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Washington announced Friday it had cleared the merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines. The Department of Justice indicated that the two U.S. companies had responded to his objections to their merger, leaving a number of slots for landing and takeoff at Newark International Airport near New York.

Downstream Europe in July

United Airlines, the third American company, Continental Airlines and fourth, had announced in May their intention to merge under the single name of United. The European Union, the guardian of competition in Europe, had already given its approval to the transaction at the end of July. In a statement, Brussels stated that his investigation confirmed the complementarity of the two companies' networks for Transatlantic routes, since they operate hubs in different U.S. cities."So there will be a marginal increase in market share," concluded the European Union. But a refusal of the United States was to be feared, as authorities in 2001 vetoed a previous merger between United Airlines and U.S. Airways on the grounds that it would reduce competition in the transport sector to the detriment of the public.

Fusion 1 October

The U.S. Department said it had closed its investigation as a result of the merger between the two companies, which gives them the field libre.Dans a statement, the two companies said they expected to complete their reconciliation of by 1 October. By marrying, they hope to better withstand the difficulties faced by the industry today, including the rising cost of fuel and competition from low cost airlines.Together they serve 370 destinations in 59 countries, with a combined turnover of 29 billion dollars, a fleet of nearly 700 aircraft and about 87,000 employees worldwide.

Thirty cents per share higher than what was proposed Hewlett-Packard. Dell renews its bid for 3PAR, with a proposal barely exceeds that of his rival, HP. After proposing $ 1.15 billion to buy the U.S. company data storage, Dell has had to increase its offer. Hewlett Packard had submitted a tender surprise on Monday of $ 1.6 billion, or $ 24 per share. Dell has proposed 30 cents more per share.

Takeover bid for all shares 3PAR

If the transaction has yet to receive regulatory approval, the computer maker said in a statement, however it should be finalized before the end of the year. "It should have a positive impact on our earnings before exceptional items from the fiscal year 2012, the company said.Dell now has until Sept. 20 to launch a public offer to acquire all the shares of 3PAR "through a subsidiary that owns 100%," says he needed no fax payday loans.

This acquisition will expand its range of storage products for the cloud computing (cloud computing via the Internet) and support its service activities. "With the acquisition of 3PAR, Dell will have the range of storage products for the broader market," said Dave Johnson, vice president of U.S. computer company, said in the statement. Data storage is the priority of our strategy.

3PAR does not wish to comment on this new offer, stating that it will "soon" on the subject.

Around 4:00 p.m., 3PAR lost 1.53% to 26.35 dollars, while Hewlett-Packard and Dell gained 0.42% respectively to 38.40% and 0.21 dollars to 11.81 dollars in a rising market 0.16%.

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Everything is improving at L'Oreal. The activity is accelerating in its four divisions – professional products, consumer, luxury, and active cosmetics – and in all regions of the world. Operating income rose twice as fast as the turnover and can find a record level of margin, and net profit falls sharply increase.

In detail, while turnover rose 6.3% to 9.67 billion euros in the first half of 2010 – a 13% growth in the Asia-Pacific – the Operating profit climbed 21.4% over the first six months of 2009, to 1.67 billion euros. The operating margin amounted to 17.3% as well. This is well beyond what the consensus expected, with a margin of 15.4% referred. And allowing it to regain its peak level reached in the first half of 2008.In the public sector, the margin rises to 20.4% while in the luxury, it is 28%.

In this context, the net profit of L'Oreal rises 21.2% to 1.316 billion euros. Per share, net income amounted to 2.39 euros, an increase of 15.3%.

Note also that the net debt stood at 1.67 billion euros at June 30, 2010, and is thus reduced from 300 million euros compared to late 2009.The debt ratio amounted to 11.7% of equity.

DG confident

Commenting on these figures, Jean-Paul Agon, CEO of L'Oreal, welcomes the group's strategic choice: "focus on innovations with high value added and affordable price, expansion into new product categories, accelerating the international expansion and investment in proactive ways advertising and promotion and research. "

"These findings fall within the virtuous spiral of growth of the group and confirm the vitality of the business model L'Oreal," he added.

A stock market as attractive

The L'Oréal closed Wednesday at 75.77 euros on the Paris Stock Exchange, posting a decline of 2.9% since the beginning of the year, while the index diversified European consumer goods ahead of 10 5% over the period.At this price level, the Group's market capitalization stood at 45.2 billion euros.

The value of trades on valuation multiples of about 17.5 times its earnings estimates by analysts for 2011, well below the average for the last five years (24.5 times) but considerably higher than the 14.7 overall average in the sector. The chifrfes indicating that L'Oreal shares are not expensive in terms of its performance. Natixis Securities aims, for example 97 euros for a potential increase in value by 28%.

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Negotiations between the Ministry of Defence and Thales and Safran industry saw the standoff, reports the Tribune published on Friday. The discussions were intended to streamline the activities of inertial navigation and optronics the two groups failed last May, to the chagrin of Hervé Morin. The time for talking would be gone for the minister, who is now past actions by deciding to freeze the state contracts with two companies.

