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.

2000 French were interviewed by the firm OC & C for the fifth year on their perception of prices in a sixty nine brands owned by different sectors. The survey measures the gap between the actual price of a brand and the idea that consumers will make. Results: advance leaders still considerable. The report found that the French had one very realistic prices. "No wonder. The discount was born in France and consumers are accustomed to comparing prices," said Jean-Daniel Pick, cabinet member.Previous useSuivant Leroy Merlin (52) Next Photo 11/14

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Edison Tuesday reported a gross operating profit (EBITDA) of 1.003 billion euros for 2011, a figure better than expected, while spending a depreciation of 928 million in its annual accounts.

These figures are close to those reported in the night of Monday to Tuesday by Reuters on witness statements from a source close to the second board of the Italian electricity.

Financial analysts had expected an EBITDA of € 910 million, according to Thomson Reuters consensus I / B / E / S.

In 2012, Edison, who suffered a net loss of 871 million euros last year due to depreciation, said he foresaw an EBITDA equivalent to that of 2010, without taking into not account Edipower. 

The margins of Edison in its gas business are under pressure because of long-term contracts that the group has forged a course higher than spot prices.

In early trade on the Milan Stock Exchange, as the Edison yielded 0.3% to 0.8350 euro while the index grouping the European values ​​of utilities lost 0.12 %.

EDF reached an agreement late December to take control of Edison, but at the cost of disposal of Edipower, considered by some analysts as the nugget of the Italian group.

At the Paris Bourse, EDF shares fell by 0.43% to 18.38 euros.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the Greek parliament as MPs must vote in the late afternoon a bill consisting of austerity measures demanded such drastic and unpopular es by the EU and the IMF in exchange for a new rescue plan.

Greek Prime Minister of Greece Lucas Papademos warned against the "economic chaos" in case of rejection, while Germany has warned that Greece should stop being a "well bottomless "`.

After three days of tension and political threats, Parliament began shortly after 14:00 (12:00 GMT) to examine the bill to save 3.3 billion euros thanks to lower wages, pensions and job cuts public. 

The vote must take place before midnight (2200 GMT), said the finance minister, Evangelos Venizelos, "because on Monday morning, the banking and financial markets should have received the message that Greece can and will survive. "

"If the law is not adopted, the country will go bankrupt," warned the Minister that a Communist deputy threw the pages of the bill on the floor of the Assembly.

About twenty members of the coalition of Lucas Papademos have threatened in recent days to vote against the text and six government members submitted their resignations, but the Prime Minister will still theoretically supported by a large majority. 

Outside the parliament, police fired tear gas to try to disperse demonstrators who threw stones and Molotov cocktail at Syntagma Square.

This is the largest mobilization since the month of demonstrations against the security measures. Most protesters retreated but clashes continued in the middle of the afternoon.

"There is tear gas into the interior of the Assembly," said one Communist deputy, Panagiotis Lafazanis.

"Bottomless well"

The new austerity plan is the price to pay for the release of an aid program of 130 billion euros from the EU and the IMF – the second since 2010.

Greece has to touch the money before March 20 to repay a state loan of 14.5 billion euros.

Germany has turned up the heat a notch Sunday warning that Europe expected actions and not words.

"The promises of Greece are no longer sufficient for us," warned the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble. 

Referring to the new austerity plan in which the Greek deputies must vote this Sunday, the minister said in an interview published by the Welt am Sonntag that the previous did not e ; tee implemented in their entirety.

Wolfgang Schäuble said that the Germans are largely in favor of an international aid to Greece. "But it's important to say that it can be a bottomless pit. This is why the Greeks will finally have to clog the well. Then we can put something. At least people are now beginning to realize that it will not work with a bottomless pit.

"Greece must do its homework to become competitive, it requires a new rescue plan or some other way that we do not want to (…)" he says referring to an output the euro area.

Asked if such an outcome is possible, Wolfgang Schäuble responds: "Everything is in the hands of the Greeks themselves. But even in that event, on which no table, they remain an integral part of Europe ".

"We are pleased to offer our assistance, but we should not give others the impression that they have not done enough. Each state is responsible for itself," explains he said.

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.

Ben Bernanke on Tuesday reaffirmed the commitment of the U.S. Federal Reserve to do anything to prevent the financial crisis does not penalize the European economy United States, repeating comments made in the Senate Thursday before the House of Representatives.

"We are in regular contact with European authorities and will continue to closely monitor the situation and take all possible measures to protect the U.S. financial system and the economy, "said the Fed chairman, according to the text of a speech for the Budget Committee of the Upper House. 

Ben Bernanke remained cautious citing the economic outlook in the U.S. and did not allude to the release Friday of unemployment to its lowest level in nearly three years.

