"Do you accept the initiative for the right to a minimum wage?" This is the question that will meet future inhabitants of the cantons of Geneva and Neuchâtel. These referendums initiated by the formation of Solidarity and the left supported by the unions and the Socialist Party, are the subject of vigorous debate for several months. If the yes vote, it would be the first time that the Swiss cantons would establish a minimum wage equivalent.
The initiative does not specify the amount. But his supporters agreed on 22 francs an hour, … 4 000 francs per month (3,263 euros) for a full-time or 42 hours per week."It sounds a lot, but the cost of living is very high in Switzerland," says Jean-Christophe Schwaab, secretary of the central Swiss Trade Union (ASU).
According to the Federal Office of Statistics, more than 4% of assets, or 150,000 people, are "working poor" and make less than 2,200 francs (1,800 euros) per month. No, Switzerland, floor wage applying to all. Some minima are defined in sectoral collective agreements but all trades do not have such agreements.
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.
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Aug
30
The day after a session sharply higher on Wall Street and in Asia, the Paris market continued its rebound sharply on Tuesday after rising 2.2% Monday. At the opening, the benchmark index of the Paris Bourse was awarded 1.22% in 3192, 69 points. But at midday, the CAC 40 is pressed into the red with shortness of breath and banking stocks before the release of U.S. indicators
Yesterday on Wall Street indices ended the session up 2.2% for the Dow and the Nasdaq 3.3% driven by the consumption figures in the United States. Asian markets followed suit with their American counterparts. In Tokyo, the Nikkei was up 1.22% to 8959.75 points while unemployment is again on the rise for the second consecutive month in July and that retail sales fell by 0.3% from June
The correct orientation of financial markets has boosted oil prices.Asian markets, the Nymex is trading at 87.49 dollars, he finished in 87.27 dollars in New York, up $ 1.90 from Friday. Brent crude traded him to 112.17 dollars.
On the front of the foreign exchange market, the euro continues to rise slightly against the greenback, moving always on top bar $ 1.45. At about 8 am in Paris, the European currency was worth 1.4528 dollars against 1.4510 dollars late Monday.
Fears about the health of banks
The day before, call to order by Christine Lagarde bound for European banks has prompted European leaders to defend the institutions of the old continent. "European banks are much better capitalized today than they were a year ago. This was confirmed by stress tests conducted in July, "assured the Commissioner of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn.
But on Tuesday, it was the turn of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to throw fuel on the fire. The IASB believes that the provisions made by banks and European insurers about their exposure to Greek debt have been dumped, reports the Financial Times. According to the newspaper, BNP Paribas and CNP Assurances are particularly concerned by this risk. BNP Paribas is stable at 34.41 euros and CNP Assurances does not earn more than 0.20% to 12.35 euros.
Also Tuesday, the president of MEDEF, Laurence Parisot, in turn criticized the words of Christine Lagarde, saying his statement "incomprehensible. European banks are strong. And for French banks, we must bear in mind that we have banks among the strongest in the world, "said the boss of bosses of Europe 1.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also generally lowered its economic growth forecasts for 2011 and 2012, leaving unchanged the forecast of Germany for the current year.
Still on macroeconomic indicators will be out today. Before trading, the markets did not take umbrage at the publication of a fall, but strong early sales of new homes in the second quarter in France.
Economic Confidence Index, published by the European Commission, fell to 98.3 points against 103 points in July. This is the sixth consecutive decline. Throughout the European Union, the confidence of business leaders and consumers has declined even more significantly, by 5 percentage points to 97.3 points, against 102.3 points in July.
Are also expected in mid-day figures for business failures.
Overseas, the index of consumer confidence, the housing (Case-Shiller) and the minutes of the last Fed meeting will also facilitate the session.
Arcelor-Mittal is growing in Australia
On the corporate side, Arcelor-Mittal (1.60% to 14.58 euros) is about to take control of Australia's Macarthur, world's largest producer of pulverized coal, in association with the American Peabody Energy . The tender offer made by the European steel amounts to 5.16 billion dollars. Macarthur's management finally yielded to the new offer revised upwards by the Arcelor-Peobody tandem: it is 16 Australian dollars (11.8 euros) per share, against A $ 15.50 earlier.
