World News – International Headlines, Stories

The CAC 40 has played the card of caution on Friday until 14:30, at which time the United States have communicated their rate of growth (initial estimate) for the second trilestre. After an opening in the red (-0.12%) followed by a brief stint in the green (0.24%), the leading index in Paris was back in negative territory at mid-session: -0.56% to 3631 points. The publication of a growth rate of 2.4% – less than the 2.5% expected by the markets – has a little cooled investors. Suddenly, the CAC 40 has stepped up its fold, which exceeds 1% at 2:45 p.m. to receive) 3613.91 points.

The markets are waiting game: the first estimate of U.S. GDP in the second quarter will indeed be announced this afternoon across the Atlantic.This Friday in Asia as investors remained on the defensive.

Besides GDP, the U.S. will publish the index of consumer sentiment and Chicago PMI.

The interpretation of many important results published before opening is not enough to liven up the coast.

Publication Burst

Alcatel Lucent (8.27% to 2.24 euros) announces revenues of 3.813 billion euros in the second quarter. The group reiterated its outlook for 2010, including an Adjusted operating income of between 1% and 5% of its revenues.

JCDecaux (1.16% to 20.10 euros) on Friday announced a net profit in the first half of 65 million euros.The group anticipates a change in organic revenue for the third quarter less than that of the second with a cash flow of 119 million euros, compared with -1.7 million euros in the first half.

Lafarge (-4.75% to 41.43 euros) has reported a sales increase of 2% to 4.43 billion euros in the second quarter. The company expects a reduction in capital expenditure to less than 1 billion euros in 2011.

EDF (1% to 32.80 euros) announced a net income Group share 1.7 billion euros including a provision for $ 1.1 billion on its North American operations.The group, which should sell its UK electricity networks based on an enterprise value of over 5.5 billion pounds, has announced a delay of two years for his BDU Flamanville.

EADS (2.70% to 18.06 euros) announces a net profit in the first half of 185 million euros and a turnover of 20.3 billion euros.

Schneider Electric (2.14% to 88.25 euros) publishes a turnover of 8.57 billion euros in the first half (+10.5%) of which 4.661 billion (+18.5%) in the second . In an interview with Le Figaro, Jean-Pascal Tricoire, CEO, set an improvement for the second part of the year.

Renault (0.28% to 33.74 euros) issued a revenue increase of 23.1% for the first semester in the same area, to 19.668 billion euros.The constructor returns to the green with profits of 823 million euros.

The reaction of Peugeot (-2.23% to 22.61 euros) will be observed.Also in the automotive industry, Michelin (-1.40% to 58.52 euros) announced a net profit in the first half and said it expects a continued rebound in demand for tires in the second half of the year .

PPR (-0.34% to 102 euros) has announced a net profit after minority interests rose 86.8% to 407 million euros in the first half.

Imerys (+0.27% at 44.59 euros) has reported a net operating income rose sharply to 122 million euros in the first half with a turnover of organic growth of 16%.

Total (1.30% to 38.85 euros) announced adjusted net income for the second quarter of 3 billion euros, up 72%.

CNP Assurances (EUR 15.45 -4.01%) has published a net increase of 8% to 542 million euros and a turnover of 17.697 million euros (+2.4%).

Rhodia (1.14% to 15.93 euros) raised again after its 2010 targets announced Friday results exceeded expectations in the second quarter.

Saint Gobain is optimistic

Saint-Gobain (-2.16% to 32.57 euros) reported a strong rebound in its first half results, while confirming its target of strong growth in operating earnings in 2010.

Capgemini (-1.29% to 35.88 euros) has announced the acquisition of the Swedish IT services Skvader Systems. No financial details were disclosed.

Air Liquide (-0.81% to 85.40 euros) has announced the acquisition of the company Lion Copolymer Geismar American Services.No financial details were disclosed.

Euler Hermes (4.94% to 61.40 euros) has reported net profit more than doubled in the second quarter from the first and said he intended to maintain profitability in a more favorable macroeconomic environment that over the past two years.

