Cameron mocks Sarkozy's Tobin Tax

With this measure unilaterally decided by France, the UK will host "several French banks," mocked the British prime minister Monday. Meeting between David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee December 2, 2011. <p> British Prime Minister David Cameron mocked Monday Nicolas Sarkozy's decision to unilaterally introduce a tax on financial transactions, believing that by this measure, the UK would host "several French banks." " / p> "I find it incredible that we can do this," said Mr. Cameron about Mr Sarkozy's decision to introduce this tax without waiting for its European partners. "As we fight for jobs and growth, do something that cost so many jobs seems extraordinary," he said during a press briefing on the sidelines of a summit of 27 countries of the European Union in Brussels. </ p> "And in a healthy sense of competition with France, if France a tax on financial transactions, our door is open and we can welcome UK banks and many more French companies, and our economy will grow, "Mr Cameron joked. </ p>" I am full of admiration for Nicolas "<p> While noting that they were disagree on certain issues, he described the French president as "remarkable man" and recalled their collaboration during the war in Libya. "I wish the best to my friend Nicolas," he added, in response to a question whether, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he would campaign for re-election of Mr. Sarkozy. </ P> "I am full of admiration for Nicolas. From time to time he said something with which I do not agree, as when he said that Britain has no industry, as we have an industry larger than France, "he said. </ p> M. Cameron was referring to comments made Sunday night by Mr Sarkozy during his interview broadcast by French television channels. "We can talk in the UK with pleasure, the UK, they have more industry", launched the French President. </ P> Relations between the two men are strained these recent months. The EU summit in late October had already been the subject of a frank explanation of them, M. Sarkozy irritated during a meeting that Mr. Cameron gave lessons to the euro area over the course of action. </ P>

Like the European stock markets, Wall Street soared Monday, gaining more than 4% in response to the coordinated action announced by the major central banks to maintain liquidity in markets shaken by the debt crisis, a measure that removes the specter of a global recession.

The Dow Jones industrials gained 30 4.24% or 490.05 points at 12,045.68. The S & P-500, wider, took 51.77 points, or 4.33% to 1246.96.

People's Bank of China (PBC) also supported the rating, reducing the reserve requirement ratio for the first time in nearly three years to ease tensions in the credit market and to give back up to an economy that knows its lowest growth rate maintained since 2009.

Investors were also reassured by the larger than expected number of jobs created in the U.S. private sector – 206 000 130 000 in November against expected – and one PMI purchasing managers in the Chicago area well above expectations.

BNP Paribas will eliminate 1,396 jobs in its banking activities and investment (BFI), or about 6.5% of the pole, told Reuters on Wednesday representatives of the CFDT union SNB and banking, to Following a meeting with management.

Downsizing of the BFI, which will be built through internal redeployment and voluntary redundancies, 1023 for positions abroad and 373 positions in France, said the two unions.The CIB division of BNP employed approximately 21,400 employees worldwide at the end of September, according to information available on the website of the bank.

The job cuts at BNP Paribas occur the day after a similar announcement of Societe Generale, which plans to reduce its workforce by bank and investment of several hundred jobs.

"BNP Paribas has announced a plan for job cuts is, in the world and only for bank financing and investment, 1396 jobs," said Joel Debeausse, deputy national delegate of the union SNB.

"It's 1023 posts for the world, there is no breakdown by country, and 373 for France," he added.

Lloyds posted a new quarterly loss Tuesday and warned it may need to extend certain financial targets because of the current economic turbulence.

The bank, 40% owned by the British government for a public bailout granted during the credit crisis of 2008, reported a loss for the period January to September of 3.86 billion pounds (4.5 billion euros), of which 607 million for the third quarter.

The group has suffered from declining margins and funding costs rise and warned that it may not achieve some of its performance targets in the medium term until 2014.

The group, however, maintained its annual target of the margins and a reduction of its losses on bad debts, an announcement appreciated by investors.

The action Lloyds, which has lost more than half its value since the beginning of the year, gained 8.3% to 11:00 GMT.

She recorded the largest increase in the European banking sector index, just ahead of Societe Generale (+7.9%), who resigned Tuesday to pay a dividend to its shareholders for the year 2011 to strengthen its capital without public support.

Lloyds was taken aback investors last week by announcing that its chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio was suffering from stress and taking time off, leaving a possible vacancy at the top of the first British bank details.

