Hot Economic News Releases

Holcim has suggested Wednesday that he would again increase its prices, a severe winter in Europe charged on net profit in the first quarter.

Sales of cement, concrete and asphalt decreased by double digit percentages in Europe and the net profit after minority interests stood at 10 million Swiss francs (8.32 million euros), far from the 41.2 million expected by analysts polled by Reuters.

Revenues increased 2.2% to 4.76 billion Swiss francs, compared with 4.718 billion consensus giving.

"The harsh winter has resulted in numerous decisions of sites in Western and Eastern Europe in February," said the second world cement in a statement. 

Cement producers, firms in a particularly energy intensive, face higher costs of fuel and electricity.

Holcim said it could offset the rising costs by raising prices, but Africa and the Middle East. As Lafarge, he observed that the costs of energy and transport seemed to stabilize.

European competitors Holcim, Lafarge and whose German HeidelbergCement, have warned that they would fall under their prices to offset rising energy costs. Holcim said it reverberate cost increases caused by inflation.

The Swiss group, which generates more than half of its turnover in emerging markets, expects increased demand for building materials in Asia, Latin America, Russia and Azerbaijan this year. It also provides an increase in demand in North America.

The Spanish economy, sick man of Europe, is facing a "crisis of immense proportions", a minister said Friday, while the unemployment rate reached its highest level in twenty years and that Standard & Poor's lowered the rating by two notches of the sovereign debt.

The Spanish unemployment rate, one of the highest in the world, jumped to 24% in the first quarter, its highest level since the early 1990s. Retail sales fell for their part, for the 21st consecutive month, as the country is experiencing its second recession in three years.

"The numbers are terrible for everyone and terrible for the government (…) Spain is in a crisis of immense proportions," said the Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Garcia -Margallo, during a radio interview.

The unemployment rate in Spain was 22.9% in the last quarter of 2011. Half of young people are unemployed and the numbers are unlikely to improve anytime soon, while fiscal savings of some 42 billion euros this year while undermining hope for growth for the country.

Standard & Poor's lowered the rating Thursday of the Spanish sovereign debt to "A" to "BBB +" with negative implications, citing the risk of fiscal slippages may be more important than expected.

The rating agency considers particularly likely that Madrid has to provide support to its banking sector.

Lowering S & P sovereign rating instead of Spain at the same level as that of Italy, to "adequate capacity to pay" – is a few notches away from the class speculative. From Fitch and Moody's, Spain has however always a "strong capacity to pay".

BANKS SICK

Friday morning at the Madrid Stock Exchange, banking stocks fell 3.38% while the risk premium of Spanish debt, measured by the yield spread between government bonds ; ten years, has jumped 10 basis points to 434 points.

"This is a very difficult situation. I do not think banks are trapped, but we need the government to quickly find out how they intend to do it for them, "said Gilles Moec, economist for Deutsche Bank ..

……. Spanish banks may require more public funds, said in the morning, the Secretary of State for Fernando Jimenez Latorre economy, while excluding the use of EU funds

. The Spanish government also plans to create a structure defeasance for banks' toxic real estate assets, three rounds of cleaning and consolidation of the country's financial sector was not enough to reassure investors of its soundness. 

Madrid has already come to the aid of several banks devastated by the bursting of the housing bubble in 2008 and investors feared, given the current economic contraction, a new wave of de defects credit which further weaken the country's financial sector.

The contraction of the economy also means that Spain is unlikely to achieve its fiscal targets this year despite a severe austerity.

While in Europe are increasing calls for measures to support growth, the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy reiterated its willingness to adhere to fiscal consolidation planned for the country. 

His government expects that the reforms of labor market flexibility adopted in the first quarter produce results next year. For now, many companies have primarily benefited the new rules to lay off more.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange ended down 0.81% on Friday, falling for the fourth straight session and recording its worst week in eight months, amid concerns facing renewed ; the European crisis of debt and lack of signs of new measures to support activity in the United States.

Volumes were thin due to the closure of many markets around the world for the Easter holiday and investors were cautious while awaiting the monthly U.S. unemployment figures.

The Nikkei lost 79.16 points to 9688.45 points. The Topix broader, yielded 6.86 points (0.82%) to 825.71 points.

"The very optimistic view of the U.S. economy has already been considered by the markets. We can not expect further monetary easing by the Fed, "said Ryota Sakagami for Nikko Securities SMBC

." On the other hand, we see the uncertainty on the front of the European crisis of debt, and general elections in Greece and the presidential election in France will only fuel the uncertainty. "

Ryota Sakagama said he expected that the Nikkei is maintained above 9,000 points, but that its correction will continue until the end of the month or until mid-May, when Japanese companies unveil their profit forecasts for the current year

…… At values ​​…, Toyota Motor lost 2.02% on profit taking. The action is up over 30% since the beginning of the year.

