May 1, 2012
The activity has slowed sharply in April in the Chicago area, which serves as a barometer for the entire U.S. industry. Barack Obama visited a General Motors plant in Hamtramck, Michigan, near Detroit, July 30, 2010.
The slowdown of U.S. economy in the first quarter is on track to continue in the second. Industrial activity has slowed markedly in the Chicago area in April, according to the local index of purchasing managers in the U.S. ISM trade association said Monday. This index was down 6.0 points from March to $ 56.2 in seasonally adjusted data, its lowest level in 29 months, the ISM said.
The index nevertheless reflects an expansion of economic activity for the 31st consecutive month, the ISM wrote in a statement adding that the April figures also reflect a trend of activity to "slow further." The median forecast of analysts gave a less marked decline of the indicator, to 60.0.
The ISM Chicago extent the perception that industry in the region of the economy. He is said to be usually a good indicator of changes in the barometer of activity at all the United States. For the association, the fact that the index has declined for the second consecutive month and that this decline has been driven by a sharp fall in its component measuring the production incentive to "be more careful about the erosion of application that continues, even if the backlog increases "for area businesses.
April 28, 2012
The leader of PASOK, Evangelos Venizelos, announced Saturday its economic program a week early parliamentary elections in Greece, promising reforms on liberalization professions rather than tax increases.
The party of former Socialist Minister of Finance, who played a key role in the financial rescue of Greece by the EU and the IMF last year, is ahead in polls voting intentions by his conservative rival, New Democracy.
PASOK came to power in 2009 with nearly 44% of the votes, May 6 should get between 14 and 19% of the vote, voters blaming him for the harsh treatment of austerity imposed by the donor in exchange for their financial support.
Evangelos Venizelos took the reins of a party in February capilotade in succeeding former Prime Minister George Papandreou. At the time, PASOK enjoyed a popularity rating of just 8%.
The new leader pledged Saturday not to declare the general fall in wages and pensions as long as the country continues on the path of reform.
"No Greek citizen should live in fear of what will be done in June," has tried to reassure the Socialist leader, referring to the new crackdown announced for next month's parliamentary elections. "We pledge (on this point) and we assure you that no new tax will be imposed."
He added before a crowd of enthusiastic supporters: "On the contrary, we will focus on structural reforms in order to have a state smaller and less expensive, open market and professions ; s and to allow everyone free access to economic activities and production. "
Last week, the leader of New Democracy, Antonis Samaras, promised if he wins election to cut taxes and increase social spending while meeting commitments budget set by foreign donors.
New Democracy and PASOK are the only two major political parties to support the Greek bailout the nation's finances, which bends under the burden of debt.
April 27, 2012
Bank of Japan announced Friday a further easing of monetary policy, pledging one hand to increase its program of asset purchases of 10,000 billion yen (94 billion euros) and secondly to acquire government bonds of longer maturities.
Despite signs of growing a resumed third largest economy, Japan's central bank and takes measures to support activity for the second time in just over two months and displays its determination to fight against the phenomenon of deflation beating down the country for over ten years.
Economists had expected an increase in the program of asset purchases two times lower. The BoJ has also surprised by announcing that it would expand its purchases of riskier assets such as Exchange Traded Funds and REITs.
"The BoJ has a bit more than what we expected, then its decision is a surprise" said Masamichi Adachi, senior economist at JPMorgan Securities.
"The bank is trying to get the message that it supports the market and economic recovery, as it did in February. This is a step in the right direction and we believe that the BoJ should do more to encourage the economy. "
The BoJ's decision, taken unanimously, carries its asset purchase program to 40,000 billion yen. The rate remains unchanged in a range of zero to 0.1%.
Immediately after the decision of the BoJ, the yen fell against the dollar. He was subsequently erased its losses and, to 6:40 GMT, gaining more than 0.3% against the greenback and the euro.
The BoJ has estimated that it would not "too long" to reach its inflation target of 1%, which could dampen expectations of further aggressive monetary easing measures.
It also found more and more evident that the third world economy was on the road to recovery. A series of indicators released Friday abounded in his direction.
Japan's industrial production rose 1.0% in March, posting its largest gain in three months in favor of a stabilizing external demand and the reconstruction of areas hit the country ; es by the earthquake and tsunami a year ago.
