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Philips Electronics said Monday it would cut 4,500 jobs after posting a net profit fall 85% in the third quarter due to higher raw material costs and restructuring charges.

The job cuts form part of a cost reduction of 800 million euros.

The world of lighting has also said it was considering various options for its television subsidiary, adding that negotiations with TVP to cede much of this activity was intense and constructive, but lasted longer than expected.

"In the event that a final agreement is not reached, Philips will consider alternatives," says CEO Frans van Houten said in a statement Monday.

Net income for the third quarter was 76 million euros against 524 million a year earlier. Turnover amounted to 5.394 billion euros against 5.46 billion.

The consensus of analysts polled by Reuters gave a net profit of 53.8 million and a turnover of 5.341 billion.

Arnaud Montebourg is the arbiter of the final duel between Martine Aubry and Francois Hollande in the Socialist primary. It requires commitment of both candidates on his favorite themes: the de-globalization, the moralization of finance and the renovation of political institutions. Decryption. Arnaud Montebourg received 17.2% of the votes in the first round of the Socialist primary, Sunday, October 9.

He is the man most courted of the week. With over 17.2% of votes in the first round of the Socialist primary, Arnaud Montebourg can tip the vote of the electorate to the left in the second round, Sunday, Oct. 16, in favor of either Francois Hollande (39, 2% of the vote) or Martine Aubry (30.7%). The deputy of Saone-et-Loire is also raising the stakes: the champion of de-globalization conditioned its support for consideration by the two contenders of his campaign themes.He waits, before deciding to know the positions of mayor of Lille and the member for Corrèze on four themes: "industrial protectionism, financial control, the Fifth Republic and the fight against corruption," Does detailed it in an interview with Liberation. The ideas of Arnaud Montebourg can they find their place in the curricula of Martine Aubry and Francois Hollande? In part, yes.

The fight against corruption

Behind the term corruption, Arnaud Montebourg is of course the dirty business of French politics – the case Karachi, suitcases and of course Ziad Takieddine Guerin splashing the PS of the Bouches-du-Rhone, but also tax havens. The deputy of Saone-et-Loire wants to dismantle tax havens. To do this, he advocates a ban on transactions originating in or destined for the territories.He wants to force French companies have subsidiaries in tax havens to be closed and will repatriate "hidden money" in these territories. It also promises to "severely punish" evasion.

If they have not been a major theme of their campaign, Francois Hollande and Martine Aubry are widely separated positions Montebourg in this area. The two finalists in the primary would also like to strengthen the fight against tax havens. The project also calls for the PS to prohibit banking secrecy within the European Union.

Financial control

Throughout his campaign, Arnaud Montebourg has been the voice of the struggle against "financial chaos". He argues for "dirigiste measures and prohibition." He wants to dismantle such rating agencies and offers in return for establishing a European public rating agency.He also advocated the establishment of an authority markets at European level and the merger of European stock exchanges to avoid unnecessary competition. Montebourg also argues for a 0.1% tax on financial transactions European … being adopted in Europe For banks, the deputy of Saone-et-Loire wants to "put under trusteeship." This would, he said, with an entry "authoritarian" state to the board of financial institutions, with a veto. The first act of the state would force them to separate their banking and retail banking.

Martine Aubry and Francois Hollande agree to force banks to split their activities. However, they are less enthusiastic about the proposal to enter without consideration to their governing body. This can be done, according to two candidates, if the State recapitalize banks.The tax on financial transactions in Europe and the creation of a European public rating agency proposals are included in the proposed PS. No word, however, on a possible merger of the exchanges.

Industrial protectionism

It's his hobby: the "de-globalization" – even if it does not use that word in the letter he sent to Martine Aubry and Francois Hollande. Arnaud Montebourg advocates the introduction of a carbon tax outside the borders of the EU imported products reflect "fair carbon cost, health and social", coupled with a carbon tax "within the Union European "encourage" companies to change their ways of producing. "The deputy of Saone-et-Loire advocates also provide France with an anti-dumping: a mechanism for unilateral ban certain products to market (non-EU) "in case of aggression by trade unfairly low prices."

On this subject, Martine Aubry and Francois Hollande are more cautious. The mayor of Lille prefers to speak of "fair trade" and "globalization safer." Specifically, it supports the creation of a tax "social and environmental planning at the entrance" of the products manufactured outside the EU. François Hollande speaks for his "new rules" of world trade, negotiated with other European partners, with "taxation" or "entry ban" of certain products, particularly from China. But according to the member of Corrèze, protectionism and autarky are not adequate responses.He believes that restoring the competitiveness of lights and the establishment of a genuine industrial policy are the best weapons against the adverse effects of globalization.

