U.S. Supply: outcry in Europe

Louis Welsh, president of EADS, on Tuesday presented the results of fiscal 2009 marked a net loss of 763 million euros, with heavy consequences including increased provisions under the Airbus A400M and the effect of exchange Euro-dollar negative (1 billion euros for the third consecutive year).

But observers have in mind the case of U.S. tanker. The defense giant Northrop Grumman American announced that he would compete to win a contract for 35 billion dollars to provide 179 refueling aircraft to the U.S. Army. This is the first installment of a giant order of 500 aircraft for 100 billion dollars. Northrop said that the criteria of the tender favored Boeing, also nominated. Consequently, EADS, his partner had no choice but to throw in the towel.

The news caused an outcry in Europe.«(…) During the current crisis, the smallest signs of protectionism are harmful, "accused Brüderle Rainer, German Minister of Economy," even in the field of defense, free competition should not be hampered unilaterally. The Foreign Office warned that "France, with the European Commission and its European partners concerned will proceed to the consideration of this new development and its possible implications.

A complaint before the World Trade Organization (WTO) seems to be excluded because it is not competent defense. And it can not intervene following a sovereign decision taken by a private company, namely Northrop. Louis Welsh did not want polemics or insult the future: "I am not a politician but an industrialist. I am part of a fact.The U.S. market remains a priority for us. "He was careful not to comment on the decision of its American ally. Northrop could have filed an appeal before a federal judge because he had a strong case. He preferred to drop and de facto release EADS. For the Democrats who control Congress have pushed the message. We must leave the field open for Boeing needs this contract to stay in the field of military aviation. Boeing, whose headquarters are located in Chicago, a stronghold of President Obama. Northrop would have been assured of being able to catch up on other contracts. He could not alienate its biggest customer, the Pentagon, who can not stand to see its decisions appealed to the GAO, the U.S. equivalent of the Court of Auditors. This was the case in early 2008 when Boeing was denied victory by Northrop and EADS.And succeeded.

Result, the U.S. Army for ten years waiting for its new tanker. Today is back to square one with, as in 2001, only one bid. It is possible that again the Republicans react as they reject the absence of competition.

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Xynthia cost at least $ 1.2 billion to insurers

This is a first official estimate. Le Figaro had argued Wednesday the number of one billion euros in damage, according to the French Federation of Insurance Companies (FFSA), the Xynthia storm that swept through France last Sunday is expected to cost at least $ 1.2 billion of EUR insurers. Because this encryption is based on insurance claims 500,000 victims and will probably be revised upwards. Firstly because other people should still report damage in the coming days. Xynthia is indeed the most violent storm in the 1999, stronger than that Klaus had 740,000 victims last year in the Southwest. Secondly, many houses are still flooded making it difficult to make a definitive estimate of the damage.

The assessment takes into account the damage caused by wind and partly by water.These latter are partly supported by governments that have recognized the state of natural disaster one hour payday loan .

To find the total cost of damage from the storm, it would also add all those suffered by all the infrastructure (roads, bridges, dams). Borne by state and local governments and not covered by members of the FFSA and the Grouping of mutual insurance companies, they have not been integrated to 1.2 billion euros. The final cost of Klaus – 1.68 billion euros – was nearly three times the initial estimate.According to the FFSA, it will take one to two months in order to establish the final amount of the cost of the storm for its members.

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The 35 o'clock a ball for SNCF

The statement should be screaming the railway unions. According to the Court of Auditors, the reform of 35 hours explaining the difficulties of the station to cope with the opening of its monopoly to competition, including productivity gap with its competitors. They can reach 30% in the sector of freight transport.

According to the report published today, law enforcement has led to increased numbers of staff from 7000 to 7500. However, "the additional staff that the reform had resulted represents almost half the number of posts abolished during the seven subsequent years, totaling approximately 15,600 officers between 2002 and 2008.

This reform overstaffed and it has quickly established a consolidated "in terms of labor significantly less than the theoretical time required by law."In 2008, train drivers have been working daily 6:14, 1:35 or less than the theoretical length of bad credit payday loans . Even finding for drivers to maneuver and supervisors who work 20 minutes at 1:35 less than their working theory. On the RER B, managed with the RATP, the effective working time of workers down even at 5:50 am daily.

The institution of the Rue Cambon notes that despite its efforts, the station is "not reached a sufficiently relaxed social setting strictly regulated. A situation that could weaken against its competitors and "constitute an obstacle to its development."

The Court of Auditors called the coup, a "necessary harmonization of rules between the station and private operators.

