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Euro Falters

In less than six months, from January to June, the euro has fallen from 1.45 to 1.19 dollar (the lowest point since March 2006!). Then, the next two months, the euro is rising sharply to over $ 1.33. But the second part of the summer marked the end of the recovery of the euro, while technical thresholds have been affected payday loans. Thus, the euro has faltered again. On Monday evening, about 18 hours, it is dollar 1.2660 (-0.45%).

Evolution of the euro / dollar over the last year.

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  • Renault returns to profit

    Like its French counterpart and rival PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault has found the way of profits under the first half. The manufacturer headed by Carlos Ghosn said Friday sales up 23.1% in the first half of the year. The manufacturer recorded a net profit of 823 million euros, against a net loss of 2.712 billion euros a year earlier.

    The group's operating margin reached 4% of turnover to 780 million euros.Renault also released a free cash flow positive at 1.4 billion euros, which remains the "principal purpose" of the group in the second half as Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of the group.

    Renault worldwide sales rose also by 21.7% and its global market share of 0.15 percentage points to 3.8%.

    While claiming to be cautious "in an unusually uncertain," Renaut listing provide a "global marketplace in 2010, up about 8% compared to 2009, despite a drop in European market estimated between 7% and 9% compared last year.

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  • Yoplait whets the appetite. The investment fund PAI Partners, the owner since June 2002 half of the capital, examines three hypotheses for the future of the world's second largest fresh dairy products, which reported last year a turnover of 891 million euros and an operating profit of 120 million. With virtually no debt, Yoplait is valued 1.3 billion euros. With several investment banks, PAI is considering a recapitalization of Yoplait, for acquisitions and a divestiture of its stake. No decision has yet been taken at this stage, given the complexity of the case.

    Sodiaal launched the Yoplait brand in 1965. In 2002, the dairy cooperative (Candia, Rich Mountain), through a serious crisis, had to sell 50% stake in its branch yoghurts and PAI commit to leave the choice of leaders. Today in better health, she would regain control.Not sure it is able to spend as much cash as the only means of payment accepted by PAI. Especially as it finalizes the acquisition of Entremont. "The conditions for resumption Entremont n'obéreront not our ability to maneuver on Yoplait, Le Figaro said in February its director general, Claude Sendowski. Sodiaal has the clear desire not to leave the ultra-fresh. "

    Although the maintenance of capital Sodiaal Yoplait seems acquired its takeover is not. Therefore, the output of PAI can be done if Sodiaal agrees to let his future co-shareholder control of management of Yoplait, owned by PAI contract. The investment funds and Sodiall long-standing opposition to a crucial point: IBP transfer this control along with its 50%? "The purchaser will have management control, said a potential buyer.No one will pay a high price for simply looking out the window. If this had been resolved, the assignment would be curly for two years … "

    Lactalis ambush

    To break the impasse, he would have agreed to cede Sodiaal stake in Yoplait. Lactalis cheese group (President, Galbani) has formed a joint venture with Nestle yoghurts, has never hidden his interest in the brand. Funds, Permira and BC Partners as it prepares the sale of Picard might be interested. The U.S. company General Mills, the largest franchisee of Yoplait for thirty years, would look into the matter. Yoplait has developed both through subsidiaries and franchise agreements. "Yoplait is the largest in the United States in France," says one at General Mills.

    Pending a change in the capital, PAI and Sodiaal could agree on other tracks.Yoplait, which completed its debt, could start to borrow to buy back a portion of its capital. The company considers a prey, could also become predatory, and engage in acquisitions, for example by acquiring franchisees in emerging countries. In March 2009, Yoplait has repurchased 68.6 million shares of EUR (49%) of British Dairy Crest, in their joint venture founded in 1991, which sells in Britain and Yop Little tricksters.

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  • Vacationers should take their troubles patiently Tuesday night to Thursday early morning. These three days may indeed be synonymous disrupted air traffic at major airports of Paris and the provinces, due to a strike call launched by six unions of air traffic. Disturbances should begin on Tuesday evening and end Thursday afternoon, the time that the rotations of aircraft back to normal.

    The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked airlines to remove 50% of flights at the airport of Orly and 20% of those expected at Roissy Charles de Gaulle.

