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France wants to regulate rating agencies

France wanted Wednesday continued effort to regulate rating agencies, whose intervention in Greece, Portugal and Ireland are strongly criticized by the European Union.

"France considers that the effort to regulate rating agencies, which started in 2008, must continue and this is the direction we are going to work," said the spokesman for the French government, Valérie Pécresse.

The European Commission Wednesday sharply criticized the decision by Moody's placed the debt in the speculative grade Portuguese and warned it would take action against the rating agencies.

The Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, accused Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch to encourage speculation in the euro area.

During the proceedings of the French Council of Ministers, Valérie Pécresse, who is also Minister of Budget, indirectly criticized Moody's, without mentioning his name.

"The Portuguese government has taken very bold relief," she said. "It is especially important to let the Portugal work and not hasty judgments about the Portuguese situation that could compromise the recovery plan."

Asked about the ongoing discussions on private sector participation in the financial rescue plan for Greece, Valérie Pécresse stuck to generalities, and refused to comment on the plans currently on the table.

"This participation must not cause any default or credit event and must take the form of a rollover on exhibitions," she said."In this context we are working with our partners."

"There is a French proposal, there is a German proposal. We work together on these proposals," said Valerie Pécresse.

General strike in Greece against austerity

While the Greek Parliament examines a new austerity plan even stronger than the previous ones, the unions called a general strike of 48 hours. The euro area is preparing his side a "plan B". Greek unions have launched a new 48-hour general strike Tuesday, June 28 to protest against the austerity budget before Parliament.

Flights deleted, random power outages, canceled trains, banks closed: Greece will idle Tuesday, June 28, the first day of a general strike of 48 hours launched by unions to protest against the austerity budget review by Parliament. The unions oppose the measures in the plan: higher taxes and massive privatization.

Tuesday and Wednesday after three 24-hour general strikes since the beginning of the year, officials will strike again, banks closed and hospitals will work with staff on call. Journalists have announced their next work stoppages than five hours Tuesday and early Wednesday afternoon, which will affect especially the newspapers and websites broadcast information.

The austerity measures are intended to secure the payment by the country's creditors and the IMF-EU-a new tranche of money to Greece, which otherwise would be left at risk of default in July. Despite opposition from the street, the Socialist government expressed confidence in the ability of countries to take the step of discipline, through the adoption of multi-year plan of recovery and its implementing legislation.Votes are expected Wednesday and Thursday.

The vote seems certain austerity plan

Monday, George Papandreou urged Greek MPs to vote the proposed austerity budget submitted to them, so that the country to the brink, "stands". Greek Prime Minister, attempting to unite the government majority, which has 155 seats out of 300, said the vote "is a unique opportunity for the country stands." The new finance minister Evangelos Venizelos called on MPs to "get serious and unity (…) so that the coffers are not found empty at the beginning of July."

The ministers of the euro zone must meet July 3 to give the green light to the payment of the fifth tranche of the loan to Greece in May 2010, crucial for the country to honor its schedule in July and pay pensions and salaries.If the budget was not passed, Greece would be faced with the possibility of a default in the summer, with a global shock wave considered superior by some analysts to the effect on the markets by the failure of U.S. bank Lehman Brothers in September 2008.

However, if the new austerity program would be rejected, the euro area would work on a "plan B" to avoid bankruptcy of Greece and contagion to other countries, according to a European official. "We do not think what we're working, you can be certain," the source said speaking on condition of anonymity. The official said even in this case "the next step is not a default" of Greece. He declined to give details at this point.

There are no plans to restructure the debt of Greece, says IMF

Support programs that the International Monetary Fund and the European Union provide to Greece do not provide restructuring, said Friday John Lipsky, Acting Executive Director of the IMF.

"We have an ongoing program with the Greek authorities, supported by ourselves and with our European partners, and this program is not considering a debt restructuring or reshaping or anything," said John Lipsky in a Maintenance CNBC.

