Standard & Poor's said Wednesday raising the rating to CCC from the Greek sovereign debt, which is no longer so in default, a decision no surprise since the country has reduced its liabilities by about a third after a debt restructuring complex and unprecedented.
S & P maintains this climate speculative grade ("junk") and warned that a deep recession, the unpredictable outcome of the elections on May 6 and wrath of public opinion against the austerity could threaten the efforts of Athens to redress its finances.
S & P, which matched the rating with a stable outlook, provides that Greek sovereign debt will remain high over the next three years, around 160 to 170% of GDP.
"The rating could be degraded if we believe that a forced exchange on what remains of the Greek private debt appears likely," the agency said in a statement.
Fitch was the first to recover the note by assigning a B-to Greece in the middle of March, after the establishment of the exchange procedure which reduced about 100 billion sovereign debt of the country and cost the private bondholders most of their assets.
S & P warned in February that it would report surely the Greek notes to CCC, upon completion of the exchange procedure.
Moody's is now the only agency to keep Greece in zone fault (likely in his case). She said it would review his notes "on time" but that any recovery would remain limited.
U.S. President again pleaded for taxation at 30% of annual revenues in excess of one million dollars. Rival in the White House, Republican Mitt Romney, is directly targeted: his fortune is estimated at between 190 and 250 million. U.S. President Barack Obama arrives at a rally in Florida on April 10
Barack Obama pleaded Tuesday for the "rule Buffett," a rebalancing of tax scales to charge more for the richest Americans, a way to embarrass the multimillionaire Mitt Romney, his likely opponent in the presidential election. "What hinders our entire economy is the growing gap between the super rich and everyone else," said the American president during a speech in Florida (Southeast), a crucial state on the electoral map for the presidential Nov. 6 where he is seeking a second four-year term.
"I ask you: what is the best way to strengthen our economy? Provide $ 150,000 in additional tax relief to every millionaire and billionaire? Or invest in education, research, health and our veterans? "said Obama at a university in the city of Boca Raton, facing an enthusiastic crowd, which chanted" four more years! " The president has defended the September 2011 "Buffett rule", the taxation at least 30% of annual revenues in excess of one million dollars. The chairman stressed that it is unfair that the multibillionaire Warren Buffett, are among the world's wealthiest people, is subject to a tax rate lower than his secretary employed, due to a tax code that taxes less capital income than labor. Warren Buffett himself has said he supported this measure.
The Senate, dominated by allies of Mr. Obama should make Monday a procedural vote on this device. But Republican opponents of the president have said their hostility and can block it. Obama's insistence on the "rule Buffett" seems primarily intended to put on the defensive opponent Mitt Romney, became even more conservative favorite of the primary on Tuesday with the abandonment of its main competitor Rick Santorum. The president did not mention the name of Mitt Romney, merely ironic about the presidential candidates "that should not be appointed" and that according to him are lawyers from both deficit reduction and a reduction in taxes for the rich.
Mitt Romney only pays 15% tax
Mitt Romney, a former investor whose fortune is estimated at between 190 and 250 million dollars, be admitted subject to a tax rate of 15% despite annual revenues of over $ 20 million in 2010 and 2011. It thus benefits in particular, as many wealthy Americans, niche tax changes introduced in 2001 and 2003 under the aegis of former Republican President George W. Bush. The White House says that Americans appearing in 0.1% of the highest incomes pay taxes now represent 26% of their income, against 51% in 1960, while members of the middle class have seen in the same time their tax rate from 14 to 16%.
The discount on the carpet of the "rule Buffett" comes as Americans must report their income before April 17 and may be more receptive to such a speech. The Republican camp has fired back Tuesday stressing that what they called "Buffett tax" would raise no less than 50 billion dollars in ten years, while the federal government debt exceeds 15,600 billion . And communications director for Mitt Romney, Gail Gitcho, said that "President Obama is the first president in history to openly campaign for reelection on a platform of raising taxes." Former President Bush himself on Tuesday defended the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003, during a speech in New York. "If we increase taxes, we take money from the pockets of consumers," he said in a rare foray into politics since leaving the White House in January 2009.
