International Business News

The leader of Conti was sentenced to 1200 euros on appeal. The CGT union had already been sentenced to a fine of € 4000 for the sacking of the sub-prefecture of Compiegne in 2009. He then refused to submit to a DNA sample.

The Court of Appeal of Amiens Friday condemned the CGT trade unionist of the old factory Continental, Xavier Mathieu, 1,200 euro fine for refusing his DNA by police.Une fine of 1,000 to 1,500 euros had was required.

The union was acquitted at trial in June 2011 by the Criminal Court in Compiègne. The prosecutor, who had requested a one month suspended prison sentence, had appealed his acquittal. "I am condemned (…), which means they can point back next week and ask me again my DNA and retry me if I refuse," responded Xavier Mathieu, graying beard, wearing a red sweater hoodie and jeans, after deliberation.

The facts date back to the conviction of Xavier Mathieu 4000 euro fine by the Court of Appeal of Amiens for their involvement with workers from Continental to the destruction of the sub-prefecture of Compiegne in April 2009. He then refused to submit to the taking of DNA fingerprinting, as required by law.

The Clairoix tire factory, where he was employed, was closed in early 2010, resulting in the elimination of 1,120 positions. In spring 2009, a labor dispute for several months, including Mr. Mathieu was the emblem-had allowed the workers to get severance extralegal.

"The worst is not fine is to be treated delinquent"

Created in June 1998 to identify DNA from convicted for sexual offenses final, the national computerized DNA (FNAEG) was extended in 2001, 2003 and 2010 to many other crimes. "This is not fine the worst thing is to be condemned, to be treated as a criminal. offenders, it is the leaders of Continental. They are not even thugs, they are criminals. I wanted that (they) are tried for the consequences of closing the box, the economic disaster on people's lives, "he told Mr. Mathieu reporters.

"We are struck by the rather categorical motivation of the court and the refusal to integrate clear and explicit refusal (DNA test) of Xavier Mathieu in the context of social struggle," said Pascal Moussy, collaborator Marie-Laure of Dufresne-Castets, counsel for Xavier Mathieu, in the absence of that ci.Estimant that the judgment of the Court of Appeal of Amiens was "regression," Pascal said that Moussy it would "look closely if it deserves an appeal." "What Xavier (Mathieu) in the same file as rapists and murderers, it is shameful," he told AFP Pierre Summoned, one of about 100 "Conti" came to support the union as it exits the court.  

"Normally, if all goes well, I would not have to go to the Supreme Court because my file will be removed from the file FNAEG (…) as if it were committed" in Amiens in the trial of the union, four candidates Left for president – Eva Joly (EELV), Jean-Luc Melenchon (Left Front), Nathalie Arthaud (LO) and Philip Poutou (NPA) – Xavier Mathieu recalled.

The European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) should be made operational as soon as possible, said Friday the president of the European Central Bank (ECB) Mario Draghi, showing some impatience vis-à-vis the slow progress to date this.

In a speech at the European Banking Congress, Mario Draghi said that the Heads of State and Government of the European Union had decided to launch the EFSF here over a year and a half and decided to leverage capacity four weeks ago.

"Where are we in the implementation of these decisions?" He asked."You must not wait any longer," he added.

The ECB president reiterated that the downside risks to the outlook in the euro area had increased and felt that this activity should moderate and weak pressure on prices, costs and wages.

The new head of the Italian government announced the implementation of the reform of the labor market as well as delaying the retirement age to 67 years against 65 now. Mario Monti.

The new Italian Prime Mario Monti said on Thursday before the Senate that he intended to reform the pension system and labor market, two structural reforms demanded by the European Union and expected by the markets. The Italian pension system is one of the strongest in Europe but it has "ample disparities in treatment areas of unjustified privileges," he said. The Italian system is based on two pillars.

The system of "old age", in which the retirement age should increase to 67 in 2026, against 65 years now, thanks to reforms adopted in recent years such as providing for the gradual increase in the age based on life expectancy.

Burberry reported Tuesday a 26% increase, as expected, its adjusted earnings in the first half of fiscal 2011-2012, thanks to sustained consumption of tourists around the world, and confirmed its annual forecast.

"We remain mindful of the uncertainties and ready to respond to them," said in a statement, however, the British manufacturer of waterproof leather goods founded 155 years ago.

It posted a profit before tax and exceptional items of 162 million pounds (190 million euros) over the six months to September 30, 2011, against an average estimate of analysts polled by Reuters of 159 million.

Last month, the group announced quarterly sales exceeded expectations, saying not yet have found the slowdown in demand despite uncertainty about the evolution of global growth.

Burberry has confirmed its ambition to increase its network of outlets around 15% in the second half, including the opening of eight to ten stores in places like China and Latin America, and that a new "flagship" in Paris.

The values ​​of luxury far seem to defy the crisis, but the uncertainties in this highly cyclical, the question remains whether the growth in Asia will escape the crisis.

Allianz reported Friday a third quarter net earnings well below expectations, the financial market turbulence has sealed investment income of the first European insurer.

The German company posted a net profit of 196 million euros over the period while 14 analysts polled by Reuters had expected an average of 566 million.

Allianz has spent 931 million euros in provisions, mainly on investments in the financial markets.

The cons-performance does not deter investors to buy the title, the emphasis operators operating income.

