After almost a year of discussions, the CEO of Exxon Rex Tillerson has signed this agreement with his counterpart from Rosneft, Edward Khoudainatov, at the residence of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Novo- Ogariovo, not far from Moscow.

This strategic cooperation agreement was announced by Reuters in mid-day, before it is signed.

It will give Rosneft, majority owned by the Russian state, a 30% interest in three projects for Exxon in North America, described the two groups in a joint statement. 

Exxon and Rosneft will also study the feasibility of the exploitation of deposits of Rosneft in western Siberia.

According to a first agreement in August, Exxon and Rosneft must spend $ 3.2 billion (2.45 billion euros) to the exploitation of oil deposits in the Russian Arctic and Black Sea. Seismic studies starting this year, indicated that the two groups.

Asked if the Commission felt that Madrid was always able to avoid stressing the currency bloc to preserve its banking sector, Olivier Bailly simply replied "yes".

He also said the Commission would be able to have an overview of the efforts of Spain to consolidate its finances once the Spanish Government has delivered a comprehensive overview of its plans, including regional governments. 

Lack of information, particularly on the provisions which reach implement local Spanish, "the Commission is not able to make any recommendation at Madrid" he added.

The social network plans to complete the transaction in the current quarter.

Instagram was launched in January 2011 and now has thirty million users. The application allows in particular to apply filters and effects to photos taken with a smartphone.

This acquisition is unexpected since Facebook is preparing an IPO.

"This is an important step for Facebook because it's the first time we acquire a company and a product as accrued," said the Director General General of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg.

Renault shares (-1.83%) and PSA Peugeot Citroen (-2.61%) have the largest declines in the CAC 40 index which is 0.43% while the Stoxx sector index of 'European automotive advance of 0.34% to 9:45.

Last month, he registered 197,033 new passenger cars in the Hexagon. After adjustment for working days, the decline appears to 20.0% in March 2012 that were 22 days as against 23 in March 2011, announced Monday the Committee of French Automobile Manufacturers (CCFA).

In January and February this year, the market had already experienced declines of around 20% in raw data, the backlash level of registrations recorded on the pe same period of 2011 through to last orders "cash for clunkers" that could be delivered until March 31 of last year.

"This downturn is spectacular but it was expected," said Flavien Neuvy, Director of the Cetelem automobile. "We still think that most of the decline in yeara was performed in the first quarter and that the scenario of two million vehicles over the year remains relevant in light of new orders and new models coming. "

CCFA has also maintained its estimate of a decline of about 10% of the French automotive market in 2012.

For PSA Peugeot Citroen, which has teamed up in February at General Motors, registrations in France plummeted 33.2% last month while the Renault-including the diamond brand and low cost Dacia brand registrations stand-fall of 29.8%. 

Throughout the first quarter, the French automotive market will be contracted by 21.7% unadjusted and 22.9% when adjusted for working days.

Registrations of PSA for the period fell by 30.3% and Renault's 30.2%, in gross terms in both cases. In contrast, those of the Volkswagen group declined only 2.3%.

The country had 18,000 job seekers less than in February in seasonally adjusted data (CVS), to 2,841,000, while economists polled by Reuters had pre saw a decline of only 10,000.

In raw data, the number of unemployed fell by 82,000 to 3,028,000 and the rate of unemployment has fallen from 7.4% to 7.2%.

Already in production and marketing of agricultural products, metals, minerals and oil, Glencore seeks to expand its activities in the food, he identified as a growth area.

The Swiss-based group is engaged in another parallel operation to seize the mining group Xstrata for $ 41 billion. 

Offering Glencore on Viterra, 16.25 Canadian dollars per share, was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors of the Canadian group. It complies with current recorded these days by Viterra but it represents a premium of 48% over its closing price on March 8, the day during which the group said he UNPAID ; u expressions of interest.

Shareholders holding 16.5% stake in Viterra, including Alberta Investment Management, the main one, have already given their support to the operation.

If Viterra finally came to accept an offer by another buyer, or if its board of directors withdrew or modified its recommendation, it should pay compensation of 185 million Canadian dollars.

Glencore did not intend to hold within it the entire acquisition. 

Agrium is already scheduled to resume most activities of agricultural products retail Viterra, especially the 34% stake in Canadian Fertilizer, for which he will donate a , 8 billion Canadian dollars to Glencore.

Richardson will take over on its side 23% of the grain handling business and certain assets Viterra processing in North America for $ 800 million.

"The acquisition of Viterra reflects our strong confidence in the importance and future potential in the grain markets in Canada and Australia," said Chris Mahoney, director of product division Agricultural Glencore.

Qatar Holding, one arm of sovereign investment fund Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), said holding 12.83% stake in Lagardere and have surpassed the 10% voting rights, to 10.05%.

Qatar Holding says it reserves the right to further increase its stake in the company but said not wanting to take control. 

However, it indicates that it intends to seek appointment to the supervisory board of Lagardère and "talk with any interested actors, as appropriate, to strategic partnerships to the credit ation of long-term value for shareholders, with the stipulation that there is currently no specific plans in this regard ".

Qatar says it is not targeting any merger or reorganization, liquidation or transfer, modification of activity or status of Lagardère. He also says not to consider proposed cancellation or issuance of securities of Lagardère.

Nobody was immediately available for comment at Lagardère announced.

