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Prices continued to rise slightly in March. The index of consumer prices, as calculated by INSEE, rose 0.5% over the last month, after +0.6% in February. In one year, the index rose 1.6%.

"The higher prices in March comes, firstly, the increase in prices of manufactures (+08%) mainly because of the end of winter sales and, secondly, the sharp rise in oil prices (+3.5%), "INSEE said. The waltz of the labels has also affected the vegetables.

Please note, car prices rose 1.7%, "the purpose of promotion is more important as new developments," according to INSEE.

After months of twists, Axa announced Tuesday an agreement on the ultimate fate of its subsidiary AXA Asia Pacific Holdings (APH) is listed on the Sydney Stock Exchange. The group of Henri de Castries will sell 54% stake in the company since 1999 at the National Australia Bank (NAB). The bank and the insurance company will then share the French society: the assets of New Zealand and Australia for the NAB, the life insurance companies in Asia, representing approximately 70% of the total, for Axa.

Axa has wanted for years to simplify its relationship with the subsidiary remote. A first attempt to exit the minority shareholders had failed in 2004.

Five years later, the insurer has retried chance. Initially, he hoped to finish the deal with the asset manager of Sydney AMP.

But the scenario presented well oiled by the two partners in November last year had struck again to the independent directors of APH. They found insufficient supply of AMP.

The current buyer NAB had then, to everyone's surprise, invited in the negotiations. On 17 December he announced he had convinced the board of directors of APH with a slight improvement but also provides a payment in cash.

The arrival of the NAB has been even better received in Paris that the bank was modeled on the terms negotiated between AXA and AMP. The French insurer must pay a total of 2.2 billion Australian dollars (1.4 billion euros).This amount represents the difference between the price paid by AXA to buy the Asian assets and the value of the sale of 54% of Axa Asia Pacific.

Gain of 700 million

The exclusive agreement which bound to AMP Axa fell on February 6. AMP did not wish to re-evaluate its offer, Axa was then entered into negotiations with NAB. Since then, the two groups have worked on tax, financial, human resources … prior to the split of APH. The competition authorities should then give their opinion on April 22. Their permission is not granted because the NAB has completed several acquisitions in recent months. If the green light was obtained though the sale of AXA Asia Pacific is expected to close by the end of the summer.

Axa had raised 2 billion euros in November to fund the operation without tension.She will pocket a profit of 700 million euros and will not degrade very marginally its solvency ratio. AXA strengthens its position especially in emerging countries, by acquiring 100% of its life insurance subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand … Following the operation, 24% of new business volume group (life insurance) will come from emerging countries, against 15% a year earlier.

The year 2010 promises to be an already exceptional year in terms of operations of acquisitions in the insurance industry. Prudential and MetLife signed historical transactions with the former life insurance subsidiaries of AIG paid respectively 35.5 and 15.5 billion dollars. The takeover by Axa Asia Pacific NAB for about $ 11 billion in third place.

While Asian markets are changing this Friday morning in the wake of the rise on Wall Street Thursday night, the Paris Bourse their cue from opening, posting an increase of 0.75%. the CAC 40 and the bar returns of 4000 points, 4008 points exactly.

Thursday evening, the CAC 40 lost 1.2% and has crossed back to the lower threshold of 4000 points. The other major stock markets fell back in unison. In London the FTSE lost 0.86% while in Frankfurt the Dax has yielded 0.81% at closing.Note that the LSE has found its place in the first quarter from a number of European IPOs, according to PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

The concern of financial markets is felt continually faced with the fragility of public finances of several countries, particularly Greece.

Statistics in Europe

This Friday the INSEE published before the commencement of trading, industrial production for the month of February. The same statistics institute will release the results of its monthly surveys of the European economy for March, at noon. Other indicators monitored by the markets, the index of cost of construction, and commercial rents in the fourth quarter.

In Germany, foreign trade for the month of February will be announced at 8 o'clock.In the United Kingdom, are the producer prices in March which will be published.

In the United States, no statistics major is expected on Friday.

France Telecom provided by the Paris court

France Info radio said the prosecutor of Paris will open a judicial inquiry after the 35 suicides by employees of France Telecom.

Air France posted a traffic increase of 4.7% for the month of March, the first since a year now payday loans. Titles climbed 3.03% to 12.23 euros. The group remains to Ryanair. To also monitor the impact on the airline industry's consolidation movement that hovers now. According to the American press, U.S. Airways and United Airlines are considering a reconciliation. In addition, British Airways and Iberia have finalized their merger agreement.

