Business News & Financial News

The trade balance between imports and exports French deficit was over 69 billion euros in 2011, the Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Pierre Lellouche. This is more than the previous record of 2008. View of the commercial port of Marseille

The Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Pierre Lellouche, announced a trade deficit of 69.6 billion euros in 2011, more than the previous 2008 record of 56.2 billion, in an interview published on the website of Figaro Tuesday. "With a trade deficit reached 69.6 billion euros in 2011 (after 51.4 billion in 2010) the results are less bad than expected," said the minister who had, in mid-January, revised down the estimated 5 billion annual deficit, previously estimated at 75 billion.

"In 2011, our imports have increased 11% to 498 billion. At the same time, more than 117 000 firms sold their products abroad, a figure unchanged from 2010, "said Secretary of State." Our exports increased by 8.6%, to 429 billion euro – which will create 90,000 jobs this year "has he congratulated

. Surplus for the food processing and aerospace

" We can be satisfied with the functioning of certain sectors: agribusiness is experiencing a historic surplus of 11.4 billion. The aircraft also implies a surplus of 17.7 billion through the sale of Airbus 534 "also said Pierre Lellouche

. It is observed that exports French grew less in 2011 than Germany, but also that exports from Italy, Spain, UK and U.S.. The global market share captured by France and has deteriorated significantly since 1990 from 6.2% 3.6%

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LVMH wipes one of the largest declines in the CAC 40 stock market Friday morning, a victim of profit taking after the publication of its annual results, after winning more than 21% since mid-December .

Stakeholders believe however that the title could quickly resume colors, these results with 2011 confirmed the good resistance of luxury to the crisis, with prospects for the year 2012 found very reassuring .

At 11:00, the title fell by 0.87% to 125.25 euros in a volume of nearly 455,000 pieces, or 41% of its average daily volume the past three months, while the CAC 40 is stable.

"These are profit-taking. The results are very good. LVMH has proven its strength in non-crisis and crisis. The title should rebound quickly (upwards), "said one trader

. LVMH has published annual results up sharply, signing new records through the acquisition of Bulgari, and once again demonstrating the resilience of luxury to shocks in the economy

….. …. "LVMH is a history of strong growth and fits well with the themes of our strategic team for 2012 (quality, sustainable growth, large capitalization, strong balance sheet)," said Thomas Chauvet, an analyst at Citi

. But he wonders if time is not ripe for the title of a break in a context of weak growth

. "After the 15% increase in luxury and LVMH shares, with limited potential for earnings growth in short term, we see only modest upside potential for the course, "he said. 

"Like the rest of the sector (with the exception of Tiffany), LVMH shares performed well since the beginning of the year, supported by stronger growth than expected in its sector fourth quarter, a favorable exchange rate developments and an appetite for stocks with high beta (volatility). Despite positive comments from CEO of LVMH, the action probably warrants a pause, "says Antoine Belge of HSBC

. Analysts already largely positive on the title, welcome the absence of growth deceleration in the fourth quarter and in January, several of which have raised their forecasts for 2012 and their price target

. "We note the strong momentum in the fourth quarter by region and by industry, the figures being very close to those of the third quarter, "wrote Thomas Mesmin, an analyst at CA Cheuvreux, which raised its price target from 19% to EUR 150

… …… "Management remains optimistic for 2012 and reports a good start to the year, particularly in Asia (Chinese New Year) and the United States. Local demand in Europe continues to grow, which is a very reassuring, "he says

. Oddo Securities also raised its price target on LVMH, which rose from 140 to 146 euros, and its estimate of 2012 net income, noting that the EBIT for 2011 published is 3% above the market consensus

. In a note on LVMH entitled "Crisis? What Crisis ", Natixis Securities is also its price target, going from 140 to 147 euros, and confirmed its recommendation to buy

……. .. "The fourth quarter exceeded expectations ends the year in style and confirms the excellent level of business despite the current depressed. The strengths of the group (unique portfolio of brands, global presence) will play back full in 2012, "wrote analysts at Natixis in their daily note

