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BP would have triggered the sale of its assets in Alaska

BP has relaunched the sale of its assets in Alaska after the collapse of talks for a sale to the American Apache in July, the Financial Times reported Monday.

Citing banking sources, the newspaper reported that Apache, which is based in Houston, Texas, is still face potential buyer.Occidental Petrolem Corp., another U.S. group, could also show interest.

The Financial Times says it is not known yet whether the British staff intends to sell its entire 26% stake in the Prudhoe Bay oil field, which includes a right of exploitation of the deposit payday loans.

BP is also in talks to sell assets in Vietnam and Venezuela as part of its plan to sell $ 30 billion to finance the cost of oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

On Friday, the oil group said that the cost of the disaster reached eight billion dollars now.

Nestlé completes sale of Alcon to Novartis

Nestle announced Thursday it had finalized the sale of Novartis's 52% that remained in Alcon for $ 28.3 billion (22.3 billion euros).

Nestle has received a total of 41 billion dollars selling American specialist in ophthalmology, if one takes into account the three stages of disinvestment, namely the initial IPO of 23.25% in 2002, sale of 24.8% in 2008 and the last transaction with Novartis, conducted Wednesday, said the world number one agribusiness in a statement.

Nestle, which had acquired Alcon in 1977 for 280 million dollars, now intends to "significantly reduce its net debt, which amounted to 29.6 billion at end June 2010.

Novartis now controls 77% of Alcon and its later clarified in a separate statement that its initial tranche of 25% had already recorded a gain of $ 200 million for the year.

The integration costs of $ 140 million, spread over three years and will save annual synergies of 200 million dollars, said pharmaceutical group.

This year however, will be impacted by charges of 140 million, including transaction costs.

The acquisition will be neutral to earnings per share in 2010 and 2011 but should be accretive as this year for basic EPS ('core').

Novartis is now looking to buy the remaining 23% but the independent directors of Alcon opposed to the proposed price of 2.8 shares per share Novartis Alcon, which is 15% less than the $ 168 per share paid Nestlé.

Swiss law allows Novartis to adopt such an approach but does not guarantee the success of its offer to minority shareholders.

New fall in unemployment in France in July

The stabilization of the labor market was confirmed in July in France with an increasing decline in youth unemployment and a rise in job vacancies so that the executive is preparing a return to social and political agitation.

The number of jobseekers in category A, which includes those without work and actively seeking employment, fell for the second consecutive month, declining by 14,400 (-0.5%) last month in France, to 2,676,600 people.

He declined 8,600 (-0.3%) in June, which was the second decline year after the March.

By adding job seekers engaged in a Pool (Class B and C), the number of unemployed increased by 0.1%, however in a monthly basis in July (+5.300) for an increase of 8.1% year on year to 3,963,800 people (4,208,300 including Dom).

"It's positive, we have for the second consecutive month falling unemployment.It's an indication of stabilization of unemployment, "said Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde in an interview with Reuters.

"We have a range of indicators is positive and give us hope that this trend early (…) will probably keep", she added, citing the purchase intentions, ocean freight, advertising, the interim, the recovery of stocks, investments and consumption.

"Who says less of job seekers said wages and therefore more consumption and at the level of public finances, less unemployment and thus a situation of public finances Unedic-improved," continued Christine Lagarde while the government is preparing the draft budget 2011 will be announced in late September.

The executive confirmed last week its goal of bringing the deficit of France in 6% of GDP next year despite the lowering of a half-point to 2.0%, its growth forecast economy.

DOWN FOR THE YOUNG, THE RISE FOR OVER 50 YEARS

The upturn on the labor market due to an accelerated decline in youth unemployment.

Job offers collected by job center for their part, returned to the increase.

Among youth under 25 years, the number of unemployed declined by 2.8% in group A compared to June fell by 1.8% in one year.For categories A, B and C, the youth unemployment down 0.2% on month but a 1.8% increase over one year.

Job offers collected by Pole employment grew 3.6% in July in France and show an increase of 12.7% over one year.They were down by 0.6% in June from the previous month increased 7.1% over one year.

