US & World News

The Tokyo Stock Exchange ended down nearly 1.5% Monday, accusing its fifth consecutive session of decline under the impact of both the employment figures for the month of March in the United States considered to be disappointing and the strong yen.

The Nikkei lost 1.47% or 142.19 points to 9,546.26 and the Topix broader, yielded 12.02 points (-1.46%) to 813.69 .

The U.S. economy created far fewer jobs than expected in March, which should extend the debate on the need for the Fed to adopt new measures to support growth, although the unemployment rate to 8.2%, is at its lowest for three years. 

Since April 2, the Nikkei fell more than 5% and, with five sessions of decline in a row, the index experienced its longest run down since November.

That said, thanks to the good performance of financial stocks and those related to exports, the Nikkei had jumped more than 19% over the three months January to March, its best performance for a first quarter in 24 years.

"This is a temporary adjustment. We had perhaps gone too far, too fast, "said Naomi Fink as, technical analyst at Jefferies The

. Trading volume was very narrow due to the closure of most Western stock markets due to Easter Monday

.. ……. The dollar fell to a low of one month against the yen, a development that has resulted in a decline in export values, such as Honda (-2.43 %), Nissan (-3.39%) or TDK (-1.69%)

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BNP Paribas and Societe Generale Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to carry through their plan to reduce balance sheet.

Speaking at a conference organized by Morgan Stanley in London, Jean-Laurent Bonnafe, the CEO of BNP Paribas, has announced that the bank would be able to completed by the end of her program initiated in the second half of 2011, at the height of the debt crisis in the euro area.

He recalled that the group had given the end of February to the U.S. bank Wells Fargo loan portfolio to oil companies and sold in early March a 28 , 7% in the property company Klépierre. 

"Our number one priority remains the implementation of our plan to reduce balance (…) In all, we have already achieved 70% of the program," said ; John Lawrence Bonnafé.

BNP Paribas announced in September will reduce by 10% the size of its balance sheet by the end of 2012. In late 2011, its assets amounted to 1.965 billion euros against 1.998 billion at end-2010.

Speaking at the same conference, the CEO of Société Générale Frédéric Oudéaa assured that SocGen, whose market capitalization has shrunk by half last year, was also determined to achieve the reduction of its balance sheet.

"The deleveraging will continue," said Frederic Oudéa. "We have clear objectives."

During the fourth quarter of 2011, SocGen sold for 10 billion euros in assets, but analysts still expect the bank's most significant disposals to strengthen its solvency.

"BNP CLEARLY IN ADVANCE"

"On the 'deleveraging' (reducing balance, Ed), BNP Paribas is clearly ahead, with an impact on NLP ('profit and loss', Ed) quite limited. It's rather good news, "said Alex Koagne, an analyst at Natixis

." However, the Company General ; eral, I think they come to do their 'deleveraging' on the sale of loans but they are now waiting on disposal of business units, "he says ……

… "It's been several months since they announced they would sell assets and there was still nothing yet."

To strengthen their financial strength undermined by the crisis in the euro area and alleviate tensions in interbank liquidity, European banks have also begun to re reduce and diversify their funding sources and reduce their financing needs

. Their difficulties in dollar funding has also forced the European Central Bank has injected over $ 1.000 billion euros of liquidity to three years (LTRO) in the European banking system.

BNP Paribas said the bank had reached since the beginning of the year 60% of its funding needs for 2012, raising 12 billion euros between January 1 and March 22.

Societe Generale, for its part said it has raised 7.6 billion euros of debt since the beginning of the year, with a maturity average of 6.3 years.

SocGen is continuing its efforts to restructure its BFI, said its CEO. This table and a reduction of 50 to 60 billion euros of liquidity needs by 2013 in these activities.

In exchange, like most European banking stocks, securities of French banks have closed in the red Wednesday because of investor concerns about growth in the U.S. and the budgetary situation of Spain.

In Paris, BNP Paribas and Societe Generale ended the session down 1.3% and 2.89% respectively. Credit Agricole – who canceled his participation at the London conference – sold 2.82%. The European banking index ended down 1.45%.

