Sales and EBITDA exceed expectations

The energy company's EBITDA rose him, from 4.4% to 10.4 billion euros against 9.93 billion euros targeted by analysts. And the turnover amounted to 37.5 billion euros, up 7.7% and also above the expectations of experts, which amounted to 35.9 billion euros. The increase in sales figures is primarily due to acquisitions and CEng SPE, the company said.

EDF maintains its annual outlook

In terms of outlook, EDF has confirmed its objectives for the current year. It is thus an organic EBITDA growth of between 3% and 5%, a ratio of net debt / EBITDA of between 2.5 and 3, and a stable dividend.However, the company said it was a nuclear power between 405 TWh and 415 TWh in France for the whole year, with an availability target of its nuclear plants between 78.5% and 79.5 %. It had previously targeted a rate of availability of its French nuclear plants up 1.5 point "at least" in 2010 compared to 2009. This rate is crucial for the profitability of the group has been set at 85% over the medium term.

In addition, EDF has confirmed two information widely mentioned by the press. The electrician has announced a delay of two years starting from the EPR Flamanville cost of construction and re-evaluated at 5 billion euros.

On the other hand, the group said it has received an offer from Li Ka-shing on its UK business.The Hong Kong billionaire head of Cheung Kong Infrastructure offers 6.9 billion euros for the acquisition of the distribution network owned by EDF in the UK.

Yi Tang – Rather than "slow", I prefer to use the term "consolidation". China has still a yoy growth of 10.3% in the second quarter. The Chinese economy has certainly been a highest of 11.9% in the first quarter of this year and two of the three engines of China's economic growth in infrastructure investment and consumption have in fact seen their share in gross domestic product ( GDP) decline, while exports increased. But this consolidation is a natural and even necessary to avoid overheating. Note that the consolidation levels are higher than last year at the same time.Now, the year 2009 was so exceptional for the Chinese economy as a result of comparison with this year will necessarily be less favorable. We expect GDP% between 9 and 10% in 2010 to China.

What impact is there on the Chinese stock markets?

Paradoxically, since the confirmation of the consolidation of the Chinese economy, Asian stock markets' performance rather positive. However, fears of overheating and "double dip" (recession followed by recovery and then a new relapse) had plagued the financial markets and new opportunities for the long-term investors on the Shanghai and Scholarships Hong Kong. We encourage individuals to return to Chinese equities from one or two months and are positive for twelve or eighteen months.We also note that investors have a vision of increasing long-term actions, while so far the Chinese were accustomed to behave as short-term approach and more sheepish than international investors. He must be aware of that being a portfolio manager is very young in this country: the first asset management companies in China were introduced in 1998.

The change of status of China, which moves from an economy driven by exports to an economy supported by domestic consumption, he will offer new opportunities for investors?

Absolutely. This change is very positive for China and especially since it is now confirmed. The country has long said he would change the economic model without it being proved by the figures. Quite the contrary. The share of domestic consumption in GDP fell between 2001 and 2007.But since 2008, the government has clearly realized its desire to boost domestic demand by increasing spending on health and grants for education or for poorer totally free credit score.

This change will he impact your portfolio allocation?

We will clearly strengthen us in the consumer values. Our specialists will visit various areas of the region and identify trends. We are generally positive on the cyclical sectors in which the valuations are relatively attractive.

We will also strengthen the real estate industry. Three months ago, the government has taken a series of measures in this field. While the sector has seen massive sales, we have to position ourselves.Since April, we recorded an increase of 20% for a pocket which represents only 6% of our portfolio. Finally, we are strengthening in the commodities sector, because we thought that economic activity remains strong in China, and that the sector is oversold.

Conversely, we will reduce the share of defensive stocks such as pharmaceuticals (6.5% to 2%) and telecommunications (15% to 12/13%), for which we won respectively 40% and 50% and between 11% and 20%. We believe, unlike other managers forced to remain invested through management benchmarked, that valuations are too high now. For the first time we have seen in China as heads of companies bought back shares with their own money. This confirms our fundamental belief that companies are good and that the Chinese economy remains in good health.Rather than trying to replicate the performance of an index, we prefer to focus on the fundamentals of companies and their level of recovery.

