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The rating agency has again lowered the credit rating of Greece, "C", which corresponds to an almost certain risk of default. Moody's in New York.

The U.S. rating agency Moody's said Friday night that lowered the credit rating of Greece to "Ca" to "C" to reflect the launch of the restructuring of public debt in Athens. This operation "entails expected losses of more than 70% for investors" who will participate, Moody's wrote in a statement.

Moody's assigns a "C", the lowest possible rating on its classification as it deems to borrowers on the edge of default, while a rating of "Ca" she attributed so far to the Greek public debt corresponds to the speculative issuers in which the failure seems likely. The agency says that in his view, the swap of debt proposed by the Greek government to its private sector creditors, whose success is imperative to allow "the provision [of Athens] a additional financial assistance of the euro area "will return, if completed, a" default "on" Greek government ". The agency was then referred to the new European rescue plan providing 130 billion euros of aid set in motion Thursday.

Its rival Standard & Poor's lowered the credit rating Monday of Greece to "SD", a level corresponding to "selective default", to reflect the debt erase operation launched three days earlier. S & P said it planned to raise the rating to CCC of the country, which she attributed to poor quality of issuers with a real risk of default, where such operation would have been fully completed, probably in mid- in March.

This is not the case of Moody's, which does not assign "perspective" to the Greek note, sign it refuses to speculate on what could be its evolution after the debt swap consumed. "Regarding the future, the program of the European Union and the proposed debt exchange will reduce the debt burden for Greece, but the risk of default of the country will remain high even after this exchange has been completed, "the agency wrote.  

"Moody's believes that Greece still faces challenges in the medium term solvency: the ratio of public debt to GDP is well above 100% for several years," the statement added.

Restructuring launched Feb. 24 to allow Greece to obtain a cancellation of debt of 107 billion euros. Athens proposes to give private creditors participating in the operation of securities worth less than 53.5% of those they currently hold. A quarter of those titles that creditors will receive bonds from the European Stability (EFSF), presumably with a maximum maturity of two years. The rest will consist of new Greek bonds with maturities ranging from 11 to 30 years, a period much greater than those they replace. Because interest rates that will yield these securities loss to creditors should be around 73%.

High labor costs does not rhyme with high unemployment and does not necessarily mean poor economic performance, according to a study by INSEE Wednesday in the time left and right clash violently on the "social VAT".

The Department of Labor will release the unemployment figures Friday of January. End of 2011, the number of unemployed people on French territory, all regions and categories, exceeded 4.5 million, its highest since 1999.

Across the Rhine, the unemployment rate last month was at its lowest level since reunification in 1990.

Labor costs in Germany was also one of the highest in Europe in some industries four years ago, an economic fact that has not prevented e to view the best export performance of the euro area and an unemployment rate among the lowest in the Old Continent. 

At two months of the first round of presidential elections, the government, which regularly cites Berlin as an example, has made the reduction of labor costs one of its priorities é ; ECONOMIC by deciding to reduce employer contributions in exchange for a higher rate of VAT, a measure criticized by unions and the opposition who fear a degradation of power purchase.

In a study entitled "Employment and Wages", especially on the evolution of the price of labor in Europe, INSEE found that the cost of labor in some sectors Manufacturers across the Rhine was the highest in the Old Continent. 

"This is particularly true in the automotive industry, where (in 2008, ie) it is 29% higher than that observed in France: 43.14 EUR (per hour) against 33 , 38 euros. "

Across the industry, labor costs were substantially similar in both countries, around 33 euros per hour on average, although it was higher Germany (33.37 euros) and France (33.16 euros).

REPORT OF FORCE?

However, the trend reversed in services where France four years ago recorded an hourly labor costs of 32.08 euros against 26.81 euros in Germany. 

Especially, unit labor costs as a whole rose a much stronger in France than in Germany between 2002 and 2012 (1.9% per year against 0.1%) and lower gains productivity (+0.8% against +1.2%), as calculated by the Credit Agricole, a cause for concern for Paris.

The budget minister Valérie Pécresse has reiterated Tuesday that lower labor costs in the name of "price competitiveness" French would create between 75,000 and 120,000 jobs, provided that businesses play the game and favor the recovery of productive investment to increase their margins.

Sweden, Denmark and Belgium are the three countries of the European Union where, in 2008, the labor cost was highest in the industry as in services. Portugal, Greece and Spain are where it was lowest.

Therefore, improving the "competitiveness" could have effects far less positive than expected if it would only cover costs without concern more widely in productivity, quality ;, innovation and training.

Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Pierre Lellouche logically touted the creation of social VAT in early February and found that France could balance its trade with by 2017, after showing a record trade deficit in 2011. 

In the hope of improving the productivity of French companies, the government gives one month to the social partners to agree a framework for agreements "majority" in companies on issues relating to working time, organization or overtime.

Nicolas Sarkozy stressed that such agreements would be binding on the law, which bury the de facto 35 hours. Without compromise, a bill would be tabled in Parliament at risk to engage the executive in a tense power struggle on the eve of presidential and parliamentary elections.

Chrysler saw its car sales in the U.S. jump 44% in January, thanks to his Jeep, while his great rival General Motors has lost ground. Chrysler sales have far exceeded the expectations of some analysts who had forecast an increase of 35%, confirming the return unlikely the smallest U.S. automaker, three years after depo t balance. By contrast GM, the largest U.S. carmaker, has announced a 6% drop in sales in its home market last month, while Ford Motor saw sales increase by 7% over the same period, supported by the success of its Focus small cars, whose sales rose 60%. So far, January sales are part of an annual rate of 13.7 million for the entire market, exceeding the target of 13.5 million some analysts. These sales are increasing, even as automakers limit the financial incentives, which was their primary strategy before the restructuring of 2009. "The days when we were looking at any price to gain market share is over and most manufacturers are focusing on what is really important, ie on profitability," TrueCare says analyst Jesse Toprak. 11 years average age for GM, which sold 167,962 vehicles, the market was expecting a decline of 9% compared to January 2011, when the group had made offers. The group expects a car market in the United States between 13.5 and 14 million units in 2012, while the American branch of Volkswagen, for its part provides a market of 13.7 million over the year. Aging cars, which are now reaching a record average age of 11, promote the increase of new car sales, U.S. households back on the market after having postponed their purchases during the crisis. Ford, No. 2 in the U.S., sold 136,710 cars, up slightly behind the expectations of some analysts polled by Reuters. VW and Nissan Motor Co also announced an increase in sales in the U.S. market. VW's sales rose 48% to 27,209 vehicles, supported by the arrival of its Passat sedan, and Nissan rose 10.4% to 79,313 units. During a conference call, Jonathan Browning, director of VW in America, estimated that U.S. consumer confidence improved, but not at a steady pace. Chrysler released Wednesday its first annual profit since 1997. The group was No. 4 in sales in the U.S., behind GM, Ford and Toyota. Sales of Toyota in the U.S. rose 7.5% in January to 124,540 units. By 1900 GMT, the GM shares gained 1.54% to 24.39 dollars while Ford lost 0.64% to 12.34 dollars while the S & P 500 advanced 1.15%.

Ryanair said Monday it has increased by 10% its profit forecast for 2011-2012, an increase in revenue per passenger per mile to offset the high cost of kerosene.

The first low-cost airline said he had been European virtually no impact of the decline in consumer confidence but added that traffic would fall in coming months because it had grounded 80 planes in response to high fuel prices.

"Bookings are well underway for months at a level slightly higher than the same period last year," said Howard Millar, Ryanair's chief financial officer.On its first half, earnings totaled 543.5 million euros, up 20%, while sales amounted to 2.71 billion euros.

On this six-month period, the number of passengers carried increased by 12% and rates of 13%, while costs increased by 13%, mostly in kerosene.

Lufthansa and International Airline Group (IAG) both announced last week the results strongly affected by rising fuel costs.

Howard Millar said further that the sale of 29% stake in its competitor Ryanair's Aer Lingus would probably be more to the agenda in the coming months, since British Airways, which could be the 'prospective purchaser had bought bmi.

EU leaders welcomed the pledges made rigorous by Silvio Berlusconi. But in Brussels, we expect that the Italian promises with deeds. The Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi at the European Summit of October 23, 2011

The commitments offered by Italy Wednesday to clean up its finances were judged "satisfactory" with its partners in the euro area, provided they are implemented, but this success was overshadowed by a controversy with Germany. "The EU summit welcomed the commitment of Italy. These ambitious measures to liberalize the economy must be applied," said the President of the European Union Herman Van Rompuy, after a summit of the area euro in Brussels.

"Yes we are happy," confirmed the Head of French State Nicolas Sarkozy during his press conference. "But we expect their achievement," he warned.Silvio Berlusconi has assured of his intention to run. "If we do not respect our commitments, we will no longer credible," he admitted leaving the summit. He promised to present a timetable for the adoption of the measures announced by the Italian Parliament. The head of the Italian government has incurred the wrath of Chancellor Angela Merkel ensuring obtaining apologized for his behavior at the EU summit last Sunday, what curtly denied the spokesman of the Chancellor.