The Qatari fund became the largest shareholder Lagardère in December with 10.07% of the capital, before the family Lagardère (Lagardère Capital & Management), which holds 9.6% .

The market hardly reacted to this information, the Lagardère shares remaining unchanged at 23.56 euros at noon in a market down by 0.75%.

Lagardère has suffered a heavy loss in 2011 (707 million), due to massive write-downs on past sports. (See)

This diversification strategy considered by Arnaud Lagardère, General Partner of the group, ended last year with an operating loss of six million euros, after performance trading below expectations, loss of contract disputes and more.

In Paris, around 9:35, the CAC 40 gained 0.54% to 3,460 points. In London, the FTSE advance of 0.33% and Frankfurt, the DAX is 0.64%.

However, the gains could be limited, due to persistent concerns over the fate of Greece, which Standard & Poor's Monday lowered the sovereign credit rating to SD (default selective).

German lawmakers approved Monday by a large majority the last bailout of Greece, despite pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel that Germany cease to pay money in a "bottomless pit". Analysts say the vote could undermine Merkel, however politically, making it harder still a green light from Berlin to the strengthening of emergency funds in the euro area.

Banks are among the highest increases sectoral European sector index gaining 0.6%. Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas 1.8% gain.

The action PSA earns 8% and signs the largest increase in the CAC 40, the French manufacturer pursuing advanced talks with General Motors as part of their proposed strategic alliance in Europe.

Casino earns 1.6% after announcing a sharp increase in its annual results, driven by a contribution from emerging countries, which more than offset the decline in performance in France.

TomTom gives up nearly 18%, the specialist Dutch navigational instruments having unveiled a 76% drop in net profit in the fourth quarter and said it expects that the decline in sales will continue this year.

Bunds are stable, close to their highest level in five weeks. German paper demand is indeed supported by Berlin's reluctance to strengthen relief funds in the euro area.

The euro climbed to 1.3450 dollars more, despite the new Greek downgrade by S & P, the latter being widely expected by markets. The single currency earnings still waiting for an abundant liquidity from the ECB.

As for the yen, which has registered the day before a nine-month low against the dollar, it is taken in favor of large purchases of month-end from Japanese exporters. But the Japanese currency is poised to record on the month's decline most marked over two years and traders expect it remains under pressure.

Oil prices continued their decline after a sharp rise the previous week, but lingering fears surrounding the Iranian offer to limit gross losses. Brent crude is trading around $ 123, that of U.S. crude around $ 108.

PSA announced Tuesday evening study a proposed alliance, without elaborating on the identity of its potential partner. But sources told Reuters that it was the American General Motors, confirming press reports.

These sources suggest a partnership between the two groups and not a merger, but nevertheless indicated that cross-ownership "symbolic" between the two groups would be possible.

The market response was unequivocal Wednesday morning, the title PSA signing by far the largest increase in the CAC 40 with a jump of more than 10%. At 10:22, the action was taking 14% to 16.44 euros.

"An alliance may allow these two groups of strong synergies and economies of scale, even if that investment and research and development," says broker CM-CIC Securities in a research note.

For intermediate, "the creation of an alliance is highly anticipated by the market and should be welcomed. GM-PSA could be the new Fiat-Chrysler ", predicts the brokerage firm

. According to some observers, the main challenge for the two companies would solve their problem of overcapacity in Europe at a time when the presidential campaign is fueling concerns of industrial employment

.. ……. "JOBS, JOBS, JOBS"

addition to synergies on purchases, marketing or future investments, the purpose of an alliance in Europe could cooperate to cut capacity in Europe and thus possibly close plants

. "There are unfortunately too production capacity in Europe, "said one banker, who for the purpose of an alliance could be for both groups to coordinate intelligently the closure of production units. 

"All European deals in the sector make sense to deal with overcapacity," said another banker based in Paris.

This issue of industrial overcapacity concerns and the public to the French government has already indicated through its Minister of Labour that it would be vigilant regarding employment if an alliance was tied.

"Jobs, jobs, jobs … Allow me to be demanding on this point, "said Xavier Bertrand on Europe 1, holding that a rapprochement between groups would allow PSA to change size

.. ……. "If there is agreement, it already allows to have a size in a global market, because PSA is primarily a European champion, national champion", he said

. PSA and Opel, GM's European subsidiary, must each carry out major restructuring to try to become beneficiaries in the context of difficult market automotive, industrial overcapacity and very stiff price competition

.

Germany, France and Italy, met Thursday in Strasbourg (east), expressed their determination to secure the future of the euro, if necessary by amending the European treaties, but without affecting the independence of the European Central Bank (ECB).

The three largest economies in the euro area are determined to "do everything to support and ensure the sustainability of the euro," said the French president told reporters at the end of the tripartite summit.

Mr."We all three indicated that respect for the independence of this institution, it was not to request positive or negative" to the ECB for its part has assured the French President.

Several French officials, including Foreign Minister Alain Juppe Thursday morning, however, have called for the ECB to play "a role" to save the euro area. This role would be to buy massive debt of the countries most vulnerable to stem the continued rise in rates on government bonds of several euro area countries, which penalizes their already fragile budgets. This rate increase, a sign of the distrust of the market against the euro area, is now affecting countries like France.

"We are all three very much aware of the seriousness of the situation," said