News – Business & Economi

The crude oil prices have come down Tuesday on fears related to Greece and world economic growth.

On the Nymex, crude for April delivery ended at 104.70 dollars a barrel, down 2.02 dollars or 1.89%.

In London, ICE Brent for delivery in April ended at 121.98 dollars a barrel, down $ 1.82 or 1.47%.

After the close of markets, prices continued to decline according to figures from the American Petroleum Institute (API) showing an increase of 4.6 million in crude inventories last week in the U.S. States, while the market was expecting an increase of 800,000 barrels only.

The official government figures (EIA) will be published Wednesday. 

Investors have also noted a breakthrough in the Iranian nuclear issue, which has somewhat eased fears of supply disruptions.

Iran will allow experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit the Parchin military site, reported Tuesday the news agency ISNA. The spokesman of the foreign policy of the European Union, Catherine Ashton, for his part announced that the major powers were willing to resume talks with Tehran .

European shares ended lower Tuesday as investors pocketed their profits after a second agreement on a plan to help Greece to dispel the specter of a dice ; be next month, but not to solve all the country's economic problems.

On profit taking, the Paris Bourse has sold 0.21% (7.30 points) to 3,465.24 points. The pan-European index Stoxx 50 fell 0.34%, the German Dax is 0.58% and 0.29% FTSE UK.

Trading volumes on the pan-European FTSEurofirst index was 22% thinner than usual, a sign that investors have not rushed to the exit after obtaining a agreement on Greece, much preferring a wait.

The agreement, torn by the euro area at night, after thirteen hours of negotiations, plans to reduce Greece's debt to 120.5% of GDP by 2020 through a new program of public loans of 130 billion euros and a restructuring of debt held by private creditors.

Highly anticipated by the markets, the plan is not a miracle cure for all ills of Greece. Strangled by his austerity measures, the country will return to growth until 2014, after four years of recession that have reduced the gross domestic product (GDP) 17% believe senior European officials.

Meanwhile, the aid package to Greece may yet derail and Greek debt explode to unmanageable levels by 2020, according to a confidential report prepared by "troika" of the country's international creditors.

Yields on debt issued by the 'peripheral' countries of the euro area eased in favor of the agreement. Sign of an easing in the bond markets, Spain issued in the morning 2.5 billion euros of debt in three to six months, with yields down by sharp the previous auction of this type.

The euro rose to 1.3270 dollars around him after reaching 1.3292 to the dollar after the announcement of an agreement on the Greek plan.

Signs that debt problems are not confined to Greece, the European Commission will propose Wednesday to suspend payments from the Cohesion Fund for Hungary from 2013, due to lack Budapest progress in reducing its budget deficit, shows a document of the EU executive.

CGT plant ArcelorMittal proposes to transform the site into electric arc furnace. Since its closure, Grandrange is regularly pointed to by the left as one of the failures of Nicolas Sarkozy.

CGT plant at ArcelorMittal Gandrange (Moselle) presented Friday a draft EAF, which the union could "save" the site where a mill still operates steel supplied from Germany. "We offer ArcelorMittal to invest 120 million euros in the construction of an electric furnace to supply the local mill," said Jacky Mascelli to reporters, one of the leaders of the CGT at the factory Grandrange. "To produce the steel that we now come to Duisburg (Germany), we propose to use the scrap produced in the region, notably by the automotive industry," he said.  

For the CGT, the factory "integrated" (steelmaking-continuous casting-rolling) "will guarantee the sustainability of the site Gandrange" which still employ about 350 steelworkers, against more than 1,000 before the closure of the steelworks in March 2009 . The project presented Friday by the CGT looks like that the union had presented in March 2008 and which already provided for the construction of an electric oven "scrap all" to enhance the mill crowns and bars Gandhinagar, one of the only active for long products in Europe. The draft will now be "carried" by the Left Front, several representatives were present Friday in Lorraine.

