The British government announced austerity cure the biggest since the Second World War. The measures announced thus leave little room for surprise. On Tuesday before the Parliament, the finance minister George Osborne has announced that his government had a deficit of 1.1% in 2015-16 against 10.1% this year. This means that the deficit would increase from 149 billion pounds in 2010 to 20 billion in 2015/16.
To achieve this objective, the minister calls for reducing departmental running costs of 30 billion pounds per year by 2014-2015. The expenditure review will be presented to Parliament on 20 October. The salaries of public servants will be frozen for two years.Similarly, net borrowing of the state are scaled down to 149 billion pounds this year, six billion less than expected last week by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the new independent oversight body budget. The net borrowing should be reduced to 116 billion pounds in 2011-2012 to 89 billion in 2012-2013, then gradually to 20 billion in 2015-2016.
Among other measures announced: an increase in VAT, which will be increased to 20% from January 4, 2011, against 17.5% currently. "By the end of the mandate of the current Parliament, this measure alone will bring more than 13 billion pounds per year of additional revenue. This is 13 billion pounds that we will not find a reduction in spending or a tax increase on income, "he said. The tax on capital gains will also spend 18% to 28% from midnight.
The government also plans to raise the legal age of retirement at age 66. Similarly, a decline of social protection spending is projected to save 11 billion pounds by 4-5 years.
Tax on banks
In addition it will create a tax on banks apply from January next year to British and foreign institutions. This new tax will be calculated on the basis of the balance sheets of banks and mutual groups and British subsidiaries of foreign banks' local payday loans for self employed. "Once fully in place, we expect that the tax will generate more than two billion pounds of annual revenue," he said. The Alcohol, tobacco and fuel will not be taxed.
Changes are also in the agenda on taxes.George Osborne announces plans to cut one percentage point per year for four years the corporation tax to bring it to 24% against 28% currently. "This will give us the lowest rate of major Western economies and the lowest rate of G20," he added. Tax relief for 23 million taxpayers paying the lower tax bracket (20%) will be increased by £ 1,000 in April 2011, allowing them to save 170 pounds each. "The burden" will be "fairly shared", according to the minister.
Growth revised downwards
This budget "emergency", described as "inevitable", will impact on growth of the United Kingdom. The British economy should grow more slowly than expected due to fiscal consolidation. Growth in 2011 is revised downwards to 2.3% in 2011 against 2.6% expected by the OBR.But the minister provided an acceleration thereafter: 2.8% in 2012 and 2.9% in 2013.
"We are on track to reduce debt and achieve a structural budget balance by the end of this legislature, George Osborne promises.
Rejection of the Euro
George Osborne in the wake on Tuesday announced the dissolution of the service of his department who was assigned to work on a possible accession of the United Kingdom to the euro. "I can confirm that, as stated in the coalition agreement, this government will not adopt the euro during this Parliament.So I put away the Treasury Department responsible for preparing for the euro, "he told the House of Commons.
The new government combining conservative and liberal Democrats from the legislative elections of May 6, had promised in his coalition program that the United Kingdom does not adopt the euro and making no such move during the term.
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Put under pressure by Guy Wyser-Pratte complains strategy, Arnaud Lagard?re, general partner of the Lagard?re group, has defended his record at the general meeting of shareholders held this morning at the Palais des Congr?s Paris. He said he was "optimistic" about prospects for his group in 2010. "In 2009, the cash flow was very well kept, with 650 million euros. And that's a powerful symbol of a sound and applied to the cash, "said Arnaud Lagardere. He added: "All family groups are extremely sensitive to this criterion one, which is the most vital criterion for a company in the long term."
Lagard?re: -18% and 10% in less than a year
In 2009, Lagard?re has 4 divided by its net profit to 137 million euros and issued a revenue down 4% to 7.9 billion euros.Lagardere will publish its turnover in the first quarter 2010 on May 11 next.
It is interesting to note that since the offensive led by Guy Wyser-Pratte cons strategy Arnaud Lagard?re, General Partner of Lagard?re, March 25 last, the stock has gained around 10% (figure at 10:30 AM, Ed) . And, while the price lost almost 18% since October 2009. He took the opportunity to slip a few tackles to Guy Wyser-Pratte: "The dictatorship of the immediate is probably the most destructive of shareholder value. We will never get into the music, the display and large terrestrial TV and pay, "said Arnaud Lagardere.