Ingenico (5.28% to 19.45 euros) on Thursday posted a net profit increased more than two in the first half thanks to increased transactions in Europe and raised its sales target.

Alten (-0.49% to 22.29 euros) has reported a slight improvement in activity in its sector in the first half. Turnover increased 2.7% to 450.9 million euros over the period.

Flo (-3.7% to 4.43 euros) said that the activity in its restaurants had not yet regained the level that was hers before the crisis, despite the reduction in VAT.The turnover of the group stood in the first half rose 7.6%.

Always worried about the pace of recovery in the United States, the U.S. equity market, are cautious on Thursday before several major events at the macroeconomic level. The Dow Jones up 0.62% at 10,564 points while the Nasdaq is 0.8% to 2283 points and the S & P 500 gained 0.67% to 1,113 points. Wednesday is the New York Stock Exchange finished in the red.

The Fed Beige Book released Wednesday evening has reported a recovery in global economy. But two of the twelve regional branches of the Fed said the pace of activity has slowed recently, Chicago and Atlanta, and two others have found a stable economic situation in Cleveland and Kansas City.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro rebounded to 1.3095% from 0.79 dollars, its highest since two months.

Side indicators on Thursday, markets will expect enrollment figures weekly unemployment in the U.S. earlier this afternoon. The primary appointment of the week is expected Friday with the first estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) which will attract the attention of investors.

Symantec picks

On the side of values, Visa (-1.9% to U.S. $ 73.75) yesterday issued a profit after the close of U.S. $ 716 million, or 96 cents per share, against 93 cents expected by analysts. The group's turnover is up 23% to $ 2 billion against $ 1.97 billion expected by analysts.

The publisher of Symantec Antivirus (-9.6% at 13.26 dollars) has announced an increase in its profit to 161 million dollars against 74 million last year. But the disappointment comes from the software storage management data that represent 36% of sales.The activity is down 5%.For the current quarter, the group revised downward its revenue were planning.

U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil (1.44% to 61.79 dollars) on Thursday posted a net profit nearly doubled on a year in the second quarter to 7.560 billion dollars, thanks to improved refining margins and higher oil prices.

Net income group share stood at 7.560 billion dollars against 3.950 billion a year earlier (+91%).

For its part, the group sales online Amazon U.S. (1.31% to 119.67 dollars) has launched two new models of its Kindle reading shelf.

Always on the side of values, the car rental company Avis (3.52% to 11.47 dollars) amounted Wednesday its bid for rival Dollar Thrifty, with 13.4% more than Hertz, 1.33 billion in cash and stock, hoping to cut short the agreement between Hertz and Dollar in April.

Also note, Chris Viehbacher boss Sanofi Aventis (1.76% to 29.99 dollars) has confirmed that group continued to explore possible "small or medium-sized" acquisitions. He declined to comment on rumors about the interests of U.S. biotech group Genzyme. Earlier in the morning, sources cited by Reuters said that the laboratory intends to make a formal offer on Genzyme after the failure of his informal approach on U.S. biotech specializing in the treatment of orphan diseases.

According to Bloomberg, the board of Sanofi has authorized management to offer up to $ 70 per share, an offer that values Genzyme $ 18.7 billion.

The first half of fiscal 2010, the M6 (metropolis TV) grew by 9.4% of consolidated sales, which totaled 742.1 million euros. All activities have contributed to this growth: the advertising revenue of the group (M6 channel, digital channels, the Internet) is up 10% at June 30, 2010, while non-advertising revenues are up 8.7%.

Net profit for the period amounted to 84.4 million euros, an increase of 5.5%. Net margin reached 11.4% at June 30, 2010 against 10.3% at June 30, 2009.And operating profit rises 23.3% to 132.5 million euros.

Figures better than what was expected analysts, who believe that the real catalyst (which permits actions M6 mounting) is the group's ability to realize its ambitions in terms of external growth, given the past success of the group the subject cash advance loans.

