Now that he has eliminated all its competitors in the Republican nomination for president – has abandoned Santorum, Gingrich and Paul are too far behind – Mitt Romney has a new challenge before him: catch Barack Obama in the race for dollars. In this respect, the Republican can boast of a successful month of March. With nearly 13 million collected, he never raised much money. But the delay is very clear with the outgoing Democrat, who has earned almost $ 35 million over the same period.

Result, at nine months of the election, relations between the two candidates are from one to ten in terms of "cash" available. Barack Obama has $ 104 million when Mitt Romney, who had to spend lavishly to remove tough Santorum, no longer "only" 10 million in the bank. A bad sign, if one remembers that in 2008, with the same period, the ratio was similar between Barack Obama and John McCain, who ended up losing the election.

As in 2008, therefore, spending on U.S. presidential promise this year to reach record highs. Experts even suggest the sum of one billion dollars a camp, which supasserait the record set four years ago to 1.6 billion in all. By contrast, French law allows a maximum ceiling of 20 million per candidate, set in 2007 by Ségolène Royal and Nicolas Sarkozy.

Super PAC: advantage to Romney

The responsaibilté this runaway overseas rests with the change of election financing rules, which were imposed in the game a new player: the super PAC, support committees with permission to spend without limit (provided that it remains formally disconnected from the official campaign). One area where Romney camp knows how effective. Roamed this land, the former governor of Massachusetts has the advantage over Barack Obama in March, "Restore Our Future" raised him to $ 8.5 million, when "Priorities USA" harvested 2.5 million for Democrat. The outgoing president owes his advance as individual contributions.

This imbalance is not without worrying about the Democrats, as the super CAP seem to play a crucial role during the campaign. Indeed, it is up to them to the "dirty work" of producing spots decrying, sometimes extremely virulent opponents of their champions. And Mitt Romney has yet to benefit from the reinforcement of "American Crossroads", probably the most powerful Super PAC Republicans, whose co-founder is none other than Karl Rove, former adviser and electoral strategist for George W. Bush. The committee plans to spend this year $ 300 million, almost exclusively in attacks against the Obama camp.

Another factor to watch: the entry into operation of the National Committees of each party. CNR, for the Republicans, and the CND, for Democrats, allow candidates to receive donations for their respective parties, the amount can legally be much higher than that paid to the official campaign committees. And both have already started to build their war chest.

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Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graphic.

• Transfer taxes: 3.8 billion per year

Transfer taxes, a tax paid by households when buying their homes, would be halved in case of acquisition of the principal residence. According to the institute, this measure will generate a shortfall of 3.8 billion for counties and municipalities which are the current beneficiaries of the transfer taxes. It points to the difficulty of measurement (as distinguished primary residence and secondary). The entourage of Nicolas Sarkozy him figure the gross cost of the measure between 2.5 and 3 billion.

• Parental leave: 2.2 to 4,400,000,000 per year

The UMP candidate wants to relax parental leave. Its duration would remain up to three years, but it could be taken up until 18 years of the child, and not until he was 3. The cost of the measure is high but the range projected by the Institute of the company is large, the challenge is to anticipate changes in behavior: how many parents of children aged 3 to 18, with no " exhausted "their three years of parental leave, they will benefit from this new opportunity that will be offered.

• Unemployed older: 500 to 900 million annually

Nicolas Sarkozy promised the abolition of fees for hiring seniors in long-CDD or CDI of an unemployed person over 55 years, indefinitely. The encryption is based on an assumption of 35,000 beneficiaries per year (the team UMP is 50,000 to 60,000) and a reduced for 400 to 700 euros per month (higher than that chosen by the candidate's entourage).

• Contributions of craftsmen: 250 to 425 million

A craftsman is making any profit in the year 1700 euros to a demand of social contributions. The outgoing president wants to eliminate this floor to stick strictly to contributions proportional to income that is paid. The Enterprise Institute calculates a cost of between 250 million (corresponding to figure put forward by the applicant) and 425 million.

