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The Americans seem to have spent slightly more than last year as Christmas gifts. Early indications, sales exceed 1% which was conducted between November 1 and December 24, 2008. A figure quitient account a positive calendar effect – there was one extra selling day.

According to MasterCard's SpendingPulse Advisor, regardless of the schedule rates, sales have even increased by 3.6%. The forecast made in November ranged from a decrease of 1% and an increase of 2.6%.

All indications are that more and more Americans are waiting until the last minute to shop. The crowds in department stores in the days leading up to Christmas has been aggravated this year by the crowd of consumers northeastern United States that had been blocked the previous weekend by a large snowstorm.It was not until January 7 to get a clearer picture of the trend. Indeed, this day that several chains of stores publish their sales figures for the month of December.

The SEC, the regulator of financial markets overseas, announced Wednesday it had filed complaints against two French residents in Brussels for insider trading during the takeover of U.S. group Chattem by Sanofi-Aventis. According to the SEC, Gilles Roger and Nicolas Condroyer allegedly pocketed respectively 1.4 and 2.8 million in net income on a stock deal made between 7 and December 18, when negotiating the purchase of Chattem. Nicolas Condroyer would "was in possession of material information and confidential" on the transaction of $ 1.9 billion made by Sanofi-Aventis, according to the SEC.

Gel urgency of their assets

The market regulator has moved quickly to freeze the assets of two men on American soil, preventing them to repatriate their earnings.The survey shows that the two men bought futures on the action of the manufacturer of skincare products and dietary supplements Chattem during the period of negotiation with the French group to sell a week later, pocketing the passing a gain of 10 to 15 dollars per share. They had opened accounts a month ago with a U.S. brokerage firm to make one transaction.

Insider trading, if proved, would have no impact on the operation. The pharmaceutical group multiplies acquisitions for several months to cope with the loss of patents on some of its drugs by 2014.All these transactions closely monitored by authorities of financial markets.

This announcement comes just days after French gendarme market has cleared for auspiciously on suspicion of insider trading massive all leaders of the EADS group, which Noel Forgeard, former co-chair of the European giant, after three years of investigation.

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The restructuring of debt of Thomson is more than a vote of validation by creditors. According to a statement released by the group this Monday, the plan was accepted by two of the three committees of creditors: the Committees of the company's suppliers and the Committee of creditors. In fact the new Exchange leap as 15.38% to 1 euro.

But there are still some hurdles for the group. The plan must be submitted to the Committee on bond Tuesday. "If the restructuring plan is approved tomorrow (Monday, editor's note) to the two-thirds majority, it will then be submitted to a vote of shareholders of Thomson at the Annual General Meeting and extraordinary will be held January 27, 2010," says Thomson.Otherwise, the commercial court of Nanterre impose an alternative plan to the group, currently under safeguard procedure.

Thomson has this plan to reduce its debt "senior" of 1.29 billion euros. In late November, the latter amounted to 2.84 billion euros.

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A group shaken by strategic shifts

After placing Greece on negative watch, Standard & Poor's has gone into action. The rating agency lowered the rating on Wednesday the country's A-to BBB +. Moreover, Greece is under "negative watch" the agency said.

Standard & Poor's moved the degradation of the note by the lack of political support for fiscal reforms presented Monday night by the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou. The agency said that Greece should tighten their belts "for a number of years" to return to satisfactory levels of debt.

Standard & Poor's is the second, after Fitch Ratings December 8 last, to have worsened the Greek notes.

The Greek prime minister has disappointed the markets

"The financial difficulties concern the Greek Twenty-seven

Roselyne Bachelot has just lost her only support from representatives of physicians. Martial Olivier Koehret, outgoing president of MG-France, was clearly in the minority this weekend, during the general assembly of the first union of generalists. It has, hence, decided not to perform, leaving the field open to his opponent Claude Leicher. This practitioner of 56 years, located in the Drome, has been elected on a very aggressive speech vis-?-vis the government.

The organization of vaccination against influenza A out of surgeries was the final straw, say in unison victors and vanquished. It was added to the pledge several times postponed for up consultation from 22 to 23 euros (Medicare now evokes 2011 at the earliest).GPs were also very poorly made that the first orders in preparation for law enforcement Bachelot concern the obligation to declare their vacation or "fine" meant to be applied one day to those who refuse to go to work occasionally in medical deserts.

