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The year 2010 had already been an exceptional year, even for groups of historic French chemistry, Rhodia and Arkema. But on Thursday morning, the two companies were again positively surprised markets by announcing strong financial results quarterly.

Alternately, Rhodia and Arkema unveiled a sales growth of 28% for the former and 33% for the second, at 1.77 billion and 1.5 billion euros. On both sides, the Guidelines highlight the sustained increase in volume, about 7% to 9%. In an interview with Le Figaro, Thierry Hénaff, CEO of Arkema, confirms that "the global environment is a carrier for chemists", referring in particular to the dynamism of emerging countries. Yet both groups are very active in high-growth countries.

Historically, Rhodia has developed in Latin America, particularly Brazil, and China.In total, emerging economies account for half its turnover. For his part, Arkema has focused on Asia, especially on China. With 20% of sales in the Asian territory, the group has therefore also a growing market. "In Europe and the United States, we see no sign of abating" moderates Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, the CEO of Rhodia, commenting on trends in other markets.

A positive pricing-power

Beyond these sustained volumes, the French chemists have now the choice made in the mid-2000s, to reposition their activities, and evolve their product lines towards products "performance" or "specialty" in very high added value.For example, include bioplastics produced by Arkema, to limit the weight of cars and therefore reduce the energy consumption of automobiles. For its part, Rhodia offers silicas for tires also reduces energy consumption, or compounds of high performance detergent products or cosmetics (shampoos, detergents …)

This positioning of substitutable products hardly makes them less sensitive to economic fluctuations, the chemists called "core" whose activity is based on the sale, in very large tonnages, minimally processed materials.

This choice also allows both groups to move more easily to their customers of price increases, a critical factor in a context of rising prices of intermediate raw materials, used in the manufacture of their compounds.This "pricing-power" allows them to maintain profitability, while according to Thierry Hénaff, "the raw materials we use have increased on average by 30% over the first three months of the year and sometimes up to 50 % for some petroleum derivatives quick payday loan.

Rhodia, this rise affected negatively for about 100 million euros on EBITDA (EBITDA). "But our pricing-power has led to a positive 51 million euros on EBITDA" said Jean-Pierre Clamadieu. In the first three months of the year, EBITDA recurring group reached 283 million euros, up 28% (margin of 16.8%), while at Arkema quarterly EBITDA reached 287 million euros. Having more than doubled in one year, it shows a margin of 16.6%.On both sides, net income reached a record 151 million euros.

Faced with these early indications of financial year, the leaders were rather confident for the rest of the year. Arkema Hénaff Thierry should not give targets for the year before summer, but said that the second quarter will be a continuation of the first, with fiscal 2011 "very likely higher than last year already historic for our group. " Rhodia, the annual target of a recurring EBITDA of one billion euros for 2011 was revised to "more than 1 billion euros."

Positive stock market reactions

At the Paris Bourse, investors applauded the figures above expectations. Arkema clinching the title with 4.60% in mid-session (71.8 euros), bringing its increase to 35% since the beginning of the year.Since the IPO just last 5 years (May 18, 2006), the title has been multiplied by more than 2.

For its part, the title being fed Rhodia very logically from 0.16% to 31.53 euros, the title remaining aligned with the price of the friendly takeover announced in April by the Belgian Solvay at a price of 31 60 euros per share. The offer, which should be open in June, would allow both groups, if successful, to form a new group of about 14 billion euros in turnover, for estimated EBITDA of EUR 2 billion .

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The event that would trigger a financial calamity improbable was postponed a month. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, has de facto given up until August 2, 30 days longer in Congress to negotiate with the White House a compromise budget cutting public spending in exchange for a higher ceiling of public debt.

Without a vote of Congress to raise the maximum amount authorized in outstanding debt today of 1429 billion, the Treasury is indeed found quickly running out of ways to prevent America falling into default.Now this event would trigger a serious crisis of confidence as the global financial system based on the principle that Uncle Sam by definition always pays his debts.

In a letter to leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate, Tim Geithner said that in his view, there is an urgent need to raise the debt ceiling by May 16. Otherwise it is forced to take extraordinary measures to limit government bonds and earn a little time. The reason for the additional period of one month is estimated by the Treasury relatively good news: the fiscal revenues are higher than expected.

Republican obstruction

However, it is unlikely that Democrats and Republicans agree fall before May 16 on a package of budget savings.Tim Geithner is preparing to suspend certain loans made on behalf of local communities and states. The Treasury had already arrived at this end in 2006 and 2007. Even then, Congress was reluctant to raise the debt ceiling.