• Biometric Carte Vitale: 54 to 81 million euros per year

So far, the photo used on maps Vitale is simply sent by post. The additional cost, estimated at 15 euros per card, come from the need for staff to receive insured on site – in town halls, for example – check their identity and make their prints. It does not include a grant to the hundreds of thousands of health professionals so that they equip themselves with fingerprint readers (around 100 euros per enclosure).

• CIR: zero cost

Rather than being repaid after two years by the tax authorities, the research tax credit (CIR) would receive an advance by OSEO as a zero-interest loan "for small businesses that innovate ". An operation to "zero cost at cruising speed."

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Traders are torn between fatalism and resignation. According to the ninth wave of the observatory shops conducted by Ifop for the retirement of independent mutual Medicis, 86% of traders are worried about the French economy. 70% are for the future of their trade. These figures are up sharply over 2009 and 2008.

Many find that a very real way the economic downturn. Observe a 43% drop in attendance of their stores. An increase of 9 percentage points compared to May 2011. Two out of five professionals interviewed explained that their revenue has fallen since January. 46% expect their turnover is stable.

Traders have a positive on various measures taken by Nicolas Sarkozy since the beginning of his term in April 2007. 77% qualify as "good" tax exemption for overtime, the 67% increase in the age of retirement. 61% favor the elimination of business tax. But they are only 51% to defend the introduction of VAT at 7% in restaurants. They are hostile against the increase of 1.6 percentage points of VAT. 62% feel it is a "bad thing".

Reduction of charges

Concerned about the future of small shops they fear of losing, traders are worried about their retirement and for their welfare. Little interest in the presidential election, they condemn the indifference of political leaders towards them. 81% feel that the candidates for president do not understand their professional concerns.

Almost one in three believes that candidates are not aware of the weight they represent in the French economy: France has 750,000 merchants employing 2 million people and generating 343 billion euros in turnover. Asked about their expectations, 73% required a reduction of charges. Specifically, almost one in two merchant would be they who lower employer costs. More than one in three plead for a lower wage costs. But they are only 23% want trade to be protected and promoted by measures. A minority (8%) asked for more financial aid from the government and banks to hire or grow. Only 4% consider it a priority the defense of "Made in France" or the taxation of imports in favor of French products.

Not surprisingly, Nicolas Sarkozy remains their preferred candidate. 37% say they would vote for him in the first round of the presidential election when they were 44% in the first round in 2007. Francois Hollande is second with 19%. It is followed by Marine Le Pen (18%) and Francois Bayrou (16%).

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Saturday accused by Marine Le Pen to slaughter according to halal "all meat" distributed in the Ile-de-France, industrialists defend themselves. President of the National Association of interprofessional Livestock and Meat (Interbev), interviewed by France Info, the judge charged the president of the National Front "absolutely false".

"In the Ile-de-France, a vast majority of meat is not slaughtered according to halal or kosher," which involves killing animals without stunning, ensures Dominique Langlois. "It may be that parts or pieces of meat from carcasses are slaughtered according to these rites, but that does not change the quality of meat and it does not change at all the qualities of the product," adds Will it.

For professionals in the meat, the charge of Marine Le Pen "is meant strictly political and did not match the reality of things." "It's a debate that can only be detrimental to both the meat industry to French and French production that does not need it," warned the president of Interbev.

The animal rights groups mobilized

This debate is not new. Last year, six associations have denounced the increasing proportion of animals slaughtered according to Jewish or Muslim rites. According to the Foundation Brigitte Bardot, who had made an investigation in slaughterhouses, more than 60% of sheep and goats, 28% of adult cattle and 43% of calves were then killed without stunning, but that consumers are warned.

In France, however, requires the slaughter, since a decree of 1964, the stunning of animals before killing, thereby mitigating their suffering. But European legislation provides an exemption, "when stunning is not compatible with the ritual prescriptions under the free exercise of religion same day payday loans."

Approval before waive stunning

Two bills were filed in late 2010, the Senate to the Assembly, without success, to obtain a specific labeling of meat slaughtered without stunning. "The consumer has the right to know what he eats. He has the right not to eat meat slaughtered in a ritual which does not believe him, "argued the UMP deputy Nicolas Dhuicq. A new amendment, introduced in September 2011, was also rejected.

