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The Spanish bank La Caixa confirmed Monday its intention to acquire its rival Banca Civica through its listed subsidiary CaixaBank to give birth to the first Spanish bank to Santander and BBVA.

CaixaBank offers the equivalent of 1.97 euro per share Banca Civica via a public exchange offer (the offer) that values ​​the target at 980 million euros.

A second wave of consolidation is underway in the Spanish banking sector. This is for banks to rebuild capital after losses from the bursting of the speculative real estate bubble in late 2007.

With total assets of 285 billion euros, CaixaBank is about four times larger than the Civic.

The shareholders of Banca Civica CaixaBank will receive five shares for every eight shares held. This represents a discount of 11% over the closing price Friday of Banca Civica. Quotations CaixaBank and Banca Civica were suspended Monday before the markets open.

The banks hope to have the approval of their shareholders by June 30.

Sources close to CaixaBank, it is not excluded that the institution has used a capital increase to finance its acquisition.

The government of Mariano Rajoy wants to reduce the number of banking groups to ten when they were over 40 before the crisis.

The new alignment will bring more difficult to find a partner for Bankia, particularly exposed to real estate, say observers.

Caixa said in a statement it would maintain its dividend to 0.231 euros per share in 2012.

Declining in most European countries, the activity has only slightly slowed in France in the fourth quarter 2011 before stagnating earlier this year, according to INSEE, which had considered the possibility of a recession. Better resistance does not prevent unemployment to continue rising. French executives come to the business district of La Defense

France is going through a little better air hole that affects the entire euro area. After avoiding a decline in activity in the fourth quarter – unlike Germany, it should just happen to stabilize its GDP over the first three months of the year before starting to rebound slowly, according to forecasts revised upwards published Thursday by the National Institute of Statistics.  

"For France, we expect a stable activity in the first quarter, zero percent growth, and then a sluggish 0.2% in the second quarter," he told reporters Sandrine Duchene, head of the Department of conditions of INSEE. In December, INSEE had planned a short recession with contraction of economic activity in the last quarter 2011 and first quarter 2012, before there is a growth of 0.2% on October to December last year. "We had a shock on the euro area in the summer of 2011 we are coming out" and "recovery is slow," noted Ms. Duchene presenting the note of economic INSEE March. But gross domestic product (GDP) "regain its pre-crisis level in the forecast horizon," that is to say, late June, said during a press conference an analyst of the INSEE, Dorian Roucher.  

The institute has also revised sharply upwards its forecast of growth acquisition for 2012 that would be achieved by mid-year: 0% predicted in December, it would increase to 0.5%. This represents growth of GDP this year if the last two quarters remained the same as the second quarter. Ms. Duchene explains this revision by the better than expected growth in the last quarter of 2011 and the upward revision of its forecasts for the first half.

Consequently, the Minister of Economy and Finance Baroin announced an increase in the government's forecast for growth of the French economy in 2012, now expected at 0.7% against 0.5% previously.

The engines of growth remain low

Optimism, however, must be very measured. The chief economist at INSEE emphasizes that household consumption, the traditional engine of growth in France, "remains low". She would grow by 0.2% in the first quarter before stagnating in the second. And because "a 0.3% decline in purchasing power in the first half."

Several factors contribute to this weakness. Purchasing power would suffer first the relatively high level of inflation (2.2% yoy). In addition, earned income will slow due to the deteriorating labor market. This will not only result in further loss of 49,000 jobs in the first half but it will also affect wage negotiations. Finally, household incomes will be further tapped by taxes, supported by measures enacted in Finance Act which come into force in 2012.

France can not be counted as late last year on exports. Thanks to sales of Airbus, they have indeed been the main driver of growth in the fourth quarter that helped prevent the recession. But their contribution to the activity will become neutral due to weak demand in the euro area.

The context would finally have some good investment: the business outlook remains bleak, the conditions for granting loans were tightened before the massive intervention of the ECB and the margin of the companies is at an historic . Besides factors such as more timely consequences of the cold wave on construction.L business investment would decline so slightly in the first quarter 2012 (-0.4%), before rebounding in the second quarter (+0.8% ).

But the big downside of these forecasts is unemployment. INSEE entails loss of 49,000 in the market sector in the first half after a fall of 54,000 over the last six months of last year. Total employment would nevertheless be supported by intensified supported employment. Finally, the unemployment rate should continue to increase to 9.7% in France in June (10.1% including Dom).