Agricultural Bank of China could become the biggest IPO. Have you positioned in this title?

We have not invested in Agricultural Bank of China because we believe that the action is too expensive. Moreover, we do not, in general, the market capitalization as a criterion for management. We are lacking in banking stocks for nearly two years, but gradually reinvest in this sector. If the fundamentals of the Chinese economy evolve only very rarely, the value of its businesses varies, it very quickly. We will focus again to the Agricultural Bank of China, where the valuations of financial stocks will be more attractive.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro retreated against the dollar, traders were playing the card of caution before the release Friday of the results of resistance testing of the 91 largest European banks.In the morning, the euro was at 1.2867 dollars against 1.2881 dollars the previous day.

The session will be moderated somewhat in the macro, no indicator being expected that day, but many U.S. corporate results must be published in mid-day, including Coca-Cola and Wells Fargo banks and Morgan Stanley free credit score.

On the side of values, Apple released its quarterly after the close of Wall Street.The firm at the apple once again exceeded market expectations in the third quarter of fiscal offset with net income up 78% year on year to 3.253 billion dollars, and sales far beyond forecasts.

Always on the side of values, the U.S. Internet portal Yahoo! posted a group net profit up 51% year on year to 213.32 million dollars in the second quarter, better than expected by analysts, but its sales came out virtually unchanged.

Also note, the British oil giant BP, which is listed on Wall Street has reached an agreement on Tuesday with U.S. rival Apache to sell him to seven billion dollars in assets, making a sudden the majority of assignments to which it s 'was hired to offset the cost of the spill.

According to the union South, "Total and bends to the court decision of the Court of Appeal of Douai, which ordered the restart of the refinery. The court ordered on June 30 to restart the Flanders refinery within 15 days under penalty of 100,000 euros per day of delay, for failure to inform employee representatives.

The oil company had decided to turn 12 July to lodge an appeal and to refer the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Nanterre to decide the merits of the case. A hearing must be held September 17.

"The degassing plant should begin from Monday.It is a prerequisite, whatever the scenario for the future of the refinery that is to say either restarting the activity or the implementation of the conversion plan of the site " , told Agence France Presse (AFP) A spokesman for Total. For employees, it is a "victory" and the "first step in restarting the site," said Philip Wullens in turn, delegate to the refinery south of Flanders.

The activity of the Flanders refinery were interrupted in September 2009 before the March 8 management confirms its final decision, citing overcapacity in France.The employees went on strike on 12 January to protest against the lack of information about their future.

All of the 367 employees and subcontractors are expected to resume work on Monday in 14 hours, said Philip Wullens, stating that "the moment the picket line facilities will be maintained on the site."

The operations consist of evacuating the degassing units and pipes in the refinery, gas and existing products, which were introduced in September to maintain the facilities in state. "This will take several weeks or months, and will be followed by an inspection to determine if the site is again able to operate safely," said Executive Officer of Total.

In the meantime, "the full strength and all subcontractors will be maintained.This is not negligible, and for us, is above all a great relief, "said Philip Wullens yet. He added: However, "we remain very vigilant regarding the implementation of the restart and continued litigation.

"We find orders of magnitude quite similar to (those of the storm, ed) Xynthia" for the party claims related to flooding and not the storm, said at a news conference, Mr. Spitz who noted that the average cost of a loss related to water was significantly higher than that of a loss related to the wind.

60% of the victims compensated in three months

The importance of the bill can be explained by the fact that many businesses were affected, and many car dealerships, said President of the FFSA, which also mentions several herds decimated."We do not yet make a more precise estimate than that," said Mr. Spitz, indicating that many insurers have themselves been victims of floods, making it difficult to make accurate estimates.

The torrential rains last week in the Var and the floods that have caused have affected 1,000 companies, according to the prefecture of the Var.

The cost of the storm Xynthia, which swept France in the west is February 28 and killed 53 people, was estimated by the FFSA to 1.5 billion euros, 700 million due to flooding to about 500,000 claims in total. Mr. Spitz said that in three months, about 60% insured Xynthia victims had received compensation.

deterioration of the profitability of insurers

"The year 2010 does not start better than 2009 in terms of claims," commented the managing director of the FFSA Jean-François Lequoy. Propagation of climatic events in 2009, including storms and Klaus Quinten, but also the increase of thefts and claims costs have put pressure on insurers, who have been forced to raise their prices in home and automobile.

