News & Financial Advice

Wall Street ended Thursday on a stable note, after having fluctuated within a narrow range throughout the session, reacting according to the results of companies in the moment but investors throughout remained on the sidelines, on the eve of the release of employment statistics from January.

In contrast, the Nasdaq was up, driven by the specialist Qualcomm semiconductors.

Statistic of jobless claims was an auspicious omen for the employment figures on Friday. The weekly jobless claims fell in the United States during the week to January 28, at 367,000 against 379,000 (revised) the previous week.

Economists expect 150,000 new jobs in January from 200,000 in December, with an unemployment rate that would not move to 8.5%.

Investors have not reacted more, it seems, the intervention of the President of the Federal Reserve before a parliamentary committee. Ben Bernanke said that the European financial crisis continued to threaten the U.S. recovery and the Federal Reserve will do whatever it takes to prevent it penalizes world's largest economy.

The Dow Jones lost 11.05 points (0.09%) to 12,705.41. The S & P 500 gained 1.45 points (0.11%) to 1325.54. The Nasdaq Composite Index is 11.41 points (0.4%) to 2859.68.

The technology continued to outperform the market. Qualcomm has registered its highest level in 12 years after the quarterly that easily beat the consensus. The stock has gained 1.96% to 60.73 dollars.

The values ​​of health have instead included in the red after quarterly results released by the pharmacist Merck (-0.49%), the insurer Cigna (-3.39%) and Medical equipment manufacturer Boston Scientific (-4.1%). The sector index lost 0.41%.

Merck said on Thursday quarterly results better than expected, thanks to lower spending on research, while providing a profit in 2012 more or less stable compared to 2011, in anticipation of the arrival of its lead drug generic, anti-asthmatic Singular.

The food group Sara Lee and Kellogg have also mounted after the announcement by both companies to better than expected quarterly results and confirmation of their annual forecasts in spite of significant changes in progress.

Kellogg took 2.6% and 4.36% Sara Lee.

Sales distributors in the United States have reached record during the long weekend of Thanksgiving, which marks the beginning of the holiday season and New Year, buyers are coming in numbers to take the early opening of shops and attractive promotions.

These sales were up 16.4% over the same period a year earlier to 52.4 billion (39.25 billion euros), according to data released Sunday by the National Federation of the distribution ( NRF).

A total of 226 million people traveled between Thursday and Sunday in stores or on online sales sites.This is also an unprecedented level, compared with 212 million last year.

Among the big winners of the weekend appears Best Buy, one of the stores that opened its doors at midnight on the night of Thanksgiving.

The 17 countries in the euro area could introduce a tax on financial transactions, even if other states of the European Union are opposed, said German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble.

The German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble estimates that 17 countries in the euro area could introduce a tax on financial transactions, even if other states of the European Union are opposed, in an interview published Monday in the Financial Times. The euro area could be used to test the effectiveness of such a tax and thus convince the United Kingdom to join it, according to Mr.Schäuble hopes that an agreement on the issue at the G20 summit on Thursday and Friday in Cannes (south-eastern France).

The United States and Canada, but also China and Russia have opposed such a tax, new version of the "Tobin Tax" advocated for years by associations fighting against poverty, and that Paris and Berlin are now calling their wishes. The Europeans have agreed to implement this tax in Europe and the European Commission should make proposals to this effect soon. But within the EU several countries are opposed, as the United Kingdom who fears for his financial center of London and Sweden.

The EU summit Sunday will not lead to a global solution. But behind the technical question of strengthening the EFSF lies a conflict between France and Germany on the new role of the ECB. Explanations. Euro

Europe is in a fog for two days a summit critical to its future. A senior European official said the Thursday night, there will be no complete agreement at the EU summit in Brussels on Sunday. The elements of discord between states include the level of discount on Greek debt to private creditors to impose on the recapitalization of banks and especially the role of the ECB in the context of strengthening the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF ). For in cettetempête that shakes the eurozone, the ECB can not imagine a savior.His "future ex-" chief economist Jürgen Stark has also referred to this Thursday, the ECB "can not solve the crisis" and does not want to get out of the mandate it has been set. However, it could have a role to play. Explanations.

She refuses to be involved in strengthening the EFSF

One of the bones of contention between France and Germany is the role of the ECB in the rescue of the euro. Paris wants the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) obtain a banking license to go with her to refinance. Leverage and the ability to fund intervention limited to 440 billion euros that can lift the markets. Option rejected by the institution headed by Jean-Claude Trichet and Germany do not want the ECB to lend to the Fund in exchange for government bonds as collateral in trouble. Because it would weaken its balance sheet and would require a recapitalization.But Berlin refused to give his hand to the pocket.

Germany therefore recommends allowing the EFSF to act as guarantor to facilitate the obtaining of loans by fragile states. The fund could then provide up to 20% to 30% of their credits would be granted. In other words, the fund would be used to support a loan volume of 3 to 5 times higher in the private sector. This scenario would not involve the ECB.