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.

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

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In the match that opposed them remotely Friday field of employment, Nicolas Sarkozy announced at the Petit Couronne do restart the refinery Petroplus temporary while in Florange, Francois Hollande has proposed to oblige companies to find a buyer. Relive the game minute by minute.

This afternoon, a new match was held at a distance between Nicolas Sarkozy, visiting the Petroplus refinery in Petit Couronne, and François Hollande, who moves in Florange to meet with employees of Arcelor Mittal. Two strategic locations in the field of employment. The outgoing president has announced a 6 month contract with Shell and restart the refinery. The Socialist candidate, himself, proposed a law requiring companies to find a buyer when leaving a site. Back to the duel of "saviors of plants".

2:05 p.m.: Arcelor Mittal is dismissed by the High Court of his application for entry ban to anyone outside the service in its application was primarily site.Cette the many journalists covering the occupation of the site by employees.

14:00: Nicolas Sarkozy said that would be discussed next week in Parliament a bill to prevent the diversion of assets of a failing firm, regarding the Petroplus oil declared bankrupt since late January.

14:00: "Now we need you to fight for the more difficult is that the buyer", said also the head of state. There are 3 or 4 buyers interested [...] So far we have not yet found "

. 1:52 p.m.: With regard to the financing, the president ensures that for two months of work needed to restart the refinery, "was 50 million. The 20 million were transferred to the state, 10 million will come through quotas CO ², and the other 20 million cash avanace Schell in "

1:50 p.m. "Last night later, we signed a processing contract, which guarantees refining activities for a period of 6 months. If there was no contract, it was over. The oil company will provide the gross pay and the cost of processing.

1:40 p.m.: Francois Hollande reacted to the news of Nicolas Sarkozy: "It is in fact only get the former owner of the site. This is going to the most urgent."

1:20 p.m.: "I am a word. It is signed" with Shell, said Nicolas Sarkozy, adding: "I'm not saying it saves the refinery, but it is signed, it makes the job for six months ".  

Holland made two proposals

1:18 p.m.: Holland wishes to clarify that he came as an MP, and is prepared to file a bill: "When a large firm does more than one production unit but does not give the, we will do a bill that will force him to appeal to buyers. " Another proposal: the businesses that use too much to pay the interim benefit of unemployment contributions. He is applauded by employees.

1:10 p.m.: The Socialist candidate speaks. He says he wants to defend the steel industry, "sector of excellence". "I come before you to make commitments. I am aware of the anguish that is yours." He adds, to the attention of its competitors: "There are candidates and candidates of the people who claim to serve the people"

13.00: Francois Hollande arrived at the plant Arcelor Mittal, where he has not spoken yet. It stands in the middle of union representatives, who express their demands, after climbing a truck.

12:45: The president finally arrives on the site. Francois Hollande, is always expected Florange.

11:50: The PS deputy for Seine-Maritime, Laurent Fabius, was invited by surprise on the Petroplus refinery site to welcome Nicolas Sarkozy.

11:45: Nicolas Sarkozy will meet in closed session with the staff representatives and administrators of the Petroplus refinery.

Faced with a record unemployment rate since 1999 that is almost symbolic of the 3 million people, the head of state has recently invested personally in two emblematic cases of companies threatened: the Lejaby lingerie factory Yssingeaux (Haute-Loire) and the solar panel manufacturer Photowatt to Bourgoin (Isère). Candidate since Feb. 15 to a second term, Nicolas Sarkozy made a record of his two electoral argument to illustrate his determination to protect "the France of the factories". "If I had said as they (the Socialists) + we + can not do anything, Alstom would no longer exist, Photowatt we do speak of it and Lejaby would have been wiped off the map", he said Thursday at a public meeting in Lille.

Fitch Ratings downgraded Wednesday the long-term rating of Greece from CCC to C, a decision widely expected after the announcement by the Greek government that could force private creditors to bear their losses if they were not involved voluntarily agree to exchange debt.

The note of Greece at Fitch is no longer only a notch above default.

