News Headlines

The French Parliament has finally adopted Tuesday, majority against opposition, the bill funding the Social Security (PLFSS) for 2012 which includes several measures of the recent savings plan of the government.

The National Assembly, which constitutionally the final word, conducted Tuesday at the final reading of this PLFSS after the Senate, where the left is now the majority, was the once again rejected Thursday.

This bill provides for a reduction to 13.9 billion euros, against 18.2 billion in 2011, the deficit of the general scheme of Social Security in 2012.

China's economic growth to slow to 8.5% in 2012 due to lower external demand, but this rate of expansion slowed remains "acceptable," said a government economist quoted Friday by the New China News Agency.

Lu Zhongyuan, vice president of the think tank Development Research Centre (DRC) of the Chinese government also believes that inflation will fall to 4.5% next year.

The economic slowdown expected – compared to a rate of over 9% expected this year – is estimated by the economist as "reasonable and acceptable" because, he says, the quality of growth improves.

The events in Europe during the weekend may well dictate the evolution of Wall Street next week, at least at the beginning.

France and Germany called Saturday to the new Prime Minister of Greece Lucas Papademos the "full implementation and full implementation of all commitments" by his country to emerge from the crisis, according to the Europe Agreement of 27 October.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano Sunday continued its consultations for the appointment of a new government to replace the outgoing team of Silvio Berlusconi, who resigned Saturday evening under the jeers of the Roman people.If pressed, the index may end up around 1100 early 2012, says he.

Many investors bought put options (selling) before the weekend to guard against a possible drift to lower Wall Street next week. However, seasonal factors could play for the Exchange.

November marks the beginning of the "best six months of the year", a period when the Dow Jones recorded a gain of 7.5% on average and has been for 50 years against 0.4% for the other part of the years, according to the Stock Trader's Almanac.

The holiday season partly explain this discrepancy.

Whirlpool fall, however, more than 10% after the announcement of a comprehensive plan to reduce costs, justified by the weak demand.

The euro retreated against the dollar after the seven-week high hit the previous day in the wake of the Brussels agreement on the management of the debt crisis.

In the bond market, the Italian bond yield to 10 years has exceeded 6% after the award of the Treasury, while the German Bund futures cut their losses.

Brent crude dropped below the threshold of $ 110 and U.S. crude has returned close to 92 dollars.

The Swiss pharmaceutical group Novartis announced Tuesday the elimination of 2,000 jobs at the group level and a series of measures designed to absorb the price pressure.

These reductions, announced in conjunction with the release of third quarter results will speak mainly in Switzerland and the United States, and will be offset by the creation of 700 jobs in low cost countries and other countries, Novartis said in a statement.

The group also plans to close two locations in Switzerland and Italy. Part of the research will also be transferred from Switzerland to the United States.

For the third quarter, Novartis presented figures in line with market expectations.Revenues totaled $ 14.8 billion, up 18% in dollars and 12% at constant exchange rates.

Net income reached 2.49 billion dollars, an increase of 7% a year in dollars and 15% at constant exchange rates.

Analysts polled by Reuters on average expected a turnover of 14.86 billion and a net profit of 2.84 billion.

At 9:25, the title yielded 1.64% to 50.95 francs, while the European Health Index fell back 0.4%.

The European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) could provide guarantees to investors who buy sovereign debt issued by a Member State, on Friday said a European source.

The initiative would encourage investors to buy sovereign debt otherwise considered too risky by providing a form of insurance against potential losses and in fact increase the firepower of the EFSF.

"Instead of buying 100% (of bonds), the EFSF could ensure, for example, 20% of the amount of debt issued to private investors," said the source.

Financial markets are worried that the size of EFSF, currently has 440 billion euros, sufficient to enable both to help a large country in the euro area while bailing out the banks vulnerable to the region.

European leaders are advocating a recapitalization of the continent by some estimates could cost between 100 and 200 billion or more.

Chief Financial Officer EFSF has in turn said Friday that applications to the rescue fund for recapitalization may be limited, the private sector and governments to be asked first.

"You must also take into account the fact that Ireland, Portugal and Greece have already set aside money for recapitalization of banks as part of their programs," he told reporters Christophe Frankel.

He added that the EFSF also looks to the money market, making funding more flexible and diversified.

"We will implement a strategy of short-term financing could be structured around a good program," said Christophe Frankel.

The telecoms operator AT & T announced Saturday it had received more than 200,000 orders for the iPhone 4S in the first 12 hours of marketing the new Apple handset.

The successor to the iPhone 4 unveiled Tuesday, the eve of the death of the co-founder of Steve Jobs, has, according to the second mobile operator in the U.S., an "extraordinary demand", despite no change in design.

The three major U.S. telcos, AT & T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint, have begun taking orders for the iPhone 4S Friday.Apple's flagship handset will be available in stores from October 14.

Comparison with sales of the previous generation is difficult because the iPhone 4 at its output was distributed only by the operator AT & T in the United States. It was then passed to 1.7 million copies during the first three days of its launch.

Some analysts expect Apple sells between 27 and 28 million iPhones for the quarter October to December.

Handsets running the Android operating system from Google, as the Galaxy Samsung, have become formidable competitors of the iPhone while Tim Cook has just taken the reins of Apple and its founder, credited with a strategic vision, has disappeared as a result of cancer.

Pensioners' organizations in 110 cities protesting against the decline in purchasing power and delayed the reform of addiction. A retirement home in Paris in July 2006.

Organizations require retirees to protest Thursday in 110 cities against the plan anti-government deficits, the loss of purchasing power and delayed the reform of addiction. Paris will be the highlight of this day inter-engagement, with a planned demonstration at 14h between the Place de la Bastille and of the nation, the call of the UNSA-retired from UCR-CFDT, the Unar-CFTC, the UCR-CGT and the FGR-FP.

These pensioners' organizations have condemned the government decision to postpone indefinitely the reform of financing of the loss of independence and recalled "the need to create a universal benefit to compensate for the loss of autonomy regardless of age, care for national solidarity, as part of Social Security. "

Campaign promise of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007, this reform was to improve the quality of care for older people and reduce the cost for individuals, has been postponed several times, the last time in late August. But is conspicuously absent from the bill funding the Social Security (PLFSS) for 2012, presented Wednesday by the Cabinet, even if it is intended as annual increases in funding for the elderly.

Regarding the purchasing power, "which continues to deteriorate," the five unions fear a further decline due to plan anti-government deficits announced in late August. At the same time, they demand a significant increase in pensions, especially for low pensions, minimum pension at the minimum wage and a new method of indexing.

The UCR-FO, which was signed in July calling for the single day of action, has finally shown solo on September 20 with all the militants OST to the trial of "austerity".

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou called Tuesday a sign of support from its European partners, while Greece puts all his energy to accomplish the necessary reforms to its crisis.

Speaking at a press conference with his German counterpart Angela Merkel, he stressed that Greece would fulfill its obligations for sure and that the country was a primary deficit to zero in 2012.

"Conditions have changed because of the recession," he said."But the goals have remained the same."

"But it is important to receive a sign of support from our European partners," he added.

Angela Merkel, for his part reiterated that the right-wing coalition in power in Berlin would get the vote of strengthening the powers of bailout funds EFSF Thursday without having to call on opposition voices.

Germany, Merkel said, wants a strong Greece "will do whatever is necessary" for this purpose.

But, she added, Greece must fulfill its obligations for the discharge of its donors meeting in the troika (International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and European Commission).