    In a statement, Air France announced that 100% of long-haul flights will be provided, and that 80% of its flights short and medium haul routes from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and 50% from Paris-Orly. "We can not exclude some flight cancellations throughout the day.Delays will also be possible, "the company said, calling his passengers to see the information updated in real time on its site, under" schedule "and" timeliness of flights, or by phone at 3654 and SMS sending their flight number to 63654 (eg by typing: AF2062).

    For now, the information is covered in a trickle. The DGAC said that a strike slogan added "stormy weather that could disrupt traffic". More details are expected early Tuesday afternoon.

    "A passage in force"

    The CGT, CGC, FOR, UNSA UNSA-IESS and ICNA-call for mobilization to denounce the European program for creating Single Sky FABEC, and the dismantling of the DGAC.They denounce as in January and February, the establishment by the end of 2010, a single air control operator for France, Germany, Switzerland and the Benelux countries. "The creation of such a body fusion will inevitably lead to the dismantling of the DGAC, the structure was considered to be efficient in terms of cost, security and service to users," say the unions. Moreover, "this merger will mean the de facto release of all or part of his personal services and the scope of the State Civil Service.

    Following the movements of the beginning of the year, negotiations were begun with the unions and a mediator, Gilles Savary. On Monday, a final meeting of conciliation before the strike failed to find common ground. "The executives had no room for negotiation, it was a meeting for nothing," said Olivier Joffrin (CGT).The Ombudsman shall submit a report in late July but the unions are pessimistic. But the CGT denounced a "forced passage in the middle of July."

    "FABEC is necessary, besides the five other countries and partners for their unions are very favorable," assures yet a spokesman for the DGAC.

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  • Teleperformance, a leading global call center companies, which employs 7,400 people in France, announced Thursday a major restructuring plan. The group will eliminate 830 positions in the hexagon, from 22 to 14 sites, a workforce reduction of approximately 15%.

    The group will remove the center of Marseilles (25 posts), Pantin (149), Rennes (194) and Tours (51). In four cities, where two centers exist, they will be merged, with the result at Le Mans 41 positions eliminated, 169 Lyons, 71 and 61 in Orleans in Toulouse. Finally, the site of Bordeaux will be cut by 69 positions. Teleperformance be explained today "structural overcapacity" and puts forward an operating loss of 36 million euros in 2009 in France for a turnover of 300 million.The group attributes this poor performance by "a slowdown in demand for its key markets" and "the loss of significant commercial contracts during 2009.

    A social plan for 585 positions had already been applied to the company in France in 2009 and had been strongly challenged by unions in the courts, which had delayed its implementation for several months. This new plan is not a surprise. Teleperformance, which has six subsidiaries in France, decided in 2009 to merge. "They wanted to go too fast last year in the merger, where the resistance of employees. Result, management has been changed.But we continue to fight, "said Eric Dufaud, delegate of the union SUD.

    Relocation

    "I put everything from scratch with the intention of returning to profitability and secure a future for the industry of call centers in France," said Jean-Herve early June Jenn, new president of the group since April. Its purpose is to provide value-added services, refining and expanding the range of services offered to justify the higher prices in France and abroad. A call center agent costs about 30 euros an hour in France, against 15 euro in Tunisia.

    All call centers have an offshore development center, because their large customers have one obsession: to lower prices. Teleperformance is so well established in Tunisia, are among the largest private employers in the country.He also opened last year a call center in Morocco and plans to accelerate the movement. "If the principals do not respond or if the government does not legislate, it's the call center industry is likely to go abroad," says Eric Dufaud.

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    "Teleperformancereste cautious for 2009

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  • VAT at 5.5% restoration questioned

    A year after its introduction, the majority and the government seem divided on VAT at 5.5% in restaurants. To reduce the government deficit, Budget Minister Francois Baroin, this plane would "very, very large niche for tax, estimated at 3 billion euros Bercy. Its minister, Christine Lagarde, has cropped Tuesday morning: the reduced rate of VAT "is legitimate on the merits.

    But the revolt against the old promise of Jacques Chirac, applied from 1 July 2009 thanks to the activism of Nicolas Sarkozy, also scolded the Assembly. Without naming the VAT on food, the general rapporteur for the Budget, Gilles Carrez (UMP), has questioned "a number of consumer items that are 5.5% and that should not be at 5.5 %. He advocates instead an intermediate rate to 12%.

