France

France's Vallourec announced a 24% decline in its core profit for the fourth quarter on Thursday. It cited lower average selling prices for its steel tubes, its primary market, in North America. Vallourec makes tubings for oil and gas markets, low-carbon energies and industrial markets. Its operating earnings before interest taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), fell to 214 millions euros ($224) in the fourth quarter of 2024. This was due to a 27% decline in North American tubes. In the fourth quarter, around 92% (globally) of Vallourec’s total revenues came from the tubes business. In a conference call with journalists,...

The French utility Engie reported a 6.2% drop in its operating profit for 2024, excluding nuclear, on Thursday. This was due to the decline in gas prices in France, an impact of a new energy tax and a reduction in the use of gas-fired electricity plants in Europe. The company that sells and trades gas and electricity reported earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) excluding nuclear at 8.9 billion euro ($9.32 billion), which is down from 9.5 million euros by the end of 2023. The European gas price fell throughout the year due to mild temperatures and a strong renewable...

Here are the key factors that could affect Swiss stocks Thursday: CLARIANT AG TotalEnergie has been accused of violating the 2020 Competition Law. The company says it denies these allegations. MEYER BURGER TECHNOLOGY AGR The bondholders have approved the changes to the convertible bonds that mature in 2027 or 2029, to inject new capital into business. FEINTOOL HOLDINGS AG The company did not provide any guidance for the year 2025. It cited continued low visibility in Europe. KUDELSKI - The company plans to eliminate 160 jobs as part of its restructuring in 2025. BUSINESS STATEMENTS SULZER AG: The company reported...

Here are some company news and stories that could impact the markets in France and Benelux or even individual stocks. EUROPEAN CAR SALE/RENAULT: According to industry data released on Tuesday, new car sales in Europe fell by 2.1% during January. This was due to a decline in petrol and diesel sales and a rise in the number of fully electric and hybrid-electric cars registered in Europe's main markets. CLARIANE expects organic revenue growth of around +5% in 2025. FRANCE/MACRON/TRUMP/UKRAINE U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron displayed stark differences on Monday in their approach to Ukraine, exposing a...

These are the most popular stories in the British business pages. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports. The Times Axa IM Alts is the investment arm of French insurer Axa. They have submitted a planning request to build another skyscraper at the City of London. Bupa, a healthcare provider in the UK, will offer what it claims is the first genetic test that accurately predicts the risk of many common diseases. The Guardian The British Prime Minister Keir starmer announced a funding of 200 million pounds ($253.54million) to increase investment...

Air Liquide, a French company, said that after Donald Trump frozen funding for clean energy projects in the U.S. Department of Energy's (DoE), only two of six hydrogen projects it had been awarded by the DoE might be implemented. Air Liquide has been selected as a partner in 2023 for six clean hydrogen hubs that are planned by the DoE. The DoE was going to allocate $7 billion under the bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by the former President Joe Biden. However, Trump has placed holds on tens of billions of dollars in congressionally-approved spending, including those from the bipartisan law...

Compass announced a 9.2% organic revenue increase in the first quarter, beating market expectations. The British catering group was able to benefit from strong demand for its canteens across North America and Europe. The largest food catering company in the world, which provides services to offices, hospitals, and universities on about 30 markets, has maintained its outlook for this year. The London-listed company has benefited from global companies requiring their employees to return to the office, which in turn boosts canteen spending. Employees who are cost-conscious often prefer to eat at home to more expensive external options. Karl Green, an...

Here are some company news and stories that could impact the markets in France and Benelux or even individual stocks. BOUYGUES: Amazon announced Bouygues Group & AWS have signed a strategic alliance to accelerate digitalization across Bouygues Group operations. Credit AGRICOle The second largest listed bank in France announced a 27% increase in profits, exceeding quarterly earnings expectations. THALES: Thales Alenia Space - a joint venture between Thales & Leonardo - announced that it had signed a contract for the development of an airlock module by Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in the Emirates. TOTALENERGIES: Lebanon's President expressed his hope...

