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For the third consecutive month, foreign direct investment in China fell in January, dropping 0.3% over one year to 10 billion. "The situation in foreign investment is relatively poor," was concerned the spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, Shen Danyang, during a press conference Thursday.

"The uncertainties surrounding the global economy continue to grow, the restructuring of global industry slows, and growth of foreign direct investment is low everywhere," he said adding that the slowdown Growth in China – to 8.4% in 2012, against 9.2% last year according to analysts – also had an impact on foreign investment in the country.

Other negative effects on investment: the multiplication of social conflicts in several factories in recent months and rising production costs, particularly related to higher wages. 

According to a study released Wednesday by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, over 90% of the 300 companies surveyed said that "rising costs of labor and materials are a serious blow to business and challenge the competitive advantages of China ".

Construction of Shanghai Disneyland

The vast majority of foreign direct investment in China come from East Asia-Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and ASEAN countries-, up 0 saving account payday loan.8% yoy, to $ 8.6 billion .

Investment from the U.S. rose 29% to $ 342 million – partly because "the arrival of capital for the construction of Shanghai Disneyland, whose work began last year," said Shen Danyang. 

Those from Europe for their part, fell sharply from 42.5% to $ 452 million, compared to January 2010, European companies, leaded by the debt crisis, have drastically reduced their spending.

According to Hervé Lievore, economist at AXA Investment Managers in Hong Kong, "the prudence of European companies is hardly surprising when financing conditions deteriorate in Europe." For Ting Lu, economist at Bank of America-Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong, this decline in investment should be temporary predicting "a massive return of investors attracted by the exceptional growth rates in China as soon as the global economy stabilizes" .

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Hocus-pocus, coup, betrayal … and Socialist Trade Unions slam in chorus the vote "on the sly," Jan. 31 in the Assembly, a provision that amends the labor law. Section 40 of the bill Warsmann simplification of the law provides that "the establishment of a distribution of hours over a period longer than the week and not more than the year under a collective agreement is not a change in the employment contract. "It aims to extend a 2008 law which allows to modulate the working time per company agreement but requires the approval of each employee. A condition that prevents any modulation in practice.

Alain Vidal, in charge of employment in the Holland team, justified his opposition to this change: "A new organization of work may be incompatible with the family and personal life of each employee." ……. .

"The employee will have no choice but to accept the blackmail against new employment zones and / or pay cut, otherwise the dismissal without recourse," says Bernard Thibault (CGT).

But above all, Jean-Claude Mailly (FO) sees a "gap" to develop competitive employment agreements, while Francois Fillon has given two months to the social partners to negotiate on this idea. "This is a first step in the government's willingness to allow the employer to lower both working time and remuneration without the explicit agreement of the employee," he feared. "It is contradictory that Parliament legislates on an element of negotiation to be open, except to reduce the usefulness of this negotiation," abounds Francois Chereque (CFDT).

Short memory

"This provision only relates to working time arrangements and not contrary to the logic of competitiveness, employment agreements, to the articulation agreement in the same working time, work organization and remuneration", they responded by Xavier Bertrand wrote Same day payday loans. The Minister sees no "interference with the negotiation," which starts Friday.

Unions are also far from having discovered this provision on January 31. It had been passed in the same terms, at first reading, the … October 18. So, before Nicolas Sarkozy calls for competitive employment agreements. And social partners had been consulted on the text in September by the Ministry of Labour! The CGT had cried foul but the CFDT held that section would "in the right direction." As for the PS, he had voted in the late 1990s, laws in 35 hours, a provision that an agreement down-modulating working time would be required for each employee.

"No organization has raised the subject during the preparatory meetings at the Social Summit, nor subsequent discussions on competitiveness employment agreements," says Xavier Bertrand. "We had forgotten," says a trade unionist. The text should be considered on second reading in the Senate next Monday, and then finally adopted by the deputies on Feb. 29.

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Social cuts and austerity measures provoke social unrest throughout the Iberian Peninsula. In Spain, the reform of the labor market, adopted Friday by decree, has attracted a first wave of spontaneous protest. In Portugal, it is the application of the rescue plan that creates a massive mobilization.

At the Puerta del Sol of Madrid, hundreds of people gathered Friday night to protest against the reform. Described as "historic" by the Conservative government of Mariano Rajoy, the decree is the latest attempt by Madrid halting the advance of unemployment, which seems unstoppable. At 22.85% of the workforce, the Spanish rate has broken all records in the industrialized world.

The Executive intends to promote employment by making IDUs more attractive. In addition to some tax incentives, the reform lowers the costs of layoffs and wage cuts authorize unilateral when the company through a bad patch.