The Indian airline Kingfisher Airlines could be stripped of his license for non compliance with safety standards and financial viability, said Tuesday the Indian Minister of Aviation, Ajit Singh.

The company in financial difficulty, does not meet its turnaround plan, said the minister who was speaking to reporters.

Kingfisher Airlines is now operating more than 18 aircraft, barely more than a quarter of its fleet.

The company, whose debt stands at $ 1.3 billion (995 million), could file for bankruptcy if banks continue to refuse to lend money for its operations rations from day to day. 

A massive decrease in thefts has reduced the turnover of the group and the carrier has almost no money to defray the salaries and meet its tax liabilities and its airport charges.

The chairman of Kingfisher, Vijay Mallya, will meet the civil aviation authorities Tuesday or Wednesday to discuss the Group's recovery, the minister added.

According to data from Airbus, current orders Kingfisher deal 32 single-aisle A320 Family, 20 A330s, five long-haul A350 and five A380 super-jumbo.

Over the past three months, the U.S. stock market has regained its levels of late 2007. And in Europe, France has rebounded even stronger. The improvement could well last until May. But then train for the return of volatility. Explanations. The stock market rally seen through the evolution of the Dow Jones: an increase of nearly 18% in almost four months.

Equity markets have recovered tone. Wall Street has lost ground with the financial crisis, is now finding its levels in late 2007 after a 11% jump in three months. For the first time in its history, its flagship index, the Dow and the Nasdaq, dominated by technology, rose this week above the psychological threshold of 13,000 points and 3,000 points, during the same session. European stock markets are pronounced the same trend, the Cac 40 in Paris even showing since mid-February a gain of 21% which allowed him to retake the course of 3600 points.

The rally in shares is not new. It has already lasted three months and we owe largely to central banks, said Benjamin Melman, Director absolute performance at Edmond de Rothschild IM. The rebound in stock prices coincided with the opening last December, to tap liquidity from the ECB or the provision of banks over 1000 billion euros of resources at low cost. This proactive reassured investors who constantly claim that the central bank acts as a lender of last resort to stem the contagion of debt. But his determined action has contributed to lower interest rates in the bond market and away along the spectrum of the credit crisis that threatened the European economy. The Fed has also facilitated the rise of the stock market by deciding to extend until 2014 its ultra accommodative monetary policy. Of course, the rescue of Greece has also helped to ease investors. Although all issues are not resolved, a page of the European crisis has turned, says Francois Chevallier, strategist at Bank economist and Leonardo.

And the good news for investors is that the rally is not over yet. Price increases in January and in February was made with very little volume, Melman says Benjamin. Many investors have been waiting patiently for several issues are resolved. They return on the market today. We assist in some way, a second wave of purchases, which explains the recent acceleration in price rises.

How long can it last? Difficult to say. Looking at the ratios of current profits, we say that most of the journey was made, says François Chevallier. However, the stock market has another engine, that of profit expectations. But they will remain well oriented in the short term due to the favorable business surveys. The ZEW index in Germany and that of the Philadelphia Fed – two leading indicators of the industry – improved further in March, says the expert. This means that the plateau expected in the industry has not yet occurred. The next ISM index, which takes the pulse of American industry, may still show an increase in early April, at the same time giving a new impetus to the market.

As of May, however, the stock market could consolidate, ie enter a phase of slower growth. Indeed, the production rates in the industry expected to slow. Moreover, the return of valuations at pre-crisis level will lead to profit taking, says Francois Chevalllier. Tensions on the bond markets – the U.S. 10-year rates rose in a few weeks from 1.8% to 2.3% – would create air holes on the stock market, adds Benjamin Melman. Volatility will brief comeback. The opportunity for investors to remember an old adage stock: sell in may and go away.

Finance ministers of the euro area have endorsed Monday night the second aid package to Greece after the success of the restructuring process of the Greek debt, announced the Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker.

He said that the Greek debt level should be reduced to 117% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2020 through in terms of private sector involvement (PSI ) carried out last week via a bond exchange.

