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Despite a sales increase of 3% to 7.9 billion euros in the first half and stable at 4.4 billion euros in the second quarter, Lafarge reported income down sharply from 34% to 260 million euros in the first half. The group warned that inflation and exchange rate effects will weigh on annual results. "The sector is still affected by high inflation and the absence of global recovery in developed countries," said Bruno Lafont, CEO of Lafarge, said in a statement.Half-year net income was, indeed, benefited last year, a gain of 160 million euros after selling its 17.28% interest in the Portuguese group Cimpor.

Weighed down by a huge debt of 14 billion euros, the rating agency Standard & Poor's has pushed the note of cement to the level of speculative transmitter – Lafarge claims to be "on track" to meet its debt reduction target of at least two billion euros in 2011. Two weeks ago, the group sold its gypsum in Europe and America in the Belgian Etex to € 1 billion (enterprise value) and they could sell in North America and Asia.In the second quarter, the group achieved 50 million savings in structural costs, $ 100 million since the beginning of the year, in line with the objective of a reduction of at least 200 million in 2011 .

The group still expects an increased demand for cement and provides a market growth between 2% and 5% in 2011 compared to 2010.

Pessimism still dominates the Paris Stock Exchange on Monday. After a complicated weekend, marked by a loss of almost 5% for the CAC 40, investors do not find easily morale, as evidenced by the opening of a down, 12%% to 3684.79 pooints. The London Stock Exchange also opened down 0.76% to 5799.51 points and the DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange was down 0.79% to 7162.82 points.

The Asian market has not sent a clear signal this morning. Only U.S. markets manage to stay the course despite the many warnings about agency debt. In this regard, President Barack Obama issued an ultimatum to Congress on increasing the debt ceiling while Republicans are sticking to their positions.In Europe, the problems of sovereign debt will also be central to discussions of heads of state on Thursday at a special summit meant to calm markets.

Meanwhile, next currency, the euro fell slightly against the greenback at 1.4074 dollar. Gold, meanwhile, took advantage of the nervousness of investors to assert its status as a safe haven: an ounce on Monday has risen to 1598.60 dollars, linking 11 consecutive sessions of gains. The most since July 1980.

In terms of indicators, the day will be particularly quiet with only the index of the real estate market in the United States waited for the afternoon. The rest of the week will be richer with, among others, the German ZEW index (Tuesday), the U.S. existing home sales (Wednesday), the weekly jobless across the Atlantic (Thursday) and the confidence index Business in France (Friday).

Oil markets, oil prices were without direction in morning trading Monday. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for August delivery lost 9 cents to 97.15 dollars while that of Brent North Sea crude for September delivery took 22 cents to 117.48 dollars.

Bank stocks led the largest declines

By sector, the entire banking sector unscrewed, after publication of the study undigested JPMorgan Cazenove, which assessed the need for additional capital of European institutions on the basis of more stringent capital adequacy ratio payday advance. According to JPMorgan, BNP Paribas (-2.99% to 43.92 euros), Societe Generale (-3.44% to 33.50 euros) and Credit Agricole (-2.83% to 8.24 euros) should raise 20 billion euros, one quarter of the amount to raise in Europe.This study follows the results of stress tests of the European Union that French banks have yet passed. In turn, AXA (-3.30% to 13.17 euros) and Natixis (-3.06% to 3.03 euros) drop sharply.

For beyond this study, a European project to create a tax on banks to help Greece is under consideration, according to Die Welt. It concerns all European banks, whether or not active in the Greek market.

France Telecom: -0.29% to 13.73 euros

The operator plans to launch a bid for the fourth mobile operator in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo-China Telecom (CTC).The terms of any agreement, still being negotiated, would provide for the redemption of 51% of CTC held by the Chinese manufacturer ZTE telecom equipment, and 49% owned by the Congolese state.

ArcelorMittal: -0.33% to 22.58 euros

The group could respond to the study of the British consulting firm Meps specializes in the steel industry that China would underestimate production. Beijing would have produced 672 million tons of steel, half of the world, against 627 million tonnes officially announced. Meps suspects including small local mills continue to run ads despite the closure due to pollution problems and productivity.

Publicis: -1.22% to 36.82 Euris

The group has obtained a syndicated multi-currency $ 1.2 billion.

