Decline in unemployment in the first quarter in the UK

The number of unemployed people in the UK fell in the first three months of the year at their own pace strongest in nearly a year, according to figures released Wednesday by the Office for National Statistics.

The UK economy fell into recession at the beginning of the year, fueling fears that the private sector employees join the ranks of job seekers when State removes some 700,000 civil service posts as part of its austerity measures.

But following the methodology of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the number of unemployed fell by 45,000 in the first quarter to $ 2.625 million.

The unemployment rate actually fell to 8.2%, while the consensus gave unchanged at 8.3%. 

The number of unemployed youth, a very sensitive politically, also declined to 1.02 million, bringing the unemployment rate for those aged 16-24 to 21.9%.

British companies have also increased their workforce for the first time in a year, according to a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (ICPD). The CIPD warns that the changing economic landscape could make it difficult in the short-term improvement on the labor market.

Cash advance is meant to provide short term relief to borrowers. Since these loans charge high interest rates, rolling over the loan may not be very easy.

The former trader Jerome Kerviel SocGen complaint against

The former trader Jerome Kerviel has filed a complaint against Societe Generale judgment for fraud, said Friday his lawyer, David Koubbi, in an interview on Europe 1.

"We filed a complaint against Societe Generale today the judgment for fraud," he advised me Koubbi.

"What interests us is that our complaint is welcomed," he added.

Kerviel was sentenced in 2010 to five years in prison and three farms to repay 4.9 billion euros, an amount corresponding to the loss suffered by the SocGen trading in January in 2008.

His appeal to be held from 4 to 28 June 2012.

Italy has revised downwards its growth forecast

The government of Mario Monti expects a decline of 1.2% of GDP for 2012, against an anticipated 0.4% decline in December. And return to a balanced budget is delayed. "Reforms should increase growth by 2.4% between 2012 and 2020," according to the government of Mario Monti.

The Italian government on Wednesday revised downwards its forecast for gross domestic product (GDP) for 2012, providing for a contraction of 1.2% against a 0.4% decline in the last official forecast from December. He at the same time delayed its planned return to balanced budgets, expecting a deficit of 0.5% in 2013 (instead of 0.1% predicted), in a statement issued at the end of a cabinet.

This forecast remains "in compliance" with the Covenant which provides that the European budget deficit must remain below 0.5%, says the text. One aspect stressed by the Head of Government Mario Monti at a press conference: "The Treaty (European Pact on budget) requires each Member State there is in each country a deficit not exceeding the 0.5% of GDP, "he said. "The government estimates that GDP will contract by 1.2% in 2012 to turn positive again in 2013 (0.5%) and speed over the two successive years (1 and 1.2% respectively)," the statement said . "This will allow the public debt (…) to fall to 120.3% (of GDP) in 2012 to 110.8% in 2015," said the government.

"The debt is on a path of gradual but sustainable," noted Mario Monti in its reasoning accompanying the new government's economic forecasts. "Despite progress, there is still a long way to go, in a more favorable but still characterized by elements of uncertainty," he adds.

For the government of Mario Monti, "the action of financial balance has been accompanied by the adoption of various reform measures aimed at removing the main obstacles that have hindered the growth potential of Italy. Based on estimates government, reforms should increase growth by 2.4% between 2012 and 2020, "said he. "We must revive growth in the context of a model of fiscal stability and this is the way to build a modern economy and social market," said Mr Monti, saying that "growth is the most large préoccuptation "Italians.

"We fight every day to avoid the dramatic fate of Greece," he said. "This crisis requires a very high cost to families, youth, workers, businesses and sometimes these experiences are completed in despair," he said in a grave tone evoking directly to contractors suicides occurred recently. "There were 1,725 ​​suicides, it is the dramatic effects of the crisis," he said.

The President of the Council also strongly condemned tax evasion, promising a fight against this scourge in Italy. "The commitment to fight against tax evasion responds to reasons of justice. Evasion is between companies unfair competition and a way in which citizens dishonest cause harm to other citizens, causing pressure (fiscal note) higher, "he said.

That hides the yoyo market

Financial markets seem to have entered a new phase of instability. This correction is benign or she announces she a new crisis. The responses of Grandrille Xavier, President of Amplegest. Paris Bourse

For three months, financial markets and the States have experienced a real honeymoon. German and Japanese shares rose nearly 20%, spreads have narrowed significantly, from 200 basis points for Italy and Portugal, 170 points for Ireland, 30 points for France. But for two days, it is the fever which prevails. In Spain and Italy, rates on government bonds are strained. And scholarships to play yoyo throughout the Old continent. Analysis of Gandrille Xavier, President of Amplegest

Correction in financial markets is normal?

