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CNP Assurances, the French champion of savings, is preparing to turn a page. That of the fourteen executive Gilles Benoist, whose term expires on June 7, at the general meeting of the group. The board should appoint a successor by then, probably in April.

Both candidates are friends of the house is officially reported to the nominating committee: Antoine Lissowski, CFO of NOC, supported by Gilles Benoist, and Augustin de Romanet, the CEO of the Caisse des Depots, parent company of CNP, which term ends on March 7. Banquy Didier, chief of staff Baroin at Bercy, have also expressed strong interest in a few weeks ago. In parallel, the Presidency of the insurance company will also be renewed. Edmond Alphandery wishes to maintain this position, but it could be countered by projects Michel Bouvard. The current Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Caisse des Depots et de Savoie MP is not standing for parliamentary elections and running for office. The question is whether a parallel appointment of two directors of the Caisse des Depots would be accepted.

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Whatever the identity of the future direction, it must address major challenges. The model of NPC, sitting on a rule of life insurance in France is slowing. In 2011, the turnover of the institution fell by 7.1%, to 30 billion euros, after a year of stagnation in 2010. Savings activities have plunged 13.4%, sealed by the difficulties of life insurance in France and Italy. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in retirement activities (17 payday loans.7%) and pensions (11%). In the end, the institution made a profit, down 17% from 872 million euros, affected by provisions in Greece and financial market volatility. "Most of these shocks has been absorbed by the insured, due to a lower rate of participation in profits", said Gilles Benoist, the Director General. Most life insurance contracts provides that losses as gains in the markets are passed on to policyholders.

Gilles Benoist has already begun a broad effort to diversify business (retirement, pension, loan …) and geographic markets in its group. International operations, excluding France, and the end of 2010 represented 37% of gross operating profit of the company. Today, products of CNP are distributed through the networks of La Banque Postale and the Savings Banks. These trade agreements, completed an equity investment, which run until 2015, can be discussed again this year.

The priority for CNP Assurances is now expanding its distribution channels. The company is therefore exploring the opportunity to partner with a third partner. Several schemes, still very early, are being studied. They would favor, according to our information, the card mutual, with reflections on networks and Groupama Covéa (GMF, Maaf, MMA).

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In these turbulent markets of the European debt, the U.S. Treasury arouse the envy of mafia networks. Italian justice has thus enter false vouchers worth 6,000 billion dollars in three closely guarded vaults in Switzerland.

The seizure follows an investigation launched on mafia clans in the area of ​​Vulture-Melfese, in the Basilicata region (south), said the prosecutor of the court of the city, Giovanni Colangelo. The investigation to uncover "an international network of such securities with persons involved in many countries," said the magistrate. This is "the largest ever launched in this type of investigation." Eight people have so far been arrested in Italy.

Hong Kong to Zurich

According to the magistrate, the safes containing the good have been shipped from Hong Kong to Zurich in 2007. The network would have sought to place the fake title until last January, in emerging countries or banks. Experts from the U.S. central bank (Fed) and the U.S. Embassy in Rome, who examined these false titles, felt that much of them was of excellent quality counterfeits.

The other trick was to make good dating from 1934 and place them in safes, each holding an infringement of the Treaty of Versailles of 1919. Control cases, network members could well justify the presence of this huge amount of money as part of financial exchanges between the powers that won World War.

"The operations of counterfeit securities, moving boxes from Hong Kong to Switzerland, traveling worldwide members of this network have a huge cost and we therefore believe that the interests behind this case are at a high level" , he said.

According to the prosecution of Potenza, other bills could still be hidden. Italy is also customary to the practice. In September 2009, the country's authorities had seized fake U.S. treasury bonds worth 116 billion dollars found in a package at the airport of Milan-Malpensa and arrested two Filipinos involved in this case. These fake bills were also dated 1934. In June of that year, the Italian financial police had arrested two Japanese on the border between Italy and Switzerland who had hidden in fake U.S. bonds totaling $ 134 billion, in the double bottom of a suitcase.

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Prices depending on age, date of departure, that of the reservation, but the filling ratio of the train. In the same car, travelers can find themselves with tickets whose prices vary up to threefold. Last July, a new decree was issued which could bring a little more blur for a few users already lost by removing the reference to dates. Pascal Frasnetti, journalist at The Monthly Individual, gives clues to understanding, but also a better choice, when booking a train ticket.

