International Business News

CNP Assurances announced Friday that the market decline of savings in Europe had continued to weigh on its sales in the first quarter and said the change of government in France maintained the uncertainty the life insurance industry.

The turnover of the insurer fell 12.9% during the first three months of the year, to 7.028 billion euros.

The action CNP Assurances signed Friday in early trading shrinkage greater than that of the sector to 9:50, the title lost 2.27% to 9.7330 euros, while the European index limited its losses to 1.35%.

"There is a wait due to the structure of taxation and savings in general," he said during a conference call the Director Financial Group, Antoine Lissowski. 

He explained that it was difficult to assess the impact that doubling the ceiling of the Livret planned by President-elect Francois Hollande on appetite of French for life insurance.

It is currently suffering from competition from banks, seeking to attract customers and their deposits with savings accounts attractive.

The persistence of low interest rates also makes traditional life insurance products unattractive in terms of yield.

Despite a set back, CNP Assurances has managed to generate a first quarter net profit up 1.8% to 275 million euros through improved financial markets. 

The group took advantage of the upturn to continue its program of disposals of risky assets, particularly in Italy and Spain.

"The improved market conditions in the first quarter allowed us to record an increase in our earnings while actively pursuing our strategy of selling risky assets," said the director gen ; eral, Gilles Benoist, in a statement.

Antoine Lissowski said his group no longer had to date of Greek sovereign debt and had reduced its exposure to equity markets.

The CFO did not want to comment on the planned replacement of Gilles Benoist.

NOC has postponed its annual meeting from 7 to 29 June, after the parliamentary elections. 

At that time a new boss of the Caisse des Depots (CDC), the majority shareholder of NOC, should have been appointed.

Director General of the CDC until early March, Augustin de Romanet applied for membership to the estate of Gilles Benoist as Director General of NPC.

Pierre Mariani, the Group CEO, denied Wednesday it had set conditions for his eventual departure of the head of the Franco-Belgian bank being de mantling, ensuring that no decision had been taken on his replacement.

Several Belgian newspapers reported that the Belgian government would like to replace Pierre Mariani by Karel De Boeck, former CEO of Fortis.

According to these newspapers, the current Group CEO would be willing to leave his position as number two in the bank if they receive a severance package of 1.2 million euros stipulated in its contract. 

"The Group CEO has made no request to the Belgian and French about the conditions of his eventual departure contrary to news reports published so far," re ; Pierre Mariani is in an email to Reuters.

"No decision on the replacement of the CEO and President (Jean-Luc Dehaene, Ed) Board has been taken to date" he continues.

Dexia Bank, already saved from bankruptcy in 2008 by Belgium, France and Luxembourg, was forced into last fall due to the dismantling of sovereign debt crisis. 

Luc Coene, the Governor of the Central Bank of Belgium (NBB) said Monday that the bank, which enjoys state guarantees for its refinancing needs, would probably need to be recapitalized again e.

The group has since seen its market capitalization crisis collapse. Currently, the bank is valued at about 350 million euros on the stock market with a share price at only 0.18 euros.

"CONFIDENCE TO PETER MARIANI"

Asked by Reuters, Michel Bouvard, president of the supervisory board of the Caisse des Depots (CDC), Dexia's largest shareholder with 17.7% stake, has in turn brought ; support for Pierre Mariani.

"Personally, I have every confidence in Pierre Mariani," said Michel Bouvard. "When you are in managing a complex issue, which is the case, it is better that he who began managing the file management ends until one goes to the next step. "

"I did not speak on matters of internal governance of Dexia," he nevertheless wished to emphasize.

Since the decision late last year to dismantle Dexia, the Belgian authorities have carried out the nationalization of retail banking activities in Belgium while the France has decided to return via the CDC and the Postal Bank, the activities of local government financing.

The European Commission must still approve the plan and set the price that Dexia will have to pay in exchange for 90 billion euros of state guarantees provided. 

Dexia posted a net loss of 11.6 billion euros in 2011 and some analysts said the bank could continue to generate losses in the coming years.

Although in sharp decline, the size of the stock of Dexia is considered by some analysts as a systemic failure to pay the bank would have incalculable consequences for the entire system European banking.

The Commission has categorically denied the information relayed by the daily El Pais, that it was preparing an investment plan of 200 billion euros to boost growth. The European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

The renewed growth in Europe is still debated. The European Commission denied on Monday preparing a kind of Marshall Plan for growth in the EU which would mobilize 200 billion, arguing that the figures quoted by the daily El Pais had no foundation. "The figures are not based on any reality," said Pia Ahrenkilde, spokeswoman for the European Commission, during a press conference in Brussels.  