The Autorit? des march?s financiers (AMF) by its president Jean-Pierre Jouyet, has confirmed that the Lagard?re was put under surveillance for several weeks."As in such situations, we monitored closely the evolution of the title and the statements of each other in the preparation of this meeting," he said Monday at Canal + Guaranteed high risk Personal loans.
The MFA does not investigate
Last Friday, a spokesman for the AMF had confirmed receiving a letter of Lagard?re."We look at which patterns of the market as we look at the title and transaction information is transmitted," she said, adding that a supervision order does not imply any launch an investigation.
In late March, the American financier Guy Wyser-Pratte, who holds 0.53% stake in the group Lagard?re has submitted two resolutions: one to make his entrance to the supervisory board and the other to call into question the Staff Partnership Group for Lagardere to develop it into a corporation. Two resolutions that Arnaud Lagardere has always opposed.
Guy Wyser-Pratte can count on the support of Riskmetrics, a consulting firm specializing in governance and whose advice is well attended by institutional investors, representing over 78% of the capital of Lagard?re.For its part, Arnaud Lagardere has received support from the Association of Small Holders assets (Appac) holding 3.5% stake in Arcelor.
After one of the few values to evolve in the green at the Paris Bourse, the Lagard?re shows a sharp decline towards 12.15: -0.71% to 31.41 euros in a market down by 1.46% .
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The letters are left on Monday evening. Reportedly, the Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot has finalized negotiations there nearly three months with pharmaceutical companies. To date, the Government had decided to terminate 50 of the 94 million doses of vaccine against influenza A previously ordered.
Doses reserved – totaling approximately 700 million euros – in June and July 2009, at a time when the World Health recommended to the States two injections per person. A requirement under attack in November 2009. The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) was then estimated that injection was sufficient. This change of foot forced the French government to reconsider its brutally volume orders. Last January, Roselyne Bachelot announced on TF1, the government would not pay the "50 million doses not delivered."A cold shower for the three laboratories involved: GSK, Sanofi Pasteur, Novartis.
Heard today in the Senate by the parliamentary commission of inquiry charged with shedding light on government management of the epidemic of influenza A, the Minister of Health outlining the results of negotiations.
The State should pay the final 48 million euro to pharmaceutical companies instead of 358 million euros initially planned for 50 million doses canceled. Conducted by the Institution of preparation and response to health emergencies (Eprus), negotiations were conducted by laboratory laboratory. "It was man enough, but correct," says one observer of the case. Logic in a big business. Especially that similar talks were held in many countries.In Europe, France and Great Britain are the last to not have fully resolved the issue.
Allowances equal to 16% of the amount set aside
The government immediately set the overall ceiling of compensation it was willing to pay 50 million euros payday loan no faxing . Given the low number of relevant doses (50 000), Baxter has escaped cancellation of orders. But with the three other laboratories, the negotiations were tough. Driven to the wall they demanded equal treatment. So that, finally, the Eprus set the maximum amount of compensation to 16% of the canceled order for each of the labs.
The Eprus and Swiss drugmaker Novartis have been finally agreed Monday. Novartis will receive 10.5 million euros, or about 16% of 65 million at stakeBoth parties waive any recourse to justice.
With GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), failing agreement, the government decided to unilaterally fix the compensation to 36 million euros. But the pill is hard to swallow for the British lab, which has collected 224 million euros if the services Roselyne Bachelot had not canceled the order of 32 million doses. GSK should take note of the proposal, but consider formally accept it.
Finally, negotiations have been particularly harsh with Sanofi-Pasteur. The world leader in vaccines against influenza had himself proposed to cancel the order of 9 million doses of an original total of 28 million.But the subsidiary of Sanofi-Aventis has found less pleasant to have to cancel another 2 million doses.
Unless last-minute deal, the government should send a notification on grounds similar to those of Novartis and GSK, is a payment of 2 million euros over the initial 12.5. Monday evening, the French lab was still hesitating to sign the proposed transaction or initiate an action.
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LE FIGARO. – ArcelorMittal escapes shortly after the first loss in its history. Are you satisfied with this performance?
Lakshmi Mittal. – No, although, given the circumstances, we are very far out. We achieved all our objectives of lowering costs, reducing debt, adjusting our production, and have negotiated with the various unions in the world … while 2009 was one of the most difficult years for thirty years the capitalist world. The crisis is not over. The recovery will be slow and gradual. But we managed to overcome the crisis successfully.