"We discussed the second Greek plan, including of course the issue of the PSI. With the completion of previous steps and the success of the PSI, the new plan is not only Greek in the starting blocks but has been adopted by political Eurogroup this (Monday) evening, "said one who is also Prime Minister of Luxembourg

. The formalization of this agreement in principle should be Wednesday morning, during a technical meeting of the euro area, said Jean-Claude Juncker

. He praised the high turnout private creditors to exchange debt and recalled that the initial objective was to reduce the level of debt at 121.5% of Greek GDP …….

.. "We agreed that this result better than expected should not be spent by the Greek authorities but retained as a safety cushion ;, "he said

.

The net job creation show an increase of 25% in February. Almost all sectors involved in the upturn. Employees of General Motors in the United States

Hiring in the private sector has greatly accelerated in the United States in February, according to the monthly survey on employment of the consulting firm HR ADP released Wednesday. Private companies have created that month 216,000 more jobs than they destroyed, ADP says in a statement

The balance of hires, adjusted for seasonal variations, appears and up 25% from January and very close to that given to the median estimate of analysts (218,000 net job creation).

ADP has revised upward its estimate of 2% of hires in the previous month, to 173,000. "The increase in employment [... remained] solid "in February, and" almost all sectors of the economy created jobs, "writes ADP, noting that" the average monthly hires totaled 200,000 over the past five months "…. According to the survey

….. ADP, February was the twenty-fifth consecutive monthly rise of private employment in the United States

.

Wall Street is hesitant to open Thursday, the fears generated by a warning from Moody's on Banks are offset by good U.S. statistics of the day.

In early trade, the Dow Jones gained 0.15% to 12,800.44 points. The Standard & Poor's lost 0.02% to 1,342.91 points while the Nasdaq composite yield 0.06% to 2914.08 points.

Moody's warned on Thursday that it could lower the credit ratings of 17 major global banks and 114 financial institutions in Europe, reflecting the impact of the crisis of European sovereign debt on the financial system.

The KBW bank index lost 0.27%. The S & P financials yields 0.2%.

The weekly jobless claims fell against all odds in the United States during the week to February 11, to 348,000, or a low of nearly four years, 361,000 against revised) the previous week, said Thursday the Labor Department.

The number of housing starts rose more than expected in January, thanks to a sharp rise in rental housing projects, which raised hopes that the real estate sector, there is little time still devastated, finally brings its contribution to growth. 

The producer prices rose 0.1% in January in the U.S., due to lower prices in the food and energy, but the prices of staples have risen twice more than expected, according to figures released Thursday by the Labor Department.

General Motors on Thursday posted a profit below expectations for the fourth quarter of 2011, the positive effect related to the results achieved in North America have been offset by a weaker performance overseas.

The action, however, earns 4.9% to 26.16 dollars.

BNP Paribas, whose 2011 accounts were affected by the provisions on Greece and the financial crisis, nevertheless reassured the markets on Wednesday the outlook for 2012 Aftern s have reported a good start to the year in investment banking.

Its CEO, Jean-Laurent Bonnafe, also said he expects this year to stabilize the crisis in the euro area and an economic slowdown in Europe, e cartant and the recession scenario chosen by some economists.

"We think there will be some sort of stabilizing the situation in the euro area," said Chief Executive of BNP Paribas in an interview with Reuters Insider. "There will be some kind of slowdown (economic, Ed) in Europe this year, but no recession."

Asked about the prospects for business in 2012, he reported a "strong" start to the year in investment banking.

Around 24:50, the BNP Paribas signs the largest increase in the CAC 40 up 6.62% to 35.73 euros, outperforming the European sector index (+2.5%). The action resumed nearly 18% since the beginning of the year, bringing the Group's market capitalization to 43 billion euros, after falling 36% in 2011 .

"The performance (of the CIB, ed) is clearly better than the average BFI European and American," said Alex Koagne, an analyst at Natixis Securities.

"In addition, the group was generally optimistic, indicating that the beginning of the year had been good in this business," he says.

"AHEAD" ON RECAPITALIZATION

Despite being down by 50% to 765 million euros in the fourth quarter, net income is superior to the expectations of analysts surveyed by the editor Reuters. 

The latter on average expected higher losses in the banking business and investment banking (CIB), the image of what came out of the results of Deutsche Bank.

"Despite a year marked by many non-recurring items (…), the bank shows a fair return while its solvency and liquidity position continue to strengthen, "said Pierre Chedeville, an analyst at CM-CIC Securities in a note.

