ArcelorMittal confident after a first quarter better than expected

ArcelorMittal, the world's biggest steelmaker, said Thursday anticipate earnings up in the second quarter after posting better than expected results for the three months of the Year e.

The Luxembourg-based group says that demand has increased in North America in the automotive, construction and appliance.

"Europe remains our main challenge and, in the first quarter, we announced the extended shutdown of several factories in the line of our strategy is to re ; lay on demand from our site competitive, "said Group Chief Executive Lakshmi Mittal said in a statement. 

"Despite the impact of seasonal factors in the first quarter, our mining remains a key growth area and we have set ourselves the objective of further increasing production in 2012."

ArcelorMittal said its steel shipments expected to remain at a similar level to the first quarter but that all segments are expected to improve their profitability. It does not say whether these gains will come from rising prices, costs down, or both.

The group reaffirmed its target of a gross operating profit (EBITDA) rose in the first six months of the year compared to the second half of 2011, when he was 4 , 1 billion dollars (3.17 billion euros).

In the first quarter, EBITDA totaled $ 1.97 billion, well above the Reuters consensus among 11 banks and brokers, who gave it to 1.71 billion. This result was up by 15% over the previous quarter and 24% annual rate.

The net profit amounted to 11 million, instead of the 78 million expected.

ArcelorMittal has also reported that it had signed an agreement to sell its 23.48% in Enovos International SA, for the benefit of a fund managed by AXA Private Equity Group, for a purchase price of EUR 330 million.

May 1: Unions do not digest the "real work" of Sarkozy

This May 1, 2012 has a full-bodied taste Policy. The union ledaders divide between neutrality and call to vote against Nicolas Sarkozy. In the street, this tension is just as palpable. Report in the procession in Paris. The leader of the CFDT leader Francois Chereque and the GCT Bernard Thibault opened the first parade in Paris in May 2012 in Paris, place Denfert-Rochereau

The May 1 succeed but not alike. In 2002, May 1, had turned into a huge rally anti-FN. All political organizations were associated with unions to make the day of the traditional feast day of a trade union demonstration against the presence of Jean-Marie Le Pen in the second round of presidential elections. More recently, in 2010, May 1 was marked by the struggle against the pension reform.  

May 1, 2012 falls, as every five years, in an electoral context clear: it takes place between the two rounds of presidential elections, which saw the face incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Francois Hollande. But he has a special feature to dredge the electorate FN, the UMP candidate called for a rally for the "real work", Place du Trocadero in Paris. A strategy to cut the rug out from under the National Front, which organizes the annual May 1 parade in honor of Jeanne d'Arc, but also to stigmatize the unions, these intermediate bodies against which the outgoing president n ' has repeatedly hit since his campaign.

"Ask the red flag"

Nicolas Sarkozy unions

At five days of the second round of presidential elections on 1 May 2012 has thus turned into a showdown between unions and Nicolas Sarkozy. In a square packed with people Trocadero, the incumbent president has urged unions to "raise the red flag" and to "leave aside the parties". "Your role is not to defend an ideology," he said. "In the Republic it is not the unions who govern, it is the government," he said to applause outgoing president. A scratch at union leaders who called for a vote against him.

This is particularly the case of Bernard Thibault. The secretary general of the CGT, who had called to "beat" the outgoing president Nicolas Sarkozy announced clearly on Europe 1 this morning he would vote for Francois Hollande in the second round of presidential elections. This position has caused unease in the ranks of the CFDT, who refuses to be recovered politically. So no calls to vote on the side of management. That did not stop François Chérèque, to blame Nicolas Sarkozy. "From the moment you wanted to divide the French, among those who had the 'false labor", that is to say "the welfare, civil servants, and on the other side those who had the' true work ', inevitably it was a provocation vis-à-vis employees, "said the leader of the CFDT.

The gathering for the "real work" experienced as a provocation

This tension between supporters and non supporters ended up in the trade union demonstration in Paris, at the call of the Inter-CGT-CFDT, UNSA, FSU Partners, which is part of the Place Denfert-Rochereau to Bastille join. In processions, political banners were rare, less numerous in any case that the union banners. But nobody is fooled: the May 1 labor has a taste very pronounced anti-Sarko.  

"I think that a union did not call for a vote for individual candidates, but personally, I am here to denounce Sarkozy's attempt to divide the workers," says Marie-Ange, CFDT activist. "I do not want the union leaders give voting instructions, unions must maintain their political independence," added Francis, UNSA activist. "Me that does not bother me to call to vote against Sarkozy, after all the harm he has done for five years," Basil gets angry, militant South rails. "A May 1, which takes place between the two rounds of presidential elections, it is inevitably a little politics, says Cedric, South Solidarity activist, even if it is above all a day to defend trade union rights of employees els" .  

