Stocks steadier as Trump rules out force to take Greenland

Stocks mostly steadied Wednesday as US President Donald Trump said in a much-anticipated speech at Davos that he would not use force to take control  of Greenland, though he did demand “immediate negotiations” to take control of the Danish arctic territory.Markets have tumbled this week after Trump threatened tariffs up to 25 percent on several European countries — including France, Germany, Britain and Denmark — in response to their opposition to his plans to take Greenland.But “investors found some relief after President Donald Trump’s speech at Davos was less confrontational than anticipated,” said Patrick Munnelly, strategist at Tickmill Group. “Trump assured that no military action would be taken in the Greenland dispute, calming market nerves.”In Europe, London and Paris closed marginally higher, while Frankfurt fell. In late morning trading in New York, the main Wall Street indexes were up less than one percent, though still well below last week’s levels. Trump’s threats have sparked warnings of retaliation at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, with European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen saying that the 27-nation bloc would be “unflinching” in its response.In his Davos speech, Trump touted the strength of the US economy and stressed what he said are the security imperatives for having control of Greenland.In Asian trading earlier Wednesday, Tokyo’s stock market fell, while Hong Kong and Shanghai rose. Netflix was down by more than 4 percent in New York despite strong earnings, as it gave only muted guidance for future growth.In company news, shares in British luxury fashion label Burberry jumped five percent in London after it posted a rise in sales as demand from China improved.In Paris, food group Danone slumped more than eight percent after one of its infant milk brands was recalled in Singapore.The dollar steadied after several downward sessions provoked by Trump’s tariff threats. “The fear narrative ran ahead of reality,” said Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management. “The idea of Europe dumping US assets en masse makes for a dramatic storyline, but it collapses under practical constraints. There are not enough deep alternative pools to absorb that kind of flow without severe dislocation.”  – Key figures at around 1645 GMT -New York – Dow: UP 0.8 percent at 48,864.95 pointsNew York – S&P 500 UP 0.6 percent at 6,837.51 New York – Nasdaq composite UP 0.5 percent at 23,064.68 London – FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 10,138.09 (close)Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.1 percent at 8,069.17 (close)Frankfurt – DAX: DOWN 0.6 percent at 24,560.98 (close)Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.4 percent at 52,774.64 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 0.4 percent at 26,585.06 (close)Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 4,116.94 (close)Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1707 from $1.1719 on TuesdayPound/dollar: UP at $1.3441 from $1.3433Dollar/yen: DOWN at 158.13 yen from 158.21 yenEuro/pound: DOWN at 87.16 pence from 87.23 penceWest Texas Intermediate: UP 0.1 percent at $60.46 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: UP 0.1 percent at $64.95 per barrel

Foot: le joueur du PSG Lucas Hernandez visé par une plainte pour traite d’êtres humains, enquête ouverte

Une enquête a été ouverte pour traite d’êtres humains et travail dissimulé après la plainte d’une famille colombienne, révélée par Paris-Match, contre le défenseur international du Paris-Saint-Germain, Lucas Hernandez, a indiqué mercredi le parquet de Versailles, sollicité par l’AFP.L’enquête a été confiée à la brigade de recherches de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, ajoute le ministère public.Dans un communiqué à l’AFP, le champion du monde français 2018 et son épouse, Victoria Triay, affirment de leur côté avoir été “manipulés” et n’avoir “jamais agi avec une intention malveillante ni dans le mépris de la loi”.”Ces personnes ont partagé notre vie avec respect et dignité”, indiquent encore Lucas Hernandez et Victoria Triay dans ce texte.L’international et son épouse, qui évoquent une “confiance trahie”, assurent au sujet de membres de cette famille les avoir “aidés, soutenus et crus” lorsqu’ils “nous ont assuré être en cours de régularisation de leur situation”.Ce père, cette mère et leurs trois enfants “se sont retrouvés à travailler pour un an dans cette famille, sans droits”, a pour sa part détaillé à l’AFP Me Lola Dubois, qui les défend. Ils travaillaient “entre 70 et 80 heures par semaine, sans congés payés, sans vacances, sans documents qui viendraient établir le droit des salariés”, pour un salaire d’environ 2.000 euros nets, détaille-t-elle encore.Ces conditions de travail, malgré des “avantages en nature” liés à la vie du joueur, combinées à la “vulnérabilité économique” de la famille, font que leur situation “s’apparente à une forme d’esclavage moderne”, a encore estimé l’avocate. Des contrats de travail ont bien été établis “un an après la prise de poste”, ajoute cette dernière, mais elle estime qu’ils l’ont été “pour donner l’impression d’une situation régulière”.”Cette affaire est désormais traitée par les voies juridiques appropriées, là où les faits (…) ont leur place”, concluent de leur côté le joueur et son épouse, appelant “à la décence, à la retenue et au respect”.

US hip-hop label Def Jam launches China division in Chengdu

Def Jam, the influential US record label, will launch a division in the “capital of Chinese hip-hop” Chengdu, its parent company Universal Music announced late Tuesday, in a vote of confidence for China’s music scene.The New York-based label worked on the first records of Public Enemy and Beastie Boys, as well as some albums from Jay-Z and Kanye West — all mainstays of American hip-hop.”China is one of the most important and dynamic music markets in the world today, with a new generation of artists shaping culture both locally and globally,” Adam Granite, executive vice president of market development at Universal Music, said in a statement. “Launching Def Jam Recordings China reflects our long-term commitment to this market and our belief that Chinese hip-hop has a powerful role to play in the global evolution of the genre.”Def Jam has also worked with African and European artists through its regional divisions. Chengdu is China’s fourth-largest city and the capital of southwestern Sichuan province, home to the country’s iconic giant pandas.Chengdu is “widely recognized for its vibrant music ecosystem and deep-rooted hip-hop culture,” Universal Music wrote in a press release. Higher Brothers, known for blending Mandarin and the local dialect, is one of the main hip-hop groups originating from the city. Def Jam will work with three acclaimed Chinese rappers — Xie Di, Yitai Wang and Deng Dianguo “DDG” — to help identify and mentor emerging artists.