Only in part. Since late 2011, the CAC 40 was much increased. About 16% until mid March. This increase was driven by two factors. The first is the disappearance of systemic risk through intervention by the ECB provides liquidity to banks. The second is the improved outlook for growth. Last summer, it seemed that Europe would not live through the winter. And then the activity – even if it remains depressed – has grown faster than expected. After a period of rising markets, it is normal to see a correction. We lost 10% of the CAC. It's not a disaster. The problem is knowing what will make markets in the coming months. Will you stay in the same waters or on the contrary, enter a negative cycle?

Exactly. What is your scenario for the future?

The answer is not obvious. But unlike the consensus which considers the correction of the past two days as normal, I'm pretty uncomfortable. The euro area remains a system that does not work. And injections of liquidity by the ECB do not change. We are in a situation where the debt repayment hampers growth. But until there is no improvement economic contagion – that is to say, a generalized rise in long rates – is possible.

Can we implement growth policies to loosen the grip of markets?

It's complicated. Future investments are expensive. We can implement liberalization policies as in the Scandinavian countries. But this type of policy takes time to produce its effect on the economy, in contrast to fiscal austerity. Europe is thus reduced to buying time to let the markets do not become impatient. This is what happened, for example, with its new firewall. But I remain pessimistic for the future. I'm afraid the consensus is do a little too many illusions about the ability of Europe to come out of the rut by itself. It will probably still other attacks markets, other crises to advance.

LIVE. Xavier Bertrand debate-Francoise Gri on youth employment

The Minister of Labour is currently a guest on Expansion and Business Institute for a discussion with Francoise Gri, Manpower France's patron. Follow the live chat with Dailymotion.

In anticipation of upcoming elections, the Institute of Business and Expansion Tuesday, April 10 to receive 8h30Xavier Bertrand, UMP Minister of Labour, and Francoise Gri, President of ManpowerGroup France. They discuss the theme: "Youth employment: how to meet (finally) the challenge?".

The debate is moderated by Beatrice Mathieu, a journalist at L'Expansion. It is broadcast live on Dailymotion. You can also comment on twitter and ask your questions or comments via or via the # debateco. Three questions will be selected and asked Xavier Bertrand on video.

Job creation slows in March in the U.S.

The number of jobs créésa been well below expectations in March in the U.S., which suggests that the Fed has leeway for further monetary easing, although the unemployment rate fell to a three-year low of 8.2%.

The number of jobs créésa was 120,000 in March, reported the Labor Department Friday, the lowest since October 2011.

Economists polled by Reuters expected a number of 203,000 and an unchanged unemployment rate of 8.3%.

Despite the low number of jobs created, average hourly earnings rose five cents per month, while the workweek fell to 34.5 hours against 34, 6:00 in February.

European shares in the red at midday

The rebound in European stock markets fizzled Thursday and all were down in mid-session, due to renewed fears about the European crisis of sovereign debt, which continues to penalize euro.

In Paris the CAC 40 yields 0.53% (-17.64 points) to 3,295.68 points. After driving the 3350 points on Wednesday, its next support level is at 3270 points, corresponding to the moving average at 200 days, while the next resistance is at 3,350 and 3,425 points, emphasizes the broker Aurel BCG.

In Frankfurt, the DAX was down 0.91% and London, the FTSE drops 0.38%. The pan-European index Stoxx 50 lost 1.14%.

The FTSEurofirst 300 was down 0.52% to 1,045.56, the lowest in two months and sinking support for 1,050 points.

Clearances are again particularly marked on banking stocks due to their exposure to sovereign debt.

A Spanish Treasury auction Wednesday marked by weak demand and yields to rise, despite the austerity budget presented by Madrid, has revived tensions over the debts of pe riphériques within the euro area and fueled a movement of flight to quality benefiting in particular German bunds. 

The resurgence of risk aversion to the approach of a long weekend, on many places, for the Easter celebrations, benefits to the U.S. dollar and in a lesser extent to gold.

On the bond market, the yield on government bonds to ten years in Spain have continued to tighten, gaining 12 basis points to 5.84% after being up nearly 30 basis points Wednesday and pushing the performance of Italian government bonds to rise. The Italian 10-year yield rose 12 basis points to 5.52%. German Bunds continued to benefit from their safe haven status, yields from 10 years to below the threshold of 1.80%.

The spread between Germany and Spain to ten years widened by 10 bps to 400 bps, the highest since late November when it stood at 475 bps, according to data Tradeweb. The spread between Germany and Italy widened 10 bps to 370 bps, then at the height of mid-February.

