Hot Economic News Releases

Veolia Environment announced Friday departures of three members of its management team the day after proposing not to renew the appointments of two members of its board of directors deemed close former CEO Proglio.

This series of ads comes as more directors of Veolia, which Proglio, currently head of EDF, has, according to sources familiar with the matter, considered asking for the resignation of the current CEO Antoine Frérot at a council held in late February.

In a statement, Veolia announced that Denis Gasquet, Olivier Orsini and Jean-Pierre Frémont leave with immediate effect the group's executive committee and at the same time abandoning their duties within the group. 

Denis Gasquet held the position of Executive Managing Director and COO, Olivier Orsini as managing director and deputy general secretary and Jean-Pierre Frémont e ; was Director General in charge of Public and Community Affairs.

These changes were decided by Antoine Frérot to "accelerate the implementation of the strategic plan approved by the board of directors," it said in the release of the company.

Sylvain Boucher, who was previously secretary of the executive committee, also joined the proceedings which now, in addition to the CEO, seven against nine previously. 

Also Sylvain Boucher, it is composed of Jerome Gallot, Jean-Michel Herrewyn, Franck Lacroix, Jean-Marie Lambert, Jerome Le Conte, Pierre-François Riolacci.

At 15:25, the title jumped 4.28% to 12.66 euros while the index of blue chips rose 0.17% Paris at the same time.

"The acceleration of the strategic plan and tighter around Mr. Frérot teams were well received," said a trader based in Paris.

Another market operator, also based in Paris, points out that these departures had been widely expected by the market, believing that the benefits likely to die as ; knotting of short positions as well as upward revisions of recommendations. 

"The action moves as people cheer the departure of Denis Gasquet: it was at the head of the Environmental Services division during his disastrous performance and more recently he oversaw the restructuring, "he adds.

The strategic plan of Veolia plans to refocus the group on water, waste and energy services and reduce costs of 420 million euros by in 2015.

Veolia also planned to produce five billion euros in sales in 2012-2013 and reduce net debt to below 12 billion at end 2013.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange closed up 0.54% Friday, the benchmark index ending the Japanese market to a higher-end seven months and with an increase of 9.6% over the month.

The Nikkei gained 51.81 points to 9,647.38, closing above 9,600 points for the first time since August. The Topix broader took 4.94 points (0.6%) to 834.29.

Investors are reassured by the strong U.S. data and policies to support the activity of several central banks, including that of Japan. Some analysts even expect that the Nikkei is testing, by next month, the threshold of 10,000 points.

But other market players believe that a correction could occur in the coming months.

"I think the correction will come in March or April and that (the Nikkei) sink to 9,000 points due to earnings forecasts revised downward for the next fiscal year", Ryota Sakagami esteem, chief equity strategist for Nikko Securities SMBC.

Values, Nippon Steel Corp. has been 3.51%, while Nomura Holdings, the first investment bank in the country, took 1.6%.

A recession brought good ancréea the unemployment rate to a record in late 2011 and analysts note that the new provisions to hire and fire workers more easily create probably does not jobs in such a context.

The unemployment rate was 14% in the fourth quarter, announced the National Institute of Statistics, above the 13.7% projected in the program of international aid 78 billion euros.

In the third quarter of 2011, this rate was 12.4%.

Reform of labor law reduces redundancy payments for new hires to 20 days per year worked, against 30 before, and limits severance payments to 115,000 euros.

Bercy is considering a mechanism for not achieving a 10% rise in tobacco prices. Finally, it should increase by 2% on 1 October. Which must be added the 6% increase already planned. Next autumn, tobacco is going to experience a sharp rise again.

The government will review the tax on tobacco to reduce the effect "multiplier" of the social VAT on tobacco prices and avoid too large an increase of the cigarette package, officials said Saturday at Bercy.

The Ministry of Economy "is considering reducing the multiplier effect of the VAT hike on tobacco through a lowering of excise (tax collected by the State, Ed) on tobacco", it was indicated to the Department, confirming a report published on the website of Les Echos.

