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"The market remains concerned about the implementation of these measures (austerity and anti-crisis), which are not detailed enough to be credible," said Emmanuel Cau, strategist at JPMorgan Cazenove,.

In Paris the CAC-40 ended on a loss of 1.78% to 3,010.29, surpassing those of his peers.

Beyond the impact of depreciation on new Greek debt as a result of the Europe Agreement of 27 October and an expected revaluation of debt that will boost results, they should undergo a significant decline in their income banking and investment (BFI), analysts said.

Institutions such as Barclays, UBS and the Swiss German Deutsche Bank, have all recorded sharp decline in income and profits in this sector.

"Given the volatility in the markets since this summer, we will look closely at the impact on market activities," said Christophe Nijdam, an analyst at AlphaValue.

"We'll see if there was blood in the trading rooms in both equity trading activities (actions, Ed) and fixed income (interest rates, Ed)," he says.

The quarterly results will also be an opportunity for French banks to specify the measures they intend to implement to enhance their financial strength to cope with the debt crisis in the euro area in early October that forced the Franco-Belgian Dexia decommissioning.

As part of the recapitalization of the banking sector, the European Banking Authority has estimated that a total of 8.8 billion euros deficit capital of BNP Paribas (2.1 billion), Societe Generale (3.3 billion) and BPCE (People's Bank, Savings Bank) (3.4 billion).

Unions and bankers expect in the context of a degradation of the environment that they are announcing job cuts, especially in their BFI.

"There are no ongoing negotiations with China" in Chinese investment in the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), said Friday in Beijing's director, Klaus Regling, citing only "regular consultation". Mr. Regling is visiting China in the wake of the announcement of an agreement anti-crisis in Europe which includes strengthening the capacity for action of the EFSF to help indebted countries.His visit was seen as a sign that the EFSF would seek financial support from China, the second global economy has a huge cushion of reserves and already has European debt.

But "there are no ongoing negotiations with China," only "regular consultations at an early stage," said Regling warning: "There will be no agreement today" . "I had contacts with the Chinese authorities, (which) are regular buyers of bonds EFSF" Regling said at a news conference, adding that Asia had acquired 40% of the bonds Fund this year. "China will find it a worthwhile investment," said the boss of the EFSF. Since the beginning of the year, Japan has in turn invested 2.68 billion euros, or 20% of total loans issued by the EFSF.

"Until now the only way we asked investors to participate (the fund) was to buy bonds. There was no other instrument," said Mr Regling. But "now we are developing new tools and we will see who will participate," he said without elaborating. "Foreign exchange reserves of China are increasing every month, so there is a need for investment," said Mr. Regling about these reserves of 3,200 billion.

The Chinese "are interested in attractive and safe investment," he noted, before talks at the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank. The euro area has decided at its summit in Brussels crisis Wednesday and Thursday to multiply the firepower of EFSF for countries in difficulty, Italy or Spain. Its response capacity would increase to 1,000 billion euros.

The French economy contracted in October, according to the PMI index released Monday by the firm Markit, which fell to the lowest in twenty-nine months, to 46.8 points in October against 50.2 in September. " The French private sector falters and comes into contraction zone at the beginning of the fourth quarter, "said Jack Kennedy, economist at Markit, said in the statement of the firm. "The impact of European debt crisis in the real economy may be felt, especially on trust and the level of demand," said Kennedy.

According to the study, the activity of the French private sector declined for the first time since the summer of 2009 in October.The 50 points, the index has gone down, marks the boundary between phases of expansion and contraction phases of the activity. The decline in the index below this threshold is the result of a sharp decline in activity in the services sector, the highest since 27 months, he said. Mr. Kennedy explained that the growth had so far relied on the services sector and noted that "manufacturing output declined for the third consecutive month."

The economist has estimated that these numbers could result in "a significant quarterly rate of contraction of gross domestic product (in the range of 0.5-0.6%)." "The curve is currently followed by the activity lets consider a recession, unless a quick turnaround." The PMI, compiled from a survey of 750 companies operating in France, is a leading indicator of economic conditions, considered reliable by analysts.The provisional figure released Thursday based on a percentage of responses from about 85%.

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?

The number of unemployed increased by 17,500 in September, announced the National Statistics Office Wednesday, however, below the 25,000 expected by economists.

But according to the methodology of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the number of unemployed increased by 114,000 over a period of three months to August, to 2.57 million, the highest number since October 1994.

Always within the meaning of the ILO and the period from June to August, the unemployment rate rose to 8.1%, the highest since October 1996, compared with 8.0% giving a consensus.

The Bank of England last week launched new measures to support growth, but Spencer Dale, a senior economist, told Reuters that the economy weakens more likely in the fourth quarter.

The final figure for growth in the U.S. economy was revised upward for the second quarter, up 1.3% of gross domestic product.

So a return to the first estimate, which was revised down to 1.0% in late August.Analysts had expected a growth rate of GDP revised up to 1.2%.

Final sales increased 1.6% against 1.2% in the first estimate and consumer spending were revised to 0.4% to 0.7%.

The PCE price index rose 3.3% over the quarter (revised from 3.2%). Economists surveyed expected an indicator to 3.2%.

The index "core", followed closely by the Fed, rose 2.3%, its largest increase since the second quarter of 2008.The previous estimate was 2.2%.

The figures released also show an increase in corporate profits after tax of 4.3% in the second quarter, the largest increase of this statistic in a year. The increase was only 0.1% in the first quarter.

Political tensions in the United States and the impact of the debt crisis in Europe have eroded confidence and fears of a return of U.S. recession.

The cautious optimism of economists now expects a further contraction of GDP will be avoided.Production companies continue to grow because, although at a slower pace since the beginning of the recovery.

In detail, the revised figures show, in fact more of a slower growing economy as a future recession.

Export growth is better than initially estimated at 3.6% instead of 3.1%. That of imports, however, is lower at 1.4% against 1.9%.

The trade deficit is less, and trade has contributed to GDP by 0.24 percentage point.

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.

The gold price broke a new record high Tuesday, rising to 1,921.17 dollars per ounce to 6:15 GMT, more than ever playing its role as a safe haven when markets are again in turmoil. Its previous record high was recorded on August 23, to 1913.50 dollars per ounce.

Gold jumped $ 90 in less than three days, boosted particularly by the disappointing figures on employment in the United States, which have strengthened concerns about the strength of the world's largest economy and stock markets plunged.

"Insurance against uncertainty"

Renewed concern about sovereign debt in the eurozone and the strength of European banks also helped drive up the price, analysts noted."Faced with a scenario back in recession (the United States and Europe), gold should strengthen its attractiveness to investors and is seen as a form of insurance against the continuing uncertainty" in the economic environment has Robin reminded Bhar, analyst at Credit Agricole.

The yellow metal, whose intrinsic value is backed by any issuer, is considered a good shield against the volatility of the stock exchanges, currencies and bonds.