Business News & Financial News

The oil services group CGG Veritas said on Wednesday quarterly net earnings above expectations, boosted by strong performance of its subsidiary Sercel and recovery of marine activity.

The specialist geophysical services and equipment for the oil industry recorded a utilization rate of the fleet marine marked improvement, while Sercel, its subsidiary specialized in the production of geophysical equipment, has reported a significant increase sales of land equipment.

"Our results have improved significantly this quarter. They are excellent for Sercel.

General Motors announced Monday the retirement of Nick Reilly, current head of the European activities of the group and its replacement next year by Karl-Friedrich Stracke.

The latter will take office as president of GM Europe on 1 January while retaining his current position as CEO of Opel.

General Motors had appointed in March the former head of engineering at the head of the European manufacturer Opel.

The Government will meet throughout the weekend to decide on a new set of anti-deficit. The announcement will probably be Monday at the end of an extraordinary cabinet meeting. Minister of Economy and Finance, Baroin, and budget minister, Valérie Pécresse (here on the benches of the National Assembly on 6 September 2011)

The government will hold meetings arbitration throughout the weekend before the announcement, probably Monday, a new set of anti-deficit measures which a light could be a new day of solidarity, has said on Saturday a government source. "Conciliation meetings will be held the weekend before the ads are likely to take place Monday even if it is not yet confirmed," it was said the same source.Announcement of details of the measures occurring after a cabinet meeting postponed to Monday exceptionally due to preparation of the G-20 summit last Wednesday.

According to reports in the Journal du Dimanche, a government source confirmed a second day of solidarity is under consideration. Founded in 2004 after the 2003 heat wave, the first Solidarity Day is a day of unpaid work whose fruits fund the care of elderly and disabled. Originally set for Monday of Pentecost, that day, which reported 2.4 billion euros in 2010, has since 2008 organized "a la carte".

Other measures to be announced Monday include the raising of the reduced VAT rate, from 5.5% to 7% for the restoration and renovation of housing.

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.

With 5.12 billion euros of order intake in 2010, the French arms exports experienced a sharp drop from the previous year, when they had reached 8.16 billion, announced Wednesday the Departments of Defense and Foreign Affairs.

In a "difficult situation", France has retained last year's fourth largest exporter behind the United States, Britain and Russia, reads the report to Parliament on the exports of arms of France in 2010.

The main customers of France were Saudi Arabia, Brazil, India and Malaysia.

In the preamble to the report, the defense minister, Gérard Longuet, welcomed a "success" of France in a crisis.

He sees an encouragement "not to relax our efforts and to continue our work for our exports to strengthen the industrial and technological base defense of our country and preserve the 165,000 jobs that the industry has."

Over the period 2006-2010, the Middle East is the top destination for exports with 27%, followed closely by Latin America 25%, thanks to contracts with Brazil.

Asia represents 18% of the market, and expected success with India could advance this figure in years to come.Finally the percentage of world market share in Europe is 17%.

The contract for the sale of two ships Projection and Command (BPC) Mistral class in Russia for an estimated $ 1.2 billion was signed in June, and is not accounted for in 2010 .

The two helicopter carriers are built by the French shipyard DCNS, contractor on the contract, and STX, in collaboration with OSK.

DCNS, a public company, is controlled to 25% by the defense electronics group Thales.The Korean group STX, owner of the shipyards of Saint-Nazaire, is also involved in the construction of the Mistral.

As for the ongoing negotiations with several countries including Brazil and the United Arab Emirates to sell for the first time outside the Rafale combat aircraft from Dassault Aviation, they have not yet been completed.

Over the decade 2001-2010, the United States, Britain, Russia, France and Israel have shared 90% of the arms market.

List of values ​​to follow on Wednesday at the Paris Bourse.

* BANKS. The International Monetary Fund is considering taking part in a special investment vehicle that would be created by the European Financial Stability (EFSF) but has not yet taken any decision, officials said Tuesday the euro area.

* PSA Peugeot Citroën has revised down its forecast Wednesday after the third quarter of 2011 marked by lower volumes and increased competition on prices in Europe.

* AIR LIQUIDE confirmed target improvement in net profit in 2011 "in a normal environment," despite a slowdown in sales growth in the third quarter, still worn by the emerging markets.

* Bouygues.Morgan Stanley initiated coverage of the value with a board underweight and a target price of 32 euros.

