Archive for the 'special' Category

Relief from international stock markets. Wednesday after the U.S. places, it's time for Asian indices on Thursday morning to welcome the statements of Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining Greece in the euro area. The Asian markets – and notament Tokyo – earn up to 1.5%. For its part, the euro ahead by 0.5% against the dollar and 1.375 against the dollar is trading early this morning. The "future" on the European stock index Eurostoxx 50 show an increase of 2.50% on opening.

Following a conference call held late in the day Wednesday between Nicolas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel and George Papandreou, the Franco-German couple has been very clear in stating that "the role of Greece in the euro area. "In a statement released in the process, they attached a condition, however, also very explicit: "The implementation of strict and effective recovery program of the Greek economy supported by the countries of the euro area and the IMF and which conditions the disbursement of future tranches of the program. "

Since the Davos Forum held for three days in Tianjin, China, Zhang Xiaoqiang, deputy director of the China Development and Reform, confirmed that China stands ready to buy securities with sovereign debt states involved in the debt crisis.Earlier in the day, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had made statements to this effect while advising countries to reduce their deficits and to open their markets rather than relying on China to pay off the debts of the world's economies wide.

Similarly, the president of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, said his country is ready to participate in a "global effort" against the economic crisis that affects rich countries, following the announcement of a meeting of countries emerging Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to discuss aid to Europe.The head of state stressed, however, that there is no "global solution" to the crisis and that much depends on the countries concerned.

For its part, the U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner who should participate in a meeting Friday of finance ministers in Europe, had said before the conference between France, Germany and Greece, convinced that the Europeans "have financial resources to do what is necessary and avoid the collapse "of the euro area". He had, however, added that the Europeans will have to "recognize that they will have to do more and have fallen behind."

ALSO READ:

"Emerging countries would come to the aid of Europe

"Paris and Berlin reaffirm the role of Greece in the euro



McGraw-Hill confirms the dismantling of its activities. The group, which holds particular one of the three major rating agencies worldwide, Standard and Poor's (S & P), Monday announced its split into two independent companies.

One, called Mc Graw-Hill Market, will specialize in financial reporting. It will include S & P, but also the manager of indices S & P indices, the information service Platts Energy, the research firm JD Power and Associates market, and several publications such as Aviation Week, on the aeronautics. This new venture will be headed by a member of the founding family, Harold McGraw, who was already operating within the conglomerate.

The other company will be named McGraw-Hill Education. It will specialize in publishing, including the sale of school and university textbooks.The group is currently looking for a leader to lead this new company.

Reduce costs

This dismantling was called in late August in person by two shareholders of the group who felt that the issue had become a weight in the activity of McGraw-Hill. Indeed, it represented only 23% of operating profit last year while the activity of the only rating agency weighed nearly 50%. This division is not fully compliant with the wishes of those shareholders who demanded that the financial activity is divided into two with one assessment activity independent of the indices Low fee payday loans. In addition to a specific company for editing and one for the information professional. Four entities distinctness.

Mc Graw-Hill, a division of the two seems sufficient.It should eventually reduce the operating costs of approximately $ 1 billion and improve the group's value for shareholders. Lea management announced in passing that the repurchase program of its own shares will increase to $ 1 billion full-year.

McGraw-Hill Market this year should generate a turnover of $ 4 billion, made almost 40% abroad, and growing "double digit". McGraw-Hill Education should she reach the years of income of 2.4 billion.

On Wall Street, investors welcomed the ads. The action McGraw-Hill climbed 1.44 dollars to 39.26% at 17 hours, Paris time, in a market down 1.04.

ALSO READ:

"The head of Standard & Poor's resignation

"Survey of Standard & Poor's

"In the back kitchen of rating agencies

"The rating agencies decrypted



The president of the U.S. central bank (Fed) Ben Bernanke has a surprise in Jackson Hole, in the northwest United States. Instead of announcing new measures to support the U.S. economy, as expected by the markets, the Fed chairman on Friday merely noted that the issue will be discussed at the next meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee of the institution, scheduled Sept. 20. While stressing that "to weigh the pros and cons" of such a decision, the next meeting will be extended by one day. Suffice to say that a consensus on whether to implement any new measures to support the U.S. economy is far from certain …

It is precisely here that the speech of the day was to shed light.Investors hoped a higher profile, particularly on the implementation or not of a third program of monetary easing (or quantitative easing EQ3), after two other applications since 2008.