Also in March, retail sales jumped 10.3% year on year, against a 9.8% increase expected by analysts, while household expenditure increased by 3 4% in real terms, after growing 2.3% in February.
The unemployment rate meanwhile remained steady last month at 4.5%.
April 25, 2012
Atos confirmed Wednesday all its annual targets after completing the first quarter organic growth of 2.4% of its turnover, driven by outsourcing, Germany and UK.
The computer services company, whose main competitors are Accenture and Capgemini, confirms this year include a slight organic growth of its turnover from the level proforma 2011 and is operating margin 6.5% compared to 4.8% on a proforma basis in 2011.
"We have confirmation now for three quarters as Germany, Eastern Europe, Central and Northern and the United Kingdom are now vehicles for growth, and continue to register a level 'satisfactory business, "said Gilles joined, executive vice president of Atos, during a conference call.
He told Reuters an acceleration of the group's organic growth in the second half compared to the first. He stressed the unfavorable comparative weighing of the second quarter, which has more public holidays in 2011.
The group achieved first quarter sales of 2.163 million euros, driven by organic growth of 3.9% of its center outsourcing (IT outsourcing) representing 45% of the activity.
Growth in Germany and the UK, its two largest markets, are also more than offset declines in the Benelux and France, which however had a recovery "in step".
Accenture has on his side out at the end of March a good resistance to its business in Europe.
Closely watched indicator, the ratio of new orders to billings (book-to-bill) stood at 107%, with a backlog of 14.5 billion euros at March 31, or 1.7 year of sales.
Gilles joined Atos has also stated its continued "close discussions" with Thales and Orange, the social project of "cloud computing" was approved Friday by the French government.
He said this could be done via Canopy, the partnership announced in February with the U.S. EMC and VMware in this activity.
"Cloud computing" ("cloud") is to store data in supercomputers called servers, grouped by hundreds of thousands in large premises belonging mostly to large IT groups.
WORLDLINE CRUCIAL FOR ATOS
Gilles joined also wishes to continue developing its cluster electronic payments and secure transactions, which includes Atos Worldline.
Rumors had been circulating there for ten days on this division following a note from Morgan Stanley essentially assuming that the integration of SIS, the IT division acquired from Siemens, promised to die pledge more synergies.
Gilles joined observed that these were "comments outside the company."
Atos Worldline is a "major division" Atos, which will help the group reach its operating margin target of 7% to 8% by 2013, he said.
"We are a management that is not dogmatic," but added Gilles joined. "It is our duty by definition never exclude any option that could accelerate and support the further development of this activity in our company."
Atos also aims to achieve a cash flow of around 250 million euros in 2012, against 194 million in 2011 to support an increase in operating margin and a tighter control of investment and working capital needs.
The action Atos closed Tuesday down 1.57% to 20.04 euros, giving a market capitalization of 3.69 billion. She has returned 30% since the beginning of the year.
April 24, 2012
Germany experienced between 2001 and 2011, the smallest increase across the EU, with an increase of 19.4%, while hourly labor costs in France rose by 39.2%, more than double the same period. A poster of the employers' union Verdi against the introduction of a general minimum wage in Germany
Germany experienced a decade of more moderate growth in labor costs of the entire European Union, according to statistics released Tuesday, but the hourly labor cost is one third higher than the European average. One hour of work in the private sector cost 30.10 euros for German employers, a figure of 32% above the EU average and that places Germany seventh among 27 EU countries, according to these figures published by the Federal Statistical Office Destatis.
Compared to the great French neighbor, the labor cost is 12% lower and 23% lower than in Belgium, the leading EU countries. Germany experienced between 2001 and 2011, the smallest increase across the EU, with an increase of 19.4%, while hourly labor costs in France rose by 39.2%, more than double the same period, according to Destatis.
German wage moderation is a key factor in the competitiveness of the country, including its industry. The downside, often cited by the unions, wages are low, in the absence of widespread minimum wage and an increasingly precarious, with greater use in some industrial sectors in labor and temporary work.
April 22, 2012
Russia plans to give the International Monetary Fund (IMF) additional resources of over ten billion dollars but the exact amount will be determined in coordination with other emerging BRICS group says, has Saturday announced the Russian Minister of Finance.
"We have already said that the minimum contribution (Russia) would be 10 billion, the question now is to change this amount of increase to reflect the need for additional resources of the IMF" said Anton Silouanov to the press.
