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As at the beginning of each year, the French face starting tomorrow, January 1st, new fee schedules or social benefits. Besides the tax changes on income, savings, Internet box or bonus-malus automobile.Insurance, health, transport …: update on the changes.

SMIC

The minimum wage rose from 8.86 to 9 euros gross per hour for reaching 1365 euros a month for a full-time, about 1 073 euros net.

Revenue de Solidarité Active

The base amount of the RSA, which replaced the RMI and the single parent allowance, is revalued by 1.5% (inflation in 2011) to reach 466.99 euros per month for a single person without children, 700.49 euros for a childless couple or single parent with one child.

Family Allowances

They increase from 1.5% to 126.38 euros for two children (pre-CRDS), 288.38 euros for three children, 430.55 euros for four children.Addition increases with age.

Social Security

The maximum monthly Social Security, which serves as reference for calculating contributions and certain benefits, increased from 2885 euros to 2946 euros.

Health

Consultation with general practitioners increased by one euro and rose to 23 euros. Drugs reimbursed at 35% do more than 30%. The hospital package of € 18 applies to medical procedures exceeding 120 euros rather than 91 euros – below, you have to pay co-payments of 20%.

Insurance

Rates are subject to a general rise: Automotive, it will be between 2.5% and 4.5% depending on the airline and for Housing between 3% and nearly 8%. Insurers rely on the impact of weather events and rising cost of repairs.For health, the increase will be between 5.3% and 8.5% as a result of delisting and a 3.5% tax on insurance contracts called leaders.

Automotive

The scrapping of 500 euros disappears. Buyers flocked in recent days at the dealership to enjoy it. Professionals saw last week twice in orders compared to a normal December.

Electricity

The rebate granted to 625,000 low-income households ("social tariff for electricity") varies from 40 to 60%, against 30-50% previously.

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Wall Street advance with measured steps. One economic indicator in the program and trading volumes ahead once again starving. The Dow Jones gained 0.21% to 11,600.10 points, the S & P 500 rose 0.15% to 1260.42 points and the Nasdaq climbed 0.10% to 2665.53 points.

The U.S. market has ultimately withstood yesterday, both down, more pronounced than expected, property prices, and an index of consumer confidence disappointing. The only news that would, could, on Tuesday, giving back a little from markets, have gone unnoticed: the manufacturing index of the Richmond Fed, which beat the consensus, but also a private study which highlighted a relative optimism of consumers on their spending later this year.

Oil stocks to menu

The indices have however little news on Wednesday to put in their mouths.Trade volumes, skeletal and this Christmas holiday period, should not help them progress. In fact, no statistical projection is scheduled to macroeconomic agenda item. Only the weekly oil inventories will animate somewhat this winter torpor, at 16:30.

Paypal and Berkshire Hathaway

On the corporate side, no major publication is expected on Wednesday. The payment service PayPal online, a subsidiary of eBay (-0.04% to 28.34 dollars) based in the United States, has signed an agreement with the Chinese metropolis of Chongqing order to develop a large platform of payments International online.In a joint statement with PayPal, the city mayor Huang Qifan, said he hoped that this agreement will enable Chongqing to become the leading center in China for transactions of e-commerce.

In addition, MidAmerican Energy, the energy division of the company magnate Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway (-0.19% to 79.84 dollars), has signed with Siemens (+0.22% to 124.31 dollars) agreement delivery of 258 wind turbines of 2.3 megawatts each. Planned installation in 2011 at 5 sites in Iowa. We do not know the amount of the contract.

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To "cover". Much more than greed is fear of the trial which often leads physicians to increase further tests, scans or tests actually somewhat useful.

In any case, the union's explanation of Obstetricians Syngof Liberals. Its secretary general, Jean Marty, wrote to the Hospital Federation of France in reaction to his study of unnecessary medical procedures (our editions of Dec. 15). "We share much of your analysis and wish to engage in a struggle against such waste. However, you "put in the same basket" (…) Caesarean sections, trying to make us believe that this practice lies with the expensive private sector, "he lamented in the letter. In fact, according to the Federation which brings together public hospitals, the rate of Caesarean births, steadily rising, is 2.3% higher in the private sector.Caesarean sections cost more to "Safely" than conventional deliveries.