Ben Bernanke returns the ball in the political

"The Fed has a range of instruments to provide economic stimulus," said Ben Bernanke, however, supported. Insufficient to convince. For the other hand, the Fed chairman said that U.S. politicians had more room for growth, calling for fiscal stimulus. A sentence which leaves in doubt the ability or willingness-to-the Fed to reignite growth overseas.

"The Fed will certainly do its utmost to help restore growth rates and employment rates in an environment of price stability.However, most of the economic policy measures to support the long-term growth is a spring outside the central bank, "said Ben Bernanke.

The Fed chairman has confirmed rely on weak economic growth in the short term, after the Fed revised its growth goals of the U payday loans with no fax.S. economy, but did not specify the extent of this reduction.While recognizing that the crisis is more difficult than expected a few months ago, Ben Bernanke refuses to show alarming: he predicts that U.S. GDP "should improve" the second half and that inflation will gradually subside, and return to less than 2%.

He said he was also confident "in the fact that [his] colleagues in Europe have completely aware of what is at stake in the difficult problems they face today and that over time it will take all necessary measures and appropriate to address them fully and effectively. "

Deception temporary markets

Initially, this lack of concrete measures to try to revive an economy whose recovery is "much less robust than expected" in the words of Ben Bernanke, has dampened market expectations, suspended for two days this intervention .Sign of these expectations, the U.S. indices, already feverish, have widened their losses immediately after the announcement of the postponement within a month of discussions at the Fed on possible support measures. Similarly, in Paris the CAC 40 index plunged more than 3%.

But an hour after the intervention, investors rallied. The index in Paris reduced its losses, while on Wall Street, the Dow returned to the same balance. The markets have indeed put their disappointment. If the hope of a decision of intervention by the Fed was huge, the probability that a major action plan to be presented today was very thin, many commentators had warned in recent days.



The speech will be delivered to a very limited audience, but it will be heard by the entire financial world. The head of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, will speak on Friday afternoon (French time) to his counterparts at the traditional central bankers in Jackson Hole Symposium, Wyoming.

While the U.S. economy slows dangerously, investors expect a tough response from the Fed. But they may be disappointed because, faced with two problems, the central bank runs out of ammunition.

Misdiagnosis

First, Ben Bernanke erred in economic diagnosis. He underestimated his own admission, the low growth in the first half and was counting on a rebound in demand in the second, which for now does not materialize.Problem with its main policy rate at zero since December 2008, the Fed has little room to revive again the supply of credit. Some members of the Monetary Committee refuses to go further. Among the reluctant, Richard Fisher, president of the Dallas Fed. It is estimated that on August 9 promises to continue until mid-2013 interest rates unusually low, the Fed made a mistake: the promise deters businesses and individuals to borrow quickly as they know that the rates are not nearly up cash advance america.

So what can Ben Bernanke promised? The resumption of purchases of long-term bonds the Treasury is the preferred option by the markets. But given the high level of inflation, the method is risky.In addition, low interest rates leaves little hope that this new "quantitative easing" has a significant effect on credit supply.

Ben Bernanke should focus on technical measures. The Fed could cut the compensation of bank reserves. It would be a way to push banks to lend rather than storing their cash with her. The second measure seeks to change more or less gradually the composition of its balance sheet, which reached 2.7 trillion dollars. To maintain long-term rates as low as possible, the Fed may decide to increase the proportion of its balance sheet invested in long-term securities, while reducing the one placed in short-term securities. The decline in long rates will encourage companies and individuals to refinance their debts and support the real estate.