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JP Morgan's activity disappoint the stock market

As expected, the U.S. bank JP Morgan Chase announced a great performance this Friday for its fourth quarter 2009. Over this period, net profit stood at 3.278 billion dollars (2.27 billion euros), a figure four times over the fourth quarter of 2008. Net banking income (equivalent to the turnover) amounted to 23.164 billion dollars over the same period against 17.226 billion in 2008. Levels well below expectations of analysts who had forecast at 26.2 billion.

For the full year, JP Morgan Chase is much better than expected with a net profit stood at 11.728 billion dollars. Twice in 2008. Regarding the benefits of the fourth quarter alone, the performance of the bank exceeds expectations at $ 74 cents per share in the fourth quarter against the 62 expected by analysts.On the year, net earnings per share were $ 2.24, against expectations of 2.12.

The bank also announced having strengthened its balance sheet, with a Tier 1 capital of 133 billion dollars or 11.1% ratio against 10.2% in September 30.

The banking investments have contributed greatly to the group's results, with net income of 1.901 billion, against a loss of 2.364 billion last year in the same period.

Deception

Yet the markets react badly to this first major publication in the banking sector. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones opened down 0.26% at 10,683 points. Action JP Morgan lost 2.15%, resulting in his fall Citigroup (-1.71%), Bank of America (2.32%) Goldman Sachs (-1.06%) and Morgan Stanley (-2, 76%). In Paris the CAC 40 in red switch to -0.60 while it was resumed in mid-session.

Investors, disappointed, hold that the bank has added $ 1.9 billion to its reserves for losses on consumer loans. The financial institution also announced that "the results have not reached a level of return on capital adequacy and realized their full potential." "The results of companies have certainly not the desired leverage effect '," noted Joseph Hargett of Schaeffer's Investment Research. "JPMorgan Chase has even gone so far as to express a high degree of caution on the current economic environment," says he.

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan, will indeed "be cautious" about its outlook. His bank has, he says, face a cost of "high" risk. JP Morgan has included in its accounts last quarter to 7.3 billion dollars in reserves to cover these risks.

Moreover, while the swelling controversy over the pay of bankers and traders on Wall Street, JPMorgan reported costs of "compensation" (which includes wages and bonuses) increased by 18% in 2009 compared to the year prev. A new and should not meet U.S. President Barack Obama said Thursday that a proposed tax of fifty large bank.

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Total will not invest in Areva

"After consideration, we will not invest in Areva" reveals Christophe Margerie, CEO and future chairman of Total, in an interview with the first edition of the Journal du Dimanche. After the failure in late December of invitation supply in Abu Dhabi to build two nuclear reactors, which were project stakeholders EDF, Areva, GDF Suez but also Total oil group maintains its draft into nuclear power. But without investment in Areva, whose strategy is now under threat.

"Those who think we lost because of poor organization Franco-French are wrong. (…) Can we make the EPR cheaper without sacrificing safety? This is the real issue "said Christophe Margerie.The EPR French would indeed be 40% more expensive than the South Korean model finally selected by Abu Dhabi.

Needs huge

So as an investor-operator and Total says it wants to enter the nuclear market. In this context, "we want to set up projects with Areva, but we do not exclude mounting other international partnerships," said the CEO.

Asked about the economic outlook for his group in 2010, Christophe de Margerie also appears optimistic. Satisfied with the signing of two important contracts in natural gas, the United States and Algeria, he anticipates the needs of huge new countries: India, China, Middle East and Africa.

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France's tax him bonuses in 2010

It will not take long to react to France! On Wednesday, Britain announced that its 2009 bonus traders would be taxed at 50% for amounts exceeding 25 000 pounds, which should generate approximately 600 million euros to the state. From Thursday, the Elysee confirmed the intention of France to do likewise.

The purpose of government is very clear: to encourage banks to strengthen their equity rather than pay generous bonuses, while they were supported or bailed out with public money during the crisis.

The principle, an act by the French government, would impose "exceptional" banks on the amount of premiums distributed in 2010 under the year 2009. The rate used by France could be slightly lower than Great Britain, "because France pay more tax," said a government source.The amount at which the establishment will be taxed, it would be the "magnitude" of amounts retained by Great Britain.

Towards a Global Compact?

This Thursday, the banks do not wish to comment on the news. One speaker merely highlight the lack of understanding of the profession in this way then that "French banks are the only way to comply with binding rules of the G20 and they reported 2 billion to the state this year.

The idea running through the heads of the French for several months now: August 25 last, while Nicolas Sarkozy had called all the bankers at the Elysee, he had already discussed "the establishment in all financial centers of sitting fee Bonus distribution.But surprisingly, while France tried to rally his neighbors across the Channel for several weeks at his position on the benefits of more regulation on earnings in finance, she was finally seeing that it was he who throws the water! "There is now no doubt, France will make arrangements," said the entourage of the Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde.