General strike on hold

The event on Friday, unauthorized, has been dissolved violently by police as the protesters approached the Parliament. Unions, criticized by protesters who think they are too timid, were not represented Puerta del Sol. Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) and Union General de Trabajadores (UGT) intend to channel anger Social next Sunday: a "general mobilization" was convened and processions will be organized throughout Spain. The possibility of a general strike, it remains outstanding.

In Portugal, the mobilization has already taken place. "The biggest demonstration in thirty years' 300,000 people gathered Saturday in Lisbon, according to the CGTP, the main union. In a long speech, the secretary general of the Central attacked both the troika (European Commission, ECB and IMF), responsible for monitoring the implementation of the bailout, and the government, accused of submission. Many times Arménio Carlos was interrupted by protesters when he cited the name of the Prime Minister, Pedro Passos Coelho. "Gatuno! Gatuno "(" Thief! "), The crowd chanted. Also put into question, the finance minister, accused of violating the "dignity" and "sovereignty" of the Portuguese. In an exchange with his German counterpart, Vitor Gaspar had thanked Berlin for accepting an "adjustment" of the financial plan.

Advocating a debt renegotiation, Carlos called for a higher minimum wage Portuguese, currently set at 485 euros gross. A new day of action is scheduled on February 29.

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The debt crisis that shook the euro area, the French deep mine. This is for 79% of them, the crisis "the worst" in recent years, according to a poll Ifop for the Journal du Dimanche. Faced with the economic and social situation of France, 53% of respondents said they were "rebels," while 29% are "resigned." A resignation which probably explains why the movement of "outraged" that began in Spain last spring and has spread across Europe and to the United States, failed to France.

The French are indeed very pessimistic. Only 4% of them believe in a crisis within the next six months. Nearly a majority (46%), however, do not expect improvement until 2014. "This survey highlights the malaise of the French," said Frederic Dabi, director of the division of opinion Ifop."For them, this is a serious crisis which they do not see the exit and on which policies can not be weighed." However, they are preparing for 57% of the "painful and difficult measures." They are also willing to make sacrifices, including cutting costs in their "comfort" and in their holiday budget, the study said.

When asked about the causes of the crisis, 52% of French people point the finger at the role of financial markets. Far behind, the government (26%), banks (15%), EU (10%), the French as a whole (6%), emerging (5%) and businesses (1%) are also considered partially responsible for the current crisis. "Paradoxically, while their commitment to the EU is often tenuous, the French for more Europe," Frederic Dabi analysis.As proof, they say they support the creation of a European Ministry of Economy.

Theme of the presidential election

As European leaders gather in Brussels on Sunday for a coordinated response to the crisis, the French have already an idea of ​​what the state could do 63% of them believe the government should take an interest in banks, either by becoming the majority shareholder of the establishment or nationalization. Despite their concern, 23% of respondents would prefer the state to intervene simply abstain. Maybe they think that the French economy can only suffer, as the government prepares to revise downwards its growth forecast for 2012 still set at 1.75%."Part of the public continues to believe that when dealing with Greece, it does not deal with French," says Pierre Giacometti, advisor opinion of the President of the Republic, in the columns of world.

Yet a few months before the presidential election, the crisis in the euro area will be the theme of the campaign. Nicolas Sarkozy will speak on the subject on television next Thursday, the day after the second EU summit is to say, once firm decisions have been taken. A key event with the French, while the popularity of the president is at half mast. "Even if the credits of some courage, nothing will be counted as long as there is a lack of visibility on the crisis," Pierre Giacometti analysis in Le Monde.

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On Tuesday, the Higher Audiovisual Council (CSA) launched the call for applications for six new free DTT channels. Candidates submit their applications no later than January 3 next, they will be audited between 5 and 9 March and mid-March, CSA will appoint the selected files. The permits will be issued in May and channels will be launched in the fall for at least 25% of the population.

This is a great gift for viewers, but it's a puzzle dangerous for the TV market. With 25 free channels instead of 18 now, the whole landscape that will, once again upset. The Ministry of Culture no mistake. To limit the damage, he advocates the creation of channels with smaller economies than minigénéralistes who need to drain the advertising market heavily to live.

In its report on the future of TNT, Michel Boyon, the president of CSA, stressed that the advertising market is not extensible. This observation invites the CSA and the Rue de Valois to protect the large general-interest channels that have already been hard hit by the creation of DTT channels in 2005. In six years, these have already assumed 25% of the television audience and 12.5% ​​market pub. Today, however, only those projects that should be presented by Team TV, Screenrush, NextRadioTV (RMC Sport) or Equidia (PMU) are channels. All others are minigénéralistes. And propose TF1 TV Breizh, push M6 M6 Family WikiTV and Paris Première. Canal + continues to campaign for the free channel Canal 20 payday loans.