Obstetricians Liberals have a "defensive driving", argues Dr. Marty, in view of reaching convictions sometimes 5 to 8 million euros in case of serious sequelae after "accidents of birth". Practitioners are insured to over 3 million by a public body, but it is theoretically entitled to claim against the doctor, where fear of ruin. More commonly, the insurance premiums for obstetricians, which amount anyway in tens of thousands of dollars a year – partially covered by an aide – fly away when they were sued.

Legal Issue

This problem is specific to private doctors because at the public hospital is the establishment, not the doctor himself, who endorses the medical liability and therefore must pay if convicted – except in exceptional cases of misconduct 'separable function, such as when a doctor on call at home refused to move despite the appeal of a house guaranteed cash advance.

"We are certainly led to a lot of review under the precautionary principle: we have no objection to prescribe a lot and require little to no benefit," said John Marty. "We have never seen a conviction for a caesarean section incorrectly abounds Gombault Nicolas, CEO of insurer The Sou Medical MACSF.However, there are many convictions for vaginal delivery when a fetal distress warrant a cesarean. "

The Hospital Federation does not deny this legal problem. Professor Mornex, who led the working group on the relevance of the acts, advocates of "good practices prejudicial" – in short, no longer reimburse the exams that do not correspond to the recommendations which there is consensus within the medical community. "But they must also be invoked in cases of legal conflict," said he. A position on which the Syngof joins.

A connoisseur of good health world still stresses that other reasons may explain the caesarean. They are "best practices" for the obstetrician when they are scheduled – during the day and week.And some clinics have been a real "market" always responding positively to requests from mothers that vaginal delivery worries.

Other GPs also feel threatened by the medico-legal risk. Hence the proliferation of purely precautionary examinations and even "the refusal of young people to choose private practice, provides a general Breton just retired. Author of a recent report to Nicolas Sarkozy on medicine proximity, Elizabeth Hubert acknowledges that "fear of questioning" which, however, in his view, is largely the "fantasy with respect to general medicine." Surgeons and anesthesiologists, however, are regularly attacked, even if the convictions are reaching astronomical amounts less.

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The tone rises in the UK, after several days of chaos during which the air traffic was paralyzed at London's Heathrow Airport. The British government wants to introduce new legislation which will impose heavy fines at airports where passenger travel were severely affected before Christmas, "said Transport Minister Philip Hammond The Sunday Times.

"There should be a financial penalty for failure of service," said the minister Sunday newspaper. Therefore, he advocated the adoption of new laws that would give more powers to regulators, such as civil aviation authority (CAA). The latter took the view not be able to impose a fine at Heathrow, the busiest airport in Europe, in the current legislative framework.For Philip Hammond, it is "unacceptable" that the operator of Heathrow, the group under Spanish capital BAA is not punished.

Tens of millions of pounds

"We should give greater importance to passenger satisfaction and performance of airports," said Transport Minister, citing the penalties of tens of millions of pounds. According to the British press, the fine could reach 63 million pounds (74 million), representing 7% of airport charges. BAA announced Thursday the launch of an external investigation into the chaos caused by snow, while traffic was slowly returning to normal.Thousands of stranded travelers spent several nights in the terminals of Heathrow on the floor waiting for their flight.

British Prime Minister David Cameron had said on Tuesday "frustrated" that it is necessary that long to improve the situation in the London airport. Under fire from critics, the CEO of BAA, Colin Matthews, had indicated he would forgo his bonus this year to year easy payday loans. "We had a crisis, I am responsible," he said in an interview given to Sky News video. In 2009, Colin Matthews hit a bonus of 944,000 pounds (1.11 million).