Since its closure, the steelworks Grandrange is regularly pointed to by the left as one of the failures of the quinquennium of Nicolas Sarkozy. February 4, 2008, following his marriage to Carla Bruni and after a highly publicized visit to the factory Moselle, the president pledged to support the state "all or part of investment required "to keep the mill operating.

PPR said Thursday a sharp increase in its annual results, driven by the brilliant performances of its luxury brands, and was confident for 2012.

"The results of PPR are excellent and we are confident for 2012," said chief financial officer, Jean-François Palus, during a conference call.

The group that owns Gucci, Puma, Fnac and Redcats, saw sales increase by 11.1% last year to 12.23 billion euros, a figure slightly higher Interior to the Reuters poll of 12.13 billion. At constant exchange rates, sales growth stood at 9.3%.

The increase in turnover has been hampered by the poor performance against the Fnac, whose sales fell 3.6%, while those in the luxury division jumped 22.2 % and that of Puma significantly accelerated (10.5%).

On luxury, the CFO said that January sales were as good or better than those of the fourth quarter, which signed an organic growth of 18.6%, significantly exceeded expectations of analysts polled by Reuters (17%).

The annual operating profit rose 17% to 1.60 billion euros, slightly above consensus ($ 1.55 billion). 

For 2012, the group said anticipating growth "supported" by its turnover and a further increase in its results.

PPR accounts no longer include figures of Redcats, a subsidiary of distance selling, nor those of FNAC in Italy, these assets are to be sold and which, under accounting standards be deconsolidated from the perimeter.

Net income, up 26.4% in spring 1.05 billion euros and the proposed dividend is unchanged at 3.50 euros.

The pump price rose further, setting a new record. A slight decrease is expected, however, thanks to milder weather.

The price of gasoline in service stations continue to soar and reach new highs that could revive the debate on the control of labels at the pump with the approach of presidential elections.

According to data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, the price of a liter of unleaded 95 euro rose to 1.5787 at the end of last week. That of unleaded 98 (whose sales are much lower in SP95) rose to 1.6184 euro. Both well beyond their previous records set only a week earlier (1.5640 euros / liter and 1.6022 euros / liter). Gas oil meanwhile rose to 1.4180 euro per liter Friday against 1.3960 the previous week. But it remains below its high of the year (1.4240 euro on Jan. 13), and its record in spring 2008 (1.4541 euro). These sales prices are national averages calculated by the Directorate General for Energy and Climate (DGEC) from data provided by service stations.

Since late 2011, gasoline prices prance record after record in France, powered by a dual effect of geopolitical tensions (Iran, Nigeria …) that keep crude oil prices at very high levels, and the weakening of the euro against the dollar, which boosts the cost of black gold once its converted value in the single currency.

The outbreak has already made waves in its presidential campaign. The Socialist candidate Francois Hollande proposed last month a "temporary blocking of gasoline prices," accompanied by restoration of the TIPP floating. The majority swept the idea of ​​such measures, described as "solution of the past".

Hope to decrease with rise in temperature

Interviewed on RTL on the soaring prices at the pump just before the announcement of the last record, the CEO of Total Christophe de Margerie said Tuesday that the best way to lower gasoline was to invest in finding new deposits. "The more oil, the more prices will be kept low," he said, criticizing the way the idea of ​​a price freeze. "For any product, it's not a good thing to lock in prices" and "this is automatically the state budget will suffer," he said. Total's boss noted that his group controlled a little less than 20% of French stations, and over half of them set their own rates.

He also estimated that prices could fall thanks to the current warm spell. "In the short term it may fall, when it's warmer, prices drop, today one of the reasons among others of higher pump prices, it's climate, weather extremes we known in recent times, "said Mr. de Margerie. "If the euro also firmed, it will drop, but overall as in all businesses, (the solution, note) is to get more raw materials," he said.

Diesel sales represent about 80% of French consumption of motor fuels, the unleaded 95 just under 15% and 98 unleaded around 5%.

Out of nowhere, the new plant of Renault Morocco where a minivan will be produced cheaply dubbed "Lodgy", is facing several challenges, starting with the recruitment of local staff in a countries with no real experience of the automobile.