    Since the introduction of the measure for the restoration, the context is not the same.The government, which has hitherto led a recovery policy, had to change tack in recent months under pressure from the markets. It is now to reduce the deficit. Especially in the planing tax loopholes.

    Nevertheless, the statements and Gilles Carrez Baroin were poorly received by restaurants. "It's absolutely outrageous to say that the 5.5% VAT tax is a niche!" Reacts Philippe Villalon, president of the National Federation of the restoration (FNRF). "We buy our products and we sell 5,5% to 5.5%. As is the case for all areas of the mouth.Moreover, if we repeat the policies they want to end VAT at 5.5%, we should not translate that we lower our prices, nor that we hired, as the state would break its part of contract. "

    During the implementation of the measure, the restorers had promised to lower prices, to invest and hire. These commitments, which would take over in case of cancellation of VAT at 5.5%, would have been more or less respected. The Court of Auditors estimated last October that the measure would involve only 6,000 new jobs. The profession claims to the contrary today promised 21,700 against 20,000 a year.

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  • Lower prices, or increase wages and create jobs, such were the promises made by professional restoration in exchange for declining to 5.5% VAT. In practice the government had forecast a drop in prices overall 3%. But the overall direction of Treasury at Bercy, the decline is 2.5%, as it must take into account the increase in prices (+0.1% per month) that would have been saved if there had been no reduction in VAT. According to Insee, the statistical institute, the decline recorded between July 2009 and late May was 1.3%.Only a conservator two on average applied the lower price.

    The shortfall of the state would it 2.35 billion euros a year on some 130 billion collected last year under the VAT.

    Disagreement on Figures

    As for wages, increments and other benefits provided under the industrial agreement signed by the five unions of employees and three of five business organizations in the sector would reach one billion euros accumulated since March 1, date of application of the agreement. Some 21,700 jobs have also been created, the government said.This figure is disputed by the union FO who believes him, he must subtract the 15,000 net new jobs recorded on average each year for ten years in this industry.

    The measure would also have saved 25000 companies, nearly one third of the 80,000 restaurants in trouble before the reduction in VAT, as the specialist firm Gira Board.

    Second lowest rate reduced

    Twelve countries now have a reduced VAT on food in Europe. Since the authorization granted in 2009 by the European Commission. Only France and Belgium have taken the plunge. On 1 January 2010, Belgium has lowered its rate of 21-12% in food, drinks. Before the green light from Brussels, ten other member states had historically lower VAT in restaurants.With a rate of 5.5%, France has the second highest in the restoration reduces the lowest in Europe, just behind Luxembourg (3%).

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  • The steel in the sights of China

    Between investors and steel, has installed a strained relationship. Base metals show poor performance down 6.44% on the previous three months and down 4.24% since the beginning of the year. On the London Metal Exchange, the components of this material are also losing ground as aluminum (-11.60% since January 1) or lead (-25.29% over the same period).

    At issue: a doubt on the prospects of the sector which has strengthened since China announced placing steel in his sights. According to a statement from the website of the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, the country will give tax rebates on exports of several products including steel and nonferrous metals, and that from 15 July. China justifies this decision by the fear of overcapacity in the sector when the economy goes again on the basis of a policy of credit support.China, world's largest producer, saw its production continues to increase by 20.7% in May year on year to 56.1 million tonnes.

    The government, which wants to avoid "blind investment" and too many expansion projects, puts an end to these tax rebates that block trade relations with many countries. EU and U.S. impose a particular anti-dumping tax to restore competition they feel more loyal to several Chinese steel products.

    Approaching the summit of the G20, this news is seen by observers as a new important gesture by the Chinese authorities, after announcing an easing of the exchange rate of the yuan.

    Arc elorMittal sees a slowdown in demand

    Meanwhile, ArcelorMittal was one point on the demand in the sector.According to the world's number one steel company, the apparent demand and actual demand for steel should remain positive in the second half of the year, will face even slower during this period. "European consumers are in a waiting phase. At the same time, stocks are still low, "said Lakshmi Mittal, CEO of the group. The latter believes that the problem is the same in the United States.