But at the time the Democrats were the resistance against President Bush. They called for higher taxes on the rich. Barack Obama, the Illinois senator, had even voted in 2006 against raising the ceiling. Today, it is the Republicans who are filibustering. Majority in the House of Representatives since January, they require substantial reductions of public expenditure.

Their leaders are conscious of playing with fire by letting approach the fateful date of a possible default.But they are equally sincere in saying that raising the ceiling systematic debt without cuts in spending has finally put the U.S. in an untenable financial situation. They are joined in their efforts, especially in the Senate, by many centrist Democrats. All were alarmed about the risk of loss by the U.S. of its AAA rating. That, however, three years that the U.S. budget deficit between 9 and 11% of gross domestic product (GDP). Worse, medium and long term, even with a return to sustainable growth, this deficit will not recede fast enough. At the direction of Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden will begin negotiations with Congress on Thursday. The White House wants them carried out independently of raising the debt ceiling. The Republicans did not intend it that way.

"Frankly, I am interested in your money": this clash of the BNP did not last long in the 1970 No bank would dare today to show his frontispiece, yet it has never been so relevant. Whether at the counter or on the home pages of online banks, retailers are currently struggling to raise cash from businesses and some 200 billion saved every year by French households. All opportunities are good. A mortgage? Some lenders offer more attractive rates if the borrower is guaranteed to leave a cushion of deposits.

Accor is considering separating from Lenôtre, catering luxury present in thirteen countries with 64 schools. This decision was under review by the two structures for some time, the company said. The transfer of Lenôtre is linked with the change of strategy group, which wants to focus entirely on the hospitality sector, according to a statement released Friday.

Accor believes this project could be beneficial to Lenôtre: according to him, Lenôtre development could be accelerated if the repurchase by a group in its sector.

Already, potential buyers have expressed interest in buying this prestigious culinary group, said Accor, which is careful however to specify the identity and business of the suitors."The bodies representing staff were informed of these discussions and will be consulted when a project is developed more concrete," the statement said without giving further details cash advance payday loan.

Under pressure from some major shareholders, Accor has launched a process of refocusing on the hotel. He has sold its prepaid services, become Endered, sold the business to restaurants in the trains of the Compagnie des Wagons-Lits and sold the walls of a large part of its hotel brands Novotel, Sofitel and Formula 1 keeping only their management.

The announcement of this proposed sale leaves investors indifferent. This morning at 10:30, the title of the Accor Group in effect losing 0.33% to 30.15 euros in a market down 0.32%.

"Too big to go away, but not irresponsible." That is essentially the message delivered by the Japanese authorities on Friday after launching Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), the operator of the nuclear accident in Fukushima, an injunction to compensate victims forced from their homes or stay confined to their homes.

Fixed by the Government, this compensation reaches $ 12,000 (8350 euros) per family and $ 9,000 (6250 euros) for a single individual. In total, about 48,000 homes are affected by the evacuation of the exclusion zone according to Japanese media reports, an estimated $ 600 million (415 million) charge for the group.

A figure confirmed Friday by the operator, the voice of its President Masataka Shimizu, specifying, however, this very tentative estimate.For it is only a first payment, and it is not impossible to imagine a possible increase of compensation in case of extension of the exclusion period. A scenario more than likely in view of the confusion reigning on the site yet, more than a month after the earthquake and tsunami. The first payments to families will take place from April 28, said the leadership of TEPCO.

The bill gets heavier for Tepco

Facing these are deemed insufficient, several families went directly involved in the protest headquarters in Tokyo Tepco. For society, which in 2010 made a net profit of 1.89 billion dollars (1.31 billion euros), the charge may seem bearable.But it adds to the $ 24 billion (16.7 billion euros) required, Masataka Shimizu according to the resolution of current problems (rupture of the cooling circuits, explosions and radiation leaks) and restarting reactors.

Moreover, beyond the displaced families, TEPCO will also likely take into account compensation for loss wider (inability to grow for farmers, contaminated water, etc.).. According to JP Morgan, this compensation could reach a total of 24 billion dollars (16.7 billion euros) for the current fiscal year, while Bank of America-Merrill Lynch estimates that if an extension of the crisis Nuclear bill could exceed $ 130 billion (90.3 billion euros).

The situation may therefore be very critical for the fast group that supplies a third of Japan's electricity.According to the Nikkei newspaper, Tokyo, who could hardly afford to crumble Tepco would train alongside his orders to compensation, to set up an insurance fund guaranteed by the state. The latter, whose amount remains to be determined, would serve both to replenish the coffers of TEPCO and provide additional compensation of victims, also of the order of 12,000 euros per family. The fund would be financed by bank loans guaranteed by the state.