The Sixth Republic

For ten years, Arnaud Montebourg defends a change of constitution. The Sixth Republic is calling for that allocate roles between "a president who will, a government with the fullness of his powers and a Parliament with enhanced supervisory powers including the opposition." It would be a strong focus on popular initiative referendum, would end the impunity of the head of the state and would prohibit multiple directorships.

Martine Aubry and Francois Hollande do not return to their account the change of Republic but are in favor of a "modernization of political life." The mayor of Lille is to prohibit multiple directorships.She wants to introduce more proportionate in the national and local elections. Francois Hollande said that he will "put the institutions on their feet" "with a president who presides over a government that governs, a parliament that legislates." PS The project also plans to set up popular referendums.

Finally, proposals for Arnaud Montebourg are certainly more radical but not so far removed from those of Martine Aubry and Francois Hollande. "Do not overestimate the differences between Arnaud Montebourg and the other candidates. Arnaud used a more aggressive tone, but it is not necessarily become global justice. The measures that are advocated in the socialist family," concludes Olivier Ferrand, president of Terra Nova, the think tank of the PS.

Erste Group Bank said on Monday forecast a loss of 700 to 800 million euros in 2011, due both to past depreciation of the Romanian and Hungarian subsidiaries and reducing its exposure to the euro zone, which makes plunge under the Austrian bank.

By 10:30 GMT, action Erste Group fell by 13.07% to 17.99 euros while the index grouping the European banking stocks were unchanged.

The number two industry in Central and Eastern Europe also said that postponing the repayment of public funds and that it would pay no dividend for 2011.

"It's obviously disappointing news.We believe today's announcement is likely to trigger a cycle of lowering note and renewed concerns about the capital, in the light of the deteriorating business environment in Eastern Europe " commented GFI Research Institute.

Erste said that Hungarian law allows customers to repay loans taken in foreign currency at lower rates than the market would result in a loss of 500 million euros for its local subsidiary, which will thus 600 million euros of fresh capital.

The other Austrian bank Raiffeisen also plans to inject new capital into its Hungarian subsidiary as a result of legislation passed in Budapest.

In Romania, an economic recovery slower than expected will have the effect to Erste impairment pre-tax 700 million.

Erste also said to have reduced its exposure to sovereign debt of Greece, Portugal, Spain, Ireland and Italy at 600 million euros at end September, 95% of its exposure was valued at market value.

She said its Tier 1 ratio "core" would remain unchanged at 9.2%, operating income contributing to the compensation of special items.

The group's management said they do not need to raise additional capital or to receive from the State to ensure its compliance "Basel III".

The lack of progress on the issue continued to Greek drive down European shares Tuesday. Paris has opened a decline of 1.44%. The trading floor in Frankfurt

The lack of progress on the issue continued to Greek drive down European shares Tuesday, all seats have opened lower. After closing sharply down Monday already, Paris began a decline of 1.44%, 1.72% Frankfurt, London and Milan by 1.40% to 1.43%.

Monday the New York Stock Exchange finished at its lowest for over a year: the Dow Jones lost 2.36% and the Nasdaq 3.29%. The Tokyo Stock Exchange ended Tuesday for his part still down (-1.05%), investors also feared a worsening crisis of the Greek debt and worried about the fall of the euro vis-à-vis the yen.

Meeting in Luxembourg, the finance ministers of the euro zone on Monday night decided to postpone decisions regarding new loans crucial to Greece, to which they have requested additional budgetary efforts. "European officials have once again been unable, despite the urgency to take concrete measures, merely simple ideas," said one Paris-based analyst who requested anonymity. "The increasing uncertainty about Greece feeding the search for security" in the financial markets, analysts have estimated the UniCredit in Frankfurt.

More contributions to banks to help Greece

The Paris market was also affected by a precipitous decline in Dexia, which reached up to 37% in early trade, after an extraordinary board left open the possibility of dismantling the Franco-banking group Belgian overtaken by the crisis.

The only concrete step: the second aid plan for Greece, 109 billion euros promised July 21, saw down an obstacle to its implementation. The members of the euro area reached after weeks of procrastination to a compromise on the guarantees requested by Finland in Athens. The new plan could also be modified to be greater involvement of banks, which suffer a discount greater than 21% so far on their claims considered Greek. But those ads were still insufficient to investors.The rest of the Asian stock markets were moving sharply lower Tuesday morning, the euro continued its decline, falling to its lowest level in a decade against the yen.

