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France now has 48 million subscribers with a package and 19 million users of prepaid cards, according to figures released Friday by the telecoms regulator (ARCEP), an increase of 6.4% over one year. Over 26 million users are free to change provider when they want, or 18.6% of the total stock. Good news for smaller competitors who continue to nibble MVNO market share. And especially to Free Mobile, which must soon land on the market and is currently negotiating with Sofinco (Credit Agricole) to sell mobile phones on credit.

"For voice, the overall quality of calls is good. The big trend this year is improving the flow for the mobile Internet, "says Joëlle Toledano, member of the ARCEP.

Growth in sales is still there but the results will not be the expected level. The leaders of Schneider Electric have reviewed the prospects for the results of the full year 2011 on the occasion of the publication of revenue for the third quarter.

They now expect a margin of EBITDA (EBIT) of 14%, against a forecast in mid-year by 15% and a range of 15 to 15.5% at beginning of year.

This revision does not seem to be the first manifestation of the economic slowdown now widely anticipated but slow to materialize in company accounts.

Indeed, sales are, themselves, adhere to the expectations of Schneider Electric.Third-quarter sales and shows a growth of 7.7% excluding acquisitions and currency effects, to 5.7 billion euros.

Emerging markets continue to show strong momentum. The Asia-Pacific region recorded an increase of 15% of its billings. Elements that have allowed management to assert that the goal of organic growth of between 6% and 9% will be "easily" achieved.

An acceleration of planned restructuring

The group advanced three main causes for this new downward revision of prospects for margin. After the rise of raw materials in the first half, he now finds inflationary pressure on production costs in emerging countries.

Second, the growth of the business now comes from a strong software business, less than Quiet electrical equipment.This is what we call a "product mix" unfavorable.

Final point to address the lack of visibility of the economic environment, the group will speed up restructuring, which will have first a negative effect on margins.

Schneider Electric is sanctioned in stock

The announcement was heavily punished the stock market, Schneider Electric yielding the title more than 7.6% in mid-session in Paris. Probably a reaction against the excessive elements announced, but due to "the economic outlook in the short term that are clearly more negative influence on the future growth of the group," according to analysts at CM-CIC Securities in a note published this morning.

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Six months after the end of the disastrous false spy case, the flowchart of Renault is unrecognizable. The large "household" began on April 11, according to the findings of an internal audit of the dysfunctions of the company during this crisis. That day, under government pressure, many players in this fiasco had been removed. Led by Patrick Pelata, number two, since replaced by Carlos Tavares. But also members of the famous security service, the chief executives, Jean-Yves Coudriou, the legal director, Christian Husson, and Secretary General, Laurence Dors.

This is also the same date as the foundation of the current organization had been thrown, with the creation of a Deputy Director of Superpost for president, told Mouna Sepehri, comprising the General Secretariat, and the law.Meanwhile, the Human Resources Directorate was attached to the CEO.

This structure was subsequently refined in late July, after a report by Alain Bauer, Alain Juillet and Eric Delbecque, all three experts on economic security. They advocated to link security to delegate to the presidency and create a structure of security control – inspection – dependent on the CEO.

This reorganization is clearly intended to prevent the excesses of winter – where the direction of Renault had managed the business with an incredible amateur, without resorting to the Central Directorate of Internal Intelligence (DCRI) – can reproduce easy pay day loans.Carlos Ghosn, the CEO, why close all security issues with him, as they were once buried in the depths of the organization, and has mounted a much more professional.

Prevent skidding

Friday, the new recruits were officially presented. Among the main changes, Eric Le Grand, head of security at the Post supports this function at Renault. Jean-Marc Berlioz, former head of the General Inspectorate of the National Police, who was also an adviser to Nicolas Sarkozy and Hortefeux of the Ministry of the Interior, is entrusted with the inspection of the security service. He will report to the CEO, as the direction of internal audit, and that of ethics, whose boss is being recruited.

