Barclays Bank has sold its retail banking operations in France, Les Echos reported in its Tuesday edition.
The newspaper announced on its front page "A" that the British group does want to keep in the Hexagon as their operations to large corporations.
It indicates that the Postal Bank and the HSBC Group "could bid".
No one was contacted Monday evening with the French bank for comment.
General Motors announced Wednesday consider selling its manufacturing plant in Strasbourg gearboxes and be looking for investors willing to maintain the site activity.
The U.S. automaker, which announced in February an alliance with PSA Peugeot Citroen, has appointed an advisory bank and committed a "strategic review" concerning both the production engineer neering and development of this plant, says in a statement.
He was willing to explore the internal and external solutions to find "viable alternatives and potential solutions to secure the future of the site".
General Motors intends to favor buyers who will continue the work site, which employs a thousand people.
This file may be one of the first industrial sensitive topics for the new president Francois Hollande, in a context of overcapacity in the hunt for European automotive sector.
Last year, the plant produced 280,000 automatic transmissions with six speeds, mainly for GM brands and BMW, mostly for vehicles assembled outside Europe.
This is the second time that General Motors is trying to lease the site. During the 2008 financial crisis, the company charged with liquidating the assets of the American manufacturer had not found a buyer. In 2011, a year after his brief for the procedure of bankruptcy, GM had bought the plant for a symbolic euro.
At the time, employees had accepted a two-year wage freeze in exchange for guarantees on jobs.
"There are several commitments in place to continue the manufacture of transmissions for years," assured Jim Cain, spokesman for GM.
The American public and private sectors have hired in April 25% of people below the previous month. A brake that is accompanied by a decrease in trompe l'oeil in the unemployment rate to 8.1%. The unemployment rate in the United States has still not deflated. "They need a job" REUTERS / Jason Reed (UNITED STATES – Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS Civil Unrest)
The controversy over the unemployment figures in the U.S. is not going to stop. The unemployment rate has indeed declined despite a decline in recruitment. According lenquête conducted by the Ministry with companies, the U.S. economy created 115,000 more jobs than it destroyed in April. Or 25.4% less than in March, and a figure lower than the estimate of analysts (162,000). A trend that confirms the investigation of the slowdown in hiring in the private sector alone.
Curiously, this poor performance has not prevented the official unemployment rate to fall by 0.1 points compared with April, amounting to 8.1%, its lowest level since January 2009, according to the Ministry of working. This decline is a surprise since the median estimate of analysts gave unemployment stable at 8.2%. Government figures show that the decline in unemployment has resulted primarily from lower rather marked in the labor force. According to investigations conducted by the ministry of households, the number employed appears to have declined for the second consecutive month, just slightly slower than that of people unemployed.
European shares ended sharply lower Monday, falling to a low of three months while disappointing economic indicators in the eurozone and political uncertainty in France and the Netherlands are threatening to stir the sovereign debt crisis in Europe.
In Paris the CAC 40 finished down 2.83% to 3,098.37 points, its lowest level in four months. The UK FTSE lost 1.85% and 3.36% the German Dax, while the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index lost 2.32%.
"The economic dynamics in the euro area is weakening and it will be more difficult for governments to achieve fiscal targets in an environment of low growth," said Emmanuel Cau, strategists ge at JPMorgan AM.
The sector index Stoxx 600 banks in the euro area fell by 4% to its lowest level since last November.
GDF Suez was down 2.68% despite increased performance in the first quarter thanks to Britain's International Power. It also confirmed its annual targets.
STMicroelectronics, largest decline in the CAC 40, fell 13.8% after the announcement of a further restructuring of its joint venture ST-Ericsson.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Monday it has presented his government's resignation to Queen Beatrix, who said she would consider it, paving the way for the e selection of a new parliament.
In France, Socialist Francois Hollande, topped Sunday, and the outgoing president, Nicolas Sarkozy, launched the campaign for the second round on May 6, whose outcome will depend part of the attitude of the voters of Marine Le Pen, the candidate of the National Front.
On the purely economic front, the flash PMI released in the morning came out below the most pessimistic estimates and raised fears a continuing recession in the euro area.
EDF Energies Nouvelles and Alstom are the big winners of the first tender for wind turbines off the French coast of the Channel, the second one being planned in the second half to achieve the target set for 2020.
This tender, intended to kick-start the offshore wind sector, should help France catch up it has accumulated in other European countries in terms renewable energy and reduce its dependence on the nuclear-vis.
The Industry Minister, Eric Besson, announced Friday the award of contracts representing a total capacity of 2,000 megawatts, the equivalent of two small nuclear reactors.
These capabilities are less than a third than originally expected, the field Tréport (Seine-Maritime, Somme) has not been allocated for lack of sufficient competition.
The consortium formed by Alstom and EDF with Danish Dong Energy and won three of the five fields involved: Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique), Fécamp (Seine-Maritime) and Courseulles-sur-Mer (Calvados), or a volume of about 240 wind turbines.
