France News

Euro Zone in Recession as World Leaders Head for Summit

Recession has struck much of Europe, data showed on Friday, confirming a widespread economic downturn that world leaders hope to tackle at a weekend summit in Washington. The worst financial crisis in 80 years has weakened the world’s major economies. …

Le Pere Sybille – a Memory of the Great War

For the first time in 90 years no surviving French soldier from the First World War participated in today’s memorial services. The last “Poilus,” as soldiers who fought in the war are known in France, died in April. Only five …

Dresdner Q3 Loss Hits Allianz Again

Allianz’s Dresdner Bank unit posted its biggest quarterly loss since the start of the financial crisis, the insurer said on Monday, pushing the group to a €2 billion ($2.58 billion) net loss. Allianz is selling Dresdner Bank, which had a …

World Leaders Urge Obama to Shape New Economic Order

Political leaders urged U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday to help forge a new economic order and lead the world out of its worst financial crisis since the 1930s. Excitement about the election of Democrat Obama as the first black …

Credit Crisis Hits Europe: Coface Lowers UK, Ireland, Iceland Ratings

Coface, the Paris-based business specialist, has issued a bulletin, which notes that the “credit crisis is spreading throughout Europe amid a deepening financial crisis, leading to a sudden squeeze in banking credit, plunging confidence levels, and a slowdown in activity.” …

Financial Crisis Dominates European Risk Manager Debates, Conference

One of Pat Oliphant’s more recent editorial cartoons shows presidential candidate John McCain held in the trunk of an enraged elephant labeled “The Economy.” “My friends,” says McCain to a bewildered Barack Obama and Sarah Palin, “kindly pay no attention …

Fitch: Insurers Face Mounting Pressure on Ratings Worldwide

Balance sheet pressures for insurance and reinsurance companies globally have become more severe as insurers experience greater unrealized market value losses, and take impairments, on their investment portfolios, says Fitch Ratings. As such, Fitch analysts expects a noteworthy ramp up …

Ratings: AMI, Cattolica, Seguros ING, BNY

A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to ‘A+’ (Superior) from ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating to “aa-” from “a+” of New Zealand’s AMI Insurance Limited. Best also revised the outlook for both ratings to stable …

French Finance Minister Calls Lehman Bankruptcy a Major Mistake

Allowing Lehman Brothers to fail last month was a major mistake for the equilibrium of the global financial system, French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said on Wednesday, adding that France would not abandon its lenders. Seeking again to reassure the …

Europe Strives to Combat Financial Crisis in Unison

European governments struggled on Monday to shelter banks and bank depositors from a global financial crisis that is eroding confidence, endangering the economy and challenging their ability to respond as one. Germany promised blanket deposit protection for bank savers, prompting …