As for publications, Edenred deliver its sales in the first half after market. Guyenne et Gascogne announce its second quarter earnings as Audika.

A symbolic handover and structuring. The U.S. site video rental Netflix, which distributes DVDs and subscription movies online, now generates its own 30% of U.S. Internet traffic during peak periods. Netflix is ​​the most voracious consumer of capacity on the fixed Internet, according to a study published by Sandvine, a specialist in the management of online traffic. On a full day, its share of traffic reached 22.2%. Netflix is ​​ahead and the sharing site BitTorrent files, a mecca for illegal downloading, which loses its position as the online service more greedy with 21.6% of traffic.

"Netflix is ​​now the undisputed king of bandwidth in North America," the study notes. For its authors, this rocker confirms that "we are now in the age of Internet video.""Customers have clearly adopted the online video service Netflix, fundamentally changing the Internet landscape," said Sandvine. And the change will be sustainable, development of mobile devices such as digital decoders and iPad like Roku and Boxee to make further use of Netflix in the U.S..

23.6 million subscribers

The break came quickly. During the previous wave of the study, published in autumn 2010, Netflix is ​​still picking up "only" 20.61% of Internet traffic during peak hours. Netflix, which has 23.6 million subscribers to its video service, has recruited 6.7 million over the past seven months.

The service, founded in 1997 by Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings, started in mail delivery of DVDs ordered online. Then he revolutionized the market in October 2010, introducing an Internet subscription only $ 7.99 per month.For this sum, the subscriber can consume an unlimited number of movies and TV shows to a PC or a TV connected to the Internet. In parallel, the department has stepped up agreements with U.S. television networks like HBO and AMC to access more content. Finally, Netflix is ​​a service automatically offered in the Apple TV set-top boxes.

Above all, the company has managed to win the TV show via video game consoles connected to the Internet. Thus, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are the first two modes of access to Netflix, used respectively by 31% and 25% of subscribers. The Nintendo Wii accounts for 11% of subscribers. In total, these three consoles represent 67% of subscriptions. They precede the PC, chosen by 19.55% of users.

Capped plans

Netflix subscribers who access the service through game consoles connected to "consume twice as much data" than other customers, also notes Sandvine. Similarly, the study estimates that a third of Xbox 360 connected to the United States are used to distribute movies rented from American society.

Faced with this abuse of traffic, Netflix has started making arrangements. Thus, it seeks to reduce by two thirds the bandwidth consumption in Canada, noting that much of its subscribers have Internet packages capped. Its share of Canadian traffic has increased from 13.5% to 5.7%, says Sandvine.

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The mere mention of his name thrills. The supermodel Adriana Karembeu confirms that it is also a business woman: she announced Thursday that his firm, AKD, is just steps away from joining the Paris Bourse. This is also an ambassador for the Red Cross has launched five years ago his company of cosmetics and spa hotels, including providing public relations in both France and Japan easy payday loans. Adriana Karembeu day before each presentation of the products of Silicium +, to bring the message of respect and healthy – its products are not tested on animals and contain no parabens – and the "consumer thinking, civic and qualitative.

Adriana Karembeu poses to promote her cosmetics.

The CAC 40 in beautiful colors found on Thursday. The benchmark index in Paris, who managed yesterday to back up the 3900 points at the last minute, took another step forward, encouraged by macroeconomic indicators of good quality. At the midpoint, the CAC 40 advances from 1.31% to 3964.84 points at same atmosphere in London and Frankfurt stock exchanges which are also in the green: the Footsie advance of 0.98% to 5852.65 points and the DAX climbed 1.59% to 6912.77 points.

But volatility may still be at the rendezvous, as was the case in Asian markets this morning. International news is indeed very busy and should focus attention again, slowing any risk taking.

Japan, Libya and Portugal under surveillance

In Japan, first of all, the problems persist on the plant in Fukushima.Site personnel, evacuated the day after an offshoot of black smoke, resumed on Thursday watering operations on the reactor 3 where electricity was partially restored in the control room of reactor 1. Investors are also following closely the level of radioactivity in the capital, Tokyo.

In Libya, the tension escalates as the forces pro-Gaddafi not give up despite the bombing of their tanks by the international coalition. The tanks of the Guide are the entrances to the city Ajdabiah while the coalition struck a military base east of Tripoli. The main hospital Misrata third largest city, was the target of raids on Wednesday night.

