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It is late. But, for once, it's not his fault. Whereas in Berlin Tuesday to 18 h 30, Francois Hollande has landed 45 to 19 h. Struck by lightning, the presidential plane was forced to return to land at Villacoublay.

As he arrives on the doorstep of the Chancellery, Angela Merkel is there to greet him. They exchange a handshake. No hug, as did Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007, destabilizing his interlocutor. A little stiff, President novice discovers the protocol: a hand gesture, the Chancellor guide when passing in review the troops. It seeks its mark next to it and lack of hustle on the red carpet.

Just invested as president, Francois Hollande, like its predecessor five years ago, was keen to stress the symbolic importance and challenge of the Franco-German dedicated to Angela Merkel's first visit as head of state. "I did not know her, even if his reputation had long since crossed the border," he said after a meeting of more than an hour before a working dinner.

The Chancellor had not wanted to meet the Socialist candidate in the campaign to mark its defiance vis-à-vis the renegotiation of the budgetary stability pact. The subject was included in the course of the game menu. "I said in the campaign, I repeat again today, I wanted to renegotiate the treaty to include a dimension of growth", said Francois Hollande.

Before his election, he threatened not to ratify the text if it was not amended to include a revival of European growth. Tuesday, he paved the way for a compromise: "The method that we have agreed is to put all ideas, all proposals on the table and then see what are the translations for legal format." Everything has opposed priori attached to the socialist revival and conservative buttressed by fiscal discipline. But, obviously, the head of state does not rob his partner immediately. "We have different approaches to achieve growth, but we will share our ideas to see what are the different ways to stimulate growth," replied the Chancellor. Francois Hollande evoked improving competitiveness and Eurobonds cash advance flexible payments. To reassure the Germans, he said he was concerned about the "seriousness of the budget." But, he said, "it's because I'm for serious budget I am for growth."

Time was not on Tuesday, the settlement of underlying problems that have accumulated. "This meeting was intended to know us better, build a relationship, establish a working method," said the French president. Among the burning questions, the crisis in Greece could not be avoided, in a context where it leaves the euro area is now considered. "The Greeks must know that we will come to them to enable them to secure their place" in the eurozone, Holland assured. "I agree that Greece must remain in the Euro Area", completed Merkel, hoping, for his part, "structural reforms".

Sentenced to agree

The Head of State and the Chancellor will meet on Friday at the G8 summit at Camp David, then, in the process, that of NATO, in Chicago. Above, both meet again May 23 for an informal summit of Heads of State and Government in Brussels European. And in late June, the European Council, "French and Germans will jointly present their ideas for growth in Europe," Merkel promised.

Despite their differences, the new couple Merkel Holland was sentenced to agree. At the edge of its mandate, the French president can not afford to fail on one of its most ambitious promises, the reorientation of the European Union. For his part, Chancellor, one year of law, is obliged to strengthen its position against an opposition Social Democrats who redoubles criticism against the policy of austerity. In the presidential entourage, it is noted that the electoral victory of the SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia on Sunday, depriving Angela Merkel a majority in both Houses of Parliament

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If it is a voice that carried Washington to moderate the heat-regulating the political class, it is that Jamie Dimon. Basking in the solid background of his bank during the 2008-2009 financial crisis, the CEO of JP Morgan had indeed become the "king" of risk control. And for four years, it is he who plays the role of informal spokesman of the profession when it comes to denounce the excesses or inconsistencies of new financial regulations.

This means that the trading loss of JP Morgan will cause shock waves far beyond the U.S. bank itself. Because the event takes place at the heart of a highly topical debate in the U.S. and Europe: that the application of the Volcker rule. This rule, named after former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, seeks to prohibit banks that collect deposits from households to perform speculative operations. It was incorporated into the enormous legislative package – the Dodd-Frank – pass Congress in 2010 and any revision of financial regulation.

Activity called "cover"

Prevent commercial banks from becoming casino, the idea is consensual. But the implementation creates endless debates. The Volcker rule bans the proprietary trading – made with the bank's own funds and not on behalf of clients – and the management of hedge funds low fee payday loans. The definition of proprietary trading is difficult, however, and all the lobbying power of Wall Street is deployed to make it as restrictive as possible.

In the coming days, no doubt the arguments will carry less! Because JP Morgan has accused its massive loss on an activity called "coverage" – supposed therefore limit the risks taken by the bank, the kind of jobs that financial institutions want to continue in the future and they refuse to qualify speculative activities

.

What happened to JP Morgan will undoubtedly also affect Europe. The Old Continent is currently considering adopting its own "Volcker rule". A group of experts work on the matter at the request of the European Commission. Francois Hollande and included in its program a law of separation of banking activities. Jamie Dimon is in spite of himself to bring water to his mill.

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The figures published on Wednesday trade deficits German and French offers a shortcut striking about the strengths and weaknesses of the two economies. German exports hit a record in March. They rose 0.9% on month and rise to 98.9 billion euros, thanks to the success of products across the Rhine outside the euro zone. Its trade surplus amounted to 17.4 billion euros, up 16.8%. "A further sign of a healthy German economy despite the crisis in the euro area", decrypts Wirschke Constantine, an economist at Natixis.

If, at the same time, France has reduced its trade deficit of almost 500 million euros to 5.7 billion euros, it hides a global slowdown in trade. Clearly, exports fell twice as fast as imports. The first fell to 558 million euros, to 36.491 billion, when the second fell by 1.1 billion euros to 42.212 billion on March.

"The decline is more pronounced for imports after the substantial purchases energy (oil, gas) caused by the February cold snap, so the trade deficit is reduced, 'the Customs. Apart from lower petroleum products, purchases of industrial products decreased, which could reflect a slowdown in France, as the perceived leading economic index for April.