The amount borrowed by the Portuguese banks to the European Central Bank increased by 18% in March compared to February to reach a record $ 56.3 billion, said Monday Lusitanian central bank.
This amount far exceeds the previous record of 49.1 billion borrowed in a month reached in August 2010, before Lisbon accepts a plan to help the IMF and the European Uni ; enemies.
According to Teresa Gil Pinheiro, chief economist at Banco BPI, the increase recorded in March was partly explained by the strong participation of Portuguese banks for refinancing proposed by the European Central Bank.
In December and February, she put on the market a total of over 1,000 billion euros.
This strong growth also reflects the reluctance of banks in the euro area, who are reluctant to lend to each other.
While global stock markets fell Tuesday for fear of failing the Greek debt restructuring, the European Commissioner for Economic and Financial ensures that the operation "should proceed smoothly."
Stop the panic that gripped markets. Two days before the deadline given to private creditors of Greece to accept or not the deletion of part of the country's debt, the European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Ollie Rehn, steps into the breach. In an interview with Le Figaro, he argues that the operation "should proceed smoothly." And adds: "From the information we collect, the debt swap should take place smoothly, as the transaction is financially attractive to the private sector"
The Finnish Commissioner was asked about whether the fact that the dreaded "credit default swaps" (CDS), these insurance contracts on default of payment to be triggered if the debt exchange operation went wrong. "It is not our preferred scenario. Instead," said Rehn, while anxiety has spread in the markets Tuesday.
European shares ended the session sharply down and banking stocks were particularly hard hit, indicating investors fears of a default of Greece as we approach the result of the restructuring of its indebtedness imposing. The rate of participation of private creditors should be at least 75% for Greece to erase part of its debt (107 of the 200 billion held by private creditors) and receive the second aid package of 130 billion approved last week in Brussels.
About a third aid plan, referred to by the German weekly Der Spiegel Sunday, "this is a hypothesis that has been circulating among Cassandra, I am not …", Rehn sweeps. "Let's focus instead on the implementation of the second rescue plan, which provides a unique erase debt," he told the BBC.
The Commissioner also stated "that the risk of explosion (the eurozone) is behind us." But "the recession is here, and unemployment is worrying," he says. "We are at a critical time in which member states must keep their budget commitments, to make the necessary structural reforms, while strengthening the firewall to anti-crisis 750 billion euros in Europe," Rehn recommends.
Dexia Credit Local, Dexia's French subsidiary, said Friday it has launched a takeover offer for 700 million euros of subordinated notes issued in November 2005.
The bank stress due to the dismantling of the debt crisis in the euro area, said in a statement that this operation is intended to strengthen the equity "hard" and Dexia its French subsidiary.
"The net result of the sale and implementation of the tender offer will be neutral in terms of liquidity and result in improved equity and hard of Dexia Credit Local ( DCL), "says the bank.
Dexia had said late last year want to recapitalize its subsidiary DCL 4.2 billion, including € 2.5 billion through the conversion of subordinated loans s.
The Indian airline Kingfisher Airlines Tuesday seemed about to collapse under the weight of its debts, flight cancellations are being multiplied for almost a week and the resignation of Drivers accumulating tens.
Vijay Mallya, the liquor magnate who controls the airline and gave the same name as his famous brand of Indian beer, said he was determined to save Kingfisher, blaming its financial difficulties with the freezing of bank accounts by the tax.
There is in India no legal requirement for companies to declare bankruptcy. Kingfisher, an Airbus customer, so could the curtain down overnight due to lack of funding, warn analysts.
"If they can not find fresh capital, of course, they are condemned. They have the money or for maintenance or for wages or for anything else, "he told Reuters Lillaney Sharan, an analyst specializing in aviation for Angel Broking. The action
Kingfisher has plunged nearly 20% Tuesday, the day the company was called by management of Indian Civil Aviation to explain the cancellation of more than 100 of its flights during the four days
. At the end of the meeting, the Indian regulator said he had obtained guarantees of Kingfisher on bank financing and the action has erased all its losses
……. .. Kingfisher, which last year was still the second Indian airline, has reached any profits since its inception in 2005, suffering from the flew e fuel prices and fierce competition from low-cost airlines.