Finally, in Europe, the sovereign debt crisis resurfaced with Portugal, while a European summit held today in Brussels.The Socialist Prime Minister Jose Socrates has presented his resignation Wednesday night the President of the Republic after the dismissal of his austerity program by Parliament. The political crisis should accelerate the use of international financial rescue.

U.S. unemployment program

In this highly charged, a series of statistics, however, should occupy the market. In France, the business climate improved again in March, in manufacturing as in other sectors, shows the monthly business survey published Thursday by the INSEE. The synthetic indicator of business climate in the manufacturing sector rose three points to 109, its highest level since late 2007.The employment figures for February will be also published after market (18 hours).

The growth of private activity in the euro zone slowed in March as the PMI index published on Thursday, but economists believe that the level of the indicator remains encouraging. The composite index of purchasing managers, which summarizes the activity in the manufacturing and services, to 57.5 points in March, the company announced that Markit publishes the index, in a first estimate. The index settled at 57 points in January and 58.2 in February, its highest level since July 2006.

For their part, the United States will lift the veil on durable goods orders in February and weekly jobless claims at 13:30.

On the currency market, on the foreign exchange market, the euro stabilizes stable against the greenback at 1 cash advance in one hour.4128 dollars against 1.4083 dollars on the previous evening.For their part, oil markets back slowly because of rising U.S. crude stocks published yesterday. In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for May delivery yielded 31 cents to 105.44 dollars. That of Brent North Sea crude for May delivery declined 27 cents to 115.28 dollars.

Ingenico flies

At mid session every CAC 40 stocks are benefiting from the upturn.

Accor: 2.47% to 31, 09 Euro

The title is head increases the CAC 40. The hospitality industry, recently penalized by the geopolitical risks and catastrophe Japanese is resumed. Accor has lost 13.34% over the last 30 days.

Renault: +0.03% at 37.81 euros

The manufacturer firm duCAC walking 40 with a modest gain after a recommendation from Berenberg keep passing with a target price of 47 euros.the title of the builder is also pulled down by that of its subsidiary to 44% Nissan dropped 4.55% in Tokyo. For Peugeot (1.40% to 27.1 euros), the bank also requires to be kept with a target to 34 euros.

EDF: + 0.50% to 28.92 euros

The electrician has submitted to government a document in which he suggests a rise of 4.7% of electricity rates for individuals on average each year from 2011 to 2015, according to the text that Reuters was able to consult.The Energy Minister, Eric Besson said that electricity prices would increase slightly this summer and no significant increase was under consideration.

Natixis: + 1.12% to 4.15 euros

The bank announced Thursday the purchase of 800 million euros of subordinated notes underwritten by BPCE, as announced on February 23.

Bolloré: -0.43% to 160.30 euros

Italian Pininfarina has exercised a put option to sell its stake in its 50/50 joint venture with Bolloré. The sales price stood at 10 million euros, according to the book value and what was agreed in September.

France Telecom: + 0.39% to 15.63 euros, Vivendi: + 0.82% to 19.63 euros

The French telecoms regulator has announced a new lower cost of call termination.From the perspective of telecom operators, including market leaders in Orange and SFR, the reductions in call termination weigh on sales growth.

Ingenico: + 5.39% to 28.06 euros

The group was selected to participate in a proposed deployment of contactless payment in the United States, funded by Google, according to Les Echos.

Gameloft: -1.93% to 4.58 euros

The title suffered profit taking after publication of its 2010 earnings. The company has benefited from the rise of touch pads and believes that its video games continue to be worn in 2011 by new technologies and the explosion of smartphones. It relies on a new sales growth and improved profitability and cash flow in 2011.

Ubisoft: + 0.08% to 7.39 euros

Nintendo 3DS arrived in France on Friday.The game publisher will offer four of the fifteen titles available at launch for the handheld. The group is betting on success.

U.S. stock markets open up Thursday. The Dow Jones gained 0.53% and the Nasdaq advance of 0.98%. On Wednesday, Wall Street closed slightly higher, achieving withstand a blow of hot oil, including through private employment figures better than expected and the last situation report from the Fed.