For their part, "exports of manufacturing industries are marking time, after their sharp increase earlier this year," are Customs. Computer sectors, including automotive and aerospace have been less successful in other countries.  

The good health of the German economy, however, allowed the industry to limit the hexagonal case. In March, Germany has indeed set a record for imports as well (78.1 billion euros over the month, up 1.2%) whose French exports have benefited. Particularly in the industrial machinery sector.

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This is the latest idea to exonerate Blédina moms give their babies prepared foods. The subsidiary of Danone, France's leading infant nutrition market with 48.6% (against 23.4% for Nestle), will launch next month the first cooked dishes, compotes and other small pots sold in the fresh. Dubbed Blédina Day, this range of twenty-seven references (savory dishes, desserts …) is for toddlers from 4 to 12 months.

It took three years to Blédina and more than 10 million investment to develop these products, manufactured at its plant in Brive (Corrèze). Their launch, first in the large hypermarkets and Monoprix in Paris, will run until 2013. If successful, Europe is already in sight.

Fifty years after inventing the small glass jar, Blédina intends to revolutionize the consumption patterns. The company even provided dedicated refrigerators to hypermarkets, which will be placed in the middle of the radius baby. "We want to find moms who have moved away from these products because of the taste and rally those who have never been consumers with products that are as close as possible to the home-made," says Didier Lamblin, who took the Blédina reins last September. Approximately 30% of mothers are still reluctant to provide any dishes made with their babies and prefer them to concoct a homemade mashed potatoes. In total, more than half of the consumption of children aged 0 to 3 years which is made of non-specific products.

Revive the category

So, even if the French babies are the first consumers in the world of small pots and other dishes cooked (115 kg per year per child), tied with the English, partly because of prior trademarks and the number of active women, the growth potential remains high no fax pay day loan. This market, which weighs 1.2 billion euros (including 85% in supermarkets), has been stagnant for three years after experiencing an average growth of 6 to 7% from 2001 to 2008. He even saw its volumes fall by 3% over the last six months. "We have never experienced such a decline in this market," says Didier Lamblin, which reflects the constraints of purchasing power of French households. The purchase of small pots and other dishes (48% market share) has been most impacted by the economic environment than baby milk (52% market share), considered essential.

There was therefore urgent to revitalize the category. Especially as Nestlé, challenger in France, put the package last year to revive its brand NaturNes. Which enabled him to win a point of market share. "We are optimistic that growth will be as fresh to the radius of up to 25% of the category," said Didier Lamblin.

To convince moms, Blédina has chosen to focus on the naturalness, the culinary virtues and taste. On white background, packaging puts forward the product recipe and origin 100% French ingredients. Blédina also preferred product availability, crisis requires (from 1.69 euro to 3.70 euro reference).  

Another initiative at Danone, Gallia will launch its brand by the end of an economy size baby milk in the form of a bag-in-Box, for the most modest budgets.

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It is not yet the big night for the property market but the trend reversal is confirmed. After the Chamber of Notaries of Paris-Ile de France is now the turn of the network of estate agents Century 21 noted a decline in house prices in Paris, as in the rest of France in 2011. Late last year, the former property prices had already declined in the Paris region but not yet in the capital.

But prices fell relatively little, yet after record highs in recent years. Thus, between the second half of 2011 and first quarter 2012, the average price per square meter of goods sold by Century 21 declined only 2.1% in 2578 euros/m2 average in France. The movement is even more tenuous in Paris, with a fall in prices of only 0.1%. A figure in line with the finding of the Chamber of Notaries of Paris-Ile de France which reported a decline in late March from 0.36% in house prices in Paris three months 8340 euros per meter square on average between November and January.

However, the number of home transactions performed by the network of estate agents Century 21 in France fell by 11.4% between the first quarters 2011 and 2012. This drop is even higher in Ile-de-France (-15.5%) and Paris (-17.4%). And for all of 2012, the president of Century 21 Laurent Vimont expects a decline over one year from 15% to 20% for the entire market of home transactions.

The expert, however, expected a price maintenance the same as in 2011. "You leave the frenzy and we return to reason. But the decline is not sustainable because demand is strong, "says this actor's real estate market.

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A return to basics. The model presented by Labour Minister, Xavier Bertrand, and Secretary of State for SMEs, Frédéric Lefebvre aims to make more readable the information contained in the earnings statement

Its implementation, however, requires a harmonization of the calculation of contributions that will be done in two stages payday advance.

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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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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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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The meeting of the Eurogroup does succeed to allay fears about the debt crisis, which saddled the Paris market? Yesterday, after long hesitation, the CAC 40 finished down 0.64% to 3103.60 points. On Tuesday, the index is expected to rise, thanks to a technical rebound, according to futures contracts for the month of December rose 0.5%.

Greece but also Italy crystallize the main concerns have increased as rumors of leaving the Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, immediately denied by the latter. Nevertheless, if the vote to be held tomorrow at the Chamber of Deputies on the budget is negative, the departure of Cavaliere seem inevitable.

At the same time, the finance ministers of the euro area gathered in Brussels last night stepped up their pressure on Athens and Rome to the two countries meet their commitments to reduce deficits.In the process, Wall Street ended on an optimistic note. This morning, Asian markets have proven uncertain and divided: while Tokyo closed down 1.27% to 8655.51 points, Hong Kong is the balance just before 8 am (Paris time) around 19,696 , 11 points.

In this context, oil prices were up this morning in early electronic trading. The barrel of "light sweet crude" for December delivery gained 8 cents to 95.60 dollars. Barrel of Brent North Sea crude for December delivery advanced on his side of 22 cents to 114.78 dollars.

In terms of macroeconomic indicators, the figures of foreign trade in value in September will be unveiled today at 8:45. INSEE also publish the price of oil and raw materials in October at noon.