Spain's Iberdrola and the French group Areva will see their side of the field jointly awarded the Saint-Brieuc (Côtes d'Armor), which should bring 100 turbines.
GDF Suez, which had also formed a consortium with Areva, gets nothing at this stage but will compete in the second tender.
"This decision will enable France to continue the development of renewable energy that are, next to nuclear power one of the two pillars of our policy e ; nergétique, "said Eric Besson at a press conference.
"A NEW INDUSTRIAL SECTOR"
He confirmed the target of 6,000 megawatts of capacity by 2020, as set by the Grenelle Environment for offshore wind and marine energy. The latter also include turbines, turbines use the energy of ocean currents, for which a separate tender is planned within two years.
The second tender will involve particular area Tréport and that of Noirmoutier, he said.
The selection of candidates announced Friday an investment of seven billion euros and the creation of 10,000 direct manufacturing jobs, argued Eric Besson.
"The foundations of a new industry and export are asked," welcomed his side in a statement the consortium led by EDF Energies Nouvelles, a subsidiary of EDF.
While Alstom plans to invest 100 million euros and generate up to 7.500 jobs with its partners, the challenge will be for the group to impose its new generation of turbine Haliade, inaugurated on March 19 to book (Loire-Atlantique).
Alstom, which confirmed Friday the establishment of four plants in Cherbourg and Saint-Nazaire for its wind Haliade says that orders, amounting to over two billion euros, will occur by field field from 2014.
Areva has now put forward his experience and that could create 4,000 jobs in France, including 1,000 in its single perimeter, while GDF Suez has raised up 'to 6,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Interviewed by three regional newspapers, Nicolas Sarkozy accused of "permanent CFDT" having "betrayed the trust of employees" in Florange. It was already taken last month at the SGC. President and candidate for reelection Nicolas Sarkozy (here Aytre February 21, 2012)
The bridges are cut between Nicolas Sarkozy and some unions. In an interview with three regional dailies – Eastern Republican, Rep. Lorraine and Vosges Matin, the presidential candidate accused of "permanent CFDT" of having "betrayed the trust of employees Florange", an attack that responds to criticism against the SGC in March, accused of trying to "play a political role". In fact, the CFDT and the CGT do not hide their anti-Sarkozyism.
Read also: Why the unions have lost their neutrality in 2012
When asked by the newspapers to "anger rising in Florange," Mr. Sarkozy responded: "Let's not confuse the workers, and worried that I got for 17 million euros investment and staff of the CGT or CFDT, two million of work done on the liquid phase immediately-this-works started, 7 for coke, 8,000,000 to the manufacturing plant of automotive products. " "This investment is for Florange! It is decided. If this work had not been committed, it was certain that the blast did not return," added the incumbent.
"As for the permanent of the CFDT," he added, "they betray the trust of employees. They came to insult me and try to break my campaign headquarters. Do not confuse the employees of Arcelor-Mittal, which I will not let go, and trade unionists who cheat their members by making policy instead of defending the interests of employees ". Mid-March, about 200 steelworkers steelworks Florange had come to Paris with the intention to go before the campaign headquarters of Nicolas Sarkozy as a large police had been deployed. Brief scuffles had broken out then with law enforcement.
Salaries revved up on the Asian continent. In some Chinese provinces, the minimum wage is the same as in Romania. But China is really less competitive? A factory in China flat panel displays.
Competitiveness of Asia is it falling? The English-language newspapers and French launch debate, astonishing figures to support. The Wall Street Journal, remuneration ignite the entire Asian continent. In Thailand, the minimum wage should be increased by 40% in early April. In Indonesia, it has already increased by 20% in many areas in recent months. In China, wages have jumped 181% since 2004. In several parts of China, the minimum wage is now at the same level as Bulgaria and Romania, the newspaper Les Echos.
This surge in earnings, barely slowed by the crisis, he signs the end of the "low cost" in Asia? It is still too early to tell. Certainly, if one believes the economics textbooks, China and its neighbors will lose, with wage growth, competitive advantage in sectors intensive in labor, such as textiles and electronics. A phenomenon which should result in a second step, an upscale Asian.
Except that on the ground, it's not really what we observe, notes Francoise Lemoine, China economist at CEPII. In recent months, China's exports, for example, slowed less quickly than international trade. In other words, the weight of the Middle Kingdom in trade has rather strengthened over the recent period, although the announcement of a record trade deficit has cooled the market!
Moreover, China still has a structural advantage in competitiveness. Wages are only part of the story. We must also look productivity, says Francoise Lemoine. It increases by 10% per year. And foreign companies operating in China are careful not to let this figure decreasing through investments. Indeed, even if wages increase rapidly, especially in the eastern regions which provided further in 2009 nearly 90% of exports, their growth does not exceed that of productivity frankly. Ultimately, the competitiveness of China is still largely preserved.
