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The economic downturn continued in September in the major economies, particularly Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Brazil, show OECD leading indicators published Monday.

Declined for the sixth consecutive month, the leading indicators are below the 100 – which distinguishes the increase in lower activity – in most countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Japan, the United States and Russia are the only three countries where the leading indicators remain above that level.

The CLI for the OECD area as a whole declined to 100.4 in September from 100.9 in August to 101.4 in July.

The G7 folds 100.6 after 101.1.

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Alstom said on Friday plan to establish up to two production sites offshore wind in France if the consortium to which it belongs is held in satisfactory conditions at the end of the call for tenders launched in July by the government.

These two production of components and assembly of offshore wind turbines six megawatts – one in Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique) and one in Cherbourg (Manche) – could generate up to 1,000 direct jobs and 4,000 indirect jobs, the group argues in a statement.

The specialist in energy infrastructure and transport is part of a consortium of six companies led by EDF Energies Nouvelles, which also includes Dong Energy Nass & Wind Offshore, Offshore wpd Poweo and ENR.

Alstom is prepared to invest up to 100 million euros in these two sites "if the consortium is selected at a level that ensures a critical industrial scale."

The project, covering a total capacity of 3,000 megawatts (MW) in five areas, corresponding to half the target set by the government to install 6,000 MW offshore by 2020, equivalent to almost four times the power of a nuclear reactor EPR.

GDF Suez, together with Vinci and Areva, are part of a rival consortium.

Candidates have until January 11, 2012 to submit their bids. They will be screened in April 2012 and retained permanently in 2013.

BASF, the world leader in chemistry in terms of sales, announced Thursday a quarterly profit above expectations, but warned that its growth was slowing, clients sell their stocks.

"BASF's customers are more cautious, reduce inventory and postpone some of their orders in hopes of a possible drop in prices," explains the German group said in a statement.

Operating profit (EBIT) fell 11.3% to 1.96 billion euros, while analysts polled by Reuters anticipate an average of 1.89 billion euros.

The quarterly revenue was up 11.6% to 17.6 billion euros, according to consensus.

BASF has confirmed that the CAand EBIT adjusted for taxes on oil would experience a significant increase this year.

"However, growth slowed further over the first half of 2011. We expect this trend to continue in the fourth quarter," warns the group.

Europe is moving towards an agreement on the sovereign debt crisis but "banks must now accept the necessary sacrifices," said Jean-Pierre Jouyet, the president of the Financial Markets Authority, in an interview published Tuesday by The Tribune.

"A lot of the success of the second meeting of the Eurozone is in their hands," he adds.

Finance ministers from the euro area opened Friday six days of intense negotiations, punctuated by an EU summit Sunday to a high of the euro area, where the outcome expected Wednesday is considered crucial for the future of the single currency.

For reassurance on the risks of contagion, "the markets want a political Europe even stronger. A battle will hopefully gained Wednesday, but not the war.It will be played on fiscal consolidation and real political integration, "the president of the AMF.

He said Germany is now "the business model and budget the most efficient in Europe."

Jean-Pierre Jouyet also known as the European Commissioner for Internal Market Michel Barnier to go further in reforming financial markets.

"Today there is an excess of power of financial markets on policy choices. It is time to regain control in the regulation of markets," said he.

European stock markets closed sharply higher Friday driven by hopes for concrete decisions for the euro area. Update on four major issues of the summit on Sunday. The European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel in Brussels.

European stock markets have taken the bull by the horns Friday night, driven by renewed optimism for two days of the EU summit must respond to the crisis in the euro area. Paris ended up 2.8%, Frankfurt 3.5%, London 1.9%, 2.8% and Madrid. The eyes are now fixed on Brussels, which is expected to announce concrete steps Sunday to save Greece, prevent contagion of the crisis in fragile countries in the euro area, and reassure the markets.Update on four major issues in this summit.

The loan to Greece is he paid?

Greece has a positive decision of the creditors (IMF, EU, ECB) after passing the test on Wednesday and Thursday of the street. Parliament passed a new law Thursday austerity which provides further wage cuts and layoffs in the setting of 30,000 employees. But if the payment of this sixth installment of the loan of 110 billion seems to be accepted by Brussels, the IMF's involvement is less. The institution is actually more pessimistic than Europe on the development of public finances of the country.