When in 2007 the Merkel government has created an additional income tax of 45%, Germany was against the current. At the time, it was time to lower taxes to encourage work. But the crisis and rising public deficits have changed everything. Germany has become more and more followers. In 2010, the UK has increased to 50% the rate of the highest portion of its income tax (IR). And Italy is preparing to introduce a solidarity tax for employees earning over 90,000 euros.

More surprising number of taxpayers potentially affected by such a tax do not hesitate to ask now open! American side, the billionaire Warren Buffett has called this week for a contribution of "mégariches."In France, Maurice Levy, chief executive of Publicis Group and president of the Afep (French association of private companies), wrote in his name, an article in Le Monde, where he considered it "essential that the effort Solidarity begins with those whom fate has spared. " All indications are that it will be heard as the French government pledged last spring to introduce a tax on high incomes. "Today we are working on the issue of remuneration is said sometimes extravagant," reiterated on Wednesday on Europe 1, the budget minister, Valérie Pécresse.

The majority has already noted last year from 40% to 41% in the final tranche of IR. But this time it is hit with higher incomes (the final installment begins 71,000 euros in annual revenues). And this without creating a new rate of IR.While some lawmakers, like Senator Jean Arthuis centrist, still defend the idea, Nicolas Sarkozy is opposed to any new slice. Since the fall, the government has consistently rejected in Parliament every initiative of his majority to create a slice with 46% annual earnings per share in excess of 100,000 euros.

A million or 150,000 euros of income a year?

The Ministers of Economy and Budget has established a working group of parliamentarians who must propose measures in the fall, in the 2012 budget pay day loans. The idea of ​​the executive, initially was rather taxing high incomes via the company by making non-deductible from corporate tax wages above a certain level. But the government now seems to favor a direct taxation at the household level, a solution advocated by many parliamentarians.Gilles Carrez, the UMP rapporteur of the budget in the Assembly proposes to introduce a contribution of 1% to 2% of annual revenues in excess of one million euros.

Advantage: All income is affected, including dividends and capital gains, not just wages (as with the non-deductibility). The threshold of 1 million French can target very easy – 30,000 homes would be affected. "The measure must be a symbol. This is not to bail out of the state, "said Jerome Chartier, UMP du Val-d'Oise. In fact, 2%, the new tax would yield only 300 million (against $ 1 billion for the portion eg 46%). "Be careful not to pour into demagoguery and rich hunting. The contribution must be calibrated, "adds Philippe Marini, UMP rapporteur of the budget in the Senate.

Problem: all members do not see it that way.Pierre Mehaignerie, the UMP president of the Committee on Social Affairs in the Assembly hopes that the contribution applies from 150,000 to 200,000 euros in annual income for couples and 80,000 euros for a single. At this level, more than 300,000 homes were affected, including many executives. "I understand that. But our people are ready to make an effort if, at the same time, the state reform, "Pierre defends Méhaignerie. The animated discussions ahead in the majority!

ALSO READ:

"Silvio Berlusconi chooses to tax high incomes

"New tax on bonuses and high salaries



Still pending for a summit in the euro area. While Monday's major stock markets reopen on Tuesday, European capitals and investors will have their eyes on the meeting at the Elysee between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. After a week very rough on the markets, particularly in France, this meeting is an opportunity for two leaders to show their unity.

Above all, it will be the first public Angela Merkel, back from vacation, since the revival of the crisis.Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy "are among the few political figures on which the fate of the euro, the EU and Europeans," says the German newspaper center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung, adding that French President 's 'prepares to live the most important week of his career. "

The markets expect a lot of European leaders. Some analysts point to the inadequacy of the means used to protect the euro area at a time when the first signs of a contagion is observed in Spain and Italy. The European Stability charge to lend to countries in difficulty, and would not have sufficient financial resources to save Italy as if it fell before it, Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

Pooling of liabilities

Investors, but also the European Socialists are calling for the creation of "Eurobonds", which would sign the pooling of public debt in the euro area. If this had been established, it would have prevented the current crisis, said Saturday the Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti. Berlin is officially fiercely opposed, saying it would amount to finance the deficits of the least virtuous of the euro area. But the government no longer opposed Eurobond "to preserve the euro area" as a last resort, reports the conservative newspaper Welt am Sonntag quoted a government source no fax payday loans.