Broad program of cost reduction

The plan, looking like a loan, would allow the nuclear operator to bear the massive costs of compensating victims.This government support is crucial to TEPCO, which before the disaster showed a net debt of $ 91 billion (63.2 billion dollars), since heavier by a new bank loan of 24 billion dollars (16.7 billion euros).

The company will then reimburse the state for several years by a system of special dividends. By then, the company will implement a serious program to reduce costs that go through pay cuts for executives and managers, even for employees. TEPCO could also sell more than 1, 2 billion (0.83 billion) of real estate assets, according to Japanese media.

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NYSE Euronext raises the lusts but retains its preference for a union with the Frankfurt Deutsche Börse. The board of directors of the transatlantic exchange operator yesterday rejected unanimously the offer of participation of $ 11.3 billion made by Nasdaq, coupled with Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). The place specializes in new technologies and that on raw materials are intended to counter the approximation of the US-European space with Deutsche Börse.

But the directors of NYSE Euronext have found the offer of Nasdaq and ICE "strategically unattractive, with an unacceptable operational risk." Besides the issue of debt, the directors were concerned about the competition issues that would raise a takeover by Nasdaq OMX and ICE, with the risk of a monopoly of trading in shares in the United States.NYSE Euronext's boss Duncan Niederauer also said: "We can hardly call that an offer because it is a proposal formulated in vague terms and that is, from our point of view, an empty shell."

Conversely, the officer believes that a strategy has been defined and that "the combination with Deutsche Börse is consistent with this strategy." NYSE Euronext believes that a merger with Deutsche Börse to the new entity will position itself to become the leading operator of global market and create substantially more long-term value for its shareholders.

Nasdaq OMX was formalized on April 1 its alliance with ICE to add to NYSE Euronext. And despite this rejection, Nasdaq plans to maintain its proposal.

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The Portuguese will elect a new majority on June 5, but they have no choice program: right or left, the winner will impose austerity until at least 2014. Three weeks earlier, each major party it will be engaged individually with the EU and IMF.

This loss of political control is the price to pay for a rescue plan to about 80 billion euros on Friday decided in broad terms with the euro area, the 27 EU countries and the European Central Bank. Probably for a period of three years, it aims to put the Portuguese State on the wagon, to launch an "ambitious agenda" of privatization to reduce public debt and, finally, to ease the labor market.It also provides special funding to support Portuguese banks, the amount to be determined.

Unprecedented purge

Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos, caught in the throat by the markets, had no other choice but to surrender Friday to his colleagues.For the Portuguese political class, is doubly bitter pill: it is because they have subscribed to an earlier austerity negotiated with Brussels that Portugal must submit to the unprecedented purge dictated by Brussels, Frankfurt and Washington.

The statement issued after the meeting in Budapest is no ambiguity about the lack of flexibility: "The preparation (from the austerity plan) should begin immediately to an agreement between the parties in the mid-May, and allow implementation without delay of the adjustment program from the formation of new government "in early June.

This update reflects the Trust prior to the impatience of the first major contributors to the single currency, starting with Germany and France. The Portuguese plan is the third rescue launched in less than one year, eleven months after Greece and four months after Ireland.The euro area to be avoided at all costs that instability does not win the Spanish economy, which weighs more than the previous three combined. The plan decided on Friday reflected the distrust of the Europeans and the Portuguese political class, believed to have triggered the crisis by pure electoral calculations.

Friday, "the ministers have made clear in Portugal they do not want to return to the counterparties to help, whatever the election results," reported a witness to the camera in Budapest. Clearly, there is no alternative to the plan to be tied up in mid-May. To avoid any disputes after the polls, the bloc will materialize their aid once acquired "the support of major political parties," the statement said. The future head of government can than apply strictly to the remedy to which it has itself signed.In Lisbon, the latest polls give the center-right and its leader Passos Coelho winners, ahead of Socialist Jose Socrates.

Once the plan is adopted, probably on May 16, during another visit to the euro area, it would take ten days to release funds for Lisbon, says Olli Rehn, Commissioner for Economic Affairs. The IMF should fund the program up to the third, as was the case for Greece and Ireland.

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Prepare the re-election of Barack Obama or Facebook IPO? Cruel dilemma that faced by Robert Gibbs. The former spokesman for the White House had left his post in February to work on re-election of Barack Obama in 2012. But now he has been approached by Facebook, which wants to expand its communications team, a few months of its IPO, said the American daily New York Times. Planned during 2012, it promises to be one of the largest IPOs in history. Robert Gibbs, whose salary is in the millions of dollars, would receive shares at that time.