Indian market yet fast-growing, nearly 20% in 2011, the turnover of Kingfisher declined since late 2011.
The group acknowledges a debt of $ 1.3 billion (984 million), and lack of liquidity, it no longer pays the salaries of its employees and accumulates unpaid tax, adding, according Kotak Institutional Equities, $ 477 million in debt.
The action Kingfisher plunged nearly 60% since January 2011, melting the market value of the group at $ 269 million.
News reports bring to 300 the number of pilots who have resigned since last September. The Mint newspaper said, citing a government official, also reports that Kingfisher will return two Airbus A320 to companies leasing aircraft because of defaults.
According to the latest data from Airbus orders over Kingfisher deal 32 single-aisle A320 family aircraft, 20 A330s, five long-haul A350 and five A380 super-jumbo.
PagesJaunes announced Wednesday that its board would propose as an exceptional pass the dividend for 2011, after registering a decline in its revenues and profit margins last year.
Heavily in debt, the publisher of printed directories and online, the site owner geolocation Mappy, saw its net cash flow to fall by over 20% last year, penalized by including the rising cost of its debt.
The full year 2011, its turnover stood at 1.1 billion euros, in line with market expectations according to Thomson Reuters I / B / E / S, This represents a decrease of 2.1% over the previous year.
Its gross operating margin (GOM) totaled 493.1 million euros, down 4.8%.
The group said it expects for 2011 a decline of about 2% of its turnover and a GOM between 485 and 500 million euros, an objective that was lowered in July to reflect impact on its business of social movements before the summer.
For 2012, the group says aimed to stabilize its revenue after two years of decline, thanks to the growth of its business on the internet which should represent 60% of its total turnover.
It also anticipates a GOM between 470 and 485 million euros.
European shares opened slightly lower Tuesday after Moody's decision to lower the perspective of the AAA rating of certain European countries, including France and the UK , and lower that of six states, including Spain, Italy and Portugal.
The Moody's decision weighs on market sentiment already dominated by concerns about the ability of Athens to carry out drastic austerity measures required by its lenders in exchange for a new aid plan.
"It is clear that (the decision by Moody's) do not change the deal, but they come at a time when investors are asking questions about risky assets, following a period of strong growth" said Chris Weston, institutional trader at IG Markets.
The euro and British pound lost ground against the dollar after this announcement, as the yen after a new policy easing by the Bank of Japan.
The day will be full of economic indicators including the German ZEW index and industrial production in the eurozone, as well as new auctions of sovereign debt in Europe.
In the afternoon, investors expect sales to particular details of the U.S. in January and business inventories for December.
The Paris CAC 40 index yields 0.3% to 3,374.97 points in early trade, the German Dax lost 0.1%, the UK FTSE 0.16% and the pan-European index STOXX 50 was down 0.18%.
Bank stocks in Europe (-0.57%) are among the largest declines, with insurers (-0.53%) and commodities (-0.8%).
In Paris, BNP Paribas lost 2.7%, largest drop in the CAC 40, followed by Credit Agricole (-1.64%) and Societe Generale (-1.5%).
Alcatel-Lucent continues to rise they began Friday after the publication of its first profit since 2006, and earns 4% plus increase in the CAC.
L'Oreal takes 2.1% after posting results slightly exceeded expectations, marked by a recovery in margins, and have said "well armed (…) for another year of growth in turnover and results. "
The Industry Minister, Eric Besson, promised that the potential beneficiaries of social tariffs for electricity consumption of course apply from 1 January even if the measure of automatic access is still not back in force.
While consumption in électricté soaring these days, the automatic assignment of social tariffs for electricity is still conspicuously absent. Yet the measure was to take effect January 1. This had been announced in the fall of Eric Besson, Minister of Energy. Faced with this bug, it has reiterated on Friday that the device, once it enters into force, will be properly applied "to the gas bills and electricity consumption corresponding to January 1, 2012." In other words retroactively.