According to a press release from the president's offices, Lebanon President Joseph Aoun told Qatari Premier Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Tuesday that he hoped TotalEnergies would soon resume oil exploration off the coasts of Lebanon. In 2023, the state-owned QatarEnergy will join France's TotalEnergies (ENI.MI), and Italy's Eni in a consortium of three to search for oil and natural gas in two marine blocks off Lebanon's coast. Two sources who were directly involved in the matter said that no hydrocarbons had been found after the exploratory drilling offshore in 2023. TotalEnergies didn't respond to a comment request...

The United States and Venezuela have a stuffed current history marked by damaged diplomatic relations, sanctions and allegations of criminal activity and coupplotting. U.S. President Donald Trump - who during his very first term used a maximum pressure sanctions policy against President Nicolas Maduro - referred to Maduro as a totalitarian throughout the 2024 U.S. campaign. The administration of former U.S. president Joe Biden reinstated broad oil sanctions in April after it stated Maduro failed to keep guarantees for a totally free election. It likewise imposed targeted sanctions on lots of authorities and increased rewards for the capture or conviction...

Jan 23 - U.S. President Donald Trump will speak remotely at the World Economic Online Forum on Thursday in Davos, Switzerland, and hold a discussion with magnate including Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan and Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman. The remarks, Trump's first significant speech to worldwide company and politicians, are scheduled for 11 a.m. Eastern time ( 1600 GMT), according to the meeting schedule. Other participants in what is billed as a subsequent discussion consist of TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne, WEF CEO Borge Brende and WEF creator Klaus Schwab. Magnate aspire to hear more about Trump's. concrete intend...

Mozambique's global bonds toppled previously today after a report that the new government in Maputo is weighing a financial obligation restructuring following months of postelection chaos. Below are a few of the issues dealing with the resource-rich southern African country of 35 million people. WHAT IS MOZAMBIQUE'S FINANCIAL OBLIGATION CIRCUMSTANCE? Concerns about federal government finances have actually been installing in current years due to an Islamist revolt in northern Mozambique that has actually postponed plans to establish substantial gas fields. Although Mozambique's public debt-to-GDP, was up to 93.7% in 2023 from 100.3% the previous year, it is categorized by the...

According to a document seen on Thursday, French prosecutors closed the case brought by Democratic Republic of Congo against Apple subsidiaries for using conflict minerals in their supply chain. In December, Apple's lawyers confirmed that the Congo had filed criminal complaints in France and Belgium against Apple subsidiaries. Apple strongly denied the allegations at the time and told its suppliers not to use minerals sourced from Congo or Rwanda. The Paris prosecutor's Office, in a document dated February 18 and seen by us, said that allegations of money laundering and deceptive practices were "not well-founded". It closed the case and...

Marc Ferracci, French Industry Minister, said that the European steel industry is in trouble and it's important to protect its ailing sector. The current safeguards on steel imports are not adequate and do not adapt to today's market. Ferracci said, "The European industry, and the steel sector, need protection. This means, in the short-term, strengthening safeguard measures," at an event for the European steel industry in Paris. He said that European steel plants would close if they did not take action to combat the heavily subsided imports from China, and the looming U.S. Tariffs. The European Commission is examining whether...

Data from the industry showed that new car sales in Europe fell by 2.1% in January, as an increase in registrations of fully electric and hybrid electric cars in its major markets did not compensate for falling sales of petrol and diesel, according to Tuesday's data. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association's (ACEA) data showed that overall sales in France and Italy were down compared to last year. Only Spain recorded an increase year-on year among the top-selling nations. Why it's important After discussions with automakers and other interest groups, the EU executive will announce its plans for the auto sector...

Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that the United States was close to a mineral deal with Ukraine. He and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the prospects of ending the Ukraine conflict despite their stark differences in how to proceed. In response to reporters' questions, Trump said that the much-anticipated revenue-sharing deal with Ukraine was "very close." He and Macron were meeting in the Oval Office. He suggested that he may meet Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to seal the deal later this week or in the next week. Zelenskiy may sign the agreement this week or next, according to Trump....