Communication, finally, was renewed.It is also the responsibility of Mouna Sepehri, who was charged in April to reflect "the lessons of the crisis" in this area. We remember the disastrous intervention of Carlos Ghosn on TF1, saying it was evidence "multiple". The management of this service returns to Florence Goldfiem, a former journalist. She will be responsible for bringing the "serenity" and "pride" to the group, and improve the image of Carlos Ghosn, dented by the crisis. Oil and its relations with the French elites and policies, which have little support, while "helping him to refine his understanding of French culture," says one in-house.

Their remedy for the debt crisis in the eurozone was expected. After donning their new clothes Nobel Prize in Economics in 2011, Americans Christopher Sims and Thomas Sargent have shot so the map of fiscal federalism. Historical precedent should serve as a model according to them: the union of the budgets of the thirteen founding states of the United States with the Constitution of 1787. Christopher Sims, then this is a "definite solution" with which "we were born." And Thomas Sargent called the euro area to design "a way of sharing the fiscal burden to link budgetary powers to the European Central Bank (ECB) and the lender of last resort". According to him, the outlook for the euro will remain "dark" if those links "also remain unclear."

Although the idea is not new, it has resurfaced thanks to the Greek crisis.On Wednesday, the political and business across the EU (including billionaire George Soros and Martti Ahtisaari, former Finnish Prime Minister) signed a platform calling the euro zone leaders to unite. Published by the Financial Times, the letter calls for the "establishment of a joint budget that would raise funds and to ensure fiscal discipline of the Member States." In this spirit, Jean-Claude Trichet, ECB president, has recently called Europe adopts "a federal Minister of Finance."

Judging "pragmatic" position of the two Nobel Jerome Creel, assistant director of studies at the OFCE and professor at the ESCP Europe also believes that this idea of ​​fiscal federalism is "a must". Clearly, the euro area is expected to have a real "federal budget" next national budget.This would better "regulate the activity" of the Union through a "permanent reciprocity 'in bilateral relations between the world's strongest and weakest, especially in times of economic shocks. "When people buy Mercedes, Greeks contribute to German growth, so it is normal to help him when needed," the economist is an example.

"The euro has to walk on two legs"

The Assistance Fund of the euro area (EFSF), which has helped Portugal and Ireland, is seen by Jerome Creel as a draft of a further fiscal federalism low fee pay day loans. According to him, it applies to the current debate on the issue of Eurobonds ("that could eventually finance a large common budget"), like that, embryonic and far from unanimous, the tax on financial transactions.

To be effective advocates Jérôme Creel, the introduction of the federal budget will not happen without the ECB. "The euro must be able to walk on two legs: a lever for its independent ECB monetary and fiscal policy coordination," he says. Yet the institution of Frankfurt has so far only goal against inflation (unlike the U.S. Federal Reserve). Result, coordination and relations between the ECB and the U.S. are regularly strained: the economist recalled that in June 2008, including Nicolas Sarkozy had won against the institution in Frankfurt, who had decided to increase its key rate Director of 4% to 4.25% after soaring commodity prices.The ECB "should ask the question of economic growth" and "not just for inflation," lambasted the head of state, fearing a rise of the euro against the dollar penalizes exports of the area euro. Six months later, contagion from the financial crisis of U.S. forces in the Old Continent, the ECB has revised its rates three times down, up 0.75% at end 2008.

Problem: the establishment of a true federal budget involves a "significant transfer of sovereignty to the European" art Alexandre Delaigue, an economist blogger Econoclaste. "For this to work, it would require that Brussels can closely monitor and control deficits anything related to the competitiveness of the members, he insists.With the budget, it directly affects people's lives. "Collage, he cites the" retirement age, the conditions for unemployment insurance, "which would then indirectly controlled by the lever via Brussels budget. In addition, he said the United States, "the union budget could be made after the Civil War …"

Must catch up behind his desk on time to smoke outside? The issue is being debated in France, where some companies and communities have adopted this measure. In general, they do not boast too much. Reportedly, the primary health insurance fund (CPAM) of Paris has adopted such a rule in several of its centers. Employees who smoke must go débadger when they leave the building and when they return to rebadge their office.

