Rolls-Royce boosted by demand for aircraft fuel-efficient

Auto Date Saturday, May 5th, 2012

Rolls-Royce said Friday it was on track to post strong growth this year, continuing to capitalize on the need for airlines to have had less intensive ké ; Rosene.

The British group, second largest manufacturer of aircraft engines behind General Electric, said the year had started well for him and confirmed its objective of significant growth of beneficial fice in the civil aviation and space.

"For the full year, the group still expects good growth in turnover and profit, excluding exceptional circumstances and with a cash flow to roughly ; s at equilibrium, as we continue to invest in future growth, "says Rolls-Royce said in a statement. 

Airlines around the world to equip aircraft models lighter to cope with soaring fuel costs, which, combined with European debt crisis weighs heavily on the sector.

They will acquire for about 2.7 billion euros of airplanes over the next 20 years to meet demand for flights to and from emerging countries, particularly in Asia, say aerospace giants Boeing and Airbus.

These forecasts highlight the growing demand for single-aisle aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. Some analysts 20,000 narrowbody aircraft of this type will be produced over the next two decades.

Rolls-Royce, which recorded an increase of 21% of its profits in 2011, has more than 5,000 engines on order, worth a total of 52 billion pounds (64 billion euros).

A new joint venture between Rolls-Royce and U.S. rival Pratt & Whitney to be officially established this year. It must develop the next generation of engines for medium-range single-aisle.

At 10:45 GMT, action Rolls-Royce lost 0.29% to 856.50 pence, but it earns about 16% since the beginning of the year.

The British group is expected to announce a pretax profit of 638 million pounds (786 million) in the first half of 2012, and 1.44 billion pounds (1.72 billion euros) on entire year, according to analysts polled by Thomson Reuters.

Industrial production rebounded slightly in February

Auto Date Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

Industrial production in France rose 0.3% in February, thanks to the consumption of gas and electricity induced by the cold wave.

Industrial production in France rose slightly by 0.3% in February, thanks to the consumption of gas and electricity induced by the cold wave, is now on the same rate as in January (0.2%, revised), announced Tuesday the National Institute of Statistics (INSEE). In the manufacturing industry alone, which excludes mining and construction, production was down sharply by 1.2% over one month, after a slight increase of 0.2% in January, said INSEE in a statement.

Over the last three months, production was down 1.1% in manufacturing and 0.5% in the entire industry. Over this period, production was down in the "other industrial products" (-1.2%), in the agricultural and food industries (-0.8%) and transport equipment (-0.7%) . The refining business suffers from maintenance outages, with a decline of 7.2%. Manufacturing production for the last three months has significantly decline (-1.6%) compared to the same three months last year. Over the same period, production has fallen sharply in the "other industries" (-2.0%), transport equipment (-2.7%), as well as in electrical, electronic, computer and machinery ( -0.4%).

She also declined sharply in the refining (-13.1%), mainly because of the shutdown of the refinery in Little Crown, according to INSEE. For February alone, refining is down 5.1% after a 12.0% drop in January. The production also decreases in the rubber, plastic and non-metallic minerals because of the cold wave (-6.7%), metallurgy and metal products (-1.7%), chemicals (-1.7%) textiles, clothing, leather and footwear (-1.5%). However it increases by 2.1% in "other manufacturing". It was down in electrical equipment (-4.3%), computer products, electronic and optical products (-2.3%) and remained stable in machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified (0.0%). It remains stable in the other transport equipment (-0.1%) and automotive (0.1%).

The Tokyo Stock Exchange ended down 1.47%

Auto Date Monday, April 9th, 2012

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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E.ON leaves Britain but not nuclear

Auto Date Friday, March 30th, 2012

The decision of E. ON to forego building new nuclear plants in Britain does not mean that the company turns its back on the entire value chain, said Friday the meadow , chairman of the Executive Group utilities.

"This is not a rejection of nuclear energy, just a decision on how we are investing," said Johannes Teyssen in an interview published Friday by the German newspaper Handelsblatt.

RWE and E.ON announced on Thursday to abandon their plan of 18 billion euros to build new nuclear plants in the UK, which could undermine the objective of London for renewal of the reactor pool. 

Both groups have justified this decision by the choice of Germany to break with nuclear energy, high operating costs of their joint venture and the dice Horizon ; lais required by the construction of new nuclear plants.

E.ON also said Thursday it would continue its project to build a nuclear reactor in Finland through the consortium Fennovoima, in which the German group owns 34% through its Finnish subsidiary.

France escaped the recession, not the slump

Auto Date Friday, March 23rd, 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).

What served as the Grand 25 billion loan?

Auto Date Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

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.

Kingfisher Airlines could lose its license

Auto Date Tuesday, March 20th, 2012

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.

Why the conflict on the yuan is not about to settle

Auto Date Thursday, March 15th, 2012

According to the Chinese premier, the yuan has appreciated 30% since 2005. It is now close to its equilibrium value. Beijing could stabilize once more its currency to the chagrin of Western countries. A 100-yuan face a $ 100 bill.