The market will follow the meeting on Tuesday, from 09am, finance ministers of the entire European Union. No major announcement is expected at the meeting mainly aimed at preparing the summit meeting between finance ministers of the G20 countries scheduled October 13 to 16.

The deficit in Social Security should be reduced to 14 billion euros in 2012 due to the impact of pension reform and new conservation measures planned for the health branch, said Thursday Valérie Pécresse, the Minister of Budget .

The government on Thursday to present the draft law on financing of Social Security (PLFSS) 2012.

In June, the Commission on Social Security accounts were reduced to 19.5 billion euros deficit in its forecast for this year.

"Our forecast for 2012 is 14 billion deficit.Fourteen billion euros when it was scheduled for 2015, so we have two years ahead, more than two years ahead, "said Valerie Pécresse on France 2.

"For the health sector, the deficit will be less than six billion euros, while we were at 12 billion in 2010," she said.

She said the announced reduction of the deficit by increased revenues related to pension reform and a halving of the deficit of sickness, thanks in part to new savings measures.

This savings plan should include new delisting for about 40 million euros and 600 million in savings on drug prices through price reductions negotiated with pharmaceutical companies.

Representatives of small and medium sized French companies remain alert to changes in credit conditions, they warned Tuesday after a meeting with banks Tuesday to the Ministry of Economy.

The fear of a credit crunch, a danger often referred to as the English "credit crunch" has increased in recent days against a backdrop of falling bank stocks on the stock market and worsening crisis of sovereign debt.

"We are very vigilant," he told Reuters Etienne Bernard, chairman of SOHO-SME-ETI MEDEF, the French employers' organization first.

"In early September, we find, by clear feedback from the field, as banks ask lots of questions" for entrepreneurs, including their need or not unused credit lines, he added. "This questioning creates some anxiety."

Indicators presented by the Bank of France show a healthy distribution of credit, at least until July. But more recent data are not yet available.

"An annual growth of credit to SMEs beyond 4.8% was recorded in July," the Ministry of Economy in a statement."During this period, compared with the rest of the euro area, growth in credit to all businesses in France is much more dynamic (+4.5% against +1.6%)."

At the meeting, the Secretary of State for Small Business, "Frederic Lefebvre asked the representatives of banks to the financing of small and micro businesses a top priority," the statement said.

French Banking Federation (FBF) has ensured that banks were heavily involved with businesses.

"French banks have confirmed that they were doing their outreach, especially for SOHO / SME, a priority.They are determined to continue to provide funding for the economy as they have always done, "says the FBF in a statement.

The professional craft Union (UPA) has meanwhile welcomed the government intervention "to prevent a drying up of credit in small amounts."

She said in a statement that "loans of small amounts, often less than 25,000 euros, are the fuel companies."

"Remove that access to credit would sacrifice many companies on the altar of the crisis. A suicidal act when we know that crafts and local shops are among the sectors that have best weathered the crisis of 2008 and who saved many jobs, "continues the UPA.

Failures and start-ups fell by 3.5% and 21% in the first half in France over the same period last year, Coface said on Monday.

The decrease is due creations, according to the credit insurer, for a lesser interest in the status of entrepreneur.

The number of failures has reached 32,655, a level that is far from the pre-crisis, when the failures did not exceed 30,000 a semester, said Coface.

Only five sectors are increasing the number of failures, including transportation (9%), food (7%) and distribution (5%). Pharmaceutical, energy and agriculture and fisheries recorded in contrast to declines of more than 20%.

The number of jobs threatened by bankruptcy decreases by 7% over the first half of 2010.The failure of a company threatened 3.3 jobs on average in late June against 3.5 in late 2010.

The half saw a decrease of 19.6% in the number of creations, with nearly 320,000 new entities created, including 21% for businesses, which represent 85% of all creations.

The British advertising group Aegis is confident about its future after announcing strong organic growth in the first half and confirmed an annual perspective is now reserved.

The group, which in July sold its market research arm Synovate to French Ipsos for 525 million pounds (595 million), recorded organic growth of its turnover by 7.3% driven by strong performances, particularly in North America.

The major advertising groups showed solid performance in 2010 and 2011, as companies, providing most of the time their advertising budgets on an annual basis, continued to invest despite the turbulence in financial markets to protect their market share .