On 29 December, a decree was published in the Official Journal, however, requiring 275 French slaughterhouses to obtain, on or after 1 July 2012, before an official authorization from the rule of stunning. "It does [may] be granted only to slaughterhouses in favor [...] of a registration system to verify that it is used to slaughter without stunning as a result of justifying the commercial orders, "said the Ministry of Culture.

Marine Le Pen wants to complain

The animal rights groups have expressed quite satisfied with this text. "Being able to justify a ritual slaughter is a specific order is important because, currently, most of the meat of this kind of slaughter is found in conventional circuits without any indication to consumers," recalled Christophe Marie, spokeswoman Brigitte Bardot Foundation.

Marine Le Pen was not in favor waiting for the entry into force of the decree. On the sidelines of the convention of his party, being held this weekend in Lille, it announced its intention to attack "a few major retail supermarkets in Ile-de-France for misrepresentation of the product." She said wanting to file a complaint with a civil order for a judge to be seized, which could lead to an investigation of several months.

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LE FIGARO. – Apple is expected to become world number one personal computer in 2012, according to Canalys.Finally, the HP brand is indisputably linked to our PC.

Why start the Slate 2, your second tablet, sold off after the TouchPad?

We will return on the market shelves. The Slate 2 sign our return. We stopped using the products that our operating system WebOS. We will return in 2012. We will have an Internet Tablet that will use Windows 8 Microsoft.

A tablet is it comparable to a PC?

Not at this time. Internet tablets are mainly used to consume media and e-mails. If you want to use productivity software such as Microsoft, you can not do. Our studies show that this is an additional purchase that does not encroach on the PC market.

The bell sound is little more optimistic in. The experts of the French subsidiary of the Danish bank focused their attention on the delays of politicians."Speeches are encouraging to reassure the markets a while but in the absence of concrete solutions, the downward trend should continue," they said in a note sent to clients. The same applies to the specialists of the broker, "no concrete steps have been taken and so it has not been made, the euro will continue to r suffered."

Repatriation of capital in dollars

With the strong underperformance of European markets, investors, especially American, have reduced the share of assets invested in European equities. The repatriation of capital cause lift the dollar against the euro.

The downward spiral is likely to continue in the fourth quarter. Earlier this year, Saxo Bank had made a bet of one euro to 1.15 dollar. This goal seemed absurd end of April (the euro now approaching $ 1.5) no longer is.In any case, the euro could be worth between 1.20 and $ 1.25 at the end of the year. In this zone, the euro would only return to its value in purchasing power parity further point out the experts. Some exporting companies that have had the good sense not to cover may already be rubbing their hands. This is the case in particular that benefits both an aircraft carrier cycle and a decline of the euro against the dollar.

It seems that the era of the strong euro against the dollar is behind us. For individuals, it is possible to speculate down on the euro-dollar by selling the currency pair in cash in a currency broker. It may also be wise to buy put options or put options due in March (for example). This strategy can multiply its earnings but does concern a limited part of a portfolio.The current movement is also favorable to purchases of dollar assets (U.S. real estate, stocks on Wall Street …).

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The European Commission highlights the paradox between a cleaner gasoline and cheaper duty-sold more expensive at the pump, and diesel more expensive duty free, massive source of emissions of fine particles hazardous to health, and less expensive for motorists. She said outside the UK, the tax treatment of petrol and diesel in Europe is "flawed" and needs the overhaul.

Concern

For manufacturers, the news comes at the worst time.These are already working on the application in 2014 of Euro 6, which calls for reducing carbon emissions and fine particles. This standard requires them to implement expensive technology on diesel vehicles that will increase the price of these cars from 1500 to 2000 euros business cards design. What scare away customers. If in addition the price of a liter of diesel were to increase significantly, the diesel car market could collapse.