But according to Cyril Regnier, strategist at Natixis, the track of the transformation of the EFSF bank is not completely abandoned. "I wait for the official release of Trichet's refusal to confirm," he said beforehand. "The ECB reversed its decision several times. She was sure she would not buy debt of struggling countries.Since it did massively. "

She claims to have done his share of work

In fact, the Frankfurt institution has already made several decisions that were outside its remit. Since May 2010, it bought bonds of troubled countries for a total of 165 billion euros, 45 billion for Greece. In exchange, it has hundreds of billions of euros of liquidity available to banks that have struggled to find on the market conditions as favorable. In his last speech as president of the institution, Jean-Claude Trichet has even granted two new lines of credit volume limit of one year, an unusually long. They also pledged 40 billion euros through the repurchase of a portion of their assets, especially real estate.The aim is to allow banks sufficient liquidity to meet their financial deadlines near term. The ECB is already far out of its responsibilities in the crisis. "For now, this is the only institution in Europe to have done something concrete," said Jean-Louis Mourier same.

She wants to return to its basic objectives

For over the events we tend to forget them. "The Bank has a mission, is to ensure price stability. This is too often overshadowed at this point in public perception," said Juergen Stark. This is because he refused these missions outside the mandate of the ECB's chief economist has decided to resign. He also pressed the point home by stating that if the ECB went further, "we not only ruin our reputation, but the ECB would also be overwhelmed by the task, and its independence threatened."Today, the objective of the ECB is that the EFSF is promptly voted and she stops to buy the debt of fragile states. But without really knowing if it will happen quickly. "It takes a lot of precautions. It gave no date for example on the end of the buyback," said Cyril Regnier.

The ECB should it have a stronger role in the future?

Opinion is divided on its role in the institutions. "The ECB is currently the only entity capable of ending the crisis," said Cyril Regnier reminder that the ECB has the weapon of the printing press. And he said, if the institution refuses to EFSF banking license, it could ultimately end up losing. "The EFSF can not buy as many bonds that the ECB did, simply because it has limited resources.And if it's not effective, then the ECB will continue to buy the debt of the States, "says strategist at Natixis. But according to Jean-Louis Mourier, the ECB has no additional role as that is his. "It's not really within its jurisdiction to be the savior of Europe. She has already done much. "He said the key lies rather in a" greater federalism "across Europe.

The "troika" of international donors in Greece recommends to pay as soon as possible to Athens a sixth tranche of aid, despite the dynamic "serious concern" of government debt, according to its draft report.

The economic crisis in Greece is much more severe than expected, the debt situation has deteriorated in recent months and it may be necessary to revise downward its growth forecast over the medium term, we read in this and other Reuters report that was obtained Thursday.

He concludes, however, that further action on budget revenues and expenditures should allow Greece to meet its deficit target in 2012, even if it lacks that of 2011.

The report of the European Commission was prepared with the assistance of the European Central Bank but the International Monetary Fund, the third member of the "troika", which writes its own report on its side.

The Commission and the ECB to pay recommend using "as soon as possible, as soon as previous initiatives agreed on fiscal consolidation, privatization and labor market reform announced by the government have been included in the law."

Greece needs the help of eight billion euros to avoid becoming insolvent in mid-November.

"DYNAMIC CONCERN"

The Troika also finds that the previous projection of a growth close to 3% per year over the period 2015-2020 can not be achieved "in the case of a marked acceleration of structural reform initiatives, including privatization."

She noted deficiencies and delays in implementing fiscal reforms but added that additional measures "are the projection of a deficit in 2012 in line with the agreed ceiling" without the gap or deficit in 2011 fully met.

The Greek financial sector remains fragile due to a drying up of liquidity, deposits continue to decline and banks remain highly dependent on the ECB for financing.

"The dynamics of public debt remains extremely worrying," says the draft report of donors, adding that debt levels remain high "for many years."

"Compared with the prospect of a few months ago, the debt situation has actually deteriorated," they continued, referring in particular the delay in reforms "and the prospect of a recapitalization banks ".

Athens will be at least a quarter behind schedule for privatization, for administrative reasons but also because market conditions have deteriorated in the third quarter, especially on the Athens Stock Exchange, also explains the document.

The rating agency Standard & Poor's downgraded the sovereign rating Thursday night of long-term credit of Spain by one notch to "AA" to "AA-" with negative implications.

S & P puts forward such weak growth and high debt of the private sector.

In response, the euro has a downward trend in Asian markets opened Friday, but always seems on track to achieve its best performance since the week of January.

"Despite signs of strength in economic performance during the year 2011, we observed an increased risk to the outlook for growth in Spain," said S & P, citing high unemployment, difficult budgetary conditions, the high indebtedness of the private sector and the likely economic slowdown in major trading partners of Spain.

