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.
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Values to follow Tuesday at the Paris Bourse. </ P> * VALUE FINANCIAL – EU leaders could seal a final agreement on the second level of support Greece in the coming days, Monday and tried to calm an early debate on a proposed loan to Berlin to Greece Trust budget. </ p> The Prime Minister of Greece Lucas Papademos met after the summit in Brussels with EU officials and European Central Bank to discuss the details of the restructuring plan of Greek debt under negotiation with private creditors.</ P> * INSURANCE – Moody's Investors Service said Tuesday it had raised to stable from negative its outlook for the industry and damage to the French insurers maintained its negative outlook on the sector of 'life insurance. </ p> * CROSSROADS announced Monday the departure of its Executive Director responsible for growth markets, Pierre Bouchut, in which analysts had seen a candidate ; rieux to succeed Lars Olofsson. It Georges Plassat was chosen to succeed the CEO of the distribution group. </ P> * Renault, which owns 25% stake in Russian manufacturer AvtoVAZ, could take control via its alliance with Nissan in the first half of this year, said Monday the news agency RIA Novosti, citing About Sergei Chemezov, the chairman of the holding company Russian Technologies. </ p> * RENAULT and PSA PEUGEOT CITROEN – According to the Tribune, quoting unofficial sources, registrations of new cars have plummeted in January as planned in France, as a result of the context economic and very unfavorable comparison of early 2011, when the effect scrappage was still playing full. </ p> According to La Tribune, Renault fell by 45 %, 37% of Peugeot, Citroen Dacia by 31% and 18%. The two French manufacturers have refused to comment on the figures to be published Wednesday. </ P> * EADS – UBS moves from neutral to buy on the title with a target price raised 22 to 31 euros. </ p> * ACCOR – Nomura resumes coverage value with a recommendation to "reduce" and a target price of 19.50 euros. </ p> < p> * Veolia Environment – Morgan Stanley going to underweight-weight line on the title. </ p> * SOITEC, who had said it expected an operating loss "significant" in 2011-2012, has announced that it would be between 40 and 45 million euros. </ p> * EIFFAGE – JP Morgan goes underweight to neutral on the title.</ P> * NORBERT DENTRESSANGLE reported Monday night of "signs of slowing at the end of the year" in the business of its customers, in a macroeconomic context "showing progressive signs of slowing. "</ p> The group achieved in 2011 a consolidated turnover of 3.576 million euros, up 5.6% at constant exchange rates and like basis. The fourth quarter alone, the change in net sales was 4.2%. </ P> * ALTEN judge earlier this year "reassuring, if not encouraging," despite the depressed economic environment that characterized the end of 2011. "The activity in January remained satisfactory, comparable to last year," said Alten. Of 2011, consolidated sales increased by 14.5% at constant currency and constant perimeter, to 1065.7 million. The fourth quarter alone, growth stood at 12.5%. </ P> * DRY ENVIRONMENT, which in 2011 posted an organic growth of 6% of its sales of Business 424.2 million euros reported in 2012 on a build up its business in line with the last six months "in an uncertain macroeconomic environment." </ p> <p > Regarding the issue of participation in the Saur, including the assumption of an output, the chief financial officer Jean Geissler declined to comment, simply stating that mediation was ongoing. </ p> * ARTPRICE.COM expects a jump in sales this year with the launch of its online auction service, said Monday its CEO Thierry Ehrmann, in an interview with Reuters. </ p>
The Industry Minister Eric Besson confirmed Wednesday that the price of gas and electricity for individuals would be maintained until the presidential election, despite requests from EDF and GDF Suez.
The Minister of Industry and Energy Eric Besson confirmed Wednesday that the price of gas and electricity for individuals would be maintained until the presidential election, despite the attacks to justice and GDF Suez of other gas suppliers. Asked about RMC and BFM TV about the continued freeze gas prices to presidential, Mr Besson said: "Yes. The Prime Minister made this decision and he made it clear to the national representation . (…) In any case for individuals. "
"We have a simple thesis is that the increases should be extremely limited so as not to influence the purchasing power," he noted, without being able to specify whether this also applied to the gel subscription. For electricity, Mr. Besson is back in a statement to AFP on the remarks made earlier on the air. "It will increase slightly, probably," he said on BFM TV and RMC. "I do not know (when) we will discuss this with EDF."
Asked by AFP, the Office of the Minister of Energy said: "Eric Besson reaffirms that in accordance with the arbitration of the Prime Minister, electricity rates applicable to individuals are frozen until 1 July 2012, and no decision is expected to increase. "
Democrats and Republicans are unable to agree on a plan to reduce U.S. debt, which has just reached 15,000 billion. The reasons and consequences of this blockage. The President of the United States Barack Obama
The debt crisis in Europe has almost been forgotten that the U.S. also face their great difficulties on their debt. European stock markets closed sharply lower on Thursday. Paris (-3.4%, below 2900 points), Frankfurt (-3.5%) and London (-2.6%) fell sharply in the wake of Wall Street lost more than 2% at the end of the afternoon. Democrats and Republicans should agree on a plan to save 1,200 billion over ten years to hold their huge debt. But after two months of negotiations, they were still far from an agreement a few hours from the end of negotiations scheduled for Monday evening.
