On April 18^th, the market interest rate for the French debt with a ten year maturity was 0.30%. Since the beginning of the month, it has fluctuated between 0.24% and 0.34% when the yearly inflation rate was above 1%. This exceptionally low level is the consequence, in presence of the slowing of European conjuncture and especially in Germany, of the European Central Bank decision to keep negative short-term interest rates at least until the end of the year and of the favorable appreciation by investors of the France solvability. The spread with the German bond for ...

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The French economy is doing a little better for two years. It was not very difficult after the near stagnation it has known between 2012 and 2016. But this improvement is not enough to cope with the several disequilibrium which affect it. Unemployment stays at a high level and growth prospects are not strong enough to siognificantly reduce it. High trade deficit is an exception in the eurozone where Germany, Nederland and Italy are accumulating surplus. This situation affects France image and so its influence in Europe. At last, the coming back under 3% of the public finance deficit these ...

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President Xi Jinping arrives in France Sunday. He is achieving a trip in Europe at a tense time due to Brexit uncertainties and to the trade negotiations with the U.S. It is his second visit, after the lavish reception given by François Hollande in 2014 at Versailles palace. His predecessor, President Hu Jintao came in 2004 and 2009. Each time reference is made to 1964, when France officially recognized of China. But that historical decision was harmed by the gaffe made by the French ambassador when he mentioned in that circumstance “France comes back into Asia”. Beijing didn ...

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