Kraft Foods posted a quarterly profit Tuesday as expected and said anticipating a growth in operating income of at least 9% this year, despite pruning announced its range in North America.

The first U.S. food group, which holds particular LU biscuits and coffee Carte Noire, will split into two companies later this year.

One will be dedicated to its snacks marketed worldwide as Cadbury chocolate and biscuits Oreos, the other brands in North America specifically, the e ; door leaf thereof being referred to shrink. 

To prepare for this separation, the group will fund a special charge of $ 1.6 billion to $ 1.8 billion (1.2 to 1.4 billion euros).

Kraft has said it expected a net increase its turnover by around 5% in 2012. This forecast takes into account the negative effect of around one percentage point reduction in its range in North America.

The group said also anticipate an increase of at least 9% of its operating profit at constant exchange rates, despite higher taxes and pension costs.

The action Kraft gained 1.9% to 38.73 dollars to 4:20 p.m. GMT on Wall Street, while the Dow Jones progressed from 0.37%.

The group recorded a fourth quarter profit of $ 830 million, or 47 cents a share, against $ 540 million (31 cents) a year earlier.

Excluding items, earnings per share were 57 cents, according to Thomson Reuters consensus I / B / E / S.

Turnover increased by 6.6% to $ 14.7 billion. Organic growth – is out acquisitions, disposals, calendar effects and exchange – rose 7% in North America, 3.1% in Europe and 7.2% in emerging markets.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange ended slightly lower, from 0.15% Thursday, after announcing an acceleration greater than expected rate of inflation in China and continuing uncertainty about the bailout of Greece.

The Nikkei lost 13.35 points to 9002.24 points while the Topix broader took 2.15 points (0.27%) to 784.49 points.

Nissan Motor has lost more than 1%, a victim of profit taking after its results.

The new home sales fell 13% in the third quarter. At the same time, housing starts and building permits have increased. An employee on a construction site offices and accommodation in Marseille.

The new home sales fell 12.9% in France over one year in the third quarter, according to the Ministry of Housing, which reported Tuesday alongside a 11.4% increase in housing starts and 22, 6% of building permits between August and October 2011. A total of 26,400 new homes were sold by developers in the third quarter of this year, a decrease of 12.9% over the same period in 2010, according to figures released by the Ministry.

Over the last four quarters (4th quarter 2010 to third quarter 2011), sales totaled 101,300, a decrease of 10.7% over the same period a year earlier.

Waiting period in case of sickness, duration and contribution rates for retirement, performance bonuses … Bit by bit, the government closer to the Staff that of private sector employees. Event officials in Paris in January 2009.

Last week by unveiling a second austerity plan, Prime Minister Francois Fillon announced that state spending would be reduced by an additional EUR 500 million in 2012. To achieve this, the government plans to introduce a particular day off for employees in case of sickness. In other words, a period during which the daily allowance is not paid by health insurance. The waiting period is required to have private sector employees where it may be extended from three to four days as part of that reform.While some, like the CGPME, denounced as "illegitimate and unjust officials see continued their treatment at the second day off while private sector employees do not benefit from per diem at the end of 5 days off "Trade Unions of Public Employees, themselves, see it as another attack on their status.

In fact, since the right is in power, "sacrosanct privileged status" has undergone many a penknife. This is especially true for retirement. Since the Fillon reform of 2003, the rules for age and duration of contributions from the private sector also apply to civil servants.

France and Germany called Saturday to the new Greek prime minister 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.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Lucas Papademos, named Thursday to replace George Papandreou.

"After having congratulated the formation of the new Greek government, they stressed the urgency of implementing full and complete of all commitments, including those contained in the agreement of the summit of the Eurogroup of October 27, "it said in a statement from the Elysee.

"The payment of the next tranche of aid can be made only when a step has been made in this regard," said the French presidency.

Lucas Papademos, former Vice President of the European Central Bank, was sworn in on Friday after a week of tough negotiations between the two major political parties of the country, socialist and conservative.

It must implement drastic austerity measures in a country already plagued by months of recession in order to obtain a new loan of EUR 130 billion to prevent Greece from bankruptcy.

In a letter sent on Friday, Nicolas Sarkozy had assured Lucas Papademos the support of France to carry out the reforms necessary to overcome the crisis in Greece.

The National Assembly on Friday passed two taxes on soft drinks, including one on drinks with sweeteners. And despite a lobbying "scary" Coca-Cola, who may have done too much. The fee for sodas sweetened products will bring 240 million euros, the lights on 40 million.

