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Europe must move faster on the regulation of short sales. This is the opinion of Christine Lagarde, who yesterday called Brussels to "accelerate the work so we can have a coordinated position at European level". The Financial Services Commissioner, Michel Barnier, a device must submit by the fall, but Paris would like to see proposals from Brussels in July or later in September.

The idea being "that is not each other, here or there, tempted to keep up" with other countries that have already taken action on their part. "We will soon impose more stringent rules to harmonize the practices and tools for supervisors, install a coordinating framework for the supervisors, which is not the case today," says Michel Barnier to Le Figaro. The Commission is ready to offer this new framework "at the end of September," he insists.The French commissioner however said he will return to the supervisor of each country, given its assessment of the situation in its markets, to take measures of its choice.

This is precisely what comes to Germany. After banning short selling "naked" on the bonds in the euro area, on certain types of CDS – a contract of insurance against default risk – and the shares of ten financial institutions, Berlin went further yesterday by adopting a bill that extends the prohibition to all stocks.

Technical challenge

Short sales are sophisticated technical exchanges to sell shares they do not yet own, hoping to repurchase them at a lower price later, pocketing the difference. When they are "naked", the investor sells securities he does not even borrowed.The technique is challenged, because accused of encouraging speculation down. But the unilateral initiative of Berlin was cringe. Christine Lagarde has deplored the lack of coordinated European and ensured that Paris would not follow that path Berlin while recalling that France already bans on short selling certain financial stocks since 2008.

Berlin's position is criticized both in London and Paris. "There is certainly not a unanimous position" between the European regulators, "said Chairman of the Committee of European stock market regulators (CESR), Eddy Wymeersch. The framework will present Michel Barnier will solve only part of the problem. In terms of financial supervision, said it does in Brussels, "the Commission does not decide, she proposes.If the Council does not follow, it does not advance.

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Act II, Scene 1. The projectors, which have attracted the eyes of the world on the "Greek tragedy", saw to the west and now targeting Spain. There have been rumors in trading rooms on Tuesday, saying that Spain could seek some 280 billion euros at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"The information here is running, but nothing is certain yet. In any case, it is expected that the notes of Spain has deteriorated, "said a trader at Soci?t? G?n?rale. A spokesman for London, however, Fitch assured Tuesday that the rating agency confirmed the AAA rating of Spain, and its stable outlook. Standard & Poor's downgraded the rating of Spain last week.Other major rating agency, Moody's does not express recently.

Given these speculations on a possible deterioration of the Spanish note, wins the Madrid Stock Exchange on Tuesday, from 3.2% to 12.30, approaching the bar dangerously technical and psychological 10,000 points at 10,090.1 points. Mid-April, the Ibex index of 35 largest market capitalizations Spanish trading at over 11,500 points.

It took two peaks and a half-dozen ministerial appointments, but the sixteen countries of the euro are finally able to determine in detail the safety net for Greece. The European system, officially operational since Sunday, includes up to 30 billion euros in bilateral loans to an interest rate target of about 5M for a term of three years.

"Until now, the Sixteen had taken decisions in principle, we now show that there is money behind," said Jean-Claude Juncker after a video conference involving Ministers Euro zone finance. "All the tools are in place and operational immediately," said Olli Rehn, European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs.

Athens has not yet decided to use this financial plan. But it was time to measure reliability.Greece, seriously diminished his credit, is to resume tomorrow's Calvary borrower, raising 1.2 billion of Treasury bills at six and twelve months. Repeatedly announced but never detailed the mechanism difficult to convince the markets for two months. The litmus test is committed immediately. By late May, Athens faces more than 10 billion euros maturity on a debt estimated at 300 billion. It must still find 32 billion before the end of the year. The figures broken down on Sunday in Brussels, more generous than expected, seem a priori to the scale of the challenge.

For 30 billion that could unlock the Sixteen would be added the joint contribution of the IMF. If we follow the rule laid down by 2/3-1/3 the last EU summit, Greece could therefore be based if necessary on a cushion of more than 40 billion euros in loans this year.No estimate has yet been advanced for years.

Mechanism triple expansion

With an interest of around 5% on loans for three years, the Sixteen still follow the principles laid March 25. As a last resort, Greece could be financed at a lower price than it does now on the market (more than 7%). But she would not receive any subsidy-provided imperiously posed by Germany, nor any advantage over other heavily indebted countries like Portugal, Ireland, Spain or Italy. If the ETF would be implemented, "Greece would be encouraged to return quickly to the market" to finance themselves forward Jean-Claude Juncker.A hypothesis that will be realized when Athens will be able to raise money at rates lower than the European plan.

Faced with deadlines looming, the Greek prime minister, George Papandreou, had struck these days on all doors so that Europe finally joins the action to the word. To impress the financial, "we must put a loaded revolver on the table," he said Sunday at the Greek newspaper "To Vima". "The question, he added, is whether the device will persuade the markets (…) Otherwise, it could well be used …"

At the announcement of decisions taken by the Sixteen, the Greek Minister of Finance was confident.George Papaconstantinou welcomed an agreement "very important", confirming that he had not requested the activation of the mechanism: "We believe we can continue to borrow freely on the markets."