What level of discount for Greece?

The discussions relate "50%" according to a European source. This level imposed on the country's private creditors would erase 67.5 billion euros of Greek debt that will culminate later this year to 357 billion euros (about 162% of GDP).That's a lot more than what was agreed at the Summit of 21 July, the discount was set at the time to 21% of the commitment of private creditors. If this hypothesis is confirmed, this discount will remove 20% of the debt. The Union of Greek Industrialists (SEV) held Friday consequences "dramatic" if this level should be imposed on private creditors. But this statement should not weigh very heavy in view of the issues … However, the whole question is about the ability of Europe to offer a discount to private creditors 'voluntary' of their claims. For without this principle, the credit event could be delivered, which would open the door to bankruptcy of the country.

How much money to recapitalize the banks?

To allow banks to withstand losses on the country's debt, the EU will reassess the capital ratios of European banks to the tune of 9%.For this, the European Banking Authority (EBA) has assessed the need for recapitalization of banks from 80 to 100 billion euros. The question is whether this amount will be enough to reassure the markets knowing that the IMF rather evoked a level of capitalization to 200 billion euros. In all cases, the major European banks were against a forced recapitalization. And warned that, given the difficulties to obtain financing, this would lead them to reduce the size of their balance sheets. In other words, to reduce their lending activity.

How to strengthen the EFSF?

This is where things get complicated. For Paris and Berlin have not yet found agreement on the issue. For France, it would give the banking license to the European Financial Stability (EFSF) to enable it to refinance with the European Central Bank (ECB).Leverage and the ability to fund intervention limited to 440 billion euros that can lift the markets. Paris also wants the ECB to continue to buy bonds fragile as it has done for over a year. But Berlin and the ECB refuses, and instead want to change the Fund's insurer. It would ensure any losses would have to suffer the investors in the bonds of fragile states up to 20 to 30% in case of difficulty in these states to honor their commitments. This idea has received support Friday from 10 major European banks and insurers. But here, in addition to France, Spain and Italy do not agree. Rome and Madrid, this will create a rate difference between bonds and debentures. "No one in a financial crisis, venture to purchase securities that need a crutch," said EU official.This is mainly because of these disagreements has been decided a second peak of the euro area, next Wednesday.

Schneider said Thursday lowered its forecast for 2011 operating margin mainly because of a mix more negative than expected in terms of activity and contribution of geographic areas.

The French specialist of electrical equipment said in a statement that it now expects an EBIT margin (earnings before acquisition costs and impact of integration and consolidation of acquisitions in the year 2011) of 14% instead 15% previously forecast.

However, the Group confirms its forecast for organic growth of between 6% and 9% for the year.

"We expect, however, that profitability is impacted beyond the forecast, the combined effect of a mix more negative, due to growth of solutions greater than that of products and geographic mix less favorable, and a stronger inflationary pressures in emerging economies, "said Jean-Pascal Tricoire, chief executive, said in the statement.

The turnover of the group reached 5.697 million euros in the third quarter, representing organic growth of 7.7%.

At 9 months, organic growth reached 9.3%, faster than the annual target.

The activity "Power" (38% of sales in Q3) recorded organic growth of 7.6%, "Energy" (21% of sales) increased by 7.3%, "Industry" (19% of sales ) 6.6%, "IT" (15% of sales) of 12.6% and the activity "Buildings" (7% of sales) 3.0%.

The activity remained stable in Western Europe, the main market of the group (31% of sales), while Asia organic growth of 15% and North America 9%.

Emerging markets, which posted growth of 14%, now represent over 40% of the total turnover of Schneider.

The global gathering of outraged this weekend has not gathered the crowds in France. The political context partly explains this failure. The "outraged" Place de la Bastille, May 10, 2011.

The numbers speak for themselves: 50,000 outraged gathered this weekend in Lisbon, 6000 in Frankfurt, 5000 in New York and … no more than a thousand in Paris. The movement which started on the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid to extend to many countries never really took off in the hexagon.But why mobilization is struggling to develop in France, whereas it is a French, Stéphane Hessel, who inspired the movement with his book "Unworthy you"? Several answers.