The semi-annual publications are now many, especially among heavyweights rating.Note that the Y real, Havas, Bouygues, Colas, Vinci, Bollore, NRJ Group and Devoteam detail their half-year after the market closes.
In addition, Ipsen (6.12% to 23.50 euros) announced revenues up 5.3% in the first half. He also announced an upward adjustment of its sales forecast for 2011 in favor of a less pronounced decline than expected sales in general practice.
The French shipowner CMA-CGM said that 2011 should be "a good year" for the group, claiming to have already funded the bulk of its investments for 2011 and 2012.The company said to have $ 1.7 billion (1.17 billion euros) in cash at the end of June, July and have paid $ 550 million bond line, while press reports evoked ago few weeks of possible cash flow problems.
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The ocean depths to the financial markets, there is sometimes a step … that the U.S. company Odyssey Marine Exploration Exploration has already passed! Like the leader of the search for shipwrecks listed on the New York Stock Exchange since November 2003, other companies specializing in the maritime treasure hunting, smaller fund will come on the market and join the ranks of actors of the industry.
Even if the secret is king in the realm of salvors, one thing is certain: the hunt for sunken treasure under the sea can pay big dividends. Odyssey Marine Exploration, one of the few companies to communicate about its activities, has won the moon in September 2003 with the discovery of the Republic, an American steamer full of gold coins that sank off the coast of Georgia in 1865.After twelve years of research, American society has gotten hold of a booty containing nearly $ 400,000 of the coins in time, a current value between 120 and 200 million dollars. The company has retained 90% of the cargo. Odyssey was also able to develop products derived from this expedition. This discovery was also made flame the action of the group in exchange. And the eyes of the officers, "the 20 million spent on research is only one drop of water compared to the potential value remains of the Republic."
And if the gold and precious stones continue to dream the salvors, they are not the only treasure of value. Coins, guns, cups, bottles and even old cargo of raw materials can also be rewarding.Thus the British company Blue Water Recoveries, established in 1995, has collected 23,000 tons of precious metals through its research of wrecks.
Thirty wrecks profitable to recover
But finding a wreck diving at a cost. According to Unesco, nearly 3 million shipwrecks littering the ocean depths, but only a thousand of them contain enough valuables to recoup research.
The investigations carried out to find shipwrecks hundreds of feet deep are indeed very expensive. It requires a technologically advanced equipment and crews experts, for shipments that can last for months or even years. Besides the work prior to the launch of an operation: tracking down archival maps and documents all able to identify and map potential treasures.John Morris, co-founder and CEO of Odyssey Marine Exploration and felt "less than thirty wrecks are financially attractive to recover" all over the world.
In addition, the development of technology makes the research more accessible and attracts treasure hunters. The funds of the world's oceans are scrutinized. Shipments are mainly carried out by Anglo-Saxon societies run by financiers. In this context, John Morris believes that "all the wrecks are likely to have been visited in ten years: our niche is very limited." A race against time is thus committed, sometimes in defiance of the rules.
Regulations wrecks hardens
In late 2007, Odyssey has been unraveled court.American society has gotten hold of the treasure of the "Black Swan", code name given to the mysterious shipwreck discovered off the coast of Gibraltar and which Odyssey has kept the cargo of 17 tons of gold and silver. Problem, Spain claimed ownership of the vessel and the treasure and she wants to recover the loot and the location coordinates of the wreck, kept secret.
In fact, the marketing of the treasures of the sea is governed by laws. The cargo must be declared and identified only the treasures found in international waters can be preserved, provided that vessels not flying the flag recovered Spanish, English, French or American, if not the rights of loot then return to the countries concerned. And Unesco is trying to further tighten the laws to limit the looting.The United Nations estimates that particular decade, almost three wrecks were destroyed and exploited commercially in Asia, and regrets for each looting of 500,000 objects.
In France now, "all the maritime discoveries belong to the state," said the Department of underwater archaeological research and submarine, affiliated to the Ministry of Culture. However, the rewards are awarded to the discoverers of wrecks and treasures.