The human resources firm ADP said that the U.S. private sector had created 217,000 jobs in February, far more than in January, more than expected by economists. Moreover, as the beige book for the U.S. central bank (Fed) "the overall economic activity continued to grow at low to moderate in January and early February."This situation report was made on the basis of information supplied by the twelve regional branches of the Federal Reserve based on their field observations and contacts with the corporate world before February 18.

Investors, however, keep an eye on oil today. Despite a moderate decline Thursday morning gold prices remain under pressure.In mid-session, a barrel of Brent North Sea traded in London at 115.72 dollars, down 63 cents from the close of the day, while in New York, a barrel of Light sweet crude (WTI) let go 62 cents to 101.61 dollars.

AIG repay the state

On the foreign exchange market, the euro off again down slightly against the dollar on Thursday, traders moved cautiously before the monetary policy decision of the European Central Bank (ECB), which could adopt a more aggressive stance to counter the Inflation in the eurozone.By mid-afternoon in Paris, the euro bought 1.3946 dollars against 1.3867 dollars late Wednesday, after reaching 1.3891 dollars Wednesday, its highest level since early November.

On the macroeconomic front, new jobless claims fell to their lowest level since late May 2008 the United States, according to official figures released Thursday in Washington and identifying the deposit of 368,000 applications for unemployment benefits one week guaranteed fast personal loans.

Productivity gains businesses have been revised upwards to 3.9% for all of 2010 in the United States, according to new estimates from the Labor Department released Thursday in Washington.

At 16 hours will be issued ISM Services February.

AIG: 2.98% to 38.41 dollars

The side of values, the insurance giant AIG American sold its stake in rival MetLife for $ 6.3 billion, a sum that will enable it to repay much of the money owed to government U.S. Treasury said Wednesday the United States.

Apple: 1.27% to 356.58 dollars

Apple on Wednesday unveiled the new version of its tablet computer iPad, with two cameras emptied, one in front and the other on the back.

Citigroup: 1.52% to 4.67 dollars

Spanish bank Santander, the U.S. asset manager BlackRock and a fund run by a former Citigroup, Bob Willumstad, interested in the resumption of consumer credit from Citigroup, the Financial Times reported.The deal could reach two billion.

CME Group: 0.85% to 306.61 dollars

CME Group would launch a service for futures market in London to develop the volume of transactions with emerging countries.

Also note, the SEC, the policeman of financial markets in the U.S., is trying to fight against pay excessive bonuses which, it increases the excessive risk-taking in the field of finance. The stock market watchdog will for the first time, require details of the bonus awarded.

Reconciliations between stock markets around the world do not seem ready to stop. After the marriage of places in London and Toronto, followed closely by the Frankfurt Stock Exchange with Euronext, the head of the New York Stock Exchange, the Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Lisbon announced an alliance with the place Toronto TSE.

This new service aims to enable customers of both companies to exchange on both platforms. The CEO of NYSE Euronext, Duncan Niederauer, and the CEO of Tokyo Stock Exchange, Atsushi Saito signed a "letter of intent to identify opportunities that would provide customers of each exchange access markets to the other through a link between networks. "

Thus, the number one fellow said that "customers of both exchanges would benefit from this network to convert multi-format orders that they pass and avoid a costly development work." The Japanese operator, he believes that the partnership "will provide investors from Europe and the United States more opportunities to invest in Asia."

Alliances between stock exchanges are explained by a desire to be more competitive. Incumbents have recently lost market share against new platforms stock alternatives like Chi-X or BATS, emerged following the new rules to liberalize markets. Yet as the barometer Equinox Consulting La Tribune published on Wednesday the costs of negotiations all markets for orders from institutional investors declined only 5% since the new law.

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The French industry was surprised by its strength at year end. Output rose 0.3% in December, after rising 2.3% in November, according to the latest statistics published by INSEE on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a decline of 0.4% over the last month of the year.

"It was difficult to expect the same rate as in November which was marked by a sharp catch up after a difficult month of October," said Alexander Law, chief economist at Xerfi. Excluding the energy sector, manufacturing output has remained stable at -0.1%.

Energy and construction at half mast

These figures conclude a positive fourth quarter for the industry, which has seen production increase by 0.4% from the previous quarter. Compared to the last three months of 2009, the rebound was significant (+5.8%).An increase fueled by all but two sectors: construction (-4.5%) and energy (-15.2%).