The Spanish daily El Pais Sunday spoke a kind of "Marshall Plan" at the European level that would be able to mobilize 200 billion of public and private investment for infrastructure projects, renewable energy and technology tip. To believe the newspaper, this initiative includes several tracks already discussed for several months by the Europeans: large European loans (the "project bonds"), an increased role of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the intervention of European mechanism for financial stability, a budget managed by the European Commission and secured on the Union budget.

The unemployment rate in Greece has reached a new record in January to 21.8% against 21.2% in December, said Thursday the department of statistics Elstat, confirming that the measures austerity and the debt crisis continue to weigh on the labor market.

The budget cuts imposed by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to bail out the country has sparked a wave of closures and bankruptcies.

Beginning in April, the unemployment figures are Greek seasonally adjusted.

The average unemployment rate in the euro area was 10.7% in January against 10.6% in December.

Fortunately, the index of construction costs no longer used for rent reviews. It increased by 6.85% over one year to the end of 2011 to reach a record level. A construction of new homes and office buildings in Marseille.

The index of construction costs (ICC) in France continues to climb. It increased by 6.85% year on year to reach 1,638 points in the fourth quarter of 2011, above its record dating from the previous quarter, announced the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) on Friday. The ICC, which was 1,624 points in the third quarter of 2011, had previously reached an all time high in the third quarter 2008 to 1,594 points.

Year on year, the CHF increases and 6.85% after rising 6.84% in the third quarter of 2011, 5.01% in the second quarter and 3.05% in the first quarter. Since the law of personal services from 26 July 2005, the ICC is no longer a reference to the rent review during the lease in the private rental market. He was replaced by the benchmark rents (IRL), which is now based on the index of consumer prices excluding tobacco and rents, since the enactment of the law for purchasing power in February 2008 . However, the index of construction costs is a reference for the revision of certain commercial rents, alongside the commercial rent index.

The government deficit in France amounted to 5.2% of GDP in 2011 against 5.7% forecast in the Finance Act, prompting the government to ; improve its forecast for 2012 to 4.4% against 4.5% previously.

The public deficit, which includes state, local and social security funds, totaled 103.1 billion euros last year, according to preliminary results of the national accounts published by INSEE Friday.

The public debt amounted to 85.8% of GDP at end 2011, to 1.7173 trillion euros, up 122.1 billion in one year, and this leads to a more e ; up 84.9% as expected.

The deficit was the end of 2010 to 7.1% or 137.0 billion. 

Armed with this result, "we expect to accelerate our progress in reducing the public deficit to 4.4% of GDP, and keep the 3% in 2013," said the budget minister, Valérie Pécresse, in interview published Friday in Le Monde.

At 5.2% end of 2011, "it's 10 billion better than the objective of which France had undertaken", welcomed the Prime Minister, Translation ois Fillon.

"France has done much better thanks to the efforts of the French," said President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The Socialist Francois Hollande, favorite in the polls for the presidential election, pledged to cut the deficit to 4.5% end 2012 and 3.0%, the limit the European Stability Pact, the end of 2013. 

BOOST FOR 2012

The lower deficit in 2011 will ease the task of the next president, provided that economic growth does not collapse, the effort is less important.

But the trend was poor in January and a sharp economic slowdown is expected for all of 2012, likely to derail the accounts if it were larger.

Last year, the tax burden increased by 1.3 points to 43.8% of GDP, due to higher taxes (+ 7.8%).

Spending continued to decelerate, with growth of 2.1%, a rate lower than GDP growth in value, after 2.3% in 2010 . Public spending accounted for 55.9% of GDP in late 2011 after 56.6% in late 2010.

Revenues have increased it by 5.9% after 3.3% in 2010, and accounted for 50.7% of GDP from 49.5% in late 2010.

Interest paid by France to its income increased 9.5% due to increased debt and the impact of the acceleration of inflation on compensation of indexed bonds.

Operating expenses slowed, wages rising by 1.6%, after 2.1% in 2010, and intermediate consumption decreases by 1.5%.

Social benefits have remained the same dynamic in 2010, up 3.1% after 3.2%. Public investment increased by 1.6%, after falling 8.0% in 2010.

On the revenue side, taxes on income and wealth grew by 10%: the increase in tax revenues from both the corporate income tax (8.7 billion ) than the general social contribution (5.2 billion) and income tax (3.6 billion), note INSEE. Taxes on products and production are up 5.8%.