This measure applies from Monday all the officials of the Walloon region for which time is counted cigarette break in working time. "The rule is that when one leaves or enters the building that we register the clock," said Monday the spokesman of the regional government of Wallonia, Hugo Poliart. This measure, for 10,000 people, is being debated in Belgium."It's a stigma against smoking, says Xavier Lorent, an official of the Christian union CSC. Will be tomorrow worry someone will take a few minutes for a coffee break, or goes to the bathroom? ".

80 minutes a day outside his office

For now, no action or no generalization are planned in France. "I'm not shocked by what I encourage debate, says Professor Betrand Dautzenberg, president of the French Office for Smoking Prevention (OFT). This must be done on a company without marginalizing smokers: those who buy his paper leaves or sunbathe must also débadger. "

The OFT conducted a study in 2008 which emphasizes that smoking over 20 cigarettes a day can spend 80 minutes daily outside his office for his cigarette break time.

This study also emphasizes that the time spent on cigarettes has increased since the ban on smoking on the premises forcing employees to take the elevator and out to their business. "This type of measure denormalizes smoking, said Professor Bertrand Dautzenberg. Often, the attitude of the head is different vis-à-vis the cigarette break from his team if he is a smoker or not. This system of measurement of working time ends the convenience of the hierarchy. "

UBS revises upwards the amount of losses incurred by its trader Kweku Adoboli: 2 billion dollars announced Thursday they will eventually reach $ 2.3 billion (1.66 billion euros) after further review of the operations in question . "We have now covered the risk from fraudulent transactions and activities of stock markets can function normally again," said the bank in a statement sent Sunday afternoon.

For the first time, the bank gives details of the operations that led to the arrest of Kweku Adoboli on the night of Wednesday to Thursday in the City of London. Investments trader's unauthorized focused on various funds speculating on the evolution of U.S. index futures S & P500, German Dax and European Eurostoxx in the last three months."The positions taken were within the normal course of business of a major investment bank and were part of a portfolio normally covered. But the real risk exposure has been distorted because the positions have been hidden in our system by fictitious positions taken on the future ETF (exchange traded funds) that the trader would have performed. These fictitious operations have hidden the fact that the forward positions on the indices violate the limits of risk of UBS, "said the Swiss bank.

The institution confirmed that the trader himself has revealed Wednesday its operations while it had received requests from the supervisory bodies of UBS. The board of directors of the bank has set up a special committee to conduct an independent inquiry into these frauds and failures of any internal control system.The bank repeated position that no customer was affected. Kweku Adoboli, 31, employee of UBS for nine years, was indicted for fraud and abuse of detained Friday by a judge in London.

Every day that passes, especially when it is marked on Friday by a whammy on the stock market puts a little more pressure on banks. European states will they, as in 2008, help? No definite answer exists. For those who, at the head of the state, banks and central banks have a clear idea of ​​the seriousness of the situation do not speak or hold soothing speeches to not add to the crisis to the crisis. Those who are not business more freely evoke crisis scenarios. As Ségolène Royal, who on Saturday declared shamelessly that "banks are likely to reapply using the State (…) probably in the week."

• Why would banks they need public money?

Two potential pitfalls they face. The first is the complete drying of resources: banks need to borrow in the markets to finance their activities.But the debt crisis of state in Europe increasingly discourages lenders. The foreclosure market in which victims were successively facilities Greek, Irish and Portuguese, and Spanish and Italian, now seems to win the entire euro area. While the banks are adapting, borrowing more short term, "cutting" their positions to save their cash and, finally, by obtaining new money to the European Central Bank. But these solutions are not sustainable and some European banks now find themselves in a situation of great fragility of the front of the "liquidity".