However, France issued in good condition 8.439 billion of long-term debt.

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.

COR-G20 hopes to increase IMF resources in April

The G20 finance ministers pledge to do in April the stock of progress in strengthening the resources of the International Monetary Fund, have we learned from officials G20.

At their next meeting in April, the G20 agreed to agree on a financial firewall around 2,000 billion dollars (1.487 billion euros) to prevent European debt crisis from spreading and threatening the global recovery.

This would be the most ambitious effort since the financial crisis of 2009, when the G20 has reached 1,000 billion dollars to save the global economy. 

In an unexpected turn, Germany announced that it would decide in March on strengthening the European bailout fund, an initiative it excluded so far and that many G20 countries consider essential before any increase IMF resources.

For many partners in the euro area, it is indeed the first European leaders to implement the necessary means to control the risks of contagion from the debt crisis, for example by combining lending capacity of its two mechanisms of financial stability, the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) and the European Financial Stability Mechanism (MES ).

This would bring their firepower combined with some 750 billion euros. 

G20 countries would then be more inclined to answer the call of the IMF, who wants more than double its capacity to respond by raising $ 600 billion of additional resources.

Added together, all these measures would create a global financial firewalls of about 1,950 billion.

The question of strengthening the bailout funds in the euro area is on the agenda of the European Council of March 1 and 2.

Japan and Britain have reiterated over the weekend that they would refuse to increase their contributions to the IMF as countries in the eurozone will not self-reinforced ; their own firewall facing the debt crisis. 

"I expect that the debate on strengthening the capacity of the IMF loan is progressing as long as the problem of European debt crisis is resolved by the G20 meeting in Washington in April, "said Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi.

Lafarge has mastered its debt in 2011, new sales in 2012

Lafarge announced Friday a 14% reduction in its net debt in 2011, thanks to its output activity plaster, and its intention to continue its asset sales in 2012 in the As part of its debt reduction plan.

The title of the world's leading cement and displays the largest increase in the CAC 40 and affects its highest level in seven months, the market welcoming the results better than expected progress in terms deleveraging as investors feared that the group is forced to undertake a capital increase.

Around 10:25, the title, which lost more than 42% in 2011, accounts 6.13% to 33.780 euros, with nearly two million shares, representing already 140% of average daily volume the past three months. The European sector index ahead of his side of 1.7%.

Since the beginning of the year, took the title over 25%, after falling about 42% throughout 2011.

"The internal levers (limitation of dividend, cost reduction) and exogenous (relative relaxation of the funding offer and gradual reversal of trend in the U.S.) reduce the risk of increased capital, "said CM-CIC Securities, which also notes that the results fell less than expected.

Lafarge, which announced earlier this month 460 job cuts as part of an operational reorganization by business to simplify its structure, reduced last year its net debt to 11.97 billion euros, a decrease of approximately two billion over the year as expected. 

"The group's net debt will continue to decline in 2012 through the implementation of actions to maximize our operational cash flow," said Bruno Lafont, CEO of Lafarge, said in a statement ;.

When asked during a teleconference on a target to reduce debt, Bruno Lafont said simply: What can be said is that the debt will be significantly reduced in 2012. "

1 UP TO 4% OF THE MARKET IN 2012

……. . The group's debt, inherited largely from the acquisition of Orascom in 2008, earned him to be downgraded in the "junk" by rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Moody's last year. 

As part of its debt, the group seeks one billion euros in new divestitures in 2012, after 2.2 billion in 2011. It also has limited this year to 800 million euros investment, against 1.2 billion in 2011, achieving in 2012 the bulk – 400 million – 500 million euros of e ; economies already announced and halving the dividend to 0.50 euro per share.

Lafarge also announced in 2011 the closure of its plant Frangey (Yonne), the smallest cement group in France which he pledged to reclassify 75 employees, and the closure of a cement plant in Kansas (USA).

In 2011, the group's turnover increased by 3% to 15.28 billion euros, while net income, group share, fell 28% to 593 million euros, hit by an exceptional charge for impairment of 285 million euros related to the situation in Greece. 

Lafarge plans in 2012 a growth of 1 to 4% of the markets where it operates, especially now the cement (65% of sales) and concrete and aggregates ( 34%).

The output in Europe and Asia-Pacific – including Australia – activity has also strengthened plaster mathematically the group's presence in emerging markets, where growth should still be higher than in mature markets.

The U.S. market should indeed be stable this year and that of Western Europe down 5 to 8%, Spain and Greece in mind.

New economies now account for 57% of turnover, against 52% in 2010 and 32% in 2005.