It was at Athens that he would take the initiative, confirmed Sunday the Commissioner Rehn. But the mechanism is at least triple expansion. The European Commission, the ECB and the IMF all have their say or their conditions to ask. Finally, the loans would only be released only by unanimous consent of the Sixteen, which gives a veto to Germany. George Papandreou today has a net credible.But it has not finished with the tightrope.

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Its director general, Pascal Lamy, can only be welcomed. Forecasts of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that directs, published Friday, show a rebound in volume of 9.5% of world trade this year, against a fall of 12.2% in 2009. "We see light at the end of the tunnel," he said adding that developing countries would be the first to take the recovery with an increase of 11% of their exports in 2010, while the industrialized countries over severely affected by the crisis, would experience slightly slower growth of around 7.5%.

This increase, says the WTO, "assumes a resumption of growth of GDP (gross domestic product) World consistent with what we agree to provide, 2.9% and d 'stability of oil prices and exchange rates.A necessary precaution when we see deterioration including high speed climate of trade between China and the United States amid manipulation of the yuan. But China, confirms the WTO has indeed surpassed last year in Germany as world's largest exporter, with 10% of total sales made outside borders around the globe. It also constitutes the second largest importer behind the United States.

Protectionism Chinese

We must therefore rely more and more with this giant even more difficult to control it does not always respect the rules of international trade and often plays with protectionism hiding his name.

Pascal Lamy, however, notes that, contrary to what one could imagine, and despite rising unemployment, "the number of restrictions to trade applied by governments has declined in recent months.But unfortunately this does not suffice to revive the negotiations of the Doha round of trade liberalization, which stalled since 2001, admitted Friday at the Geneva WTO boss.

The crisis has changed the ranking of richest people worldwide. The twenty-fourth annual list prepared by Forbes magazine, published last night in the United States, and devotes the Mexican Carlos Slim as the richest man in the world with a fortune estimated at nearly 53.5 billion dollars. This is the first time since 1994 that a non-American held the top of the podium. The Mexican telecom tycoon saw his fortune grow by $ 18.5 billion last year to 53.5 billion, allowing it to anticipate a short head Bill Gates, the cofounder of Microsoft, which does is only the second man on the planet in terms of wealth, with – only – $ 53 billion portfolio payday loan . Warren Buffett, the legendary boss of the investment company Berkshire Hathaway, retrograde from second to third place.

The Paris Bourse is scheduled to begin this week on an optimistic note. The future CAC 40 up 0.63% at 3934.50 points, an hour of opening, leaving hope for a session in positive territory. The Paris markets should broadly follow the movement driven by Asia Market earlier this week. The Japanese Nikkei closed up sharply (2.09%), carrying with him all the financial centers of the region.

This optimism comes from the U.S. figures for employment, less bad than expected, published Friday (36,000 jobs destroyed destruction cons 50,000 expected). Statistic reassure markets that see it as a sign of recovery very explicit. Especially as the consumer credit in the United States also sets out again on the rise (4.96 billion dollars in January). Both information had enabled the Cac 40 to exceed the 3900 points at the close Friday.Maintaining this level will be one of the objectives of investors on Monday, before setting off to the 4,000 points.

Japan, meanwhile, announced Monday a current account surplus (899.8 billion yen), compared to the deficit recorded last year in the same period (132.7 billion yen).

On Monday, markets will keep an eye on the index of business sentiment of the Bank of France, published before the commencement of trading (8.30). German industrial production for January will be known 12 hours.

EADS in the collimator

The defense group EADS said on Friday reached an agreement in principle with client countries on the financing of the military transport plane A400M. This also held Monday in Paris a crucial meeting on the fate of the military plane, which displays almost four years behind the counter.

The director general of Cr?dit Agricole, Jean-Paul Chifflet, revealed in an interview with Le Figaro, his long-term goals. "If we find other opportunities for collaboration to reduce intermediation costs for our customers, we will. With the Company generally or with others, "he said as well. This information may affect the securities Societe Generale and BNP Paribas.

In an interview with Le Figaro also Antoine Frerot, CEO of Veolia, reaffirms the group's objectives, including "after-tax profit of at least 9% and operating profit up 4% on average annually.

The central works of extraordinary total stands Monday.Employees of Dunkerque, on strike since January 12 this year, threatening to spread the oil available to them if management does not accede to their demands.

As for publications, Biomerieux announced on Monday a net profit in 2009 of 148 million euros, above expectations. The group table for the period 2010-2015, an average annual growth of between 7% and 9% at constant exchange rates.

The annual results of cements French gather today. Just as those of April, after market close.

Calling Christian Estrosi, Minister of Industry, has been heard. The management of Total committed, in a statement to guarantee employment to every employee, regardless of the decision about the future of the Dunkirk refinery.

