The price of a liter of unleaded 95 euro climbed to 1.5640, while that of 98 unleaded rose to 1.6022 euro. This surge is due to tensions in Iran and the decline of the euro.
The price of gasoline at the pump hit new highs Friday in France, according to data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, those of diesel playing in contrast to the decline. The price of a liter of unleaded 95 euro climbed to 1.5640, while that of unleaded 98 (whose sales are much lower in SP95) rose to 1.6022 euro, surpassing both levels records they had met in January, according to figures compiled by the Directorate General for Energy and Climate (EDCM).
However, diesel is still trending down, to 1.3960 euro per liter last week against a peak of 1.4240 in mid-January, and well below its spring 2008 record (1.4541 euro ). These are national averages calculated by the DGEC from data provided by service stations.
This surge is linked to two phenomena, geopolitical tensions (Iran, Nigeria …) that keep crude oil prices at very high levels, and weakening of the euro against the dollar, which increases the cost of black gold imported into France, once its price converted into the single currency. Diesel sales represent about 80% of French consumption of motor fuels, the unleaded 95 just under 15% and unleaded approximately 98% 5.
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.
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>
Societe Generale said Thursday in an email to the press that the goal of equity of 9% at end-June 2012 without resorting to the market, after testing by the European Banking Authority (EBA ).
Earlier in the morning, the French bank whose needs additional capital was estimated at 3.3 billion euros, said it will recapitalize on its own without explicitly rule out an increase of capital.
For avoidance of doubt, SocGen said that it does not seek public money or raise capital in financial markets.
Under the agreement reached on the night of Wednesday to Thursday at the conclusion of a new double top, the European authorities have agreed to recapitalize their banks to the tune of 106 billion euros, 8.8 billion for French banks.
BNP Paribas, whose capital needs were assessed by the EBA to 2.1 billion euros, also rejected any appeal to the market.
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.
China's trade surplus declined in September for the second consecutive month, reflecting the weakness of the global economy and the slowdown in China itself.
Import growth as exports slowed last month.The accentuation of the debt crisis in Europe and the slower growth in the U.S. explain this trend, which could enhance the Chinese authorities in the conflict on the level of the yuan.
"The rising exchange rate of the renminbi could limit the margin of export growth", has also speedily regretted Lu Peijun, deputy director of China Customs, at a press conference.
"China still faced inflationary pressure imported relatively strong and the terms of trade deteriorate as well," he added.
Exports grew by 17.1% last month compared to September 2010, after a growth rate of 24.5% the previous month, according to data released Thursday by the Office of Customs.
At the same time, imports increased by 20.9% yoy against 30.2% in August.
The surplus in the trade balance of China and stood at $ 14.5 billion in September, against 16.3 billion average expected by economists and after 17.8 billion in August.This represents less than half of the surplus in July, which amounted to 31.5 billion.
Year over year, the trade surplus appears to 180.3 billion dollars.
"Export growth in September was much lower than the expectations of the markets, reflecting the global economy coughs, and we expect this trend to slowing exports will continue in the coming months" , Analysis Wang Hu, of Guotai Junan Securities in Shanghai.
"The narrowing trade surplus and a slowdown in imported inflation could ease the pressure on Beijing to accelerate the appreciation of the yuan," said Du Zhengzheng for its part, an analyst with China Development Bank Securities.
Economists, relayed by western politicians, believe that the Chinese currency is undervalued, giving an advantage to the products 'made in China' on the international markets.
In Washington, the Senate passed a bill Tuesday that could force Beijing to raise the price of its currency under penalty of imports of Chinese goods taxed. China denounces protectionism in disguise and an obstacle to world trade rules. (See)
The trade surplus of China vis-à-vis the United States, however, remained unchanged from August to September, 20 billion.
Vis-à-vis the European Union, it decreased to $ 12.9 billion against 14.8 billion in August.
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.
The new austerity measures agreed on Sunday will not allow Greece to limit the budget deficit to 7.4% of GDP in 2011 as it had promised. Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos and the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou in Parliament during the vote of a new austerity plan, June 30, 2011.
Greece confirmed Sunday that it would not achieve the objective of reducing the public deficit set in June 2011, but recovered over the bar skid found its creditors in September, after the introduction of new measures austerity.
The draft budget for 2012 containing new objectives, to be tabled in parliament on Monday passed Sunday night during a special cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister George Papandreou, in which was set the difficult reduction plan public as required by international creditors Greece.According to the draft budget, in 2011, the deficit of Greece will be reduced to 8.5% of GDP against 10.5% in 2010. The deficit remains above the target of 7.4% of GDP set in the initial multi-year legislation passed in June, but it is significantly better than the projection made in early September by the troika of creditors which stood then at Athens around 9.5% of GDP, according to the press.
This exceeded the deficit target in 2011 means that Greece will need two billion more if only to fund its spending this year.It also means that tax increases and wage cuts announced over the last two months by the Papandreou government have failed to redress the country's finances.
Growth forecasts for the budget adopted in 2012 point to a contraction of 5.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) this year and 2.0-2.5% next year. These figures are the latest IMF projections, but are much more pessimistic than the projections used to calculate the bailout plan of 109 billion euros on July 21, anticipating a growth of 0.6% in 2012.
The copy of the Greek government and its financial projections will be examined Monday by the finance ministers of the Eurogroup and Luxembourg on Tuesday to those of the European Union, which must decide whether or not pay the next tranche of 8 billion, vital to the troubled country.By the end of August, the government warned it would not take its goal of reducing the deficit mainly because of the worsening recession. Officials of the troika (EU-IMF-ECB) to inspect the country's public finances and fiscal consolidation had left Athens when requesting the introduction of new corrective action to reduce costs and increase revenue.
"The additional austerity measures announced for 2011 and 2012 equivalent to 6.6 billion euros," said the Ministry of Finance said in a statement Sunday. Among them are the introduction of a new tax on real estate levied on electricity bills, lower pensions in excess of 1,200 euros per month, lowering the threshold for income tax to 5,000 euros annually. VAT on food increased from 13 to 23% in September.
The main difficulty concerns the lay-off of some 30,000 public sector employees by creating a "reserve labor force" where they will be affected for a year with salaries reduced to 60% of their basic pay . After one year some will be laid off. The choice will be based on criteria of age, persons over 60 years to be entered automatically in the program. The mechanism of labor reserves in its final version is the most "painless socially speaking" it was possible to adopt, said government spokesman Elias Mossialos in a statement.
In 2012, the Greek government expects a further reduction of public deficits, by setting a target of 6.8% of GDP instead of 6.5% forecast in June, 14.65 billion euros.And Greece should reach next year for the first time a primary surplus of 3.2 billion euros of public finances, excluding debt service.
According to the newspaper Kathimerini, the Troika mission, which returned to Athens on Thursday after an absence of nearly a month, could continue until Friday, October 7. The German finance minister warned last week that no final decision would be taken on the payment or not the next aid installment loan of 110 billion made in May 2010 in Greece, before 13 October .
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.