Illuminated only place several miles around nightfall, the site whose inauguration has sparked controversy on Thursday in Paris on the "Made in France" pushed in the hills stripped of the northern tip of Morocco, poor agricultural country without industrial past.

"Here everything is greenfield," says Paul Carvalho, director of the Renault Tanger fabrications, using the term used to designate a project set up from scratch on a greenfield site. "The plant is greenfield, the fabric supplier also, and even people!"

Paul Carvalho is part of the French expatriates on site to accompany the Moroccan teams that will soon turn the chain of the minivan. "The level of education in Morocco is very good, but the country has no technical knowledge of self," he adds.

Most future senior Moroccan crossed the chain still running have never worked before in the area. Everyone is deputy head of his department, under the command of a French he is called to replace.

"Apart from the small factory Somaca Casablanca, Morocco has no automotive history," said Moulay-Youssef Sbai.

The deputy director of the Institute for training in the automotive industry, funded by the Kingdom of Morocco and installed at the entrance of the site Renault-Nissan, knows whereof he speaks He worked over 15 years in IT, but never in the industry.

CARAVAN OF RECRUITING

If all goes well, soon lead Benmbarek Abdelmoula department assembling the first production line of the plant, although the engineer has made a career in the cement and paper. But at age 43, this jovial big guy here realizes a childhood dream. "My first motivation is the car, I am expert on the history of brands of cars," he says. "Once I knew that a car factory would see the day, I made contact."

Nasro Allah, 37, deputy head of department sheet metal, is one of the few to be of the profession. "For me, this is a new experience," adds this former employee of a subcontractor specializing in automotive wiring around Tangier. "Renault is very experienced and offer career opportunities." To prepare for their positions, both have spent six months training in France at the Flins plant (Yvelines).

Nasro is also part of the minority – 30% of plant personnel – recruited in the vicinity of Tangier. To supplement the workforce – 2,500 employees hired to date, 4000 to the end of 6000 and by 2014-2015 – the leadership has had to expand his research to throughout Morocco with a lot of ads or recruitment caravans that traveled the country to Fez, 300 miles away.

The 70% from other areas sometimes struggle to stay on site, and some have even hired waive sit the plant on the first day of their contract.

"It's a bit difficult, we share a home," admits Sufian, 21, who is destined for the paint shop. At his side, Mohammed, 23, and even white suit, was able to move more easily because it has powerful friends in Tangiers.

Just like Soufian and Mohammed, the strength of the Tangier plant is very young, only thirty years. The average age falls even around 20 years for the only operators, called to work on an automated line with very low – low cost requires – after three months of training .

DISCONTENT ON THE CONTROVERSY IN FRANCE

The vast 300 hectare site is brand new. Align the parking lot of Renault and Fiat in emerging special version not found in France, which will not be the case Lodgy, mainly for export, particularly to Europe.

The land of beds that separate the large premises is freshly turned white and in administrative offices, grouped under the mysterious name of "Building X", the blinds are still missing fene ; very. Homman Mokhtar, executive secretary of Renault Morocco, likes to point out that the bays were clogged with a lot of paper. "It is the building that was done last because there were other priorities," said he, smiling. The training institute and the chain went before.

Asked about the controversy that accompanied the opening in France by Renault, 14 kilometers of European coastline, a plant where the net pay starts at 250 euros, Moroccan future managers are uncomfortable. "I have not followed, I can not say," whispers a deputy head of department before disappearing, reprimanded by his superior French.

Sunday again, Francois Hollande, the Socialist candidate for president, said the French government, which controls 15% stake in Renault, should have objected this project.

On site, the concerns are different. The plant is warming up and getting ready to go in time dramatically. Once the final adjustments on the molds and machines made, stored procedures and actions that should be repeated 44 hours per week under control, the site will spend three months in a rhythm almost motionless for 30 vehicles per day to 30 per hour. Next year, a second line will spit out 60 vehicles per hour, one minute.

