Top Economics News

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.

Lloyds has surprised investors by announcing Tuesday a 36% reduction of its bad debts and a quarterly profit after the loss of 3.5 billion pounds (4.3 billion) realized a year ago.

At midday, the action of the British bank and advanced 2.32% to 31.73 pence while the FTSE 100 London Stock Exchange, the only open in Europe in May 1 , gained 0.24%.

The UK bank has yet announced that it had a fresh supply of 375 million pounds (459 million) in its accounts for the first quarter to cover the reimbursement of customers who potentially overpaid for certain insurance policies. 

Lloyds 40% owned by the State since the 2008 financial crisis, said the increase in provisions in the case of insurance policies had been decided e given the increasing volume of complaints received, echoing comments made by Barclays last week about it.

Last year, Lloyds had already funded £ 3.2 billion for the same reasons.

The group also said that the sale of 632 programmed agencies made little progress, while being pessimistic about the UK economy, fallout recession in the first quarter.

"We think the economy will stagnate this year but it will be a long and difficult recovery. We anticipate a resumption of growth in 2013 and a peak in unemployment of almost 9% early next year, "said Antonio Horta-Osorio, Director General ; ral

. Lloyds bank has cleared the first three months of a taxable income Statutory 288 million pounds over the period, against 316 million the previous quarter

. The largest British settlement in terms of customers reported a level of bad debts to 1.7 billion pounds

.

The bill to nationalize the oil company YPF, the Spanish subsidiary of Repsol was adopted Wednesday in the Argentine Senate committee, which should allow the vote in plenary sitting of the text ; re next week.

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez announced Monday his intention to nationalize 51% of YPF, the first oil company in the country, drawing criticism from the international community.

Wednesday, the government decided to include the company YPF Gas, another company controlled by Repsol, which distributes propane and butane, in the Bill of nationalization of YPF.

The action YPF, which had already fallen in anticipation of the announcement of the nationalization, has still dropped 28% Wednesday. 

Tuesday night, Argentina announced that it had no intention of paying the $ 9.3 billion (7 billion) claimed by Repsol YPF to 51%.

"Everyone knew that the risk of nationalization was high," said an Argentine economist familiar with the matter YPF. "But now we have more information on the price that Argentina wants to pay for a controlling stake in YPF."

The United States said Wednesday that the proposed nationalization was a "negative development" and said they were very concerned.

Spain for its part should ask the EU to avail of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to ensure the open proceedings against Argentina.

A meeting of European foreign ministers is scheduled for Monday to decide how to resolve the dispute between the two countries.

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.

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.

Wall Street ended down about 0.5% Wednesday, interrupting a series of four consecutive sessions of gains, after investors have concluded about the Reserve Chairman fe ; Re public that there will be no immediate further monetary easing.

The Dow Jones Industrial 30 yielded 0.41%, or 53.05 points, to 12,952.07. The S & P-500, wider, lost 6.50 points, or 0.47%, to 1365.68. The Nasdaq Composite fell 19.87 points to his side (-0.67%) to 2,966.89.

At his hearing before the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives, Ben Bernanke noted that there had been improvements in the labor market, although it also said he had to accelerate growth in the United States that will reduce an unemployment rate considered unacceptable.

Recognition of a better employment has, ultimately, been interpreted as not going in the direction of an imminent new bond buyback program, possibility Ben Bernanke himself had not ruled out during the press conference which followed the last monetary policy meeting of the Fed's late January. 

"Market participants felt that Ben Bernanke was slightly less accommodating than before – and I stress the word 'slightly'," said Michael Marrale, managing director at RBC Capital Markets.

The statements of Fed chairman supported the dollar and weighed on commodity-related values, with a sector index down by 1.74%.

The decline of Wall Street has been limited by the publication of an index of purchasing managers in the Chicago area much better than expected in February, its highest since April 2011 . 

The publication of the Fed's Beige Book, which says that the U.S. economy grew at a moderate pace in January and mid February, was also ; a factor of support.

The decline Wednesday is also linked to profit taking after the series of increases in recent days. And, throughout the month, the Dow Jones gained 2.5%, the S & P 500 4.1% and Nasdaq 5.4%.

Analysts also note that the volumes were less expanded in comparison to the average of February.

European shares lost ground Tuesday in mid-session, while Wall Street expected a slight decline in market weighed down by disappointing results considered and the fear absence of agreement on a new bailout of Greece.

The CAC 40 was down 0.49% to 3,388.68 points at mid-session, while the Frankfurt Stock Exchange yields 0.74%, 0.42% London and the Eurostoxx 50 declined of 0.54%.

Torn between the impatience of Europe and the exasperation of its people, Greek political leaders meet Tuesday in full general strike, to give their response to measures drastic demanded by donors of Athens.

Investors are also made them more cautious approach to the meetings of European and British central banks Thursday. 

"Investors have begun to lift a little from the base until the rate decisions of the Bank of England and European Central Bank (…) while Greece remains a focus of the market, "said Joshua Raymond at City Index strategies.

Side values, ArcelorMittal shows the strongest increase in the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50's, with a gain of 2.3%. The steelmaker has published the results meet expectations and be announced ahead of its goal of reducing its debt. Its subsidiary of stainless steel Aperam takes 8%.

UBS was down 0.9%. The Swiss group announced a net profit of 393 million Swiss francs for the fourth quarter of 2011, with a loss before taxes of CHF 256 million in investment banking and prudent for a speech Q1 euro zone.

The Swiss Swatch lost 4.2%, a victim of profit taking after the announcement of results in line with expectations for 2011 and a double-digit growth in demand for watches and jewelery in January .

Alfa Laval lost 8.9%, following orders and operating profit below expectations, mainly because of lower demand from shipyards.

In Paris, LVMH loses more than 3.4%, largest drop in the ACC. The title continues to be a victim of profit taking, just like Swatch, after his strong performance in 2011.

Lagardere lost 5.1% after posting a turnover of slightly worse than expected and have announced writedowns of about 900 million euros.

The second Japanese bank, Mizuho Financial, reported Tuesday a fall of 80% of its net quarterly profit, mainly due to a decline in the value of his stock portfolio. </ p> Net income for the quarter October to December fell to 16.3 billion yen (162 million euros), against 80.3 billion yen in October and ; December 2010, according to Reuters calculations based on the results of nine months. </ p> Nikkei index falling by over 13% between April and ; December, banks have had to spend significant provisions on the value of its shares in listed companies. </ p> The results are also affected by a charge related to a change in tax law.</ P> For the year, Mizuho maintains its net profit forecast to 460 billion yen, up 11% over the period 2010-2011 while the market expects 427 billion yen, according to the consensus Thomson Reuters I / B / E / S. </ p> The first Japanese bank, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, is to publish its results on Wednesday. </ p > <p> third Japanese bank Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) said Monday net income stagnant under its third quarter. </ p> Action Mizuho has gained 17% since its low point of eight years moved in November, while the Nikkei index gained 8% at the same time. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) is up 10% and 20% of SMFG. </ P>

Objective: six to eight billion euros in additional savings.The French government Monday unveiled new measures to contain its deficit and preserve its sovereign rating as part of a budget among "the most severe since 1945."

Prime Minister Francois Fillon, who will present the plan in mid-day after the cabinet meeting, prepared the minds saying Saturday that there was no alternative to the reduction of public spending.

The executive, who proceeded to the final Sunday arbitration, fails to speak always of "rigor" or "austerity" but "the moment of truth" announced by the prime minister sounds like this six months of the presidential election.