"If we are here is to turn the other con"

Gilbert, activist Left Front

The side of activists of the Left Front, present in large numbers in the procession in Paris, the mobilization against Nicolas Sarkozy is clearly assumed. "The line between political and trade union is artificial," says Eric. "If we are here today is to turn the other con", ignites Gilbert. "The real work is provocative," says Eddy. Indeed, the challenge from Nicolas Sarkozy to the unions, organizing a demonstration against-the "real work", resulted in a greater mobilization expected. "We will never show on May 1, but that there was provocation, we are flush and tired of Sarkozy," Christine and Stéphane entrusted, along with their three children.

Who won this showdown? Some 200,000 UMP met Trocadero today, according to the UMP. Police currently does not count but made a police source disclosed that the place could hold 30,000 people. The unions in turn counted 750,000 demonstrators across France this May 1, 2012 including 250,000 in Paris while police counted only 48,000 demonstrators in the capital.

Household consumption fell by 2.9% in March

French consumer spending on goods fell 2.9% in March, erasing the equivalent rebound registered the previous month (3.0% in the first estimate) , according to data released Friday by INSEE.

Throughout the first quarter, growth in household spending on consumer goods rose 0.2% after rising 0.3% in the fourth quarter of 2011. Over one year, from March 2011 to March 2012, however, they contract by 2.0%.

The decline in consumption of goods recorded in March was due to falling energy costs (-11.3% compared to February) and to a lesser extent to decline in food expenditures (-2.3%).

The 17 economists polled by Reuters on average expected a 1.9% decline in consumer spending on goods in March.

Santander publishes a quarterly net profit down 24%

Santander said Thursday net profit down 24% in the first quarter as a result of provisions made in part to cover an increase in defaults in Spain.

Spanish banks increase their capital to cover a funding gap of tens of billions of euros, this resulting in a situation where they had taken to going to an all- booming real estate sector until 2008 but has since become damaged.

Some investors fear that the deficit increased to the extent that more and more households and businesses are in default in a country in recession. In which case, a bailout would prove international may need, they think.

The largest bank in the euro area has reported a profit of 1.6 billion euros, above the consensus, after setting aside 3.1 billion euros provisions. The percentage of bad and doubtful debts to total loans increased to 3.98% in late March.

Around 7:50 GMT, action Santander fell by 1.22% at the Madrid Stock Exchange, while the European banking sector index was virtually unchanged at the same time.

The bank, which has strong income in Latin America, should constitute the bulk of its provisions on real estate assets in the second half doubtful, as its rival BBVA.

The decrease in profits in Spain and Portugal, where defects are up, but they also contracted in Latin America.

Strike in the air: delays and closed aéoroports

The eprturbations are limited to Orly and Roissy. Delays are however consistent in the provinces. Footballers of the OM, which must envoller to Munich, are paying the price. AIRPORT Roissy Charles de Gaulle, PARIS, FRANCE, March 2011

Domestic air traffic was reduced and sometimes significant delays Monday the first day of a strike against the air traffic control reform of navigation, which led to the closure of several airports. The CGT, CFDT and UNSA called the personal air navigation, including air traffic controllers, to protest on Monday and Tuesday against the abolition of positions and the major restructuring of the service in the provinces.

Delays of several hours were recorded in the morning in the region, while dozens of flights were canceled at the weekend in anticipation of the strike, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked Friday to particular companies air to remove 20% of their flights on Mondays and Tuesdays departing or arriving at Orly. Easyjet has canceled 16 flights for Monday to arrive at or depart from this airport, where the situation was calm Monday morning, without delay or queue, according to an airport source, who observed that the strike had been "widely anticipated "and civil aviation companies. From Roissy, Air France plans to maintain its entire program. "Some delays are still possible, however," admitted the company.

However, delays were substantial in the provinces, as in the far west (Rennes and Nantes) or Metz-Nancy, where the routes to Toulouse and Marseille were advertised with two to three hours late, and those to Lyon and Nice canceled in both directions. At the airport of Marseille-Provence, where large queues began to form in the late morning, 10% of flights (28 flights of 286) were canceled by the airlines, according to a spokesman for the direction. Passengers were advised to contact their airline before traveling to the airport. The players of Olympique de Marseille have also borne the brunt of the disruption: they had to take off at 1:00 p.m. for Germany instead of 10:00.  

In Nice, over a third of the 90 Air France flights were canceled at this stage and five easyJet flights. Moreover, cancellations accumulated: 15 to Bordeaux-Merignac, 36 at Lyon Saint-Exupery, 28 in Toulouse. The conflict has also led to the closure of airports of Pau, in the absence of the head of the control tower, Beziers (Hérault), Rouen, Avignon, Le Bourget (Seine-Saint-Denis) where services controls air are closed, told AFP a spokesman for the DGAC, which does not yet have the strike rate at the national level.

