News & Financial Advice

Societe Generale plans to eliminate hundreds of positions in its Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) to adapt its activities to the crisis in the euro area, have indicated Tuesday the unions of the bank at the end of a meeting with the CEO Frédéric Oudéa.

As BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole, SocGen launched in September a plan for savings and reducing the size of its balance sheet to enhance its financial strength and reduce its financing needs in dollars, after seeing its market capitalization s' collapse during the summer.

The rise in house prices in the capital could be interrupted, the professionals are predicting. The price per square meter reached 8,350 euros on average in the capital. http://www.flickr.com/photos/gcattiaux/

Rising prices of old apartments in Paris will soon be interrupted after a new record in 8350 euros per square meter on average this summer, due to a decrease in transactions caused by the new tax on most real estate gains. "The decline in the number of transactions due to the number of goods withdrawn from sale by investors, who fear they do not give in quickly to be affected by this tax, and the fact that sellers do not want lower their prices, "said Bernard Cadeau, president of the branch network Orpi.

From June to August, 44,300 existing homes were sold in Ile-de-France, down 2% over the same period in 2010 and 7% compared to the boom in housing markets (1999-2007) indicates the monthly note on real estate markets released Tuesday by the notaries in Paris and Ile. The decline in sales, which has increased this fall as real estate agents, is much brighter in Paris where it reaches 5% for 8500 apartments sold between June and August.

"Almost all transactions for the studios and 2 rooms and the property over € 1 million," laments Ricour Gilles de Bourges, president of the National Federation of Real Estate (Fnaim) to Paris and Ile-de-France.For Philippe Buyens, Network Director Guy Hiccups, "is a rather classical vendors more easily take into account higher prices than lower prices ahead." Indeed, almost immediate consequence of the decrease of transactions: the latest projections of prices calculated on the promises of sales, "confirms that rising prices will soon be interrupted" in the capital, say the lawyers.

Record at 8350 euros per square meter

In intro-muros Paris, prices rose only 0.8% for the period June-August compared to the period from May to July, instead of a monthly increase of 1.5% over the same period in 2010. The deceleration is also clear from the peak reached in March 2011 when prices had risen by 2.5% in a month.

But this does not prevent prices from reaching Paris this summer a new high of 8,350 euros per square meter on average, 835,000 euros to 100 m2. The price hike is still very strong in the capital with an annual increase that reaches even 21.3% at end-August. But began to fade in comparison to previous months (23% annual growth in June). "Vendors want to sell their goods too expensive and look at china dogs with buyers until at least mid-November is the deadline to sign the final act before February 1 in order to escape taxation for investors and holders of a second home, "said Laurent Vimont, president of Century 21 network.

The record reached in central Paris displace more three categories: first-time buyers, the middle classes and tenants."We noted in our offices down 17 points in the percentage of buyers for the first-time buyers and middle classes," notes Mr. Vimont. For Mr. Ricour Bourgies of "investors rush to sell studios and 2 rooms yield to the households become homeowners, which reduces the number of units for tenants, another perverse system taxation of capital gains "

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.

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.

The chairman of Deutsche Bank, Josef Ackermann, is opposed, in an interview broadcast Saturday, a review of the terms of private sector participation in the second bailout of Greece.

"If we reopen the voluntary agreement of July 21, we not only lose valuable time but also quite possibly the private sector support," said Josef Ackermann in the Sunday edition of Greek newspaper Kathimerini.

"The impact of such a decision will be incalculable.That's why I warn with great energy against any revision material, "the head of Deutsche Bank, who also chairs the Institute of International Finance (IIF).

At the European summit on 21 July, private creditors, represented by the IFIs, have agreed to reduce Greece's debt of some 37 billion euros through a redemption followed by an exchange.

The program anticipates a 21% discount on the underlying bonds, but in recent days, officials from the European Union have suggested that higher discount would be required to read the accounts of Greece by the inspectors of the EU and International Monetary Fund.