France is less badly off than its neighbors

"Here we do not have a gun to his head like the Greeks may have with their crisis and the Spanish with their real estate market," said Julien Bayou, co-founder of the collective generation and precarious present in the meetings of the "outraged" French held each week. He said the crisis is felt in France, but not the same as in some countries. It is also the opinion of Robi Morder, Chairman of the studies and research on student movements (germ). "Many young people, especially graduates can expect to enter the world of work without going through the uncertainty," said he in the daily La Croix."It is more complicated in southern Europe, where unemployment is higher among graduates than non-graduates," says researcher Monique Dagnaud to Liberation. The rate of youth unemployment to 45% in Spain when he was 23% in France.

Unfavorable political context

The arrival of the next presidential captures media attention for weeks, and the recent Socialist primary did not help. This reduces the echo can have the movement in France. In addition, it is optimistic about the possible alternatives that demobilizing troops, said Julien Bayou. "In Spain, Greece or even the United States, we have leaders that could be called the left in power. And we know that at the polls, the alternation will not work. So it is mobilized in the streets" , said he."While in France we have a right to be making a right-wing politics, and people in the head the next election." It is against this background that would explain the very high participation in the Socialist primary according to Julien Bayou. "We have seen other profiles went to move to vote in the second round of elections, especially young people," he adds.

The refusal of the "recovery"

In France, social movements are generally handled by the unions and some political parties. But the outraged French refused this form of "recovery", preferring a spontaneous movement. They realized soon and should change their modes of action. "It is true that initially we were quite aggressive vis-à-vis the associations and parties," recognized Delia Fernandez, the collective indignation, of Liberation."This has slowed the mobilization and preventing challenges to reach the street. For their part, they did not understand that we act in a pattern different from theirs. We will now try to cut corners."

The movement is ever convicted?

Not yet. The recent history of France showed that some mobilizations, it took several weeks before the mayonnaise takes. "For us, the mobilizations take time, it took two months for the movement against the First Job Contract off", said Robi Morder. To this researcher, do not bury a mobilization that may, one day to another, take a lot more important. "Be careful because there are embers, it would spark an escalation of the crisis or a big scandal for example, it really starts," said he.

According to the Minister of Economy, the European Commission proposal to increase the capital adequacy ratio of banks to 9% "can absorb a shock." Budget Minister Baroin regrets the refusal of PS on the constitutional question of the balance of finances

The proposal of the European Commission and its President Jose Manuel Barroso to recapitalize banks is "acceptable", said Friday the French Minister of Finance Baroin. "The position of the Commission Barroso and two days ago is acceptable. A level of 9% of equity" to be achieved by European banks "by the end of the first half of next year, it ' is, "he said on Europe 1 radio.

According to him, "9% in 2012, it can absorb shock." He reiterated that this concerned primarily banks that failed the stress tests at the beginning of summer and those who have passed narrowly.Banks should try to recapitalize "on the basis of their results" by distributing less dividends and less bonus, "warned Baroin, like the European Commission." They should not do so at the expense of economic activity, credit to individuals and business credit, "he said.

"If they can not, they will do in the markets, if markets are not enough they will find partners, and ultimately there will be a limited possibility of a European coordination" for public assistance, the minister added . He again suggested that the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) provides that state aid to schools that need it, as its new statutes in force since Thursday so authorize.Germany believes he can do that for banks in countries which already have an international aid program (Greece, Portugal, Ireland).

Baroin But he reiterated that French banks do not find themselves in the position of having to seek government assistance. On Greece, the Minister confirmed the new position of France, which was resolved Thursday to recognize that the creditor banks would have to erase the country a majority of government debt. The discount provided to date to the private creditors of Athens, in the agreement of July 21, is 21%. "For three months the markets have evolved, they have deteriorated (…) We left at 21% July 21, it will be, it is almost certain," he said. "How high? Is being discussed."

He also felt that the figures circulating going "well beyond 50%" were "fanciful"."Three quarters of the Greek debt is held by private (…) We will not cut the whole," he said. "If it requires a private discount that is not tenable, then that will invest in Greece?" Asked Baroin.

He then said that the Heads of State and Government of the euro zone announce their decision on this issue at the summit in Brussels on 23 October, without specifying whether they would disclose the amount of the new haircut or just the principle. { P}

European authorities began Wednesday to prepare the banks of the continent to a possible failure of Greece.

