Fears of a slowing global economy and optimism of the encouraging results of some American companies, the Asian markets do not know where to turn. The uncertainty has clearly won the Asian market. Despite opening up 1.1%, the Nikkei has disintegrated as the yen strengthened. The benchmark index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange lost a few minutes from 0.45% to close 9,258.41 points. The euro was worth 112.28 yen to 7:00 (-0.48%).
In other areas of the region, the mood is mixed. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong gained 0.52% to 20,370.35 points, the CSI 300 Index of Shanghai shows a slight increase from 0.06% to 2743.14 points, the Seoul Stock Exchange was up 0.65% 3659.85 points, the Sydney Stock Exchange ahead of 0.14% to 4409.80 points, and Mumbai was up 0.42% to 17,953.31 points.In contrast, the Singapore Straits Times Index lost 0.32% to 2939.08 points and Taiwan was down 0.12% to 7702.43 points.
Oil prices were slightly higher Wednesday in Asian electronic trading before the release of oil reserves in the United States, dealers said. In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for September delivery was taking 5 cents to 77.63 dollars a barrel, while Brent North Sea with identical maturity, gained 9 cents to 76.31 dollars . Investors await the release Wednesday of weekly report on the status of stocks in the United States.According to analyst estimates, the reserves of crude will drop by 1.1 million barrels.
With the rise of the yen, export values are again in trouble, including automakers Toyota lost 2.55% to 3,055 yen, Nissan loose 0.65% to 609 yen or Honda was down 1.81% 2605 yen.
The decline in registrations in France in June already gave an overview of the state's automobile market throughout the European Union (EU). The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has confirmed on Thursday the downward trend by announcing a 6.9% decline in registrations in the EU. In total, 1,341,092 vehicles were registered in June
For June alone, the largest drops are collected by Slovakia (-40.6%), Greece (-39.3%) and Bulgaria (-32.1%). In addition to these countries is Germany, the largest European car market, with a decrease of 32.3% to 289,259 vehicles registered. France, second largest market, recorded a decline of 1.3% lighter.To explain this phenomenon, ACEA highlights the end of support measures for the sector, including the scrapping bonus.
The largest increases were reported in Ireland (75.8%), Portugal (62.5%), Finland (54.6%) or Spain (+25.6%) and United Kingdom (+10.8%).
A draft "courageous, necessary and just." After the day of action against the pension reform, which drew between 797 000 and nearly two million people across France, Economy Minister Christine Lagarde, has defended the government's project on air in France Inter Friday. "Our priority is to protect the retirement plan division," she insisted.
While Prime Minister Francois Fillon has expressed this morning, Christine Lagarde said that "the government is not obtuse", and that "dialogue will continue. Discussions will be limited to "some point" in the text of the government, confirmed the minister."President Nicolas Sarkozy said on the issues of hardship, of polypensionnés and long careers, there is room for negotiation," she added.
"The message we give is our determination to continue to reform in serene courage and wherever necessary," said Christine Lagarde, who emphasized "the urgency" of the situation of public finances France. Asked about the signal that the French government would provide the markets with pension reform, Christine Lagarde did not deny the need to 'send a message of safety "for those who invest in the" France risk. However, the triple-A rating enjoyed by France, which is the best possible debt rating is "stable," Plassnik said.
Safeguarding the employment of older
While the unions believe the government bill "unfair" to employees, the minister said on France Inter radio that "high income will contribute" to the overall effort while "capital income will be taxed" payday loans . She also stressed the government's job to safeguard the employment of older workers. Two directions are preferred, namely training and alternate agreements with the companies on hiring senior employees.
"Delaying the age of retirement must be accompanied by measures to prolong the careers of seniors," the minister reiterated. According to figures released Thursday by the employment center, the seniors have been recovered on May 1 sharp increase in their number of registered unemployed (ranging between 1.3% and 1.4% by categories).That was several months that such progress had been achieved.