The long-term unemployed and those over 50 years, however, continued to grow.

For over 50 years, unemployment has increased by 0.8% in group A (+17.6% yoy) and 1.1% for the three main categories (+17.1% on year).

The number of long-term unemployed – registered at employment center for a year or more – rose 0.8% in July for categories A, B, C with a mass increase that is over one year (+27.6% ).

The detailed statistics also shows that entry to public service employment in Class A, B and C were down 2.4% from June, down 4.4% year on year.

The outputs of the same categories are in the same time remained stable but rose 4.1% over one year. Among them, radiation administrative advances of 7.3% compared to June, the search stops 11.5% and entries on probation by 17%.

The French economy has created 23,900 jobs in the market sector in the first quarter with growth of the economy by 0.1% and 35,000 in the second quarter with growth accelerated to 0.6%.

Unemployment according to ILO will be published Sept. 2 by INSEE. He stood at 9.5% in the first quarter (9.9% in counting overseas departments), the highest since the fall of 1999.

Puma sees an increase in its adjusted operating profit in 2010

Puma anticipates an increase in its adjusted operating profit in 2010 compared to 2009, the global economic recovery had a positive effect on demand for sporting goods.

In exchange, Puma loses 2.6% in the first exchanges in a market up slightly.

The world's third largest industry, behind the U.S. and fellow Nike Adidas, had a first revised upwards its 2010 targets in April.

He then said he planned to grow its annual turnover between 0% and 5% but closer to the bottom of this range, and a growth of at least 70% of its taxable income.He confirmed that goal Thursday.

Consumer confidence has reached a peak of 26 in July in the euro area, which gradually takes shape of the debt crisis but the longer-term prospects remain uncertain.

The adjusted operating profit came out of Puma up 1.7% to 64.1 million euros in the second quarter, slightly below a Reuters poll that gave 69 million.

Turnover increased 2.5% to 615.4 million euros (consensus of 628 million), while net income increased by 16.4% to 44.8 million (consensus: 49.1 million).

The subsidiary of PPR, which also announced Thursday the launch of a share repurchase program, has a PER of 13.7, whereas it is 15.1 to 17.1 for Adidas and Nike, according to Thomson Reuters StarMine.

The action gives 2.3% to 230.45 euros in early morning.

Spir stabilizes its margin despite a further fall in sales

Spir Communication has again suffered in the first half of the decline in sales in the free advertising press, but cost reductions have allowed it to stabilize its margin.

The media group and distribution of printed materials and packages still struggling to develop its model based on formerly free press announcements, but he expects further restructuring to achieve its objective of restoring the balance operational 2010.

Spir has declined by about 10% of its total turnover in the first half to 280.7 million euros, with a fall of 15% of cluster media, press and internet, and 6% of the segment distribution of printed advertising.

"In the context of an advertising market remains uncertain, Spir Communication is continuing its transformation and is maintaining its target for operating profit to breakeven in the year 2010," the group wrote in a statement.

The operating margin improved slightly semester to 1.7% (+0.2 points) thanks to cost efficiencies, including through a plan for adapting the press division, started in 2009, which reduced by 22% operating losses of this segment in the first half.

The group aims to reduce the share of sales made in the traditional activities of the press free to print ads in favor of a growth in Internet sales.

The press had in the first half for nearly 30% of total turnover, against 12% for sales generated by the division of Internet media.

The action Spir stable closed Tuesday at 16.40 euros in a market capitalization of just over 100 million euros.

Tokyo stocks end down 0.23%

The Nikkei ended down 0.23% Wednesday, penalized by concerns about the strong yen and doubts over the sustainability of U.S. economic recovery.

The Nikkei lost 21.63 points to 9,278.83 and the broader TOPIX, sold 2.9 points (0.35%) to 829.35.

While studies suggest that the Chartists fall posted recently by the Japanese stock markets draws to a close, the lack of enthusiasm shown by the indicators U.S. leaves investors hungry.