Areva (-0.17%) and EDF (0.57%) would participate in the growth of nuclear power in Italy. Several agreements have to be signed on Friday between French and Italian companies in the sector reported the Financial Times.

The specialist luxury yacht Rodriguez returned Thursday after the stock market success of the restructuring of its debt. The share price rose yesterday by more than 138.97%. This Friday they are still 9.5%.

Renault, Nissan and its Japanese partner the Italian energy group Enel signed Thursday a Memorandum of Understanding for the development in Italy of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. The Renault shares gain 0.94%, to 36 euros in early trade.

Cegid, publisher of management software, announced a 7% decline in net sales in the first quarter to 58 million euros and a gross margin of 87.9% against 87.5% a year earlier.In exchange, Cegid loses 1.34%, to 22.09 euros.

French Cement (3.94%, to 77.6 euros) announces that its takeover bid for all or part of its 2002 and 2006 private placements with U.S. investors is now closed. French Cement will then redeem all shares tendered at a price of 1 065 dollars for each security with a face value of 1 000 dollars. The funds to purchase securities were placed at the disposal of the company and its subsidiary Italcementi Italcementi Finance.

What a pleasant surprise! In March, the barometer of the moral frameworks (- 26) has won eight points from February, regaining its 2005 level. "This result is exceptional in scope and that ends the period of depression began in the fall of 2008, is a bundle of factors, both macro and micro," said Francois Miquet-Marty, president of ViaVoice.

Last month, the number of unemployed has increased by "only" 0.1% and the Prime Minister said that the unemployment curve "should be reversed" this year.

In this context, the pessimism fades frames. They are more than 23% against 28% a month earlier, suggests that the number of unemployed would "increase significantly" in the coming months. It's the same for the outlook for living standards. The frames provide a breakdown is no longer the majority (45% against 51% in February).

Occupational mobility

Moreover, two important indicators, as forming part of life, experiencing a frank improvement. Thus, 25% of executives (+ 7 points) believe that opportunities to advance their careers in the coming months "will be important" and 18% (+5 points) than their financial situation "will improve".

Regional elections have also played a role in improving the morale of white-collar. "Their result has reassured the French left's ability to register their camp in a dynamic of conquest of power and those on the right on the determination of the President of the Republic to maintain focus and to pursue reforms, with the exception of the carbon tax, "said Francois Miquet-Marty. Asked about the place and role of higher education, executives claim, massively, more money for it.Eight out of ten consider, in fact, that France "does not invest enough" in this teaching.

On effectiveness, their opinion is also positive. Seven in ten "confidence" in higher education to deliver a broad general education and a narrow majority (52%), they also make it "trust" to prepare young people for the job.

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This is the best figure since the beginning of the crisis. The U.S. economy created 162,000 jobs in March, according to the Ministry of Labour. Economists s'attentaient to nearly 180,000 net new jobs. The unemployment rate, calculated on a different basis, it has remained stable at 9.7%.

In addition, the Ministry of Labour has revised upward the employment figures for January and February, respectively, and -26,000 to 14,000 -36,000 to -14,000.

Despite renewed dynamism of employment statistics, the number of long-term unemployed (more than 27 weeks of inactivity) rose 414,000 in March, reaching a total of 6.5 million people.44.1% of the unemployed.

In detail, the manufacturing sector has continued to create jobs in March (17 pay day loans cheap.000), bringing the number of net new jobs to 45,000 since the beginning of the year. The construction has also created 15,000 jobs. This sector, badly hit by the crisis, has destroyed an average 72,000 jobs per month over a year.

Employment also was shot by a temporary effect: recruitment for conducting the census of the population (48,000 posts).

In contrast, the financial sector has destroyed 21,000 jobs in March. The information sector also registered a negative balance of 12,000 posts. "The pace of job creation is accelerating," say the economists in a note from Societe Generale. "We should observe net gains of 200,000 jobs per month during the second half."

Despite the crisis, credit brokers have limited the damage in 2009. According to the results of a TNS-Sofres at the upcoming National Real Estate * Meilleurstaux.com for the total amount of loans obtained through a broker, or about one quarter credits – showed a limited reduction of 7%. At the same time the total amount of mortgages granted fell from 140 billion euros in 2008 to 110 billion euros in 2009, falling by 28%.