The stronger yen against the euro also weighed on exporters. Canon sold 1.03%, Panasonic and Sony 1.79% 2.04%.

The price per m2 of existing homes totaled at the end of January 8340 euros on average, 30 euros less than in October 2011. Prices in the Ile-de-France, for the same period were down 0.6%. This trend is not sustainable. Paris real estate. St. Pierre Semard, in the ninth.

Prices of existing homes fell slightly in Paris, in 8340 euros/m2 average for the period between November 2011 and January 2012 instead of 8370 euros/m2 previously announced Thursday night the Chamber of Notaries of Paris-Ile de France. There had been increasing since the second quarter 2009 (6020 euros/m2). The downward trend in prices began in late last year, is confirmed, indicate notaries in a statement.  

Moreover, the promise of sale entered recently, which presage the final price trends, highlight the value of apartments in the capital between 8100 and 8200 averaged euros/m2 end of May, confirming a trend slightly downward (-2 to -3.2%), after a sharp surge in prices which had led to an annual increase of 21.3% in late August 2011.

For the entire Ile-de-France, house prices in Ile-de-France, for the same period were down 0.6%. The largest decrease is observed in Seine-Saint-Denis (1.4%), while a decline of 0.3% in Paris proper.

The decrease in the number of transactions recorded for several months, was temporarily halted because of the reform leading to higher taxation of capital gains on property that, with effect from 1 February 2012, caused an influx of sales. Thus, from November 2011 to January 2012, 43,000 existing homes were sold, an increase of 6% over the same period 12 months earlier, and even 32% in central Paris.

After the records set last year, the Paris notaries had anticipated the end of February the prospect of a market downturn of the former in 2012 on the entire region, suggesting a decrease of 5 to 10% less a "new rebound of the financial crisis". But this break "will be sustainable only if new construction is accelerating sustainable in Ile-de-France for several years," had they warned. In the provinces, prices are expected to experience the same slope, according to forecasts by the INSEE.

Statoil confirmed Wednesday it was in talks to sell its stake in the giant oil field of West Kourna 2, in Iraq, Lukoil and its Russian partner, according to Iraqi sources the sector, two companies have reached an agreement.

Statoil has a 18.75% share, and sales to the Russian Lukoil will give a 75%. The remaining 25% is held by a public company in Iraq.

An agreement will allow the Russian company to become the only dealer outside of one of the largest oil projects in the pipeline in Iraq, while Norway will become the first major Western band to withdraw from an Iraq project in recent years.

"Statoil has reached an agreement with Lukoil to sell its stake in Kourna West 2 and the Iraqi Oil Ministry has approved the agreement," said a source from the Iraqi oil sector.

Another Iraqi source confirmed the agreement. "Statoil has sold its stake in Lukoil and Lukoil is now the sole operator of Kourna West 2", it was reported.

For its part, Statoil has simply said that the process was underway.

"Lukoil and the Iraqi authorities have previously confirmed that we had initiated a process to transfer shares of our project Kourna 2 West in Iraq," said a spokesman for Statoil. "We will when this process is completed," he added, without comment on the transaction amount or timing.

The Norwegian public company has been considering for some time to leave Iraq to refocus on less risky assets around the world, according to industry sources. Statoil plans to invest several billion dollars in deposits in the U.S. or offshore Norway.

The financial center of New York is on a diet. After reducing the 25% bonus in 2011, it should delete 4300 jobs this year. The New York Stock Exchange

Employees' bonuses on Wall Street fell by around 25% in 2011 compared to the previous year, according to an estimate released Monday by an independent agency in New York.

"We believe that the benefits of Wall Street totaled $ 10.5 billion in 2011, a level well below that of recent years, and that bonuses for the year fell 25%," says a news agency audit of the City of New York.

If compensation practices had changed since the 2008 crisis, with all or most bonus blocked for several years and their payment spread over time, generous bonuses had continued to be paid up to date on New York. Bank executives' bonuses on Wall Street in 2010 had even begun to rise.

The CEO of the investment bank Goldman Sachs Lloyd Blankfein saw his pay triple for example in 2010 to two million. The other four main executives of the bank had also received the same salary increase while the performance of Goldman Sachs had been poor in 2010 (including net income had declined 37% and the turnover was eroded).

Moreover, Wall Street is expected to lose many jobs in 2012, according to the agency. "We believe that Wall Street will eliminate 4,300 jobs this year and wages, including bonuses, decrease by 7.5%," added the independent organization funded by public funds. The paper explains these predictions by "the changing environment in the financial sector", the economic slowdown caused by "problems in the euro area" and "rising oil prices caused by tensions in the Middle East."