Coca-Cola has lost. The National Assembly approved Friday the establishment of a tax on soft drinks, the amount will be doubled from the initial project of the government. And it also introduced a tax on beverages containing artificial sweeteners, which rose against the giant soft drinks. The tax on soda, two cents per can, bring 240 million euros, half of which would finance the reduction of social security in agriculture, and the light on sodas 40 million euros, said Minister Budget, Valérie Pécresse.

It is not Coca-Cola because of trying to oppose it by conducting intensive lobbying. The point that the UMP Bernard Reynes, the source of the amendment proposing to tax the light, was pessimistic about the chances to see him go. "And I will not deny that it bothers me that the creations of law are dependent groups such as Coca" he admitted even to the expansion. Com shortly before the vote.

"One of lobbying juggernaut"

Light beverages are indeed 60% of the revenue of Coca-Cola. Well above its competitors. Where the offensive of World No. 1 soft drink for the desired version of the tax. Mailings burst, increase in phone calls and requests for appointments, Bernard Reynes supports even have really been "harassed" by the group. "I had an unacceptable pressure. It is normal for multinationals discuss with MPs.But not how it happened. "

And it is far from alone in being surprised by the firepower deployed by Coca. Many players linked to the Assembly (lobbyists, MPs and their families) show a lobbying "huge", "scary", "pressing as is not permitted" and "the strength of a tank "the giant soft drink with parliamentarians and government.

"They call everybody! I received phone calls from friends, Bercy for example, who did not care at all about this, but tried to convince us to abandon the project," said parliamentary assistant to Jean Dionis du Sejour, Vice President (New Centre) of the Committee on Economic Affairs. Until the discreet meeting between Nicolas Sarkozy and the President of Coca-Cola Europe, Dominique Reiniche, revealed Wednesday by Challenge.fr.

Promises to invest in France, threatens to leave, may give an anti-American image that may scare away other groups … This mixture of "caresses and threats" Coca has been confirmed by several sources MPs we interviewed. In the end, however, the U.S. group may have done too much … "If there is one lesson it is that of the lobbying juggernaut does not work," says Paul Boury, subject matter expert.

A "catastrophe", really?

The action of Coca has not been completely ineffective. The final version of the tax on the lights was indeed amputated 80 million euros compared to the original text. "But that Coke does not care, provides a lobbyist familiar with the matter on condition of anonymity. The group was even willing to pay 250 million euros to the government to abandon the measure.The principle of a tax on "light" is a national disaster for them. It stigmatizes products. And a tax, especially in France, is always liable to change. "

The battle is not yet definitively lost to Coke. Valérie Pécresse, who did not support the expansion of the tax, received two separate taxes are adopted. This compromise, said the minister, can "legally secure the device", separating the tax on sodas "we know that the law is indisputable" and that on sweetened beverages, which it has less chance of pass "on the Constitutional Council." And it might explain the legal complaint "arbitrary tax" because not related to a vital public interest clearly identified.In fact, the argument of the national association of food industries, which already qualifies tax sweeteners to "unconstitutional". According to them, in fact, taxing sodas light rather than any product has "no motivation."

The NGO CCFD accuse the G20 not to advance in the fight against tax havens as some of its members are. The headquarters of the Cayman National Bank in George Town. The Cayman Islands are in the core of tax havens.

The fight against tax havens seems "broken" at the G20, said the association CCFD in a report released Thursday, calling the twenty major powers fight again financial opacity at their summit on 3 and 4 novembre.Dans this report entitled "Tax havens, the G20 last chance", the nongovernmental organization (NGO) very involved on this subject says that "uncooperative jurisdictions" and secrecy have not disappeared, contrary to that would suggest the lists published after the G20 summit in London in 2009 and have gradually emptied.

The list of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) contains more than a handful of tax havens insignificant. Almost all of the others were bleached after signing at least twelve bilateral tax information exchange. "In two years, 37 territories have gone gray and black lists of the OECD, bleached for agreeing to take a step towards the exchange of tax information," the Catholic Committee against Hunger and for Development (CCFD ) in this report which AFP obtained a copy.

The NGO notes that these developments have taken place "under pressure" because "in early 2009, the very idea of ​​one day communicate information to a foreign tax administration was absolutely excluded from certain countries", while now , "plus an area can not afford to refuse to open dialogue about it.""Pointing the territories is an effective strategy to force them to act," concludes the report. However, "two and a half years, the G20 seems down to the question" regrets the association.

Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Japan are tax havens

CCFD releases another list, that of the Tax Justice Network, an NGO network that refers in this regard. The grading of opacity financial newly updated total of 73 territories (against 60 in 2009), the "top 15" includes major powers such as Switzerland, the UK, some U.S. states or Japan."So many countries without the latest list of the OECD," says the report, which estimates the G20 unable to "publish a list of tax havens", "for the simple reason that the member states account for only 39% of opacity internationally. "

The French Presidency of the G20 had flirted with the idea to reconstruct a list of tax havens at a summit in Cannes (southeast), based on evaluations conducted by Global Tax Forum, which includes more than one hundred countries under the leadership the OECD. But it seems to have abandoned, the report said. "Failure to list worthy of the name, without considering the corresponding sanctions, states the G20 would come to Cannes without a weapon against offshore finance," insisted the NGO.It therefore calls on the French presidency "to advance concrete proposals" to strengthen the control of multinational corporations, end front companies and strengthen penalties against financial crime.

France will keep one of the best signatures from global rating agencies, said Monday the Minister of Economy and Finance on Baroin i> Télé.

"We are one of the best worldwide brands and will remain," he said, indicating that structural reforms and efforts to control government's budget would ensure the triple A which France currently enjoys.

He also stressed that the funding guarantees granted by France in the decommissioning plan for Dexia would have no impact on the debt of France.

"The guarantee has no impact on the debt and the guarantee does not affect the rating.A guarantee is actually activated when it is called, and we bet that this operation will work, "he said.

Asked about a possible recapitalization of French banks, Baroin said that the terms of a possible capital injection would be discussed with Germany before the G20 3 and 4 November.

Belgium, France and Luxembourg have Monday morning launched the plan to dismantle the Franco-Belgian bank Dexia, the first European victim size of the debt crisis in the euro zone, after a day and a night of marathon negotiations.

In 2012 Greek GDP would shrink 2.5% forecast of the budget. The fourth consecutive year of recession in the country. Greece in the storm

Greece is expected to cross its fourth consecutive year of recession in 2012, the gross domestic product (GDP) to contract by Greece to 2.5% over the year, according to forecasts in the pre-2012 draft budget, submitted Monday to Parliament. "Due to the further consolidation of the Greek economy and the major recession of 2011, with an expected contraction of GDP of 5.5%, the pace of the economy should continue to be negative in 2012 before a recovery expected in 2013, "the official text. In 2010, the contraction of the Greek GDP was 4.5% after 2% in 2009.

The continued contraction is a consequence of the decline in domestic demand and private consumption must fall further to -3.8% (current prices) in 2011 against 6.2% and 4.5% in 2010 according to the pre-project. "Private consumption at stable prices to fall by more than 6% because of reduced income and rising unemployment", which must reach an average of 16.4% in 2012 against 15.2% expected on the 2011, and 11.9% in 2010.

However, inflation has declined substantially, the harmonized price index should reach 0.6% in 2012 against 2.8% in 2011 and 4.7% in 2010. Similarly, exports should grow by 6.4% against 3.9% in 2011 and 3.8% in 2010. According to the pre-draft budget, "General government debt has to go to 172.7% of GDP to 161.8% against 371.920 billion planned for late 2011 (356.520 billion).

In 2011, the debt service will be $ 16.3 billion and 17.9 billion in 2012. The text was approved Sunday night during a marathon meeting of the Council of Ministers, under the leadership of Prime Minister George Papandreou, who also gave the green light to the introduction of unemployment for 30,000 public sector employees extended by the end of 2011. This is to reduce public spending and reduce the country's deficit, which is 8.5% of GDP in 2011 according to the pre-budget against 10.5% in 2010.

For 2012, the deficit should reach 6.8% of GDP. The draft budget has been scrutinized by representatives of the troika, representatives of the European Union, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.The Troika visit to Athens, which continues this week, is part of the Greek regular audit of accounts before payment of the sixth tranche of the loan International 2010, scheduled for mid-October.

The package price does increase to 6.30 euros on Oct. 17 that, in Europe 1. Cost to the state 15 million euros. Smokers earn two weeks of respite before the coming into force of the rising price of pack of cigarettes.

The latest increase, which should increase the price of pack of cigarettes from 5.90 to 6.30 euros on Oct. 17 will only, in Europe 1. The measure should have been applied from October 3, but the resistance of a tobacco manufacturer makes folding the Belgian government.

Because the increase does not happen this time by a tax increase: it is for manufacturers to increase their own prices. However, the Belgian manufacturer took several weeks before agreeing to comply with new rules. Also according Europe1, fifteen days late will result in a shortfall of 15 million euros for the state.