This delay, which is expected to continue for several more weeks, is due to the fact that the "last formal consultations" between government and industry should always be held together with a notice of the State Council, said the Ministry of energy, confirming the information of Paris …
These special rates are reserved for beneficiaries of the Universal Health Coverage (CMU) or any person whose monthly income is less than 634 euros per month (for a single person). Entered into force in 2005 for electricity and gas in 2008, social tariffs were previously allocated upon application to rights-holders (the limit is 7800 euros in annual revenue to about a single person and 11,700 for childless couple, ed), but by lack of information or administrative complexity, many do not demand.
Only 600,000 households currently receive social tariffs so that 1.5 to 2 million are eligible, a situation that had prompted the government to promise its automation. The reduction is estimated by EDF and GDF Suez at about 90 euros per year for electricity and 140 euros for gas.
"The decree is under consideration by the Council of State, he should be able to give its opinion in the coming weeks, when he will have the last formal consultations that are normally involved in early (February editor's note) . The decree will be published in the coming days, "the ministry said.
In connection communication, the President of the Syndicat Intercommunal the outskirts of Paris for the Electricity and Communication Networks (Sipperec) Catherine Peyge said there was "urgent." Some 3.8 million households, or 14.4% of French households in the metropolis, are currently considered in fuel poverty, meaning they spend more than 10% of their budget on their energy bills, says she said. "What do public authorities to publish the decree and to end the anomaly whereby a tariff, decided in 2000, implemented in 2005, still can not protect the families who need? Meanwhile the prices of electricity rose by 6% in two years, and the bill could jump by 30% by 2016 ", criticized Ms. Peyge.
The French car market fell by 20.7% in January, falling to its lowest level for 14 years, the disappearance of the last scrappage sluggish economy and the sign for the sector a difficult first half. According to figures released Wednesday by the Committee of French Automobile Manufacturers (CCFA), registrations in the Hexagon emerged last month at 147,143 units, almost 39,000 less that 'in January 2011. "This is a lowest since 1998. The bad controls are not in December registrations in January (…) The first half would be difficult," said Francois Roudier Wednesday , spokesman for the CCFA. Sales of light trucks fared better, but nevertheless signed the first decline for several months with a 2.5% decline in gross (-7% on CJO) to ; 32,707 units. "This is one more indicator of the economic context, an additional amber light came on," said Flavien Neuvy, Director of the Cetelem of the car. "The trend is bad for sales to individuals, but the climate gradient will also weigh on sales to companies," he added. Around 24:30, the values are still car oriented upward, catching up after several sessions of declines. The European index sector is 2.6%, 2.1% Volkswagen, PSA and Renault 2.9% 3.4%. VERY GOOD MONTH FOR VOLKSWAGEN AND NISSAN The CCFA said that the builders who have benefited from the scrappage scheme have had their registrations plummeted. In addition, the prospect of the release of new models during the years attracted the attention of future customers, it adds. Car sales of PSA Peugeot Citroen last month fell 27.4%, while those of the Renault group tumbled 32.7% (-36.9% for the diamond brand and -10.5% for the low cost brand Dacia). In a statement, Renault blamed the decline in the ongoing renewal of its range, including the arrival of the Clio 4 in the fall. The Group nevertheless confirmed its target of a French market share close to 26.1% in 2011. Next PSA, Peugeot has also continued to be affected by pending the arrival of the 208, scheduled for spring. Other general, the Fiat brand saw its sales in France dropped by 40.9%. In contrast, German Volkswagen still has shot out of the game: Group registrations increased by 18.2%, and the only VW to 26.8% with a wide offensive in terms of products and prices. Nissan's partner Renault, meanwhile saw its sales under its own brand to increase by 19%, which allowed him to exceed the month Opel (GM group) by volume. Sign that sales may remain low for at least several months, PSA Peugeot Citroen announced Tuesday that production would be stopped a week at Mulhouse and Sochaux early March to "adapt the stocks at the request commercial ". Both sites, however, produce some best-sellers like the Peugeot 308 and 3008 and the Citroën C4 and DS4. PSA and Renault have said in recent weeks to expect a difficult environment in 2012. They expect a decline of at least 3% of the European market this year and down 5 to 8% of the French market.
