These funds would supplement the effort to prepare to make private creditors of Athens by accepting a discount of at least 50% of their Greek bonds and would the country to reduce its debt to about 120% of its gross domestic product by 2020.

"This is mainly because of the need to recapitalize banks after the Greek private sector participation (in the debt restructuring)," said one source. 

Last October, members of the eurozone pledged to contribute up to EUR 130 billion to help the new plan, designed to take over a first program of bilateral loans of 110 billion euros agreed in May 2010.

The Nikkei gained 127.48 points to 8,287.49, after falling last week to a low of two and a half years.Government sources in Rome say they know nothing of any request for assistance from outside of Italy.

A trader in Tokyo noted, however, that markets remain very cautious about the debt crisis in the euro area.

"I thought that Italy would stabilize somewhat after the departure of (Silvio) Berlusconi, but the degradation of Belgium and the high yield suggests that Europe has entered a black hole," said Fumiyuki Nakanishi, strategist at SMBC Friend Securities.

"We do not know where is the next mine."

These will begin in the evening and will begin with interviews with the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, Gianfranco Fini and Renato Schifano, sources said political sources.

In a brief speech following his nomination, Mario Monti said that Italy had "overcome the challenge of redemption" in a "troubled European and global context."

"The country must become a pillar of strength, not a weak link in the European Union that we were among the founders," said the former European Commissioner.

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.

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, the lights, against which stood 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 sweeteners on 40 million euros, said the Minister of 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 lights, 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"

Drinks lights are in fact 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! We have received phone calls from friends, Bercy for example, who did not care at all about this, but had been called for by Coca they are trying to convince us of abandon the project, "said a member of the cabinet of 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 lights 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 lights rather than any product has "no motivation."

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.

But if the decision of the rating agency to assess the stable outlook of the French financial risk rating to weigh on confidence vis-à-vis the currency area in the coming weeks, there is little chance that the risks associated materialize in the short term.

As for the long term, permanent mechanism for stability, which could take effect in July 2012, will shield the single currency which will have a solid capital structure and legal personality, making it impervious to turmoil on the notes of the national constituent countries.

Moody's justified its decision Monday night focusing on the risks to French growth and the potential costs of bank recapitalization and support to troubled countries in the euro area.

The news comes at the worst time when the leaders of the euro area, meeting Sunday in Brussels to agree on a strategy for Greece and their banks, already suffering from a lack of confidence from investors after almost two years of delay and 14 peaks that have failed to stem the crisis in Greece.

The risk premium associated with the French bonds jumped to a record since the inception of the euro after this warning, which now places a sword of Damocles over the Franco-German couple, the backbone of the currency area and the ultimate guarantor its stability.

Franco-German

The consequences could be felt this week and affect the contours of the European plan to reduce Greece's debt consistently, reinforcing the strength of the euro area banks by recapitalizing and maximize "the firepower of the fund to support the euro area (EFSF) by using leverage.

"The French are clearly vulnerable.It becomes difficult for them to talk on equal terms with Angela Merkel in terms of spreads (the spread between yields on French and German-Ed), "said Ludovic Subran, chief economist at Euler Hermes.

Philippe Waechter, director of economic research at Natixis Asset Management, for its part considers that the new could curb the ability of Europeans to use the EFSF to relieve the ECB in resolving the crisis.

"It's true (that announcements by Moody's) can weaken the EFSF, debts are guaranteed by France to the tune of 158 billion euros, which is significant.It could create a doubt, "he says.

As for Alex Koagne, an analyst at Natixis bank, it is estimated that the bank recapitalization component that is affected first.

"The message from Moody's equivalent to saying that France can not help its banking sector.It's a way of saying: 'If your bank should be recapitalized, they will do in the markets,' "he said.

CALENDAR

Beyond the impact on trust, risk, however, are limited in the short term.

The "multiplier" of EFSF, which could be decided on Sunday, will have no impact on the sovereign ratings of countries in the euro area and could increase the response capacity of the fund to some 2,000 billion euros in guarantees, which does not weigh on the public accounts.

The recapitalization of banks should in turn be primarily via internal reserves and facilities through the market, with limited impact on finances.

Above all, the European Stability Mechanism (MES) could start operating sooner than expected

Legal personality of international institution and its 500 billion euros in capital, which can be more easily "multiplied", will make it impervious to changes in national sovereign debt notes.

The date is now planned on 1 July 2012 but some call for further accelerate this timetable.

Moody's has on its side no plans to go as fast and was given three months to choose whether or not the French note on negative outlook, before eventually withdrawing its maximum score within two years.

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.