LVMH has published annual results Thursday soaring, signing a new record with the acquisition of Bulgari and demonstrating once again the resilience of luxury to shocks in the economy .

The world of the sector, including owner of Louis Vuitton, Moet et Chandon champagne and Christian Dior perfumes, has seen its annual sales climb 16% to 23.66 billion euros, slightly above consensus expectations Thomson Reuters I / B / E / S (23.3 billion).

The group's organic growth stood at 14% throughout 2011 and to 12% in the fourth quarter alone. However, it marks a slowdown over the last three months of the year compared to 15% increase recorded in the first nine.

The annual operating income of the group rose 22% to just over five billion euros, 5.26 billion (5.1 billion against expected) and the margin increased by 0 , 7 points to 22%.

After the Swiss Richemont (Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels) and Britain's Burberry, LVMH therefore confirms the good health of an industry that takes advantage of the strong demand in emerging countries, the re , resistance to the U.S. market and tourist flows in Europe.

"The year 2011 was again an excellent year, as was 2010 (…) Unless a major accident and despite the difficulties in Europe, the world is growing and wants more and more products, "said Bernard Arnault, CEO of the group, with a smile of satisfaction.

"We are fortunate to have as emerging markets, but also the United States, who leave and which cause strongly all of our activities, "he said, adding that being" reasonably confident for 2012 ".

'EXCELLENT' YEAR E 2012 EXPECTED FOR VUITTON

He referred to the January sales "consistent" with those of the end of 2011 and predicted for the Louis Vuitton leather goods, the nugget, which accounts for more than half of the profits of the group, an "excellent year 2012." 

With the debt crisis in Europe and slowing U.S. growth, many analysts have revised down their forecasts organic growth of the great names in luxury for 2012.

All divisions of the group have experienced double-digit growth and significantly improved margins last year, with the exception of perfumes and cosmetics (Dior, Givenchy), more affected by the crisis in Europe.

In fashion, leather goods, Louis Vuitton has yet to sign growth "double digit", while the claws Loewe and Celine have completed the year with "beautiful results", wished to clarify Bernard Arnault. 

This division, the most profitable group with Vuitton, saw its operating income surpass the $ 3.0 billion to 3.07 billion euros, with sales reaching 8.7 billion , up 16% at constant rates.

With strong demand and tight supply, the famous monogrammed bags have also benefited from price increases "more significant" than other brands.

In wines and spirits (cognac Hennessy, Dom Perignon champagne, Ruinart and Moet & Chandon), sales increased 10% to $ 3.5 billion and the margin has been 2.5 percentage points to 31% .

Selective distribution (Sephora, DFS) was not unworthy, with a leap of 34% in sales and an improvement of one point margin to 11%. 

But the most growth pole returns to watches and jewelry (TAG Heuer, Zenith and Chaumet), which has more than doubled with the acquisition of Bulgari and has increased sales by 41% ; like basis, for a margin of 13.6%.

NO hegemony HERMÈS

About Hermes, in which LVMH continued to rise (22.3%), while the deluxe saddle has been locking his family holding company capital, Bernard Arnault has reaffirmed that the participation e silent "friendly" and that LVMH had "no desire to dominate." 

Once will not hurt, LVMH has invited in the news at a time when the debate over the "made in France" is raging in France, flying to the rescue, via one of suppliers in leather, the workshop Lejaby lingerie in Yssingeaux (Haute-Loire).

The annual net income reached 3.06 billion euros signing up to 1% but 34% excluding the unrealized gain realized on the outstanding stake in Hermes s in 2010.

With these figures, the group will offer its shareholders a dividend increase of 24% to 2.60 euros.

The title LVMH closed Thursday at 126.40 euros at the Paris Stock Exchange, rising 15.5% since early January, after falling 11.13% in 2011. 

Perceived by analysts as the value most defensive sector, largely due to the brand Louis Vuitton, she exchanged with valuation multiples of about 17 times the beneficial ; profits estimated for 2012, representing a premium of approximately 15% of the industry average off Hermes.

Members have pledged Tuesday to review a new draft supplementary budget for 2011, the fourth year that includes several measures of the new savings plan submitted on November 7 by the government.

This "supplementary budget" follows the decision of France to lower, from 1.75% to 1%, the forecast growth rate for 2012.

The draft budget law for 2012, being shuttled between the two assemblies, which is considered "obsolete" by the Opposition, was indeed built on a growth forecast of 1.75%.

The OECD expects growth in its share from 0.3% in France next year."We will meet our objectives of reducing the public deficit to 5.7% of GDP in 2011 and 4.5% in 2012," assured the minister.

She also confirmed that it would table an amendment bringing three to ten years the limitation period in respect of assets held abroad.