"The central Paris – Mr. Carlos Ghosn – gives us a fairly large tolerance to boot properly," said Tunç Basegmez, Turkish director of the Tangier plant. "The creation of the brand 'Made in Morocco' passes by."

If U.S. growth may be the envy of Europe, it resulted in an increase in imports and therefore the trade deficit reached $ 558 billion in 2011. Its highest level since 2008.

A moderate recovery is confirmed in the U.S. … and the trade deficit is widening. In December, imports reached their highest level since July 2008, said Friday the Commerce Department. Is a hole of 48.8 billion dollars against 47.1 billion (revised figure) in the previous month. This is more than the expectations of the analysts.

Over the full year 2011, the U.S. has a trade deficit of $ 558 billion, the highest since 2008. This represents 3.7% of gross domestic product. The trade deficit with China represents more than half of that total. At 295.5 billion dollars, it has largely beaten the record set in 2011.  

The overall trade deficit in December was partly explained by a phenomenon that seems to have widened in 2012: while the U.S. economy has maintained a respectable growth rate and thus increased its imports, the economies of the eurozone declined . This has particularly led to the largest monthly deficit ever recorded with Germany ($ 4.8 billion in December).

U.S. imports have generally increased by 1.3% this month, with among other record imports of capital goods. The trade deficit in petroleum products (24.4 billion) still weighed heavily. The average price per barrel of imported crude oil has exceeded $ 104, increasing by 5% within two months.

The housing market has included nine in the third quarter the prospect of a relapse into recession in the French economy with lower sales and housing starts, according to data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Housing.

More than 26,400 homes were sold in the third quarter, nearly 2,700 more than in the second quarter but 12.9% less than for the corresponding period of 2010.

Of the last four quarters, the number of sales totaled 101,300 or 10.7% less than in the previous four quarters.

A 71,600 homes at the end of the third quarter, the stock of new homes for sale is 14.4% higher than the third quarter of 2010.

The next summit of the euro zone is not enough to permanently resolve the debt crisis, warned Friday German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"There is no single solution, there is no solution 'big bang'," she told the annual conference of the German trade union IG Metall in Karlsruhe.

She added that a discount on the debt of Greece was not a panacea either.

Angela Merkel also reiterated his skepticism about the effectiveness of any "Eurobonds".

"They do not constitute a panacea," she said, holding that "the current situation, they would not help."

Germany's GDP should grow by just 0.8% in 2012 as planned. The first euro zone economy could contract in the same season. Germany

The growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will significantly slow the German next year, have predicted Thursday the major economic research institutes of Europe's largest economy, while the country will be affected by a financial crisis that is stain of oil. GDP is expected to increase by only 0.8% in 2012 from 2.9% expected this year, well below the previous forecast of these institutions (2%) and the official government forecast (1.8 %).

In a degraded environment, the government deficit in Germany, however, should continue to melt, reaching 0.9% this year and 0.6% next year, conservation efforts and strong revenue from this years bearing fruit.But Germany, whose economy is heavily export recovered strongly after the 2009 recession, can not escape the effects of the crisis of European public finances, about to lead to a banking crisis, economists predict .

Risk of credit crunch

"Because of the difficult situation of important partners, foreign trade should no longer participate in the growth," they write. The debt crisis raging, and the discussions that accompany it, also lead to "a crisis of confidence" that would restrain domestic demand. The problems of banks, which appear more and more fragile, will lead to difficult financing conditions that will hamper investment.

These difficulties are expected to peak in the fourth quarter of this year, with a decline in GDP (-0.2%).The institutes expect positive growth in every quarter of next year, but very modest. Any assessment is pessimistic economists, Germany should avoid a recession (two consecutive quarters of GDP contraction).

And good news, the labor market should continue to do relatively well, with a further decline in unemployment, due to 6.7% next year on average. German unemployment is at its lowest for 20 years. The bi-annual forecasts of the institutes are the basis for official government estimates, which will release its forecast adjusted Thursday.