The other major concern is the expectations raised by the publication Friday of the test results of resistance experienced by 91 European banks.

For values, trading companies sector has experienced a painful session after the publication of an article revealing that Daiwa Securities Nikkei was likely to report a loss for the period April to June due to instability markets after the crisis of European sovereign debt.

Daiwa Securities dropped 3.46% and its rival Nomura Holdings fell 3.81%.

Pason Group meanwhile plunged 5.77%, the investment group of employees who predicted an annual loss due to the hardness of the labor market.

Greece is finally saved it?

Never has a country had not yet obtained a loan of that amount: the countries of the euro area and the IMF have pledged – conditionally – 110 billion euros to Greece three years. A rescue plan for unprecedented growth. Greek crisis is far from over.

The € 110 billion is enough?

Greece needs money, lots of money to finance its huge debt, this year close to 300 billion euros and is expected to peak in 2013 to nearly 150% of GDP. Now the country that is experiencing the worst financial crisis in its history, no longer able to finance on the markets by issuing bonds. Or is prohibitively expensive. Loans from the EU and the IMF at a rate "preferential" 5% are therefore welcome.They will allow Greece to avoid having recourse to financial markets for at least 12 months according to analysts at Goldman Sachs, according to the IMF 18 months or almost three years according to Natixis. For Philippe Sabuco, economist at BNP Paribas, the plan "gives Greece a breath of oxygen, time to clean up its finances without the pressure of markets". "This is likely to reassure the markets," he assures.

The market pressure is she back down?

A little, even if financial markets have allowed the development aid for Greece with skepticism. The situation has improved – in moderation – on the front of Greek government bonds, whose rates remain at very high (around 8.59% for bonds of 10 years and 9% for bonds to two years ). European shares closed broadly higher on Monday, May 3, but the euro remained below $ 1.32.But no matter, since Greece will now and for at least one year to contract.

Greece can it succeed in its fiscal?

In return for financial assistance from the EU and IMF, Athens is committed to reduce by ten points over its budget deficit by 2014, equivalent to 30 billion euros in savings. Cups of public wages and public spending, freeze pensions, increase in VAT, tax and taxes on alcohol, cigarettes and gasoline are on the menu of the Greek government. With regard to economic analysts, the plan of adjustment is "doable." "Provided it is well established," warns Laurence Boone of Barclays Capital. Politically, its adoption by the Greek Parliament is not in doubt, the socialist majority in power supported by the main right-wing party.However, the pill will be more difficult to move public opinion.

Read also: What would happen if France swallowed the potion Greek

The Greeks are they willing to accept the cure of austerity?

Even if the popular support in the person of Prime Minister George Papandreou remains strong, opinion polls show growing opposition to austerity measures. For the Greeks, the plan is largely synonymous with painful efforts: life will become more expensive, their purchasing power will fall and unemployment threatens to explode. The public sector, the main focus of the austerity measures, is the most hostile. The unions are ready to fight against this shock therapy. They call for a new – the third in less than three months – day nationwide strike Wednesday, May 5 The mobilization will be a test of the government's ability to impose its plan.

When Greece Will she get out of the crisis?

The downside of this fiscal restraint is the recession that looks worse-than-expected decline of at least 4% of GDP this year and 2.6% in 2011, -2% in 2009. "Fighting against the economic crisis, as is now the priority for Greece," said Philippe Sabuco. But "this new program of fiscal consolidation will have a depressive effect on domestic demand, which could lead, ultimately, tax revenue by less than expected," said economist of BNP Paribas. To support the return of growth expected in 2012 (+1.1% increase in GDP by Athens), the Greek government plans to make more flexible the labor market. It also intends to fight against tax evasion which, according to economists, could rebuild the Greek budget of several percentage points – the black market economy represents between 20 and 40% of Greek GDP.However, Laurence Boone Regrets, "there is little detail in the Greek plan on structural reforms to raise the country's growth. The Greek'économie suffers from several weaknesses: it is not competitive and dependent on cyclical sectors at a lower value (shipping, tourism and agribusiness).