"This new austerity plan will have the effect of crack growth and impede the deficit reduction by increasing unemployment," said Pierre-Alain Mute (PS).

DEFICIT REDUCED TO 95.3 BILLION

"It's an inconsistent policy, over the water where France would need a comprehensive policy," added the spokesman of the Socialist Group.

To address the unemployment history of young 21.9%, the British government decided to implement a recovery plan £ 1 billion over 3 years. The number of unemployed young Britons spent for the first time the symbolic one million end of September.

Faced with record unemployment of young people, with more than one million 16-24 year olds unemployed, the British government announced Friday a plan to one billion pounds (1.16 billion euros) over three years. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced the program on the BBC Friday morning, but did not specify where the money would be collected, while the coalition government is implementing the austerity program the most severe since World War II.

"If the government cut the tax deductions available to families who work to support this new plan, it would be just incredible," he once commented Liam Byrne, in charge of Work and Pensions in Labour. The number of unemployed young Britons spent for the first time the symbolic one million end of September, in an economic climate more and more depressed. The unemployment rate for 16-24 years is 21.9%, or 1.02 million young people in search of a mployment, a record since the beginning of this statistical series in 1992.

Emabuche aids for companies

The government plans to launch in April a "contract young" over 3 years towards 410 000 18 to 24 years. 160,000 young people would benefit from a six-month contract, employers receiving a subsidy for the period of 2275 pounds, equivalent to half the minimum wage specific to young people.

This action is the publication director of Libération Demorand Nicolas, Yann Filipino journalist, Sarl Libération and MP Gerard Bapt, chairman of the parliamentary information mission of the Mediator. The boss of the company that makes the Mediator, Jacques Servier, the day of his hearing in the National Assembly (March 2, 2011).

Servier Laboratories pursue defamation before the correctional court of Paris newspaper Libération and MP Gerard Bapt PS, for stories and comments relating to the scandal of the Mediator, according to a subpoena which AFP obtained a copy Sunday.This direct quote is the managing editor of Liberation Demorand Nicolas, Yann Filipino journalist, Sarl Libération and MP Gerard Bapt, chairman of the parliamentary information mission of the Mediator, which will run January 6, 2012 before the 17th Criminal Chamber of the Paris Court.

According to the text of the direct quote, Servier acknowledges Liberation in its edition of September 7, 2011 dedicated to a different drug from the laboratory, Protelos – which would have minimized the side effects – have set out "a series of charges that are seriously defamatory against Servier. " Nicolas Demorand in an editorial, wrote that Servier "had erected lying and manipulation economic model", so that after the Mediator, "is now a scandal that Protelos."

In an interview with Liberation, MP Bapt stated that Servier had sought to play down the effects of Protelos from judsqu'à including "falsifying case for the death of patients do not appear." PS MP had accused Servier of "perverse and developing methods not only for the Mediator." According to the direct quote, the lab accuses journalists and MP PS stated to have "a series of charges which are seriously defamatory against Servier" in particular, accusing Servier to have "relapsed" with the Protelos and accusing him of "falsifying documents" about the drug against osteoporosis.

Servier believes in its citation that defamation is made public "due to the seriousness of the false accusations." He requested 50,000 euros and publication of the trial in which several daily Liberation.

Paris and Berlin have developed a second summit, in addition to Sunday, to prepare a "comprehensive and ambitious répnse" to the crisis in the eurozone. President Nicolas Sarkozy meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Tuesday, August 16 at the Elysee Palace (both here in Berlin July 20, 2011)

Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel will meet again Saturday night in Brussels on the eve of the European summit to prepare an "ambitious and comprehensive response" to the crisis in the euro area whose elements will be adopted at a second summit "at the late Wednesday ", they announced Thursday in a joint statement. In this paper circulated by the Elysee Palace, Paris and Berlin have also called for "immediate negotiations" engage with the private sector "to reach an agreement to strengthen the sustainability" of the Greek debt.

The statement said the French president and German chancellor, who have been in Frankfurt on Wednesday night for an "informal meeting" Thursday had a telephone conversation during which they "expressed their full agreement to provide a comprehensive and ambitious "to the crisis in the months since the euro area.

This response will include "the operational implementation of new forms of intervention EFSF, a plan to strengthen the capital of European banks (and) the establishment of economic governance in the euro area and the strengthening of economic integration ", they repeated. The two countries "agreed that all elements of this ambitious and comprehensive response will be discussed in depth at the summit on Sunday in order to be finally adopted by the Heads of State and Government at a second meeting at the late Wednesday. "

A summit of heads of state and government of 27 EU countries is scheduled Sunday in Brussels, followed on the heels of another top 17 members of the euro area. Prior to confirmation of Paris and Berlin, a diplomatic source had raised the possibility of a second peak of the euro area, noting the differences that continue to oppose the countries of the European Group on how to strengthen the Fund European Financial Stability (EFSF). Long opposed, the two largest economies in the euro area ultimately reached a common position but "n'enthousiasme not" some of their European partners, acknowledged Wednesday the Secretary of State for Finance Steffen Kampeter.