For these reasons, the Agency Audit of New York lowered its forecasts for job creation in all sectors: it table more than 22,000 jobs created in New York in 2012, against 38,800 estimated in December and 44,400 in 2013 (against 50,000).

Portugal hopes that an increase in exports of wine, cork and fruit will help reduce its trade deficit, said Monday the Portuguese Minister of Agriculture in an interview with Reuters.

Assunção explained Cristas want to restart the operation of unused land while providing incentives that would turn the trade deficit in food surplus.

Portugal is already the world's largest exporter of cork and the seventh largest exporter of wine. Its agriculture, which includes logging and the production of many varieties of fruits, olives and oranges through the strawberries and cherries, represents 10% of its gross domestic product.

But the fertility of its land and its mild weather did not permit him to achieve food self-sufficiency.

Production of the sector remains fragmented mainly because of the small size of many farms, inheritance of land reform following the Carnation Revolution of 1974 after decades of Salazar dictatorship.

Came to power last June in favor of early elections, the majority center-right led by

Pedro Passos Coelho hopes to reverse. 

"Our food exports have great potential even though we still have a trade deficit of 30%," said Assuncao Cristas Reuters.

If he succeeded in transforming its trade deficit in food surplus, Portugal could hope rebalance its overall trade balance, which would be of great help when he e ty forced last year to accept international assistance of 78 billion euros.

In 2011 already, the Portuguese trade deficit narrowed by 25% over the previous year to return to 15.2 billion euros.

This reduction is mainly due to the austerity measures imposed on the Portuguese with its implications on domestic demand. 

Meanwhile, food exports rose 17% last quarter 2011 to 1.2 billion euros. This increase is the second largest after the one recorded on refined petroleum products.

"The prospects for improved trade balance in the food are good, we planted lots of new land, for example, olive groves and vineyards," said the Minister of Agriculture.

"The food industry (…) can really help Portugal when domestic consumption is low."

According to forecasters, the Portuguese economy expected to contract 3% this year and the unemployment rate has hit a record 14%.

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.

This is one of several government ministers who resigned amputee who is granted in terms of the IMF and the European Union on Friday, while the Greek street is angry. Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos on arrival at a cabinet meeting in Athens. According to government officials, the Greek government on Friday approved a bill involving the country in the reforms demanded by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund for the implementation of a second bailout of 130 billion euros. (Reuters / Panayiotis Tzamaros)

Some resignations later … The Greek government has finally approved, this Friday night, a bill involving the country in the reforms demanded by the EU and the International Monetary Fund for the implementation of a second bailout of 130 billion euros, according to government officials.

The bill should be voted by parliament Sunday, which would make Greece a financial solution so that Athens must pay 14.5 billion euros of bonds maturing next month. The country will not honor these debts without further aid.

The European Union urges the Greek government to provide details of further cuts in public spending of $ 325 million.

It also requires a clear commitment of party leaders of the coalition government to implement reforms.

"We can not let Greece go bankrupt. Our priority is to take steps to adopt the new economic program and the new loan agreement. It goes without saying that those who disagree and do not vote for the new program can not remain in government ", said Prime Minister Lucas Papademos to the Cabinet

…. Friday ….., the Greeks began a 48-hour general strike to protest the new austerity measures demanded by international creditors and which Athens could not be the economy, according to Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos, at least of leaving the euro

. Clashes between protesters and police erupted Constitution Square (Syntagma), but to Parliament protests , followed by relatively few, have generally been peaceful

. The first police union, which accused the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Commission undermine democracy and national sovereignty, expressed his wish not to act against their "brothers". A local newspaper also publishes a photo montage showing German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a Nazi uniform.

The four government members from the LAOS, far-right party that belongs to the governing coalition, submitted their resignations in protest against the demands of international creditors, reports news agency ANA. George Karatzaferis, leader of the movement, had previously ruled to endorse the new austerity plan.

The device provides for a 22% decrease in the minimum wage, the elimination of 150,000 jobs in the public and reduced pensions.

For many Greeks, impoverished by five years of recession, in a country where unemployment affects one in five working where shops are closing one after the other, these new measures are unacceptable.

Christian Noyer, Governor of the Banque de France (BDF) and member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB), said Wednesday he did not hold to the basic scenario of an economic recession for France.

At a press conference in Singapore, he added that the fiscal measures taken by France were sufficient and the exposure of French banks to Greece quite manageable.

At the euro area, Christian Noyer said that the level of sovereign bond yields did not reflect reality, the day after an auction of Italian bonds where yields reached nearly 8%.

Inflation in the euro zone will return to the objective of the ECB in the next few months, also said the board member of the institution in Frankfurt, adding that all that was necessary would be done to avoid deflation or fight against inflation.