Besides the increase of 1.6 point VAT on 1 October, a 6% increase in tobacco prices in 2012. Due to the complex mechanism of pricing of cigarettes, the combination of these two boxes (one on taxation, the other on price, Ed) mechanically lead to an increase greater than 10% of the package.

At the announcement of the introduction of VAT social, tobacconists and manufacturers have alerted the authorities about the effects of this increase that threatens their marges.Bercy will reduce excises, to 63.28% as against 64, 25%, erasing "to nearly 90%" the VAT increase, according to Les Echos.

+ 2% from 1 October (6%)

"There will end up with a slight overall increase in taxes on cigarettes (0.13 points), corresponding more or less to the impact of the VAT hike in other sectors", according to the newspaper.

These figures have not been confirmed by Bercy which emphasizes that "the tobacco industry will contribute as much as other sectors". Les Echos report that "the margins of manufacturers fall moderately", without elaborating.

Ultimately, the VAT hike is expected to increase prices by 1.5% to 2% effective October 1, understands the quotidien.A this increase must be added the 6% pay increase for the fall at a date not yet known.

Contrary to popular belief, teachers do not run on gold in France. They earn less than their counterparts in rich countries. Above all, their pay has fallen since 1995, according to the OECD. A class of primary Vincennes

A few months before the presidential election, it's a stir of Education launched by the OECD. In its Report 2011 "Education at a Glance", released Tuesday, the organization that brings together the richest countries of the world considers "alarming" the wages of teachers in France.

First, the average statutory salary (excluding bonuses and overtime) of primary teachers or secondary school is less than the average of OECD countries, both for new teachers (25% approximately), for those with 10 or 15 years of professional experience (from -14% to -17% depending on the level of education).Only late-career salaries are slightly above the OECD average.

"This is a first criterion quite alarming, but also, when you look at the evolution of the statutory salaries between 1995 and 2009, France with Switzerland is one of the two countries that have had a steady decline of teacher salaries ", commented at a press conference Eric Charbonnier, education policy analyst in the OECD. In fact, the evolution of the salary of a teacher of junior high school with 15 years of experience has gone from an index 110 to index 95, according to OECD criteria.

"These OECD statistics merely reflect a sad reality that French teachers are paid less than their counterparts in developed countries and their standard of living has steadily deteriorated over the past ten years, says the expansion. com Daniel Robin, secretary general of the SNES-FSU, the main union of Education.It is even worse for two years: the freezing of the index point in the civil service and the increase in pension contributions and CSG [through the pension reform of 2010, Ed] result in a net loss purchasing power for teachers, "he adds.

1666 euros early career

According to INSEE, the average monthly income of a primary school teacher was 2367 euros in 2008, 2423 euros for professors, certified teachers in higher education. This is slightly higher than the average wage of a civil officer of the State (2328 euros net per month). But it is almost two times less than a part in the private sector (equal status with certified teachers and aggregated), who earns an average of 4081 euros per month.

According to the compensation schedule of the Ministry of Education, a school teacher earns 1666 euros early career and 3026 euros in late career. Same salary scale for certified teacher. The aggregate earn more: 2032 euros in early career after Euro 3722 30-year career. For secondary school teachers (secondary schools), in addition to such remuneration bonuses, miscellaneous allowances and overtime. All of which can reach 200 to 250 euros per month depending on the SNES-FSU.

Levels well below other major economies. In Germany, the average monthly salary of a certified teacher of over 15 year career amounts to 5,400 euros, according to OECD data. United States, the same teacher earns 4150 euros a month.In France, it affects only 1913 euros and 2540 euros (after 20 year career) to finish at 3,000 euros.

These statistics will not run out of the debate for 2012 election, while the right plans to increase the time spent by the course teacher, for a fee (the "work more to earn more" dear to Nicolas Sarkozy ), as Martine Aubry proposes to take into account the number of hours team meetings and meetings with parents, and Francois Hollande is prepared to recreate the 70,000 positions eliminated in five years. Alas, none of the candidates meets the wishes of the unions, "an appreciation of teachers' salaries at a level at least as high as the average of rich countries," explains Daniel Robin.