"We have made enormous progress but not enough to make final decisions on Sunday.In some areas, we agree (between European partners), in others we are on track, "said Thursday night a spokesman for Mrs. Merkel, Steffen Seibert. Mr. Seibert also suggested that the second summit was necessitated by considerations of internal politics in Germany. "The participation of the German parliament is essential," he said.

"The challenges we know are also in negotiations related to the requirement of the German Members to be consulted," confirmed to AFP diplomatic source in Brussels. In their statement, France and Germany finally, once again, urged Greece to "make ambitious commitments to address the situation of their economies as part of a new program." At a meeting with Merkel in Berlin on October 9, M.Sarkozy had promised "sustainable solutions, comprehensive and fast" to resolve the crisis, at least before the G20 summit expected in Cannes on November 3 and 4.

Bank of America reported an increase in its net income for the third quarter due to both an accounting effect that banks can reap when financial markets are turbulent and a gain on disposals of assets.

The hotel, the first U.S. bank by assets, posted over the period net income of $ 5.9 billion, or $ 0.56 per share against a loss of $ 7.6 billion (-0 , 77 dollar per share) a year ago, when the bank had spent $ 10.4 billion accounting charge.

The founder of the investment fund Galleon, Raj Rajaratnam, who was convicted in May of insider trading was sentenced Thursday to eleven years in prison, one of the most severe penalties ever imposed for this offense.

The verdict marks the end of a long process that had shaken the financial world by revealing one of the greatest scandals in Wall Street since the 1980s.

The survey was particularly high profile was marked by an abundant use of FBI wiretaps, a method usually associated with the procedures surrounding the mafia or drug trafficking crime as more "white collar".

Raj Rajaratnam was found guilty of fraud transactions and conspiracy to have established a vast network that fed into confidential information on companies.

It was one of his informants including senior executives in companies like consulting firm McKinsey & Co, Intel, and to a former director of Goldman Sachs.

The judges did not follow the request of prosecutors, who called for 19 ½ years in prison against Raj Rajaratnam.The award is beyond the ten-year sentence recently imposed in another case a major insider trading.

Judge Richard Holwell said the founder of Galleon, aged 54, suffered from an "advanced diabetes" that can lead to kidney failure and may need a transplant, and had taken this into account by setting the length of the sentence.

"The government is absolutely right to consider insider trading as an assault on free trade in a democratic society," said the judge.

Raj Rajaratnam did not read the statement on his behalf before the verdict, which was also sentenced to 10 million dollars in fines and the restitution of $ 53.8 million.

The judge also agreed to recommend that the sentence be carried out at the prison in Butner, North Carolina, one of its inmates fallen financier Bernard Madoff, sentenced to 150 years in prison for fraud. This has its own hospital.

Raj Rajaratnam must report to prison Nov. 28. Those convicted of federal crime generally must serve 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for early release.

Wall Street fell more than 2% Friday, signing the third quarter of its worst quarterly performance in three years, the macroeconomic indicators from China and the debt crisis in Europe continues to fuel concerns about the global economy.

The Dow Jones Industrial 30 yielded 2.16%, or 240.60 points at 10,913.83. The S & P-500, wider, lost 28.98 points, or 2.50%, to 1131.42.The Nasdaq Composite fell on its side of 65.36 points (-2.63%) to 2415.40.

The U.S. equity market and accuses his fifth consecutive month of decline and its worst performance in three months since the fourth quarter of 2008, which was the heart of the financial crisis of 2007-2009.

On the whole week, the Dow is up 1.3% while the S & P and Nasdaq, respectively, yielded 0.4% and 2.7%.

On September, the Dow lost 6%, however, the S & P 500 7.2% and the Nasdaq 6.4%.In the third quarter, the three indices were down 12.1%, 14.3% and 12.9%.

Financial stocks fell with Morgan Stanley, which plunged 10.54% to 13.50 dollars due to concerns about the exposure of the bank's European debt.

"Everyone fears that growth will slow down or it will not be as strong as expected.In general, there is a crisis of confidence, "said Adam Krejcik, an analyst with Roth Capital.

The CBOE volatility index, known as the "fear index," rose 10.61% to 42.96, suggesting that investors expect that volatility will continue.

In China, China's manufacturing sector continued to decline in September for the third consecutive month.