The agency said in a statement to expect that the quality of financial sector assets continue to depreciate.

Standard & Poor's also believes that the reform of the labor market is "incomplete" and therefore constitutes an obstacle to the resumption of economic activity.

"We could lower the rating again if, according to our scenario of decline, the economy is contracting in 2012, if the fiscal situation of Spain deviates significantly from the objectives set by the government or if reforms Additional labor market and other reforms to support growth are delayed, "warns the rating agency.

Thales plans to sell part of its services activities and the name of GFI Informatique circulating as potential buyer, said on Tuesday a union source, confirming a report in Les Echos.

The electronics and defense could be separated from his division "Business Solutions" specializing in large scale integration projects from hospitals in Paris.

"There is a project on 'Business Solutions' management said they were approached for this activity," the source said union Thales.

The name of GFI Informatique has advanced the hypothesis of interest Logica, cited by Les Echos, being more of a "rumor," she said.

A spokesman for Thales declined to comment, as did a spokeswoman for Logica.GFI Informatique, person was not immediately available for comment on the report.

The action Thales wins 3.09% to 24.835 euros to 3:50 p.m., in a market up strongly, gaining 4.7% the SBF120.

The IT services division of Thales, who directed last year 81 million euros in sales and employs approximately 500 people, is part of Thales Services most exposed to competition and further from the heart business of Thales, said a close case cited by Les Echos.

The newspaper said two others, those of outsourcing and agencies in the regions, between them representing more than 300 million in revenue and 3,000 people, could also be offered for sale.

Of such sale will take place when discussions continue between Thales and Safran on a possible asset swap in the defense, which would require the payment of a cash payment by Thales.

Activities that may be made by Safran are indeed valued at 650 million euros in turnover, while those of Thales would represent, according to press reports, that 200 to 300 million turnover.

A year after a break, Safran and Thales had announced in May, have resumed talks on an exchange of assets in the defense, under pressure from the state, their common shareholder that seeks to reduce duplication in a rapidly budget reduction.

The Swiss bank plans to remove "thousands" of jobs in its investment bank. Restructuring decided before the discovery of a fraud of $ 2 billion a trader of its subsidiary in London. UBS, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, May 26, 2011.

Swiss bank UBS, which said Thursday he was the victim of fraud by one of its brokers who lost $ 2 billion, will "massively" reduce its investment banking and to make major layoffs, said the Helvetic Press Friday.

A reduction in size of the bank, often cited by analysts, should be announced Nov. 17 at the UBS Investor Day, said the daily Tages-Anzeiger, which is based on internal sources of bank.This will result in the reduction of "thousands" of jobs in the division, said the newspaper, which is also expected that the Chief Oswald Grübel and the head of the banking Carsten Kengeter have to resign soon .

The Swiss press has reacted strongly in the wake of revelations of the first bank Helvetic, who announced Thursday he was the victim of fraudulent activities of one of its traders, which caused him to lose $ 2 billion (1.4 billion euros) . While the bank had to release third quarter earnings of between 900 million and 1.1 billion Swiss francs, analysts said it could now suffer a loss of 500 million, the first since the third quarter of 2009.

"You have to ask, how is it possible, despite recommendations stricter domestic (…), to lose such sums out of control," questioned the daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ). For the newspaper, the case threatens the reputation of the entire Swiss financial center, which represents more than 10% of gross domestic product Helvetic. A Swiss Exchange, the rebounded Friday morning as UBS. After closing Thursday down more than 10%, the action gained 2.67% to 10.01 Swiss francs in a market up 0.60%.

European shares ended on a note undecided, the ISM manufacturing index in the United States, down but still growing area, from offset concerns about the contraction in the eurozone.

In Paris the CAC 40 gained 0.28% or 9.07 points to 3265.83 points.

Other major European markets, London has gained 0.45% and Frankfurt lost 0.94%. Of the European indices, the Eurofirst 300 took 0.65%.

The defense was sought, Deutsche Telekom 2.19% returning after a decline of 7.6% after reports that the U.S. would oppose the sale of its subsidiary T-Mobile to AT & T.

The Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche took 1.5% and the French specialist Danone dairy products 1.3%.

The price of oil ended up on an increase of over 2% Monday in New York, a macro-economic indicator with better than expected U.S. reassured investors on the economic health of the United States.

On the Nymex, the contract on October U.S. crude (WTI) finished with a gain of $ 1.90, or 2.23% to 87.27 dollars a barrel.Meanwhile, Brent advanced to 0.44%, or $ 0.49, to 111.85 dollars.

Consumer spending of U.S. households rose 0.8% in July while economists surveyed expected an average spending growth of 0.5%.

Black gold has also benefited from the good performance of major stock exchanges worldwide, because of Hurricane Irene has done less damage than expected in the United States and the decline of the dollar.