Fear of rejection

Sandrine Allonier, head of economic studies at Meilleurstaux.com, believes that this resistance is partly cyclical brokers. "In a context of tightened credit conditions for some new borrowers for fear of their project, refused to turn to brokers, not just to get the best loan terms but to find a funding solution" .22% of 1087 respondents by TNS-Sofres and intend to use a broker rather than going directly to banks when they want to borrow. The proportion rises to 26% among persons belonging to AB + (executives, entrepreneurs, professionals, craftsmen …), target population brokers bad credit payday loans. People under 35 are also more attracted to this financing solution as their elders.

Time and money

Save time and money, remain the main hopes of the French who choose to go through a broker to obtain a mortgage. Among those who intend to use one of them, 89% will also for this purpose.Benefit from expert informed, more competitive rates and quick responses to their requests are the other benefits granted to brokers. According to Christian Camus, CEO of Meilleurstaux.com, 50,000 people to file a monthly record of credit application on its website.

* The National Real Estate Fair will be held from 8 to 11 April 2010 at the Parc des expositions, Porte de Versailles.

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A symbol: the oven that produced crystal Arques was definitely off last month. He had worked for two months last year. Instead, the site of Blaringhem, 7 kilometers from the headquarters of Arques (Pas de Calais), the electrician private Poweo studying the construction of a power plant. No more crystal, Cristal d'Arques now focusing on DIAMAX a new material just developed, 20% less expensive to produce, more robust and resistant to washing dishes.

The group Arc International (Luminarc, Arcoroc, Pyrex) account such innovations to resume growth. In 2009, the company owned 100% by the Durand family has experienced a drop of 14% of its turnover and, after two years of profits, fell into the red.The operating loss reached 26 million euros for a turnover of one billion.

"2009 was an extremely difficult year, said William de Fougi?res, became chairman of the board earlier this year. The tableware are among the first purchases that consumers mediate in times of crisis. And they head towards the products of entry level where our margins are low or even negative. "The decline in activity was particularly strong in Europe, an area served by the plants Arques, reflecting a decline of 25% their activity.Conversely, a recovery was observed in mid-2009 in the production sites of the group in the United States, the United Arab Emirates and China, who are now "all overheated.

This year, Arc International is pursuing a modest growth, mainly driven by emerging countries, with a stable activity in Europe fast cash online. It's objective is a return to financial balance.

As a result, the restructuring will continue on the site of Arques, which has for ten years bleeding Name: numbers are increased from 12 000 to 6 500 people. After two social plans, management plans already one of 400 people redundant at the end of the year. So far, all departures were held without layoffs, mainly by age measures, outsourcing and support entrepreneurship.The decline in activity last year was dampened by a heavy emphasis on partial unemployment, on average four to five days per month per employee.

Fear of social

Staff representatives are again very worried. After a demonstration and three-day strike in early March for wages and work organization, they fear further downsizing.

"For the first time, our President declared in the works the word" dismissal "is concerned Elizabeth Jacques, Associate CFE-CGC. We expect that we announced in May a third redundancy. "

For William of Fougi?res, one thing is certain, "there is no early retirement" as possible. According to him, "improving productivity at Arques is essential in order to regain our competitive product entry level."Meanwhile, the group is studying the possibility of establishing factories in Latin America or Russia.

While the Tokyo Stock Exchange was closed Monday due to holiday, other major financial centers in the Asia-Pacific is clearly a downward trend, including a Hang Seng in Hong Kong decline of 1.69% at 21,009 points, an index in South Korea (KRX 100 Index) declined 0.85% to 3.5213 points), in India Bombay SE back from 0.19% at 17,544 points, and Shanghai Index almost stable at 0.05%, to 3292 points.

In Australia, the S & P / ASX 200 loose 0.86% at 4830 points. In New Zealand, the NZX is maintained close to equilibrium, gaining 0.05% at 3233 points.

Friday evening, the Nikkei 225, which will resume its listing tomorrow, Tuesday, had closed up 0.75% at 10,824 points. Wall Street has ended in the red. In the absence of major economic indicators, investors took their profits.

Crude prices were trending lower Monday in electronic trading in Asia, continuing a trend from last week, reflecting the stronger U.S. dollar, dealers said. In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for April delivery yielded 50 cents to 80.18 U.S. dollars while the price of Brent North Sea for May delivery retreated 39 cents to 79 $ 49.