"There was no excuse because there were no grounds to apologize," said Steffen Seibert on his twitter account. When asked about confidence in Silvio Berlusconi, Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkorzy had exchanged amused smiles before answering. The film of this scene of 19 seconds was repeatedly broadcast in the media and Italian Silvio Berlusconi had felt humiliated.The conclusions of the detail a series of measures to be implemented in two years to reduce the huge debt of 1,900 billion euros, or 120% of GDP currently to an amount representing 113% of GDP in 2014.

The Italian leader is now under surveillance by the European Union. The Commission is invited "to monitor in detail the measures and monitor their implementation," said Merkel, adding that Rome had committed to provide "all information in detail." A balanced budget will be achieved in 2013 due to austerity measures totaling 60 billion euros by 2014. Italy has pledged to outline a plan to revive growth by 15 November.The retirement age as part of "old age" will be raised to 67 years from 2026 and a plan for disposal of public assets for at least five billion per year will be conducted over three years.

The growth plan aims to liberalize the Italian economy by opening markets to competition and to support business and innovation through tax deductions. The labor market will be reformed including "new rules of dismissals for economic reasons in the employment contracts of indefinite duration." All these commitments are recorded in the summit conclusions.The head of the Italian Government had been put up against the wall Sunday by its European partners, which required firm commitments on reform and a clear timetable for implementation in order to reassure the markets and to ensure that Italy is the next victim of the debt crisis, which would jeopardize the entire euro area.

The Greeks were again gathered in their thousands on Thursday to protest against government austerity measures. Overflows have marred the parades and a man died of heart attack. Demonstration in Greece, Athens, Syntagma Square, October 19, 2011.

The mass protests against new austerity measures continued Thursday in Greece for the second day, weakening the government of Socialist George Papandreou at the approach of a summit "crucial" in Brussels Sunday for the country and the euro area.

In Athens, more than 50,000 people participated in the movement, against 70,000 on Wednesday. Throughout the day, the unit staff, private sector employees prevailed. Thus Vanguélis Bouldadakis, in a public hospital doctor put forward "the destruction of the collective agreements" that "reduce our salaries" and "take our rights."The center of Athens was again sealed off to traffic, Parliament surrounded by dozens of vans of riot police and thousands of police.

Clashes marred the protest near the parliament. Fighting hand to hand and shots of lumber and iron protesters opposed to law enforcement. The latter, usually very active in the protests in Greece, had retired to the adjacent streets, sending only a few grenades and tear gas to try to disperse the crowd preventively.

A few sporadic incidents continued in the early evening around the Parliament and even in the tourist district of Monastiraki.Mobile groups of several dozen young people were harassing the police were carrying out acts of vandalism, burning trash, throwing molotov and stoning shop windows and street furniture.

Central to the dispute: a bill to be voted in Parliament to reduce the deficit abyss of the country and it avoid bankruptcy. Its adoption would freeze collective agreements and lead to a sudden drop in living standards of the Greeks, especially civil servants

These events have caused the death of a man. This woman had been transferred to hospital after violent incidents, died of a heart attack, said the hospital management. He "did no injury," Contrary to the media said, the hospital said in a statement. Justice has opened an investigation and sent an attorney for prosecution.The media for their part said that Mason had been hit by stones in the head on the sidelines of violent clashes between protesters and a group of communist troublemakers. The announcement of the death had raised strong emotions in Parliament, where MPs were to adopt in the evening a new law rigorously.

The deterioration of the Spanish note and doubts about the French note resurface critics are against the rating agencies. Decryption in four points. Moody's in New York.

Rating agencies are again talking about them. After the decision by Moody's to consider placing the French note on negative watch, the issue of their decision-making arises. Back to agencies in four points.

How Does it take decisions?

This is the work of two people in the agency, "managing director" and the analyst in the country studied. They bring together a panel of several analysts (5 to 12 people), and a majority vote following a debate on the prospects of the country. The evaluation criteria focus on four principles. First results with the economic analysis of per capita GDP.Then they evaluate the level of indebtedness of the country with the analysis of public debt relative to national wealth. Third criterion, political strength of a country, a test that was particularly important when Standard and Poor's downgraded the United States in battle between Democrats and Republicans. Finally the agency is studying the history of default of the country. "Their decision is not from a macroeconomic model as is the case for the projections of the ministries or central banks. This is more of a qualitative opinion.Countries are alerted to the decision a few hours before it was released, "said Bertrand du Marais of the University of Nanterre on Slate.

