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The growth of trade in goods between the major economies slowed sharply in the second quarter, mainly because of a brake brutal imports from China, show statistics released Wednesday by the OECD.

Total imports in the G7 and the "Brics" (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) grew by only 1.1% over the period April to June compared to January-March quarter, during which they had increased by 10.1%.

Export growth has followed a similar trend although markedly, falling to 1.9% against 7.7% in the first quarter.

The only Chinese imports (17% of the total considered) were up 0.7% from one quarter to another, the lowest since early 2009, which contrasts sharply with the increase of 11.1% recorded the first three months of the year.

This movement is partly due to efforts by the Chinese authorities to curb domestic demand and prevent overheating.

Exports from the Republic are divided along the front, rising 10.0% after 2.9%. This double movement resulted in a sharp increase in Chinese trade surplus at $ 54.8 billion, says the OECD.

This trend continued in July, China's exports registering a new record despite new tensions related to the debt crisis in the eurozone and signs of slowing U.S. economy.But Beijing was concerned about increasing threats to recent external demand.

United States, imports have also slowed, to rise from 11.1% to 3.0% while exports amounted to 5.6% to 2.6%.

In total, import growth slowed in all G7 countries and the BRICS with the exception of Brazil, where they rose by 11.2% (against 5.7% in the first quarter).

European shares resumed some colors Monday after falling last week, but investors looking for defensive stocks in particular, illustrating the wisdom of the market in anticipation of the Jackson Hole speech of the President of the Federal Reserve on Friday.

At 12:45, the CAC 40 index rose 1.4% to 3059.29 points, after opening down 0.9% below 3,000 points. The benchmark index of the Paris, which fell more than 6% Friday, but still acknowledges a decline of nearly 17% since the beginning of the month.

"The market is a bit difficult to read today. We see that these are defensive sectors that take the trend (pharmaceuticals, utilities, telecommunications).Everyone is cautious Jackson Hole, "said a stock dealer based in Paris.

The pharmacy and earns 2.46%, highest growth sector, Sanofi clinching 3.3%, 3.7% GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis 3.17%. Utilities increased by 1.6% (2.18% for EDF, 2.8% for Italian A2A) and telecoms advance 1.4%, driven by TeliaSonera (+3.1%).

The bank will also resume after falling last week, the Stoxx banking sector index was up 0.21% after dropping 3.26% over the previous five sessions. Societe Generale gained 1.29%, 4% Dexia and Sanpaolo Intesa 2.83%.

INVESTOR SHARED

However, the automotive sector is hit by fears of a relapse into recession in developed countries.The sector index (-1.27%) charged down the only sector in Europe, bringing to nearly 29% its decline since the beginning of the month. Renault and Michelin lost 1.24% and 1% in Paris, while Volkswagen sells 1.5% in Frankfurt.

"Investors are shared by two tests: one party hopes that a rebound during the week after the violent downward spiral, while the other prefers to remain cautious, fearing a further fall of the indices," says Saxo Bank in a letter mail.

Other major European markets, London and Frankfurt gained 1.9% 0.49%. Milan, which lost more than 1% in early trade, ahead of 2.57%.Of the European indices, the EuroStoxx 50 rose 1.4% and 1.3% Eurofirst 300.

Illustrating the persistence of investor uncertainty, gold has hit a new record near $ 1,900 an ounce (at 1894.10 dollars) before falling to 1880.49 dollars.The metal end earns about 16% since late July.

"We are suspicious about the validity of the figures turning (double troughs) forming on the clues and prefer to maintain our negative view on equity markets, although the dollar shows no sign of strength for the moment," said however Valerie Gastaldy, an analyst at Day By Day graphic.

The euro also rose against the greenback at 1.4429 dollars (0.43%).

The gap continues to widen between the barrel of U.S. light crude, up 0.94% to 83.03 dollars and Brent, who drops 1.16% to 107.36 dollars, while the end looms conflict in Libya and a possible resumption of oil exports of the country.

Wall Street opened sharply lower Thursday, weighed down by fears of contagion from the crisis of European debt to U.S. banks and the threat of a relapse of the economy after the disappointing figures on the employment front United States.

In early trade, the Dow gave 2.45% (281.13 points) to 11,129.73 points. The Standard & Poor's 500 broad, abandoned 2.51% (30.72 points) to 1163.17 points while the Nasdaq composite market lost 3.22% (80.29 points) to 2430.32 points.

