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Heineken, the world's third largest brewer, said Wednesday a larger increase than expected half-year net income, reducing costs offset declining sales of beer in Europe and North America.

The Dutch group, whose main brands are Heineken and Amstel, saw sales volumes fall 2.3% on a comparable basis in the first six months of the year, but lower costs, the prices of raw materials and financial burdens, and the contribution of its joint ventures have enabled him to increase its net profit by 17% to 621 million euros.

Twelve analysts surveyed by Reuters had forecast an average result of 595 million.

In the exchanges of Amsterdam, Heineken action reduced its gains at midday, after gaining more than 2% in the morning and signed one of the most Shakers in the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index.

Some analysts suggest the group's exposure to the austerity measures in Europe to explain the slowdown.

Despite his good half, Heineken said to be cautious about the prospects of the beer market in Europe and the United States due to continued weakness in consumer spending in general and announced fiscal austerity plans.

Its sales volumes should continue to grow in parallel in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

LITTLE IMPACT OF THE INCREASE OF GRAIN

The results presented Wednesday included two months on the contribution of the activities of FEMSA Mexican beer, bought by Heineken in order to increase its presence in emerging markets.

Last year, Heineken has done a little more than half its sales in Western Europe. On Wednesday, he assured that the integration of FEMSA is proceeding satisfactorily and that it should generate synergies in the second half.

"Cost savings are slightly higher than expected, the contribution of FEMSA, too," said Trevor Stirling, an analyst at Bernstein Research.

"I do not see why the second half would be worse than the first.This should not be as bad in Eastern Europe and this should improve the United States (…) The fundamental dynamic is healthy. "

The group said growth forecasts of at least 10% of its net earnings over the whole year, indicating that volume trends in Latin America, Africa and Asia, as well as price increases , continue to have an impact on profitability.

The CEO of Heineken, Jean-Francois van Boxmeer, described the first half of "robust" and added that the recent rise in grain prices, driven by drought in Russia, would have little impact on the consolidated because purchases are concluded a year in advance and are largely covered before harvest.

"For the part that we have to cover, we must wait until the market calms down," he said during a teleconference.

Ingenico posted a net income multiplied by more than two in the first half thanks to the increase in transactions in Europe and raised its sales target.

The specialist in payment terminals is now 805-815000000 euros in turnover for 2010 while the group was counting on sales until now included in the top of the range from 790 to 805,000,000.

Its net profit was for the first half of 2010 to 11,200,000 euros, an increase of 133% compared to last year, returning to levels comparable to early 2008, while its net sales reached 395 million, up 10% over the first six months of 2009 on a comparable basis.

"The return to positive momentum in the second quarter we can see our goal of increasing revenue and our target operating margin adjusted for 2010, said Thursday in a statement Philip Lazarus, CEO of 'Ingenico.

The adjusted operating margin target of between 12.5% to 13% is thus maintained for 2010, same as the EBITDA margin between 16% and 17%.

The group had also exceeded its expectations for adjusted operating margin, which stood at 9.3% against a target level "comparable" to 8.6% in first half 2009 pro forma.

The Group's organic growth was driven by its performance in China, Germany and France.Ingenico has continued its acquisition strategy by taking control of both companies in the areas of services related to payments, Transfer To to Singapore and First Data Iberica in Spain.

On the historic market of payment terminals, the main competitors remain Ingenico Hypercom and VeriFone Americans.

At the close Thursday, as the group finished down slightly from 0.1% to 19.40 euros, bringing its market capitalization to nearly $ 950 million.

Laurent-Perrier announces increase of 17.3% of its turnover in the first quarter of fiscal 2010-2011, the group enjoying champagne strong exports to the United Kingdom, the United States, the Germany and Asia.

The turnover in Q1 (April 1-June 30) reached 36.8 million euros against 31.4 million a year earlier.

The export sales have reached 69.5% of sales of the brand, a gain of 6.7 points compared to first quarter of last year.

"If it confirms the recovery in demand, growth in volumes in the first quarter should not be extrapolated over the whole year," the company said in a statement, adding nevertheless that the price / mix should gradually recover in coming quarters.

The group generates a significant portion of its revenues in the third quarter (October-December), corresponding to the festive season to season.

The results of the first half ended September 30, 2010 will be published on 1 December 2010.

The stock has increased by 24.4% since the beginning of the year, after declining 8.5% in 2009. It has a market capitalization of 400 million euros.

The NYSE closed up 0.18% Monday, the Dow Jones 30 Industrial 18.24 points to 10,216.27 winner.

The S & P 500 is broader, took 0.77 points, or 0.07%, to 1078.73. The Nasdaq Composite fell on his side of 1.91 point (0.09%) to 2198.36.

These data are likely to vary even slightly.

The Italian group Fiat said on Friday it would invest 700 million euros to produce the Panda Pomigliano, near Naples, while the range of small cars was previously produced in Poland.

The decision to relocate production in Italy of the best-selling small car in Europe was a time appear uncertain because only 62% of factory workers in Naples had voted in favor.