In December, the index has not been fired, as in previous months, for automobile production, which remains stable at 0.1%. These are indeed "other transport equipment 'that supported the production, up 6 free business cards.2%. "The production of capital goods went well in December with a 1% increase compared to November," says Alexander Law also.

With rare exceptions such as energy (1%), all other industries appears down to the image of electrical and electronic equipment (-1.1%) or other industries (textiles, chemicals , etc..), to -0.3%.

Conflicting forces

"We believe that industrial production will slow significantly in 2011," said Victoire Dumaine-Martin, an economist at Natixis.The activity should be subject to contradictory forces. It should be drawn on one side by the dynamism of Germany largest trading partner, but restrained from each other by depressed domestic demand in coming quarters.

Other figures published on Thursday, orders to industry in Japan have rebounded 1.7% in December, the first time in four months. Over the same period, German industrial production fell 1.5% due to catastrophic weather. A hiccup that does not undermine the strength of the industry in Germany.

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U.S. equity markets remain subdued on Tuesday. After gaining 0.57% on Monday, the Dow Jones evolves close to equilibrium, losing 0.04% to 12,157 points. The Nasdaq was down 0.25% to 2777 points and the S & P 500 0.16% cowardly to 1317 points. Monday, reassured Egypt U.S. markets ended in green.

Announcements of mergers and acquisitions have also supported the U.S. markets. The internet portal AOL (-3.11% to 20.53 dollars), has announced the resumption of the most famous American newspapers online news, the Huffington Post, with $ 315 million in cash.

For its part, the diversified industrial group Danaher (2.37% to 50.19 dollars) has announced a friendly takeover bid of 6.8 billion dollars on the company specializing in medical diagnostics Beckman Coulter (+0.05% to U.S. $ 82.69), while Ensco drilling specialist proposes to acquire Pride International for 7.3 billion dollars.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro remained slightly higher against the greenback on Tuesday, remaining just above the threshold of $ 1.36 after its decline yesterday, the traders regaining confidence in the hope German industrial production rebound. To 16 hours in Paris, the euro bought 1.3623 dollars against 1.3581 dollars late Monday.

On the macroeconomic front, there is no any major indicator on the agenda of U.S. investors on Monday.Investors await a new salvo of results on Wall Street with figures including Walt Disney for the first quarter.

Earnings down for NYSE Euronext

The side of values, on Tuesday, the transatlantic exchange group NYSE Euronext (-1.21% to 33.35 dollars) posted net earnings down 21% in the fourth quarter, to $ 135 million, affected by a particular adverse currency effects. Operating income, excluding merger expenses and exit costs, amounted to 188 million, down 10% year on year short term personal loan.For its part, the turnover has fallen from 4.21% to 613 million, due to unfavorable exchange rate, which weighed up to $ 19 million, the group said in a statement.

Always on the side of values, a former scientist has been convicted by a federal jury of stealing U.S. secrets to the Dow Chemical (0.74% to 37.90 dollars) for sale to Chinese firms said here Monday with prosecutors. Chyu Liu Wen, also known as David Liu, a former Dow employee aged 74, was found guilty of having gone to China to sell confidential information relating to synthetic materials manufactured by the giant chemistry and biotechnology used in the automotive and construction.A federal jury in Baton Rouge, was found guilty of conspiracy to steal trade secrets and perjury. Arrived in the United States from China as a student, he then worked for Dow Chemical from 1965 to 1992.

Microsoft (+0.29% to 28.28 dollars) would prepare a big bang. According to Bloomberg, CEO Steve Ballmer group will announce a major reorganization of its management team in February.Steve Ballmer wants to promote profiles with high technological expertise.

Sanofi-Aventis (0.87% to 34.90 dollars) on Wednesday expected to show profits in 2010 similar to those of 2009, despite competition from generics, but the presentation of group results Wednesday is likely to be overshadowed by the finalization expected imminently, the purchase of Genzyme (-0.12% to 73.93 dollars).

Also note, the U.S. authorities on Monday presented their proposal to regulate bankers' bonuses and suggested they would do if some institutions attempt to circumvent the reforms. According to the proposal of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), half the premiums of leaders of major U.S. banks would be subject to a deferred for at least three years.

