US & World News

America Movil, the phone giant owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, said Thursday it will buy the California-Simple Mobile to expand its market presence ; American.

This is the second external expansion of the group within days.

Simple Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator, with more than one million subscribers. In March, the number of subscribers of Tracfone, the U.S. subsidiary of America Movil, reached just over 20 million.

America Movil, the leading provider of mobile services in Latin America, announced Tuesday its intention to increase its stake in Dutch KPN to 28%, thus taking hold in Europe as part of a transaction of more than 2.5 billion euros.

Euro Disney announced on Monday a net loss deepened and reduced its EBITDA margin in the first half 2011-2012 as a result of costs for its 20th anniversary festivities.

The operating company of Disneyland Paris has improved one percent of its revenue from tourism activities for the period of increased spending by visitors to its parks, despite a decline in attendance.

The group reported in a statement to a net loss of 120.9 million euros in the first half 2011-2012 (October-March) against a loss of 99.5 million, with EBITDA margin reduced to 0.3% against 4.5%. 

Its total sales down 0.9% to 552.4 million euros within the scope of the reduction in its property development activities and lower revenues from its hotels which the occupancy rate fell by 3.6 points to 79.8%.

France has awarded Thursday 7.43 billion euros of long-term debt at better terms than in previous auctions, three days before the second round of presidential elections .

The Agence France Trésor (AFT) has issued an amount corresponding to the top of the announced range (6.5 to 7.5 billion euros).

Three of the four lines of Treasury bonds (OATs) offered the 4.25% in October 2017, the 3.25% in October 2021, the 3.0% in April 2022 (refer to the OAT ence to 10 years), interest rates have declined from previous auctions.

The weighted average rate of the OAT 6.0% in October 2025 stood at 3.31%. The AFT, which manages the state debt, does not provide a comparison, the bond not been available for many months.

The rate of OAT reference (benchmark) 10-year stood at 2.96% against 2.98% in April. After the auction, the rate fell further in the secondary market at 2.93%, the yield spread with the German Bund at 10 years, the euro area benchmark, contracting six basis points to 133.

Auctions of France and that of Spain, now the focus of investor concerns, helped ease the situation in the market for government bonds in the euro area.

The Spanish Treasury has placed 2.5 billion euros of bonds in three to five years – the maximum referred – but unlike AFT, he had to concede a higher risk premium than in previous auctions.

Overall demand for OAT reached 18.64 billion euros, providing a comfortable coverage ratio. 

"It seems that the relative uncertainty of the presidential election has not weighed heavily. They managed to raise the maximum referred to lower rates and with a coverage ratio decent, "said John Davies, rates strategist at WestLB.

"Holland has softened his speech on the new fiscal pact (…) and said he just wanted to add stimulus to growth," he says, adding that the positions of President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi and Chancellor Angela Merkel have also evolved.

"We realize that the pure austerity can not walk. The conflict that the market feared when Holland came to power might not be as insurmountable as we thought at first sight, "said John Davies

…. ….. "Solid as usual, decent rates. Where is the political risk? "Said Peter Chatwell, rates strategist at Credit Agricole CIB in London, about the French auction

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The new futures contract on OAT, due in June, hit a high (126.75) since its launch on April 16 on Eurex, the market for die riveted to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange

Around 12:30, he was earning 57 cents to 126.69 in a volume of more than 11,000 contracts. Open positions reached 43,223 against 58,000 batches on Italian BTP future, launched in 2009 by Eurex.

The Bund future, benchmark futures contracts in the euro zone fell by 14 cents to 141.59 in a volume of more than 202,000 contracts. Positions on maturity in June exceeded the 13 million lots.

An amount that includes the 240 billion aid from Europe and the IMF, 100 billion debt erased by private creditors, and 40 billion euros of EU funding. In other words, Greek 33,600 euros per capita. Here, anti-austerity protesters in Parliament in Athens on 7 February 2012.

The assistance provided to Greece to prevent it from falling into bankruptcy amounted to a total of 380 billion euros in the form of loans, are injected directly and debts erased, said Wednesday the European Commission in a statement.

This includes the 40 billion euros of EU funding in 2007-2013 for Greece. In addition, there are 100 billion euros of debt that the private sector has agreed to remove and 240 billion euros of state aid provided by the EU and the International Monetary Fund. This corresponds to 33,600 euros per capita Greek, and 177% of gross domestic product of Greece, says the European Commission, who made a point Wednesday on its proposals to boost growth in the country.

