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.
Tesco said Wednesday it would spend a billion pounds (1.2 billion) to overhaul its operations in Britain, where he seeks to regain market share, to re ESTABLISHING sales growth and to calm shareholders became nervous.
The emphasis on revitalizing sales implies that investments will be reduced to 3.3 billion pounds in the coming year against 3.8 billion last year.
The third global retailer also said its U.S. subsidiary successfully stalled later than expected.
Tesco dominates the segment of food retailing in Britain with a market share of 30% but in January it launched its first profit warning in 20 years.
British retailer also announced a profit before tax of the group and exceptional up 1.6% to 3.9 billion pounds on the financial year ended February 25.
The consensus of analysts conducted by Tesco itself gave 3.88 billion, compared to 3.81 billion pounds for the year 2010/2011.
Operating earnings in Britain, where Tesco makes more than 70% of the balance, decreased 1% last quarter, while sales on a comparable basis fell 1.6%.
Takeda Pharmaceutical announced Wednesday the purchase for $ 800 million (609 million) of URL Pharma, a U.S. laboratory specializing in the treatment of gout.
The first Japanese pharmaceutical company will provide further value based on future performance from 2015.
Japanese pharmacists are engaged in a flurry of overseas acquisitions, Takeda announced in the May 2011 takeover of Swiss laboratory Nycomed for € 9.6 billion.
URL Pharma achieved a turnover of about $ 600 million in 2011. Its main product is Colcrys, a drug for the treatment and prevention of gout.
Net sales Colcrys exceeded $ 430 million in 2011.
Values to follow Tuesday at the Paris Bourse.
* GDF SUEZ announced he would propose to its shareholders to receive shares in a portion of the dividends for 2011 and 2012 to complete the refinancing of its tender offer to minority shareholders of Britain's International Power.
* PSA Peugeot Citroën has signed with a subsidiary of Ivanhoe Cambridge real estate arm of the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, a sales agreement for the sale of its headquarters Avenue de la Grande Armee in Paris.
* BOLLORÉ. The mutual insurer Groupama said Monday it has sold all its shares, or 3.10% stake in the diversified group.
* AIR FRANCE has placed its short and medium haul business in the center of its turnaround plan and said that the maintenance of this activity depend on a "radical restructuring" and reduced "drastically costs ".
Health spending should not increase by more than 2.9% last year. The target was held and even beyond. But if the city manages to medicine to save money, it's more difficult for the hospital. But the effort required for 2012 has been strengthened.
Good news. The national target of expenditure (ONDAM), indicator of the health expenditure control, was observed in 2011, for the second consecutive year. Savings have been achieved even, mainly due to the general practice.
"Under 2011, spending will be well below 330 million euros to the goal voted by Parliament. Specifically, spending on care city will be less than 300 million," said a joint statement ministries Budget , Health and Solidarity.
The hospital sector is more difficult to roll back its spending. "For their part, hospital expenditures do not exceed, after setting aside prudential funds, the authority of Parliament," the statement said, meaning that the ONDAM hospital has been held that using a gel certain appropriations provided by the state, primarily for public hospitals, for most of 2011.
The deficit of public and private non-profit improves slightly (0.8%) in 2011: 504 million euros against 508 million in 2010. For teaching hospitals (CHU), the largest public hospitals, the overall deficit improved by 15 to 329.4 million. Nicolas Sarkozy had hoped in 2007 a return to balanced operating accounts in public hospitals for 2012.
For the three departments 'performance' of 2011 "bodes well for the respect of ONDAM in 2012, for the third consecutive year." The goal for this year was, however hardened, precision required, and will be more difficult to hold, with a projected increase of 2.5% against 2.9% in 2010 and 2011.
The CSMF reacted to the government announcement stressed again that the bulk of the savings was realized by the general practice. "Beyond compliance ONDAM general ONDAM care is respected city for four consecutive years" and in 2011, savings totaled 612 million, "62 million more than expected," says union in a statement. He took the opportunity to claim back a "rebalancing" budget for the care of town. For 2012, the rising cost of ambulatory care was limited to 2.1% against 2.6% for hospital costs.
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 ".
Over 80% of private creditors of Athens agreed to participate in the restructuring of the country's debt will be reduced by 107 billion euros. The agreement paves the way for the release of a new international loan which will prevent the default. Three of the four ministers of the Greek far-right party Laos opposing the new austerity measures demanded by the creditors of the countries presented their resignations Friday, February 10
Greece can heave a sigh of relief. The plan to restructure its huge debt raised almost 84% acceptance of all its private creditors, including only 85.8% of bondholders under Greek law.
Result: some 107 billion euros over the 206 billion euros of Greek debt held by banks, insurers, investment funds and pension funds will simply be deleted. A very short term, the agreement removes the risk of default since the country had to repay € 14.4 billion on March 20. It also unlocks additional European assistance than 130 billion euros that will enable it to meet its medium-term future échéanches.
If Greece has avoided a default unchecked, this rate is still insufficient compared to the 90% target that was set by the government, explaining that he had to recommend the activation of collective action clauses attached to the bonds to be exchanged.
They are forcing carriers reluctant to accept the terms of trade and should be ultimately the acceptance rate at 95.7% said the Finance Ministry statement. "The holders of approximately 172 billion euros of bonds by Greek law" have accepted the proposal made by the Hellenic Republic on February 24 to exchange their debt securities against other securities whose face value was reduced 50% said the statement.
