Economic conditions continued to improve in the United States in January-February, "although harsh snowstorms in early February have dampened activity in several regions," according to the Beige Book released Wednesday by the U.S. central bank (Fed).
The document states that the activity has increased in nine of the twelve regions (by cutting the Fed), but that "in most cases, these improvements were small.
The information provided by the Beige Book are very important because they serve as a reference to the meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Fed scheduled for March 16, which will decide on changes in interest rates.
Regarding the labor market, for which the Fed chairman, Ben Bernanke, gave recently bleak outlook before Congress, the document notes that "the pace of layoffs has slowed in most regions, but that hiring plans of companies remain "soft in general."
As for expenditure on household consumption, traditional engine of growth of the country which is struggling to regain its role, they "grew slightly in many areas, but have been hampered in some by the snowfalls of early No teletrek payday advance .000 Points.
In Europe, the main squares are continuing their sharp fall, including leaded by fears concerning Greece, Spain and Portugal.
Moreover, the dollar continued its rise Friday. The European currency rose to 1.3648 dollars on Friday morning, under $ 1.37 per euro.but after the employment figures, the euro rose back above that threshold.
At the same time, commodity prices fell, oil Thursday evening closing down 5% to 73.14 dollar per barrel. This Friday, oil prices continued their fall, while an epidemic of risk aversion continued to hit commodities, the euro and equity markets, and anxiety remained high in a few hours of report U.S. employment.
Airgas to follow
Toyota should be on the radar screens of investors as the group has apologized publicly.The Japanese auto giant Toyota, which suffered a barrage of criticism and lawsuits after recalling millions of cars affected by technical faults, was Friday denied concealing these issues publicly and said that its cars are "safe".
Kraft Foods has confirmed that regulators had approved its bid for Cadbury.
Airgas has increased by over 42% yesterday on the Stock Exchange after Air Products has offered 5.1 billion dollars to buy its rival.
The moral of households deteriorated slightly in December, the index dropping one point to -31, according to figures released Tuesday by the INSEE. "Although significant increase from its historically low level of late 2007, the indicator remains well below its average level over the last fifteen years," notes the INSEE.
More to come …
No rest for the CAC 40. The latter has just enrolled in early trading Monday to its highest level in 2009, three days before his last meeting of the year. The flagship index of the Paris Bourse is indeed 0.7% to 3940 points 20 minutes after opening. For its part, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange broke the 6,000 points.
Optimism seems to be placed on international markets. In Asia, indices were equally oriented, taking advantage of such remarks by the Chinese premier, who has called for further fiscal stimulus in his country.
The British markets will be closed at the Boxing Day. No indicator is expected today, neither Europe nor the United States.
Values follow
EDF is 0.86%, GDF Suez wins 1.58%, Areva lost 1.92%, and Total is 0.78%.This is the South Korean consortium has won the contract for 40 billion dollars in the UAE for the construction and operation of four nuclear reactors. The French consortium comprising the four energy groups, one given time favorite is defeated.
Societe Generale is 0.52%. The group could have a new shareholder in the person of the Russian businessman Vladimir Potanin. The shareholder of Norilsk Nickel said Friday it was considering the possibility of taking a minority stake after 2010.
The message is clear: "It's a test, as we realize many in our restaurants and we do not communicate on the tests. This is hardly the teams in the chain of fastfood confirm the information already given by the press. It must be said that full debate on national identity, Quick fears may be amalgams and passionate reactions. The chain of fast food tested so discreetly, since November 30, sale of hamburger meat halal certificates in support-eight of its 350 French restaurants. The market is booming in France, carried by a growth rate of over 10%. Five million French regularly consume these products, and turnover of the sector reached four billion euros in 2009, well ahead of the "organic" and its 2.6 billion results.
Eight restaurants tests
The experiment should last a few months, six by the daily Le Parisien, and on fast-food Argenteuil and Garges-les-Gonesse in the Val d'Oise, Yvelines Buchelay in Marseille, Toulouse, Villeurbanne in Roubaix and the Rhone.
The question of extending the dissemination of these new products to other restaurants in the Hexagon will decide only after the test "if the commercial interest of the offer and its technical feasibility is confirmed" says Quick. The use of halal meat and non-halal in the same kitchens that require good logistics. Quick would be the first major chain to enter the niche. McDonald's, the number 1 burger, confirmed that he had not yet put in place similar project.
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