Facing the room nervously, the New York Stock Exchange NYSE and Amex Cash Markets announced shortly before the bell they would invoke Rule 48, which allows information to suspend the course to ensure a smooth opening.This rule is sought only when there is a risk of extreme market volatility.

The macroeconomic picture was further clouded Thursday after jobless claims in the U.S. rose more than expected last week to 408,000, while economists surveyed had forecast 400,000.

In addition, Morgan Stanley lowered its growth forecasts for the global economy for the years 2011 and 2012, the revision is stronger for developed countries.

Wall Street is also hit by concerns surrounding the U.S. banking sector.

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York accentuated his investigations on the U.S. subsidiaries of major European banks, fearing that the debt crisis in Europe will be transmitted to the U.S. economy through them.

Around 1:35 p.m. GMT, the S & P financials unscrewing of 3.51%, while the KBW bank index fell 3.3%.

Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley posted declines of between 3.33% and 6.43%.

In this context aversion to risky assets, gold hit a new record of 1,817.90 dollars an ounce.

Standard & Poor's downgraded the sovereign rating on Friday the United States, culminating a week of panic in financial markets alarmed by the scale of public debts and a slowing global economy.

Sign of the deep concern of world leaders, they have stepped up phone calls Friday and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has called a meeting of G7 finance ministers.

Markets are less and less confidence in Spain and Italy to honor their debts and the scenario of a domino effect in the euro area continues to unfold.The fear of tipping the U.S. into recession has also fueled the drop in global financial markets, who lost 2500 billion in one week.

After the close of Wall Street, the United States for the first time lost their precious AAA.Sovereign debt is now rated AA + by rating agency Standard & Poor's, which raises the specter of a further deterioration in a year.

This decision, rather expected, reflecting the deteriorating global economic climate and could have implications on the status of reserve currency the U.S. dollar.

China asks in a comment to Xinhua news agency that the international community to reflect a new reserve currency, "stable and secure."

Beijing, the first creditor of the United States, attacks in this dispatch to the U.S. government, demanding that it "faces the problem of structural debt."

BERLUSCONI TRANSFERS

The impact on the financial markets Monday may be minimal because this degradation is not unexpected but the consequences for long-term status of the United States and the dollar will be much more important.

"The global system must now adapt to the many implications and uncertainties induced by the loss, once unthinkable, the American Aaa," said Mohamed El-Erian, the investment company Pacific Investment Management.

This new development in the debt crisis increases the pressure on governments.In its analysis, S & P said the deterioration by the lack of fiscal consolidation plan adopted by Congress and the failure of leading Democrats and Republicans to govern together.

European markets also expect a rapid and effective government too indebted to their liking.

After Greece, Ireland and Portugal, investors fear that it is the turn of Italy and Spain, third and fourth economies in the euro area, have to seek a rescue.

Silvio Berlusconi bowed to international pressure by promising to accelerate the implementation of austerity measures and social reforms.

CALLS FOR COORDINATION

Source familiar with the matter, it is stated that the European Central Bank (ECB) has requested that the Italian government agrees to return to a balanced budget by 2013 instead of 2014, before buying Italian bonds and liberate Rome of market pressure.

Thursday, investors did not appreciate that the ECB does not buy Spanish and Italian bonds, limited to the sovereign Irish and Portuguese, while the yield of securities issued by Rome and Madrid exceeded 6%.

Two days later, it seems that it was a maneuver to push Silvio Berlusconi to act.

"In principle, we can say that the ECB could start to buy bonds if Spain and Italy (both countries) made an extra effort in terms of fiscal and structural reforms," ​​said a senior official told Reuters the euro area.

Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo, a Spanish member of the Governing Council of the ECB, said he expected new government announcements on August 19.

China and Japan, the two largest foreign creditors of the United States, called for international cooperation, joined by the European Union.

"The international policy coordination across the G7 and the G20 is crucial," said the Commissioner of Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn, who interrupted his vacation to return to Brussels.

Silvio Berlusconi announced a G7 finance ministers "in the next few days" but his spokesman later explained that this was simply a desire to Rome and it was not yet agreed with the other member countries.

Britain, also affected by the volatility of markets, called "a concerted international effort" to avoid another global financial crisis, three years after the collapse of U.S. bank Lehman Brothers.

APRR said Wednesday it posted a traffic decrease of 0.8% in the second quarter 2011, impacted by the decline in light vehicle traffic.