For the first time since the crisis began, bank supervisors have decided to enhance their market sovereign debt held by banks in the EU as part of the recapitalization process in progress, officials said Wednesday European source.

The EBA, which will retain a definition of bank capital similar to that used in the last series of stress tests in July, will harden further 9% threshold due to equity "hard", reflecting the wishes of Paris and Berlin and by the European Commission on Wednesday in his "roadmap" to end the crisis.

"This is an exercise prudential.It is therefore logical that the ABE values ​​sovereign debt to market value or a value very close to that market, "said a source familiar with the discussions.

Regarding the definition of capital, "it corresponds to that used by the BEA in July.This is harder than the current one but is softer than that provided by the new Basel III standards, "the source said.

Once it receives the data that are currently provided by the banks, the EBA will prepare a proposed recapitalization of institutions of systemic Twenty-September for the meeting of EU finance ministers to be held October 21 , the day before the EU summit.

ROADMAP

This will be adopted simultaneously with the new bailout of Greece, which must reduce the debt of Athens so much greater than had been planned in July and then revise upward contribution "voluntary "the private sector.

According to several European sources, the losses that private investors must accept their obligations in the Greek part of the new plan should be between 30 and 50%, not 21% as expected.

Institute for International Finance (IIF), the discount would represent 39% when using the current market prices to assess the risk profile of the country

The roadmap of the Commission also calls on members of the euro area to complete without delay the ratification of the new European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF).

Last country to have to run, Slovakia will vote by Friday, officials said Wednesday following the agreement between three parties of the government resigned and the main opposition party.

The roadmap, which calls in line with discussions held at the EBA to a building "significant" capital requirements of banks, also advocates a recapitalization through private funds, which will be supplemented by funds public and by loans from the EFSF in case of negative response from the market.

France, who insisted behind the scenes for several days to use the EFSF as an instrument of coordination in the recapitalization of banks, said Wednesday it would not appeal.

"EURO BONDS"

The other two parts of the document from the Commission concerning the acceleration of measures currently being discussed in Brussels, but designed to boost European growth and most importantly, the implementation faster than expected European Stability Mechanism (MES).

The MES, which was to come into force on 1 July 2013, finally begin to operate on 1 July 2012 according to the wishes of the Commission. It includes a device that allows a country to default on its debt in an orderly manner.

"The roadmap traces the path to the exit of the economic crisis for Europe. The partial answers to the various aspects of the crisis are no longer sufficient.We need to take the lead, "said Commission President José Manuel Barroso to the European Parliament.

"We must reach an agreement at the EU summit of 23 October," he said, also urging the leaders of the euro area to release the next tranche of aid to Greece.

He also confirmed that the EU executive would present by the end of the year a proposal to create a framework for joint programming of debt between members of the euro area, also known as "Euro bonds."

Europe should recapitalize its banks on an individual basis and not applied uniformly to all measures in the industry, said Tuesday the German BDB banking association.

"It would be absurd to book the same treatment to all banks," said Michael Kemmer, CEO of the BDB, in an interview on ARD television channel.

If the recapitalization is needed, they must be implemented in the right tempo, he added.

"First, banks themselves must make use of capital markets, although it is very difficult if not impossible, right now," said Michael Kemmer.

"Then, each country must see if we recapitalize banks and only if it is unable to do that EFSF should intervene," he added, referring to the European Stability Financial.

France and Germany have given themselves until the end of October to overcome many obstacles on the recapitalization of banks, the euro and its sickest member, Greece, and on European Governance, at where the sovereign debt crisis has put down the bank Dexia.

German banks, which have increased their level of capital in recent months, are stable and doing well, said Michael Kemmer.

He added that European leaders should stick to the agreement July 21 on Greece, which provides that private creditors pass a discount of 21% on Greek bond holdings.

Many experts believe that this level of discount ("haircut") is insufficient, forcing banks to take further writedowns in the third quarter.

Deutsche Bank, one of the most important members of the BDB with Commerzbank, said late September that the discount that private investors have agreed to take on Greek sovereign debt in the second bailout of Greece could be greater than 21% retained.

Last week, the German IDW auditors are said German banks could follow the example of Deutsche Bank in the third quarter by re-evaluating their market prices Greek bonds.