A "Snow Plan" insufficient

In a survey of the conditions that led to the paralysis of traffic at Heathrow, The Sunday Telegraph says "Snow Plan" provided by the London airport did not give sufficient resources to fight against heavy weather and this, while that the government had asked the operators since last summer to revise and strengthen it. Heathrow has not been the only airport to suffer interruptions of traffic across the Channel. Scottish airports Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as other London airports (Gatwick, Luton and City) have also been affected.

In France, where the air traffic returned to normal at Paris on Saturday, the Minister of Transportation and Ecology Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, called an "inspection visit" about the lack of glycol, liquid defrosting. The initial findings will be made January 10.For the European Commission, the disturbances that have occurred in the major European airports in recent weeks are "unacceptable." Transport Commissioner, Siim Kallas, discussed the possible establishment of a "minimum service" airports in the European Union.

(With agencies)

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The day after a session down slightly in Paris, the CAC 40 was first attempted to regain some colors in the wake of U.S. markets and as the Japanese market remained closed. But in the morning he did an about face, the losses have widened in the early afternoon (0.7% at 14 hours) then the red was éclarici. At the end, fold the index of 0.21% to 3911.32 points.

The bar is kept of the 3900 points on Thursday night, Christmas Eve. Tomorrow, Friday, the stock will open 9:00 to 2:00 p.m. in Paris. Frankfurt will be closed, Wall Street ainsiq eu.

In Paris, the volumes were particularly low: less than 1.5 billion euros was traded that day.

Side of macroeconomic announcements in France, spending on household consumption of manufactured goods rebounded 2.8% in November, after a slight decline in October, an increase spurred by last weeks of scrapping has INSEE said Thursday.

Overall, the French plan to spend less in the next three months because they are pessimistic in purchasing power, according to a poll conducted for ViaVoice BPCE, France Info and Les Echos. Thus, 35% of respondents planning to spend less in the first quarter of 2011 for food and clothing. And only 3% of respondents are considering a property purchase.

The producer prices in France rose 0.4% in November after rising 0.8% in October, show statistics released Thursday by the INSEE.Economists forecast an average increase of 0.2% in November.

Euro and oil up

On the foreign exchange market, the euro was stable against the dollar on Thursday in a market without the volume approaching holiday season. About 11:00 am in Paris, the euro bought 1.3102 dollars against 1.3095 dollars late Wednesday. Tuesday the euro was again on the decline against the dollar, wiping out the gains earlier in the day. As for the Swiss franc, it has continued to gain ground against the euro in passing for the first time on Wednesday to below 1.25 Swiss francs per euro. The Swiss franc fell to 1.2439 per euro, a new record after those of the previous day where the Swiss currency had reached the milestone of 1.26 per euro.

As for oil, the price of oil has exceeded the threshold of 90 dollars late Wednesday in New York.That had not happened since October 2008.

Areva wins contract in Germany

In terms of values, the eyes are on NYSE-Euronext (-0.62% to 22.58 euros).In fact, the Anglo-Saxon trading platforms titles BATS and Chi-X have entered into exclusive negotiations regarding the potential sale of Chi-X Europe to BATS.

Shareholders of the producer of wines and spirits Remy Cointreau (1.01% to 53.90 euros) holding 21.44% of its capital, including members of the ruling family Hériard-Dubreuil, pledged in July to maintain their securities until July 2012, announced Thursday in a statement.

Lagardere (+0.05% at 31.20 euros) denied on Thursday that the sale of its magazine publishing internationally was imminent, while the business press says it will conclude in the coming days an agreement with the American group Hearst.

For its part, the cable manufacturer Nexans (0.58% to 58.64 euros) announced Thursday it had won a contract worth 180 million euros with the operators of electricity transmission and Estonian Finnish Fingrid Oyi Elering OÜ for the manufacture and installation of a new submarine cable between the two countries.

Subsidiaries of Bouygues and Plastic Omnium has been condemned by the Competition Authority to pay fines for unlawful agreement on road signs with six other groups. Bouygues title remains insensitive to this information and gaining 0.42% to 32.54 euros. Plastic Omnium, however, fell slightly from 0.05% to 55.89 euros.

