While the antitrust authorities in Brussels and the United of States have launched investigations into possible abuse of dominant position of Google, which is the French court on Wednesday pulled out the first conviction for that reason. The reason: the free supply of services Google Maps for businesses. The Commercial Court of Paris ruled on the Internet giant guilty of unfair competition to the detriment of the small French company directory Cartographers and imposed a penalty of 500,000 euros in damages and 15,000 euros in fines. Google announced it would appeal the ruling.

"This will trigger the wrath of all other applications Google"

"It's the end of a fight two years is an unprecedented decision," welcomed Jean-David Scemama, a lawyer for the company directory Cartographers that Google had assigned to court in 2009. According to counsel, "is the first time that Google is condemned for its Google Maps application." "Today, all the market needs to know. Google will not stay on a free market and this will trigger the wrath of all the other Google applications," said the lawyer. And he said, the ruling of the Commercial Court opens way for Google's competitors, large groups, but also to other small SMEs to attack the American and force it to market its services.

The Google Maps service are not those referred to the general public, but those developed for companies that integrate maps on their websites. "The map products created by the company directory Cartographies happen to be very similar to those offered by Google free Google Maps API (or application programming interface)," the court noted in its ruling.

"Since the creation of Google Maps, the group's strategy was to say the markets of search engines, I am in a state of abuse of dominant position, but instead on the rest as the Google Maps, I'm on an isolated market, "said Me Scemama. "But the connection between the two markets, and Google directory mapping was demonstrated by the Commercial Court." It also recognizes that a directory Cartographers "underwent a series of injuries is characterized by an undeniable loss of customer and revenue." The court also added that "the practice of free clearly intended to optimize the marketing terms of targeted ads."

Clearly, Google would seek to eliminate competition by providing free services to companies relatively expensive, in order to further capture maximum publicity.

For its part, Google said on Wednesday France "remain convinced that a mapping tool free, high quality benefits both users and for website owners. Competition in this sector remains real for us, both in France and abroad, "according to a statement from a spokesman.

The court also ordered the publication of the sentence in the daily Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune, Le Monde, Le Figaro, La Tribune and Les Echos.

L counsel argues that Google Directory Cartographers "tried to maintain the service until the end, so much that they have tried just before the hearing to change their methods of sale".

This week has the distinction of being a shortened session on Thursday is a public holiday in the United States where we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, which should result in reduced volumes.

The spotlight will be on Monday in Washington, where 12 members of the "super-committee" Parliamentary expected fiscal consolidation to make public their proposals Monday before the vote on November 23.

The latest negotiations skating at the risk of a new block.Now it supports more austerity measures, which may satisfy the investors.

A RALLY POSSIBLE?

The S & P 500 yielded 3.8% over the last five session, ending the week Friday night's most mediocre in two months.

The Nikkei lost 34.31 points to 8,769.09 and the Topix, larger yielded 1.57 points (-0.21%) to 750.45.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou concluded an agreement with the opposition to form a coalition crisis supposed to approve the bailout of the country put together in late October in Brussels.

But in detail, both parties have provided little information on how this will unfold, including uncertainty about the identity of the future prime minister who will lead the coalition.

On the Nymex, the December contract on the U.S. light crude (WTI) ended on a loss of a dollar, or 1.07% to 92.19 dollars a barrel.

Meanwhile, Brent yielded 0.33%, 0.3 dollar to 109.23 dollars.

The announcement of a further slowdown in manufacturing activity in China and the United States has accentuated the negative sentiment in the markets. and

"Bringing France to a system that works", "max out of Germany" … Yesterday, in his television interview, President Nicolas Sarkozy has once again praised the German economic success and the interest that France would have to be inspired.Henrik Uterwedde, deputy director of the Franco-German Institute in Ludwigsburg, analysis for expansion. Com fascination of French politicians for our neighbors.

How to interpret the willingness yesterday by Nicolas Sarkozy to "bring together the French and German economies"?

Henrik Uterwedde: I hear the speech, I wait for the acts, because this question is asked repeatedly by French politicians. In the 1970s, already, the president Valery Giscard d'Estaing had made the statement that Germany had more resilient to oil price shocks than France, and that, therefore, be based on the German model. But it was especially for the then government to denounce the behavior of unions and to better accept the French policy of fiscal restraint.We find ourselves a bit in the same situation today: the idea of ​​convergence is exploited for domestic policy.

In terms of unemployment, growth, public finances, Germany displays much better than France. Have we still not reasons to get closer to the German model?

Yes on the thoroughness, a word too long banned in France … However, each country has its own peculiarities, and it is difficult to translate the policies of the neighbor. We can watch what is happening elsewhere, but everyone must then find its way. Just look at the weight of SMEs in the economy, which is a major difference between France and Germany. The strength of our "Mittelstand", this network of small and medium enterprises, largely explains our export performance.