However, WPP and Publicis competitors have both warned that the year 2012 could prove more elusive.

Aegis has maintained an organic growth target for 2011 at least equivalent to 5.8% observed in 2010 and also provides for improved operating margins.

The sale of Synovate, which should ultimately bring 505 million pounds according to analysts, will also be fastened to the end of September, said the group, which plans to donate 200 million pounds to shareholders.

"In the medium term visibility is still relatively limited because the macroeconomic uncertainty remains," said general manager Jerry Buhlmann group."However, we remain positive for the future of Aegis, to be more concentrated (on its core business), especially with regard to the strength of our activities over the past 18 months."

The title gained 2.14% to 0830 GMT, valuing the company at about 1.8 billion pounds.

The German Constitutional Court will decide in early September on the constitutionality of the contribution of Germany plans to help Europe to Greece, Ireland and Portugal, a decision that could limit the flexibility of Berlin in the management the debt crisis that has shaken the euro area.

The Court in Karlsruhe said in a statement it will make September 7 at 8:00 GMT its decision after examining three complaints filed in July by six Eurosceptics.

The plaintiffs, five German university and a member of the conservative party CSU, believe that the plans of aid granted to Greece, Ireland and Portugal with the support of Berlin violate the German Basic Law and the European treaties, in especially a provision that a State may not be bailing out by others ("no bail out clause").

Five of the complainants had already, in the 1990s, tried unsuccessfully to the German Constitutional Court to prevent the introduction of the single European currency.

The German government insists that the participation of Berlin to the rescue of the most indebted countries in the euro area was done legally.

"I am confident that the decision of the Constitutional Court will confirm that we have violated neither the Constitution nor the European treaties," he reiterated Saturday the German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble.

Legal experts consider unlikely that the court in Karlsruhe decided to block German participation in the loans to countries in debt, but expect that judges impose conditions for granting new aid to states in the euro area.

The Court may require that such contributions to the Berlin European mechanism for financial stability – which will manage the bailout fund in 2013 – in the future are subject to a vote of the German parliament.

With the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the EU approved since last year of financial aid to Greece, Ireland and Portugal totaling 273 billion euros. Another plan decided to Athens last month provides some 109 billion euros in state aid.

Part of the German public opinion has recently offended by these bailouts, accusing its beneficiaries to have too long been living beyond their means.The current case in Karlsruhe gave German Chancellor Angela Merkel an argument over his hard line in managing the debt crisis in the euro area.

Germany has found it unnecessary to reinforce the existing European Financial Stability Fund and opposed the creation of Euro-bonds, while several European countries and financial markets increasing calls to create these bonds common to all the euro area.

European stock markets are expecting a strong signal on the governance of the euro area. German Chancellor has warned however that we should not expect the summit of spectacular announcements. President Nicolas Sarkozy meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Tuesday, August 16th at the Elysee Palace (both are here in Berlin July 20, 2011)

European shares opened slightly lower Tuesday, opting for caution before the Franco-German summit on the governance of the euro area. After three consecutive sessions of gains, Paris opened down 0.73%, 0.68% from London, Frankfurt 1.02%, Madrid and Milan by 0.65% to 0.28%. Monday, Paris won 0.78%, London 0.57%, 0.41% Frankfurt, Madrid 0.71% and 1.37% on the Swiss Exchange. New York has erased all its losses last week in garnering 1.90% for the Dow and 1.88% for the Nasdaq.

Global financial markets are also showing much more attentive Tuesday.Asian stock markets were the first very hesitant: Tokyo has ended up slightly from 0.23% after a session sawtooth and Sydney ended down slightly by 0.86%. Seoul, closed Monday, was an exception by closing up sharply from 4.83%.

All eyes are on the meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Nicolas Sarkozy from 4:00 p.m. at the Elysee Palace in Paris. "The markets are expecting a very strong signal: Is there a pilot on the plane to govern the euro area? Will you finally speak with one voice in the Franco-German and stop to maintain the cacophony that lasts for months and madden investors? "asked a Paris-based analyst who requested anonymity.

But hopes could be quickly showered.Berlin has in fact warned that they should not expect miracles, especially not that the two largest economies in the euro zone agreed to set up Euro-bonds, which would be financially harmful to Germany .

"It seems that there is an acute attention paid to this appointment, and we believe that the margin for a big disappointment," warned analysts at MF Global. This meeting should ultimately focused on the governance of the euro area, following decisions taken by Heads of State and Government of the European end of July.