Unions estimate that half of the 30 approach control services are threatened, or a direct risk to "dozens of jobs in the inspection, maintenance, technical and administrative", according to the CGT. Approaches are one of three levels of air traffic control, with control towers in France (over 80), and five regional centers of control in flight in the metropolis. For its part, the DGAC speaks of "redeployment" "and" optimization "and justifies its willingness to restructure its services, including the changing needs, increased European coordination and modernization of technology. In case of strike , air traffic controllers have a minimum service obligation, and requisitions are possible. The minimum service is applicable in 17 airports including Toulouse, Mulhouse, Ajaccio, Bordeaux, Orly and Roissy, according to DGAC …… …

Total will drill two relief wells "as soon as possible" in Elgin

Total said Friday it would launch "as soon as possible" the drilling of two relief wells in the facilities from which Sunday since the flight of his platform of Elgin, in the North Sea.

The French oil group further found that surveillance operations and interventions on the well in question, whose operation was stopped in 2011 after abnormalities, were made in compliance with procedures.

"We will start drilling as soon as possible," he said during a meeting with the press Hourcard Michel, director of branch development and exploration and production of Total spokesman technical the incident of Elgin. 

Asked about the duration of the operation, he said it was "reasonable" period of six months previously discussed by Total.

Michel Hourcard also said the group planned to inject parallel mud into the well from which the gas leak.

Philippe Guys, managing director of Total Exploration and Production UK, had earlier told a news conference in Aberdeen, Scotland, the relief well drilling could start by 7 to 10 days.

Hourcard Michel for his part reiterated that the operation of the pit Elgin from which the leak had been stopped for "a little over a year" after the finding of an "anomaly in the conditions of production". 

"There was at the beginning of February (2012) a second anomaly that occurred in the pressure recordings (…), which led us to say that It happened probably something that brought us to intervene, "he added.

SITUATION "STABLE"

Total was then started an "abandonment" of the well, which is to be injected with mud, a process that was underway when the leak was found on March 25.

"The operations of 'monitoring' and action plan on this well have been done well, there was no non-compliance with procedures. From the moment that there were anomalies, it was moved to safety, "said Michel Hourcard

. A union source however said that Total employees on the platform of Elgin had warned the group against the risk of leaks before it occurs but had been told that the incident "could not happen" Total

. also exploring various solutions that would extinguish the flare its platform, where he says the situation remains "stable"

. It comes to mind watering the flare of the platform -either by helicopter or by fire-ship or to proceed with a nitrogen purge to deprive it of oxygen. 

The flare, which reduces pressure on the platform was removed, can not be turned off remotely and with a higher risk of inflammation of the plumes of gas escaping into the air from the leak, a hundred meters away.

Total and British authorities have called a "minimum" potential risks to the environment of the cloud of gas and a thin oil slick which has spread on the water surface. Experts on environmental issues, however, considered only a short distance the "cocktail" of gas would be flammable or toxic.

According to the British, the flare is a risk factor as long as it stays on even when the wind blows the cloud of gas in the opposite direction and that this weather should continue in the foreseeable future.

"Total has assured the government that the platform is designed so that the flare is located in an area where the prevailing winds away from the gas," said ; the UK Department of Energy. 

The leak appears to come from a rock formation located in the upper well and thus added Total volume of gas from this close formation, which is not a re ; tank production in the Elgin field, is difficult to assess.

International experts who advise Total have not yet made a final recommendation to proceed to sealing and repairs, the ministry said.

The gas leak, which broke out Sunday, forced Total to evacuate 238 people who worked on the platform of Elgin, about 240 kilometers off the coast of Aberdeen .

For Sarkozy, we are "in phase of economic recovery"

In an interview with the newspaper Ouest France, the incumbent stated: "we came out of the financial crisis" and "we are in the process of economic recovery." Incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy (here in Lyon March 17, 2012)

Nicolas Sarkozy, a presidential candidate, says that "we came out of the financial crisis" and that "we are in the process of economic recovery," in an interview with Ouest-France, to be published Tuesday. "I think we came out of the financial crisis, that confidence is restored and we are in the process of economic recovery," said the president candidate, who makes a visit on Tuesday the Guerande peninsula, followed the end of afternoon by a meeting in Nantes.

"What did they say Does peaks between Ms. (Angela) Merkel (German Chancellor) and me! Through these summits, Europe has an economic government overcame the Greek crisis", has he argued. To "reinforce" this situation, Mr. Sarkozy reiterated his proposals: political governance of the Schengen zone to protect its borders, failing which France will suspend its participation in Schengen, creating a Buy European Act for reserving public contracts to companies that produce in Europe, setting up a Small Business Act, reserving 20% ​​of public procurement to SMEs.