European shares ended sharply lower Friday, ending mostly to four sessions of consecutive increase after the announcement of a halt in job creation in the United States in August.

The CAC 40 index fell 3.59% to 3148.53 points. The benchmark index of the Paris, however, who managed to stay on top of an important support points in 3136, managed to record a gain of 1.97% for the week.

Other major European markets also stumbled, leaving London and Milan respectively 2.34% and 3.89%.Frankfurt, who had already lost ground yesterday, yielded 3.36%.

For the week, the London was up 3.16% while its German counterpart has remained stable (0.02%).

"There are fears a 'double dip' (relapse), several indicators have turned to orange or red. It's like 'take the cash and run' on the market," said Fabrice Cousté, CEO of CMC Markets France, highlighting the rapid exit of investors from stocks to safe havens.

The Swiss franc and back ground on the European single currency within 1.12 franc per euro (1.1174 francs to 6:13 p.m.), 1.13 franc against most of the day.Similarly, gold rose 2.82% to 1,875.96 dollars per ounce.

SYSTEMIC CRISIS

Another illustration of the renewed risk aversion of investors, the performance of the German government bond (Bund) and 10 years fell below 2% in the wake of the publication of U.S. employment figures.

"We will turn to the Fed and its special meeting two days. But the Fed is out of breath and lack of ammunition.We should not have EQ3, but probably something more technical, "said Fabrice Cousté.

The latter warns that in the meantime the markets should still live on hard times even if investment opportunities should arise in securities of groups able to significantly increase their prices or capacity of important innovations.

Friday, fears of relapse into recession in developed countries have particularly affected the cyclicals and financials.

As for banks, Alpha Bank has dropped 9.26%, Barclays 8.4% and 7.38% Credit Agricole. The automotive industry, PSA fell 5.99%, 5.17% of Volkswagen and Fiat of 4.98%.

"The market values ​​have a relapse into recession scenario.Only a systemic crisis as in 2008 is not yet 'pricée ", explains Benoît Peloille, equity strategist at Natixis.

"However, central banks have just replaced the emergency measures that had helped break the stalemate in the interbank market resulting from the collapse of Lehman Brothers," he adds.

Wall Street ended the week up on a weekly, after four consecutive weeks of decline, enjoying a renewed hope born of the intervention of Ben Bernanke in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Equity markets were initially retreated after the speech of the President of the Federal Reserve, it has not announced specific measures to strengthen the U.S. economy.

But investors finally judging that the U.S. central bank left the door open for further support measures, the values ​​are rising again.

"He did not offer the market a signal from a 'EQ3', but has not ruled out either," said Kevin Caron, Stifel Nicolaus analyst in New Jersey, about a possible new round of quantitative easing.

The Dow Jones finished with a gain of 1.21% or 134.72 points to 11,284.54 while the S & P 500 closed up 1.51% or 17.53 points, to 1176, 80.

The Nasdaq was awarded for its 2.49% (60.22 points) to 2479.85.

For the week, the three indices gaining 4.3%, 4.7% and 5.9%.

The CBOE volatility index, known as "fear gauge", fell 10.2% after several days of uncertainty about the contents of the intervention of Ben Bernanke.

Technology stocks have had a particularly strong session.Cisco Systems gained 1.59% to 15.32 dollars, Microsoft has made 2.77% to 25.25 dollars, and Intel has awarded 1.8% to 19.77 dollars.

The sector index of information technology has gained 2.3%.

"The market is a broad rally, and as the technology has particularly suffered in the last sales phase, we see them now at the top of the rise," said Gary Wedbush, head of trading in the regional investment bank Wedbush Morgan in Los Angeles.

The jeweler Tiffany jumped 9.35% to 69.01 dollars after raising its full-year and good second quarter results.

Trading activity could be affected next week by Hurricane Irene along the East Coast of the United States.

The exchange operator NYSE Euronext said the New York Stock Exchange plans to open normally next week, but a final decision would be taken until Saturday or Sunday, because of the risk of flooding during Hurricane .