The Committee of French Automobile Manufacturers believes that the introduction of this directive in France could lose 20 points of market share on the sale of diesel cars. In the columns of Paris, its president, Patrick Blain, worried: "The decline in production in French factories (on the cutting edge in the field of diesel, ie) would inevitably have social consequences," he warns.

Professionals and individuals may also choose to get rid of their cars too expensive, which could lead to plummeting prices of diesel cars. "It may be possible to adopt transitional measures that will leave everyone time to adjust," said he.

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The banking sector raises again the concerns of investors. It emphasizes its losses from the statements of Christine Lagarde under which a liquidity crisis was not to dismiss as some banks needed additional capital. "This is the effect Lagarde. These statements primarily affect banks that are considered the least well placed in terms of capital ratios, "said one trader.

Result: mid-term, Societe Generale falling 6.66% to 18.21 euros and signed the largest decrease in the CAC.Behind her, Crédit Agricole loose 4.34% to 5.60 euros, Natixis 4.65% to 2.48 euros, BNP Paribas 3.77% to 31.01 euros and Axa 3.82% to 9.78 euros.

Obama's plan is not reassuring

Investors also unenthusiastic welcome details of the plan for employment unveiled by U.S. President Barack Obama in the night. He introduced a bill on the release of 447 billion dollars for the Americans out of unemployment. "This plan will give an electric shock to an economy that has stalled, will give confidence to businesses on the fact that if they invest and hire, there will be customers for their products and services," assured the U.S. president to members of Congress .

As in Asia this morning, traders seem to doubt the implementation of this plan. Its funding is already generating questions from Republican opponents could block a vote.Barack Obama urged them to adopt "immediately". The U.S. president also announced that it will issue on September 19 "a deficit reduction plan more ambitious."

As Wall Street yesterday, investors have also not appreciated the remarks of the President of the Federal Reserve on growth and jobs last night. The Fed "will do everything it can to participate in the return of growth and employment rates," said its chairman Ben Bernanke, minimizing inflation fears.This speech, however, feeds the assumption of a new effort of quantitative easing, which could be announced at the next meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Fed, scheduled for September 20 and 21.

Inflation slows in China

Still on macroeconomic, Japan has this morning reported a decline of 2.1% of GDP in the second quarter 2011 annualized. This is more than the 1.3% decline initially estimated. The main factor weighing on GDP has been the decline in exports (-4.9% from January to March).

In China, rising consumer prices, the main barometer of inflation, which had accelerated in recent months, slowed slightly to 6 no teletrack payday loans.2% in August.Industrial production is she up 13.5% in August.

In France, industrial production rebounded 1.5% in July after a decline of similar magnitude in June, show statistics released Friday by INSEE. The budget deficit of the French government fell in late July to 86.6 billion euros, against 93.1 billion euros a year earlier, thanks to lower costs, said Friday the Department of Budget .

On the agenda are also on Friday, stocks of wholesalers in the United States. Are also expected in the afternoon, the first estimate of U.S. consumer confidence from the University of Michigan.

As for currencies, the euro hovers around $ 1.38, having dropped below the threshold for the first time in six months (1.3789 to 24:10 in Paris). Oil rises for its part, supported by a surprise drop in U.S. inventories.In early electronic trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October gained 23 cents to 89.28 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery 21 cents to 114.76 dollars.

Values ​​to follow

• TF1 (-6.73%), M6 (-5.10%) Bolloré (3.63%) Vivendi (1.49%); NextRadioTV (-1.28%)

Chains react in a disorganized to take control of Direct 8 Direct and Star, two DTT channels free of the Bolloré Group, Canal +. The subsidiary of Vivendi will have three DTT frequencies. Be as much as TF1 and M6 more than the group which, in addition to the namesake chain, has only W9.For this operation, fully financed by shares, a stake Bolloré group Vivendi.

• Total (0.62%) signed the second largest increase after Vivendi CAC40 (1.55%)

The Anglo-Dutch oil group Shell said Friday that oil was discovered off the coast of French Guiana, during exploratory drilling at about 150 km off the coast.