Failing agreement, France will only implement these provisions. Western journalists from France who told him that it smelled "the ultimatum", Mr Sarkozy replied: "it does not smell at all the ultimatum, it smells voluntarism (…) The Minister of the Interior German recently told that I had absolutely right and he was asking the same thing. The truth is that if Europe falls back into his through before, it will explode. " "I kept the same values: hard work, effort, merit, responsibility, authority, solidarity", he also said.

"To the great difference in Mr (Francis) Holland (PS presidential candidate), I consider that one can not isolate France and to promise that exempt the efforts that others are doing and ask," he also said. "My plan is to tell the French: you need to be protected. And to be protected, your country must be strong, paying his debts. This is why I will respect the objective from 0% deficit in 2016, "he added.

Latécoère will hire to meet demand

The aerospace supplier Latécoère will make new hires in 2012 to increase production rates and thus satisfy the growing demand of its large customers are Airbus or Boeing.

At the same time, Latecoere, which employs 4,175 people in nine countries, is still open to industry consolidation.

"We are in a phase of relative privilege where all our customers demand increases in rates," said Francois Bertrand, chief executive of Latécoère at an interview with Reuters. 

Based in Toulouse, the group was founded in 1917, is facing increased rate of production programs Airbus, Boeing and Embraer, while air traffic has increased 6% last year.

"The priority is to manage growth," said Francois Bertrand, adding that the group plans to hire at least 200 additional employees to meet this demand and avoid production delays.

"Currently, the market is booming. The high commands of last year increased its order book and therefore lead to increases in speed. "

Latécoè re projected that its turnover will increase by 10% in 2012, after rising 12% in 2011

. The business, including Airbus accounts for 50% of sales, will continue to expand in North America where it is looking for a new production site. Boeing, the second client (15% of sales, and Embraer) should play an increasingly important Latécoère in the coming years.

Deficit and debt, the company had begun in May 2010 seeking a new shareholder, a search that had failed after the deadline for late 2011.

"In the short term, what matters is the growth management, but the subject of consolidation is still on the table," says Francois Bertrand, adding that an agreement could be reached before the deadline for two to three years announced in November.

"The consolidation will be particularly important in the context of new program launches," he says. 

Latécoère, who has returned to profits in 2010, would merge with one of 15 European OEMs to create a group of at least one billion euros in turnover, Francois Bertrand said.

In 2011, the group recorded a net profit of EUR 6.6 million on a rag business of 520 million euros, while its debt amounted to 370 million, a level that expected to decline by 50 million euros in 2012.

"We returned to a normal situation where our financial resources fit our profile of cash, which was no longer the case from 2008-2009 where large slips were place, "says Francois Bertrand. 

The action Latecoere closed Friday at 11.52 euros (0.17%) showing a market capitalization of 99.187 million euros.

BP stock market jumped after agreement on the oil spill

The action was sharply higher BP in London Stock Exchange Monday, boosted by the settlement of a dispute related to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

Around 9:05 GMT, BP gained 2.12% to 507.0 pence. The European oil and gas index lost 0.25%.

BP has entered into an amicable settlement with the plaintiffs' lawyers who had seized American justice. Still pursued by the government and its industrial partners, the British company said it had proposed $ 7.8 billion, of which 2.3 billion to offset losses for fishermen. She stressed that the agreement did not value recognition of its responsibility.

Some analysts argue that the slate is less than expected for the heavy oil.

Jason Kenney, oil analyst at Santander, for its part, BP sees "progress to a margin of 530 to 550 pence in the short term (or more), and perhaps even grow over subsequent quently ".

In all cases, the agreement next week increases the exchange of a negotiated settlement with the U.S. government, in the opinion of analysts.

"This agreement, if implemented, encourages even more the direction of BP to try to reach an amicable agreement (with the U.S. Department of Justice)," said Iain Armstrong ( Brewin Dolphin).

Beiersdorf expects profits up in 2012

Beiersdorf expects earnings growth in 2012, having eliminated unprofitable products to focus on its flagship brand Nivea, waiting for a new chief executive next month.

The consumer products group general public has lost market share in recent years and attempts to remedy this by redesigning its product line dominated by Nivea, the first global brand of care the skin.

Beiersdorf, which also owns the range of luxury cosmetics La Prairie, announced in January and the results better than expected margin for 2011, suggesting that a slow movement of recovery maybe put on.

He believes that the operating margin of the consumer division should exceed that of 2011, stood at 11.4% against 12.7% in 2010. 

The new CEO Stefan Heidenreich will take the reins of the group in April, charging him with driving a change which, if it proved unsuccessful, could fuel speculation by Beiersdorf future operational able.

The group proposes an unchanged dividend of 0.70 euro per share, while analysts polled by Reuters had expected € 0.68.