Inflation in the euro area in September rose abruptly and unexpectedly to 3.0%, its highest level in nearly three years, greatly undermining the chances of the European Central Bank cut rates in October .

Market players have also not responded to U.S. macroeconomic indicators better than expected.

The title UBS has lost 2.17% this morning at the opening after the resignation of Oswald Grübel Saturday. The former CEO left the bank following a fraud of $ 2.3 billion by a trader. The CEO of UBS Oswald Grübel could be landed in the management of the bank after losing $ 2 billion by a trader.

The action of the first Swiss bank UBS has opened lower Monday after the surprise resignation of CEO Oswald Saturday Grübel after the scandal caused by the massive fraud by a trader who cost the institution $ 2.3 billion . After falling 2.17% at the opening, title UBS limited its losses, down 0.40% to 10.08 Swiss francs in a market down by 0.35% at 7:13 GMT.Sergio Ermotti, responsible for the affairs of the bank in Europe, Asia and Africa and a former leader of the Italian bank Unicredit, will assume the position of interim CEO with immediate effect, UBS had said Saturday.

Gruebele Oswald resigned after the spectacular case of fraud which cost 2.3 billion dollars and another blow to the reputation of the first bank Helvetic. "The Board of Directors of UBS has accepted the decision of Oswald Grübel to withdraw from his duties" the bank said in a statement. Kaspar Villiger, President of UBS, said in the statement that "The Council regrets the decision of Oswald Grübel.The latter considers it his duty to take responsibility for the recent case involving unauthorized trading operations. "

"This decision reflects the strength of its principles and integrity," added the president of UBS, adding that "during his tenure, he managed to turn the company around and increased impressively in the UBS base ". M. Gruebele, 67, was taken from his retirement two years ago to address the UBS, after leading the rival bank Credit Suisse. Taking the head of UBS in the midst of the financial crisis during which the bank had lost billions of francs and posted record losses, Gruebele M. had returned to profit in 2010.

Oswald Grübel "retires from office after having helped UBS to become one of the best capitalized banks in the world" acknowledged Saturday the chairman of banking giant Helvetic.Kaspar Villiger said shortly after during a conference call that the board of directors of UBS did not want to see Oswald Grübel leave immediately and would have preferred to keep jusqu''à the shareholders' meeting in spring 2012. But Oswald Grübel, abandoning his position as Chairman of the Executive next year would not have constituted a strong enough signal, said Chairman of UBS from Singapore. UBS disclosed last week have suffered a loss of $ 2.3 billion (1.7 billion) after one of its traders had made "unauthorized trading".

A broker of 31 years, Kweku Adoboli on suspicion of fraudulent transactions, was charged and detained in London, as part of this young man will affaire.Le jailed at least until his next hearing on 20 October.The largest shareholder in UBS, the Singapore sovereign fund GIC, had reacted severely after the discovery of the fraud, calling the Swiss bank "to react firmly to restore confidence in the bank."

There are less than a week, however, Oswald Gruebele, had told the Swiss Sunday newspaper Sonntag, he did not feel guilty in the fraud case and had no intention of resigning. "I am responsible for what happens in the bank. But if you ask me whether I feel guilty when I say no", said the banker, Sergio P. Ermotti, responsible for the affairs of the bank in Europe, Asia and Africa, will assume the position of interim CEO with immediate effect, said UBS."The Board is deeply disappointed by the loss from unauthorized trading operations and will fully support the independent investigation," said UBS also in a statement.

Swiss bank UBS had started Wednesday in Singapore where one of its largest shareholders, a series of meetings of its Board of Directors, held in the utmost secrecy. Friday, Oswald Grübel, continued to assert that he had always trusted the board of the group, despite the fraud and rumors of his imminent departure, according to a Swiss newspaper. Réagisssant the shock wave caused by the announcement of fraud, UBS decided to suspend all advertising campaigns.

European stock markets, driven by banks, have sharply increased their earnings Thursday after the announcement by the European Central Bank (ECB) to the resumption of operations in dollars in three months from the fourth quarter.

By 1530, the CAC 40 index is 3.63% at 3056.24 points, after touching a high of 3086.64 points shortly after the announcement of the ECB, while the EuroStoxx 50 index shows a gain of 3.86%.

Bank stocks were the first to respond. BNP Paribas, which like other European banks, suffering from fears of difficulties refinancing dollar is 14.50% to 30.800 euros after winning up to 22% shortly after the news.

The index of bank stocks in the euro area shows a gain of 7.38%.Deutsche Bank is 9.12%, 6.8% Unicredit, Societe Generale and Credit Agricole 7.9% 7.55%.

"The acceleration of the increase was caused by the announcement of a joint action by central banks, after rumors of difficulties refinancing dollar," said one trader.