The Franco-German summit is unlikely to provide definitive answers on these two subjects.The German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble has dampened the hopes of the most optimistic in an interview published this weekend in the German magazine Der Spiegel: "We left there: there is no pooling of debt and no help to the infinity. There are support mechanisms, as we continue to develop, under strict conditions. "His French counterpart, Francois Baroin, for his part said he was working on" a convergence between France and Germany "about to a tax on financial transactions.

Most stubborn

The German government is already struggling to push through the reforms agreed at the EU summit on 21 July. In parliament, the majority balks, cooled by a public increasingly distrustful towards the euro. Angela Merkel's allies, the liberal FDP, and require strong counterparties in exchange for their support."With us there will be no blank check for the redemption of bonds of other countries" (a measure of support to countries in difficulty decided July 21) warned Sunday the leader of the FDP Rainer Brüderle. He wants a limit on the debt be written into the constitutions of all countries in the euro area, as is the case in Germany.

A sign of the tensions within the majority of Angela Merkel, President of the Bundestag, the upper house of German parliament, is reluctant to adopt reforms in the euro area in a timely manner by the government. "The subject is so important," he "will surely be impossible to pass it between 20 and 23 September," he said. One more reason to be anxious for the markets.

ALSO READ:

»COMPUTER GRAPHICS – Who holds the State debts

"SPECIAL – Depression, fear of debt



The Italian government, which has set a target to stop the speculative pressures of markets on Friday adopted an emergency order providing for a new austerity plan amounted to 45 billion euros over two years. These austerity measures designed to recover "20 billion euros in 2012 and 25 billion in 2013." Their adoption will enable Italy to cancel its public deficit to 3.9% today – by the end of 2013.

For the first time, the prime minister has agreed to weigh the tax burden with a "solidarity tax" on higher incomes. According to leaks distilled by the social partners, this contribution could rise to 5% for every € 10,000 for employees earning over 90,000 euros, and 10% in excess of 150,000 euros. Self-employed workers earning more than EUR 55,000 will be taxed at 41%. However estates and housing will remain free of taxation.A single tax of 20% will be charged on income from capital, currently 12.5% ​​against and 25% of bank deposits. The introduction of fiscal federalism will be early in 2012, the government hopes to make them more aggressive fight against tax evasion us fast cash. The bill payments in cash will be severely restricted. A single municipal tax will also be created.Finally, the Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti said, in an interview with representatives of regional and local authorities, that the government intended "to reduce the number of provinces (departments)" and "consolidate the common" – today the number of 8000.

Heavy sacrifices will be required to Italians in particular with regard to the welfare (social services and family) who will suffer next year the bulk of the effort (about 20 billion euros) all levels of social assistance and transfers to local governments will be affected. However the Northern League had opposed the cuts, pensions will be spared. Women in the private sector will be encouraged to continue working until age 65, or 7 years older than today.

ALSO READ:

"Tax increases and pension reform in Italy



Wall Street still frozen in the red. At midday, the Dow Jones unscrewed from 3.34% to 10,865 points, the Nasdaq 2.73% to loose 2415 points and the S & P lost 2.97% to 1138 points. As in Europe, signs of nervousness are palpable the day after a session rebound. The volume of trade is still very well fleshed out and heightened volatility. "At this stage, investors dizzy," says Oliver Pursche, president of Gary Goldberg Financial Services.

On Wednesday, Greece worried again. The country plans to expand its exchange program to include obligations of the securities in the longer term, which penalizes first private creditors. As the European markets, the banking sector is particularly attacked the image of Bank of America (-9.87%), Citigroup (-8.49%), Goldman Sachs (-7.76%), Morgan Stanley ( -7.52%), Wells Fargo (-6.17%) and JP Morgan Chase (-6.13%).

In addition, rumors of degradation of the note of the French debt by a rating agency revived fears about the health of the euro area. "These rumors are totally unfounded and the three agencies Standard and Poor's, Fitch and Moody's have confirmed that there was no risk of degradation," it was stated in the entourage of the Minister of Finance, Baroin.