"We still have a long way to go before we can say that the labor market is behaving normally," he thought, using formulas similar to those of his speech on Thursday.

The three-party coalition government in Greece have agreed on a reduction in public spending of 1.5% of GDP in 2012 and are expected to give an answer to the proposal of credit ; the country's international nancial Monday at noon.

"Political leaders should in principle give an answer tomorrow at noon (the EU) so that it can be presented to the Eurogroup in Brussels," said Panos Beglitis, spokesman for the Socialist Party, Sunday. 

As negotiations dragged on for weeks, Beglitis acknowledged that leaders of the three coalition parties (the Socialist PASOK, New Democracy conservatives and the far-right party LAOS) have still things to negotiate, particularly on labor reform and support for national banks.

"There are two big problems, work and banks, which were left for tomorrow," he acknowledged.

Party leaders will then discuss the plan of the troika (International Monetary Fund, European Commission and European Central Bank) at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Lucas Papadé mos.

"There will be a meeting of political leaders chaired by Papademos tomorrow afternoon," said Beglitis. 

But no work session was not officially scheduled with representatives of the Eurogroup on Monday and everything could happen by teleconference or a face-to face at the last minute.

The chief minister said for his part that the various managers of the government coalition have agreed on a reduction in public spending by an amount equivalent to 1.5% of GDP this year.

This includes measures to reduce salaries and benefits costs to make the Greek economy more competitive, he added. 

He also confirmed the meeting of heads of coalition parties on Monday to conclude negotiations on the second aid package of 130 billion euros to be implemented by the mid-March to avoid a collapse of public accounts.

The two main Greek unions called for a 24-hour strike Tuesday to protest against austerity measures and reforms demanded by international creditors.

"We expect one-day strike on Tuesday," said Ilias Iliopoulos, general secretary of the ADEDY representing public sector employees.

"Despite our sacrifices and despite the recognition that this policy mix is ​​bad, they ask even more austerity," he added. 

ADEDY and its private counterpart, the GSEE, representing about two million workers in Greece, about half of the workforce.

BAROIN OPTIMISTIC

Creditors of Greece had requested a reduction in spending worth one percent of GDP, slightly more than two billion euros for 2012.

The negotiations on the restructuring of the Greek debt held by the private sector rose "relatively well", said his side the French Minister of Economy and Finance, Sunday .

"I think it progresses smoothly on the part of private sector involvement to be made on a voluntary basis," said Baroin under the "Grand Rendez-Vous "Europe 1-Le Parisien-i> Télé. 

"We would not get away from the level at which one must move the Greek debt in 2020, that is to say around 120%," said the French minister. And "it is because we do not withdraw these objectives that the discussions are difficult," he said.

"Anyway, it's later than February 13," continued Baroin.

February 13 is the deadline posed by the euro area to launch the operation, which should bring the Greek debt around 120% of gross domestic product (GDP) to in 2020 against over 160% today.

The private sector should accept a discount of around 70% of its obligations under the exchange program of the Greek debt. This will help to lower than 100 billion euros of debt of Greece.

In exchange for a loan of at least 130 billion euros by 2015, the troika of institutional creditors requires further structural reform and further reforms of austerity authority to clean up its public accounts.

Troika calls including a lowering of wages in companies and supplementary pension, which measures face many political and union resistance.

In the absence of an agreement, Greece is threatened with failure to pay on 20 March, when mature 14.5 billion euros of bonds.

Altran Thursday confirmed a large increase in operating margin for 2011 following growth of 7.2% of its turnover for the year, and said he was "reasonably confident" in 2012 despite ; economic uncertainties. Sales of specialist technology consulting totaled 1,419.5 million euros last year, growing "economy" of 8.1% (on a comparable basis excluding the impact of exchange and changes in working days). The fourth quarter alone, sales of Altran amounted to 370.6 million euros, increasing by 6% and an "economic growth" of 8, 6%. "Despite an uncertain macroeconomic environment, the Group is reasonably confident for 2012," he said in a statement its CEO, Philippe Salle. Philippe Salle had told Reuters in October Altran, a deficit in 2010 would remain negative in 2011 but would profit in 2012. The group will publish its annual results on March 12. Altran has completed action on Wednesday during a 3.801 euros, representing a market capitalization of 550 million.

The crisis facing the euro area is systemic and it requires its members a greater commitment than they are now showing, said Wednesday José Manuel Barroso.

"Today we are facing a crisis that requires a truly systemic even greater commitment of all major and additional measures", said President of the European Commission to the European Parliament.

He added that a further fiscal integration in the euro area was needed, without creating divisions with the 10 EU countries over 27 who are not members of the single currency.

Once this integration budget will be in place and new tools of governance have been decided, European bonds – seen by many economists as a solution to the crisis – will then become "natural," he further said.

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.