M6 is in fact actively seeking targets in the areas of DTT, the broadcasting rights and the Internet. However, this strategy is currently hampered by the lack of significant opportunities.

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The U.S. stock market was hesitant on Monday. The major indices started in the green, but very clear: the Dow is 0.12% at 10,438 points, the Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 earn them, respectively 0.1% to 1104 points and 0.13 % to 2269 points.

On Friday, the NYSE has ended sharply higher, buoyed by another round of quarterly results from U.S. companies of good quality and were reassured on the results of resistance testing in European banks. The Dow Jones gained 0.99% and the Nasdaq 1.05%. On the whole last week, the Dow Jones gained 3.23% and the Nasdaq rose 4.15%.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro against the dollar adds.At the opening of U.S. markets, it was worth 1.2944 dollars against 1.2906 dollars on Friday night.

Oil prices retreated Monday in the opening exchanges in New York, yielding 86 cents a barrel to 78.12 dollars, while Tropical Storm Bonnie was eventually spared oil facilities in the Gulf of Mexico.

Busy Week Statistics

A busy week on the macroeconomic level. Today sales of new houses in the U.S. rebounded more than expected in June, from 23.6% in May after hitting their lowest level since 1963 at least, but still extremely low, according to figures Official published Monday in Washington.

Another highlight, the U.S. central bank should publish its Beige Book Wednesday on the economic conditions.It will be very guarded while the president of the institution, Ben Bernanke said Wednesday before Congress the slow recovery, with no announcement of new funding in the economy.

On Tuesday, it is the Standard & Poor's / Case Schiller home prices and consumer confidence, which will be followed, before investors only look the next day on orders of durable goods. But it was the day Friday with the first estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) U.S. second quarter is expected this week.This new burst of publications should be followed especially when investors are questioning again on the strength of the U.S. economic recovery.

Publications wait

U.S. companies are still likely to take stock in their accounts this week, including the program six companies forming part of Dow Jones. Tomorrow investors expect such figures CIT and Lockheed Martin and those sitting in the middle of DuPont.

To follow today the title of BP traded on Wall Street. The British press refers to a departure from the CEO of BP, before tomorrow, the date of publication of interim results of the oil giant.

IBM: The European Commission has opened two investigations into the group.It suspects the group of computer abuse of dominant position on the markets for servers.

Always on the side of values, General Electric said Friday its increased dividend of 20%, the quarterly dividend from 10 cents to 12 cents. GE also announced a resumption of its share repurchase programs. He had stopped this practice in September 2008. The board gave its approval for an additional $ 11.6 billion. "GE hopes to finish the year with $ 25 billion in cash, including proceeds from the sale of a majority stake in its subsidiary NBC Universal to Comcast" say the analysts at Aurel BGC.Some of this money will be used to buy three billion dollars in preferred shares that the group has sold to the holding company Berkshire Hathaway of Warren Buffett in October 2008.

Also note Friday night, the FDIC, the federal agency whose primary responsibility is to guarantee bank deposits, announced the bankruptcy of six new American banks, bringing to 102 the number of closing establishments since the beginning of year. These six failures will cost about 394 million dollars to its compensation fund the FDIC.

FedEx climbed 4.25% to 82.32 dollars while the group has raised its earnings forecast for the current year. The U.S. giant now aims Messaging earnings per share of between 1.05 and $ 1.25.

Genzyme flies from 5.45% to 65.93 dollars. The group would be the target of several pharmaceutical companies.Sanofi-aventis is about to blow.

Maintain the 3600 points. It is an objective that will bind the Paris Stock Exchange on Friday. If investors follow their Asian counterparts in Paris, and especially Tokyo, the CAC 40 should be driven up to the opening. The green should be this good after a session to bounce which saw the benchmark index of Paris open reduction and regroup before accelerating earnings and to close more than 3%.