John Lipsky said that discussions were ongoing with Egypt and should lead to a major program of economic aid."We are currently under discussion but it seems likely that we'll end up with a plan of support for the Egyptian curriculum that will include perhaps three to four billion dollars in aid from the IMF on a 11 program to 12 billion dollars," said John Lipsky, which provides interim senior management after the resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Xavier Bertrand announced a further drop in unemployment

The Minister of Labour announced on Wednesday a drop in unemployment in April for the fourth consecutive month, without specifying numbers. Xavier Bertrand, in September 2010 in Biarritz at the UMP parliamentary days.

Labour Minister Xavier Bertrand said Wednesday on RTL that "unemployment will fall for the fourth consecutive month in April, official figures without giving job seekers to be announced in late afternoon. "The trend is downward. (…) This is good news," said the minister.

"We had not known it since the beginning of 2008, that is to say, before the crisis, and if you add the trend for youth employment which is good, the use of frames which improves, overtime resume (…), we realize that we are trying to draw a crisis, "he was still glad.The number of registered job seekers in April at job center will be officially known to 18h Wednesday.

COR – Nissan denies a project with Renault holding

Nissan Motor and Renault plan to do any combination of the two groups in a joint holding company, said Thursday the Japanese automaker, denied reports the Nikkei business daily.

According to an interview published in the Nikkei, Carlos Ghosn, CEO of both groups as well as the alliance they have formed, expressed such a project citing a transition period of two to three years before being put into place.

"There are currently no plans to establish a joint holding company comprising Renault and Nissan," said the Japanese group in a statement.

"An article published Thursday in the Nikkei corresponded to a misinterpretation of a long interview in which Mr.Ghosn said that the structure of the Renault-Nissan to remain dynamic, "said Nissan, Carlos Ghosn saying that" has not said or implied that Renault and Nissan, heading towards the establishment of a joint holding company ".

In an interview with Reuters in February, Carlos Ghosn said that the capital structure of the Renault-Nissan would be reviewed to improve the balance between the two groups. He then clarified that it would not go through a merger between two manufacturers, adding hopefully a decision within three years.

Shareholders urge Renault Carlos Ghosn to conduct a review of the ownership structure of the alliance with Nissan.Nearly $ 17 billion of capital from Renault are locked in its participation from 43.4% in Nissan. Currently, the market capitalization of the French group, in which the French state and Nissan each have a 15% interest, amounted to about $ 16 billion (11 billion euros).

In the interview with Nikkei, Carlos Ghosn reiterated that shareholders of both members of the alliance should be considered. He also dismissed the idea of ​​a merger outright, stating that this option always resulted in the loss of the identity of a partner.

Analysts remain divided on the issue.Some believe that boosting ties – including a full merger – would reduce the inefficiencies arising from the management of two separate companies.

Others have suggested the contrary to Renault to reduce its stake in its Japanese partner since one-third stake in him enough to ensure control.

According to the article in the Nikkei, the Russian manufacturer AvtoVAZ, owned 25% by Renault and the Romanian subsidiary of South Korean and French group, Dacia and Renault Samsung Motors, were also intended to join the joint holding.

Bringing together in a single umbrella structure entities from five different countries would both develop growth in these markets and reduce expenditures for plant construction and the establishment of commercial networks.

According to this article, Nissan sold 4.08 million vehicles worldwide in 2010, including one million in China.

The Renault shares opened up 2.7% at the Paris Bourse, the CAC 40 index which took 0.2%.

In Tokyo, Nissan has the title closed up 0.96% to 738 yen on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, where the Nikkei finished with a gain of 0.48%.

Unemployed at the end of rights: the plan is a flop Rebound

The plan would have benefited only Rebound 20,000 unemployed at the end of rights, while 325,000 were originally planned.

The National Ombudsman of employment center, Jean-Louis Walter, admitted Tuesday, March 22 that the plan to help unemployed at the end of rights was far from its targets, confirming the figures quoted by Le Parisien 20,000 325,000 beneficiaries provided origin. "At ten, to the nearest hundred I agree with the figures quoted by Le Parisien," said Jean-Louis Walter.

The plan Bounce, established in June 2010, is intended to some 325,000 unemployed exhausted their rights in 2010 and not entitled to any income replacement. It plans to offer a contract primarily aided or paid training, or special assistance monthly capped at around 460 euros and limited to six months.