For its part, has already promised an NRJ TV Honey aimed at women and a chain TV Nostalgia for heritage programs.The CSA will decide whether looking for channels to anger the left or if historical actors assigns frequencies to minigénéralistes.

Specialists in the advertising market are reassured by any equation. "While 2011 will end positively for advertising, Régine note Tournier, expertise and purchasing director at Havas Media, there is a slowdown and we have no visibility into 2012. The arrival of new channels is likely to introduce more competition in the market and lower prices. "

"A market of mass media"

On the other hand, the expert noted, "it is not certain that the arrival of channels is a good thing because it will encourage the fragmentation of audiences.Strings that will fare best will be those backed by a large group to benefit from synergies. "

Another danger, if the number of free DTT channels increases, the pay packages of cable and satellite will lose their appeal. "The more free channels, said one expert, the less reason to subscribe to a pay offer. Especially since they are important channels of cable and satellite (TV Team, Equidia, Paris Première, Ed) which candidatent to DTT. "

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With the individual

The Finance Act 2012 goes a new movement of the plane 10% of the 14 tax loopholes already affected in 2011 (rental investment schemes, investment in unlisted companies including …). Although the tax credit for taxpayers conducting energy conservation work in their primary residence is no exception to the planing, the government decided to initiate a reform of assistive devices to the improving the energy performance of dwellings. He wants to promote major renovations including the return on investment is sometimes more than thirty years.This work financially unattractive, however, are needed to achieve the 38% reduction in consumption of existing buildings in the park, set by the Grenelle Environment Forum.

What work is encouraged?

To reach its target of 400,000 retrofits thermal year, the government intends to achieve more attractive bunches of work. Thus, taxpayers carrying the same year, at least two categories of work will receive a tax credit rates increased by 10 points, but the rate so obtained may not exceed 45%. This may include, for example, the joint realization of the wall insulation and the roof, along with installing a new boiler performance or installing a heat pump.The device, which was completed December 31, 2012, is extended for three years.

Bercy does he discourage some work?

Indeed, work is now less efficient on the spot. Thus, the installation of double glazed windows, entry door or shutters in a house no longer open right to the tax benefit if it is not accompanied by other work faxless payday advance. And when applied, the rate of the tax credit will be lowered to 11% in 2012. Similarly, the tax credit for installing solar panels for electricity production is seriously dented. The rate will increase from 22% to 13% and the tax benefit will be subject to a specific ceiling, set by decree.Costs savings are now included in an overall ceiling of € 8000 multi for a single person and 16,000 euros for a married or civil union, this amount being increased by € 400 per dependent.

Funding arrangements will they be improved?

In 2011, only 50,000 Eco-PTZ (interest-free loans granted for thermal renovation of housing) have been granted. A figure well below the objectives of the Grenelle Environment Forum. Therefore the government intends to make it more effective. Its maximum reimbursement would increase from 10 to 15 years when financing the simultaneous production of at least three kinds of work. This would apply to offers of loans issued from 1 April 2012.Similarly, to allow low-income households to achieve these major renovations, homes with an income tax benchmark tax is less than 30,000 euros per year will earn the Eco-PTZ and the tax credit. And, for offers of loans issued from January 1, 2012.

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Risk of default of Greece, uncertainty about the Italian economy, banks in the crosshairs of the rating agencies … in times of financial uncertainty, real estate is more than ever its role as a refuge. A study by the Ipsos institute for the network of estate agents Orpi, released this morning confirmed. 39% of respondents, real estate is "the safest investment in France today."

The stone ahead and booklets and savings accounts offered by banks (29%), and life insurance (19%). Actions (2%) and bonds (2%) are even further relegated last. The survey results show that confidence in real estate is even stronger than household incomes are high.Thus, over half (52%) of those reporting more than 3000 euros monthly income claims to have faith in the stone.

If Bernard Cadeau, president of the Orpi network, welcomes the conclusions of the study, he also expressed fears for the future. Recent government decisions – taxation of capital gains, reducing the advantage Scellier have …- he said, clearly upset the French. "It also translates instantly into the field with 5% of our customers who have taken the mandate to sell their second home in the weeks that followed," said he. A view shared by Gilles Ricour Bourges, his counterpart at the Paris-Fnaim. Since August 25, the real estate professionals succeed in denouncing the announcements made by the government and their negative effects on the market and on household budgets as prices could rise again because of the shortage.Analysis they will not fail to spread on the occasion of the exhibition of real estate in Paris, which opened on next weekend.

Worn since last May by the strong current created by the bursting of the "case DSK", the national daily general news continue to surge. In June, France paid the dissemination of Figaro, which keeps its place as the first national daily, has increased by 2.68% over the same month of 2010, the World 2.06% and Liberation of 0.80%, according to monthly reports filed by publishers to OJD.