"We will coordinate with our colleagues in the BRICS and decide together what we can do," he said on the sidelines of a meeting between the IMF and World Bank in Washington.
The group said BRICS includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The G20 countries have pledged Friday to provide the IMF additional resources of $ 430 billion to address the debt crisis in the euro area.
According to Anton Silouanov, most of this amount, $ 362 billion, had already been promised before. "We have about 70 billion" to distribute among the contributors, he said.
Emerging economies, which were far more recipients of aid, this time have joined the effort, even if they expect, in return, that their weight within the international financial institutions increased at the expense of that of Europe.
NEW QUOTAS
The G20 committed on this road Friday, promising that the voting rights of emerging nations, called quotas, will be raised at the summit of the IMF scheduled in October.
Russia welcomed the decision, even though she was careful not to make quota reform as a precondition for the payment of its contribution. The new quota system must be clear and understandable, insisted Saturday the Russian Minister of Finance.
"We propose that the quota calculation is based primarily on two main indicators, the size of gross domestic product (GDP) of each country and the volume of their gold reserves and foreign currency," said Anton Silouanov.
If such criteria were to be retained, Moscow's influence in the IMF would increase considerably, with Russia third of global foreign-exchange reserves, with 516.7 billion dollars.
Some countries of the BRICS group said, however, have argued in favor of a better consideration of the weight of GDP, acknowledged Silouanov.
"Many countries believe that further dialogue in this area. Some countries have a quota have no interest in it is recalculated and prefer, obviously, that we keep the current formula, without bring change, "he said
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April 20, 2012
The International Monetary Fund should get, as expected, an increase of its means of at least $ 400 billion to take action against the global crisis. Executive Director International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde expects its member states that the funds of the institution are "substantially" increased.
The International Monetary Fund is about to get financial support to match its requirements. To act against the global crisis, the organization has requested an increase in its resources. It is not yet certain that everything is sealed off Friday in Washington, which met finance ministers of G20 countries, but the organization seems poised to achieve, as it wishes, an increase in resources of at least $ 400 billion.
"Among the results of these meetings, we expect that our strike force is greatly increased," said Christine Lagarde Thursday, executive director of the IMF. "I know it is in a lot the subject of the day," she noted.
Finance ministers of rich and emerging countries in the G20 will discuss on Friday, after a first working dinner Thursday night. Christine Lagarde expects to have a number. And all indications are it will succeed in light of recent promises made public through several countries before the start of the spring meetings in Washington.
Additional means to help the euro area
Notable exception, the United States, the largest shareholder of the Fund, have refused to pay any extra dollar. The uncompromising stance of Washington has also forced Christine Lagarde to review its initial ambitions downwards, estimated in January after the needs of the Fund to some $ 600 billion.
"Today, there is less risk," she assured, even if Europe "is not pulled out of the rut." The French felt that this money would help address the problems of the world economy, including "high unemployment, sustainable in many parts of the world," growth "slow" or "of potential increases in oil prices".
Executive Director of the IMF did not name Spain in its list of "dark clouds" looming always above the global economy, but the situation there continues to preoccupy the international financial community. "If there is a need, the IMF must be there for all its members" but "there is no need of this kind at the moment," she assured, however.
The IMF can now hire up to 382 billion dollars, according to the weekly final point on its resources. But Christine Lagarde Lagarde, supported by the Europeans, want to add at least $ 400 billion to this total. She can already count on some 320 billion thanks to the commitment of Japan to the tune of 60 billion over the three Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Norway and Denmark), with just over 26 billion, that of Poland, 8 billion, and finally that of Switzerland and other countries not identified, to the tune of $ 26 billion.
April 18, 2012
The Swiss pharmaceutical group Roche warned Wednesday that he would not fall under its offer of $ 6.8 billion (5.18 billion euros) on the Illumina American and he will not extend the period of acceptance thereof.
Its current proposal, $ 51 per share Illumina, can not be improved without penalizing shareholders of Roche, said the group, which should give up its offensive.
The offer expires Friday, Roche said not wanting to prolong it, expressing regret the refusal of the Board to engage in constructive dialogue
Illumina sequencing of genes specialist, self-proclaimed "Apple genomics", for its part has rejected offers of Roche and called its shareholder do the same.
Consulted Wednesday during a general meeting, a majority of them have also shunned.