Brussels reiterated its plans to use European funds to help support the Greek SMEs and youth employment. The Commission has 4 billion euros to help businesses. She also wants to focus on better control of public finances and a recapitalization of banks to support lending to individuals and businesses, particularly SMEs.

The Commission has a mission of experts ("Task Force") which together with the Greek authorities to implement the reforms necessary to resolve the crisis. Around the task force, member countries of the Union offer their expertise to help Athens to complete his reforms.

The blacklist of tax havens in 2012 was reduced to a trickle, from 18 to 8 members this year. The government is attacked for its laxity. The headquarters of the Cayman National Bank in George Town. The Cayman Islands belong to the core of tax havens.

The list of states considered by France as uncooperative in terms of transparency and exchange of tax information has been updated for 2012.

Surprised, she has been drastically reduced: exactly eleven states have been removed (Anguilla, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Cook Islands, Islands and Caicos Turkey, Liberia, Oman, Panama, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have been removed from this list) for a single added (Bostwana). Among the endless extras, we can see Brunei, Marshall Islands, Montserrat, Nauru, Niue Island, or the Philippines.  

In total, in less then ten states listed on French blacklist of tax havens. The withdrawal was decided, either because these countries have concluded with France a bilateral agreement to exchange any information necessary for the application of their tax law, or in reciprocal because the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information in Tax Matters (OECD) has removed himself from the list.

Sometimes this can lead to some contradictions, as in the case of Costa Rica came out of the French list, even as the World Forum reminded last week that "the law might hinder the effectiveness of exchange of information ".

"A sustained vigilance"

Asked about this issue by Nicole Bricq, general rapporteur of the Finance Committee of the High Assembly, Valérie Pécresse has ensured that the states concerned were subject to sustained vigilance. "The challenge for the coming years was to put the agreements under vigilance" has justified the Minister of Budget. Before insisting: "I think we should be very firm on the implementation of agreements." But Valérie Pécresse admits, some countries with which France has signed agreements are still experiencing "pain points" in the image of Switzerland. Recently a delegation of Bercy was sent to Geneva to say that the implementation of the agreements was not satisfactory.

According to figures released by the Ministry, 77 000 French bank accounts abroad were identified in 2010, three times more than in 2007. Ms. Pécresse also said that tax audits had reported 16 billion euros in 2010, "1 billion more than in 2009," did she congratulated.

An enthusiasm not shared advocates the fight against tax havens. According to the NGO CCFD-Terre Solidaire (Catholic Committee against Hunger and for Development), at least 20 billion euros each year would continue to escape the budget of the French government because of tax evasion. In a report last October, the NGO also points out that according to the Tax Justice Network, it is not 8 but 54 states in the world who cultivate a "high degree of financial opacity", nearly a quarter countries of the planet should be placed on the gray or black list.

Specifically, the inclusion on the blacklist French is not trivial for states. For businesses located there are heavily taxed by France. The rate of withholding tax on passive income (dividends, interest, royalties) are 50% when they are poured into an entity present in the territory uncooperative. In addition, certain provisions of the parent-subsidiary regime are removed as the exemption of 95% of corporation tax on dividends paid by a subsidiary to its parent.

Deficit to around 6.4 billion euros in February, the balance of foreign trade has suffered because of the cold spell which caused an increase in energy purchases. Customs estimate that exports have benefited from "buoyant manufacturing sales".

The trade deficit widened substantially France in February compared with the previous month, reaching 6.398 billion euros, Customs said Friday. "In February, the surge in imports is partly attributable to energy purchases related to the cold wave, which leads to relativize the rising deficit to -6.398 billion euros, after -5593000000 in January," said Customs in a statement.  

"The cold wave that hit France and implementation of maintenance work on three French refineries led to a sharp surge in energy supply (electricity and refined petroleum products)", said the Customs. Imports amounted to 43.553 billion euros and exports 37.155 billion when adjusted for seasonal variations and the number of working days.

Exports have benefited from "buoyant manufacturing sales, while those of agricultural products and military equipment contract sharply again," commented Customs. Exports of transport equipment have found "their best", due to large supplies of satellites and a recovery in exports of motor vehicles.  

Dynamic exports to Russia and the Middle East

Customs also noted "the good performance of electronic and electrical equipment and metal products (oil and nuclear industries)." By region, exports remained nearly stable to the countries of the European Union but have been "particularly strong" to Europe outside the EU (deliveries of parts of satellites to Russia) and the Near and Middle East (aeronautics and industrial equipment). In contrast, sales to America have been reduced (fuel, after a peak in January, and chemicals).