The data disclosed by the monitoring body of the press in France also show that only three titles, which is in addition the business daily Les Echos, finally take their game in the first half. From January to June, the spread paid France's Liberation, headed since February by Nicolas Demorand has increased by 4.97% over the same period last year, reaching 118,416 copies.The World has gained 2.66% to 293,650 copies. The media group controlled by the trio "BNP" (Pierre Berge, Xavier Niel and Matthew Pigasse) announced Friday that he expected an operating profit in 2011. In the first half, the group Le Monde "reported an operating profit of 2.3 million euros," he said. For its part, Le Figaro, which prepares a modernization of its formula to the end of September, has remained in the lead with a paid circulation of 326,490 copies, France, an increase of 1.21%.As for the special daily Les Echos group LVMH, the increase was 1.49% (121,956 copies).

Sharp decline in "France-Soir"

In contrast, all other securities of national daily press recede in the first six of the year: -7.53% for equipment (273,157 copies), -5.12% for La Tribune (65 445 ex.) – 3.69% for Le Parisien (290 690 ex.) -3.04% for Today in France (159 291 ex.) and -2.09% for the Cross (95 669 ex.). The fall of the highest returns to France-Soir that loses -12.10% to 63,741 copies. The title was placed last Monday in backup process for four months by the Commercial Court of Paris. Controlled by Alexander Pugachev, France-Soir has achieved a turnover of 17 million euros in 2010 against 9.6 million in 2009. At the same time, operating income totaled a loss to -31 million euros (-12.9 million against in 2009).The first half of 2011, its sales totaled 6.1 million euros for an operating result of -12.8 million, according to data reported earlier this week by its shareholder.

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What are your proposals for Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel?

Europe is ready to adopt guidelines on beetles or grading apples. But when it comes to economic and financial regulation, it nothing happens. The EU countries have transformed the Stability and Growth Pact in a cheats and liars. Europe needs the government's proposed economic finally the President and Chancellor.

Will you vote the "golden rule" if Congress is convened?

I will vote, even if the proceedings of Parliament are below what I expected, including the monopoly of the tax provisions. With this rule, the president is in the direction of history. But in September, the presentation of the budgets of the State and Social Security in 2012 will be the first litmus test flexcheck cash advance. We need to find 10 billion euros.I propose a new tax bracket on income, rising from 0.25% of the CRDS and a large movement of the plane on tax loopholes. It must also cut spending for operating and intervention.

Do you understand the dam from the left on the "golden rule"?

It is time to change our political practice. It is outdated and disastrous. Major reforms can not be a camp against each other. This is not because Nicolas Sarkozy has not been exemplary control deficiencies that must be opposed to the recovery of France.

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In the case of debt, time is a luxury that the United States as Europe can not afford. This is the message sent Tuesday by Christine Lagarde, director of the International Monetary Fund. Welcoming the plan against the crisis of the Greek debt presented Thursday by EU leaders, the French hoped "that these bold steps will be followed in the United States and that action in the fiscal area will occur as quickly as possible."

In Washington, "the clock is forever and you really find a solution," insisted Christine Lagarde. Democrats and Republicans can not agree on U.S. debt, then that must be addressed prior to August 2 the maximum amount that the state can borrow in the markets (the ceiling of the debt). Otherwise the U.S. will not reimburse investors.

"Having a default or a significant reduction in the rating assigned to the signing of the United States, an event would be very, very, very serious. Not for the U.S. only, but for the world economy in general, "said the leader of the IMF. In the longer term, the IMF has asked the United States Monday to hand over "the debt to a sustainable path." U.S. debt until recently was considered by investors as an investment "safe".

If it is proved otherwise, the consequences could be incalculable. The United States "can not default on their obligations," said John Boehner, a Republican official in Congress. "The jobs and savings of too many Americans (are) in."

Threat of 'turbulence'

Europe is no exception.After the summit on Thursday, the leaders of the euro area should continue their efforts, Christine Lagarde warned: "The plan was welcomed by financial markets, as evidenced by the stronger euro and lower spreads rates on bonds of the periphery. But the turmoil could easily reappear. For this reason it is essential that the commitments of the summit are implemented quickly. "

Problem: The plan must be submitted to national parliaments for approval. "This will be done in the coming weeks. This will not happen overnight because, as is often the case in many developed economies of the Northern Hemisphere, August is relatively calm. And parliaments are closed, "admitted the director of the IMF. But Europeans do not have the luxury of taking their time.I think there is an expectation that things should move forward and be implemented not only by the countries directly concerned but also by governments who, as I said, kept their promises. "

To help stem the debt crisis, the IMF disbursed $ 330 billion to date, also recalled Christine Lagarde. Given this fact, the IMF might have to seek new funds to its member countries, its director admitted: "In the not too distant future we will probably take an interest in this issue."

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