In a statement, the operator specifies that the highway truck traffic increased 3.6% over the period while that of light vehicles fell by 1.6%.

The group suffered an unfavorable comparison effect after the second quarter of 2010 particularly suitable for motorway traffic.

"April 2010 had actually been a particularly high traffic with a prolonged strike at the SNCF, disruptions in air traffic related to the Icelandic volcano and good snow conditions in the Alps, unlike in April 2011, "noted APRR.

Turnover excluding construction spring up 2.7% to 504.8 million euros.

At the Paris Stock Exchange, before the publication of these figures, the action APRR finished 46.85 euros, down 0.32%.

Carrefour, which anticipates a 23% drop in operating profit in the first half because of its poor performance in France, said he was focused on its goal of earnings growth over the whole of 2011.

The second global retailer, which now expects an operating profit of 760 million euros in the first half against 989 million a year ago outside Dia, the specialist stock maxidiscount set in early July, said in a statement Wednesday that its teams were "mobilized around the target to grow its sales and operating profit."

The group, which has just seen its planned merger with Brazil's Grupo Pao de Acucar nipped in the bud, has reported a turnover of 22.4 billion euros in the second quarter, posting an increase of 1.6% at current exchange rates and 3.0% at constant exchange rates.

On a comparable basis, excluding petrol and adjusted for the calendar effect, however, accuse a sales decline of 0.2%.

In France, where the group battle to regain market share, sales came out up 1.6% at constant exchange rates and 0.3% on a comparable basis, excluding petrol.But he hypermarkets fell 3.3% on a comparable (excluding gasoline and adjusts for the calendar effect).

These figures are broadly in line with the expectations of analysts polled by Reuters.

Carrefour had previously said it expects a 35% drop in operating profit in the first half.

In Brazil, the planned merger of the Brazilian group's activities with those of the retailer Pao de Acucar (GPA), which had triggered the wrath of the partner of GPA Casino, was suspended by its founder, the chairman of GPA Abilio Diniz.

In a surprising about-face, the businessman said in the night it was suspending the project – which no longer enjoyed the support of the Brazilian authorities – so he had confirmed its support for a few hours earlier after a vote of the Board of massive opposition Casino.

The subject should be discussed during a conference call scheduled for 8:30.

AirAsia will buy 100 Airbus 320neo more, bringing its total order to 300 aircraft, said a source with knowledge of the agreement.

The Malaysian low cost airline and the European aircraft manufacturer had announced last month at Paris Air Show an initial order for 200 aircraft for $ 18.2 billion, already establishing a record number of devices.

By playing a clause allowing him to add 100 units to its orders, AirAsia is in the amount to $ 27 billion based on list prices and is positioning itself to become one of the largest airlines in the world its fleet.

Like the first part of the order, the new aircraft will be equipped with CFM engines, the source said, who did not wish to be identified before the official announcement.

AirAsia will receive a discount on its entire order and delivery of 100 additional aircraft will be at the discretion of the carrier, she said without elaborating.

Person with AirAsia was immediately available to respond to this announcement.

This week, AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes had told Reuters that he regarded the company as being able to have 500 aircraft, which would make the second in the world behind the U.S. Southwest Airlines.

Air Asia currently has 90 aircraft, almost all single-aisle A320.

The growth rate of the U.S. manufacturing sector rebounded for the first time in four months in June, fueling hopes that the recent economic slowdown is only temporary, despite the drop in consumer sentiment seen at the same time.

The index of manufacturing purchasing managers of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) stood at 55.3 last month, against 53.5 in May. The market economists polled by Reuters were expecting a further slowdown to 51.8.

"These figures indicate that the low point was in May," said Michael Capen, chief economist at Barclays Capital."It's a breeding ground for an acceleration of growth in the second half."

Wall Street has boosted its earnings immediately after the publication of these data, while Treasuries have turned down and the dollar gained ground against the yen.

An index above 50 indicates an expansion of the manufacturing sector while an index below 50 indicates a contraction.

The prices paid index fell to its lowest level since August 2010 to 68.0, against 76.5 in May, but the order intake rose to 51.6 against 51.0 in May.

The results of the survey Reuters / University of Michigan, also published Friday, however, are less encouraging.They show that U.S. consumer sentiment has deteriorated more sharply than expected in June, weighed down by economic uncertainty.

The index stood at 71.5 after a first estimate to 71.8 and 74.3 in May. Analysts on average expected 71.9.

The current conditions component stood at 82.0 from 79.6 in the first estimate and 81.9 in May, while the market expected 79.6.