Areva (0.97% to 355.50 euros) held a general meeting which is ruled in favor of a capital increase. The group also announced Thursday it has won a contract worth 400 million euros in Germany.

Russia will announce Friday or Saturday that DCNS, which Thales (balance to 26.65 euros) holds 25%, won the tender for four helicopter carriers to equip its navy, the Tribune reported, citing Corroborating sources in Moscow and Paris. Moreover, the objectives of the "performance plan" unveiled a year ago by Thales are "realistic," said CEO Luc Vigneron in an interview published Thursday by the Financial Times.

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Without fanfare, Wall Street continues to break records. Of dull sessions rebounds shy, the U.S. indices climbed into effect in small steps to heights unknown for more than two or three years. Today this trend continues with the opening, the Dow Jones advance of 0.32% at 11,515 points and the Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 rise of 0.36% each to 1252 points to 2265 points. U.S. stock markets have evolved without much enthusiasm Monday.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro regained some ground in a market reassured by China, which expressed its readiness to support the measures the EU and IMF to ensure the financial stability of Europe . Shortly before 11:00 am in Paris, the euro bought 1.3154 dollars against 1.3126 dollars the previous day. Monday the dollar has regained its highest level in two weeks against the euro.The European currency has made a foray as $ 1.31, falling to 1.3095 dollars in session, its lowest level since Dec. 2. Investors remain worried about the sovereign risk of the euro area.

On the macroeconomic front, today's meeting promises to be quiet again. No major indicator is the program in the United States. The next day should however be much more animated. Indeed, the major economic releases this week will focus on the day on Wednesday and one Thursday. The main highlight of the week at the macroeconomic level is thus expected after tomorrow with the number of durable goods orders for November. Investors will also monitor existing-home sales (Wednesday) and new (Thursday).

DSM wants to afford Martek

The side of values, Hewlett-Packard (HP, +0.25% to $ 42)) announced Tuesday the signing of a contract worth over 400 million dollar deal with oil giant BP, which charges and for five years to host its services to the U.S. group. Under the agreement, HP will enable BP to standardize and consolidate its hosting services.

On Wall Street the ball in mergers and acquisitions continues. So this morning the Dutch chemicals and pharmaceuticals group DSM has announced the launch in early 2011, in a friendly takeover bid on U.S no fax payday advances. firm Martek, specialist nutritional products.The DSM provides enhances Martek, listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange New York, to 1.087 billion dollars or about 829 million euros, according to DSM.

Also note, the software company Adobe Systems (6.28% to 31.01 dollars) announced after the close of the New York Stock Exchange, a gain of $ 268.9 million in the third quarter of current year, above expectations against a loss of 32 million dollars last year during the same period. Turnover was up 33% and thus climbs to $ 1 billion.Software sales rose 24% year on year.

The automaker General Motors (-0.03% $ 33.75), which just made his return on the stock exchange announced it would recycle its electric cars in the booms that were used to stem the tide of black BP in the Gulf of Mexico, announced the group that seeks to promote its green image.

The long saga of the attempted takeover of the U.S. laboratory Genzyme (+0.29% to 69.82 dollars) by French Sanofi-Aventis continues. Genzyme argued Monday that its experimental treatment against multiple sclerosis display a much higher turnover than that estimated by Sanofi-Aventis, whereas the U.S. biotech seeking to be redeemed at a price significantly higher than $ 18.5 billion proposed by the French laboratory.The U.S. laboratory specializing in the treatment of rare diseases, maintains that its experimental drug Campath against multiple sclerosis could achieve a turnover of 3.5 billion dollars and tried to convince investors Monday at a meeting in New York. Moreover, counsel for Sanofi (0.7% to 49 euros) and Genzyme have raised the possibility of an appeal to the certificate of guaranteed value, which would allow shareholders of Genzyme to obtain a premium price if its Compath , an experimental treatment against multiple sclerosis, reached certain goals.

In addition, Boeing (+0.60% to 63.65 dollars) could push once more, the output of the 787, three to six months, according to information from the Seattle Times, while the delivery schedule is already shifted from three years to what was originally planned for the project.

