Plastic Omnium wins a contract with Audi, the title jumped

Plastic Omnium said Thursday it had won, through its subsidiary, Inergy Automotive Systems, a contract to supply from 2015 to Audi system to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides for engines diesel (SCR).

This order represents an annual volume of 500,000 SCR systems for a estimated turnover of 500 million euros over the life of the vehicle, said the e quipementier car in a statement.

Around 11, the title won 3.63% to 21.13 euros, and signing one of the highest increases in the SBF 120 (0.07%). Stoxx index of auto sector was down 0.58% on his side.

"While this is great news n'impactera the group accounts as from 2015, it nevertheless proves that its focus on reducing emissions and 'relief of the vehicle makes sense, "said in a note CM-CIC Securities.

"We believe that the group has the necessary weapons to continue to grow revenue while maintaining its good fundamentals (…)", added through the purchase of the title.

The value also has a remedial purpose, Plastic Omnium has fallen by nearly 16% between late July and February 1, against a decline of 10% of Stoxx index automotive sector.

More than 68,000 passengers affected by the strike at Qantas

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has asked Qantas unions to end their claim as the strike of the airline has reached over 68,000 passengers.

Julia Gillard, criticized for not having intervened earlier in this dispute, asked the court ruling in Melbourne this type of case to end as soon as possible to the strike.

"We have taken this action (going to court) because we are worried about the impact on the economy," said the head of the Australian Government.

The strike comes at a worse time for the Australian Government, the Commonwealth summit being held in Perth.Seventeen officers were invited to travel on Qantas aircraft Sunday.

Saturday, the airline has grounded more than one hundred aircraft and canceled 447 flights. The strike comes during a weekend of the busiest of the year in Australia in terms of air transport, in part because of a very popular horse race, the Melbourne Cup horse, which takes place Tuesday and attracts tens of thousands of people.

The unions are demanding salary increases and improved working conditions, and challenge the strategy of the company to focus its international activities in the Asia-Pacific region. The company management wants it removed through a thousand jobs.

Safran and Thales close to agreement on two joint ventures

Safran and Thales are close to an agreement in principle on the creation of two joint ventures, one in optronics and the other in inertial navigation, officials said Friday a source close to the matter, confirming a report of daily Les Echos.

The two manufacturers for the aerospace, defense and security in May had announced the resumption of talks suspended in mid-2010, under pressure from the state, their common shareholder that seeks to reduce duplication in the sector defense budget cuts in full.

"Thales and Safran are close to an agreement in principle, but it is not the final agreement," the source said, adding that the joint venture would be headed by the Thales optronics and that in the inertial navigation by Safran.

Unemployment up off again in September

Unemployment in France is left up in September after a slight decline in August, show statistics released Wednesday by the Ministry of Labour and job center.

The number of job seekers in category A (those who exercised any activities during the month) in France rose by 26,000 (+0.9%) last month to $ 2,780,500.

In one year, the number of unemployed in category A growing by 3%.

By adding the persons engaged in small (B and C), the number of job applicants sign an increase of 0.7%, or 27,600 more people in one month, to $ 4,175,800.On an annual basis, the increase for these three categories falls to 4.5%.

September was especially unfavorable for 50 years and older, an age in which the number of unemployed in category increased 2.1% over the month and 14.3% year on year.

It was also detrimental to the age of 25, since in that category, the number of unemployed increased by 0.6%. On a year, however, declined 2%.

Death is expensive in France

Bury or cremate their dead costs on average 3,000 euros, according to a survey of the UFC-Que Choisir. The difference between the cheapest quote (1300 euros) and the most expensive (6100 euros) shows that competition is not enough. Cemetery of Pantin, near Paris

Bury or cremate their dead is a complex and costly journey to the consumer who must deal with often exorbitant prices and specifications are difficult to obtain or abuse in an industry where competition is not. The cost of the passage from life to death can be multiplied by five, depending on the selected services and burial.A survey of UFC, released Tuesday, provides a range of 1300-6101 euros between the cheapest quotes and the highest, at an average cost of 3098 euros, almost equivalent to a burial or cremation.

These differences show that the competition is not enough, and especially since customers weakened by grief often accepts the estimate prepared by the provider first met. "Play competition, even in the case of death, it's not butt, although some operators do not hesitate to make this argument vicious" to corner the families to pay a high price, told the AFP Alain Bazot, president of the association.The "first condition" of healthy competition, he says, is a quote "transparent and legible for comparing and sorting" between mandatory services and plenty of optional services (flowers, toiletries, conservation , dressing, porters etc. ..) always available.

The price of the coffin varies from 950 to 1300 euros, care to the deceased from 90 to 150, the burial chamber from 250 to 400, and administrative procedures handled by the operator 110 to 263 euros. However, the benefits required by law, can be summarized in a coffin 22 mm – 18 mm for a cremation – a mechanical seal, four handles, an identification plate, and a vehicle authorized to transport the deceased.

Reinvigorate competition

A ministerial order intended to force since August 2010 funeral operators to establish transparent and legible quote, did not provide a satisfactory answer, according to Mr.Bazot: 97% of estimates collected by UFC does not conform to the regulatory model, 39% only partially meet the criteria, and 18% of 997 shops visited refused burial to establish a personalized quote. The constraint can not be effective if accompanied by sanctions, and this, according to Bazot, the Directorate General for Competition (DGCCRF) must become a "deterrent" in imposing penalties financial.

DGCCRF objected that "this is the field establishing PV" including crimes (in case of deception on benefits). Paid for justice to follow. DGCCRF also conducts investigations "to identify more discrete agreements between operators or abuse of dominant position". For in this local market, franchisees and independents, too often only locally, abuse of that exclusivity.