A researcher from the body of wreckage hunt bin Laden
The hunt Seabed no longer the sole purpose of finding gold and other fabulous booty. Recently, a researcher of wreckage and chose to leave the body in search of bin Laden.Bill Warren, a famous scholar of American wreck, wants to prove to skeptics the death of the leader of the terrorist organization Al Qaeda, and touch in passing a premium of $ 25 million. To do this, the diver of 59 years will probe the northern Arabian Sea to find the body of the former number one enemy of the United States. But according Sciboz Bertrand, also a researcher of wreckage, "a body search in the Arabian Sea while there are 2000 meters deep, this operation is totally impossible."
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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!
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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.
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Backlash. Banks, which had caused the market collapse in the fall of 2008, are caught by the crisis of states. Investors expressed their concerns about sovereign debt and the prospects of sluggish global economic growth, by sanctioning the financial sector on the stock market. The European banking index, the Stoxx 600 Banks, Tuesday and hit its lowest level in two years at 147.51 points. In one month, the U.S. Citigroup, the UK Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) or the French Societe Generale lost nearly 30% of their market value. On both sides of the Atlantic, however, banks face the storm in better shape than two years ago.
At once massive recapitalizations – 100 billion euros for the only European banks – the institutions have strengthened their balance sheets. But the suspicion now exceeds basic banking.European side is of course the exposure to sovereign debt that is hunted. To reduce their deficits and repay their loans, the States' policies of fiscal austerity and hope to revive economic growth. The prices of banks are very sensitive to the beam of bad news on the front of growth.
Thus, the spiral of concern about the third largest economy in the euro zone, Italy, has greatly affected the French institutions. End of 2010, according to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), their commitment to the Italian economy amounted to 393 billion dollars, almost half of the commitments of European banks.
In this context, investors expect, without much hope, strong signs of governments and the ECB."Many banks, especially Italian or Spanish, can not refinance at the current level of spreads, said Yves Le Cocheca, manager at CQS. The risk is therefore forced to see the ECB to increase its rate of liquidity at a time when the European banking system is facing more than 1000 billion of maturities in the next eighteen months. "Deposits banks with the ECB had "increased massively. It's a bad sign, "acknowledged Tuesday a member of the Board of Governors, Ewald Nowotny. Last Friday, they reached 134.8 billion euros, close to the highest level of the year in February. A rapid implementation of bailout Greek send a first message of confidence. Especially as the growing doubts about the level of discount that will pass the institutions participating in the plan payday loans no teletrack.With the exception of the insurer Axa, all French financial provisions have spent up to 21% of their outstanding debt to Greece, when RBS, for example, opted for a discount of 50%.
Subprime bill
U.S. side, it is not so much the loss of "AAA" rating of the sovereign or political differences on the treatment of debt madden investors, but the economic slowdown and its impact on the housing market. The control of the nationalized insurer, AIG, to sue Bank of America to recover more than 10 billion of losses on securities backed by mortgages, has not eased the climate. Banks may find themselves forced to pay a subsequent part of the bill of subprime. The medium-term prospects are hardly more reassuring.The IMF in the next two years, global banks will have to refinance to the tune of 3.6 trillion dollars, markets, stormed by sovereign states …
Shareholders' equity under pressure
The ratings downgrade of the sovereign debt of the United States will cause a shock to the global economy if it leads to alienation of investors for U.S. securities and in its wake a rise in interest rates. A scenario that has not materialized yet.The impact of the decision by Standard & Poor's short-term should be limited to a slight increase in the cost of borrowing for the Authority and U.S. government agencies.
The Federal Reserve has indeed ensured that the degradation would be no need for additional capital for banks, insurance companies and other institutions exposed to U.S. debt.
A spokesman for the central bank said the loss of "AAA" will not affect his view of the quality of U.S. Treasury: banks can still make these securities as collateral in its refinancing operations without paying fees additional.