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Saturday promises to be a significant day in Carrefour hypermarkets. Not just because the last Saturday before Christmas is traditionally one of the biggest days of the year in terms of turnover. But also because the CGT union's third distributor, social mobilization calls for that day. At issue: the reorganization of the business model Carrefour. This provides for the removal of department heads and the organization of work in four teams. Shelving and begin at 2 o'clock in the morning, against 4 pm today.

This project is in testing since last summer on two hypermarkets. November 25, FP, the majority union, accepted the extension has more than 15 hypermarkets in France, including those of Beaujoire Nantes, Marseille Bonneveine Venissieux, Rennes Cesson, Claye-Souilly and Chambourcy.Evidence that management is trying not to force it through.

The CGT is the only union movement nationally to call Saturday, he should have limited effects on activity. It could however be followed particularly in the Southeast, especially in Marseille, with partial walkouts, block store entrances and leafleting. Walkouts, rare at Carrefour, have already taken place this fall in Wasquehal and Nice.

This reflects a growing malaise among French employees of Carrefour. They are worried the project introducing the night work and primarily affects the use of the savings plan of 2.1 billion euros provided by Lars Olofsson, Executive Director of the group online pay day loans.The implementation of the plan announced in mid-2009 to be completed late 2012.

James McCann, the new chief executive of Carrefour France, poached a year ago at Tesco, is responsible for reorganizing and restart the machine Carrefour. Hypervolontariste able to combine strategic vision with a sense of detail rarely seen this level of responsibility at Carrefour, the Englishman is determined to shake up old habits home.

Reforms too fast

But in recent weeks, the regional headquarters trace alerts on the consequences of too rapid implementation of reforms.An uncommon practice in the group, some analyze that as a lack of support of the regional and store managers.

"A sweep in the baronies of Carrefour was given the seat since the arrival of Lars Olofsson, but there is still work to be done at the regional offices and branches of the store, says one expert group. James McCann will get rid of a number of local barons. "

At the headquarters of the group, it is estimated that the criticism is proof that things are moving. Especially, it is hoped that employees will primarily mobilized Saturday to the achievement of sales. Christmas sales are indeed crucial for the group, which announced in late November a profit warning, partly because of disappointing operating performance in France.

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After the operators of State, Meteo France and employment center, the government is on a diet independent administrative authorities (IAA). First sight, the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). The compensation function of its president, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, has been lowered by 35% and gross fixed at 150,000 euros per year, according to an order dated November 29, 2010 and published today in the Journal Officiel.

"2011 is the year where everyone is on board the same boat of reducing public deficits", said yesterday the budget minister, Baroin, at a meeting at Bercy with the leaders of the 497 agencies of France '. The order fixing the remuneration of Jean-Pierre Jouyet took effect on December 1. This amount of 150,000 euros is "indexed on the point value of the public," said the text signed by Baroin.This provision does, however, that the compensation function of Jean-Pierre Jouyet as chairman of the MFA, previously of 231,708 euros. The latter also receives 85,903 euros in salary as an inspector of finance, who has not been revised down.

Over 300,000 euros gross salary per year

A parliamentary report released in late October revealed that Jean-Pierre Jouyet was the boss of an independent administrative authority the highest paid in France, with total compensation of 300,000 euros gross per annum no fax cash advances. According to the report, written by members Rene Dosière (related PS) and Christian Vanneste (UMP), the President of the High Authority for Health (HAS), Laurent Degos (206,137 euros gross) and the Regulatory Commission of (CRE), Philippe de Ladoucette (192,213 euros gross) after Jean-Pierre Jouyet in the lead.

In June, the chairman of the AMF was willing, in an interview with Le Monde, reduce his salary as part of efforts to press the government deficit in France. "If I were asked, as chairman of a public authority to reduce my salary by 20% to 30%, it would seem justified," he said. "Policymakers must be prepared to participate in a collective effort. The exemplary public service will be appreciated by a factor markets and citizens. "Baroin A lesson that asks him to remember now.