"I wish to express my gratitude to all our creditors who supported our ambitious program of reform and adjustment and shared sacrifices of the people in its historic effort" praised the Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said in a statement. The exchange of specific securities to be held Monday, March 12 for bonds by Greek law, but an extension until March 23 was granted to holders of non-Greek right to present their response to the proposal. This delay does not allow those who have already joined to the bid to reverse their decision.
The partners of Greece indeed want the private sector do its part in the rescue effort of the country, with a contribution sufficient to provide debt reduction to 120.5% of GDP in 2020, a ratio expected to guarantee the country's return to solvency.
Successful restructuring opens the door to the contrary release 130 billion of loans provided by the euro area in late October. These two components, debt and bailouts, make up the second bailout of the country developed its international partners, after an initial infusion of 110 billion granted in 2010.
Greece may need extra help and we can not exclude an enhanced firepower of the European Stability Mechanism (MES), the future permanent emergency fund in the euro area , says Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann.
"I would not trust someone who would declare that (help) to Greece is sufficient," he says in an interview with the newspaper Österreich. "For Greece, it depends on their ability to comply with the measures (reform) across several elections."
The Chancellor did not rule out building a resource of MES, holding that it "may be necessary".
French President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed Friday that a long-awaited decision on this matter would take place probably by the end of March and it was expected by then to "initiatives ".
In late February, France and Belgium said they agreed to enhance TSS with the ways of his predecessor, the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF).
The proposal would combine 250 billion still available within the EFSF with EUR 500 billion planned for the SS to create a financial firewall that can better fight against a contagious the debt crisis, but Germany still seems reluctant to the idea.
Faymann also believes that the EU should continue to support not only Greece, but Portugal, Italy and Spain.
"Let us not forget that our economy is strongly linked to that of Italy," argued the Austrian Chancellor, adding that Rome was in a better position than Athens.
Moody's downgraded the outlook of the Aaa rating of France to negative from stable, reflecting the agency said uncertainty surrounding the economy of the euro area and the ambitions of Paris in terms of re production deficits.
The U.S. rating agency also adjusted notes and perspectives of eight other EU countries including the United Kingdom and Italy.
The call to order by Moody's comes a month to the day after the decision by Standard & Poor's reduced the rating by one notch from France, from AAA to AA +, in D action to the deepening debt crisis.
Moody's maintained its Aaa rating of France, the best possible, but warned that it could be a reduction if the government failed to implement its economic reforms and budget.
The euro and British pound fell against the dollar after advertising.
In a statement released Monday night, the agency notes that the uncertainties related to institutional reforms envisaged in the euro area, coupled with anemic growth prospects in the region, continue to affect the confidence of financial markets.
Moody's also believes that the figures of the French debt continue to deteriorate and that France is among the countries rated Aaa "weaker" in this field.
The agency also highlighted "significant risks" which the French government will face in achieving its objectives of reducing public deficits.
BAROIN NOTES
"These could be further complicated by the need to help other European countries or its own banking system," reads the document.
The economy minister said Tuesday Baroin "take note" of the decision by Moody's.
"The government is determined to continue its action for growth, competitiveness, including the reform of financing of social protection, employment and reducing die ; ficits public, "the ministry said in a statement. Bercy added that government policy "is part of a framework and methodology of long-term".
The Elysée and Matignon did not react immediately.
The Socialist candidate for president, Francois Hollande, did not want to throw fuel on the fire and has insisted that France was not in the same situation that Greece, in the throes of a violent protest after degradation and austerity plans repeatedly.
"We are not in this situation and those who make this comparison do to scare the French," he said on RMC and BFM-TV.
Arnaud Montebourg, "third man" of the Socialist primary, responded by criticizing the role of rating agencies: "The rating agencies, everyone understands that they play a toxic role and Moreover perverse ", he said on France Inter. "For me and for many (…) they are charlatans."
For Labour Minister, Xavier Bertrand, zero can not ignore the verdict.
"It also shows very clearly that no candidate will escape the rules of good management in the months and years ahead and it shows very clearly that with the program (…) economic and social Francois Hollande, the account is not (…) and that there would necessarily be a further degradation, "he said on France Inter.
The government has this week at the National Assembly a bill supplementary budget with the key measure, an increase in VAT to finance social protection, is highly contested by the opposition and trade unions.
ON BOTTOM OF GREEK CRISIS
Beyond French borders, the sovereign debt crisis in the euro area is growing.
The Greek government was asked Monday by its European partners to submit further proof of its commitment to reform despite the adoption, on the eve of an austerity plan rity by a parliament besieged by thousands of protesters.
These provisions are required by the "troika" (International Monetary Fund, European Union and European Central Bank) in exchange for an aid package of € 130 billion found essential before March 20, when an important deadline for the country's debt (14.5 billion euros to repay).
Moody's had warned Jan. 16 that it was considering the prospect of the note of France and it would update the country scores of the European Union in the first quarter.
Standard & Poor's and Moody's had worried about the drift of French public finances while warning against the risk that the government's economic reforms are undermining growth, pillar which is based precisely on Paris to try to achieve its objectives of consolidation.
In fact, the government postponed last week of 2013 to 2014 the decline in its ratio of debt to gross domestic product due to the participation of France in the European Stability Mechanism (MES ), which must support States in the euro zone in trouble, and growth forecasts reduced from 1 to 0.5% this year.
Commitments to reduce the public deficit is confirmed, however, to 4.5% of GDP in late 2012 and 3% in 2013.
But the Court of Auditors, which certifies the accounts of the State, estimated that only 10% of the total effort that must be capable of reducing to zero the structural deficit in France – in 2016 from Bercy – had been achieved last year.