Social contributions have accelerated (+4.1% after +2.0%), in connection with the resumption of payroll and annualized general relief contributions social.

DEBT NOT ALWAYS CONTROL

The State contribution to the debt ratio increased from 90.3 billion euros last year, a somewhat larger variation than its financing needs.

The difference results from an increase in cash (5.9 billion) and loans to troubled countries in the Euro zone (10.4 billion). Conversely, the State shall be reimbursed a portion of loans to the automotive sector (4.0 billion), note INSEE.

The debt of central government bodies amounted to 10.4 billion at end 2011, down 3.7 billion, due to the deleveraging of the Company's equity participation of the State (-3.5 billion).

The contribution of local government debt reached 166.3 billion against 161.1 billion in late 2010.

The contribution of social security funds to the debt increased 30.4 billion to $ 205.4 billion. The change in debt, larger than the deficit resulted mainly from the increase in cash of social security funds (12 billion), said INSEE.

NicOx stock market soared Wednesday after announcing the signing of an agreement to acquire 11.8% stake in Altacor, a UK ophthalmology which the group can be subsequently 100% control.

The action of the French biotech company closed at 4.22 euros (35.43%) in a volume of 28.4 million shares, more than 12.5 times higher than recorded daily average last three months. Its market capitalization stood at 307 million euros.

She had also made great progress there is a little over a week after announcing positive results of a study on treatment of glaucoma developed with the specialist eye health Bausch + Lomb.

Under the terms of the agreement, NicOx will invest an amount of two million pounds (about 2.4 million euros) in cash to acquire 11.8% of Altacor, which markets a product line the UK for the problems of dry eye.

The group has an option to acquire the remaining shares Altacor for $ 9 million pounds (about 10.8 million), paid , at the option of NicOx, in cash or in shares NicOx in a combination of cash and shares. 

This option is exercisable by NicOx until May 31, 2012. If predefined steps are met, additional payments of up to a total of 8.5 million pounds will be due.

ACTION HIGH RISK

The option to acquire concludes Altacor, is the first concrete realization of the strategy initiated over a year by NicOx to refocus around ophthalmology Aftern ; s failure of anti-inflammatory Naproxcinod, Malafosse says Sebastian, an analyst at Bryan Garnier.

The intermediary considers that the offer of the biotech values ​​between 13.2 and 23.4 million Altacor society, which has an annual turnover of 660,000 euros. 

Another analyst, who requested anonymity, considers "very speculative ascent of a security that has increased from 12 euros in the second half of 2006 to 22 euros at the highest early 2007 before falling between 1 and 2 since the failure of Naproxcinod ".

He also observed that in the preferred areas of Altacor, including dry eye, NicOx "mastodons" in front of him such as Novartis, Merck and Sanofi.

"NicOx announces investment potential of 26 million euros for a target with confidential sales and capitalization is around 80 million euros. Michele Garufi, CEO of NicOx is too strong or some investors revved up a rather quickly, "said he.

European shares opened lower Tuesday, continuing a modest decline began Monday, while remaining close to the peak reached in eight months last weekend.

In Paris the CAC 40 was down 0.41% (14.50 points) to 3,563.38 points. In Frankfurt, the DAX lost 0.5% and London, the FTSE 0.5%. The pan-European index Stoxx 50 yields 0.43%.

Investors expect the American Statistical probably the day starts, to give a more straightforward classes.

"There is profit taking (…) If there is improvement in housing starts in the U.S., it could give a boost," said Joe Rundle , in charge of trading at ETX Capital.

The Metro Action yield 1.68% to 30.35 euros after the German distributor told to anticipate a stable operating result in 2012 compared to 2011.

The title Transgene plunged nearly 7% after the biotech company announced Monday a widening of its loss in 2011. 

At the London Stock Exchange, the action BHP Billiton lost nearly 2% after the first Global Mining said it saw signs of "slowdown" in demand for iron ore from the China.

The title of the computer services group Tieto Finland earns more than 5% in early trade after the announcement of a plan for downsizing.

On the foreign exchange market, the dollar remains near its lowest in a week against a basket of currencies but showing signs of an improving economic conditions in the U.S. and higher yields U.S. Treasury bonds should be supportive factors for the greenback. 

While most stakeholders feel that the debt crisis of the euro area has stabilized in recent weeks, they keep in mind that it may get worse ; any time, questions focusing on the viability of Portugal.

