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.

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European stock markets have all but closed down Friday, pushing the market to allow Germany to the European Central Bank to guarantee the debt of fragile countries in the euro area. But Berlin and the ECB still refuse it. A passerby looks at the course of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in March 2011.

Most European stock markets ended the week in the red, worried Berlin's refusal to use the European Central Bank (ECB) to reduce fears about fragile states. Paris has lost 0.4%, from under 3000 points, Frankfurt (-0.8%) and London (-1.11%) also won. Madrid and Milan have instead ended in the green (0.5% and 0.2% respectively). In the line of sight of the markets, the refusal to Berlin to call for the ECB to contain the crisis.Political pressures are becoming more numerous and demanding that the central bank relaxed its position to let him play the role of lender of last resort against Europe's most indebted. And put an end to soaring interest rates on debt. The spread between Germany and Spain has exceeded 500 basis points Friday. "As the savior of Italy but also in other countries precarious, there is that the ECB," said analyst Robert Halver Germany, Baader Bank, adding that "it is the only one who can fight against nuclear explosion in the euro area. "

Germany and the ECB opposed to an intervention

Germany, the only country ruled by the strong market is the focus of all eyes. Chancellor Angela Merkel refuses steadfastly calls to relax the policy of the ECB.

Adidas announced Thursday a further increase its sales outlook for 2011, thanks to strong demand for its sports goods in emerging markets and expansion of its stores.

The number two manufacturer of sporting goods after Nike has identified three times its sales prospects this year.

The German group now expects growth in its turnover by nearly 12%, adjusted for exchange rate changes, against a target of 10% previously announced, the company announced Thursday.

For 2012, Adidas is an increase from 10 to 15% of its earnings per share, a year that will be paid by the UEFA Cup and 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Its turnover is expected to grow between 5 and 10% next year, adjusted for currency movements.

The group's operating income in the third quarter 2011 rose 7.3% to 441 million euros, in line with analysts' expectations, which stood at 442 million.

The quarterly revenue rose to 3.74 billion euros, slightly higher than the expected 3.65 billion.

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 level of satisfaction in life is to the French 7.3 out of 10, according to a study. Not surprisingly, satisfaction increases with the standard of living. Participants at the 13th edition of the Paris Techno Parade (September 2011)

The French are quite happy in their lives, and they are all the more as their incomes rise, according to a study released Wednesday by the National Institute of Statistics (INSEE). "In France in 2010, when we ask people to indicate their level of satisfaction in life, they meet an average of 7.3 on a scale of 0 to 10", is the INSEE.

This study was conducted following the report presented in 2009 by Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz.This report commissioned by President Nicolas Sarkozy suggested to complete the measurement of economic growth, currently estimated by the gross domestic product (GDP), indicators of "well being" taking into account the non-market activities (housework, leisure …) or inequality.

The money buys happiness

According to INSEE, 92% of respondents said a satisfaction greater than or equal to 5, and 60% even give themselves a score between 7 and 9. "The satisfaction increases systematically with the standard of living," said he: it rose from an average of 6 to 10% of the most modest at 7.8 for the 10% most affluent.Similarly, the French have more difficulties, to make ends meet month to pay their bills or have adequate housing, more dissatisfaction is high.

However, most high-income, "plus gain satisfaction is low and other dimensions that the income involved," said INSEE. "The money buys happiness, but only to a certain extent," he told AFP Fabrice Lenglart, Director of Demographic and Social Statistics at INSEE. "This is the first time that we assess subjective indicators. The main interest is to be correlated with objective data that we used to collect," he added.

After the material living conditions, health problems have a strong impact on the well-being felt.Other factors include age (45-49 years are the least satisfied) and the situation vis-à-vis employment (the unemployed are significantly more dissatisfied than assets). Residents of rural communities say they are on their side slightly more satisfied than city dwellers.

The study was conducted in May and June 2010 with a panel of 10,000 households representative of the so-called ordinary French metropolitan population over 16 years, interviewed face to face.

European shares, which declined during the first hour and a half of transactions, have turned upward Wednesday mid-morning, with the cyclical, in the hope that European leaders would find means to agree on measures to facing the euro debt crisis, despite the "no" of the Slovak Parliament to strengthen the EFSF.

In Paris, around 9:10 GMT, the CAC 40 gained 0.77% to 3177.81 points, after losing more than 1% in early trade. The index has crossed an area of ​​strength identified by analysts graphics around 3130 points.The pan-European Euro Stoxx 50 index is 0.75% and 0.44% Eurofirst 300.

The leaders of the member parties of the Slovak government were to meet Wednesday resigned those of the main opposition party, the Smer to negotiate support for the project to strengthen the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), announced a spokesman of the party the majority.

Greece can avoid bankruptcy if itself and the other European countries stick to their agreement to reduce debt, said the President of the European Central Bank (ECB) Jean-Claude Trichet.

The euro hit a high of three weeks vis-à-vis the dollar, the trend had also returned in the hope of a solution to the crisis.Around 11:00, the European currency is trading at 1.3663 / 1.3647 dollars against 66 the previous day in the afternoon.

Cyclical stocks are leading the gains, including mining, driven by the rise in metal prices. The indices of the car gains 2.4%, largest increase sectoral and commodity index 0.7%, while the two indices showed the largest declines in early trading. The bank index is stable.

Greece is expected to remain mired in recession next year, complicating his efforts budget as the country is still waiting for the payment of the next tranche of aid that would allow it to avoid bankruptcy.