The Basel Committee, responsible for European banking regulation, did not, however, expressed on the issue.The new supervisory body, Basel 3, which will take effect in 2019, encourages schools to hold sovereign debt, both in its solvency requirements only on the foreheads of the liquidity ratios. "Basel 3 has prompted banks to downgrade their balance sheets by holding much larger quantities than necessary sovereign debt, now decommissioned," so sorry Bonnevay Frederick, a partner at Anthera Partners.
The era of good times is over. China, which for years received lessons in economic policy by the United States, primarily relating to foreign exchange, takes revenge. While S & P has to sacrifice the triple A of the United States, Beijing, the largest holder of U.S. bonds in the world – by far, with 1,160 billion of U.S. Treasuries in the drawers according to figures from Washington published last May – now estimated to have "every right to require U.S. to address their structural problems of debt."
The Chinese government estimates that S & P has only confirmed a "horrible truth". One that was highlighted by the rating agency Dagong China, which has degraded the U.S. triple-A immediately after the agreement to raise the debt ceiling.She said "the days of Uncle Sam, crippled with debt, could easily squander endless amounts of borrowing from abroad seem numbered. (…) In order to treat his addiction to debt, the U.S. must restore the principle of common sense that we must live within its means. " For Dagong, the note of the United States increased from A + to A with, again, a negative outlook. According to the official Xinhua news agency, the adoption by Congress of a text to avoid a default of the United States failed to defuse "the bomb of debt." This failure to control U.S. borrowing could affect the "well-being of hundreds of millions of families in the United States and abroad," she lamented a few days ago.
In other countries, tempers
In France, Baroin, Minister of Economy, trying to reassure.First European official to respond to the thunder of the deterioration in the sovereign rating of the debt of the United States, he ensured that France "has full confidence in the strength of the U payday loans with no fax.S. economy and its fundamentals, and in the U.S. government's determination to implement the plan that was approved by Congress this week. "
Japan, the second creditor of the United States, said that its policy of buying U.S. bonds remained unchanged despite lowering their score. "Our confidence in U.S. Treasuries and their attractiveness as an investment will not change because of this action," said a Japanese government official told Dow Jones Newswires.Japan, which is trying by all means to curb a flight of its currency against the greenback, has no interest in selling its dollar assets for now since it would only strengthen the yen.
In South Korea, senior officials of the Ministry of Finance held an emergency meeting Saturday to analyze the consequences of the downgrade. But the government has warned against overreaction. "We need not be too worried about our economy and financial markets," said Deputy Finance Minister Yim Jong-yong. An Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has also called for calm markets. "At the same time, the other two major agencies, Moody's and Fitch continue to note the U.S. economy AAA. So I think people need to consider all the facts, "she said.In the Philippines, a spokesman for the Presidency said that the downgrade by S & P was "to some extent a wakeup call for the U.S. begin to seriously address their economic problems. We have confidence in their ability to do so. "
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CEO of TF1, Nonce Paolini, confirmed that he filed with the Higher Audiovisual Council an application for free for its continuous news channel, LCI. He stated that the free market is the right thing for news channels. "There is room for three news channels," he said in a conference with analysts. The television group should indeed file with the Higher Audiovisual Council a request to enter the free streaming news channel, LCI and BFM TV come and compete, owned NextRadio TV and i-TV, that of Canal +. But even before this request may be made, TF1 is already under the spotlight.
The subsidiary of the Bouygues group has indeed provided a strong rebound in net income increased 60% in first half year on year, to 118.6 million euros.As for further cost reductions, the television group posted a net increase in operating income over one year, 78.6% to 186.5 million euros. The cost of the grid of the TF1 channel has in fact declined by 482.6 million euros to 423.6 million. Good performance hailed by investors since the title was climbing to 11 hours of 6.80% to 13.59 euros, the largest increase in the SBF 120. One of its main competitors, M6, which must also publish its results on Tuesday but after-hours trading, climbing from 0.77% to 15.74 euros. Meanwhile, the Cac 40 was down 0.57%.
This policy of cost reductions initiated since 2008 had been welcomed on Friday by the U.S. rating agency, Standard & Poor's, which had raised a notch note of the group, believing that these savings would result in a better rentatibilité easy payday loans.The TF1 group has recorded a marked improvement in its operating margin, which has doubled in a year to reach 18.8%. "These statistics confirm, quarter after quarter, the effectiveness of measures taken to change positively the economic model of the group" welcomed the television group, which has however avoided giving details of its profitability target medium term.