All contracts would therefore be blocked, except for rush orders, notably for French soldiers engaged in overseas operations. The amount of contracts outstanding for the year 2010 amounts to 300 million euros, according to a source close to the case examined by the Tribune.

Concern Thales

Thales is undoubtedly the most affected by the punishment of the Department.In addition, the group currently has to face the distrust of rating agencies dissatisfied savings plan of 1.3 billion euros that the industry announced last December, Moody's downgraded, earlier this week, the debt rating of the group's long term by one notch to A2.

The anxiety is palpable within the group: "We are heading for disaster," confides a source in The Tribune. The business daily estimated 135 contracts between the ministry and Thales could be frozen.

Safran, less dependent on state orders, is more serene. Its leader has displayed his optimism for the year 2010-2011, and reiterated his desire to remain independent, denying recent rumors of a merger with Zodiac.

After a year and a half after its establishment by the Minister Herve Nvelli SMEs, the results of self-contractor status is not all rosy. Apparently, the new regime seems to be a success. Since January 1, 2009, more than 500,000 people have created businesses under this scheme and, according to the Observatory of self-contractor, 85% of self-enterprises are still in business a year and a half after the creation of statute. Another favorable factor among 15% of enterprises out of the scheme, 8% have changed their business to another company status. Moreover, the Observatory notes that "self-entrepreneurship is an effective springboard since nearly one third of respondents would like to change its status in the short or medium term."And the average turnover is 830 euros per month among the 72% self-entrepreneurs who have sold or charged.

But upon closer inspection, the new status raises questions. The study teaches us that nearly one in ten self-contractor was forced to choose this status. In fact, some employees have opted for this scheme to keep their jobs. The creation of these self-enterprises thus substitutes contracts in CSD, even in temporary or permanent contracts. And for good reason, the statute represents a financial windfall for unscrupulous employers because the employers' costs will disappear.

However Observatory moderates this conclusion. François Hurel author of the report requested by Secretary of State for SMEs says that "self-entrepreneurship as a condition of employment by dishonest employers is fortunately very rarely practiced in reality.It must also be tackled as illegal and contrary to the spirit of the regime.

The nightmare continues for BP. The oil group announced Friday that its expenses related to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico have now reached 2.35 billion dollars (about 1.9 billion euros). This amount includes all expenses incurred by the operations of oil recovery and cleaning the coast since the beginning of the disaster but also the drilling of relief efforts, aid already paid to the residents affected and the damage already returned to federal authorities . This Friday at the London Stock Exchange, investors punish: shares tumble from -6.84% to 303.10 pence in late morning. Their lowest level in 14 years.

This new drop is more than 50% during the collapse of the oil company since the sinking of the platform in late April Deepwater Horizon.Meanwhile, five-year CDS BP increased by 19 basis points to 555 points, according to Markit.

The fall in prices has been sharp end of April, when the collapse of the platform.

"It was a very important interview. Nicolas Sarkozy to thank you for coming. On Monday in Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel wanted to put an end to persistent rumors of discord between France and Germany in the fight against financial crisis in Europe. During his joint press conference with French President in Berlin, Merkel stressed the need for both countries to give "impetus" to the European Union to "act operationally" and "the consequences of the crisis financial recovery '.

Determined to "speak with one voice", the two Heads of States announced it would set at G20 Toronto, the idea of a tax on financial transactions and a tax credit, " to be applied in the same way in France and Germany, "said Nicolas Sarkozy.

With Angela Mergel, the French president reiterated the need to strengthen the Pact of Stability and Growth. For the countries most lax sovereign debt, the two countries propose a penalty which would result in the suspension of their voting rights at the European Council. This proposal, which will be submitted to the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, could lead to changes in the treaty which will be "in the near future," according to Angela Merkel.

A European economic government

Finally, Germany and France have discussed their desire to establish "an economic government of the 27" which would meet soon "on an operational and pragmatic." The two heads of states also want power, "in case of necessity, meet only the heads of only 16 states in the euro area. "There will be no country of first and second class.The idea is just to work quickly to problems concerning the euro area, "Angela Merkel stressed.

"Europe is not the most dynamic continent in contrast to the ambitions of the Lisbon Treaty. Do not create new institutions but to be more operational, has welcomed the Chancellor. Nicolas Sarkozy has reiterated his desire to "get out of ideological debates to make things happen quickly."

When asked about their respective visions rigors announced plans in both countries, Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy have remained elusive. The German Chancellor said that "Germany had done the right thing and not that France too." For its part, the French president spoke of "a matter of shared responsibility, trust and proximity.

Before the G20, Germany and France will defend their joint initiatives at the European Council meeting on Thursday.

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At the opening, the Dow Jones was down 0.25% at 10,845 points, the S & P 500 fold from 0.03% to 1166 points and the Nasdaq 0.34% loose, to 1966 points.