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The contract for the purchase of ten high-speed trains Siemens "has been signed with Eurostar, confirmed Monday night Thierry Mariani, the new Secretary of State for Transport on the sidelines of the signing of the agreement between the State and SNCF trains on the balance of the territory. "But for it to be definitional, must be conducted in advance of serious studies on the technology used, the distributed drive system (motors are distributed in different cars as opposed to the TGV driven by a motor Ed).

The contract between Siemens and Eurostar has become a real can of worms Anglo-Franco-German since it was signed last October. The tender for the purchase of ten high-speed trains destined to pass through the Channel Tunnel has become a political issue that now escapes to the companies concerned.

The case began in October lorsqu'Eurostar announcement that Siemens won the contract for 800 million euros, including delivery of high-speed trains should start in 2014. Alstom, which lost the bid, said that the contract can not be realized because the technology of distributed power has not yet been approved by the Intergovernmental Commission of the Channel Tunnel (IGC). It turns out that the judge had given a preliminary opinion last March supported "the principle" of the distributed power. Eurostar has found that this position was a promise of approval if the manufacturer complied with security requirements.

Members of the French government are immediately on the frontlines. Therry Mariani's predecessor, Dominique Bussereau, has even estimated that the contract was null and void.And his signature had not yet taken place seemed in jeopardy.

December 3, Siemens announced that the contract was finally signed. Neither Eurostar nor its parent company SNCF, the French government did not confirm the information. A week later, coup de theater, the two representatives of the SNCF Eurostar board have resigned a few hours before signing the contract. And according to the Financial Times, this is the result of pressure from the French government on the public company.

Asked Monday about the resignation, Guillaume Pepy, SNCF president present alongside Thierry Mariani, confirmed that "two directors had given him their mandate." As for the possible pressure exerted by the government, he preferred "not comment".

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The UN Conference on Climate Change, which met from 29 November 193 countries in Cancun (Mexico) ended Saturday with agreement on a series of mechanisms to fight against global warming, including a Green Fund to help developing countries.

This positive outcome in the Mexican resort after a visit to the otherwise modest goals, saves the UN negotiating process badly shaken by the huge disappointment with a year ago the Copenhagen summit.

After 12 days of intense and sometimes tense negotiations, the Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa, who chaired the discussions, presented a compromise text that was supported very supported by the overwhelming majority of about 190 countries in the UN convention. Decisions are usually made by consensus but the text has nevertheless been adopted.Consensus "does not mean that a country has a veto," said Patricia Espinosa.

Implementing the Copenhagen

The main virtue of the proposed text to include in the marble of many points of political agreement in Copenhagen, which was never adopted by the 194 member countries of the UN Convention, and the decline so more specific and concrete.

This is particularly the case with the objective of limiting the rise in average global temperature to 2 ° C above pre-industrial levels."The parties must act urgently to achieve this long term," says the draft.

The text also helps to defuse, at least temporarily, in favor of an ambiguous formula, the "bomb" the future of the Kyoto Protocol, the only legally binding treaty on climate that exists today that threatened the outcome of discussions in the Mexican resort bad credit personal loan lenders.

Developed countries promised to Copenhagen to mobilize U.S. $ 100 billion per year from 2020. The Green Fund, which will pass a significant portion of these funds will have a board with equal representation between developed and developing countries. The Cancun text states that the World Bank will serve as interim director for three years.

Targets on CO2 unchanged

The many questions about how this fund will, however, remain unanswered.A panel set up by the UN has suggested the establishment of alternative funding, such as transport taxes and financial transactions, which are now at the stage of suggestions.

The text also raises the foundations of a mechanism for reducing deforestation accounts for about 15% to 20% of global GHG emissions. The possibility of using the carbon market to finance this costly mechanism, discussed at length, does not appear in the text.

If a draft architecture on many issues, the Cancun text makes no novelty on the level of ambition of reductions of CO2 emissions – unanimously judged too low to achieve the objective of limiting the increase in the average temperature the planet to two degrees.

(With agencies)

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