The rating agency said that this decision follows the announcement Tuesday by the Eurogroup agreement on a second bailout program and those of Greece on how to the debt swap involving voluntary participation of the private sector. 

She believes that the exchange, if completed, will constitute a debt exchange and forced the decommissioning and spoke "indicates that a default is likely in the short term. Ratings securities affected by this exchange were also lowered to 'CCC' to 'C' ".

When the exchange is completed, the rating of Greece will be lowered to "restricted default" and after being re-evaluated, with the emission new obligations, "to a level consistent with the evaluation of the agency's structure and its credit profile post-default".

Air Liquide, whose growth has slowed sharply in the fourth quarter, however, table of new growth in its net profit in 2012 barring any major degradation of the situation after one year 2011 range by emerging and resistance in Europe.

The world's largest industrial gases account on a portfolio of opportunities 12 months – that is to say that projects the group is likely to win – a record level of 4.2 billion euros at end 2011, against 3.9 billion euros at end 2010.

Air Liquide announced Friday sales up 7.2% to 14.457 million euros in 2011, down 6.8% on a comparable basis, and net income of 1.535 million, up 9.4%, with an operating margin stable at 16.7%. 

Analysts polled by Reuters on average expected a turnover of 14.479 million euros and net profit of 1.533 million.

The cluster gas and service, which provides the bulk of group sales, was up 7.5% of its sales on a comparable basis, driven by a 20% increase in sales in countries é ; mergents thanks to strong growth in demand and start-ups and ramp-up units. Emerging, high growth, now represent 21% of sales against 15% in 2008.

The growth of this division has slowed to 1.9% in the fourth quarter on a comparable basis, its lowest level since late 2009, reflecting an unfavorable comparative and global caution client group, particularly in the steel and electronics.

The group, whose competitors Linde German and American Praxair and Air Products intends to pay an increased dividend to 2.50 euros from 2.35 euros for 2011 against 2010.

"The signing of new contracts and continuous innovation to expand its businesses allow the group (…) to be confident in its medium term development program in the 2015 Alma" , said in a statement the CEO Benoît Potier. 

This strategic plan, presented in December 2010, is an average annual growth of 8% to 10% of sales and sustained growth in net income by 2015.

Decisions of industrial and financial investments, totaled 2.0 billion euros in 2011 against 2.2 billion in 2010, with the group's entry in Mexico, Ukraine and Turkey.

Relieved by the adoption of the new austerity plan by the Greek parliament in Athens, financial markets have not provided plunged into euphoria, the stock markets Europé ; Ennes reducing their gains in late afternoon while the euro erased some of its progression.

In Paris the CAC 40 index displays a close up 0.34% to 3384.55 points, after peaking at 3413.43 in early trading and a passage in the red in the middle of the afternoon. Elsewhere in Europe, Frankfurt gained 0.68% and 0.91%, while London Athens ended with a gain of 4.65%. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index ended with a gain of 0.71% to 1,071.63 points after rising in early morning to over 1,074.

The European partners of Greece have called to make new pledges its commitment to reform: before the Eurogroup meeting scheduled for Wednesday, the Government Lucas Papademos has yet to find 325 million euros in savings and get a written commitment of political parties to enforce the terms of the agreement.

"See riots and austerity measures to a 'newspaper, it's not good for confidence in the economy. This discourages people from spending in the real economy and it erodes consumer confidence, "said Joe Rundle, head of trading for ETX Capital

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Stoxx financials finished up 0.53%. But several French banks have finished in the red after the decision of French and Belgian market authorities to lift the ban on short selling on banks and companies insurance in force since August: BNP Paribas has sold 2.07% 3.64% Credit Agricole and Societe Generale 2.19%.

Other values ​​for this session generally calm, Cable & Wireless Worldwide jumped 44.51% after Vodafone's statements on his interest in a possible takeover.

Sign that investors are still far from fully reassured that the Greek case, the futures contracts on German government bonds, safe haven par excellence in Europe, are starting to rebound in the afternoon. 