Import side, in addition to the surge in purchases of energy products, Customs stressed that "the level of aircraft acquisitions to Germany is also occasionally very high." "Import growth also reflects the continued strength of metals purchases, pharmaceuticals, industrial machinery, household appliances and electrical products and automotive industry," the statement said.

Regions, in February, increased purchases from the EU has accelerated: from Germany for the aerospace, Spain, Belgium and Sweden for energy products. Imports also increased since the rest of Europe (Switzerland for electricity and the pharmacy, Russia for natural hydrocarbons and refined products), but shrank from the Middle East. The deficit of 12 months completed end of February stood at 70.051 billion euros. The negative balance record set by France in 2011 was also again revised up to 70.437 billion, after a first revision to 70.104 billion euros on 8 March.

American values ​​have increased their decline Wednesday in the second closing in the red as investors begin to consider the prospect of a world stock market would no longer be supported by programs Recovery of central banks.

The Dow Jones has sold 0.95% or 124.80 points to 13,074.75 points. The Standard & Poor's, wider, yielded 1.02% (14.42 points) to 1,398.96 points while the Nasdaq composite fell back to 1.46% (45.48 points) at point

3068.09

This decline comes despite better than expected figures for employment in the private sector. According to ADP monthly survey, the private sector created 209,000 jobs in March in the U.S., against 200,000 expected.

But what continues to attract the attention of investors is that, in the last monetary policy meeting of the Federal Reserve of the United States, only two members its monetary policy committee felt that other measures could be necessary if the economy weakened or if inflation remained at a low level during a pe ; prolonged period. 

Support measures implemented by the U.S. central bank was the main catalyst for a jump of 30% recorded by the S & P 500 since October, although improving conditions in the United States, as reflected by the indicators, also played.

A REASON TO LOWER

"The biggest support for the economy and financial markets for the past two years has been the (financial) support and without it, you always wonder if the economy can stand by themselves, "said Bruce Bittles, head of investment policy at Robert W. Baird & Co.

Some investors, such as Cummins Catherwood, in Boenning & Scattergood, however, believe that we should not over-interpret the decline. He stressed that the market needs a reason to consolidate after its sharp rise and the bottom panel, even if not very exciting, is at least solid.

Values, General Electric, Heavyweight Dow Jones fell 1.1% to 19.74 dollars. Moody's downgraded the rating of Aa2 to Aa3 conglomerate. The note of its financial subsidiary, GE Capital, has also been lowered a notch.

Sandisk has fallen by over 11% to 44.51 dollars. The manufacturer of flash memory has reduced its forecast for sales in the first quarter, citing lower demand than expected from the manufacturers of mobile handsets and pricing conditions unfavorable.

McDonald's ended down 1.9% to 97.48 dollars. Goldman Sachs has released the value of its conviction buy list and lowered its price target to $ 110.

Side increases, AIG ended with a gain of 5.3% to 32.52 dollars. According to CNBC, AIG could launch in the second quarter IPO of the subsidiary ILFC aircraft leasing Holdings.

Of the 35 billion budgeted in 2010, 25 billion has been spent on 880 projects ranging from education to digital through aviation. It is too early to measure the impact of these investments on the economy. President of the Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, has held 27 June 2011 at the Elysee a press conference on the big loan.

In March 2010, financial storm, the government launched the national loan to support the economy: the key to an envelope of 35 billion euros to finance research and innovation. Two years later, the device has already helped to select and provide funding to 880 projects on 3,000 proposals received.  

"Today it is 25 billion spent, but in a few days, there will be 27 billion," says Alain Juppe, who was with Michel Rocard, co-chairman of the Supervisory Commission and Great Loan Rene Ricol, Commissioner General investment, a press conference-record March 20.

€ 6 billion for education

Among the 880 projects already selected, higher education is carving the lion's share. 8 and excellence initiatives, designed to bring out the poles leading academics, have been funded for more than 6 billion euros. In addition, eight technology research institutes combining private and public research have received a total of 2 billion.  

In industry, it is aviation, and in this case EADS, with its two subsidiaries Airbus and Eurocopter, which has hit the jackpot: € 1.4 billion for two demonstrators, one of composite airplane, another helicopter of the future. The banking industry, announced in February by Nicolas Sarkozy, should also benefit from a contribution of one billion euros through the big loan.

In sustainable development and the digital economy, the budget allocated to the various projects are less important. They concern, for the first, low-carbon or renewable energies, for the second, the digitization of content, cloud computing, e-health or e-education.

No doubt, the teams have carbureted big loan. They still have two new programs announced yesterday university hospital oncology in Ile de France and Toulouse. But it is still early to assess the impact of these investments for the future of the economy and the role of France in international competition.

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".

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.