The number of jobseekers in France rose by 36,100 in July, the largest monthly increase in two years. The trend of 2011 is back up. Since the crisis in 2008, the situation of the labor market in France is particularly depressing.

Xavier Bertrand had prepared the ground. The news is, however, the effect of a cold shower: the number of jobseekers in Class A rose by a further 1.3% in July on the rise year on year to 2.8%. A bad result that erases completely stabilize the labor market seen earlier this year. Worse, when you take a step back, the situation of the labor market in France since the crisis began in early 2008 seems particularly depressed.Review detailed figures of black unemployment.

33%: This is the increase since January 2008 the number of registered unemployed persons in categories A, B, C, that is to say job seekers must be positive acts of job search. In nearly four years, this category has swelled from just over one million people.

57%: This is the rise in unemployment for more than 50 years since January 2008. While the youth unemployment is a wound in France. But it is the elderly who have suffered most from the deterioration of the labor market and plans of downsizing in companies.

453 days: This is the average length of job seekers registered at employment center. In January 2008 it was 412 days. The long-term unemployment (more than one year of enrollment) affects 38% of registered voters, against 32% four years ago.The number of registered unemployed for over two years increased by nearly 27% over the last twelve months.

Only 21% of output for Occupation Pole of the unemployed who found a job. An extremely low which demonstrates the low dynamism of recruitment. Radiation administrative account for 10% of outputs at Pole Occupation: they jumped from just over 7% in one year.

16%: This is the decline since January 2008 the number of sustainable jobs (that is to say, longer than 6 months) received Pole Employment. The precariousness of the job market is growing again. In one year, the proposed job "casual" (lasting less than one month) rose 4.7%.

Lafarge announced on Wednesday the sale to the Australian Boral its stake in their joint venture equally in the plaster in Asia worth 429 million euros as part of its debt.

The world cement continues its withdrawal from the plaster, the smallest of its three businesses, in February after setting an ambitious target of over two billion euros of debt, half by reducing the dividend, and for other by a decline in investment and new divestitures.

Final completion of the sale of its share of Lafarge Boral Gypsum Asia (LBGA) expected before the end of the year, Lafarge said in a statement.

The price of EUR 429 million represents the value from Lafarge LBGA.Excluding debt and minority interests, the price stood at 380 million euros.

Founded in 2000, LBGA conducted last year in sales attributable to the group of 181 million euros and EBITDA of 31 million.

Lafarge had already announced July 22 the sale of its gypsum in Australia in its German competitor Knauf for a net worth of 120 million euros, ten days after entering into exclusive negotiations with the Belgian Etex plaster to give up his European and South America, for a net amount of 850 million euros.

With these assignments, which follow the cement and concrete assets in the United States announced in May, Lafarge will far exceed the target of disinvestment of 750 million euros it has set for 2011.

The group's debt, inherited largely from the acquisition of the Egyptian Orascom in 2008 reached 14.3 billion euros at the end of June.

Moody's announced on August 5 lower the debt rating of Lafarge Cement in the speculative grade, five months after a similar decision by the Standard & Poor's.

The Australian airline Qantas announced Tuesday its intention to acquire 106 to 110 Airbus A320s at a list price exceeding $ 9.4 billion (6.5 billion euros).

Qantas has selected Airbus aircraft for two projects it intends to launch soon in Asia as part of a comprehensive restructuring of its international activities leading to the removal of a thousand jobs.

This will be a high-end company which will be based in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and the Japanese company low-cost Jetstar.

The company plans to buy between 28 and 32 A320 and the rest will consist of A320neo, remotorisée version of the A320 which has allowed Airbus to replace its rival Boeing single-aisle market once dominated by the family of 737.

Qantas future plays double or quits by refocusing on Asia's international activities, which are losing money, said its CEO Alan Joyce. "To do nothing or to settle the issue would only guarantee half the end of our own International Qantas Australian market," he said.

Asia accounts for half of this year's profits of international airlines, according to estimates by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Alan Joyce said Qantas had to its international operations, a cost base 20% higher than its main rivals.

The company postponed to a later date the delivery of six A380 to preserve capital.