In addition to Asia, should further positive momentum on Wall Street. The U.S. markets have done a nice meeting Thursday at which time the Dow has gained almost 2%. U.S. markets relatively insensitive to the announcement of a surprise increase in weekly unemployment registrations have been worn by the overall business results above consensus.

In this good mood, the wait surrounding the publication of results of stress tests of European banks on Friday should be more on that early next week.

In terms of macroeconomic statistics, the session looks very calm. No major indicator is expected in the United States. In France, INSEE must publish the figures for household consumption while the Germans unveil their Ifo business climate.

TF1 reviewing its objectives to increase

The stress test, however, occupy the banking sector.BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, Credit Agricole, Natixis (BPCE) or Dexia should respond.

Moreover, the markets will again this session to analyze several quarterly publications:

TF1 announced before market sales ad up 11% in the first semester for a total turnover of 1.28 billion euros, above the consensus. Net income group share was 74 million euros over the period payday loans for bad credit. The objectives are significantly revised upward with a turnover in 2010 rose by 7% instead of 4%.

STMicroelectronics reported Thursday a profit above expectations at 18 cents per share with a turnover up 27% to 2.53 billion. Analysts on average expected a profit of 14 cents per share and a turnover of 2.513 billion dollars.

Pernod Ricard noted Thursday its annual forecast for operating profit thanks to the improved economic environment and its position in emerging markets. Its turnover in 2009-2010 emerged, up 2% on a comparable basis.

Ubisoft has released a turnover up 94% in the first quarter of 2010-2011, to 161 million euros and confirmed its objective of a provisional turnover of 160 million for the remainder of the year.

BioAlliance Pharma has announced a record turnover of 15.2 million euros in the second quarter against 1.5 million a year earlier, after recording in April for U.S. Loramyc, light treatment of fungal infections of the mouth patients with cancer or AIDS.

As for ads, Alstom said it had won contracts valued at about 450 million euros for the construction of two units for a combined cycle power station in India.

Legrand announced Thursday a takeover offer for Indo Asian Switchgear India, where he produced nearly 4% of its annual turnover after the acquisition. Indo Asian Switchgea aims for 2010 sales of more than 35 million euros.

Maurel and Prom announced Thursday it had increased to approximately 70 million euros the amount of its issuance of Oceanes five years following the year's total allotment option.

The U.S. stock markets recover a bit high on Thursday. The series of results of U.S. companies, some of which have raised their estimates after a strong second quarter, has reassured investors. And even if the new jobless claims have rebounded strongly. In the first exchanges, the Dow Jones gained 1.40% and the Nasdaq is 1.70%.

On Wednesday, the NYSE has dropped cooled by the president's speech to the U.S. central bank, Ben Bernanke. The latter, who was speaking before a parliamentary committee, believes that the economic recovery continues at a pace "slow".

On the foreign exchange market, the euro regained some ground against the dollar after the publication of an index showing that the growth of private activity in the euro area has increased in July.In the morning, the European currency climbed back above $ 1.28, against 1.2757 dollars the previous day.

New series of results

From the values listed, investors will react to a new salvo of published results Wednesday after the close of Wall Street, and Thursday before the market opening.

The manufacturer of components for Qualcomm phones and released after the close of U.S. markets, a profit of $ 767 million for the third quarter of fiscal offset, up 4% over a year and much better than expected. Thanks to "strong demand for 3G technologies," the group also raised its forecast for the year. The title earns 7.41% to 38.85 dollars.

For his part, Starbucks has unveiled a profit of 207.9 million, in line with analysts' expectations.Turnover was up 8.7% to 2.61 billion dollars against 2.56 billion dollars as abandoned attendu.Le 1.35% to 24.92 dollars.

Always on the side of values, the internet auction group eBay has posted a net profit up 26% to 412 million, just above expectations, and revised down slightly its forecast for the whole of year, under the impact of the strengthening dollar. The title gained 4.31% to 21.04 dollars.