    According to Lakshmi Mittal, the economic situation remains bleak. "Housing is still visibly weak. The car is still robust. The market for capital goods began to improve and engineering improves. However, the steel industry should return to its pre-crisis level until 2012.

    This view was confirmed on Monday spoke Federation World Steel Association (WSA) who believes that "if China, South Korea and Turkey have increased their production in May compared to 2007, the United States, Italy , Spain and Japan have not yet regained their pre-crisis level. " The WSA also notes that if demand is expected, stocks, themselves, continue to rise: Global steel production rose by 29.1% in May to 124 million tons, exceeding by nearly 10% of its levels before the crisis.

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  • The latest employment figures have clearly welcomed the Secretary of State for Trade, Herve Novelli. In its latest publication on the subject, INSEE reported a sharp increase in the number of jobs created in the sectors of hotels and restaurants since the introduction of VAT at 5.5% 1 July 2009. Indeed it is 22,900 jobs were created last year, says the Institute.

    Going a little faster than the music, the Secretary of State for Trade, Herve Novelli, was once praised as "the goal set by the government, 20,000 new jobs in two years is, in less than one year, not only met but exceeded " payday loan companies. A statement not entirely accurate.

    For the future contract signed last July it clear that the restaurants have pledged to create 20,000 jobs in two years, beyond the 15,000 jobs a year usually created by the sector. By creating 22,900 jobs since the fall of VAT, the restaurateurs have established that 7,900 additional. They are thus far have exceeded one year the target set by the government in terms of jobs. But they still have a year to catch up.

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  • Beware the "domino effect". This is the message that Louis Welsh, head of EADS, the European governments address in an interview with German newspaper Handelsblatt on Monday. "We tell our clients in government: we understand that you need to save money. But do not destroy the fundamentals of our industry. "For Louis Welsh, it is imperative to" protect the research and development "in Europe.

    Keeping a stable euro

    The boss of EADS look very closely monitoring the crisis of the euro. While the costs of aerospace group are charged in Euros and aircraft orders paid in dollars, the decline of the euro is good news in the medium term. However, Louis Welsh stressed the importance of stability of the euro.If he refuses to make any predictions on the future of the euro, the president of EADS warned European governments against excessive rigor.

    The more so that the defense is particularly affected by fiscal efforts put in place either side of the Rhine. In Germany, the Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said that large spending cuts would be made. In France, the government should cut sharply in the 2011-2013 budget of the defense. According to Les Echos, fiscal discipline could cost between two and five billion euros to the defense the next three years.

    "National priorities different"

    Another concern expressed by Louis Welsh, the risk of every European country favor of "different national priorities," which would jeopardize the common defense different programs, such as the A400M military transport aircraft."That adds up to be a domino effect for the sector," warned the skipper of EADS. As negotiations dragged on, the group hopes to finalize the contract on the A400M customers with the seven countries (Germany, France, Spain, Great Britain, Belgium, Luxembourg and Turkey) "by the end of July," adds Does it pay day loan cash advances. The first copy of the A400M will be delivered to France in early 2013.

    In this interview, Louis Welsh hopes to resume delivery of EADS Tiger combat helicopters to Germany this year. Berlin had suspended its order for 80 helicopters built by Eurocopter subsidiary of European giant last week due to technical problems. An order valued at 3 billion euros. "We deliver two new machines to the German pilot test in July.If the tests have a positive outcome, we can deliver five Tiger this year. "

    Tensions around the tanker contract

    Regarding the close battle opposing EADS Boeing to provide tanker aircraft to the U.S. Army, Louis Welsh rising tone. "We receive daily obscure and unfounded accusations of Boeing in the U.S.," says he. The American manufacturer EADS last Tuesday accused of attempting to develop trade relations with Iran and other countries hostile to the United States. Boeing advocates also believe that development aid granted to EADS and Airbus by European governments are illegal. "The growing nervousness Boeing shows that we have a chance to win," Louis Welsh analysis.

    On the home front, EADS is not in lack of challenges.Decidedly optimistic, Louis Welsh ensures that the timetable for the A350, the future long-haul Airbus, will be honored with a commercial launch planned for 2013. Furthermore, the production of A380 superjumbo is now "under control". The program will return a profit within five years, says Louis Welsh. But everything will depend on developments in the euro-dollar.

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