sales by 18.8% in first quarter 2011 due to changes in the portfolio in Brazil and Thailand as well as confirmation of the reorganization of Leader Price.

Credit Agricole + 0.26% to 11.73 euros

The bank president, Jean-Marie Sander, said he was confident the group's business in Japan, noting that the country's economy and its banking system remained strong despite the disaster of 11 March.The chairman of the management company of the bank's assets in Japan, Christian Romeyer said his side that the Japanese savings does not seem dramatically affected by the crisis.

Renault: + 1.52% to 38.32 euros

CEO Carlos Ghosn would not "abandon ship" when the false espionage scandal has unsettled the French group, which must now focus on implementing its strategic plan, said in an interview with Les Echos on Wednesday.

JCDecaux: + 0.26% to 23.01 euros

A group of shareholders of Affichage Holding, Geneva company 30% owned by French group, said the board of directors to court for 150 million Swiss francs (115.6 million euros) after an acquisition in Greece resulted in significant losses.

Vinci: + 1.30% to 43.35 euros

Under the contract LGV Bordeaux Tour, the group selected in March 2010 to build and operate this path, calling for several weeks an extension to the original contract of 7.2 billion, according to information of Figaro.

After market, Kaufman & Broad will release its first quarter results, Fleury Michon announce its results for the fourth quarter of 2010 and its turnover in the first quarter of 2011. Cegedim and Etam will publish their results for the fourth quarter and Camaïeu will unveil its turnover in the first quarter.