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Deposits record debt have accelerated last year after a slight dip in 2010. The number of filings in 2011 with commissions of over-indebtedness on the mainland increased by 6.6% compared to 2010, 232,493, announced Wednesday the Bank of France. It increased by only 1% in the first nine months of 2010. The number of cases handled, it is more sensitive it up by 10.1% to 239.647.Dans detail, the commissions have used the new possibilities offered by the law Lagarde, effective the end of 2010, which allows them to not go before the judge for approval of a plan to erase debt. The number of recommendations to erase debt, also called personal recovery proceedings without liquidation (the judge orders the sale of household goods over-indebted if any) has been increased almost tenfold between 2010 and 2011 . As a result, the number of recommendations approved by the judges jumped 30% to 48,797 in 2011.Parallèlement, the number of cases referred to committee by the judges was down 22% in 3549.

The debt crisis has led to Monday a new onset of fever in the markets, powered by a warning from Moody's with respect to France and by the failure of U.S. lawmakers to agree on reducing the deficit .

Even the clear election victory of the Spanish right, Sunday, was not enough to reassure investors, anxious about no firewall is sufficient to prevent the spread of the crisis of sovereign debt.

The risk premium for holding debt Spanish, Italian or French rather than German securities was up in the afternoon, Moody's has highlighted the risks posed to the "triple A" of France increased sustainable financing costs.

The New York Stock Exchange closed up 0.25% Friday, the Dow Jones 30 Industrial winning 29.66 points to 11,800.39. The S & P-500, wider, lost 0.22 points, or 0.02% to 1215.91.

The Nasdaq Composite fell 15.38 points his side of (0.59%) to 2572.61

These data are likely to vary even slightly.

More than one in two French (56%) spend more than nine hours in the office according to a study of the company Regus, which specializes in work areas. It is 10% more than the British or the Americans. According to Regus, 14% of the French work more than 11h, against 10% abroad.

The French do they work less than others? No, clearly meets the company Regus, a provider of workspaces. She has just completed a survey of 12,000 companies, working in some sixty countries. And she said, 56% of French people spend more than 9 am at work, against 48% for the average of other nations. In comparison, 46% of the British and Americans work more than 9 hours, 32% of 47% Chinese or Japanese. Germans (59%), Indians (55%) and Brazilians (60%) are in turn more likely to work as hard.In France, the overuse of long-term work could have a negative impact on both health assets and productivity as a whole in that overworked employees are at risk of becoming dissatisfied and suffer a real imbalance between the private and professional sphere "commented Frédéric Bleuse, CEO of Regus France.

And internationally, are teleworkers (broadly those with no fixed office) that are most likely to spend 11 hours a day at work. Not under 14% do so, against 6% for office workers fixed. They are also more likely to take work home at night to finish it. Indeed, 59% of teleworkers work at home win more than three times a week, as against 26% for office workers fixed.

European shares were down sharply in early trade, including sealed by the decision of the Greek Prime Minister to submit to referendum the agreement on the resolution of the crisis of sovereign debt in the eurozone.

"The risk is that a 'no' to the Greeks do completely derail the rescue efforts. With a vote expected in January, I can truly say goodbye to the rally of the season," said a trader based in Paris.

The Euro Stoxx 50 index of volatility, a "barometer of fear" in the financial markets, jumped 20% in opening sign of the strong concern room.

In Paris the CAC 40 fell 3.3% to 9:40, passing below the 3200 to 3135 points, weighed by banks.

Porsche AG said Friday expect operating income (Rex) was up over 10% this year, Chinese demand for luxury vehicles has boosted its sales in the first nine months of the year.

Operating income for the German automaker will show growth in 2011 "clearly double digit," said a spokesman for the group.

Porsche has reported an operating profit up 25% to 1.51 billion euros over January-September.The spokesman declined to provide comparable figures for 2010, when Porsche had experienced a truncated fiscal year from August to December.

