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The German inflation accelerated as expected in July, as estimated by the Federal Office of Statistics, harbinger of higher prices across the euro area.

Inflation has emerged at 1.1% yoy against 0.9% in June, an acceleration due in large part to rising fuel prices and fruit and vegetables, said the Office.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast an average price increase of 1.1% over one year.

On a monthly basis, the national index of consumer prices was up 0.2% in July, against 0.1% in June

Calculated the European harmonized standards (HICP), inflation German spring up 0.3% in July and 1.2% over one year.

The first estimate of inflation over the past month is calculated on the basis of published data from six Länder. Final figures will be released August 10.

The group of consumer products Reckitt Benckiser has published a net increase of 23% for the second quarter, above expectations and maintained its objectives.

The British, who announced last week its intention to purchase for 2.54 billion pounds his compatriot SSL, the makers of Scholl sandals and Durex condoms, had a net profit of 380 million pounds (455 million euros ).

Analysts surveyed by I / B / E / S expected the 363.4 million.Reckitt had said 365 million anticipated.

Reckitt said that if its takeover offer for SSL to succeed, he thought he could close the deal in the fourth quarter.

The proposed interim dividend up 16% to 50 pence.

The group said its performance was led by strong growth in developing markets and the success of new products

For the year, Reckitt, known for its detergent brands Cillit Bang and analgesic Nurofen, still expects revenues up 5% and operating profit up 10% on a comparable basis, c that is to say, at constant exchange rates and without regard to its subsidiary, Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals.

The main drug of this subsidiary is the Suboxone treatment against addiction to heroin, which has lost its exclusive license last October. Reckitt had said at the time that the profit of this product in the United States could decline by 80% with the introduction of generic competitors.

The euro briefly cut its losses against the dollar on Friday but has subsequently resumed its downward trend, while seven out of 91 European banks have failed this test of strength which they were submitted.

The Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS) announced that five Spanish banks (Civica Cajasur, Unnim, and Espiga Diada), a Greek bank (Atebank) and Germany's Hypo Real Estate had not been able to maintain a ratio of Tier 1 financial stability of at least 6% in the worst case scenario used.

After an increase to 1.29 per dollar, the euro fell to 1.2845 dollars (-0.43%) to 4:25 p.m. GMT.

Last month fears about the debt crisis of the euro area and its effects on banks in the region had led the euro to its lowest level since 2006 at least $ 1.19. Since the European currency has recovered to slightly above the threshold of $ 1.30 earlier in the week.

The French consumer sentiment has stabilized at a low level in July after five months of degradation, according to the monthly survey of consumer confidence survey released Thursday by the INSEE.

The summary indicator of households' opinion on the economic situation remained unchanged at -39, its lowest level since May 2009.Seventeen economists polled by Reuters on average expected a further deterioration to -40.

The survey, conducted at the time of the announcement of the proposed pension reform and measures to reduce public deficits, shows that concerns about the future national fade a bit while still fears about the labor market.

"The impact of pension reform was probably fully integrated in the June survey," Judge Dominique Barbet, economist at BNP Paribas.

The index had dropped one point to -39 in June fell to their lowest level since May 2009, bringing to nine points to fall since the beginning of the year.

CONCERNS ON UNEMPLOYMENT

In July, households' opinion on their past personal financial situation has lost two points, with a balance cons -26 to -28 in June

Their opinion about their personal financial future (-20) remained stable, as well as their views on the advisability of making major purchases (-24).

However, the outlook for living standards in France, in decline since the beginning of the year, edged with a net increase of two points

-52.

The households' opinion on the level of past life in France remained stable at a very low level, with the balance to -71 compared to an average of -40 from the inception of the survey in January 1987.

Among the balances do not count in calculating the summary indicator, that the prospects of unemployment has stabilized at a high level (69), reflecting concerns still alive.

This balance, said Insee, was increased from eight to 89 points between January 2008 and June 2009 and then fell until October. He has since remained around 65 points, well above its long-term average is 33.

The balance measures the opportunity to spare jumped eight points to 19 in July, near its historical average (20), but opinion on the ability to save has the same time lost three points to -14.

Officers at INSEE interviewed approximately 2,000 households from June 29 to July 19.The survey did not take place in August, the next issue will be published in late September.

Wells Fargo, the fourth U.S. bank, on Wednesday posted a profit decline in the second quarter, but losses on commercial loans and consumer loans recede from the first quarter.

The bank reports a profit of 3.06 billion dollars (2.4 billion euros), earnings per share (EPS) of 55 cents, against $ 3.17 billion, or 57 cents a year bpa prev.

Analysts on average forecast EPS of 48 cents by Thomson Reuters consensus I / B / E / S. It was not immediately clear whether this compares to 55 cents bpa announced by Wells Fargo.

Alstom reported a sharp drop in orders received during the first quarter of the year, major projects that are difficult to find in the electrical field, but its sales came out slightly beyond expectations over the period.

The specialist in energy infrastructure and transportation have made the April-June quarter sales of 4.74 billion euros, down 1% from one year to another as reported and down 5 % as organic.

The nine analysts polled by Reuters expected the drafting of an average AC4.67 billion.