• Sopra (0.70%)

The group announced the takeover of Delta, specialized in banking software.The transaction is expected to close in early October 2011, will be financed from existing credit lines of business consulting, IT services and software.

• Pierre & Vacances (-4.30%)

The group, which operates much of the accommodation ski resorts, opened 369 new tourist residences furnished this winter.

• ArcelorMittal (-4.30%)

The group will close as of October 3 for an indefinite period and the second blast furnace at its site in Florange (Moselle), according to a union source quoted by AFP.

• EADS (-0.16%) on the second step of the podium

The group said on Thursday not want to use all of its $ 16 billion (11.45 billion euros) in cash for acquisitions.

Franco-German work beginning to bear fruit. On the harmonization of corporate taxes first. Baroin said that the proposals on a plate and a single rate in France and Germany are on the table in 2012, for implementation in 2013. "In practice, we expect an early convergence of the supplementary budget in September," said the minister. Impossible, however, as to what are currently the preferred paths to achieve such convergence. If, for example, the corporate tax will fall in France, or if it will increase across the Rhine.

The tax on financial transactions discussed in G20

The terms of the tax on financial transactions announced on August 16 by Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy also remain mysterious. "What is the basis used? Rate? Who receive income: the Commission, the States? We have not finalized the position on this issue ", said Minister of Economy, Baroin, in an interview published this morning in the Journal du Dimanche.

The German Minister of Economy Wolfgang Schäuble and his French counterpart have yet met last week, including to clarify the contours of the future tax, the timing is tighter. As originally announced by the Franco-German tandem, a first draft of the text should be proposed to the European Commission in the coming weeks."We are preparing a specific proposal that we send to the Committee in September," Baroin repeated the weekly.

Delicate negotiations

A timing that will allow the Commission to bring to the table a legislative proposal on the subject in early October, which will integrate the conclusions of the Franco-German couple. "It will be examined in the fall. We are determined to achieve results at the G20 3 and 4 November in Cannes, "said the minister. So much for the calendar. So far, the European Commission was considering the track instead of a 0.1% tax on transactions involving stocks or bonds, and 0.01% for those on products.

The adoption of such a tax at the European level is difficult, however, regardless of the arrangements envisaged.The unanimous agreement of the 27 states should indeed succeed the vote the proposal by the European Parliament. But Britain, which houses an important financial center, as well as Ireland or Luxembourg, are currently strongly opposed. Main question, the financial sector also protested against such a hypothesis, arguing the risks of travel to areas of the transactions tax warmer.

For the economist Antoine Brunet, president of AB markets, the sudden popularity of the Swiss franc is a logical consequence of the crisis simultaneously by the two major reserve currencies such as the dollar and euro. In a context of European debt crisis and doubts about the U.S. economy, the Swiss currency has become a safe haven.Christian Ott, an economist at Natixis, the same refers to a study released Wednesday, as the "gold exchange market."

This assessment has multiple consequences for the Swiss economy which derives about half of its GDP to exports. Over half of these exports are made in the euro area, the strong exchange rate appreciation poses a serious threat to economic growth. "This is a great loss of competitiveness for Switzerland, which could suffer a downturn in its foreign trade," said Antoine Brunet guaranteed payday loans.

Index the value of the Swiss franc to the euro

The options available to the SNB is still limited. While prices fell 0.5% in the first half, "the central bank chose to fight the risks of deflation rather than to thwart the development of the housing bubble, which would have justified a higher interest rate" says Christian Ott.To resolve this dilemma, all monetary policy actions "unconventional" are possible. The Vice-President Philipp Hildebrand SNB even mentioned last week assumed to index the value of the Swiss franc to the euro. Put simply, "Switzerland could introduce a tax on capital inflows, as did Brazil," suggests Antoine Brunet. Or "a tax on deposits in Swiss francs of non-residents, as was already established in the 1970s."

For now, the government has opted to directly support the activity. He announced Wednesday a plan with a $ 2 billion Swiss francs. Export industries and those in the tourism sector will be the primary beneficiaries. A "task force" on the strong franc and its impact on the Swiss economy has also been established, the government said.