While negotiations are still at an early stage, the former presidential adviser would have consulted several colleagues of the White House on this proposal Facebook.This transfer echoes a previous transfer of skills between the team of Bush and that of Mark Zuckerberg: in 2008, one of the co-founders of Facebook, Chris Hughes, had defected to join the campaign team Barack Obama and fly it on the Internet, including the social network My.BarackObama.com.

The recent rise in energy prices, exacerbated by the revolutions in Arab countries is seen as a new threat to the U.S. economy. Ben Bernanke before the Senate Banking Committee on Monday was intended however reassuring in this regard. He says that if the increase does not last, its effect will be marginal growth. "The most likely outcome is that the recent rise in commodity prices will lead, at best, a temporary and relatively modest increase in inflation of consumer prices …" said the head of the monetary policy United States.

Ben Bernanke believes that the risk of deflation in the United States has become "negligible". This admission is important because the deflationary danger was highlighted in November by the Federal Reserve to justify the launch of controversial takeovers until June of $ 600 billion of Treasury bonds.Dubbed "quantitative easing" policy is expected to lower interest rates in the long term and prevent the U.S. economy shrinks as a result of a general fall in prices.

Manufacturing at the highest indicator for last 7 years

Commenting on the recent positive indications given by the United States economy, Ben Bernanke believes that "a self-sustaining recovery in consumer spending and companies may be becoming established." The publication of the ISM manufacturing purchasing managers, up to 61.4% in February, its highest level since 2004, seems to agree with the Fed chief."The combination of increased consumer confidence and business, an accommodative monetary policy and improved credit conditions seem likely to lead to probably a faster pace of economic recovery in 2011 compared last year. " However, Ben Bernanke was careful to promise to abandon its controversial policy of quantitative easing in June.

The Fed indicated last month that it anticipated a growth between 3.4% and 3.9% this year in the United States. But the governors of the Fed continues to believe that the employment situation is too fragile for the Fed to abandon its exceptional support measures for the supply of credit. "While we do not see a sustained period of stronger job creation, we can consider that the recovery is fully established," summed up yesterday the Fed chairman.

The CAC 40 is expected to open cautiously on Tuesday after Wall Street closed Monday without direction. Asian stock markets are also changing in a disorganized Tuesday morning.

The macroeconomic news will be a little more animated than Monday.

In France, INSEE released the first results of National Accounts Fourth quarter: French growth reached 0.3% in the fourth quarter, the low end of analysts' forecast.Over the full year 2010, GDP grew by 1.5%.

For the euro area, are provided for 11 hours, an estimate of GDP last quarter of 2010 and the European Union, and foreign trade figures in December 2010.

United States, are planned, retail sales in January, import prices in January and activity in the area of New York (1430), net long term capital in December (15 hours ) and inventories and business sales in December (16 hours).

On the currency markets, the euro rose against the dollar from 0.20% to 1.3517 dollar.

EDF: A sharp drop in earnings in 2010

On the corporate side, the publication of results is ongoing.

EDF reported a 73.9% drop in net income in 2010 to 1.02 billion euros, due to provisions related to lower energy prices.However, the group expects an increase of 4% to 6% of its EBITDA in 2011.

Air Liquide will announce Tuesday a revenue increase of over 12% for 2010, to 13.5 billion euros and net profit up 14% to $ 1.4 billion, Les Echos reported .

A merger agreement between Sanofi-Aventis and Genzyme should be signed soon, but the French laboratory should extend its offer a third time on U small personal loans.S. biotech to stop the final price of the transaction. The deadline for the offer at midnight New York time, 6 hours Wednesday Paris time.

The official announcement of the merger between Deutsche Boerse and NYSE Euronext will speak this Tuesday.A hostile bid by the Chicago Stock Exchange is in preparation, according to various U.S. media.

The Pentagon announced Monday hoped to award the next month contract to replace the aircraft-refueling tankers to the U.S. Air Force, which should put an end to a drama that has lasted nearly a decade. EADS CEO Louis Welsh reiterated that Tom Enders, Airbus president should be his successor.

Ubisoft has raised its forecast of sales for the current year after posting strong sales during the Christmas period, which is crucial for the video game industry.

Atari has announced a turnover in the first 9 months of the fiscal year 2010/2011 (April 1 to December 31, 2010) of 41.0 million euros, down 55.7% from the same period last year.

AXA Asia Pacific, a subsidiary of AXA, being acquired by IMA, said Tuesday net profit down 11% for its last fiscal year.

After market, M6 will publish its revenues and its annual results, Imerys and Euler Hermes annual results, and Mr. Bricolage and Europacorp their turnover respectively fourth and third quarters.