The impact of floods but also Var Xynthia the storm on the combined ratio (compensation and overhead ratio of the amount of premiums collected) for insurers "will be visible," said Stéphane Penet, director of property insurance and liability The FFSA, which should lead to a further deterioration of the profitability of insurers.

Impact on the accounts of French insurance in 2010 should still be "substantially mitigated by the effect of reinsurance," assured Mr. Penette. Once again, Mr. Spitz called for strengthening the policy to prevent natural hazards in France. He has proposed to bring together all available data on the subject, by crossing those departments, insurers and the Central Reinsurance Fund (JRC). "There is a mobilization of public actors to improve the prevention work," observed the President of the FFSA.

To choose between two companies in the euro area, 53% of investors focus first on to dissect the "fundamentals", only 16% consider the prospects for growth as critical. Which is good in this day and age.

Even mood on Wall Street, where the Dow Jones gained 1.16% and the Nasdaq 1.66% shortly after the close of European stock.

And Thursday morning, Asian stock markets confirms the renewed investor optimism. The indices are displayed in positive territory while a series of good gives figures balsam inside investors.

U.S. growth is reassuring, Ben Bernanke also

Published yesterday, the Fed's Beige Book confirmed an increase in economic activity in the United States without signs of inflation, reinforcing the idea that the Fed is in no hurry to raise interest rates.The Federal Reserve announced it was expecting a GDP of 3.5% for 2010 and "somewhat" more in 2011. In May, the Fed was between 3.4% and 4.5% for 2011.

Its chairman, Ben Bernanke, indqiué he remains attentive to the evolution "of the situation abroad. His comments are aimed at Europe in turmoil budget. He said however, "reassured by the answers of Europeans," holding that they have developed a "substantial program.

The economic indicators of importance

Industrial production in France in April will be known at 8:45. At the same time, figures on employment in the first quarter will be released by INSEE.

In Frankfurt, while it is held by the Governing Council, Jean-Claude Trichet, head of the European Central Bank, will deliver the Bank's decision on interest rates to 1% today.A status quo is preferred.

Like every Wednesday, the weekly unemployment benefit claims in the United States will be published at 14.30. The figures on foreign trade in April will be known at the same time.Then, 20 hours, investors will follow the budget execution figures for the month of May

Japan remains the second largest economy after the United States, while the revised official figures and show a growth of 5% in the first quarter of 2010.

France Telecom, one aggrégateurplus a producer

Value-laden France Telecom, which held its annual meeting Tuesday, it appeared necessary to adapt its strategy contained in the competitive environment and has therefore become more assertive as an aggregator and as a producer, said Wednesday Stéphane Richard, his manager General at the General Assembly no teletrack payday loan.

In addition, the telecom authority (Arcep) on Wednesday defended a regulatory context to counterbalance the dominance of France Telecom in the telephony market in France.

Air France-KLMSelon information Figaro, Ethiopian Airlines is preparing to sign an agreement with Star Alliance to join the alliance dominated by Lufthansa. Air France is being shaken to its network and the most profitable.

Total oil group participates in the construction of a solar concentrator 100 megawatts in Abu Dhabi, the largest in the world.

Renault head to change the financial department. Thierry Moulonguet will be replaced by the CEO of RCI Banque.

Imerys The Strategic Investment Fund (ISF) has announced Wednesday the fall departure of chief executive Gilles Michel, who will join the group of industrial minerals and construction materials, which is expected to become CEO in 2011, to succeed Gerard Buffière.

The Auchan retail group and its Taiwanese partner Ruentex preparing to list their Chinese activities on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, according to Les Echos published Wednesday. A first for the family business.

French Members Banks, which begin Thursday in open discussion of the draft law regulating banking and finance, also want to discuss with the Government of the German measure to ban naked short selling.

EADS Eurofighter has launched negotiations with Germany, Spain, Britain and Italy to convince these countries to invest 10 billion euros in the next phase of production of its combat aircraft.

Moreover, during the Berlin Air Show, Louis Welsh, the executive chairman said he was "delighted if we could forge a partnership with Embraer, the Brazilian counterpart, said FinanzNachrichten.