The daily Le Parisien, only "8,000 unemployed in late fees would have got training, 4,000 and 8,000 contracts helped affect the interim assistance paid to the unemployed which we have offered training or assisted contract. According to the mediator, employment center, "there are no official figures on the operation," "it's radio silence on the subject."

"In agencies where there were lots of things to offer, our officers would not wait that people become long term unemployed. The long-term unemployed, this is not a magic wand but operations operations long term, "he said.

For its part, has estimated the employment center in a statement to 118,000 people the number of beneficiaries of the plan Bounced late October 2010: 35,000 people had received training paid and 75,000 received a subsidized contract.The exceptional assistance has been paid to 8,000 job seekers.

In November 2010, the Ministry stated that "128,000 unemployed workers exhausted their benefits had been offered a solution." A final evaluation plan results Rebound is underway and will be presented "in the coming weeks the board of directors," according to the employment center.

CORR – Nespresso is more than 3.5 billion Swiss fcs CA

The Swiss subsidiary of Nestlé Nespresso is a turnover of 3.5 billion francs in 2011, said Friday its chief executive.

"We'll continue to see double-digit growth," said Richard Girardot in an interview with Reuters in Lausanne on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the brand.

"Sales are expected to exceed 3.5 billion francs, and he is a conservative," he said, adding that Nespresso plans to open fifty new stores in 2011.

Sales of the brand, famous for its advertisements featuring the actor George Clooney, amounted to 3.2 billion francs last year.

About Japan, Richard Girardot has indicated that despite concerns, the company's activities should not be affected.

"No staff was injured.We are currently organizing the transfer of 41 employees to Kobe, "he said.

Among its sources of concern, the boss also spoke of Nespresso coffee prices and supply for high-quality grain.

"We will probably slightly increase our prices," he said, placing the fork within 5%.

In early March, the futures price of arabica have touched a high of 34 years, after which the crop yield was less than normal in Colombia, a major producer countries.

Demand for coffee pods has grown substantially in recent years which has encouraged the proliferation of competing products operating on different machines, such as Senseo, Sara Lee's U.S. or Tassimo Kraft Foods.

"For now, the coffee dose is about 8% of the total market for coffee.This share could double in ten years, "said Richard Girardot.

But products that are compatible with Nespresso machines have also emerged, which led Nestle to sue against manufacturers of compatible with Nespresso capsules, such as Sara Lee, Denner, a leading food retailer in Switzerland or Ethical Coffee.

Ethical Coffee, a company headed by former boss Jean-Paul Gaillard Nespresso, Nespresso has countered by accusing of having modified its machines to make them incompatible with the pods of the competition. Nespresso thus infringed a patent for Ethical Coffee.

"This is not true. We are Nestle, we respect the rules," said Richard Girardot.He stressed that the company began to sell machines equipped with a sort of hook in January 2010, before the pods do not see copies of the day. It was, he says, to avoid own Nespresso capsules remain trapped in machinery.

Japan: The meltdown of the reactors is possible

A third reactor at the Fukushima plant's turn to cooling problems while the state of emergency is still in force in three power plants. Follow the crisis hour by hour. The central Fukushima 1

– Another explosion took place in central Fukushima 1. She hit the reactor building No. 2. But as in the case of units 1 and 3, the containment is intact.

– The Japanese nuclear safety authority excludes a Chernobyl-type accident. Leaks are very important nevertheless been identified.

– 200,000 people were evacuated around the reactors in question. 190 have been irradiated.

– France calls on its nationals located away from the Tokyo region.

1:43 p.m.: The spokesman for the Japanese government is currently holding a press conference. If he recognizes the seriousness of the situation, it is reassuring.An explosion of Chernobyl-type is "unlikely", the radiation levels around the plant are "tolerable" and the work of cooling are "going with a good hope of success." He admitted however that a reactor core meltdown is "likely."

1:26 p.m.: excellent graphics (in English) The New York Times about stopping a nuclear reactor.

1:23 p.m.: Kyodo, could probably have two reactors in Fukushima partially melted 1.

1:21 p.m.: The government considers unlikely a big explosion in reactor No. 2 (Kyodo)

1:17 p.m.: the blimp that flies over Paris as the radioactivity present in the Paris France.But this operation was planned a long time, as confirmed Secrétatariat General for National Defence, quoted by AFP.