The Minister of Industry said that Monday morning that the government "will not accept" the closure of the Total refinery at Dunkirk "until there are no guarantees necessary for the sustainability" of 800 jobs concerned, "he said Monday on radio BFM.

"Total must invest in employment" (CFDT)

The secretary general of the CFDT (French Democratic Confederation of Labor), Fran?ois Ch?r?que must also be reassured that he claimed in the wake of Christian Estrosi, that: "Total has a lot of money, so total should invest in employment."He said Total "must go beyond" its legal obligations: "He has to justify the closure, but it must ensure that all the jobs lost are converted to another activity Total, plus subcontractors.

According to La Tribune, the continuation of the refining process would require 60 and 120 million euro investment. "This range is the budget for the full review of the refinery 'reply a spokesman for Total.

In March 2009 already, the oil company had attracted the ire of politicians, after announcing the abolition of 555 posts in France, including 249 by 2013 in the refinery. A few weeks earlier, had issued a total record profit for 2008 of 13.9 billion euros.

Total release February 11 its profits in 2009, expected around 8 billion euros. Total declined to comment on this figure.

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Electrolux is building on its capacity to innovate as with the washing machine with a function "steaming" it will launch this year payday loan lenders . Photo credits: DR

This is without state support that Ford has managed to overcome its difficulties. The U.S. manufacturer announced Thursday it had made a net profit of 2.699 billion dollars over the full year 2009. A performance to be compared with the heavy loss of 14.766 billion harvested in 2008. Over the year, turnover was down to 138.1 against 118.3 billion in 2008.

The group included supporting a very successful fourth quarter. Over this period, the second largest U.S. behind General Motors reports net earnings of $ 868 million against a loss of about 5.978 billion dollars a year earlier. The per share earnings is 25 cents, hardly less than the 26 cents analysts who had forecast. Over this period, revenues totaled $ 35.4 billion against 29 billion a year earlier, an increase of 22%.

Before the opening of Wall Street, the title jumped 2.68% to 11.86 dollars.

$ 500 million quarterly savings

To obtain this result, Ford has relied on reducing structural costs of automotive business payday loan . A total of 500 million dollars were saved in the fourth quarter. The group did not hesitate to pursue a higher price for its vehicles. His arm Ford Motor Credit has contributed to higher profits in this period with a profit before tax of $ 696 million against a loss of 372 million in 2008.

Ford is the only manufacturer of the "Big Three" of Detroit (with General Motors and Chrysler) have not gone bankrupt. It is reassuring for the future and plans to write "a profit before tax and excluding exceptional items for 2010, without specifying numbers.In addition to profitability, the group is including a U.S. car market between 11.5 and 12.5 of vehicles this year. In the year 2009 in the United States, sales at Ford fell 15.4% to 1.68 million units. Note that, after hesitating a large part of the morning, the Paris Bourse is moving more strongly in the green then qu'affluent results of U.S. companies show no surprises.

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With 3.2 billion net profit in the third quarter of 2009, the U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs has recovered quickly from the crisis. And for good reason. According to a survey published by The New York Times December 23, analysts at Goldman Sachs had anticipated the collapse of the housing bubble in 2006. The officers of the bank had lowered their recommendation on the mortgage market from positive to negative in December 2006, discreetly. In the process, Goldman Sachs has begun to shed its portfolio of CDOs. The whole, continuing to sell such financial products to its customers.

Losses abysmal for some …

Created in 2005 by two traders at Goldman Sachs, Jonathan Egoli (graduate of Princeton) and the French Centrale Fabrice Tourre, CDOs (Collaterized debt obligations) known as Abacus products were stars.At that time the housing market was booming. More than $ 108 billion of CDOs were sold to institutional investors, pension funds and insurance companies in the United States and Europe between 2005 and mid 2007, according to statistics from the company Dealogic.

… Substantial benefits for other

But the end of the housing bubble has left buyers of CDOs on the straw. Goldman Sachs was not the only one to make the right bet. According to Wall Street sources quoted by The New York Times, other banks, including Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley, and smaller investment companies as Tricadia also bet on falling subprime.And were able to recover sums from insurers.

Given the extent of suspicion, an investigation was initiated by members of Congress, the SEC (the equivalent of the MFA in France) and the Authority of financial sector regulation (FINRA). To determine if these banks and hedge funds have violated the regulations on the sale of securities they have created and injured their own customers. Suspicions immediately contradicted by Goldman Sachs.

Goldman Sachs denies

In a statement posted on its website, the investment bank responds to the New York Times."Goldman Sachs, like many other financial institutions, has suffered substantial losses in its mortgage portfolio, due to the deteriorating housing market." Losses related to such activity amounted to 1.7 billion dollars 2008.

The bank also noted that buyers were "important and sophisticated investors, who had all the resources internally to analyze and adjust their portfolios. Finally, she denied having withheld information to the public regarding its recommendations on CDOs. While the debate swells on the federal government support to banks, which are expected to announce record profits in 2009, explanations of Goldman Sachs will likely be expected to turn.

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Article by New York Times (English)