Using your production capacity from 50% in late 2008, to 70%. Do you anticipate this year?
Our production planning is based on the request of our customers. In 2009, only 10 of its 25 blast furnaces were in production. Now, twenty are active.There remain four or five who are temporarily stopped and restarted when demand recovers. At the end of 2010, our plants should operate at 85% of their capacity. The automotive market is expected to improve slightly over fourth quarter 2009 in Europe and strong growth in emerging countries. We organize days of innovation with our major customers. We present our new products, our development programs. They are still waiting for better products, steel both stronger and lighter, and more services.
How do you make 5 billion cost-cutting announced in 2012?
This total includes 5 billion of the savings already achieved (2.7 billion Editor's note). We have implemented many measures to improve our productivity.ArcelorMittal is a great company so we can make a "benchmark" in the group! We have implemented a continuous improvement plan which aims to save $ 30 (or 20 euros) per tonne of steel produced. There were hundreds of initiatives in this area. In 2009, we managed to save 13 euros per tonne. We still have to win 7 euros. At group level, it will represent an additional saving of 1.4 billion euros. And we can still reduce our administrative costs and expenses. This will include a specialization of production sites that could be devoted to one type of product payday advance . That does not mean that we will close …
… Or that you will continue to reduce your workforce?
The group has 35 000 employees less in 2009 than in 2008.We have plans in place starting in early retirement, voluntary severance schemes … We have nothing planned as of this year. We have just completed what was started. There is no excess production capacity in Europe. In China, yes.
You also talked about the resumption of investment.
Yes. We will resume mining projects and investment in developing countries, including Brazil. We do not expect to make further acquisitions in the steel. The cost would be higher than the expansion of existing capacity. We focus on the latter solution.
The introduction of carbon tax is a threat to your business in France?
We will be less competitive in Europe. We are in discussion with the French Government, to explain the impact of this tax on our costs.I met President Nicolas Sarkozy a few weeks ago. He says he wants a strong industry in France. We'll have to find solutions. European policy in terms of CO2 is already a burden for the European steel industry, compared to our competitors in China or India. This clearly represents an additional cost, difficult to quantify but very real. Finally, the carbon tax would be inconsistent with a strong industry. But both will have to coexist.
Chinese production of steel which starts again on the rise is a threat to your industry?
Last year, net exports of Chinese steel amounted to 10 million tonnes. This year, they should not exceed 25 million tonnes. First, because the Chinese domestic demand has picked up.Then, because Chinese steel production depends on imports of raw materials, making it less competitive for export. Finally, China mainly exported to South-Eastern Asia. Nevertheless, we are always attentive. If China's exports, it can make European prices down, it already happened before 2008. There is always a risk.
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In an aviation context depressed, ATR is holding its own game in 2009, the Toulouse-based company specializing in the construction of regional aircraft has recorded 40 firm orders and 17 options. It has delivered 54 aircraft. She has on order 136 planes today, representing a workload of more than two years. 43% of these orders relate to its new range, the ATR-42 600 and ATR-72 600.
During this same year 2009, the Spanish airline Air Nostrum and Royal Air Morocco were among its largest customers, with respectively 10 and 6 devices. The reason ATR through the crisis with such ease is the design of its aircraft, which consume 40% less fuel than jets.
A given that airlines are very sensitive. The market share in turboprop regional aircraft can only increase.In 2009 the turnover of ATR have been $ 1.4 billion, an increase of 7% over 2008. A record.
The gross public debt (government, social security and local authorities) continues to rise. At the end of the third quarter, gross debt under the Maastricht amounted to 1457.4 billion, up from 29.4 billion the previous quarter, according to figures published by INSEE on Tuesday. "Expressed as a percentage of GDP, it is approximately 75.8%, up 1.9 points," says the National Institute of Statistics. In the second quarter, the debt had reached 73.9% of GDP.
The increase over the period, less than that observed in the second quarter (61.1 billion euros), was driven in particular by the increase in debt of the state. To finance the budget deficit, the state has cut its debt of 23.4 billion euros.The debt has also funded a stake in the Company making state participation in a French bank, Cr?dit Agricole 3 billion, INSEE said.
The social security funds have also contributed to the increase in gross public debt to the tune of 5.9 billion euros, "particularly as a result of increased indebtedness of the ACOSS (3, 9 billion euros), "details the INSEE.