Especially since the Middle Kingdom has another asset: its reservoir of manpower. China continues to move part of its production in the inland provinces, where wages are lower. Of course, Beijing began a decade ago a rebalancing policy, which should eventually lead to an increased weight of consumption over exports. But do not misinterpret this policy: China has not given up being an exporting nation, says Francoise Lemoine.
In fact, given its advantages, China may well remain very competitive for ten years. However, its scope for growth in the markets today is much lower than that of a decade ago, due to wage increases of course, but also because of the proliferation of protectionist measures, such as the segment solar panels. One statistic sums up the situation in China. Its share in world exports of manufactured goods reached 16%. But in the past, this level has always been a peak for the major exporting countries, whether the United States, Germany or Japan.
Qatar has raised its stake to 12.8% stake in Lagardere and intends to seek a position on the supervisory board of the media group, we read in a notice published Monday by the Authority ; financial markets.
Qatar Holding said hold 12.83% stake in Lagardere. society, which belongs to the sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Autority, said it had also surpassed the 10% voting rights, 10.05%.
She added that it reserves the possibility to further increase its stake in the company but said not wanting to take control.
However, it indicates it intends to seek a position on the supervisory board and "talk to all interested actors, as appropriate, in light of strategic partnerships to create value in ; long-term shareholder, with the stipulation that there is currently no specific plans in this regard ".
March 11, 2011, a violent earthquake struck Japan, followed by a giant tsunami that resulted in the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Quantitative assessment, inventory of nuclear stock of the Japanese economy: five links to learn more about this sad anniversary. Tepco employees check the levels of radioactivity of the nuclear accident in Fukushima, in the province of Daiichi (northeastern Japan)
There are just over a year, March 11, 2011, northeastern Japan was devastated by an earthquake measuring nine coupled with a tsunami of historic proportions. The disaster has claimed thousands of victims, caused enormous damage and caused the nuclear accident at Fukushima.
In pictures, the great figures of the earthquake
Minami-Soma, city of Fukushima prefecture, was devastated by the disaster. This small coastal town near the nuclear power plant has lost thousands of its inhabitants. The survivors are now wondering about their future. Many have already fled. Remain ghosts and memories.
Report: After Fukushima, the city of Minami-Soma broken
That day, March 11, 2011, Naoto Kan, the then Prime Minister of Japan, was in the upper house of the Diet, where he answered questions from the opposition. Exclusive to L'Express, he tells how he lived and managed the disaster crisis.
Interview: "Fukushima has a human cause"
The disaster cost the Japanese economy has plunged into recession. Japan's GDP fell 0.7% in 2011. The country now seems out of crisis. Growth expected to reach 2% this year. But this rebound is largely artificial.
Analysis: What is the Japanese economy?
The Fukushima nuclear disaster has brought discredit to the entire industry. Fear of nuclear is back in the public opinion of developed countries, pushing many governments – including Germany – have announced their willingness to exit this mode of energy production. Yet it is clear that today's nuclear industry is doing well. Besides the contrasting reactions in the West, emerging countries are determined to take advantage of the strengths of the atom.
Understanding: Why nuclear winter has not taken place
In Japan, only three of 54 reactors still operating aujoud'hui. That of Fukushima is stopped. The area is off limits, because the radioactivity level is high. Tepco, the operator says the situation is under control. Roland Desbordes, Commission President for Research and Independent Information on Radioactivity (Criirad), in doubt.
Interview: "The explosion in central Fukushima is still possible"
In France, where 80% of electricity is nuclear, Fukushima has shaken public opinion. The debate on nuclear phase-out has made a great comeback. A year later, ecology seems the most overlooked of the presidential campaign. Environmentalists, advocates of a permanent exit from nuclear, are credited with less than 5% of the vote. Their socialist allies negotiated a minimum agreement. A group called "Generation Fukushima", who fight against nuclear power, attempts to remedy this lack.
Read on Express Yourself: "Your nuclear legacy, we do not want it!"
The luxury group PPR has formalized the appointment Wednesday of Hedi Slimane as creative director of fashion house Yves Saint Laurent, Stefano Pilati where it will replace, standing ovation Monday when presenting his latest collection of scratched e YSL.
Hedi Slimane and found the house in which he led the men's fashion from 1997 to 2000, before knowing the glory at Dior.
The designer will now assume responsibility for the overall artistic YSL brand and all its collections, PPR said in a statement.
Along with these new features, Hedi Slimane continues his photographic career.
Stefano Pilati was artistic director of Yves Saint Laurent since 2004.
Like all luxury brands, YSL has signed a particularly brilliant year 2011. Its sales have taken off from 31% to 353.7 million euros and operating profit quadrupled to 41 million euros.
As with many other brands, profitability was driven by the success of its leather goods, more profitable than the loan-to-wear.