Archive for May, 2010
Gold broke his own record
Like last week, the attraction of gold can not be denied on the markets. Despite the aid plan of 750 billion euros earmarked by the European heads of state, investors worried and rushed to gold. The gold chains the record: the rising price ended at 1249.40 dollars, never seen on the London market which serves a global reference. On the London Bullion Market, an ounce of gold ended Friday at 1236.50 dollars at auction Friday night, cons 1202.50 dollars the previous Friday.
In its wake, the money is increased to a level it had attained over the past two years.The gray metal rose Thursday to 19.64 dollars, not far from $ 20 per ounce reached in March 2008, to finally finish the week at 19.64 dollars Friday.
Stimulated by the gold and silver, platinum group metals have rebounded after falling last week, victims of the strengthening dollar. On the London Platinum and Palladium Market, an ounce of platinum finished in 1721 dollars Friday. In turn, an ounce of palladium finished $ 536.
The dominant concern in oil markets
The continued turmoil in oil markets. The prices fell Friday to their lowest levels in three months to 70.83 dollars. On the Nymex, a barrel of light sweet crude for June delivery finished at 71.61 dollars, down 2.79 dollars compared to Thursday. Prices have been a difficult week, leaving more than $ 5 in four sessions.They are well below the levels of early April, when the barrel was mounted to $ 87. In London, Brent crude ended Friday at 77.20 dollars, yielding 2.93% on the week.
As the equity markets, the euphoria that had raised prices Monday has not taken very long. The markets saw a dim announced the austerity policies that could lead to a slowdown in oil demand. Moreover, the continuing fall of the single European currency, which fell Friday to its lowest level since October 2008 (1.2359 dollars), weighs heavily on the markets.
In addition, crude oil reserves rose 1.9 million barrels during the week ended May 7, two times more than expected.
Week of mixed fortunes for base metals
On the London Metal Exchange (LME), the week has been more troubled.Investors fear the rigors of European policies that could dampen growth. In addition, China has caused confusion by announcing lower than expected macroeconomic data: the rate of growth of China's industrial output slowed in April, rising 17.8% year on year, after 18.1% March.
Copper, considered a barometer of the market ended the week slightly up to 6955 dollars per tonne. The aluminum stabilized this week at 2,093 dollars per tonne against 2,090 dollars the previous week.Zinc, nickel and lead have declined by 1.8% to 2.050 dollars per tonne, from 3% to 21,650 dollars per tonne and 2.4% in 1950 dollars.
Agricultural raw materials: sugar recovers
On Liffe in London, a tonne of white sugar for August delivery was worth 470 pounds on Friday against 435.80 pounds a ton for the same term last Friday. On the NYBOT U.S. a pound of raw sugar for July delivery was worth 14.88 cents against 13.64 cents a week earlier. But the euphoria is unlikely to last. The International Sugar Organisation (ISO) said Thursday he expected a surplus in 2010-2011 of nearly 2.5 million tonnes. Production is expected to grow in Brazil, India, Mexico.
For his part, cocoa was penalized by the strengthening dollar and profit taking. There is also an expected production increase in Brazil.Prices fell to 2,212 pounds per tonne in London and 2852 dollars in New York, respectively, the lowest since three weeks and a month. They ended the week at 2,232 pounds on Liffe and 2858 dollars on NYBOT.
Moreover, prices of wheat, corn and soybeans fell this week in Chicago, penalized by the rapid advance of planting in the United States. May 2, 68% corn, 60% of spring wheat and 15% of soybeans had been planted against respectively 40%, 47% and 8% on average over the past five years. In addition, the rising dollar makes U.S. production less attractive to export than those in Europe. The contract of corn for July delivery ended Friday at $ 3.63 and lost 2.4% on the week.The contract of soybeans in the same maturity fell to 9.53 dollars per bushel (-0.7%) while the wheat contract ended at U.S. $ 4.71 (-7.6%).
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For the first time, the United States, Americans will have a smart card (smart card to the French) and "accepted in the world. It Gemalto.
A contract which seems small in relation to the size of the division payment at Gemalto.But "this announcement is very important symbolically," noted analysts at Natixis, surprised that the stock price does not react.
For the group at 1.65 billion euros in turnover in 2009 made his first steps on American soil that could well decide to finally initiate the transition from magnetic stripe cards – which are the subject of a high fraud rates – to smart cards adopting EMV (Europay, MasterCard, Visa) to pay around the world and securely.
