News – Business & Economi

STMicroelectronics has reported late Monday a first-quarter loss that it attributed to a downturn in sales in the segment of products for mobile phones and the impact of a decision Justice.

Net loss for the first quarter totaled $ 176 million or $ 0.20 per share, against a net loss of $ 0.01 in the fourth quarter 2011 and net income of $ 0.19 per diluted share in first quarter 2011.

An arbitration STMicroelectronics forced to pay nearly $ 59 million to NXP Semiconductors.

The turnover is meanwhile stood at 2.02 billion dollars, representing a sequential decline of 8%. 

"The losses in the segment of products for cell phones (Wireless) have once again weighed on our quarterly results," said CEO of the leading European manufacturer of semiconductors, Bozotti.

For the second quarter 2012, the Company expects an increase in turnover of about 7.5% over the first quarter, plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Gross margin for the second quarter should be around 34.4%, plus or minus 1.5 percentage points.

STMicroelectronics fell sharply Monday on the Paris Stock Exchange after the announcement of an intensified restructuring of its subsidiary, ST-Ericsson.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange closed up 0.44% Thursday, a weaker yen supporting market sentiment and risk appetite without the Nikkei manages to surpass the 9,600 points .

The Nikkei gained 41.57 points to 9,595.57 and the Topix broader took 3.95 points (0.48%) to 829.35.

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.

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."

American investigative journalist Edward Epstein published a survey in which it reveals new details about the case of the Sofitel. He was convinced that Dominique Strauss-Kahn was the victim of a conspiracy. The case was carried from Paris. Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn (by leaving the financial police in Paris September 29, 2011)

The case of the Sofitel New York, which marked the end of the presidential ambitions of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, had a new twist Saturday, reviving questions about the possibility of a trap, already mentioned by close to Former IMF chief.In this investigation, the AFP was able to consult, the American journalist argues that the BlackBerry DSK could have been hacked.

Edward Epstein expressed confidence that "tried to derail" the candidacy of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, but declined to talk about "political conspiracy" created from scratch, in an interview with AFP on Saturday. In an interview on Europe 1 audio, it reaffirms that it is a conspiracy: "It is much like a political issue, but I do not have certainty," said he. "If it's a political issue, it's a matter of French politics. I think it came from Paris. It may come from the UMP, it can come from the secret services, that can even come from someone who s 'interested in the activities of the IMF. "

The UMP denies any involvement

On May 14, Dominique Strauss-Kahn called his wife Anne Sinclair told him that "something bad happened."

The Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi confirmed Saturday that his ministers would visit in the evening at the Quirinal Palace to tender his resignation to President Giorgio Napolitano, we learn by a government press release.

"Il Cavaliere" thanked his "co-government" and sent a special thanks to the Under Secretary (Chair of the Council) Gianni Letta "during a meeting lasting 35 minutes.

Silvio Berlusconi is expected to 8:30 p.m. at the Quirinal, according to political sources.

The President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Jean-Claude Trichet, said that the crisis of sovereign debt in Europe is not over and it is too early to estimate the lights returned to green.

In an interview with German newspaper Bild am Sonntag-, Trichet said, however, confident in the ability of governments in the euro area to restore financial stability.

According to him, this requires that the Stability Pact is comprehensive and is implemented in a manner vigorous.

For the head of the ECB, the agreement reached this week by leaders of the European Union to enter into practice in a very precise and fast."

"The decisions taken at the summit (this week) must be applied with precise and coordinated fashion. The leaders of governments in the euro area have a program. Now the hard work is waiting for governments and the European Commission," insists he said.

"A rapid and full implementation of decisions is now absolutely crucial," said he. "A rapid and complete promulgation of these decisions is now absolutely crucial," he insists.

The European Commission gave on Thursday, with the revision of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) and market abuse (MAD), launched a very heavy fall in the regulation of the finance sector .

Other texts to be published in the coming weeks include the third draft of the regulation of rating agencies, a European framework for the management of bank failures or closer supervision of the audit activity, not to mention ongoing negotiations on derivatives and the transposition of European agreements known as Basel III on bank capital.

The new rules on markets in financial instruments cover both the activities of banks in terms of brokerage, consulting, trading, portfolio management and underwriting services.

They also regulate the operation of traditional exchanges and other trading platforms – also called "multilateral trading facilities."

The rules on market abuse for their prey to cases of insider trading and market manipulation.

Eager to get tough practices, the Commission proposes a non-binding framework calling on member states to integrate criminal sanctions in their national legislation for people found guilty of such abuses.

In a statement, the Commissioner for the Internal Market, Michel Barnier, has insisted that the legislation met the market developments in recent years.

"The financial markets have to work to the real economy and not the other way (…) The crisis has shown that certain activities and financial products reached a degree of complexity and opacity changes as have become indispensable" , he said.

MARKET DEVELOPMENTS

Here is a list of the main proposals contained in these texts:

* Outside the MTFs and regulated markets, "organized systems of negotiation," in which particular exchange traded derivatives contracts will now be covered by European regulations.

* Algorithmic trading and the high frequency will be better framed to take into account the systemic risk they represent.

* The text on markets in financial instruments will also seek to increase the transparency of trading on equity markets, including the "dark pools".Bond markets and derivatives too should meet the rules of transparency.

* Supervision and oversight of derivatives markets on commodities will be increased. In coordination with the new supervisor European markets, national supervisors may prohibit certain products when they undermine investor protection, financial stability or proper functioning of markets.Operators have an obligation to report their positions and position limits will be introduced in case of market disruption.

* The rules for portfolio management, investment advice and offers of complex financial products are also strengthened.

* In terms of market abuse, the new regulation also seeks to adapt itself to the recent market now covering instruments traded on alternative platforms and OTC.

* Regulators will have increased access to information needed to detect and punish market abuse.The latter will be able to require disclosure of data from the telcos and access to buildings or private documents when a suspected market abuse.

* Finally, the range of sanctions is itself also revised upwards. Fines will not be less than the benefit obtained from the market abuse and may be up to twice that amount. The Commission also proposes to harmonize the national sanctions in this matter by criminalizing the countries where they are not considered as such.

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.