Rescue of the euro: the bites of discord

Despite claims of a "perfect match" between Paris and Berlin to save the euro area, Germany is seeking to impose its measures to France. But Paris is fighting back. Anthology of statements that illustrate these differences. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy during a press conference at the Elysee Palace August 16, 2011.

"The French do not move one iota"

Paris and Berlin on the same wavelength? There is something highly doubtful. Despite Thursday about the German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble has mentioned a "total agreement" between France and Germany before the European summit Sunday, the two capitals still cling. This is particularly the disagreement on scenarios for ending the crisis of the euro which caused the postponement of a final decision next Wednesday, not Sunday as planned.Angela Merkel even declared Thursday in a small group that "the French do not move one iota" on their positions, according to remarks reported by the German daily Bild.

"Give a banking license in EFSF is out of question for us"

The disagreement most marked between the two capitals is on maximizing the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF). Paris wants to give it a banking license to enable it to obtain financing from the European Central Bank (ECB) and have a borrowing capacity multiplied. Out of the question for Germany. The Vice-Chancellor of Germany Philipp Rösler was repeated Friday, "in no circumstances do we want a banking license is given to the EFSF. Want that our colleagues, friends and partners in France. But it's out the question for us as government and the coalition (government) as a whole. "The ECB also refuses, his chief economist Juergen Stark said on Thursday that "we can not meet the expectations of the governments (…) the fact that the ECB to do more."

"France continues to defend it, there are big discussions"

The EFSF, negotiations are still bitter between the two diplomats, and Paris does not admit defeat. According to a European diplomat, "France continues to defend it, there are big discussions." Paris as the ECB would continue to purchase securities of distressed states like Greece, Italy, and Spain. The institution has made since May 2010 out of its mandate to do so, and avoid contagion of a debt crisis in these countries. Belgium is already favorable.But the ECB refuses to continue this policy firmly and waits for the EFSF take the baton, according to the diplomat.

"From the beginning, Merkel dictate the tempo and impose its income erroneous"

If France does not want to compromise on its position is that it has followed much the German proposals in recent weeks on two main points: a strong restructuring of the Greek debt and bank recapitalization. It has long been opposed, but finally solved it, especially to preserve the unity of France and Germany. "From the beginning, Merkel dictate the tempo and impose its income erroneous," a European diplomat plague.France seemed to have resigned to claim the "banking license" to EFSF, it is now ready to attempt the showdown with Berlin.

"The impact is disastrous outside"

To stem the crisis, Berlin wants to use the EFSF as insurance against the default of the countries in difficulty. It would guarantee 20 to 30% of the securities issued by states. But on this subject the French are not the only ones to show their reluctance. Rome and Madrid are also in disagreement according to a source cited by Les Echos. According to Italy and Spain it will create a rate difference between bonds and debentures. "No one in a financial crisis, venture to purchase securities that need a crutch," the official said.The prospect of a consensus is difficult to foresee, and Europe the world illustrated by his disagreements according to the chairman of the Eurogroup, Jean-Claude Juncker. "The impact on the outside was a mess," he said. "We'll have to agree soon on how we can improve the look of others on us."

The situation in Greece "has not changed since July"

One of the major issues for the future of Europe is its ability to prevent financial excesses of fragile states in the euro area. In Germany, it would tighten controls on the reforms implemented by the countries supported by the troika (EU, ECB, IMF), today Greece, Portugal and Ireland. For this troika responsible for evaluating on a quarterly basis the progress of reforms, not enough according to a source close to the German government.The situation in Greece "has not changed since July," said the source. "The troika system which advises us every three months because too much stress, we need a much more permanent support, which allows to adapt much more quickly" assistive devices.

"There is no real problem with the Chancellor, there is a problem with the German coalition"

According to a French official quoted on the blog of Libération journalist Jean Quatremer, the real obstacles between France and Germany would rather a problem of "German-German". "There are no real problems with the Chancellor, there is a problem with the German coalition," said the official, who stressed that the Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble diverges including its chancellor on the level of discount to be imposed on creditors private on Greek debt.What foreshadow muscular discussions before the EU summit on Sunday.

S & P lowers rating of ten Spanish banks

Standard & Poor's Tuesday lowered a notch credit rating of ten Spanish banks, including the two main countries, highlighting the darkening economic prospects and a housing market still depressed.