The second threat to the banks, the losses they may have to cash because of the economic slowdown and the crisis of the State debts, the most immediate threat is that of the Greek debt.According to the German press, Berlin also preparing a plan to support public financial sector, activated in case of bankruptcy of Greece.

• All banks will they need help?

It is likely that some banks will need help. The challenge will be to contain the fire. In the current climate of stress, the announcement of a rescue may create a systemic crisis, investors no longer completing lend to any institution, investors preferring to withdraw their assets. In 2008, states had implemented plans with extensive, the mass drowning in the case of banks the most vulnerable payday loan. This time, large swarm may be against-productive because it gave credence to the thesis is prepared throughout the banking sector to a major shock on sovereign debt."As if the policies were sending a signal that they do not believe in their own measures" to rescue the eurozone, fell last week the boss of Deutsche Bank, Josef Ackermann.

• What form of aid could take?

For banks in need, the ideal would be to recapitalize private funds. In late July, two Greek banks have also announced a merger made possible by a cash injection … Qatar. But, with few exceptions, European states will be well on the front line. This poses two problems. The first is financial: some countries already weakened may be difficult to bring in bank balance sheets at times equivalent to their GDP. The solution could come from the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF). The European Agreement of 21 July – which is not yet approved by national parliaments – provided he can assume this mission.

The second issue is political: public opinion will they accept to "save" the banks again? "Only if they pay a lot more expensive that in 2008 the capital provided to them and the money they are paid," says a policy that "a justified rescue also new requirements for remuneration, renewal management and separation of activities. "

• French banks are they on the front line?

French banks, which had pretty well through the crisis of 2008-2009, are more turbulent than in 2011. Their expansion in Europe, particularly Greece and Italy, has become a weakness.They are also consuming enough liquidity in the markets for two reasons: their "universal" model makes significant players in investment banking and market structure of savings has offset it to the insurance life and mutual funds rather than bank balance sheets. To view added real or perceived weaknesses of each: a large dependence on market funding at Dexia, a reputation started and strong market positions at Societe Generale, a Greek subsidiary Crédit Agricole …

The people of the East Coast of the United States are preparing for a weekend out of the ordinary. In anticipation of Hurricane Irene, the authorities announced palsy or slowing of most means of transport that normally innervate New York Area. Once is not custom, the inhabitants of the Big Apple, including 250,000 living near the coast are being evacuated, will have to live in slow motion.

For security, the three New York airports – JFK, La Guardia and Newark – will be closed Saturday for aircraft arriving at noon (18 hours Paris time). The flights from these airports, however, may take off until further notice. This is an extraordinary disruption to an area that typically concentrates the air flow one of the densest in the world: each year, as many as 100 million passengers pass through this metropolis.This weekend, nearly 8,000 flights should be canceled.

Like most of his counterparts, Air France announced Friday the cancellation of all flights to New York JFK on Saturday and Sunday, while disturbances are waiting on those provided to and from other cities the coast, like Washington, Philadelphia or Boston. The resumption of service, from Monday, could also be laborious and cause further disruption, have also warned the airlines.

Transport suspended

Measure more tangible for the people, public transport will be suspended in the Big Apple this Saturday from noon until probably Monday rush hour guaranteed online payday loans. The subway, buses and railways do not circulate. Motorists have also been asked to leave their cars at home until the alert is lifted.If winds exceed this weekend 96 km / hour, the authorities of the State of New York have also warned they would close the main roads towards the city, and some bridges.

Given the restriction of transportation and possible damage caused by the passing of Irene, the inhabitants were ordered to stockpile water and food in preparation for the weekend. "Water is our product that sells best," noted the retailer Wal-Mart on Friday. Many are those who are armed with power generators in case of power failure.

