News & Financial Advice

Manutan announced Friday that its sales had increased 9.3% in third quarter 2009-2010 to 132.9 million euros, the group has enjoyed an upturn in all regions of Europe where it is present.

Of the first nine months of the year offset, net sales rose 0.2% on a constant basis and 18.7%, taking into particular account the integration of Local Businesses Camif, acquired in March last.

"The end of the first nine months of activity marks the return to growth in aggregate group," commented Manutan in a statement, without giving targets for the current year.

European shares move up on Thursday morning, boosted by the continued rebound in bank stocks, as investors are increasingly likely to believe that the results of stress tests will be less catastrophic than they feared.

The bank also boosted by a change of opinion on the sector by Credit Suisse, which went to "balance line" cons "underperformance" before.

Around 9:50, the pan-European index STOXX Europe 600 Banks gained 1.76%.

In Paris, Dexia gained 3.92%, 3.42% Natixis, BNP Paribas 2.93%, 3.13% Societe Generale and Credit Agricole 1.10%.

The trend is also positive for banks in the rest of Europe.

Barclays rose as 3.72% and 1.11% of Santander Intesa 1.81%.

At the opening of the Social Summit to be held Monday, May 10th at the Elysee Palace, Nicolas Sarkozy, has declared Monday, May 10 against the renewal of exceptional measures to support the purchasing power of households decided in 2009. "These extraordinary measures have completely fulfilled their duty as French consumption has increased despite the crisis" and "household demand continues to be resilient today," observed the head of state before the social partners.

"I know some of you would like these measures should be renewed," he said, "but you know that France can not remain isolated in this way, it would be disastrous for our competitiveness.""After considerable effort we have provided during the crisis, we must engage now initiate the recovery of our public finances," insisted the head of state.

Nicolas Sarkozy has however decided to extend aid to companies resorting to partial unemployment or recruiting young alternately. Saying that he must "not let down our guard," the president assured commitment to continue to spend on employment policies all means necessary ".

Referring to measures to support the partial unemployment (more than 400,000 beneficiaries in 2009) and conversion of retrenched (CRP CTP), the Head of State said that "we must maintain." It sought to reinforce "still" training employees partial unemployment, whose record was mixed. Mr.Sarkozy has also expressed support for experimentation on several employment areas of the enhanced support of employment transition agreement (SOC) for former interim or ex-CSD. A measure sought by the unions and raised by the government in 2009 but never implemented.

He also briefed the sides met in the Elysee why it was "conducive to the extension of aid to the alternation, ie the State aid paid by employers who recruit a young apprenticeship or contract professionalization. According to the President of the Republic, these aids provide "fragile but encouraging results.We can not risk putting them at risk.

Regarding the measure "zero load" given to very small businesses (fewer than 10 employees) since late 2008, it nevertheless considered that "it has served its purpose at the height of the crisis and is less necessary with the start of the recovery since the fourth quarter of 2009. Such assistance already extended for six months, must be interrupted on June 30 Launched in December 2008, the "Zero charges" is equivalent to one year in aid of 185 euros per month for an employer hiring a worker at minimum wage. Approximately one million workers were recruited under this scheme, which recognizes employers that generates windfall because the company receives assistance even in cases where it would have hired anyway.

Mr.Sarkozy, however, wanted to build this device exemptions from employer contributions to support the hiring "of specific audiences, especially older people, due to an unspecified. The Head of State has asked the Labour Minister Eric Woerth, in conjunction with those of the job (Christine Lagarde, Laurent Wauquiez), to make proposals, finding it interesting to develop tutoring seniors.