The government has included in his bill to finance the debt was still progress to 77.9% of GDP at the end of the year. In 2010, it expects debt to 84% of GDP, without taking into account the large loan.
Moreover, net public debt, which includes cash and short-term is highest increase over the period, the gross debt.It was heavy with 57.1 billion euros over the second quarter, rising late September to 1331.5 billion. In case a "sharp decrease in cash of the State (-28.3 billion), returning to a level close to that of a year ago," said INSEE.
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Five-star hotels in France? Yes, it is possible since the introduction in June by the government, a new classification. The list already has sixty places, especially in Paris, Courchevel and the Cote d'Azur. For hotels, a small revolution is underway. Their institutions were previously rated by criteria that had not changed since 1986 and they did not understand that the fifth star has long existed abroad. The world record is held even by a hotel worthy of megalomania, the Atlantis Palm in Dubai, which displays seven stars!
"In Portugal, there are 6 star hotels which are no better than our 4-star, said Georges Panayotis, founder of research firm and consultancy MKG.And even for congresses, the French destinations were penalized with no five-star hotels for VIPs. "
According to Herv? Novelli, Secretary of State for Tourism, some 200 hotels could eventually claim win five stars, including 30 to 40 with an additional distinction reserved for best of the best, the "palaces".
But the goal that the government had set, finished 2009 with a hundred five-star hotels will be missed. "The application process was somewhat longer than expected. But the candidates are there, "he defends one in the entourage of the Minister where there promised that the establishment of a new procedure will go faster next year.
"It's not very complicated to have the fifth star, half of the 750 four-star hotels can claim without doing much work, yet adds Georges Panayotis.But with the crisis, many are reluctant to ask. Applicants were fewer than expected. Be a candidate takes time and money. Vis-?-vis a business clientele, this is not the time to raise prices and display an image of luxury. Some employees have instructions from their companies do not reside in five star hotels. "
Then there are the unsuccessful applicants. Reportedly, about 15% of cases were retoques.Among the mandatory criteria, which require the most hoteliers questioned: the size of rooms, room service 24 hours on 24 or even the use of two languages by staff, including English.
A bid of 70 000 ?
In the district of Saint-Germain-des-Pres in Paris, the Hotel Bel Ami (four stars) was in the starting blocks in the month of June to submit an application. He has still not done, but considering the first quarter of 2010. "Other priorities have taken over as the work of redecorating in a few rooms," says Vincent Tissier, Director General. But we remain candidates, while some of our competitors are reluctant because of the economy. "To comply with the new schedule, he has already made investments. He equipped the rooms with a service and an extra chair.It also increased the number of electrical outlets, bought lamps and roof rack. "For us it is an application to ? 70 000," says Vincent Tissier.
The hotel part with a disability are 15 rooms for less than 24 square meters, the minimum area required. "We do not fulfill all mandatory criteria, but we have our chances because we can compensate this problem by gaining points optional," says its director. In Bel Ami, there is indeed "a spa, meeting rooms, a hall larger than the minimum required, a team of janitors, many more points for the fifth star. Whatever happens, Vincent Tissier is serene: "For teams, it would be a satisfaction. The U.S. travel agencies are also susceptible.But the provision of Bel Ami and its price will not change. "
Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris, the Fouquet's Barri?re was among the first to win his fifth star in June For this, he installed air conditioning and WiFi in the restaurant Fouquet's classified and bought 27 blankets. The hotel was rated four-star luxury since its opening in October 2006. "As we were the last to arrive on the market, we wanted to be the first to have five-star hotel with a very good note," said Eric Boonstoppel, general manager of the Hotel Fouquet's Barri?re. We have lost a few points marginalized because, for example, the telephone line is directly in the room on request. Vis-?-vis our international customers, visibility and legibility are important. But we do not mean increased prices.If the government wants to create a category "Premium" We are ready! "
Another bad sign for the government of Gordon Brown at the approach of elections in which his party, the Labor is the underdog. The UK economy has remained stuck in recession in the third quarter, and has even suffered its longest period of decline for more than half a century.
While economists hoped that the UK went into recession in the second quarter of 2008 would have returned a meager growth (which they saw to 0.2% on average) between July and September, the first estimate of the NSO The British equivalent of INSEE, showed the contrary, a fall in gross domestic product (GDP) of 0.4% over the previous quarter and by 5.2% over one year.It is hardly better than the second quarter, where GDP had declined by 0.6%, and while the UK economy fell by 5.9% since its entry into recession.