Fear of a recession

In addition, operators are even very concerned about the state of the U.S. economy. Yesterday, the world stock markets have overreacted, and positive against all odds, to about the Fed. This has indeed ensured that it would maintain its rates at a historical low, and until mid-2013 to support the economy. Its leaders also promised various stimulus, but without specifying its content. It will probably wait until his final release in late August.On the merits, however, the Fed has painted a disturbing report from the world's largest economy. Growth, pointing in particular the U.S. central bank, is growing at an annual rate of less than 1% in the first half, where the institution expected, earlier this year, more than 3%.

The market was undergoing "fears about the economy, perhaps headed toward a new recession, and lingering concerns about the debt problems of the euro area," said Peter Cardillo, Rockwell Global Capital.

In contrast, oil prices were up sharply on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex). A barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery finished at 82.89 dollars, up 3.59 dollars compared to the previous day. Oil stocks have fallen dramatically and unexpectedly last week in the U.S., according to figures released by the U.S. Department of Energy.Crude inventories fell 5.2 million barrels to 349.8 million barrels in the week ended August 5. Analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast the contrary, an increase of 1.1 million barrels.

Note that the budget deficit of the United States continued to fall in July for the fourth consecutive month according to figures released Wednesday by the Treasury Department.The deficit stood at 129.4 billion dollars for the tenth month of the fiscal year 2010-2011, which began October 1, or 22% less than in July 2010, the ministry said.

Disney abused despite good results

On the business side, Cisco (-1.68% to 13.82 dollars) will unveil its results later this evening the fourth quarter, along with News Corp (-5.36% to 13.77 dollars).

Disney (-12.72% to 30.29 dollars) falls after the media group has yet announced quarterly results better than expected thanks to strong advertising revenue on its cable networks.

The title of U.S. internet group AOL (-8.85% to 10.20 dollars) has lost over a quarter of its value on Tuesday at the New York Stock Exchange after the release of disappointing quarterly earnings and lower forecasts. The stock has dropped 25.75% against the current of a market up sharply.The action even reached 10.36 dollars during the session, the lowest price ever since the split with Time Warner in 2009.

Facebook on Tuesday launched a new application for mobile phones iPhone (Apple) and those equipped with the Android operating system (Google) to send messages to his "friends" on social networking, but also to other contacts. Called "Messenger", the application can send both text messages (SMS) and email.

Apple (-1.11% to 369.85 dollars) briefly delighted yesterday to ExxonMobil, its position as the first market capitalization.



At the opening of Wall Street, the Dow Jones down 1.27% at 11,299 points. The Standard & Poor's 500 back, he, of 1.91% to 1176 points, while Nasdaq 100 fall more sharply from 3.3% to 2248 points. Degradation much faster than expected by Standard & Poor's sovereign rating of the United States, which had never been subject to such sanctions, NQIA weighs heavily on the U.S. indices, which react according to the European markets , widening their losses after trying the new perspective, and Asian, who finished Monday's session on heavy folds.

No rebound in early trading, then, this Monday on Wall Street, while Moody's said Monday it could, too, by 2013 reduce the debt rating of the United States if the budget outlook and economic deteriorated significantly.But she considers it possible in the meantime a new agreement in Washington to reduce the deficit.

At the time of the opening of Wall Street, stock markets around the world a little stung the nose: the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange fell 4.5% at the opening in Moscow, the RTS lost more 5%, while oil prices fell at the opening in New York, MICEX and yielded 3.58% to 1530.11 points. Featuring Dax index lost 3.07% to 6045.71 points and the MDAX plunged from 5.47% to 8635.11 points at the same time.

Menu macro loaded, with the FOMC in dish

This week, the lower macroeconomic indicator to take the pulse of a threatened U.S. growth will be expected to turn to investors.

Tomorrow, the productivity of U.S. companies in the second quarter and will be scrutinized closely.The risk is to see it getting more than expected, resulting in a logical breakdown of the job. Consumer confidence is also on the menu. But the final communique of the Monetary Policy Committee of the U.S. Federal Reserve (FOMC), from that Tuesday night will go to the most crucial.