Fiat has finally decided to pursue his project after meeting with various unions have accepted this decision with the exception of Fiom, who said he would act in court for infringement of the rights of employees under the new conditions.

The government of Silvio Berlusconi welcomed the announcement of Fiat.

Fiat's investment in Naples – the group plans to invest about 8 billion euros worldwide by 2011 – is expected to boost employment in Italy and contribute to economic growth.

Action Fiat was up 1.4% to 8.84 euros in late afternoon.

Sales at department stores conducted between last Wednesday, the first day of sales, and next Saturday are up 10-17% in Paris and about 6% in the province over the same period of 2009, told Reuters Claude Boulle, Chairman of the Union of the great trade center (UCV).

This period, during which traders are allowed to sell at a loss, will end Aug. 3.

"We are surprised by such enthusiasm," said Claude Boulle, who gives the rain, precipitation related to the timing of sales compared with the academic pace and demands of tourists, especially from emerging countries like Asians or Brazilians.

Claude Boulle, however, refuses "to be triumphalist" for now because, he says, should not at this very good start followed by a drop in purchases after July 15.

"The balances are played on a shorter and shorter," he observes.

As every year, the discounts offered in the department stores were included in 30 and 50% and new markdowns could be proposed "if there are still things to sell," added Claude Boulle.

The TCU brings together nearly nine billion euros in turnover with 600 stores in 300 cities in France, such as Galeries Lafayette, Printemps or C & A.

The players in the credit market begin the second half hoping to disappear or at least diminish the negative impact of the crisis of sovereign debt in the eurozone, which has largely contributed to the resurgence of risk aversion in the second quarter.

This crisis, which does not seem to have exhausted all its reserves, has hurt all risky assets, starting with the shares losing 7% to 19% since the beginning of the year in Europe.

Corporate bonds (corporate credit) have also suffered, premiums (spreads) having substantially eliminated.But they broadly maintain performance of 3.6% since the beginning of the year, while government bonds from all countries, took 2.4%.

"The second quarter of 2010 defeated the job right the first quarter due to the escalation of the crisis of sovereign debt.Risk aversion has increased rapidly, all assets have suffered (…) Credit spreads have strayed far beyond their level of early 2010, "credit strategists explain the General Society in their quarterly report.

Also taking stock of the quarter, analysts of Raiffeisen Capital Management noted that the credit offers "indisputably positive returns" to the beginning of the year.

But they add that with the sharp decline in bond rates – including German rates that serve as reference in the euro area – linked to the flight to quality stocks, "the potential of absolute return is now very limited."

"The high yield bonds (high yield bonds), the positive fundamentals, seem more attractive," they say.

Groupama Asset Management, as Societe Generale predicts a slowdown of the economy, promote investment grade credit and approach "stock picking" for high yield.

TIGHTENING OF SPREADS

Amund Asset Management, a leading European asset management, which is more optimistic about global growth, also favors the credit.

The sovereign crisis has largely closed the secondary credit market. The primary market, which had started on a flying in January led by financials, has been almost nonexistent from mid-April but has shown signs of lethargy output.

"The market recovered slowly and now spreads are improving.We believe that sovereign issues have less impact on the market and the spreads will be tighter at the end of the year compared to levels earlier this year, "say the strategists of Societe Generale.

After a very active quarter on the primary market, they are reviewing their forecasts down significantly from private bond issues to take into account also the small traditional activity in the third quarter.

They now expect 110 billion on non-financial corporate issues in 2010, or 55% less than in 2009 which was a record year where businesses, faced with tighter bank credit due to financial crisis, have use the market to restore their balance sheets.

They no longer need as use the market given the low investment costs, a lack of mergers and acquisitions and the continued improvement of treasury already abundant.

Societe Generale brings its projected emissions of senior debt of financial companies from 200 to 150 billion euros for 2010, against 152 billion in 2009. For emissions of subordinated debt, the forecast is reduced from 33 to 20 billion euros, against 17 billion in 2009.

Nicolas Sarkozy has once again ruled out any increase in compulsory levies to finance the pension reform, but confirmed that efforts would be applied to high income and capital income, Monday, May 10 at the sides.

"There is (…) two solutions that do not seem desirable: touch the pensions of retirees and believe, as so often in the past that rising tax burden would be the answer to all our problems," said M . Sarkozy during his opening statement released by the presidency.

"It would in fact reduce the living standards of the French and penalize growth.I am deeply convinced that a demographic challenge must first demographic responses "such as delaying the age of retirement or increasing the contribution period, he added, referring the issue of pensions, though not the agenda of the Social Summit.

Labour Minister Eric Woerth had mentioned last week, one of the tracks government work, an increase in resources for Old Age Solidarity Fund (FSV), mainly fueled by a fraction of revenues from the CSG (Contribution Sociale generalized).

Nicolas Sarkozy has once again vowed on Monday to trade unions and employers that the planned reform would be "fair", confirming such an "additional financial effort high income and capital income.

The Head of State also confirmed that Eric Woerth made public next week a "guidance document which will indicate the principles set for the reform, which will be a new stage of comprehensive cooperation."