The form that could take this partnership has not been specified. In the past, EADS has held a minority stake in Embraer, which he sold in 2007.

These appointments were, in principle, a specific purpose: to expose government stakeholders and especially the method of the calendar months. In the method, it is clear that it will be a consultation and not negotiation. The Executive will not seek to sign an agreement with unions he knows already lost the bet and try to get, at best, the benevolent neutrality of both restrained anger of others …

On the calendar, some guests Eric Woerth has already been informed of the broad potential.Except reversal, the government is a parliamentary debate early in the fastest possible in September. To avoid giving the impression to "trap" the French text, revealing a heart of summer, this would require legislation by the Cabinet in late June and early July.

In this context, the Minister of Labour should offer to unions and employers to review in early May to scan all possible to rectify the accounts, then dig in some more detail in a few weeks later. This agenda will not prevent small employer and union representatives today to remind the Minister priorities. Starting with the maintenance of the legal age of retirement at age 60 for all unions except the CFE-CGC."It is vital that young people regain confidence in our pension system, said the representative of the union executives, Daniele Karniewicz. If the government is prepared to guarantee to every French pension representing a minimum percentage of their final salary, that percentage could be higher for minimum wage earners than for executives, then we are prepared to look hard. "

"Taking the specific

If the file pension remains explosive, the Elysee seems to send some recent signs of goodwill towards the unions. Nicolas Sarkozy has discussed the idea of relaxing, it was minimal, the tax shield, which would allow the "efforts" necessary to save the pension to be borne by all.

Aides to President also raised the possibility of a "specific charge on certain categories" population Guaranteed pay day loans. Tracks that can only talk to the CGT or CFDT, who constantly demand the abolition of the shield, or FP, which requires additional resources for retirement.

Another element could help to relax the atmosphere a little: the unions know that the documents be published on Tuesday Guidance Council pensions-that is the second highlight of the week will go less far than expected. The NRC will assess, as expected, "the extent of damage."In recalling an annual shortfall of 100 billion euros to balance plans in 2050 in late January in Le Figaro, Francois Fillon has already set an order of magnitude.

However, encryption of 7 scenarios for postponement of retirement age or longer duration of assessment is delayed two weeks at least. And it will be published as part of an "Attachment", supposed to have less power than a traditional formal report. There are a few more days, Jean-Christophe Le Duigou (SGC) raged against "these extravagant hypotheses tested without scientific rigor."But this time might amount only to fall to jump better.

A deep left-right

According to a Harris Interactive poll for RTL (online survey 8 and April 9 to 1 073 people quota method), the French consider it necessary to pension reform (80%) … but to show opposed to preferred by the tracks government. 56% say they are not "personally willing to contribute for longer" and 60% rejected the idea of lower legal age of retirement.

These two cases show a deep political divide. The left-wing supporters refuse to 78% as the legal age of retirement is down beyond 60 years. The supporters are right whereas 62% consider this track.Oddly enough, a story appears, however, collect some consensus: 87% say "right" but 77% of respondents "left" are in favor of "a pension plan for employees in the same public and private . That would still be, from a strictly technical point of view, one of the most complex to implement!

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"The Climate Stabilization mask disparities between sectors: The climate in the industry is improving as he deteriorates in services and retailing," notes the INSEE.

In industry, the index of business climate earns three points to 94 points but remained below its long-term average. Stocks, albeit at very low levels continue to decline, according to business leaders surveyed by INSEE. The outlook for the coming months rose three points.

The situation is worse in services, the index lost two points to 87 points in March, against 89 in February."The economy is faltering," said INSEE and "slow in coming months." Business leaders review "sharply downward their expectations of activity compared to the February survey, INSEE noted.

The retail trade is suffering for its part a slowdown in recent months, particularly in the automobile. The index of business climate in the sector loses two points in March to 98 points. In the construction sector, the index remains stable at 93 points.

The story goes that the emir of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, had returned to its initial project promoters with poor 90 floors. "We thought little of beating the record held by the Taipei 101 tower. But the client asked us each to go higher, but we set limits, "says architect Bill Baker, the firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago, developer of the skyscraper.

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