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The Markit PMI fell below 50 in October, indicating a contraction in activity. View of the Port of Marseille

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%.

The number of unemployed in Britain at the highest since 1994, the private did not offset the losses of public sector jobs, a statistic that feeds a little over fears of a recession.

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 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.

European shares ended sharply higher Wednesday for the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso to present options for the introduction of euro bonds that endorsed a market, which remains concerned about the exposure of banks to sovereign debt.

The CAC 40 index ended up 1.87% to 2949.14 points, after opening down nearly 1.5%, confirming the already observed high volatility the day before.

Other major European markets, London was up 1.02%, 3.36% of Frankfurt and Milan to 2.69%.The pan-European Euro Stoxx 50 index gained 2.29%, but its implied volatility index remains at levels close to those recorded in August despite a decrease of 4.86% on Wednesday.

"The configurations of the lowest values ​​make you want to buy for those who like to put in front of the trend. Oversold is strong, with significant support.In the medium term, we begin to address our exposure, "said Valerie Gastaldy, an analyst at Day By Day graphic.

"In the short term, the market tent up, but nothing is well established," does nuance.

BACK safe havens

European banks (0.51%) continue to worry investors, especially with Moody's downgraded a notch notes of Societe Generale (-2.88%) and Credit Agricole (1.22%).

Swedish bank Swedbank lost 5.55% and the Belgian KBC 4.29%, while BNP Paribas, she was accused (-3.93%), the largest drop in the CAC 40 after announcing a reduction size of its balance sheet by about 10% by the end of 2012.

"The theme of the rulers continue to pollute the market environment.Within the European indices, banks once again accuse the largest declines due to exposure to sovereign debt.We also see that the volatility particularly for banks, "said Benedict Peloille, equity strategist at Natixis.

The real estate industry has accused the only sector down (-0.72%), penalized by several downward revisions of earnings estimates by analysts for several days.

However, the automobile (5.08%), including the Frankfurt Motor Show opens its doors to the public from September 15 to 25 after two days reserved for the press, the best performing European sector, supported in particular by redemption with it, the sector still showing a decline of more than 31% since July 22.

The relative optimism of investors has resulted in a marked rise in the performance of the German government bond (Bund) to 10 years to around 1.88% against 1.79% the day before closing. The other safe haven, gold, for its part has given up 0.88% to 1,817.15 dollars per ounce.

The euro, which was passed under $ 1.36 in the morning, rose against the greenback around 1.3706 dollars (0.17%).

The ounce of gold has risen to 1921.17 dollars. The precious metal is more than ever its safe haven role in the crisis.

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.

Toyota Motor and Ford announced Monday they plan to jointly develop trucks and SUV hybrid, running on gasoline and electricity, to the market by the end of the decade.

Ford and Toyota want to collaborate on the development of hybrid vehicles and energy efficient, but also embedded telephony, Internet and entertainment.

Seal a final agreement this collaboration is to be concluded during 2012.

Toyota is the world leader in hybrid vehicles with 3.3 million units sold since launching the Prius in 1997. The vans of Ford's F-series are for their best selling in the U.S. market since the 1970s.

European shares ended Tuesday's session on their largest decline in 11 months, progress on the U.S. debt was largely overshadowed by fears of a slowing global economy and the contagion of the debt crisis to Italy.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 1.80% (19.26 points) to 1048.71 points, its lowest closing level since the end of August 2010.

In Paris the CAC 40 index yielded 1.82% (65.26 points) to 3522.79 points, its lowest closing level since Aug. 31, 2010.

The benchmark index of the Milan stock exchange has meanwhile dropped 2.53%, reaching its lowest level in 27 months in the wake of the banks heavily exposed to the Italian debt, including UniCredit, which lost 5.77% and Intesa Sanpaolo, which lost 5.24%.

"The fear is that the market returns to the world recession in the euro area, it is the peripheral markets will suffer the most," said Alessandro Giansanti, strategist for ING in Amsterdam.

Cyclical stocks have accused the heaviest losses.The Stoxx European banking stocks fell 2.54% and 2.61% mineral.

BNP has come down by 2.46% after announcing a profit below expectations in the second quarter, particularly penalized by a provision of 534 million euros in Greece's debt.

The European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) provide for Greece, Ireland and Portugal the lowest rate loans for periods at least double, according to draft conclusions of the Summit of Heads of State and Government the euro area held Thursday in Brussels.

According to the document that Reuters was able to consult, the maturity of the loans will be extended from 7.5 years at least fifteen years, while interest rates will be lowered to about 3.5%, against around 4 , 5% today in the case of Greece and Portugal.

"We will provide loans to EFSF interest rates equivalent to those of the ease of using the balance of payments (currently approximately 3.5%) without falling below the cost of financing the EFSF" can we read in the project.

"This will be accompanied by a mechanism that will ensure appropriate incentives for the implementation of the program, including if necessary through collateral arrangements," the document, responding to requests by Finland on collateral to make for new credits.

The EFSF will also be allowed to provide preventive lines of credit to any country in the euro area, including those that are not subject to an assistance program of the European Union or the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The paper added that discussions with the private sector participation in the second bailout of Greece is continuing and that all options are considered in the study.

"The financial sector has shown its willingness to support Greece on a voluntary basis through a list of options (exchange of debt rollover and redemption) on terms comparable to the support of public debt with the guarantee associated with higher credit "reads the project.

The EFSF was established in June 2010 to ensure the soundness of the single currency by giving states troubled loans guaranteed by member countries of the euro area.

The leaders of the euro area defined by teleconference last week three main options to involve private creditors at the new rescue plan for Greece, according to a document prepared July 16 and that Reuters was able to obtain.

The first option would be based on a redemption of Greek debt and credit enhancement ("credit enhancement") to the private sector, but it would likely defect selective or comprehensive in the country.

The second, which could be based on a French rolling solutions (rollover) of the debt does not include credit enhancement and does not repurchase debt.

It would lead a selective default, the document warns.

The third, which would be less likely to trigger a selective default, provides for the taxation of the financial sector, and also offers lower rates and longer maturities on EFSF funds (European Fund for financial stability).

This solution does however cause Probal no default.