For the strategists of Natixis, the bank card market with a microprocessor in the United States has "a potential 1.5 billion cards.
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The daily Les Echos published on Wednesday, unpaid bills accumulate on the offices of the Directorate General of Armaments. The culprit is the new system of accounting and financial state, Chorus, whose launch has caused many problems: "Taking the data files completely missed, parameterization of the software too rigid, inadequate training of agents, all full reform of the armed … "reports and Voices, which speaks of several million euros unpaid, or even one billion.
Being launched in all central and decentralized administrations, the application Chorus aims to simplify the governance and implement the provisions of the Organic Law on Financial Legislation passed in 2001 make quick cash.
But for now, the goal is far from being reached at the Department of Defense.According to Les Echos, a delegation of French industrial land defense at Bercy reported that unpaid bills put some SMEs in significant difficulties. A special circuit was established to regularize the accounts with the weaker companies. But the return to normalcy would not be expected before the end of the year …
In an interview published Tuesday in the daily Les Echos, Christine Lagarde, economy minister, said France will contribute "approximately 90 billion euros" to support fund for countries in the euro area in need. The Minister said that this figure was calculated "based on the share of France in the capital of the European Central Bank, about 20%.
In an environment where financial markets are concerned about the explosion of debt and deficits States, Christine Lagarde said that this contribution has "no direct impact on either the level of deficit or the debt according Maastricht, since these are the guarantees that would be activated in case of default. "
The economy minister also reaffirmed that France "will take its commitment to reduce the deficit to 6% of GDP in 2011 and 3% in 2013.
Meeting in Brussels this weekend, the EU finance ministers agreed on a total of 500 billion euros. This plan includes a large fund of 60 billion euros plus a special mechanism of 440 billion euros in loan guarantees.
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Thousands of people began to protest Saturday in France on the occasion of May 1st this year placed under the sign of the defense of employment, purchasing power and especially pensions.
Trade unions, left parties and student organizations have called for the streets, in the words of the secretary general of the CGT Bernard Thibault, "create a balance of power in discussion" with the government. The pension reform is expected before the end of the year and a new appointment office at the Elysee Palace will be held prior May 10
According to the CGT, more than 280 parades are planned throughout France. The Paris demonstration must rush early in the afternoon instead of the Republic.
For its part, Workers Power revives the tradition by going it alone.The secretary general of the union, Jean-Claude Mailly, said Saturday morning on Europe-1 radio that "the repeated demonstrations will not shake the government" on the proposed pension reform.
"Putting pressure on politicians'
In Toulouse, about 5,000 people, police, 6,000 according to organizers, marched in the rain Saturday morning, behind a banner of the Inter-CGT, CFDT, FSU, UNSA and Solidarity proclaiming: "All public-private sector jobs, wages, pensions and retirement. A procession much shorter than last year, when there were between 15,000 and 30,000 participants according to sources.
The mobilization was also low in Lyon, under a rainy sky, where vendors thrush in haste mingled with the demonstrators Guaranteed online payday loans.
In Lille, where the procession is gone by late morning, between 2000-3000 people marched. "I come to defend pensions, it worries me a lot for young people, I am already retired but what will happen to young people?" Said Benoit Evrard, a retired banker of 62 years. "I am the parades since 1968. It is important to do this kind of demonstration. " This puts pressure on politicians.
About 3,000 people marched behind a banner in Strasbourg Inter CGT, CFDT, UNSA, FSU. There was little slogans – replaced by sonos – and banners in a parade where the theme of pensions was not particularly present.
In Nice, 2,300 people marched, according to police and organizers. On the hood of a car was installed a model wearing a mask representing President Nicolas Sarkozy, with counterfeit notes in the pockets flying in the wind."Hits enough that society that does that unemployment and precariousness, fattens the shareholders and spreads poverty, have launched the demonstrators.
In Nantes, the Inter counted 5,000 demonstrators in the city center, against 3700 for the police. "It's worse than last year, but it remains a good May 1, Marie-Claude analyzed Robin, departmental secretary of the CGT in Loire-Atlantique.
"The issue of pensions is not yet in every head. Yet now he must take action: the case will go to Cabinet before the summer. In July-August, it will be too late, "she warned.
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