Read: Why France must not lose its triple A

France, she deserves to be degraded?

Moody's decision to consider the placement of the note falls under supervision of course, not abuse. The situation of public accounts in France is worrying. With debt levels at 1.692 trillion euros (86.2% of GDP), Paris is – the 17 countries rated AAA by Moody's – one of the states with the most fragile public finances. The United States, degraded this summer by Standard and Poor's are worse (100%) but investors remain attracted by the U.S. debt. Furthermore, the primary deficit of France off the debt burden reached 3% of GDP, far more than its neighbors triple A rated, the Netherlands (1.6%) and Austria (0.5%).It is these figures that the agency emphasized. Moody's said the financial strength has "weakened (…) because the economic and financial crisis worldwide has led to a deterioration in its debt ratios that are among the most vulnerable countries rated AAA." That said, nothing to panic about the likely reduction of the note according to Alexandre Delaigue, an economics professor at Saint-Cyr and co-author of the blog econoclaste. "Overall, the consequences (a degradation) would be minimal because in fact the creditors have already as if France had already lost its best."

Also read: What I really want the rating agencies

And also: Credit rating agencies for Dummies

Why do we critique always agencies?

For several reasons. First, because they have made many mistakes in the past.After controversy over the rating of companies, including Enron, they were accused of having had a major responsibility in the crisis of suprime, giving the maximum for certain financial products that eventually led to the financial crisis. Moreover, they were criticized for their lack of transparency about the products noted. A former employee of Moody's recently revealed that some banks had withheld information to be rated by these agencies.

Today's critics include on Moody's. The agency would degrade too quickly some states. "Moody's has totally missed the Greek crisis and the subprime crisis. We realize that with Italy and Spain it is trying to change this image agency late. But it is clear that it is too brutal "said Norbert Gaillard, author of" rating agencies ".

How to reform?

Europe has raised the idea of ​​creating a European rating agency. The goal is to break the virtual monopoly of the three agencies, Standard and Poor's, Moody's and Fitch. But it would not address the accusations of bias, is Gunther Capelle-Blancard, professor at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and Deputy Director of CEPII. "The doubts about its independence would be very strong. The proof now European leaders are trying to put pressure on agencies that do not have the figures for Greece in such a negative." Norbert Gaillart advocates for its intervention by the European Central Bank. "The ECB should be the sovereign rating. It would do this based on his notes to her and this would allow it to be more independent rating agencies."

Read also: The European rating agency, such a good idea?

A fault of Greece have unpredictable consequences, including the risk that the debt crisis in the euro area spread to other countries, said Commission President José Manuel Barroso, quoted in the German daily Bild.

Discussions between Athens and the inspectors of the mission the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-European Union (EU)-European Central Bank (ECB) continued for a payment of a new tranche under the aid plan international countries.

Greece could be short of money in the month of November without this slice of eight billion euros.

"If we leave Greece, there are more chances for the crisis is spreading to other countries," said José Manuel Barroso in an interview to be published by Bild on Monday.

The President of the European Commission stressed that no one had ever experienced a bankruptcy of a member state of the euro area.

"We have entered uncharted territory and we are talking of solutions that have never been tested before."

Didier Reynders, Belgian Finance Minister, also made comments rather alarmist, saying that Greece should be helped to prevent financial contagion across what had happened during the collapse of Lehman Brothers in any late summer 2008.

"If we do not solve the Greek problem, if there is a danger of contagion to Spain and Italy, while the worst case scenario could materialize," he said in an interview published Saturday by the Greek magazine Proto.

Nicolas Sarkozy traveled to Berlin on Sunday for talks with Angela Merkel of crisis, with a priority to overcome their differences on how to recapitalize European banks.

In announcing the end of September it moves ahead in the German capital, the French president had indicated he would discuss with the Chancellor "ways and means to accelerate economic integration in the euro area and implement as soon as possible" the new aid plan for Greece approved July 21 by the Europeans.

DEBT REDUCTION GREEK underestimated DIT SCHÄUBLE

Wolfgang Schäuble, German Finance Minister, said that Europe may have underestimated the amount of debt should be reduced Greek summit on 21 July.

The summit, which established the principle of a second aid plan for Greece and that of an extension of the powers of EFSF, provides that private creditors agree to a 21% discount on their debt Greek.