Congress had in effect established a commission to decide on a plan to reduce debt. Composed of twelve members of Congress – six Republicans and six Democrats – the "super-committee" was intended to relieve an abysmal debt that comes to exceed 15,000 billion (you can see it evolve in real time on the www . usdebtclock.org). The six Democrats proposed a plan for 2900 includes 1,300 billion billion tax increase, the six Republicans on the other hand opted for a plan of 2,200 billion euros, with "only" 200 billion of tax increases. Without ever reaching a consensus.
Why the lock?
This blockage occurs less than a year of presidential elections scheduled for November 2012.
Heineken, the world's third largest brewer, reported Wednesday a surprise increase in the volume of beer sold and its sales in the third quarter, supported by the strength of African markets and a rebound in sales in Russia.
Revenues rose 0.6% to 4.65 billion euros against 4.51 billion euros expected on average by eight brokers polled by Reuters.
In August, the brewer warned that weak consumer confidence, combined with a sluggish summer, would affect earnings growth this year.He also maintained its forecast for net profit before exceptional items for 2011, saying it would be roughly consistent with the previous year.
In the third quarter, net income amounted to 525 million euros, an amount virtually unchanged from last year.
The title gained 1.24% to 0800 GMT, having reached in early trade a high of two months with an increase of 4.1%.
The payment of a new tranche of eight billion euros to Greece was approved Friday by the finance ministers of the euro area, which, however, have found their remaining differences on the reform of the support fund euro and put their decisions on this issue later.
Meeting in Brussels, they also discussed at length the contours of the new rescue plan for Greece and the participation of banks capable of reducing the Greek debt to sustainable levels.
A report prepared by the "troika" – IMF, ECB and European Commission – representing the international donors, a 50% discount on Greek bonds held by private investors is necessary to reduce the debt to 120% of GDP against 162% today.
If it was intended to reduce debt below 110%, a discount of 60% would be necessary, the report says, as a basis for decisions of Heads of State and Government of the euro area summits on Sunday and Wednesday.
The outcome of these meetings, which should lead to a new Greek plan, a formula to maximize the funds to support the euro area and a wide recapitalization of banks on the continent, is considered crucial for the single currency.
"We decided to authorize the payment of the next tranche of financial assistance to Greece in the context of the current program of economic adjustment.The disbursements must be made in the first half of November, once approved by the International Monetary Fund, "said the finance ministers of the euro area in a statement.
Athens immediately welcomed the European decision, saying it was "a positive step."
The decision "provides the fiscal targets in 2012 and paves the way for necessary structural reforms," said Greek finance minister, Evangelos Venizelos, in a statement.
CONTINUATION OF DISCUSSION ON EFSF
According to several sources, the Europeans, however, remain largely divided on the level of the discount to be applied to Greek bonds as well as the voluntary and non-bank participation.
The German authorities, in particular Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, insist that the envelope of 50 billion euros negotiated on July 21 is significantly revised upwards, if necessary by forcing banks to make an extra effort.
Paris is reluctant for fear of triggering a credit event with unpredictable consequences.
The ministers, however, only discussed the various options available to "maximize" the firepower of the EFSF, which also divides Paris and Berlin.
The Minister of Economy, Baroin said that France continued to believe that the conversion of cash in bank was the best solution but it did not make "one final point of confrontation."
"What counts is what works.And what works is what will go towards deterrence and effective firewall and it is around this that we try to work, "said the Minister after the meeting.
Granted a banking license in EFSF would allow access to funding from the European Central Bank to increase its capacity for action by a factor of up to five.
But Berlin rejects this possibility, which would be to accept that the institution of Frankfurt finance the countries of the euro area, one of the dogmas explicitly excluded by the European treaties.
The other members of the euro area are also divided, Belgium and Spain having voted for a reconciliation BCE-EFSF while Slovakia and Austria have indicated that this solution was not studied.
The countdown has started, however, for not only the peaks of Sunday and Wednesday but above the summit of Heads of State and Government of the G20 in Cannes in early November.
Thursday night, U.S. President Barack Obama spoke on the economic situation in Europe with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Belgium, France and Luxembourg have Monday morning launched the plan to dismantle the Franco-Belgian bank Dexia, the first European victim size of the debt crisis in the euro zone, after a day and a night of marathon negotiations.