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Lovers of trekking in the Sahara desert sores will go their way. The tour operator Voyageurs du Monde (Nomad, Terdav), specializing in custom travel and adventure, closed end of 2010 all its destinations in Algeria, Mauritania, Mali, Libya and Niger. Because of the very uncertain political climate in these countries (historically 3% of sales), the group "does not plan to reopen until at least two or three years, unfortunately," warns Lionel Habasque, Executive Director.

So, the tour operator sells proportionately more trips to the United States, its first destination (6.7% of sales in the first half), Italy (4.3%) and Vietnam (3.7%). However, the weight of Morocco (3.4%) and especially Egypt (3.2%) melted over the last year.The brochure Israel-Palestine, launched a year ago, has attracted 800 customers, 2 million euros in turnover.

Last year, Voyageurs du Monde has 130,000 people travel, having to afford a vacation cost between 1500 euros (Terdav) and 2200 euros (Voyageurs du Monde). This year, they should be more numerous, and their average spending unchanged.

Since September, the backlog for this winter is stable. In the first half, Voyageurs du Monde recorded a turnover of 101.5 million euros (3.60%), and a net loss of 3.2 million (- 1.9 million a year earlier) . "We are structurally deficient in the first half because we support 50% of charges with only 40% of our annual," says Alain Capestan, Executive Director.If prognostic already year 2012 "difficult", it aims for 2011 an increase of 2 to 4% of sales, operating income stable, but net income declined, mainly because of differences currency movements.

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The European Central Bank keeps its cool. Faced with signs of recession in the eurozone and while a leading European bank, Dexia, is faltering, the ECB has decided not to ease monetary policy. It has left its main interest rate unchanged at 1.50%. A level considered "low" by the Board of Governors of the Central Bank.

At its last monthly press conference as president of the monetary institution, Jean-Claude Trichet said the ECB expects inflation "clearly above 2% in the coming months," before descending. One way to tell between the lines that interest rates are unlikely to be lowered over the next two months. Inflation in the euro zone peaked at 3% in September, a point above the objective of the ECB.

Still, the market calls for a rate cut."It reflects a lower rate of 0.5", observe the economists Societe Generale. Waiting judged "crazy" in the short term by the Luxembourg member of the Governing Council of the ECB, Yves Mersch.

The case for a rate cut was not, however, rule out of hand. For if the decision was consensus among the governors of the institution, the discussions were long, admitted Jean-Claude Trichet: "There was a discusion about the pros and cons of a rate cut or a maintenance of rates. After this long discussion, which was, I would say, as thorough and comprehensive as possible, we decided by consensus to maintain the rates. "

Some analysts point to a worrying season looming disaster on the front of the activity in the eurozone."The risks to growth, was talking about last month the President of the European Central Bank Jean-Claude Trichet, materialize," are economists at BNP Paribas CIB. In addition, "forecast the ECB behind sluggish growth at year end," they add online pay day loans.

Semi-surprise

The inaction of the ECB, however, is only half surprised. Jean-Claude Trichet, whose every word, in its public statements, is weighed, has not hinted in September that the ECB cut rates. Moreover, "the guardian of the euro zone will wait to act to have more evidence that inflation and growth will slow," noted economist of Nomura.

Observers expect more on a rate cut later this year. "Jean-Claude Trichet is expected to set the stage Thursday in a future rate cut in the next three months," analysts at Nomura advance.

Measures for banks

Taking note of the tense situation of European banks, the ECB launched a series of measures. It provides two refinancing operations unlimited volume of about a year in October and December. This exceptional instrument had not been asked since December 2009.

Jean-Claude Trichet also announced a relaunch of the repurchase program bonds. This will cover 40 billion euros between November 2011 and October 2012. The "bonds" are essentially backed securities real estate, and essential to the survival of many specialized banks in Europe. The purpose of all these operations is "to ensure that banks in the euro area are not limited in regard to liquidity," said French.

The ECB has also called for a recapitalization of institutions in the euro area. They must "do whatever is necessary to strengthen their balance sheets," pleaded Jean-Claude Trichet, using it for their profits, or paying wages "moderate".

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The Paris Bourse was able to string together a second consecutive increase session on Wednesday. The CAC 40 closed up 1.87% to 2949.14% points. Like him, Frankfurt and London end of respective increases of 3.23% and 1.02%. Milan won 2.69% and 2.70% Madrid.

But these sharp increases conceal a very strong tension that dominated the entire session, enhanced by the excitement of Wall Street in the afternoon. The indices have been a roller coaster, changing direction at the rate of market rumors regarding the euro area.For example, one on a veto of Austria to strengthen the European support fund, has reduced the CAC in the afternoon, before being denied and allow a rise in prices.