On the front of sovereign debt in the euro area, 14.5 billion euros of Greek bonds maturing in the day, during which Spain will issue bond paper 12 and 18 months.

European shares are wait-Thursday at mid-session, pausing near eight-month peaks, investors apparently waiting for confirmation of a more general economic before pushing the rating further.

In this regard, a volley of U.S. indicators that fall into the afternoon, particularly the weekly jobless claims, will perhaps clarify their ideas. Stakeholders on Wall Street seem to bet they'll be good since the index contracts suggest an opening up.

Following the example of the general trend, the CAC 40 gained just 0.02% to 3565.15. "It may be that up a bit as we approach the weekend, we have good momentum and we could leverage with U.S. statistics, if they are better than pre seen, "said Peter Grandy (Saxo Bank).

The U.S. jobless claims may become more important than usual because of recent strong U.S. data and explain that investors have once again risk appetite.

Values, Alstom wins 2% to 32.185 euros. The CEO declined to comment on "speculation" evoking an interest of his group for wind turbine manufacturers.

Several European newspapers have reported in recent days that Alstom was considering the possibility to purchase the German REpower, owned by the Indian Suzlon Energy, Spanish or Danish Vestas Gamesa.

Gamesa wins Vestas 2.57% and 5.53%.

Lufthansa fell 0.8%. The airline announced Thursday a further reduction of its expansion plans and warned that its operating profit would probably decline in 2012 due to economic uncertainty, the renché ; dieback fuel and possible unrest.

The Motor Show of Geneva, which will open to the public Thursday, will be dominated by the alliance between PSA Peugeot Citroen and General Motors, the last wedding date in an industry where economies of cost and scale have become the top priority.

The question of how specific short-term reconciliation between the PSA and GM, while the strategic partnership announced Wednesday plans for 2016 the full effect of synergies and the first models of vehicles common, will be on everyone's mind at the first major European motor show of the year.

"This industrial agreement is very revealing of current changes in the automobile sector," said Flavien Neuvy, Director of the Cetelem automobile. "The manufacturers have no choice and they know they can not do everything together."

"However, to achieve such an alliance, it takes time, past experience has shown that the risk of failure is not zero," he adds. "But if it works, it is a promising project."

The last major events of the profession were all marked by the quest for synergy. The 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show had devoted the rapprochement between Fiat and Chrysler, Frankfurt 2011 was marked by the announcement of new cooperation between Renault-Nissan and Daimler. As for Geneva 2010, he remained famous for including the formalization of the collapse of talks between Mitsubishi and PSA, with which the French group was then trying to marry.

ALWAYS OFFER A VARIED DESPITE THE POOLING

In an industry marked by increased global competition, the carmaker can no longer rely only on their internal resources to develop new products both at reasonable cost and in die lais fast enough to track changes in consumer tastes and tougher safety and environmental standards.

But this sharing does not lead to a standardization provided cars because the objective is to share components and architectures invisible from the outside. 

"The Peugeot and Citroen have never shared many components and platforms industrially today, yet they have never had their own identity as distinct," observes Translation ; ois Roudier, spokesman for the Committee of French Automobile Manufacturers (CCFA).

Geneva will be, like any self-respecting lounge, a new ball with some highly anticipated world premieres such as the Renault Zoé, who spearheaded the bet electrical manufacturer.

On the stand Dacia brand Renault's low cost, we discover the minivan Lodgy including the launch of construction in Morocco has been surrounded by controversy on the theme of "Made in France ", a theme central to the presidential campaign. 

Side of the PSA, Citroen C4 unveil its compact 4×4 Aircross based on the Mitsubishi ASX, while Peugeot present the 208 through which the lion brand hopes to extend a success story started in this segment in the 1980s with the 205.

The competition will not be outdone. Another icon, the Volkswagen Golf, GTI will appear in his livery cab, and Audi, the German premium brand group, will present its new A3. Fiat's famous 500 curves take with the L variant, Italian replica of the BMW Mini Countryman.

Builders rely on these innovations to support expected sales down 3% to 4% this year in Europe, making the region one of the world where the automotive market will contract in 2012.

A motor show would not totally successful without some "supercars". Visitors can admire the 6 Series Coupe BMW Grand, the futuristic Nuccio signed by the famous coachbuilder Bertone or the most powerful Ferrari ever made, with the F12 Berlinetta not less than 729 horsepower.

After two press days, Tuesday and Wednesday, the Geneva Motor Show will open to the public from March 8 to 18.