The two French car manufacturers have made inventory management a priority in order to avoid ending up in case of weaker demand in the same situation in 2008 when they accumulated levels of 80 to 90 days.

Renault wants to reduce its inventory from 50 to 60 days while the PSA is 60 days of inventory at the end of the year, against 76 days in late June.

"The days not worked must not be seen as heralding a fall in demand is a classic fit two months of the end of the year," said a Reuters spokeswoman for Renault.

She cites as evidence that Douai had experienced longer closures in 2009 and 2010.

"If demand was strong, particularly in France, we would not need to reduce the activity, ask instead how we supply the plants," said one union leader of the group in diamond.

The press reported on Monday and Tuesday as work at the Renault plant in Douai (Nord), which is produced Scenic, stop from Wednesday for nearly a week, while in Sandouville (Seine-Maritime) , Flins (Yvelines) and Novo Mesto (Slovenia), the teams would make the bridge from November 1.

In contrast, sites of Maubeuge (Nord) and Batilly (Moselle), respectively, out of which the utilities Kangoo and Master, are not affected by such measures.

Unlike the real short time, the teams concerned retain their full salary, as in the automotive sector, the "days not worked" are drawn from a capital established at time of peak activity.

EUROPEAN MARKET MORE UNCERTAIN

PSA Peugeot Citroën has set up its part of short days on several sites, and up to a week of closing the plant in Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis) is produced when the Citroen C3.

PSA also suspend production at its plant in Slovakia to the end and mid-November, a decision in this case attributed to lower orders in Europe.

"Apart from Aulnay and Trnava (Slovakia), on the other sites it comes to fine tuning," said a spokesman for SAP.

Plants Aulnay and Trnava are both specialized in small cars, the most affected by the end of scrappage. The Slovak site, the 207 reaches the end of life as her replacement, the 208 will be unveiled to the public next month.

The chief executive of the group, Philippe Varin, warned in September that the European market had become more uncertain in the climate of sovereign debt crisis.He added that if nothing appeared again in the order books, we had to prepare for more difficult times.

PSA and Renault expect a slight relapse of the French automotive market in 2011 and 2012, and an overall stable European market on each of two years. Both manufacturers will release their sales for the third quarter Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

Already recapitalized in 2008 to 6 billion euros not the French public authorities, Belgian and Luxembourg, Dexia announced the beginning of October a new rescue plan led by the three countries.

The Prudential Control Authority (ACP) has sent two letters to Dexia Credit Local in the summer of 2010, copies of which were sent Thursday to Reuters by Georges Gilkinet, MP Belgian French-speaking Green party Ecolo.

"The College (CPA) found that the liquidity position of DCL, which does not comply with the regulations to the deadline of 30 June 2010 and also presents the risk of deterioration was particularly fragile," writing to the regulator DCL August 16, 2010.

"Under these conditions, it intends to place the institution under special supervision."

More detail in a letter sent Sept. 17, 2010, the CPA advanced many shortcomings in the management of Dexia Credit Local.

"In general, DCL is not or has not been always able to accurately determine the parameters of risk instruments markets," it said in the second post.

"The efforts of DCL and Dexia since late 2008 to address the weaknesses identified by internal audit group and this inspection mission are still insufficient to significantly reduce the risks, including counterparty and liquidity, and comply with prudential regulations and accounting, "the governor continued.

CONTROL OPERATIONS failing markets

He also noted the lack of control of Dexia Credit Local of its foreign subsidiaries' consolidated supervision of market transactions was deficient at the time of the survey, DCL not knowing the transactions initiated by its major subsidiaries including Spanish and German."

For the ACP, Dexia Credit Local had failed to mid-2010 to regain control of the risks taken by its various subsidiaries after its first rescue in 2008.

"This situation, similar to that already encountered in 2008 on the activities of the Slovak subsidiary, is not admissible in view of the notional amounts involved and the risks involved," he is also indicated in the report, in which the ACP doubt on the ability of Dexia to "effectively control the activities of its subsidiaries and branches."

A spokesman for the Prudential Control Authority declined to comment.

"This is a report on the consequences of the first banking crisis, we can not correct the story in a snap," Pierre Mariani defended himself in the newspaper De Standaard Dutch, noting that 'no sanctions had been taken against DCL.

A Dexia spokesman declined to comment further.

Dexia has given Thursday launched the final phase of its dismantling by validating the sale of subsidiaries whose Franco-Belgian bank must dispose as part of its rescue plan October 10.

First victim of bank scale of the crisis of sovereign debt in the euro area, Dexia should exist only as a holding company listed in Brussels which will combine the activities of financial services to the public sector in France, Spain, Italy and Germany.

Recapitalized on the basis of 9.9 euros per share in 2008, the Dexia share is worth more today than 0.61 euro. She lost three quarters of its value since the beginning of the year after falling nearly 39% in 2010.