The year 2010 has ended in optimism on Wall Street. Over the whole year the Dow has gained 11%, the S & P 500, 13% and the Nasdaq Composite, 17%. Friday, after a little busy meeting, Wall Street has found this wonderful year on a stable tone. The Dow Jones gained 0.07% to 11,577.51 points, however, the S & P 500 lost 0.02% to 1257.64 points and the Nasdaq fell 0.38% to 2652.87 points.

On Monday, U.S. stock markets continue their forward march.In early trade, the Dow Jones gained 0.34% to 11,617 points, the Standard & Poor's 500 advance from 0.85% to 1268 points and the Nasdaq 100 climbed 1.02% to 2680 points.

The ISM manufacturing index program

Over the last week of 2010, Wall Street was supported by a series of macroeconomic indicators of good quality, suggesting an acceleration of consumption and economic growth in the United States. The year 2011 will begin on hubcaps, with a new salvo of indicators due this week could test the optimism of the end of 2010.

The dance of these publications will begin today with the ISM manufacturing index for December 2010. Investors will also monitor this Monday in the U.S., sales of construction spending for November.

Also on this week, figures for industrial orders for November will be released Tuesday, and the next day, the ISM index on the services sector will be announced. The latter is more representative of the health of the U.S. economy as the ISM's manufacturing sector alone published Monday.

Thursday investors will learn the traditional figures of weekly claims for unemployment compensation. Friday, dropping the first estimate of net job creation in December by the Department of Labor and the unemployment rate, calculated from a survey of the workforce.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro was down against the dollar on Monday due to uncertainties still the public finances of most vulnerable countries in the euro zone as Portugal and Spain.Around 11:00 am in Paris, the euro was trading 1.3303 dollars against 1.3381 dollars on Friday night.

Facebook valued at $ 50 billion

The side of values, the investment bank Goldman Sachs has invested in community site Facebook on the basis of a valuation of $ 50 billion, said on Monday the New York Times. The value of Facebook, so far estimated at $ 42 billion, would be higher than that of groups established for much longer, like eBay, Yahoo! and Time Warner, says the newspaper, quoting sources involved in the transaction guaranteed payday loan. Goldman Sachs and an anonymous Russian investor have made some 500 million dollars to the site founded by Mark Zuckerberg.The personal wealth of the latter would end up this way doubled.

The Financial Times for his part said that the microblogging site Twitter has declined in 2008 to a takeover bid of $ 500 million social networking site Facebook.

Difficult start to the year for Apple. Some iPhone users have started 2011 with a failure alarm, the alarm function of the smartphone has been a computer problem with the change of year. According to the BBC, this anomaly has involved occasional alarms iPhone 4 and previous models of the Apple smartphone with the latest software updates. The British newspaper Daily Mail reports that thousands of people arrived late for work or missed trains or planes because of this problem.The alarm function of the iPhone had already experienced difficulties during the transition to winter time.

Google dream of a new digital kiosk

For its part, Google would work on a new digital kiosk designed for mobile devices running its Android operating system, hoping to seduce the newspapers by offering better terms than Apple, said Sunday the Wall Street Journal. Several media groups, including Time (Time Warner), Conde Nast and Hearst have already been approached by Google for this project, according to the Wall Street Journal.Furthermore, Lagardere said Friday evening is in exclusive talks until January 30, 2011 with Hearst on the sale of its flagship news magazine world.

Always on the side of values, the world's number one smart card Gemalto announced Monday it had completed the sale of its payment terminals in VeriFone U.S., the major competitor of French Ingenico. The amount of the transaction, which occurred Dec. 31, is not specified in the statement issued by Gemalto."VeriFone is a leading global payment solutions for merchants and banks side traders, and we, we are champions of payment solutions for consumers and banks that issue credit cards," says Gemalto.

For his part, Saint-Gobain announced Monday the completion of the sale of its "Advanced Ceramics" at CoorsTek U.S. group for $ 245 million, or about 200 million euros.

Also note, four insurers, including Swiss Zurich Financial Services (ZFS), will pay a total of $ 120 million (90.3 million) to settle a dispute with the State of New York concerning overpayments insurance premiums, officials said Monday.