At the end of a board of about noon, the directors of the former world number one funding of local authorities have approved the nationalization of Belgium Belgian activities of Dexia, Dexia Bank Belgium (DBB) specializing in retail banking.
Belgium will pay to do this four billion euros.
"This sale will be finalized shortly," advised the bank."It will enable Dexia to reduce its need for short-term financing of over 14 billion euros, will improve the solvency of the group of more than 200 basis points and reduce its portfolio of non-strategic assets of 18 billion euros. "
Matignon has in turn made in a statement that France would lean financing activities of French local authorities of Dexia Municipal Agency (DexMA), French securitization structure owned by Dexia Credit Local, the Caisse des Depots (CDC).
A consortium of funding for French local authorities will also be created and established by the CDC and the Postal Bank, also indicate the services of the French Prime Minister Francois Fillon.
As part of the new rescue plan for Dexia, already saved from bankruptcy in 2008 with a public bailout of more than six billion euros, Belgium, France and Luxembourg have signed to provide 90 billion euros government guarantees to ensure the financing needs of Dexia.
NOT FOREVER IN DBB
"States have agreed to divide this guarantee in proportions similar to those of 2008, 60.5% for Belgium, 36.5% for France and 3% for Luxembourg," reported Matignon.
Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme said at a news conference that Dexia would immediately pay a premium of 50 basis points in return for these guarantees.
The Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders said in that same press conference that the Belgian state, however, did not intend to stay forever in the capital of DBB.
Sunday morning before the meeting of a special board of Dexia, the French Prime Minister Francois Fillon met with his Belgian counterpart in Brussels and the Luxembourg Finance Minister, Luc Frieden, to find a agreement on modalities and participation of all three states.
"The three governments agreed to submit a proposal to the board that fits perfectly with the objectives of the Belgian Government, which involves taking control of Dexia Bank Belgium, secure and make it a bank very safe," he Yves Leterme said Sunday on Belgian television.?
The challenge for the three states participating in the plan was to ensure that aid does not come to Dexia worsen the situation of public finances.
The rating agency Moody's had also increased pressure on the Belgian camp Friday night: it has placed the sovereign rating of Aa1 kingdom under surveillance by explaining, among other things, will assess the costs and liabilities that the state could take Dexia in supporting.(See)
Didier Reynders has reported on this during the press conference that the debt / gross domestic product (GDP) of Belgium would remain below 100% despite the agreement of Dexia and said that the European authorities of the competition had been informed of the plan.
Dexia, the rating action has been suspended since Thursday, is at 9 am press conference to present the plan to dismantle the bank as it was approved by the directors.
Newly appointed head of the IMF, Christine Lagarde Nicolas Sarkozy will meet Saturday to prepare for the G20 summit in Cannes. Christine Lagarde REUTERS / Benoit Tessier (FRANCE – Tags: POLITICS)
Nicolas Sarkozy Saturday at noon will receive the Executive Director of the IMF Christine Lagarde to talk about it with "the preparation of the Cannes summit of the G20 and the situation in the euro area," the Elysee Palace said Friday.
The head of the French state will fly the next day to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel poour attempt to speed up the rescue plan of the single currency.
Leaders from the eurozone continue intensive negotiations for a recapitalization of banks in the EU to address the risks of contagion from the debt crisis.
Germany has given the green light last week in the expansion of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), which is waiting for the ratification of Slovakia.
Values to follow on Friday at the Paris Bourse.
* AXA. Offers for Axa Privaty Equity, private equity branch of the insurance group, must be filed by early next week, the Financial Times and The Tribune.
The Strategic Investment Fund (ISF) said Thursday he would not consider an acquisition of Axa Private Equity.
* DEXIA. Belgian finance ministers and French planned to meet Monday to discuss the future of Dexia, a bank in the center of intense negotiations on a possible restructuring, write Friday Les Echos. No one was immediately available at Bercy or the Belgian Ministry of Finance to comment on this article.
* SOCIETE GENERALE.UBS lowered its recommendation to buy from neutral and cut its price target to 21 euros against 35 euros.
* SOITEC sought to reassure the market on sales growth plates in the first half of 2011-2012, two days after a warning from Advanced Micro Devices, its main customer, on their own perspectives.
LyondellBasell group wants to close its refinery in Berre, in the Bouches-du-Rhone. If the project is completed, France will have lost three refineries in a year. The number of hexagonal site will be increased from 23 to 10 in the space of 40 years. Employees of the LyondellBasell refinery in Berre, in a social movement in 2010.
The carnage continues for oil refineries. Total after Dunkirk in 2010 and Petroplus to Reichstett (Bas-Rhin) in June, the American petrochemical company LyondellBasell announced Tuesday plans to close its refinery in Berre, in the Bouches-du-Rhone, which it considers unprofitable .