Remains that France, like England – which, beyond the political weight of the measure are well aware of economic realities – hope the approach will be part of "a new international pact, wrote Thursday British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy in an article published Thursday in The Wall Street Journal."It is clear that action can only be global," they insist.

That is why Gordon Brown has sent a letter Thursday to the leaders of the European Union, calling to discuss a tax bonus bank. "We must redress the balance of risks, rewards and responsibilities between the company and the financial sector," says he.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, was eager to find "very charming and teaching" the idea of a tax basis. The topic should be discussed this Thursday evening at the European Council. The idea of Europe is obviously weighing on Americans.They know that all financial markets, including Wall Street, must abide by the same rules if some do not want to appear less competitive and attractive than others.

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Nothing goes between Paris and London

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Gas Prices: UFC proposes new rules

How to better control the price of gas? That is the question posed by the UFC-Que Choisir in a study released Tuesday and conducted for the association, the Microeconomix firm, specializing in economic analysis applied to energy. The study, which decrypts the various components of gas prices, indexation of long-term contracts to supply gas to that of petroleum products is no longer justified because "the gas reserves are larger and Practice these two energies are not quite the same. " Moreover, this calculation method penalizes consumers for petroleum products are part of an upward trend and are very volatile. The UFC-Que Choisir gives the example of the United States, where there is a real market price of gas. Its price is low given the recession and the discovery of new deposits while the oil prices started rising.The association proposes that consumer gas prices for the supply, are no longer indexed to oil prices and encourages GDF-Suez and state shareholder to initiate a reflection on this subject.

Costs associated with better delivery boxes

Another point raised by the study: the opacity of the costs of delivering gas (transportation, distribution, storage). The UFC also regretted that the information on the operating expenses of transportation and distribution are not published. The same is true of financial results of storage of GDF-Suez and Total, the two current operators. The study also reveals that the total capital committed to the transportation and distribution in France are paid at a rate higher than in other European countries. The idea would be to align to allow a reduction in the cost of these positions.Thus, for transport, the decrease corresponds to 4% or lower fares for consumers in the order of 0.4% since this activity represents 10% of the total cost. For distribution, the decline would be 3%, slightly less than 1% for the end consumer because the distribution represents 25% of total costs. Finally, for the association, it is necessary for storage, whose price has increased 20% over three years to become a regulated activity, as are transportation and distribution. Currently, operators of gas freely set their rates. The UFC is therefore proposing that the costs of bringing gas to final consumers are better supervised.

At present, regulated tariffs for natural gas are set by the government after recommendation from the Commission of Energy Regulation. Last October, the government had decided not to change the price of gas.According to the formula for calculating the new rates, the decline would be limited to 0.6% to 0.7%. The last drop of gas took place last April. It was around 11.3%.

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Local: decline in investment in 2009

Local governments have reduced their investments by 2.7% in 2009, according to the memo on the economy of the bank Dexia. Can we conclude that the stimulus package the government has been ineffective? No, say experts Dexia. The decline would have been far higher without the flagship of the plan, the repayment with a year ahead of the VAT if the community is committed to invest more. As a result of the election cycle, 2009 could not be a good year for investment. In the second year in office, mayors have not yet launched new sites. Evidence that the stimulus package has had a positive effect of joint investment has declined only 3.1% in 2009, when he fell from 7.9% in 2002, another year post-election .

Still, the financial community may raise some concerns.Again in 2009, their operating costs rose faster than revenues (4.7% against 2.7%). The balance between the two remains the beneficiary of 39 billion euros is indeed an obligation, communities had no right to have an operating deficit. But the mattress decreases. Infuriating when you consider the blow on the property tax, property tax and business tax that taxpayers suffer this year. The fault lies with the transfer duties, the famous "notary fees. Dependent on the housing market, they have dropped 26% this year. For departments, the loss reached 1.9 billion euros, exceeding one billion additional revenues associated with higher taxes. Meanwhile, because of the crisis, these same departments, which included support the RMI and the RIAA, have suffered a 5% increase in social spending.

However, the debate on local government spending is far from exhausted. Excluding transfers of state employees, their numbers grew by 34,850 people this year and personnel costs rose by 4.9%.

In addition, as the subject arose from the difference between revenue and expenditure decreases, communities need to invest into debt. Their debt grew by 4% in 2009, and this leads to 132.1 billion euros, or 6.9% of GDP. This year, lower interest rates has reduced the cost of debt for municipalities, counties and regions. But it will not last forever. Even without the reform of business tax, the financial stability of communities becomes more difficult. And the state is determined to limit the growth of the funds it pays them.Municipalities, counties and regions will in future make an effort on the expenditure or investment, or operation, the experts conclude Dexia. They noted that reflections on the mutual commitment and optimization of operating costs. Continued …

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