The manufacturer, owned by Porsche SE and Volkswagen reiterated its plans to sell more than 100,000 vehicles this year, after having passed 85,872 from January to September, or 26% more than in 2010.

Sales in China soared 82% over the period, to 17,683 units.

Thursday, Volkswagen reported an operating profit for nine months rose 86% to 8.97 billion euros, with a rate of double-digit growth in sales and a gain related to the merger with Porsche.

France should maintain its valuable credit rating "AAA" Despite the security which would make Paris a portion of the bond portfolio of troubled bank Dexia and a possible capital injection into banks, analysts said a Reuters poll .

They point out that this type of guarantee, recorded as an off-balance in the public accounts, and a possible capital investment banks, which could eventually generate a profit, do not pose a risk to the sovereign debt.

But the rescue of Dexia, which should be formalized on Sunday, and a new injection of public funds in other banks will form a new constraint on the flexibilities of the French government, which announced a few weeks ago to 12 billion euros of savings in order to preserve the triple "A" credit rating the highest possible.

Analysts point out however they can not confirm their hypothesis that once the details of the dismantling of Dexia are known.

The Belgian, French and Luxembourg reaffirmed Sunday after a meeting held at midday in Brussels their solidarity in the search for a solution that ensures the future of Franco-Belgian bank.

In a joint statement, the Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme and French François Fillon stated that the three governments give their full support to the proposals of management of the banking group, presented at a Board of Directors scheduled to begin at 15:00 in Brussels.

The activities of the Franco-Belgian bank, first bank in size in Europe to be a victim of the crisis of sovereign debt in the euro zone could be split and the most risky assets confined to a separate structure.

Brussels and Paris are trying to agree on the guarantees afforded by the two countries to the hive to accommodate the bond portfolio of 95 billion euros in Dexia, hoping not to aggravate the situation of public finances .

The rating agency Moody's has also increased pressure on the Belgian camp Friday night: it has placed the sovereign rating of Aa1 by explaining kingdom under surveillance will include assessing the costs and liabilities that the state could play in supporting Dexia.

U.S. stocks rebounded sharply late in the session on Tuesday purchases with it after spending most of the session in the red.

The Dow Jones gained 1.44% or 153.41 points at 10,808.71 points. The Standard & Poor's 500 benchmark fund managers, was awarded 24.72 points or 2.25% at 1123.95 points. The Nasdaq composite has been 2.95% or 68.99 points to 2404.82 points.

The U.S. stock market at large had lost 18% over the last four months, affected by poor economic growth around the world and concerns about the deficit countries in the euro area.

The magnitude of these losses out of the woods investors on the lookout for buying opportunities.In particular, they set their sights on tech stocks and banking.

"We buy a few shares. We stick to companies with strong balance sheets, or with a global presence in emerging markets, certainly not in the financial services area," said Kim Forrest, an analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh.

Some other investors, however, favored the bank. The index of the financial sector, down nearly 30% since the market peak reached on April 29, ended up 4.1%.

The remarks of the President of the Federal Reserve were also able to help cheer the fellows.The Fed, Ben Bernanke said, is ready to take further steps to support economy "almost staggering," clearly referring to the will of the central bank to intervene further to ensure that the U.S. fall into recession.

In terms of values, Apple, including the presentation of the new iPhone has disappointed, ended down by 0.56% to 372.50 dollars. The value has sharply reduced its losses late in the session along with the market went back.

Bank of America, in session after reaching its lowest level since March 2009, ended with a gain of 4.15% to 5.76 dollars.

Citigroup rebounded by 5.5% and Morgan Stanley from 12.3% to 14.01 dollars.The value is down 48.5% this year.

Sears Holdings soared 11.7% to 63.94 dollars.

About 12.9 billion shares changed hands on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq and the Amex, more than 60% more than the usual daily average since the beginning of the year.