On Wednesday, the three major indexes in New York posted strong gains Wednesday.

Eight banks covered by a survey

The Attorney General of New York has opened an investigation into eight banks, including Credit Agricole, to determine if they had provided misleading information about their mortgages before the subprime crisis, "according to The New York Times.Goldman Sachs (-0.57% to 146.36 dollars), Morgan Stanley (1.29% to 28.16 dollars), UBS, Citigroup (-1.68% to 4.11 dollars), JP Morgan & Chase (-0.62% to 41.43 dollars), Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Bank of America-Merrill Lynch (+0.24% to 17.11 dollars) and Credit Agricole in the crosshairs.

The dollar continued its rise against the euro

The euro fell Thursday to a level that was hers before the announcement of the stabilization plan of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).The single currency traded at 1.2586 dollars, down 0.3% on the day, approaching its lowest level in 14 months.

Decline in number of unemployed weaker than expected

The resurgence of the greenback is supported by the fourth consecutive decrease the number of newly unemployed in the United States, according to figures released Thursday by the Labor Department in Washington cash advance america. The ministry said 444,000 new jobless claims were submitted from May 2 to 8, or 0.9% less than the previous week (in seasonally adjusted data).

Oil prices opened sharply lower Thursday in New York, a barrel of benchmark lost 1.47 dollars to 74.18 dollars. Wednesday crude inventories rose 1.9 million barrels to 362.5 million.Economists on average had expected a rise of 1.3 million barrels.

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The Japanese electronics giant Sony (-2.47% to 32.42 dollars) confirmed Thursday it had ended the fiscal year 2009-2010 on a net deficit reduced to 40.8 billion yen (312 million euros ), reflecting a return to the green on the plan of operation, through reductions in fixed costs. Sony also said Thursday that he hoped to finish the fiscal year began last April, and will be closed in March 2011, a net profit of 50 billion yen (about 400 million euros).

Cisco (-3.42% to 25.83 dollars) has announced its profit jumped 63%, but its CEO said that caution was in order.

A few days after the publication of a sales soaring and better than expected, Ghosn perfect its operation seduction. The CEO of the automaker, which suffered heavy losses last year with 3.1 billion euros of losses, it is one of the most important sector, pledged on Friday at the annual Shareholders' return in the green "no later than 2011.

A challenge for the "cost killer" at Nissan, whose re-election as head of French carmaker should, except surprise, be endorsed. Five years after its accession to the presidency of the group, the economic conditions in 2010 should however be difficult.The scheduled shutdown of the scrappage scheme in particular, should not contribute to boost the profits of Renault.

To find the flexibility brought by the loan of 6 billion euros granted by the state earlier this year, Ghosn has also committed to the shareholders to repay that money more quickly than expected, it ie before the year 2014. "We will refund well before the deadline and we will refund if possible in concert with our friends at PSA," he said as well.

The manufacturer expects to have the freedom again to close and installing production units it wants to reduce its costs. One recalls the intervention of Nicolas Sarkozy to prevent the complete production of the Clio in Turkey …

Alongside the auto show in Beijing that is currently the vice-president of Chinese automaker Changan Automotive has confirmed that an agreement could be reached in a month or two, the establishment in Shenzhen – in the princince Guandgong – a joint venture with Peugeot, owned equally by both partners.

Discussions are therefore underway. But Friday morning, PSA declined to comment and said "do not confirm that information," the French group was described as "rumor" he yaa ten days, while the Chinese press spoke of the reconciliation, confirmed by sources close to the matter.

Geographical complementarity with Dongfeng

Peugeot performs this morning that his priority is "the development of (its) existing partnership with Dongfeng.This joint venture is that we must advance and on which we focus our attention, "said an official communication of PSA.

But, Dongfeng does not cover all of China. This company is based in Beijing and in the center, but not on the east coast, including Shanghai, a rapidly growing region, where Changan is found. A geographical compl?menrit? was highlighted by an internal source at PSA few days ago.

The French manufacturer had initiated discussions in 2007 with China's Hafei, but they had failed.Since then, Hafei has been swallowed by Changan.

Changan, the third Chinese automaker

In 2009, sales of PSA's biggest car market on the planet since January – with 2.6 million vehicles sold in the first quarter – rose 52% to 272,000 cars, compared to 2008, while in first quarter 2010, they jumped 70% over a year. For the full year, the manufacturer is 350,000 copies, thanks to the Citroen C5 and its new Peugeot 408, which will be launched soon.

The PSA remains a tiny player in the Chinese automotive landscape with 3.4% market share. But if the negotiations succeed, Peugeot would be associated with the third Chinese automaker. After acquiring several subsidiaries of the group Avic public in late 2009, Changan was strongly reinforced in his country.The joint venture is interested in the commercial vehicles.

Peugeot will start production in Russia

Straight to the emerging countries. Peugeot maintains its strategy to expand in the economically dynamic and promising prospects.

Russia is a perfect example. The carmaker is launching today the production plant built with Russian co-Mitsubishi.

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