The latter is certainly emerged down 7.3% to 1.91 billion euros, but above a forecast of 1.71 billion.We do not judge too negatively the fact that the net profit is below expectations because it was caused by a higher taxation and impairment of assets higher than expected, "said Philipp Hässler Equinet Bank.

By 10:00 GMT, taking 1.87% to 74.07 euros while the index grouping the values ​​of the European insurance advanced 0.97%.

Allianz confirmed its target of operating profit between 7.5 and 8.5 billion euros for the whole of 2011 but said that the annual net would likely be less than five billion euros in 2010.

Reducing to 1% GDP growth expectations in 2012, Nicolas Sarkozy warned that 6 to 8 billion euros in savings or additional revenues must be found.

While a half point of growth in less than about 5 billion shortfall for the state budget, the risk of a vicious circle is not excluded, the lowering of growth forecasts calling plans savings which in turn contribute to more depressed activity.

"You will never make me believe that with 1,000 billion of public expenditure, we can not find 5 billion savings," tempers, however, the rapporteur of the Finance Committee of the National Assembly, the UMP Gilles Carrez.

The rating agency Fitch has placed on negative watch Thursday's long-term ratings of BNP Paribas (AA-) and Credit Agricole (AA-) as part of its periodic evaluation of European institutions.

The credit rating of long-term Credit Mutuel (AA-) was also placed on negative watch, but that of the Societe Generale (A +) was confirmed.

The notes of sustainability ("Viability rating") of BNP Paribas (AA-), Credit Agricole (AA-) and Societe Generale (A +) are also placed on negative watch.

Fitch said that the negative phase of monitoring should be short, and that if cuts in long-term notes were determined, they could not exceed one notch, the minimum level of major French banks are "A +".

In the case of Societe Generale and BNP, Fitch notes that the business model of universal banking world they have chosen seems "particularly sensitive to increased challenges which face the financial markets."

"These challenges result from a myriad of changes in the regulatory and economic developments, especially in the euro area," said Fitch.

Also as part of its review of banks, Fitch has also downgraded the Swiss bank UBS to "A +" to "A".

Those of Barclays, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank are also placed on negative watch, just as the U.S., the Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs.

The Bank of France reiterated Monday its forecast of growth of 0.1% of the French economy in the third quarter, based on the results of its latest monthly business survey.

She had halved its forecast last month.

The business climate indicator in industry has remained stable in September at 97 while the service sector shrank from one point to 96.

In September, "industrial activity has remained stable, the contraction in the automotive and manufacturing equipment was offset by the increase observed in the food industry and some sectors of production of consumer goods" , says the Bank of France.

She added that the forecasts of business leaders expect a stable business. "

The utilization of production capacity improved slightly, to 79.3% against 78.8% in August. However, it remains below its historical average of 82.

In services, says the Bank of France, sales rebounded in September, "particularly in transportation, computer services and to a lesser extent temporary employment." The outlook for the coming months, however, foreshadow a slowdown in activity.

Over a third of French say they have experienced "a situation of poverty" at least once in their lives, according to an Ipsos for the Secours Populaire. The respondents considered 92% as a "poverty" the fact of "regularly experience significant difficulties in obtaining a healthy, balanced diet."

Over a third of French (35%) say they have experienced "a situation of poverty" at least once in their lives, a proportion rising, says an Ipsos for the Secours Populaire announced Thursday. This rate of 35% is seven points higher than in the previous survey in 2010.

Nearly one in four French people (22%) also indicates that it is "ever had (to) say, at a time of (his) life, that (he was) on the verge of a situation poverty ", but he finally experience it.

Sign considered "alarming" by Secours Populaire, "young people are increasingly concerned", "ages 15-34 are almost a third of French (29%) who have experienced job insecurity." "They were only 22% in 2010."

And 85% of respondents believe that "the risk (their) children know one day a situation of poverty are higher than for (their) generation" for 50% risk is "significantly higher" for 35% they are "slightly higher". Only 11% consider them "lower".

The French set the poverty line at 1,031 euros per month for a single person, a figure "stable" compared to 2010, "a little below the minimum wage (1070.76 euros net per month), but always" superior to 954 euros the official poverty line calculated by INSEE. "

The respondents considered 92% as a "poverty" the fact of "regularly experience significant difficulties in obtaining a healthy, balanced diet." But they are also likely to discuss the fact of not being able to "send their children on holiday at least once a year" (73%) or not being able to "access goods or cultural activities and entertainment for himself or family "(71%).

Survey conducted by telephone August 19 and 20 with a sample of 1,016 people representative of the French population aged 15 and over, by the quota method.

Wall Street opened sharply higher Friday's session, the day after its worst session in more than two years.

The figure better than expected job creation in July in the U.S., coupled with an unemployment rate slightly down, eased the anxieties of the markets and given them new impetus.

A few minutes after the start of trading, the Dow Jones gained 1.5% to 11,554.5 points, Standard & Poor's 500 index 1.32% to 1215.91 points and the Nasdaq Composite 1.29% to 2589.38 points.

According to figures released Friday by the Labor Department, the U.S. economy created 117,000 non-farm jobs in July and the rate of unemployment has fallen from 9.2% to 9.1%.

Economists on average had forecast 85,000 new jobs.

Values, the way Procter & Gamble has reported an increase in its quarterly results, which pushed up the title of 2.14% on opening.