Rheinmetall, Europe’s leading ammunition manufacturer, plans to convert two of its German automotive plants to make primarily defence equipment. This will highlight the impact of a surge in expected spending in the area amid U.S. concerns over the Ukraine War. Last week, the EU's political leaders were gathered at the Munich Security Conference to discuss their own defence strategy. The defence expansion of Rheinmetall affects its Berlin and Neuss factories, where it currently manufactures automotive parts. This business has been challenged as German carmakers struggle with high costs and foreign competition. According to the plans that are still being finalised,...

Paulo Castellari, the next CEO of French mining company Eramet, was announced as its nominee on Thursday after Christel Bories decided to step down. Eramet announced that Castellari would assume the CEO role on May 27 following a vote during the annual shareholders meeting. Bories will continue to be the Group's chairwoman. Castellari, born in 1970, is a dual Brazilian-Italian citizen with over 30 years of experience in the mining and metals industries, as well as in fertilizers and energy in South and North America as well as Europe and Africa. He worked for Anglo American from 2003 until 2015,...

Christel Bories will step down as chief executive of French mining group Eramet in May while staying chairwoman, the company stated on Tuesday. Bories, CEO given that 2017, has supervised a shift in Eramet's. technique towards minerals utilized for electrical lorry batteries,. especially by establishing a lithium mine in Argentina that began. production at the end of in 2015. Eramet anticipates to reveal Bories' follower as CEO by the. end of the very first quarter, consequently separating the president. and chairperson roles, it stated in a statement. Eramet shares fell more than 2% in opening trade following. the statement. The...

New automobile sales in Europe were up by 0.9% in 2024, led by doubledigit development in hybrid vehicle registrations, which surpassed gas for a fourth consecutive month in December, market information revealed on Tuesday. Renault's market share in the continent overtook Stellantis' for the very first month because the Franco-Italian group was created in January 2021, information by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) revealed. WHY IT is necessary The European automobile market is undergoing a complex EV transition, as EV sales growth disappoints and carmakers oppose procedures to encourage consumers to abandon combustion engines, such as CO2 emission rules...

Societe Generale , France's thirdbiggest noted bank, is planning a. partial return to gold trading after quitting the bullion. market in 2019, two sources with knowledge of the matter told. Reuters. Societe Generale resigned as a market maker for gold at the. London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) in 2019 as it scaled down. non-prescription (OTC) commodities trading, where offers are done. bilaterally between banks and brokers. The bank prepares to focus on the trading of gold derivatives. just, the sources said, including that it has no strategies to work with a. large team or to end up being the LBMA...

Northvolt's. monetary collapse has actually not totally crushed Europe's dream of. establishing its own electric car batteries but satisfying it. is likely to require Chinese cash and knowledge. InoBat CEO Marian Bocek's Slovakian start-up had to work. hard to secure financing till China's fifth-largest battery maker. Gotion bought a 25% stake last year and formed a. joint endeavor with InoBat to construct European gigafactories. On Friday, InoBat revealed 100 million euros ($ 104 million). in Series C financing, taking its total raised to well over 400. million euros. Coming simply weeks after Northvolt's failure, the investment. shows European EV battery...

New cars and truck sales development in Europe turned unfavorable again in November, after showing a meagre development in October, weighed by sharp declines in France and Italy, and a. stagnancy in Germany, industry information revealed on Thursday. The downturn in electrical lorry (EV) sales was only partly. offset by the growth of hybrid-electric vehicle registrations, which. topped fuel for a third consecutive month, according to the. European Vehicle Manufacturers Association (ACEA). WHY IT'S IMPORTANT European automakers are battling with weak need, high. production expenses, and handling the shift to EVs, while attempting to. ward off competition from China. BY...

Stellantis will keep all of its Italian factories open and increase output from 2026 thanks to the launch of brand-new designs, it stated on Tuesday, as part of a handle the federal government targeted at revitalising Italy's. automotive industry. For its part, Industry Minister Adolfo Urso vowed the. federal government would spend more than 1 billion euros ($ 1.1 billion). next year to support Italy's vehicle supply chain. Rome does not intend to invest the state money to subsidise. the purchase of cars and trucks in 2025, as it did this year. Urso was hosting a meeting with representatives of....