The world's largest construction equipment Caterpillar (0.44% 67.18 EUR) posted quarterly profit of $ 1.09 per share, against 85 cents expected by the market. It was in the aftermath raised its forecast for 2010.

The telecoms operator AT & T on Thursday posted a profit than expected and this best expressed more optimism about the prospects of annual growth. The title hesitates between red and green.

The industrial conglomerate 3M on Thursday reported a 43.2% jump in net profit in the second quarter, above expectations because of strong demand from emerging markets. The title gained 3.11% to 84.84 dollars.

UPS (6.55% to 63.94 dollars) still raised its forecast after the publication of a good second quarter. And thanks to the international.

The results of Yahoo! may lead to confusion in the markets. The U.S. Internet portal said in a statement released after the close on Wall Street a group net profit up 51% year on year to 213.32 million dollars in the second quarter. Brought back in action, this equates to 15 cents per share against 10 cents a year earlier. This result was above expectations of analysts who had expected 14 cents. In contrast, sales will disappoint. It appears virtually unchanged (2%) to 1.601 billion dollars during the period against $ 1.57 billion last year. But it is better than the 1.16 billion expected.

Operating profit jumped to 175 million dollars against 76 million a year earlier. Without taking into account a restructuring charge of $ 10 million, the increase is 32% low fee pay day loans."We are pleased to have continued to generate strong operating earnings and a sharp increase in margins," said the CEO, Carol Bartz, in a statement.

Side perspective, the band announced for the third quarter revenue target of between 1.57 and 1.65 billion dollars. Yahoo also relies on an operating profit of between 160 and 200 million dollars.

The news did not seem to have pleased the markets: in trade after the close on Wall Street, shares drop 4.67% to 14.49 dollars.

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The complaints are increasing in the case Bettencourt. A shareholder of L'Oreal, the group of Liliane Bettencourt, filed a complaint against the photographer François-Marie Banier, close to the billionaire, saying that he had received a contract of convenience from 4 million euros from the company , said Tuesday RTL.

A complaint against X for abuse of corporate assets has been filed with the request, a shareholder of L'Oreal by Frederik-Karel Canoy Me, a lawyer specializing in the defense of such shareholders harmed by embezzlement.

Mayor Francis Banier won in 2002 "contract of 405,000 euros per year for 10 years, which plans to pay the photographer for" fashion tips and artistic sensibility "and a major exhibition of works by year the person, said the radio."It was a bounty, a favor" and "it is estimated that this contract has been only partially fulfilled" by the close of Liliane Bettencourt, Mr. Canoy said. He added: Francois-Marie Banier "would not have known Ms. Bettencourt, he would not have benefited from this contract."

"Life insurance contracts, checks, Master paintings"

Francois-Marie Banier is convenient for several years by Liliane Bettencourt, met in 1969. According to the photographer and the millionaire, complicity during the course sits on a convergence of temperaments cash advance no fax. But after the daughter of a rich heiress, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, which has itself filed a complaint against the photographer for "abuse of weakness" financial interests are at stake

Françoise Bettencourt Meyers estimates that the photographer of the stars would have been back almost one billion euros in donations – including life insurance contracts, checks, master paintings – in the 1990s and 2000s, taking advantage of the psychological fragility of the octogenarian. A thesis denied by the person, which ensures that these gifts were made to him by a "brilliant woman and free."

The photographer should be tried in this case in early July by the 15th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Nanterre.But his trial has been postponed indefinitely because of the twists arising from the disclosure of conversations between plays Liliane Bettencourt and her family.

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(From our special correspondent in Tokyo)

François Fillon has dropped the word naturally. He who rejects the word rigor in Paris, finally telling the truth in Tokyo. "Of all the state budgets, the only one who is not subject to discipline is that of Higher Education and Research, argues the prime minister, at the turn of a sentence imposed before an audience of five hundred Japanese businessmen and under the approving glance of Christine Lagarde.