1:13 p.m.: steam – probably radioactive – Lax since reactor No. 2

24:28: Kyodo said that the fuel rods are again within 30 cm of water. One that is still very insufficient, expert says the Guardian.

24:23: power cuts occur in several prefectures, including Tokyo. It was planned and announced by TEPCO, which should reduce electricity consumption since the closure of several of its plants.

24:17: Kyodo confirms that the fuel rods are in the air.The risk is compounded fusion.

24:06: According to Jiji, a Japanese news agency, the merger can not be excluded in reactor No. 2.

12h05: Switzerland suspends its plans to renew nuclear power plants (Official)

12:03: The nuclear fuel rods from reactor No. 2 are completely in the open air because there is more water, because of the failure of the cooling system.

11:45: The agency Jiji said that engineers fail to cool the reactor No. 2 of Fukushima.

11:14: The rating agency Moody's expects "heavy losses" for insurers and reinsurers. the German Munich Re and Hannover Re, Scor French, Swiss, Swiss Re, Berkshire Hathaway the U.S., and PartnerRe and Everest Re Bermuda should record the highest gross losses.Scor lost 5% this morning at the Paris stock exchange.

10:30: The U.S. military says that his personal aircraft carrier, the Ronald Reagan sent to the coast affected, received doses equivalent to one month of natural radiation.

10.10am: There is absolutely no possibility of a Chernobyl, "said Koichiro Genba members of the ruling party, in reporting the opinion of the Agency for Nuclear and Industrial Safety.

9:45: The Japanese Nuclear Safety Authority has confirmed to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) about the explosion of Reactor No. 2 (see video of the plant in Fukushima. Nevertheless, the IAEA said that " the reactor building exploded but the safety cabinet was not damaged. The control room of Unit 3 is operational. "

9:30: "The situation is worrying" said Eric Besson, Minister for Industry, Energy and the Digital Economy."We're in a serious nuclear accident since it was leaked radioactive, but it is not a disaster," he said on France Inter.

9h20Après the explosion of reactor No. 2, TEPCO, the operator of the plant, trying to SCWI of seawater inside. He admits not knowing if the water has reached its target.

9am at the opening of the Bourse de Paris, as Areva yielded nearly 10%. EDF's by almost 5%. TEPCO lost 23.4% in the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

7am – 9am: Morning all radio stations are devoted to the crisis in Japan. The nuclear debate in France is strongly boosted.

8:24: TEPCO confirms that the cooling system of reactor No. 2 is also down. Those of Units 1 and 3 have been since Friday, the day of the earthquake and tsunami. The central Fukushima 1 includes 6 reactors in total.

7:21: The water level decreases in reactor No. 2 plant in Fukushima.Increasing difficulties to cool the heart.

6:20: start shedding. Electricity is alternately cut through the ward in northern Japan and the Tokyo area. TEPCO wants to regulate demand while the supply of electricity is hampered by the judgments of five nuclear power plants.

4:00: explosion at the reactor No. 3 at the Fukushima.

Sunday night: IRSN, Institute of Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety, confirms "leaks very important"

Japan: Images of disaster

The violent earthquake that shook Japan this Friday, has killed 337 people, according to a provisional toll. The earthquake caused a tsunami 10 meters high and caused extensive damage. The images of the disaster.Next Photo

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The trade deficit widens in January

In January, imports amounted to 40.2 billion euros, while exports amounted to only 34.31 billion.

The trade deficit widened from France in January, to 5.89 billion euros against 5.60 billion the previous month, seasonally adjusted data, reported Tuesday, March 8 Customs.

The events in North Africa and the Near and Middle East have led to renewed tension on the prices of natural hydrocarbons, said the Ministry of Finance on its website. As import volumes also increased, the bill grew by almost 600 million euros.

Manufactured imports also rose, "to meet the influx of orders late last year, before the extinction of scrapping. In January, imports reached 40.20 billion euros after 38.88 billion in December.

The increase in exports was more moderate: it reached 34.31 billion euros in January, after 33.82 billion in December. Aerospace exports, chemicals and pharmaceuticals in particular have declined "considerably", according to the Ministry of Finance.