The site employs 370 employees in a petrochemical complex in 1270 employees will lose 120 million euros a year depending on the direction. But the group failed to sell it. No less than "85 entities around the world were approached during the sale process, to no avail.The refinery has in fact been no bid "has he explained. This ensures that only 370 jobs are directly affected refining risk. But unions argue that the loss of jobs could extend to the entire complex.
In response, nearly a thousand employees voted in a general meeting Tuesday the start of a "strike hard" for 48 hours. Wednesday, the entire petrochemical complex was shut down. Between 200 and 300 employees are present for locking, according to unions. The next general meeting is scheduled this Thursday at noon. Those decisions involved a year to the day after the start of great social movement that paralyzed almost all French refineries and caused a fuel shortage.
General meetings in nine out of ten sites
And the risk of a new scale strike is beginning to emerge.The movement of employees of LyondellBasell could spread, even if solidarity is shy at the moment. Employees of nine of the ten French refineries have held general meetings on Wednesday. And could lead to possible actions. But for now, only employees of the Total refinery at Donges, Loire-Atlantique, voted in favor of an immediate movement but symbolic: a decline in production to a minimum flow for 24 hours.
On the side of the Total refinery in Gonfreville l'Orcher, near Le Havre, general meetings were also held. But only a third of the participants voted in favor of a strike and the unions did not consider the results sufficient to initiate an action. A Fos-sur-Mer, in the ExxonMobil refinery, there was no general meeting.
The situation could change Friday.A meeting of employees of the four sites in the area of Berre be held and could lead to possible actions. If the strike is decided, it could spread to other refineries.
France lost 12 refineries in 40 years
The future seems to darken French refineries from year to year. There were 23 in the late 70's, there are no more than 11 still active today. And the closure of the Berre could add to this sad list. Refineries "are in excess production capacity, and do not have sufficient opportunities" because of "demand is very sluggish," said Jean-Louis Schilansky President of the French Union of Petroleum Industries (Ufip). It will even "operating loss of several hundred million euros" in 2011, a trend in "neighbor" of 2009, when they lost 1 billion euros, "he added.According to Les Echos, refining margins, which represent the difference between the price of refined products and their production costs, decreased by 60% between 2008 and 2009. And are now at a "crisis level".
French refineries were in effect in 2010, almost 82 million tonnes of petroleum products like gasoline, diesel or fuel oil. But demand remains well below capacity. Consumption in France in 2010 reached 33.6 million tonnes of diesel and 8.2 million tonnes of gasoline. "Since 2007, there was a drop in consumption in Europe related to energy conservation, and the phenomenon is exacerbated by economic crises," said Constancio Silva, an economist at the French Petroleum Institute-New Energies.
"The divestitures or closures inevitable"
He said the refiners were not able to adapt to changes in demand.They suffered from the rise of the French nuclear fleet. This has indeed led to a decline in demand for heavy fuel oil, which was used previously to operate power plants.
In addition, refiners have invested in the 70 and 80, in units of gasoline production, then the fuel most consumed in France. But they were surprised by the explosion in demand for diesel, accentuated by a favorable tax and lower consumption of diesel engines. The sale of diesel fuel currently represents 75% of fuel sales in France. Motorists consume 33 million tons, but French production capacity amounts to only 20 million. Refineries hexagonal therefore find themselves being forced to export 30% of its production of gasoline, including the United States where, again, demand has slowed.According to the Professional Committee of oil, gasoline sales abroad have in fact fallen by 20%. And Parellel, oil companies are forced to buy diesel fuel abroad, which increases their expenses.
In this context, "ultimately, disposals or closures will be inevitable," says the Ufip. Pessimism that refuses to admit the unions. In response to the closure of the Berre, CFDT and CGT federations in the industry, oil chemistry yelled "stop the slaughter." "This announcement is unacceptable. For it is not linked solely to the problems of weak refining margins and the inadequacy of the means of production with the market, the surplus of gasoline and diesel deficit" Have they denounced.
According to them, refinery closures meet market logic and a lack of investment.The FNIC-CGT calls "a multi-year investment" on the basis of the report of the French Institute of Petroleum, which presented June 22, through investment, featured tracks of development for French refineries.
An argument shared by Thomas Porcher, PhD in economics author of "A barrel of oil against 100 lies." He said the lack of investment to change the production structure of French refineries explains their lack of profitability. "Despite the record profits from the price effect of rising oil prices, these investments were ousted in favor of a preference for investments in refineries near the mining areas. This is the case Total in Saudi Arabia with the Jubail refinery example. It can produce low-cost, because of its proximity to the deposits.But it is especially with a modern production system to adapt the ratio diesel / petrol desired. The problem of refining French could no longer be similar "to a lay-sector" including the means of production have become unsuitable as a problem of competitiveness. While the first causes the second "he says.