The prospect of all banks rated by the agency is now negative, which means that further declines are possible notes.

Among the downgraded banks Santander and BBVA are the main institutions of the country.

For Banco Santander, the rating drops to AA-, against AA with a negative outlook. Similarly, for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, the note back from AA to AA-.The new perspective is also negative.

S & P also revised the rating outlook of four banks, reducing it from stable to negative, and placed the bank under review with negative implications.

Gecina will sell other assets to reduce debt

The real estate group Gecina said Thursday it planned to sell 500 million euros of additional residential assets to accelerate debt reduction.

Citing the economic and financial climate, the land says it wants to focus more on sales than on new acquisitions in the office sector.

"By making an additional amount of sales of 500 million euros of residential assets, Gecina will quickly reach a target of 1.5 billion euros in sales," we read in the press release.

The title Gecina closed Thursday at 67 euros (5.15%). He was accused Wednesday the largest decrease of the SBF 120 in response to the departure of its CEO, Christophe Clamageran, because of differences over strategy.

Greece rules out new austerity measures

Athens does not need to take further austerity measures "provided that the measures already announced apply," said the Greek Minister of Finance Evangelos Venizelos. Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos

Greece does not need to take "further steps" rigor, "provided that the measures already announced apply," said Tuesday the Greek Minister of Finance after the meeting of the euro area in Luxembourg that asked for additional savings in the country. "New measures are not necessary provided that the measures already announced are applicable," Venizelos said in a press conference on his return from the meeting.

"The steps already taken were considered impressive and they have changed the climate," he added.The euro area called Monday night to further economies of Greece and further privatizations expected to fill the holes in its budget for the years 2013 and 2014 and postponed to early November a decision on the payment of a loan critical to the country originally due on October 13.

"We call on Greece to take additional measures" in terms of savings for 2013 and 2014, thus going beyond those that have just been announced for this year and next, said the head of Luxembourg leading finance ministers of the euro zone, Jean-Claude Juncker, at the end of the meeting of the Eurogroup.Locally, according to Greek media, the troika of donor country (European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund) currently conducting an audit in Athens on the Greek accounts, called on Monday the Minister of Employment to revise the collective agreements in the private sector to lower the minimum wage, currently set at 750 euros.

Net state television reported Monday night that even the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, would have opposed that request. "We support the workers and we protect it in accordance with collective agreements (…), we will not turn into India," he would have said, quoted by the Net.

Nearly 200 protesters Front communist union Pame occupied the Minister of Employment in Athens on Tuesday morning to protest against this new application of the troika which "threatens the rights and gains of workers," according to a statement from the Pame.

The Greek Minister of Finance suggests a vicious cycle

Austerity measures are necessary to Greece to escape the vicious circle imposed on its economy and its debt and turn it into a virtuous circle, said Tuesday the Greek finance minister, Evangelos Venizelos.

The latter also found that the initial objectives of the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to restore the Greek public finances were too ambitious.

He said the European agreement of 21 July on a new plan of aid to Greece was a Bible for the government of George Papandreou.

A delegation of the EU, the IMF and the European Central Bank (ECB) will return this week in Athens and Greece will receive next month a new tranche of eight billion euros to avoid bankruptcy, said Minister of Finance.

The Prime Minister will address this "troika" of the written assurances it requires on the austerity measures proposed by the government, said Evangelos Venizelos. Finance ministers of the euro zone will review these proposals and will then be unlocked using, he said.

"The release of funds will take place and will be held on time," he said.

Increase in the morale of U.S. households

The index of U.S. consumer sentiment rose in September but the Americans have no faith in the future, the sub-index measuring expectations being at their lowest since 1980.

Index Thomson Reuters / University of Michigan on Friday stood at 57.8 (provisional figure) in September against 55.7 in August. The index in August was the lowest since November 2008. The consensus of economists polled by Reuters gave 56.5.

The expectations sub-index fell to 47.0 against 47.4, the lowest since May 1980.The outlook 12 months decreased to 38 against 40, the lowest since February 2009.

The sub-index of current conditions rose to 74.5 against 68.7 (consensus 68.0).

The sub-index of inflation expectations one year falls to 3.7% against 3.5% and at 5 to 10 years at 3.0% against 2.9%.