The military budget and export quotas of rare earths are not the only subjects of friction between China and Western countries. There's one in particular which is recurrent and that may well not be resolved anytime soon: the yuan. And despite official statements sometimes included ambiguous way too optimistic by some Western obervateurs.

Early on the course of the Chinese currency, deemed too low, the subject of criticism. In the U.S., the yuan is accused of trade deficit and destroy jobs. Following the Forum summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), last February, U.S. President Barack Obama, once again called for an appreciation of Chinese currency. His hopes are to go up in smoke.

According to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, speaking at its annual press conference, the last of its mandate, the yuan is now approaching an equilibrium value. It is indeed appreciated 30% since 2005 and has changed little since the beginning of the year. In other words, you must not rely on an appreciation of Chinese currency in the coming months. "We will accelerate reform of the exchange rate", has certainly also said Wen. But it was soon clear "by giving more scope to fluctuations in both directions." In other words, the yuan revaluation claimed to body and cries by the major developed countries, is absolutely not announced.

The braking worrying the Chinese economy is no stranger to these statements. The Chinese export growth has moderated from 21% in the third quarter to 14% in the fourth quarter. In February, China has even recorded a record trade deficit.

China undergoes economic cooling in other countries, experts note of BNP Paribas. The decline in exports is explained clearly by the decline in sales to European countries (22% of total exports in 2011) and to a lesser extent, the United States. Another measure of trade intensity, the current account surplus of China has reached 2.8% of GDP in 2011. "It is below the international norm of 3% of GDP", says Chinese Premier.

Under these conditions Beijing, which needs growth to ensure social peace, has every interest in stabilizing its currency. This lever has been used during the crisis: the 2008-2010 period, Beijing was chosen to secure the dollar before losing a little ground in 2011. In fact, since mid-2008, the yuan has only appreciated that about 5% against the greenback, causing the exasperation of the United States.

In 2012, BNP Paribas' experts provide at best a 3% appreciation of the Chinese currency. But its "internationalization," however, is expected to continue at a rapid pace. Eventually, indeed, China dreams of being less dependent or concurrent, of the dollar. Since 2008, it is redoubling its efforts to force the yuan internationally. Since 2009, Chinese companies can charge in yuan business transactions with foreign countries. Since 2010, foreign companies can borrow yuan, via Hong Kong on an offshore market. Air Liquide has issued bonds last September in yuan to 185 million euros. For two or three years, the yuan also sees its role reinforced by the swap agreements (that is to say, temporary exchanges of cash) made between the central bank of China and its neighboring countries (Korea, Malaysia, Singapore).

Recently, the Austrian Central Bank has signed an agreement with the Chinese central bank, becoming the first Asian central bank not be able to make investments in yuan! Finally, China allowed Japan to buy the first time in its history of Chinese government bonds. The Middle Kingdom does not stop there. Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of China's central bank, requires the input of the yuan in the composition of the SDR, the IMF's currency. But it will be hard to convince world leaders, as are many disputes between China and the West.

European shares open in fall

Auto Date Tuesday, March 6th, 2012

The main European stock markets opened in fall Tuesday in the wake of Wall Street and Asian markets, fears of an economic slowdown in China and Europe prompting investors to reduce their exposure to risk.

In Paris, at 9:30 am, the CAC 40 lost 0.83% (29 points) to 3458 points. London yields 0.56% and Frankfurt was down 1.01%. The pan-European Euro Stoxx 50 index was down 0.96% after gaining over 9% since the beginning of the year, supported especially by abundant liquidity injected by the Bank Central Bank (ECB).

The values ​​of the automobile are among the largest declines. The European sector index losing 2.2%, weighed down primarily by PSA Peugeot Citroen.

PSA lost more than 5% in the Paris Stock Exchange after the announcement of the terms of the capital increase of a billion launched after its alliance with General Motors. The French group also announced it would not pay a dividend this year.

The German Merck was down 1.3% after reporting fourth quarter results below expectations, within the scope of a claim to half mast for the crystal used in the tee ; léviseurs flat screen.

The earnings season in Europe has been relatively poor. According to Thomson Reuters data Starmine, only 49% of STOXX 600 companies have published the results meet or exceed expectations, against 68% of companies S & P 500 on Wall Street.

"The macroeconomic data from the euro area, while the main liquidity operations of the ECB are completed, have aroused fears of a recession and de ; ceived markets. To make matters worse, China has lowered its forecast for growth ", says Koen De Leus for KBC Securities in Brussels.

Markets have also coldly received the message sent Monday by Athens, which it was prepared to force private creditors to take losses on Greek debt. Private investors have until Thursday to say whether they intend to or not participate in the exchange of debt that should allow Greece to erase more than 100 billion euros of its debt, as part of its second bailout of 130 billion euros.

Sarkozy Holland: relive the duel of "saviors of plants"

Auto Date Saturday, February 25th, 2012

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.