* Saint-Gobain confirmed its 2011 objectives despite the deterioration in economic conditions which could lead to slower growth in the fourth quarter of the group.

* STMicroelectronics.Kepler Capital Markets lowered its recommendation on the way to reduce, retain cons.

* Ingenico found that the turbulence in the economy does not question its forecast for 2011, thanks to particularly strong sales growth in emerging countries and Europe, but the manufacturer of payment terminals has remained silent of 2012.

* MERSEN confirmed its 2011 objectives, supported by strong solar activities and Asia, but expressed cautious for 2012 due to economic climate remains uncertain.

* LAFUMA confirmed its performance targets for 2010-2011 following a growth of 1.7% of its turnover in respect of the fiscal year.

European shares closed up Monday, supported by the hope of a settlement of the debt crisis in the euro area and reassuring economic data from China.

The pan-European Eurofirst 300 index took 1.11%. In Paris the CAC 40 gained 1.55% (49.12 points) to 3,220.46 points, its highest since Oct. 12.

In Frankfurt, the Dax gained 1.41% to 6055.27 points. The Footsie has meanwhile been 1.08% on the London.

The mining, including Antofagasta, Kazakhmys and Rio Tinto have reached the market, winning all over 7% on the right numbers of Chinese manufacturing activity.STOXX index of European raw materials ends up 5.63%.

"Markets are likely to be very erratic until the EU summit on Wednesday night," warns Thomas, however, Kleb, head of equity sales at SG CIB in Paris, noting also that transaction volumes remain extremely limited.

The euro still progressed and exceeded $ 1.39, on the hope that Europeans will manage to agree on a plan against the debt crisis.

According to a document of the European Union (EU) for the summit on Wednesday, two options should be combined to increase the firepower of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), namely an insurance scheme and a special investment vehicle able to buy government bonds.

The Director General of Swedish Automotive, which owns the Swedish automaker Saab, said Friday it had rejected a takeover offer of 100% of capital from Chinese groups Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Pang Da Automobile and Automobile Trade.

"(…) The offer was unacceptable because it would have resulted in the modification of all control clauses, which would have wanted to cause the end of Saab, "he told Reuters at Victor Muller of a telephone interview.

Thursday, Swedish Automotive received a lifeline from North Capital, an investment fund and U.S. hedge fund manager, who made $ 10 million in capital and a loan of 60 million to fund activities Saab.

After opening down more than 10%, the Swedish Automobile action, very volatile, losing to 8:50 GMT, 2.35% to 0.83 euro. Since the beginning of the year, it fell some 75% due to severe cash flow problems of the group.

Victor Muller did not disclose the amount of the offer of two Chinese manufacturers, adding that they were still interested in Saab, they must abide by the terms of the agreement signed in July, stating that they all take 53.9% stake in Swedish Automobile.

Saab went from crisis to crisis this year. It closed in April, unable to pay its suppliers to whom he owes more than 150 million euros.In August, it was no longer able to pay salaries.

Saab was bought by the Dutch Spyker, now Swedish Automobile, General Motors in early 2010.

Since 21 September, Saab has been under the protection of its creditors pending bailout Youngman and Pang Da, who had committed 245 million euros in July.

SAAB can be profitable

A Swedish court has said that he had received a request for release of Saab's system of protection for creditors.

This prospect does not frighten Mascioli Alex, an avid race car, which confirmed to Reuters that his company North Street Capital LP was well invest $ 70 million for Saab to continue operating.

"I expect that the transaction is done. I am ready to do what I can with my resources for Saab," he said by telephone.

The Swedish court said it did not decide on Saab on Friday, adding that he would decide on the reorganization of the manufacturer at the end of next week, at least before a meeting of creditors scheduled October 31 .

Victor Muller said that the Swedish government was not interested in buying Saab.

"There's always a plan B," he said when he was asked what would happen if Chinese automakers abandoned their project.Asked about the plan, Victor Muller said he would reveal "only if we use them."

"It was Victor decide. He struggled a lot to try to save the company. For now, there is an agreement with the Chinese," said Alex Mascioli for his part in response to the question of whether he was willing to invest in the place of Youngman and Pang Da.

Saab is an undervalued asset that will survive and which could generate profits, Mascioli Alex continued, adding that North Street could afford to take Saab if the manufacturer wanted.