Analysts and investors are wondering already if further monetary easing, (3 or quantitative easing "EQ3") can get out guaranteed payday loan. Unless it is an aid to banks, which could begin to experience problems of interbank liquidity, which is preferred. "In all cases, the reaction of short-term market is very uncertain …" says it does at Aurel BGC.

Friday, retail sales will be the second major economic meeting a week at high risk on financial markets worldwide."The sales figures published by the values ​​of the S & P 500 were clearly disappointing July, underline in this respect analysts Aurel BGC. But the report shows significant employment job creation in the distribution. A figure that looks very uncertain. " The trade balance in June should also be well attended.

Oil falls below $ 84 a barrel

Within the scope of the damage U.S. oil drop 3.67% to 83.69 dolars to 15.30. The euro, it is worth 1.4174 dollars (-0.81%). Gold, still he climbs to record highs, more than 1700 dollars.

Disney, Cisco and Sara Lee publish their results this week

Meanwhile, the business side, the publications of interim results are less numerous and can only remember very little attention to markets, obsessed by the European and U.S. sovereign debt.Walt Disney (-2.16% to 34.42 dollars) reveal particular accounts on Tuesday, ahead of Cisco in the matter and News Corp (Wednesday) and Nordstrom, Sara Lee, and Kohls (Thursday), and finally JC Penney ( Friday).

American International Group (AIG: -3.94% to 24.11 dollars) continues Bank of America (-6.61% to 7.63 dollars), calling him more than $ 10 billion (7 billion euros) losses related to mortgages, it said in the text of the complaint. According to this document, which Reuters obtained a copy, AIG believes it was misled by the bank about securities backed by mortgages, which caused losses. The insurer wants to sue Bank of America to the Supreme Court of the State of New York in Manhattan.



What are the consequences of a decline in the rating "AAA" American? The risk increases after a prolonged disagreement between Republicans and Democrats on the management of U.S. debt. The problem may seem far from the concerns of citizens, but U.S. President Barack Obama warned, "If we lose the AAA, everyone will pay more taxes. This will cause a rise in interest rates, which would have the same effect as raising taxes on all Americans. "And to raise the specter of rising rates of car loans on credit cards and in real estate.

Banks lend to their clients because at rates directly correlated to the performance of bonds. However, the higher the rating of a country, the lower the rates at which it must borrow increases.According to rating agency Standard & Poor's, the loss of "AAA" could cost between 0.25 and 0.5% growth rate in the United States. Analysis challenged by some economists, who point out that Japan, after seeing his note deteriorated in the early 2000s, had seen the contrary interest rates fall.

"Zero risk"

Still, never in the history of the United States has lost their prestigious note, despite a technical default part in 1979 (a few dates could not be met on time). It symbolized far "zero risk" to markets, which could buy U.S. debt with the confidence of being repaid.

A decline in the note, a real paradigm shift, "would affect the actions and change," warns Ciaran O'Hagan, strategist at Societe Generale. How much? Hard to say.The United States never lost their prestigious note, "the unprecedented nature of this reduction makes it difficult to determine all the ramifications of the financial markets and the economy," says agency Fitch.

Thus, it is not clear that the long-term investors seeking safe investments are fleeing the U.S. Treasury. For example, foreign central banks, which own 33% of U.S. debt, will not sell their shares, say analysts surveyed after UBS interested. According to Fitch, the Treasury will keep the short and medium term "their status as reference for interest rate markets."Clearly, there will be no widespread panic in the market for U.S. debt.

More than a threat to the United States themselves, "noted a deterioration in the U.S. crystallize the challenges for all developed countries, probably by opening the way for the degradation of other countries," says Jean- Baptiste Pethe, Exane BNP Paribas. If the U.S. lose their "AAA", France and the UK may well follow. The United States could then argue them, as Secretary of the Treasury Nixon had done about the dollar, "it is our rating, but your problem".

ALSO READ:

"Three scenarios around the U.S. debt

"Debt: the U.S. economy worries