Finally, to cap it all, the ONS said he never registered period of contraction in economic activity so long since 1955. The United Kingdom could be in fact the only major economy to have contracted in the third quarter. Several other countries including France, Germany and Japan have instead returned to growth in the second quarter of this year.
The London Stock Exchange has not suffered from these ads. In contrast, the pound sterling has accused the shock, falling around 1.09 euro while hovering around 1.11 before.According to economists, the slump of the pound reflects the fact that the Bank of England may be forced to continue its program of buying assets with banks (or "quantitative easing"), in which it has already sunk more than 170 billion pounds (about 185 billion euros), which is scheduled for completion in November.
The financial crisis has undoubtedly reduced the weight of the United States and Europe to Asia. Suddenly, the latter will take the opportunity to strengthen its influence in the world.
From this Friday until Sunday evening, leaders of ten ASEAN countries (Association of the South-Eastern Asia) met in Thailand. They are joined this morning by China, Japan, South Korea, India, New Zealand and Australia. Countries whose recovery from crisis is much faster than in the West and for many of them are already preparing to abandon their recovery plans.
All concerned now the weak dollar, which they provide relief whenever necessary.And none of them has any interest in seeing the U.S. financial system to deteriorate, while exports remain the primary engine of growth.
"Stress tests" for Chinese banks
But the crisis was already moving lines. The model was that the United States absorb massive exports to Asia is in the process of shifting. In China and India, consumption explodes and is progressively taking over from the American buyer. ASEAN and its 600 million consumers will take over.
However, to enjoy the recovery, Asia should not repeat the mistakes of the Americans. Beijing has understood that today called for Chinese banks to conduct stress tests, stress tests each quarter to better manage credit and liquidity supply in the country.
It must also strengthen its cohesion.If in ten years exports of ASEAN have been multiplied by three, 1 700 billion, and its trade with China by ten, the regional bloc to just build a true economic community. Theoretically scheduled for 2015, it would then be extended to China, South Korea and Japan.
A dream which currently faces the political weakness of ASEAN. Nobody can believe the Committee on Human Rights that it has put in place, while Burma is a dictatorship where every opponent is going to jail and that Laos and Vietnam are two blocks Communists closed.
But Asia is a force. She has already lived through the 1998 crisis and emerged stronger than before.
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Yogurt machine is restarted. Thanks to price cuts, promotions and new standards more accessible, sales of Danone's dairy products rose 7% in volume in the third quarter. It's the largest increase since mid-2007.
So far, Danone had mostly favored the move upmarket with its brands Activia, Actimel and Danacol and rate increases. These were also made compulsory by the soaring price of milk. But the crisis had led to an alarming decline in volumes last year. In January, the group has initiated a program called reset ( "reset"). To boost volumes, each subsidiary has revised its product positioning and pricing in each of its markets (yoghurt, water, infant nutrition and medical nutrition).
Franck Riboud, Danone's boss has welcomed the success of these "operational adjustments."We did not only correct, but have been effective and rapid implementation, said without false modesty, the CEO. We have completed the repositioning of our products before the end of the year. "
A year ago, Danone was advised that because of the deteriorating economy, growing its sales in 2009 would be "less than a few points" in its medium-term target of between 8 and + + 10%. According to details made this Friday, the group table in fact now an annual growth of 2.8%.
While this is a very sharp slowdown in growth of sales, Danone has proven its ability to react and managed to accelerate the pace since January.In the third quarter, all regions are growing, even Europe, which was down in the first half.
Volvic and Evian in progress
Above all, "we gained market share in the three quarters of our markets," insists Peter Andre T?risse, the CFO. He also noted that milk prices would increase, "but return to significant increases in 2008." Danone may therefore increase some of its prices, "while remaining competitive."
Other good news: the return to form of the bottled water division, which is experiencing its strongest growth since early 2008. "Danone has its strong presence in Asia, the area that draws economic recovery," said Lee Linthium, head of research for Euromonitor.The institute predicts that sales of bottled water will increase by 8% in Asia this year, thanks to economic recovery in urban areas, where consumption of these products is higher.
Even in developed countries, Danone waters are rising again this summer, especially in France, the United Kingdom and Germany. With the impact of weather, but not only. "The sales made under Volvic promotion grew by 40%," says one Danone. In recent weeks, the promotion efforts made on Evian, the brand's flagship division, are even more important. Here again, priority is given to the volumes to boost sales.
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