Operators have reacted strongly to all new they had prior to the call for debt in Athens tonight, between the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. They expect this meeting to real progress on the issue of Greece's debt.

The Polish Finance Minister, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU, has poured oil on the fire by stating that Europe was "in danger". Conversely, José Manuel Barroso has played the appeasement card confirming the presentation of a study on options for the creation of Eurobonds, desired by the market mechanism guaranteed online personal loans.Pending possible support more concrete, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in turn referred to a strengthening of Chinese investment in Europe.

Side values, the banking sector has best illustrated the nervousness of investors. Despite degradation by Moody's debt of Societe Generale and Credit Agricole, and the maintenance of a negative watch for BNP Paribas, the banks had continued to rebound early in the day. But the trend was reversed late in the session. Finally, BNP Paribas 3.93% drops to EUR 26.90 and signs the worst performance of the CAC. Societe Generale lost 2.88% to 17.38 euros (the share was still over 8% in half an hour of closing). Crédit Agricole manages to stay in the green of accuracy (1.22% to 5.21%).

Areva decline (-2% to 20.58 euros) despite the announcement by the BBC of an order of over one billion euros by EDF (3.20% to 19.98 euros).Michelin, which maintains its targets for 2011, gaining 5.13% to 46.49 euros.

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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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The New York Stock Exchange, which has accelerated its rise in early trading after the publication of a good ISM, quickly found the red and has continued to widen its losses. In the end, the Dow fell 1.03% to 11,493.57 points, the S & P by 1.19% to 1204.42 points and the Nasdaq 1.3% to 2546.04 points. Trading volumes were low in anticipation of U.S. employment figures on Friday. Wednesday, the increase was set for the fourth session later time.The U.S. investors were reassured by the tone of the minutes of the last monetary policy committee of the Fed.

While the manufacturing sector remained in growth in the United States in August, while analysts expected a contraction. This index, calculated by the Institute of Supply Management (ISM), falls to 50.6 against 50.9 in July and 48.5 expected.But investors have extra caution while construction spending heavily relapsed in July in the U.S., continuing to suffer from the weak housing market, according to figures released Thursday by the Commerce Department.

In addition, the decline in nonfarm productivity in the United States was larger than initially announced in the second quarter, against a backdrop of weak economic growth, according to revised figures released today by the Department of Labor. And the number of jobless declined in the United States during the week to August 27, at 409,000 against 421,000 the previous week. Economists were anticipating 410,000 registrations.

The blow came from the White House. If it has revised down its forecast budget deficit of the U.S. federal government for 2011 and 2012, it has also revised down its growth forecasts.The Budget Office of the White House (OMB) said in its biannual journal that the deficit should reach 8.8% of GDP for 2011 and 6.1% for 2012. It revised down its economic growth forecast to 2.1% this year and 3.3% for 2012, pushing the unemployment rate to 8.2% in the fourth quarter, up 0.9 point less than in July 2011.

European debt worries yet

In Europe, the issue of debt remains a concern for investors. According to calculations by economists of the IMF if the European banks were asked to write on their balance sheet obligations of States in the euro area market value, their tangible equity would fall to about 200 billion euros in total, from 10 to 12%, reports the Financial Times. In fact, the debt crisis is far from over and the discrepancies between European leaders are continuing.Latest, the EU president, Herman Van Rompuy, downplayed the significance of the "golden rule" budget that Paris and Berlin want to impose the euro area, even as France in extolling the virtues.

Values ​​to follow

The side of values, French Fimalac announced the sale of its Canadian subsidiary Algorithmics, specializing in software for the financial industry, IBM (-0.92% to 170.32 dollars).

Automakers said Thursday strong growth in sales of cars in the year to August in the U.S., 31% for Chrysler, Nissan 19%, 18% for General Motors (-4.16% to 23.03 dollars) and 11% for Ford (-2.52% to 10.84 dollars), despite difficult economic conditions.

The title Ciena surged 20.18%. The manufacturer of equipment for telecommunications shows a profit for the first time in three years, while analysts expected a further loss.

Goldman Sachs has been unscrewed from 3.49%. The U.S. Federal Reserve demanded that the U.S. bank to make the services of an outside consultant to review the mortgages issued by one of its subsidiaries, to identify and compensate borrowers who have been victims of improper seizures .

In addition, a judge overturned the conviction of SAP (-1.04% to 53.85 dollars) to pay to $ 1.3 miliard Oracle (-0.80% to 27.85 dollars).