The discussion of the severity and recovery
For Christine Lagarde, these figures are "bad". And all the more reinforces the government's reform policy. A policy which it defines as "a subtle exercise" between the need to support recovery and the imposition of austerity measures. "On one hand, it is engaging the major investments planned under the Big Loan. On the other side, be careful not to spend any how, "says Minister of Economy.
A debate that should rightly be exported this weekend in Toronto at the G20 summit. Recovery plans for growth and fiscal restraint? The choice to divide Europe and the United States, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.Relativizing discord among summit participants, Christine Lagarde nevertheless called for a "more collective work.
ALSO READ
"Pensions: hundreds of thousands of demonstrators
"Pensions: the" developments "possible by September
The upturn in France continues apace. The services PMI rose to 58.7 in December, according to the latest figures published by the Institute Markit / CDAF. Services rose for the fourth consecutive month. The index of purchasing managers for the overall activity, combining the services and industry (figure published earlier this week), also indicates an increase, to 59.2, against 60.2 in November.
The indicator for the services' folds compared to 60.9 in November (a high of 37 months) but nevertheless indicates a high rate of expansion, "notes Mark. Beyond 50, the index indicates an increase in activity. The dynamism of the index is due in December by the record number of new contracts at their highest level in two years.
On the other hand, job losses and slowing the decline in prices paid and charged by companies stalled."Further, in 2010, the upturn recently recorded should be based largely on developments in the labor market," said the statement Jack Kennedy, economist at Markit. "He therefore hoped that the growing confidence of businesses in the economic recovery is reflected, in the new year, with hiring decisions."
The services PMI in Eurozone recorded his part for its strongest growth since November 2007, to 53.6 in December against 53 in November. "However, the recovery did not extend to all countries in the eurozone, where the Spanish services sector remains a concern," said Rob Dobson, senior economist at Markit.
The French manage to reach a critical size in the Light Armored? It is hoped that the group Panhard attempting a rapprochement with the public Nexter (formerly Giat). The building is well underway in Europe, led by the Anglo-Saxons.
To the north, Britain's BAE Systems has steadily increased, including the purchase of Swedish Hagglunds, and now shows 7 billion euros of turnover. To the south, the U.S. General Dynamics has swooped on the Spanish Santa Barbara. The French Nexter and Panhard, which respectively carry a turnover of 579 million euros and hundreds of millions, have emerged as Tom Thumb. A rapprochement with Renault Trucks Defense, a subsidiary of Volvo Trucks, has also been mentioned.
Hence the idea of boss Panhard, Christian Mons, initiating a rapprochement with Next.Especially since the group's main shareholder, with 75% of the capital, George Cohen, had once considered separate from that asset. Having no desire to become a sub-subsidiary of a foreign group, Panhard therefore seeks to grow, with a preference for a Franco-French solution. Interviews with representatives of the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) – who presides over the future of Nexter – have already been held and the proposal would have received a rather favorable.
Crossing several pitfalls
Panhard side, do not hesitate to think big. The company already imagine that after having bought Nexter it could begin negotiations with its German competitors Rheinmetall and KMW, also looking for external growth operations to reach a critical size.Such discussions would kick off an equivalent of one armored EADS.
Before that happened, it remains to Panhard to cross several hurdles. Only Nexter Armored Division and its flagship, the Leclerc tanks, interest Panhard. It performs alone 450 million euros of turnover. The group led by Christian Mons no secret to be much less inclined to acquire the activities of artillery and information systems and command.
Although it is still too early for a pattern emerges, buying only part of Nexter or the total surrender before a non-strategic assets, then he should know how to organize a form of privatization of the former Giat. Finally, if Thales does not seem to be a candidate for a merger with Nexter, Renault Trucks Defense had already expressed interest Nexter in 2008.The subsidiary of Swedish group had also extended a hand to Panhard, who was then preferred to decline the proposal.
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 …