True to his outspokenness, the Minister of Economy has not taken greater care to reassure the business community Nippon concerned about turmoil in Europe since the sinking of the Greek economy. "There is not in France, I can assure you of hidden deficits. We have a package of structural deficits, but our accounts are audited very seriously, "warned the owner of Bercy.What has been told to François Fillon not without humor: "Unfortunately, there is no hidden revenue either!"

The European austerity plans discussed at length

He came to Japan to reassure businessmen and Japanese bankers, Francois Fillon has long defended the austerity plans implemented in the euro area. The European currency crisis causes, in fact, Japan concern and uncertainty about the strength of the European Union. The major daily newspaper Nikkei has made his One, two days ago, the 30% decline in investment in the euro countries during the first half of 2010.

"I understand that, seen from Asia, our operations can sometimes be difficult to perceive and understand. But Japan's national interest is not to turn away from the euro, "Francois Fillon urged by recalling that Europe is" the great market of the developed world with 500 million consumers.Incidentally, he ditch tackle the Anglo-Saxon does not deliver, he says, a "balanced view of the success of the European Union" and invited his audience to read the German press and French.

Before leaving Tokyo, Francois Fillon met with his counterpart Naoto Kan. In addition to macroeconomic issues, the two men discussed several issues of the Franco-Japanese: nuclear, automotive and aerospace.Weakened by his recent defeat in the senatorial elections, the center-left prime minister of Japan can not implement as it sees the budget and tax reforms that could reduce Japan's debt, too colossal.

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Wednesday again, the Asian financial radiant, carried by strong quarterly results from Alcoa and Intel. On Thursday, the return to reality is brutal. Red dominates the markets and doubts about economic recovery back. The reason: the pessimistic talk from Ben Bernanke, Fed chairman, who has already pulled down Wall Street.

The surprise drop in retail sales across the Atlantic (-0.5%) is the straw that broke the camel's Fed. The Fed is lowering its outlook for the world's largest economy to a range between 3% and 3.5%, while three months ago, it was a growth of 3.2% to 3 7%. New measures could even be taken to support the economy.

Japan sees a brighter future

A Tokyo Stock Exchange reacts badly to these ads.In mid-session, the Nikkei lost 0.95% to 9702 points, while the Topix loose 1.45% to 858 points. The more positive about the central bank (BOJ) in the archipelago thus pass almost unnoticed. This morning, though the latter has announced that she saw again significantly increased its growth forecast for the current fiscal year from April 2010 to March 2011, to 2.6% from 1.8% previously estimated. "An improvement is expected due to the increased growth of emerging countries," the BoJ said. This upward revision is due to the government, which in June raised its forecast for growth, also at 2.6%, against 1.4% in its previous estimate.

The BoJ has, however, slightly lowered its growth forecast for 2011-2012 to 1.9% against 2% previously expected free online credit report.Because of deflation, the monetary policy committee has also decided unanimously to leave its rate unchanged at 0.10%.

Slower Growth in China

On the stock markets of Hong Kong and Shanghai, investors are pessimistic. The key indices of the two financial centers are losing 0.28% (20.503points) and 0.36% (2461 points).

In addition to the Fed, the markets saw a dim announcing a slowdown in the national economy in the second quarter. China's GDP has been increasing by 10.3% yoy, against 11.9% at the end of the first quarter. Economists expect at least a growth of 10.5%. In the first half, the economy grew by 11.1%.

Side indicators, the index of consumer prices rose 2.9% in June over a year.Industrial production grew 17.6% yoy in the first half, while investment in fixed capital rose 25.5% year on year.

Oil mast

With China and Japan in the red, the other financial centers are also doubts the move. In Australia, the S & P lost 0.57% in India, Sensex 0.05% loose. Only the Korean Kosdaq climbed 0.69%.

Crude prices were also down on Thursday morning trade in Asia. A barrel of light sweet crude for August delivery lost 14 cents to 76.90 dollars a barrel, while Brent North Sea due to identical, yielding 53 cents to 76.24 dollars.