The expectations fell to 64.8 in the final estimate after an initial estimate of 66.8 against 69.5 in May and 66.6 expected.

Inflation expectations one year fell 3.8% against 4.1% in May However, expectations of five to 10 years are up to 3% against 2.9% the previous month.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, is confident that the Parliament vote in Athens next week's new austerity plan designed to ensure continued international financial assistance and to prevent his country from slipping into bankruptcy.

Greek MPs will vote June 29 on the austerity plan developed five years with the IMF and the European Union, and the next day on the law enforcement program.

Greece has found an agreement Thursday with the inspectors sent to Athens by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union on the new plan.

At a press conference at the EU summit in Brussels on Friday, George Papandreou said he did not doubt that, despite popular protest Socialist deputies will mature and will vote the plan. He again stressed that the Greek tax system appeared to him a great injustice and promised to reform.

The Prime Minister also expects that the second program of aid to Greece is roughly equivalent in size to 110 billion euros in the first. "It's a huge loan," he said."The second loan – I can not give specific figures – could be the equivalent (the first)."

"PLUS INTEREST TO REMAIN IN THE EURO AREA"

George Papandreou said that Greece had more to gain by staying in the euro area by renouncing the common currency by devaluing its currency in an attempt to stimulate the economy. "It's an old debate. But if you look closely, we find that there are many more advantages to staying in the euro to get out," he said.

According to a poll released Friday, the conservative opposition ahead of the Greek Socialist Party (PASOK), Papandreou of 2.1 points.The survey credits the New Democracy 22.9% of the vote, against 20.8% for Pasok.

Pasok has an absolute majority in parliament with 155 deputies from Athens in 300.

One of the Socialist deputies, Thomas Robopoulos, announced he would vote against the austerity plan. "Some businesses close every day and we want to take steps that block the growth," he said. "I will speak in parliament that we must do something.It should form a government of national unity and Papandreou can not do it alone, "he told Reuters.

New Democracy said it would vote against the plan, but its leader, Antonis Samaras, said his party was in favor of measures, including privatization.

Europe is anxious to save taxpayers the full cost of a new bailout of Greece and urges financial institutions to take their share of the burden by voluntarily participating in a second bailout package to Greece.

THE ROLE OF BANKS

After the Brussels summit, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that banks and insurance companies French were ready to voluntarily subscribe to new Greek government bonds.

This process of "rollover" on a voluntary basis is the solution being considered to allow private investors to participate in the financial rescue plan for Greece.

The Spanish Government for its part asked banks, savings and insurance in the country to maintain custody of Greek sovereign debt over the next five years.

Finance ministers of the EU have given until July 3 to the Greek Parliament to adopt the austerity measures demanded by the EU and the IMF to release the next tranche of 12 billion euros and prepare the background.

According to one senior EU source, Athens would now need public financing EU / IMF 55 billion euros until 2014.This is in addition to 57 billion still to be released in the forefront of support of 110 billion euros adopted in May 2010 and more than 50 billion expected from privatization and the participation of private creditors to plan.

The Greek government provides for lowering the minimum threshold of income tax to 8,000 euros per year instead of 12,000 euros currently. A special tax of solidarity on income will be introduced. It will be between 1% to 5% of revenues based on their amount.

The tax on heating oil will be slightly raised and a minimum tax will be introduced for self-entrepreneurs. This sector is seen as one where tax evasion is the most practiced.

Publicis expects growth in 2011 revenue well above the 4.2% average projected for the sector, said its chief executive Maurice Levy Wednesday.

"We said we would release (growth of sales) of around 6.5% in first half …We will be between 6.3% (and) 6.6%, "he told Reuters on the sidelines of the Conference of the President in Jerusalem.

"Regarding the full year, we have yet to give a clear indication to the market because things are constantly changing, we indicate that we will do much better than what analysts expect for the entire industry."

Maurice Levy also said that Publicis advertising agency third world did not intend making large acquisitions in the United States after the purchase of Rosetta Marketing Group in May.

He said that Publicis would grow in emerging markets, as evidenced by the announcement last Monday of the acquisition of the Chinese agency Genedigi.

Publicis wants to further increase its last segment digital, which represented 28% of salesyear. Maurice Levy expects to reach 30% this year.

"I think in 2012 we will be above 30% and we will see an acceleration of our growth, so I'm fairly certain that in 2014 we will be at 35%, as we pointed out."