The Greek economy will contract by 2.5% next year, following a decline in gross domestic product (GDP) of 5.5% expected this year, according to the 2012 budget proposal sent to the country's parliament Monday.

These forecasts are darker than those used to calculate the final in Athens bailout 109 billion euros, which was banking on a return to a growth of 0.6% next year.

The Greek government admitted Sunday he would miss this year's deficit targets that were assigned by its international donors.Athens anticipates a deficit of 8.5% of GDP in 2011, while the EU and the IMF at the planned 7.6%.

The Socialist government of George Papandreou has already announced new austerity measures to try to reduce the budget deficit next year to 6.8% of GDP in 2012 to an original target of 6.5% .

BANKS COULD PAY MORE

The fiscal slippage of Athens could complicate the ongoing negotiations on the second Greek bailout, analysts said.

"In the political debate in Germany, this will probably be used to request the renegotiation of the entire bailout and greater involvement of private investors," said Holger Schmieding, economist at Berenberg Bank.

If the "troika" of donors in Greece – European Union, International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank – concluded in their report due this month that the financing needs of Greece will be greater than expected due of the recession, banks may be required to contribute more than the discount of 21% in July.

The "troika" continue for the time to peel the accounts of Greece and has not given the green light to the payment of a new tranche of eight billion euros vital to prevent the country from be insolvent soon this month, sources said Monday.

Vice Minister of Finance had previously Oikonomou Pantelis said the discussions were over, but for the most part, the sources that have direct knowledge of the case, they are far from it.

Finance ministers of the euro area (Eurogroup) met in Luxembourg on Monday and they had to do even more pressure on the Greek government to implement more forcefully the reforms planned by the international bailouts.

The second plan, set in July, includes in particular the private sector is participating in a plan to exchange debt at a discount.Athens wants at least 90% of the creditors participating in the project goes forward.

The skepticism seems in order in the markets about the ability of Europeans to stem the crisis in Greece, especially after the latest financial reports of the country.

The country's debt should represent 172.7% of GDP next year against an estimate of 161.8% for 2011, according to the draft budget of Athens. The unemployment rate has meanwhile increased to 15.2% this year and to 16.4% in 2012.

Michael Fuchs, vice president of the coalition CDU / CSU to power in Germany, the case is heard: Greece is indeed bankrupt. "There is probably no alternative for us to accept a deletion of at least 50% of its debt," said he.

PSA Peugeot Citroën could reduce up to 10% of its workforce in France by eliminating temporary positions against the expected slowdown of the European car market, write Friday Les Echos and La Tribune, citing union sources after a meeting between Group management and its unions.

Last week, at the motor show in Frankfurt, chief executive of the manufacturer, Philippe Varin, announced an acceleration of cost reductions to cope with the uncertain economic environment in Europe and increased competition in the segment of B C3 cars.

He then mentioned an adjustment from temporary workers and subcontractors.According to the Tribune of Friday, nearly 10,000 temporary positions, or nearly 10% of the group in France, would ultimately threatened.

Asked about the figure, a PSA spokesman said it was "far too early to tell," noting that the working groups set up by Philippe Varin would make their work in October.

PSA employed in late June in the automotive industry 81,240 people, with an additional 10% of temporary workers.

"The willingness to reduce the volume of temporary workers is not good news for employment, particularly among youth," said the CFDT Metallurgy in a statement."This policy will have a direct impact on working conditions, especially for those most vulnerable."

Eric Besson, Minister of Industry, said that one should not rush to draw conclusions on possible job cuts coming at PSA.

"Do not cry wolf when there is no wolf," he said on Canal +.

"Let them wonder about the consequences of the crisis on their future and take steps to remain competitive, surprising and shocking," he added.

500 PERMANENT PENDING

Faced with the rebound in demand after the crisis of 2008-2009 and the success of several new models of the group, such as the Peugeot 3008 and Citroën DS line, PSA has increased its staff of French 1.600 people between December 2010 and June. But faced with economic uncertainty reappeared this summer, the group has suspended its recruitment plan, except strategic functions.

"In terms of staff, we have a temporary drive that represents 10% of the workforce in France, plus subcontractors in large numbers, there were elements of flexibility, plus the mobility agreement, So we are in a situation that is not comparable to 2008, "said Philippe Varin during a press conference in Frankfurt.

In October 2010, PSA has identified 980 jobs to disappear, of which 700 have already been subject to a mobility agreement.For others, the process of management jobs and skills (GPEC) signed in April 2010 and expiring on 30th of this month has been extended until the end of the year Thursday at the CEC.

On this occasion, the unions again sought assurances on the future site of Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis), redundant 300 people since the decision of the night shift in October 2010.But PSA still refuses to comment on the post-C3, saying only that the plant will produce even this model in 2014 and the post is "define".

Regarding the site of spare parts of Melun-Sénart (Seine-et-Marne), which is scheduled to close since the group decided to Vesoul (Haute-Saône) the central store, 180 people are still give their response to the proposals of mobility that has made their PSA.

Total announced Wednesday the acquisition of a 40% interest in five licenses offshore Lamu Basin, Kenya, to develop its presence in exploration and production in the countries of East Africa.

The transaction is subject to approval by the Kenyan authorities, the oil group said in a statement.

The field of operation, located off the Lamu archipelago, covers an area of ​​more than 30,500 square kilometers in water depths between 100 and 3,000 meters.

Total has recently engaged in the exploration and development of reserves of Lake Albert, Uganda, and was selected to develop exploration activities in Tanzania.

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%.