"The turnover (the division) Transportation progresses, while the (Energy Division) Power began, as expected, lower following a sharp drop in orders during the last year," said CEO of Alstom, Patrick Kron, in a statement.

If he observes a good place new orders for medium and small sizes on the three "major projects are difficult to reach because (…) customers continue to shift their investments in new power stations," Has added.

Orders received by Alstom have dropped by 36% to 3.07 billion euros in the first quarter on a reported basis and 38% as organic.

The group added that its backlog was still unchanged at 42 billion euros at June 30, thanks to a positive currency effect of 1.3 billion euros and represented 27 months of turnover business.

It also confirmed its forecast for an operating margin of between 7 and 8% for the year 2010/2011 and the next one, "based on a performance contract and a gradual recovery in demand. "

The action Alstom closed Monday at 36.85 euros, giving a market capitalization of nearly 11 billion euros. Since the beginning of the year, the stock has lost about 25% of its value, after a gain of nearly 17% throughout 2009.

Citigroup reported Friday a net profit of 2.7 billion dollars for the second quarter, down 37% year on year, due to lower revenue in the banking business.

Per diluted share, net income stood at 9 cents.

In the second quarter of 2009, net income was set at 4.28 billion dollars or 49 cents per share.

Analysts on average expected a profit of 5 cents per share excluding exceptional items for the second quarter, according to Reuters Estimates.It is not known if the EPS of 9 cents can be compared to the consensus of 5 cents.

The bank, which the U.S. government is a shareholder, said its credit losses are down for the fourth consecutive quarter.

In pre-market value fell by 2.2% to 4.07 dollars.

"The numbers are consistent with the idea of a slowing of growth in the U.S. and worldwide, but not a recession in 'W'," said Nigel Gault, economist at IHS Global Insight.

Entries weekly unemployment declined in the United States during the week to July 10, at 429 000 458 000 cons (revised) the previous week, said the Labor Department, while economists had expected jobless claims averaged 450,000.

The producer prices have meanwhile fell more than expected due to lower energy costs. They fell 0.5% last month, after falling 0.3% in MayEconomists polled by Reuters had expected a decline of 0.1%.

The increase in industrial production in June was announced in the aftermath is just as a sham because it is primarily due to increased electricity production justified by the massive use of air conditioners.

This declining trend in the economy observed in June of large chance of being confirmed in July as evidenced by signs of activity around New York and Philadelphia.

The indices "Philly Fed" and "Empire State" have both signed for the sharp declines this month, the first falling to 5.1 against 8 in June, dipping to 5.08 the second month against 19.57 last.

"We are now in an economic environment in which one steps forward and one step back. We must content ourselves with a low growth for some time yet," said Howard Simons, strategist at Bianco Research.

The Paris Bourse falls even slightly up in early trading Wednesday, after six sessions of consecutive increase, buoyed by better than expected results from Intel in a market trough for a public holiday.

The better than expected start to the season results should stimulate the market this morning, pending the release of retail sales in June in the United States at 14:30.

Around 9:25, the CAC 40 index posted a gain of 0.21% to 3645.29 points, after taking 1.96% yesterday.

Technology stocks are leading the gains, including the semiconductor sector, with a gain of 2.9% from STMicroelectronics, the largest increase in ACC, and 5.2% of Soitec, the largest increase DTH.

Computer services such as Cap Gemini (+2.3%), Steria (+1.7%) and Altran (+1.4%) also benefit from the optimism that followed the results of Intel, and that Alcatel-Lucent, which is 1.6%.

Other major European markets are slightly higher: 0.16% ahead of London and Frankfurt 0.5%. As for the European indices, the EuroStoxx 50 wins 0.3% and 0.23% Eurofirst 300.

The euro is maintained around 1.27 dollars while U.S. light crude was steady at 77.13 dollars a barrel.

U.S. stocks opened lower Monday as investors remain concerned about budget problems and the situation of banks in Europe, but activity in the area of mergers and acquisitions limit their decline.

A few minutes after opening, the Dow Jones gives 31.15 points, or 0.3%, to 10,166.88 points. The S & P 500 was down 3.77 points (0.3%) to 1074.19 points while the Nasdaq went up into the green and gained 0.3% to 2203.37 points.

Wall Street took a breather after the biggest weekly increase recorded by the S & P this year and before the start of the season results will be given after the closure of Alcoa.

The questions also persist about the strength tests conducted on the European banks.The magazine Der Spiegel reported this weekend that the test included a discount on the German debt, a hypothesis that several sources had previously rejected.

"There is a risk that banks are not doing that well in these tests," said Dan McMahon of Raymond James Financial."We do not know how likely it is but there is a certain pessimism.

Aon Corp., the first global insurance broker, announced that it would buy services company Hewitt Associates human resources for about 4.9 billion dollars (3.9 billion euros) in cash and stock.

The action Hewitt burns 33% to 47.05 dollars while Aon was down 7.4% to $ 35.50.

"This new (fusion) is very positive when we start to earnings season," said Hugh Johnson, chief investment officer Hugh Johnson Advisors. "It's very positive when we see money flowing into this market."

Title Playboy Enterprises also jumped 34.3% to 5.29 dollars.The eponymous magazine founder Hugh Hefner has presented an agreement to leave the company of NYSE, proposing to buy all shares it does not already own for $ 5.50 in cash.