Rio Tinto open trial

The highly anticipated trial of four employees of mining giant Anglo-Australian Rio Tinto, accused of espionage and corruption, opened Monday in Shanghai, the metropolis of east China, said a spokesman of the court. "The trial is open to the public," said the official, Wang Haiwen. The CEO of Rio Tinto, Tom Albanese, said he was "very concerned".

In less than twenty-four hours, Boeing faces a number of technical problems on two different types of aircraft: B777 long-haul and short-medium haul B737, his best-seller.

In the United States, the federal Civil Aviation (FAA) requested in a directive for Boeing to make changes to the software on board their B 777 after two cases – fortunately without injury – the accidental release of autopilot occurred last January when the aircraft had not yet departed. Several models of the B 777 families are affected by this change in software. Boeing immediately said it would follow that ReCOmmeNdATIONS for 818 units worldwide including 145 in service with U.S. airlines. This type of incident is very rare, says the manufacturer saving account payday loan ."Since its commissioning 15 years ago, the world's fleet of B 777 has made 4.8 million flights and there were only 9 reports of this kind," said the giant Chicago.

In China, the Civil Administration (CAAC) issued a "Directive on emergency airworthiness" of devices in the family B 737 after several incidents, again without gravity. All Chinese airlines are required to perform safety checks on the components located in the tail of over 400 aircraft of this family on a total fleet of B 737 603 aircraft. Boeing said it would provide technical support to its customers in China and said that these measures do not concern its new generation B 737.

Currently, Boeing provides no encryption of the cost of its actions.

On his role in the regional campaign

The president denies having engaged in this campaign, including during his trips to the provinces. "I did not give instructions to vote and I will not do. But agree it would be strange if I'm the only one able to explain the issue of regional elections! ". As for the convening of leaders of the campaign in the Ile-de-France, President irritated "those controversies which are permanent loss of valuable time in France": "What has he wonder that I meet with elected Ile-de-France while I myself am an elected official in this region since 1977? ". Concerned by the record abstention rate announced for the election, Nicolas Sarkozy asked the French to vote "is also a civic duty."

The consequences of the ballot

"I am of course aware that the French would say."But Nicolas Sarkozy is very clear: "The election of 14 and 21 March is a regional election: its consequences are so regional. Stressing the need for some stability to the government action, the President cited the example of the longevity record of Christine Lagarde – Minister to only be quoted in the interview – the Ministry of Finance: two and a half years. The president may be considering a "new step" but only after the pension reform – a text should be submitted to parliament in September – even if it does not by that "some governmental adaptation.

On the debate over national identity

Defending himself for having stopped the debate on national identity before the regional, Nicolas Sarkozy promised "major steps" he announced in April.Quoting the words of Claude L?vi-Strauss' identity is not a disease, "the President considers appropriate for the gathering of the country" think together about the direction that our nation should go to the project, its values .

On the economic and fiscal policy

Convinced that the Strategy on Economic currently followed will bear fruit in 2010, particularly in employment, the President is however concerned about deficits. "The truth is that we want the public expenditure and that the crisis has drastically reduced our income tax" analysis does. But no question of raising taxes, he promises again, "either today or tomorrow." "I do not believe in a policy of austerity that has never worked and is cons-productive."The president has not abandoned the idea of a "social VAT" – a term he rejects – for we must continue to consider ways of financing social protection other than taxing work. The carbon tax will also be the day after a consultation at national and European level.

On pension reform

Following consultations with the unions, the government will make proposals for a text to be tabled in Parliament in September. Nicolas Sarkozy reiterates its commitment to the reform will affect the 21 million private employees and 5 million from the public. And if lengthening the contribution period there must be, it concerns both the private and the public.However, the calculation of pensions (based on six months in the public and the best 25 years in private), the President recalled that staff bonuses are not included as it is in the private. "All these elements must be on the table."

On the popularity of Fran?ois Fillon and a second term.

"If it was not popular, I would say we must change. If it is, I am told it is a problem for you. All this, they are vain conjectures. My only problem is to carry out the reforms expected by the French. Do not create problems where there are none. " As for his decision to represent 2012, Nicolas Sarkozy reiterated that the question is premature."I take position at the end of 2011, taking into account a number of collective and personal criteria.

Future reforms, other major projects, open policy of nuclear burning issue … Find the full interview of Nicolas Sarkozy in Le Figaro Magazine to be published Friday, March 12.