Advertising revenue, "no particular concern" (Paolini)
In contrast, sales of the TF1 Group, which owns the Eurosport channel, TMC or LCI, fell slightly from 0.5% to about 1.3 billion euros. "Unlike last year, TF1 did not broadcast major sporting events (like World Cup soccer)," the statement said.Before the analysts, Nonce Paolini said he did not have "specific concerns" about the evolution of advertising revenue. The group is pleased to return to growth in advertising revenues in the second quarter (+0.7%) after a decline of 2.6% over the first three months of the year. Of all the activities, the advertising revenue shows an increase of 4.7% to 905.2 million euros. "The group remains more than ever mobilized to consolidate its leading position in the field of information and entertainment on the TV market and / or free," says TF1.
This slight decline in sales, however, makes the television group cautious about the stability of the whole of 2011. It evokes a persistent lack of visibility on the changing conditions.
The CAC 40, which is ironed Thursday to above 4000 points, failed to show a third straight session of gains. At the close, the CAC 40 index shows a sharp decline of 0.92% to 3990, 85 points. aaccentué market downturn after his decision known to the rating agency Fitch lowered the rating by three notches from Greece.
For the week, the CAC declined slightly by 0.70%.
Ala London Stock Exchange, the FTSE-100 ended with a slight decline of 0.14%, while the Stock Exchange Frankfurt, the Dax 30 shrank more sharply by 1.26%.
On the macroeconomic front, the deficit of the balance of current accounts in the euro zone rose to 4.7 billion euros in March, against 6.5 billion euros in February, according to preliminary figures released Friday Bank European Central Bank (ECB).
The euro continues to rise
This fragile economic environment in the United States enjoys the euro continues to rise, albeit less strongly in mid-session, against the dollar. In one week, the single currency rose to 1.4272 dollars from 1.41 dollars.
In midday trading, a barrel of oil, light sweet crude for June delivery gained 0.65% to 99.57 dollars.
Siemens will pay 648 million euros Areva
Sanofi-Aventis: -1.28% to 54.04 euros
The anti-arrhythmic Multaq group Sanofi, marketed in France since October 2010 and currently reimbursed at 65%, is threatened with delisting, but the final decision remains subject to such a hearing of the laboratory, according to La Tribune.
Areva: 1.59% to 30.63 euros
Areva must be "within fifteen days" a check for 648 million euros from Siemens, according to an arbitration Thursday by the International Chamber of Commerce. The group with the Executive Board is chaired by Anne Lauvergeon accused the German group for its commitment with the Russian Rosatom even before he uttered his divorce with the joint venture Areva NP.
GDF Suez: -1.19% to 26.09 euros
On the corporate side, an employee of GDF Suez made a suicide attempt on May 14, immolation by fire.The framework of management information systems from Lyon is currently in critical condition.
Vallourec: -1.13% to 86.91 euros
Bollore sold two thirds of its stake (3.5%) in Vallourec for 275 million, pocketing a profit of 141 million euros.
PPR: +0.25% to 121.85 euros
PPR "take the time necessary" to make acquisitions and divestitures, "said CEO Francois-Henri Pinault, during the group's general assembly yesterday.He added that the luxury group still holds 42% stake in CAM after its IPO in late 2009.
Suez Environment: -0.32% to 15.37 euros
Suez Environment has confirmed its objectives for 2011, an increase of more than 5% of turnover and over 10% of gross operating income.
Biomerieux: 2.33% to 77.38 euros
Biomerieux will acquire the control specialist microbiological industry AES Laboratoire for 183 million euros. Under the strategic plan 2015, BioMerieux is an annual organic growth in sales of 7 to 9% on average.
Pierre & Vacances: 1.55% to 54.36 euros
Pierre & Vacances buys 50% of managers of tourist residences Citéa a subsidiary of Nexity. The transaction amount was not disclosed should be finalized in late June