The Greek Secretary of State at the Ministry of Finance, Ilias Plaskovitis, will meet next week the Swiss government officials to advance an agreement between the two countries on the Greek capital flight, said Friday the Minister Evangelos Venizelos. "The Greek government is negotiating with the Government of the Federation Helvetic to develop a model agreement on the Swiss-German-Swiss or helvéto so that Greece can have the tax revenues of the Greeks deposits in Swiss banks," Venizelos said in Parliament during a debate on this subject.

"Mr.Plaskovitis will meet next week in Switzerland Swiss officials on this issue, "said the minister who hopes that" this agreement is ready by the next day. "" We need the Greek parliament is ready to accept such an agreement as did Germany and the UK, "said the minister. The Greek Socialist government has launched several months in a fight against tax evasion, but without much success so far.

"In 2009, capital flight amounted to 5.4 billion euros, 4.9 billion relate only 8,667 Greeks, including 42% say less than 20,000 euros in revenues," said Mr. Venizelos. The Minister reiterated that "tax evasion was a national crime, a national disaster" and described as "Kafkaesque" procedures for fiscal control.

He pledged to publish next week the names of taxpayers who have large debts vis-à-vis the state to force them to pay. "We have identified those who need more than one million euros to the state and we have requested assistance from private companies to collect these debts in cooperation with the tax officers," the minister said adding that " 15,000 individuals and companies need 37 billion euros, of which 32 billion are due by companies. " According to experts, Greek banks suffer from a significant lack of liquidity and considerable leakage of capital, totaled 70 billion euros since 2010.

The trade balance posted a deficit of 45.61 billion dollars, while the market was expecting a hole of 45.8 billion.

In July, the deficit eventually amounted to 45.63 billion (44.81 billion in the first estimate).

Exports were down 0.1% from July to 177.61 billion dollars while imports remained unchanged at 223.22 billion dollars.

The United States has accused a record trade deficit in relation to China, to 28.96 billion dollars against 26.96 billion the previous month.

In the morning, China announced that its trade surplus had declined in September for the second consecutive month, a statistic that reflects the weakness of the global economy and the slowdown in China itself, thus being factor decline in world stock markets.

Originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon, a decisive meeting of the board of the group was delayed until Sunday to give negotiators more time.

Belgian Prime Minister in charge of current affairs, Yves Leterme held talks in the morning by telephone with the head of the French government said on around him, while advisors from both countries met in Paris.

The finance ministers of both countries, Baroin and Didier Reynders, should discuss the matter later in the day, sources said in Brussels, which could take an inter-Belgian.

No comments could be reached immediately on the case in Paris.

The rating agency Moody's has increased pressure on the Belgian camp Friday night: it has placed the sovereign rating of Aa1 by explaining kingdom under surveillance will include assessing the costs and liabilities that the state could play in supporting Dexia.

The dismantling of the group could indeed go through a nationalization of the Belgian branch, Dexia Bank Belgium (DBB), which specializes in bank deposits.

One solution put forward in recent days by the interim government in Brussels but which opposed the three Belgian regions, which owns 5.7% of the group and who wish to retain a role in financing local governments.

Both sides, however, are closer to a compromise in recent hours, officials said a source familiar with the matter.

The Belgian daily L'Echo reported previously that the nationalization of DBB may be followed by a holding areas at a future capital increase of DBB.

LOAD difficult to allocate

The Echo adds, however, that the track of a redemption of DBB by a foreign bank is being considered and said that several institutions have expressed interest, including Deutsche Bank, Rabobank, Crédit Mutuel and BBVA.

Another key point of discussion: the distribution of the financial burden of dismantling between Belgium and France, whose participation combined with that of the Caisse des Depots (CDC) is around 25%.

Yves Leterme and Didier Reynders warned Thursday the French government that Belgium would not only burden.

The two countries should agree on such funding guarantees to provide for the financing necessary for the liquidation phase of a bond portfolio valued at 95 billion euros.

According to L'Echo, France keen to maintain its AAA rating, "defends a 60/40 split or 65/35" instead of the theoretical equilibrium 50-50 on the basis of the current distribution of capital."Belgium is not hostile," the daily.

Friday, François Fillon announced that the Deposit would release three billion euros to finance the French local authorities until a new entity formed by the Deposit and Consignment Office (CDC) and the Postal Bank takes over Dexia.

Before the board of directors of Dexia, Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace has received the Director General of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde. It did not comment after the meeting.

The French president is scheduled to visit Sunday in Berlin for talks and a working dinner with Chancellor Angela Merkel before the summit of the euro area of ​​17 and 18 October and the G20 in Cannes on 3 and 4 November.A bilateral meeting during which the larger issue of the recapitalization of banks in Europe should be addressed.