"There are ways to enhance certain operators and avoid the ill will of others," says Bazot proposing to inform consumers through brochures available in hospitals, nursing homes, and town halls. "It's not revolutionary, he says, but it can revitalize the competition."

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.

Stability of producer prices in August

The producer prices of French industry in the domestic market increased by 0.5% in July before stabilizing in August, show figures released Friday by INSEE.

These figures are consistent with the consensus estimate of economists polled by Reuters.

In one year, the index of producer prices on the French market shows an increase of 6.3%.

Prices of petroleum products fell 2.2% in August after a 3.5% increase in July, Insee said.

The food prices have remained stable in August as in July.

"In August, prices of electrical, electronic and software grew by 0.6%, including the prices of components and circuit boards (1.0%), driven by commodity prices," says INSEE .

Prices of industrial products for foreign markets, unchanged in July, fell 0.3% in August.

For all markets, prices of industry production was down 0.1% in August after 0.3% the previous month.

The Dow Jones gained 0.07% Nasdaq 0.86% yield

Wall Street ended Tuesday in a dispersed a volatile session, as investors await the outcome of a two-day meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, the Monetary Policy Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve.

The Dow Jones Industrial 30 closed up 0.07% or 10.65 points to 11,408.66 points.

The S & P-500, wider, has lost 2 points, or 0.17% to 1202.09 points.

The Nasdaq Composite fell on its side of 22.59 points (-0.86%) to 2590.24 points.

Faced with strong pressure on financial markets and fears of a relapse of the economy in recession, the Federal Reserve prepares to influence long rates to support economic activity, an action similar to that conducted in the years 60 and then christened "Operation Twist".

With an eye on the sinking of the crisis of sovereign debt in Europe and another on an unemployment rate fails to fall below 9% in the U.S., the Fed should gradually change the composition of its balance sheet to increase the share of long-term securities.

Some traders, however, warn that the rise could be short term, investors may be tempted to take profits after Wednesday's strong performance last week.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also reduced its growth forecast for the United States in 2011 to 1.5% and 1.8% in 2012 against 2.5% and 2.7% respectively, projected in June.

The IMF, Europe and the United States may plunge into recession next year, said the International Monetary Fund lowered its forecast for global growth to 4.0% this year and in 2012, against 4, 3% for 2011 and 4.5% for 2012 projected three months ago.

The housing starts have also declined more than expected in August, falling 5% to a seasonally adjusted pace of 571,000 units, according to the Commerce Department (consensus: 590,000 units).

Values, the way Google Inc. has closed almost in equilibrium after adding Visa (3.12%) to the list of contributors to its proposed electronic wallet for mobile under an agreement that will allow customers Visa to conduct transactions from their mobile phones smartphones.

Do you live better or worse than before?

According to a survey, three out of four Fançais observe a decline in their standard of living. And you? The basket of essential goods for households with small budgets

Three in four French people think life worse than before, a decision that had never reached such a level for twenty years, according to a survey by TNS Sofres for the association of mayors of major cities in France.

To the question "Did you feel that in recent years people like you live better or worse than before," 75% of respondents answered "less". This feeling is a "historic high in the evolution of the personal situation of the French" in the TNS Sofres survey, conducted since 1981, said the institute.

It manifests itself particularly in the 25-49 age group (81%) and among the employees (87%) and workers (82%).Only 14% say their side "better life", while 10% see no change (1% undecided).

With an unemployment rate of 9.6% according to INSEE, and generally 3.3 million people, who are not working but want to work in France, the fear of becoming unemployed grows in the opinion, according this investigation. Two out of three French (66%) fear of "risks of unemployment", for themselves or someone in their household. A result in increase of 4 points from last year and 16 points since 1988, said the Sofres.

And you, your standard of living has deteriorated there? How do you explain it? do you fear unemployment? Give us your opinion in the comments.

The new home sales fall 22.6% in Q2

Sales of new homes fell 22.6% in the second quarter in France compared to the same period last year, show figures released Tuesday by the Ministry of Sustainable Development.

At 23,183, sales from April to June, however, increase by 2.6% over the first quarter of this year.

In one year, the decline in the number of transactions reached 28.5% for houses and 21.8% for apartments.

"Sales of 2010, the year of continued recovery began in 2009, had been particularly high," says the ministry in a statement.

Of the last four quarters, sales of new homes declined 5.1% compared to previous four to 104,473.

This movement, which affects all areas of city with the exception of Central and Corsica, has not prevented a further rise in average prices at 3820 euros per square meter for apartments (7.7% over one year) and 249,400 euros on average for homes (+1.8%).

Meanwhile, on sale housing fell 8.6% in the second quarter from April to June 2010, to 28,596.Like sales, this reflux is more affected houses (-19.2%) and apartments (-7.3%).

The last four quarters, put up for sale, however, increased by 9.9% over the previous four.

Further signs of tension in the market for residential real estate, the stock of new homes for sale was in the second quarter, up 1.5% year on year and the average flow of housing has increased in one year seven months to eight and a half months for apartments, eight and a half months to just over 11 months for houses.

Moreover, housing starts for new homes end of July showed an increase of 15.7% over one year to 347,355 units, and 9.1% over the last three months compared to the previous three months, to 80,524.

The number of building permits granted for dwellings alongside increased 10.1% year on year to 422,974 units and 8.6% over three months, 118,747.

In the non-residential housing starts were up 9.6% over three months, to 5.95 million m2, but fell by 1.5% over the last 12 months, 24.39 million of m2.

Building permits for industrial and commercial premises, they are up 2.9% over the period May to July over the same quarter a year earlier to 8.88 million m2 and will increase by 5.7 % 12-month rolling, to 35.82 million m2.