The distribution group online eBay (-1.43% to 30.43 dollars) is looking for acquisitions in Japan and China, the two largest economies in the Asia, where the group wants to develop, said an official of the eBay Wall Street Journal Thursday.

Also note, after closing the CEO of the U.S. investment bank Bank Of New York Mellon (-0.15% to 20.64 dollars), Robert Kelly, has resigned because of "differences in management approach Company "with the rest of management, said Wednesday the establishment.He was replaced by Gerald Hassell, a member of the board, the bank said in a statement.

For its part, the number two mobile phone in the U.S., AT & T (-0.74% to 28.27 dollars), suffered a blow Wednesday with the opposition of the competition agencies, the proposed takeover its rival T-Mobile for $ 39 billion.

Cameron International (-0.83% to 51.53 dollars) has announced the acquisition activities of LeTourneau drilling products held by Joy Global for about $ 375 million in cash. The same Joy Global said it had experienced for its third quarter ended July 29, orders rose by 49% to $ 1.4 billion and sales up 34% to $ 1.1 billion.Operating profit reached $ 236 million against 172 million last year.

Costco Wholesale (1.20% to 79.48 dollars) issued net sales up 17% year on year to 6.9 billion in August and 27.6 billion dollars in the fourth quarter. In addition, CEO Jim Sinegal announced his departure on 1 January 2012 and its replacement by the Director of Operations Craig Jelinek.

Stryker (-1.23% to 48.24 dollars) will acquire Concentric Medical, specializing in the manufacture of products for the treatment of ischemic stroke, for $ 135 million.

While European stock markets, starting with Paris, still closed on Friday decreases, Baroin called to remain calm. The Minister of Economy, which had cut short his vacation to "take stock with his teams," according to the Elysée, stressed the need to "keep a cool head and not make a tracing paper of the excitement that can be observed on a given market. "

Invited to France Info, just after the close of the Paris Bourse, which for the first time ever signed a tenth meeting of consecutive decline, including the minister explained that "the questions posed from a double question mark: the character of the strong global economic growth and the important issue in Europe and worldwide of this problem of public debt. "

On this last point, Baroin said that "the determination of the 17 heads of state of the euro area should not doubt the investors." And remember, in reference to the plan of aid to Greece reached July 21, that "in Europe, there was an agreement by the Heads of State very important because it offered answers online cash advance. These responses must be heard by the markets. "

Latency

The Minister of Economy, however, admitted that there was "a latency reduction" between the announcement of the plan, which is "a good plan," and its practical implementation. It must indeed be ratified by national parliaments. In this regard, Baroin was keen to dispel doubts about the possibility of rejection by the German parliamentarians. "The plan will be voted on July 21. There is no other way to protect our currency which is the common good of the countries in the region, "said he.But "time is not the Democratic one click of a market operator," he said.

In order to "restore investor confidence," Baroin also ensures that "we must strengthen the governance of the euro area to make it optimal."

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EADS multiplies acquisitions. The parent company of Airbus announced Monday that its subsidiary Astrium took possession, for 673 million euros, Vizada, a specialist in satellite services. She took over the participation of the fund Apax Partners.

Vizada, which employs over 700 people and has a turnover of 458 million euros, was born from the merger of satellite communications Norwegian Telenor and France Telecom.It has 200,000 users worldwide, among them "ships of the merchant marine, emergency response agencies, government and military units, media companies, providers of telecommunications services and Internet, as well as 'business aviation, military and civilian, "said EADS.

Supplier of the U.S. government in the airline industry, Vizada has received this year a contract with the U.S. General Service Administration to "ensure access to services for mobile satellite communications to government customers and military payday loan." German and French armies are also among its customers.EADS achieves its fourth acquisition since the beginning of the year and its biggest operation since the acquisition, for 2.75 billion euros in September 2006, the 20% of Britain's BAE Systems in the capital of Airbus .

Reduce its dependence on sales of Airbus

In late June, Eurocopter has completed the acquisition of Vector Aerospace Canada for 450 million euros. Last week, Airbus has purchased the American Metron Aviation, a service provider for air traffic control, for an undisclosed sum. He launched a bid in the amount of 348 million euros in the Danish Satair, a specialist in the supply of aircraft spare parts. "These acquisitions reinforce Astrium, Eurocopter and Airbus in services and in the U.S. market," said Boris Zaïtra, corporate vice president and director of mergers and acquisitions at EADS.