Josef Ackermann also finds that the exposure of German and French banks in Greece's debt is "absolutely manageable" and that it is "necessary and important for governments in the euro area to their promises and implement them on time and with determination. "

A trader suspected of being linked to losses of some $ 2 billion announced Thursday morning by UBS, was arrested in London, said on Thursday from several sources.

London police said they had arrested a 31 year old man suspected of fraud. Swiss bank UBS was not long before reports a loss estimated at two billion dollars due to unauthorized trading by one of its traders.

The Swiss newspaper NZZ, citing UBS, reported that the trader in question worked in service "stock market" of the London office of Swiss bank.

The arrest took place during the night, at 3:30 am local time, on suspicion of fraud.The man is currently under police surveillance.

A UBS spokesman confirmed to Reuters that one of its employees had been arrested.

Before the opening of markets, the Swiss bank announced in a terse statement that a trader had generated losses of about $ 2 billion through unauthorized trading in its investment bank, which could result in a loss in the third quarter.

"An investigation is underway, but the current estimate of UBS for losses on transactions is around two billion," the bank said, adding that no customers had position was affected.

By 10:45 GMT, UBS shares fell 7.7% to 10.09 Swiss francs, while the European sector index of banking stocks gained 2.21%.

CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE?

The new strikes UBS reminded investors the Kerviel affair, named after the former Societe Generale trader Jerome Kerviel, accused of losing 4.9 billion euros at SocGen in 2008 by conducting stances are not allowed.

"It's amazing that it is still possible," was surprised Claude Zehnder, trading analyst at Zurich Cantonal Bank, about the losses announced by UBS.

"Even if the amount is not so huge, there is again a loss of confidence that casts an unfavorable light on UBS.With that, the bank loses some credit she returned, "he added.

The management of UBS has told its employees that the bank remained strong despite the loss, however, which comes as the group undergoing restructuring, is struggling to regain investor confidence after heavy losses from the crisis of 2008 and suspicions complicity in tax evasion.

"This news is unfortunate, but it does not affect the fundamental strength of our business," UBS said its teams, according to an internal memo that Reuters was able to consult.

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.

Oil prices have closed up nearly 3% Monday in the hope that European leaders will eventually find a solution to the debt crisis.

Black gold has also benefited from the new growth in global stock markets and the decline of the dollar.

On the Nymex, the contract on September U.S. crude (WTI) finished with a gain of 2.50 dollar, or 2.93% to 87.88 dollars a barrel.Meanwhile, Brent advanced to 1.61%, or $ 1.74, to 109.77 dollars.

The price of Brent are still lower by about 15% compared to the highest of the year of 127.02 dollars reached in April.

This level, the highest since the outbreak of the 2008-2009 financial crisis had been reached at the time of the eruption of violence in Libya, which disrupted the supply of crude to Europe.

Since the concerns about the state of the global economy is refluxed in the market.

Monday Moody's downgraded the sovereign rating of Greece to "Caa1" to "Ca" is the last step above the default view that the rating agency now estimates the probability to "virtually 100%."

The program of the European Union and the proposed debt exchange should increase the chances of stabilizing Greece and reduce its debt, but the country still faces major challenges in the medium term credit, warns Moody's.

"The program announced by the European Union and the release of the Institute of International Finance imply a probability of trade balance, and thus the absence of Greek sovereign debt, virtually 100%", the agency estimated in a statement.

"The volume of debt (Greek) will be well above 100% of GDP for many years to come, and the country will continue to face significant risks in the implementation of fiscal and economic reform."

Moody's also concerned that the bailout constitutes a European restructuring negative precedent for investors.

"The support plan sets a precedent for future sovereign debt restructuring if the other state in the euro area is as problematic as that of Greece," said Moody's.

The agency said that the note "It" refers to highly speculative bonds are probably in default or being very close.