"Roche will not be affected if it sends a signal showing that it is ready to give up these offers," said Navid Malik of Cenkos Securities.
The acquisition of Illumina would have allowed the Swiss group, world leader in therapies against cancer to benefit from its expertise in sequencing of genes play a role forefront of personalized treatments, which represent the future of the pharmaceutical industry.
Roche did not give up its ambitions for external growth.
"Roche will continue to examine all options and opportunities to further develop its business portfolio to expand its leading position in diagnostics," said Severin Schwan, director General of the Basel group, in a statement.
At their general meeting, shareholders of Illumina supported the four nominees to fill board seats, while rejecting a proposal from Roche to bring to 11 the number of directors with the objective to take a majority.
The prospect of a failure of Roche has not been punished by investors, its title having closed up 0.99%, unlike the Illumina who lost in the third me time to 4.10% to 42.20 dollars.
April 16, 2012
China widened the fluctuation band of its currency. A measure to reassure the markets following the slowdown in growth, but also a real business strategy. Interview with Sebastien Barbe, senior economist at Credit Agricole-CIB. Doubling the maximum fluctuation of the yuan is a diplomatic act, with a real strategic significance …
China conducted today to double the ceiling of fluctuation of the yuan. Should we consider the measure as a real movement towards liberalization of the Chinese currency? What impact will the measure on the evolution of the currency? Our questions to Sebastien Barbe, senior economist at Credit Agricole-CIB.
As of today, the yuan is really undervalued, or does it happen, as claimed by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, to its equilibrium level?
It is difficult to answer this question with certainty. We lack precise figures which we can really conclude. This is indeed some, however, is that the yuan is much undervalued than five years ago. China has actually taken steps since constant progressive revaluation of its currency. If during the subprime crisis the exchange rate with the dollar was frozen, the yuan has appreciated against many currencies of emerging countries over the period. It is better to resonate well in terms of real effective exchange rate.
Doubling the maximum fluctuation of the Chinese currency translate into a genuine process of internationalization? Does it not rather a symbolic approach?
In reality, these two aspects will play. But the increased ceiling remains above all a measure of scale. Eventually, the Chinese will be able to fluctuate even more their motto. This is a significant step towards liberalization of the yuan. If in the future the Chinese are more confident about international politics, they are probably glad to have introduced this measure. It is a reform that will eventually play and count. At the moment, it's more of an accompaniment of the process of internationalization of the yuan. The symbolic is seen in turn at different levels. A message of confidence, first, compared to the rate of growth. A willingness to reassure the markets, while China's growth tends to slow down. By extending the maximum fluctuation of the yuan, they take the chance to see their currency appreciate more, which would hurt exports and thus their international trade. It's a real soft landing that is looming for the Chinese. We can then analyze this decision as "an act of economic diplomacy" aimed at their trading partners. If China loose a little ground on the control of its currency, it will have greater legitimacy to demand a return to its partners, by being much more demanding. Specifically, it could expect from Europe, its largest importer, that it demonstrates a much better coordination. The measure is reflected, and will add weight to China in its trade relations.
While doubling the currency became effective today, the yuan was at the opening down to the dollar. How do we tend to expect in the future?
The assessment should continue, perhaps not spectacularly, at least as concerns about the European market will also remain strong. Europe is the largest importer of China, a major evaluation on the rise of the yuan should now be discounted. Within a year or two, things may have to evaluate more quickly. To give you a figure, we believe that the yuan could appreciate the full year from 2.5% to 3%. Even up to 4.5% in the event of Europe show signs of recovery. But to date, caution should remain the watchword.
April 14, 2012
Volkswagen has further increased its stake in truck manufacturer MAN, as part of its planned merger of its two main activities of trucks.
The German automotive group now owns 73% of the shares of MAN and 71.08% of the total capital, MAN announced in a statement Friday.
Volkswagen previously held 55.9% of the voting rights and 53.71% stake.
VW wants to increase integration between MAN and Swedish Scania, he also controls, in order to save at least € 200 million in procurement, production and research and development.
In addition, the Wolfsburg group wants to encourage cooperation between the two truck manufacturers and its own activities to create vehicles capable of exceeding a set Daimler and Volvo.
Volkswagen holds 71.8% voting rights in Scania and 49.3% of its capital.
MAN has declined to comment, a spokesman for Volkswagen could not be immediately available for comment.
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