BNP Paribas, which has decided to maintain a dividend, unlike SocGen and Credit Agricole, also estimated to have reached six months ahead with the objectives set for recapitalization by European regulators, with a capital ratio of 9.6% at end 2011. 

"They do not need to accelerate the process of 'deleveraging' (reducing balance, Ed)," Yohan holds Salleron, manager at Mandarine Gestion.

The French bank, who spent an additional charge of 639 million euros in its accounts for the last quarter of 2011 on government debt, reports that it has now reached 75% of its funding on the Gre ; this against 60% previously.

NEW DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN 2013

Its chief executive said to be confident that the group will not have to place new provisions on Greece, which is negotiating a new bailout with the International Monetary Fund The European Union, the European Central Bank and its private creditors. 

In BFI, where the bank has suffered for 510 million euros in losses on disposals of sovereign debt in Q4, the group table in 2012 on new charges outstanding € 850 million related to divestitures of assets and restructuring of its operations.

"The early years (2012, Ed) has been quite strong in investment banking", indicated Jean-Laurent Bonnafé.

Hired as many European banks in a plan to reduce stock and asset sales, the general manager of the BNP, however states that he "no plans" regarding a sale of its subsidiary American BancWest. He also rejects any sale of its land Klépierre which the bank holds 51% stake.

In terms of its refinancing needs, focus point on which investors concerned about the financial health of European banks, BNP announced that its issuance program in the medium and long-term amounts to 20 billion euros for 2012, five billion has been raised.

The new leadership of the bank, led since December by John Lawrence Bonnafé, present in 2013 a new development plan.

Economic growth should be zero in France in the first quarter of 2012, said Wednesday the Bank of France on the basis of its monthly business survey.

In January, the BoF confirmed predict zero growth in the fourth quarter of 2011.

If these assumptions prove, France would be off, just months before presidential and parliamentary elections, a recession (a term used when the product inside Gross contracts two consecutive quarters) feared by some economists.

The business climate indicator in industry published by the BoF was stable at 96 in January.

For services, the indicator fell by one point to 93. 

In industry, "forecasts indicate a continuation of the activity for the coming weeks," reads the statement said.

For services, "the forecast is a stability-oriented activity in the short term."

The rate of capacity utilization in manufacturing industry is almost stable, below its average level of long period.

Order books were close to the normal level, linked to a slight increase in new orders. Stocks of finished goods are kept close to the desired level and finished goods prices continued to increase slightly.

In services, the division recorded a slowdown in growth, due to a decline in temporary work and computer activities. The numbers have stabilized overall and prices have paused in their advance.

Angela Merkel has justified its support for the candidacy of Nicolas Sarkozy to the French Presidency by the friendly ties between their two parties. On Greek debt, the two leaders agree: the Greeks must meet their commitments, and quickly. Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace on February 6.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday in Paris he was "normal support parties Friends", about her support for Nicolas Sarkozy to the presidency, at a joint press conference with President French. "I support Nicolas Sarkozy on all levels because we belong to parties of friends," said Merkel. Merkel also said that Mr. Sarkozy came to support her in 2009 when she was running for a second term as Chancellor.

Angela Merkel, support "friendly" of Nicolas Sarkozy

"The candidate Francois Hollande visited the congress of the SPD," she added, referring to the movement in Berlin in early December of PS candidate. She did not answer the question whether she would meet Francois Hollande during the election campaign.

German Chancellor supports President Sarkozy in the French election campaign, as head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and not as head of government, had said in Berlin Monday morning a spokesman Some critics in Germany.

"I claim that friendship and trust," commented during the press conference at the Elysee Palace Nicolas Sarkozy, criticizing severely – without naming – the intention of Francois Hollande to renegotiate the new European treaty on budgetary discipline s it was elected in May.

Greek debt: "time release"

Angela Merkel said that Greece will "remain in the euro", while preventing that Athens could not receive the new funding it has a vital need if it does not enter into agreement with the EU and IMF. "There can be no new program if it does not conclude with the troika" of creditors of Athens, between the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, she said.

Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel have also hoped that the interests of the Greek debt to be blocked in an account. "The Greeks have made commitments, they must scrupulously respect, there is no choice, time is short, it's a matter of days, now we must conclude," Sarkozy said. "The interests of the Greek debt must allow to be sure that this money will be permanently available," then said Merkel.