France

Financial News

Societe Generale Has Repaid French State Aid of $5 Billion, Regulator Says Societe Generale SA, France’s second- largest bank by market value, earlier this week repaid the 3.4 billion euros ($5 billion) of state aid it received in the financial crisis, according to the national market regulator.

Credit Agricole's Pauget May Be Replaced as Chief Executive by Chifflet Credit Agricole SA Chief Executive Officer Georges Pauget may leave next year and be replaced by Jean-Paul Chifflet, currently secretary general of the bank’s largest shareholder, three people familiar with the matter said.

Total Yemen Venture Ships First LNG From $4.5 Billion Arabian Sea Terminal Yemen exported the first shipment from a $4.5 billion liquefied natural gas plant, gaining a new source of revenue as oil production declines.

European Stocks Advance for First Week in Three as Earnings Beat Estimates European stocks rebounded from a one- month low as better-than-expected earnings at companies from Swiss Reinsurance Co. to Delhaize Group SA fed investors’ expectations a seven-month rally will go on.

French Stocks Decline: EDF, Lafarge, L'Oreal Retreat as Hermes Advances France’s CAC 40 Index slipped 1.44, or less than 0.1 percent, to 3,707.29 in Paris, paring its gain this week to 2.8 percent. The index earlier rose as much as 0.5 percent. The SBF 120 Index increased less than 0.1 percent today.

World's Central Banks Signal End to `Largesse' as Depression Threat Fades The world’s biggest central banks are starting to unwind emergency measures introduced earlier this year to stave off a second Great Depression.

Lafarge Sees `Very High Potential' in Iraq Cement Market Amid Rebuilding Lafarge SA, the world’s biggest cement maker, said it will look to increase its presence in Iraq as the country rebuilds after the war and develops economically.

Airbus Is Ahead of Boeing by Five Jets as Lead Erodes in Deliveries Race Airbus SAS, which has surpassed Boeing Co. in deliveries every year since taking the top spot in 2003, is just five planes ahead of its U.S. competitor with two months left in the year.

IMF's Stauss-Kahn Would Beat Sarkozy for French Presidency, CSA Poll Shows International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn would defeat French President Nicolas Sarkozy by a margin of 51 percent to 49 percent if a presidential election runoff were held now, a CSA poll showed.

Club Med May Get Investment From Audigier in Plan for Celebrity Promotions French designer Christian Audigier said he may invest up to 10 million euros ($14.9 million) in Club Mediterranee SA if the holiday maker accepts his “marketing initiative” to use celebrities to promote the resorts.

General News

EU Leaders to Meet Nov. 9, Spurring Speculation of Decision on Presidency European Union leaders announced a previously unscheduled meeting during next week’s festivities to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, spurring speculation the EU may pick its first president.

Global-Warming Treaty May Face Full Year's Delay as Nations `Play Games' The deadline for 192 countries to complete a new global-warming accord may slip by as much as one year, as negotiators hold back on pledges to slash emissions or pay financial aid to poor nations.

Italy Will Keep Crucifixes in State-Run Schools, Defying EU Court Ruling Italy will ignore an “unreal” European court ruling that bans crucifixes from state-run schools as it appeals the decision, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said.

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