"It is possible that, in July, we held a level of debt reduction is too low," said Wolfgang Schäuble, quoted by the newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the Eurogroup, said a few days ago that the finance ministers of the euro area were reviewing the extent of private sector involvement in the second bailout of Greece.

"There are significant risks to the crisis deepens and widens," said Wolfgang Schäuble.

Greece is at a crossroads and must implement "structural reforms much more stringent" to avoid failure, said the head of the IMF mission in Greece, Poul Thomsen, quoted by the German Sunday newspaper Welt am Sonntag .

"Greece is at a crossroads," said Thomsen. "It is clear that the program will not work if the authorities do not take a path that requires structural reforms much harder than we've seen so far."

"Greece is two steps forward, one back," said Thomsen."The Greek government has much of the most difficult changes are to come."

About the austerity measures, Didier Reynders warned however that we should not go too far: "We do not want a cure that will kill Greece."

Greek Socialist Prime Minister George Papandreou could propose the formation of a unity government with the opposition to try out his country from the financial crisis, a local newspaper reported Saturday.

The government has however denied reports published by the financial daily Imerisia which raises the possibility of a resignation of Papandreou order to reach a political consensus and bring together a large majority in parliament supporting a coalition government.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange ended down 0.86% Wednesday after clearing its initial gains, foreign investors still selling, especially as Fast Retailing, a title traditionally enjoyed, fell sharply after the publication by the distributor disappointing numbers.

The Nikkei lost 73.14 points to 8,382.98 and the Topix, broader, sold 9.93 points (1.35%) to 726.25.

At this level the two indices are close to the lowest reached in March after the earthquake and tsunami.

Fast Retailing finished down 4.03% after announcing that sales on a comparable basis of Uniqlo, knew fell 10.7% year on year in September.

The markets also reacted to the presentation to the United States to the new version of Apple's iPhone.

Softbank and KDDI, which will market the new Apple smartphone, finished in decreases of 4.42% and 0.9%, outweighing the disappointment after the presentation of the new general manager of the Apple brand Tim Cook .

Several countries opposed to the maintenance of European budgets that fund free meals for more than 13 million people. With 80% of EU funds within the associations could distribute 130 million meals in less than in 2012.

A meeting of the "last chance" is scheduled in Brussels on Tuesday to prevent a drastic reduction of a European food aid to the poor from agricultural funds. If no agreement is reached, the program will increase from 480 million euros per year to 113.5 million euros in 2012.Currently several European states form a blocking minority which opposes the continued existence of the annual budget of the European Programme of assistance to the poor (MDP) – funded by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) – the result of a decision of the European Court of Justice in April.

Four charities have warned Monday in Paris that the decline of European funds allocated to the poor could cause a "tsunami food" in countries of the European Union. Les Restos du Coeur, Secours populaire, the Red Cross and the French Federation of Food Banks (FFBA) have called on ministers to "take responsibility" to find a solution quickly and avoid a "humanitarian crisis" in 2012. "We are facing a new situation (…) While there has never been more demand, there has never been so many threats on our action," said Olivier Berthe, president of the Eating Heart.With 80% of European funds and less, "the associations are likely to distribute 130 million meals in less than in 2012," said Didier Piard, head of advocacy at the Red Cross.

According to one European diplomat, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Sweden have so far opposed a transitional formula that would overcome the objections of the Court of Justice and maintain the MDP at current levels for 2012 and 2013."We have nothing against helping the needy, but this is social policy, which is the responsibility of Member States," said a diplomat from one of these states.

13 million people in need

This program, established in 1987 under the leadership of the President of the European Commission at the time, Jacques Delors, in response to the call of the founder of the "Restos du Coeur" Coluche, helps distribute through 240 charitable organizations, support of European stocks pulled the CAP to more than 13 million people. Nineteen of the 27 EU states benefit, at whose head Italy, Poland and France.

But the last two years, the inventory level was so low that the EU had to compensate for large purchases of food destined for food banks.Following a complaint from Germany, the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg in April estimated that these purchases were incompatible with the CAP, requiring the Commission to bring the envelope for years to come at the existing stocks, or 113.5 million euros.

A prospect that provoked an outcry. The European Commission has finally found a way around the objections of the Court, but now faces the blocking minority. In recent days, several states in favor of maintaining the program at its current level have engaged in intense lobbying skeptical countries to try to convince at least one, and thus to shatter the blocking minority, explained diplomats.