Previously, the vote was nevertheless benefited the Greek borrowing of the States "peripheral" euro zone, such as Italy or Spain. The Italian Treasury shall conduct an auction Tuesday for at least six billion euros of bonds, on Monday after raising 12 billion of short-term paper with yields down.

After approaching the threshold of 1.33 dollar, the euro has given up its gains in the afternoon, passing into the red in fed low volumes, traders noting that Greek parliament's vote is far from appeasing all voltages.

"We believe that Greece will eventually receive the money by March 20 but we still think that the euro will fall," says David Watt, currency strategist at RBC Capital Markets. 

The price of oil continue to rise to the highest in six months hit last week, benefiting from renewed risk appetite encouraged by the vote of the Greek Parliament.

But the persistence of many uncertainties about the debt crisis has, again, limited the increase, especially since the beginning of a thaw in Europe after the cold spell of two weeks elapsed 're promotes profit-taking on Brent.

Al-Jazeera would be poised to strike (still) a great blow. She has acquired the TV rights for Euro 2012 would not count stop there. But what about the games of the France team? Players of the team celebrate their victory against Spain in Euro 2008 final against Germany.

The rumor is increasingly insistent. According Lepoint.fr, Al-Jazeera would have won the TV broadcasting rights of the Euro 2012 football against the duo of TF1 and M6. Interviewed by L'Expansion. Com, Uefa and the Qatari, however, refuse to confirm. Especially since the side of a large French chain, a source very close to the case provides that "nothing is done", and it remains "a third round of betting." Still, since Al Jazeera has gained a lot of the rights of the Champions League and Ligue 1, the rumor lends resources and unlimited ambitions. It is rumored in some newsrooms and this time she would put on the table between 100 to120 million for the next edition of the European championship. A sum again unconfirmed.

A "gift" to France Televisions?

Another victory for Al-Jazeera would not without asking the air broadcasting the matches of the team of France and the final. Qatari chain could therefore turn to organize a tender to determine the granting of this free program minimum. A chance for TF1 and M6 to limit the damage? Not so sure. According to Le Point, it would indeed be considered a "gift" to public service, which devalues ​​the rights. And to soften somewhat the "shock" due to the sensational debut of this new actor. Good image would indeed be surprising from a country that, since his arrival on the French market of football business, do research clearly not economic profitability in the short term.

In fact, the leaders of France Televisions have also met with Qatari counterparts, recognizes Bilalian Daniel, the head of sports department of public television. But "it was nothing to prepare for the Euro 2012. Just to stand as brothers," says he. As for a possible favor, he asserts that "it is absolutely anything. You can not sell off the rights like that, other chains might attack us for that."

The Europa League and Cfoot in addition to the Euro?

Anyway, the ambitions of Al-Jazeera will not stop the bidding for Euro 2012. Al-Jazeera is also still in the race to clinch the match of the Europa League where a third round of betting is also expected. She finally approached to buy back the rights of the League 2 along the chain Cfoot, owned by the Professional Football League (LFP). Because Al Jazeera has yet to find a channel to broadcast the matches she bought. Or just Cfoot must stop broadcasting on pay DTT in June … either at the beginning of the euro. Just a coincidence that some obervateurs to complete a recovery scenario …

This bonus is 150 euros for a single person and 320 euros for a couple.

The Christmas bonus paid to recipients of certain social minima, as RSA, will be repeated in December 2011, announced Monday the Minister of Solidarity and Social Cohesion Roselyne Bachelot. "I can confirm that the Christmas bonus will be paid. This represents 380 million euros for the most vulnerable," said the Minister during the launch of the 27th winter campaign of Eating Heart in Paris. "For a single person, that's about 150 euros paid in the coming days and for a family with two children, 320 euros," said Ms Bachelot.

In 2010, the Christmas bonus had been paid to the beneficiaries including the RSA (active solidarity income) and those of the SSA (specific solidarity allowance, paid to certain unemployed at the end of law). She was concerned 1.7 million beneficiaries.The Christmas bonus was awarded for the first time in 1998 by the Jospin government under pressure from movements of the unemployed who have been demanding for years that it is substantially increased and the scope of its beneficiaries is expanded.