To address these potential damages, the cost could rise to nearly $ 12 billion according to consulting firm Kinetic Analysis, U.S. authorities are preparing to deploy in new ways.900 National Guardsmen and 2,500 workers in the electricity sector include ready to intervene in case of power failure. All these measures aim to avoid at all costs repeating a scenario to Katrina, the hurricane that was painfully struck New Orleans in 2005.

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The CAC 40, which gained more than 2% over the last two sessions, could open up again this Thursday on the eve of the intervention (16 hours, Paris time) the President of the U.S. central bank, Ben Bernanke, which could signal further monetary easing to support the U.S. economy. Earlier, the U.S. government will plublié its second estimate of GDP figures for the second quarter. The growth rate of the world's largest economy in the spring, which had greatly disappointed a month ago, could then be revised down 0.2 percentage point to 1.1%.

Meanwhile, the stock market should continue to pick up a few points to be closer to the threshold of 3200 points.The session will be punctuated by two indicators are expected before the close of the Bourse de Paris: the index of consumer confidence but also the German weekly claims for unemployment benefits in the United States.

In France, unemployment figures and job seekers for the month of July will be published after-hours trading to 18 hours. Labour Minister, Xavier Bertrand, expects the unemployment figures "are wrong as were those of the previous two months."

Sharp decline in quarterly profit of Crédit Agricole

On the corporate side, the ball of the results continues.

Crédit Agricole has published a net profit down 10.6% to 339 million euros in the second quarter 2011, due to a charge of 640 million related to Greece.In addition, the group could spend 1.5 billion euros to recapitalize its subsidiaries in Southern Europe including the Greek bank Emporiki, according to the Letter of expansion without citing sources cash advance. half-year results of companies, including Credit Agricole and Edenred, the branch of Accor Services.

Edenred announced interim results and annual targets in line with analysts' expectations, the strong activity in Latin America continue to boost the profits of the group.

Cellectis has entered a development agreement and license with the American Recombinetics on "the creation of transgenic large animals" such as pigs, sheep or cattle.

Schneider announced his bid for Telvent Git SA expire 30 August instead of September 12.

Gemalto has reported a strong growth in its half-yearly sales, thanks to the strong growth of its secure transactions that are now the most profitable activity of the group.

Bureau Veritas announced adjusted net income up 10% to 164.2 million euros in the first half, operating margin declined 70 basis points to 16.0%, and confirmed predict a sharp increase in the number and business results in 2011.

Oil prices rise

Oil prices were up Thursday morning during electronic trading in Asia, in a market sensitive to the situation in Libya and cautious speech eagerly awaited the head of the U.S. central bank (Fed).In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October has appreciated by 14 cents to 85.30 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery took 21 cents to 110.36 dollars .

Sign that the markets are still very feverish, gold crossed for the first time in its history the bar in 1900 dollars an ounce to more than 1914 dollars exactly. However, according to analyst estimates, the Cac 40 should continue to rise, after gaining 1.14% to 3051.36 points on Monday. Wall Street closed Monday evening while a cautious rebound Asian stock markets advance slowly.

While awaiting the president's speech to the U.S. central bank, Ben Bernanke, Friday, and the publication of the second estimate of U.S. GDP in the second quarter, the same day, the markets are mindful of the situation in Libya where the prospect a regime change seems inevitable with the fall of Colonel Gaddafi after 42 years of reign.

Oil prices retreat slightly

As a result, oil prices were cautious on Tuesday morning.In morning trading, a barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery fell by 2 cents to 108.34 dollars, after losing 18 cents in early trade. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October gained 27 cents 84.69 dollars.

On the macroeconomic front, the manufacturing PMI for France and the euro area will be published respectively in 9 hours and 10 hours. In the U.S., sales of new homes in July were attendures to 16 hours.

On the corporate side, the energy sector will follow when the regime of Colonel Gaddafi is expected to fall.

Carrefour announced Monday the appointment of Thierry Garnier, currently executive director of distribution group for growth markets, the Executive Director for China and Taiwan, replacing Eric Legros.