Forthcoming elections

But for over a year, MG-France had supported the law Bachelot, obtaining recognition of the specific role of GPs in the care system. After the vote of the text, Dr. Olivier Koehret refrained from criticizing too harshly the minister, claiming a "trade unionism and construction proposal, which takes time." A speech became inaudible by profession "enervated, exasperated, as he himself acknowledges. "Throughout the weekend, the fellow we spoke of humiliation, harassment, says Vincent Rebeille-Borgella, a member of the new leadership of MG-France.They feel they have been trapped in supporting the law. "

In turn, the rival union CSMF first organization of liberals all specialties in cold long with Roselyne Bachelot, "is leaving the negotiations with Medicare," said Sunday its president Michel Chassang. These negotiations must define the medical reports Safely (pricing, third party payment …) from 2010 to 2015. But the health minister has made clear Friday, at the Journalists Association of Social Information (Ajisai), it does not take account of their income until elections could not measure the weight various medical unions. These elections will take place "before the end of spring," promised the ministry, leaving most skeptical stakeholders.The Minister has also been very critical about the latest medical Safely agreement, signed in October to try to contain the excess fees. CSMF The judge therefore useless in these circumstances, continue to discuss with Medicare.

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Bank of America announced Wednesday it had paid the U.S. Treasury $ 45 billion, corresponding to the repayment of aid granted under the bailout of the financial system. This follows a capital increase of over 19 billion dollars from last week.

The U.S. central bank (FED) and the Treasury, concerned not to undermine the major financial institutions, allow banks bailed out by the state to pay after confirmation of their ability to raise money markets without government guarantee . The Treasury confirmed in a statement it had received 45 billion dollars to Bank of America.

Kenneth Lewis, the outgoing CEO of the bank, had repeatedly stated that he hoped to free themselves as quickly as possible from the tutelage of fact that accompanied these funds.Bank of America, along with Citigroup, the bank had received the most federal assistance since the fall of 2008. Thus the bank is a freedom of action for including the remuneration of its employees to keep their top executives and also facilitate the recruitment of a successor to Kenneth Lewis.

According to the Treasury, reimbursement of Bank of America is 118 billion dollars will be recovered by the department on some advanced 245 billion to banks to enable them to pass the crisis.

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Despite the significant impact of successive delays made the program of the new jumbo Airbus A350, the chairman of its parent, Louis Welsh, said in the columns of the Financial Times that his group will not appeal markets.

The boss of aerospace group EADS has nevertheless conceded that such delays "have an impact on cash Airbus, which suggests the London daily that the group's treasury could melt rapidly due to lower deliveries of had expected next year, raising questions about the long-term funding of new programs.

"We have over 8 billion euros in net cash. When you're in that situation, you do not request funding for your shareholders, "said Louis Welsh. The cost of developing the A350 is generally estimated at over 10 billion euros.Louis Welsh also ensures that the financial difficulties of Dubai, one of the largest customer of Airbus, will have no impact on the European group.

EADS shares evolved to equilibrium at around 11.00 to 12.37 euros, or -0.08% over the closing price last Friday at the Paris Bourse.

Gold continues to soar. The price of gold reached Tuesday 1199.49 dollars an ounce on the London Bullion Market, a historic record. In Hong Kong, gold closed today at 1188.50 U.S. $ 1172.50 per ounce against dollar on Monday. On the futures market, gold available in February has even crossed the symbolic threshold of $ 1,200 up to 1200.50 dollars an ounce.

This increase is partly due to the increase of a quarter point interest rate in Australia for the third consecutive month to 3.75%. The publication of an index of purchasing managers in manufacturing activity points to 55.7 HSBC in China for the month of November after 55.4 the previous month, also plays for the precious metal. This is the eighth consecutive month of increased production. It shows a consolidation of economic recovery in China.

The rise of gold is always driven by the weak dollar, which pushes investors holding other currencies to buy the yellow metal cheaper, and strong gold demand in emerging countries, where central banks strengthen their gold reserves.

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