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Volkswagen Reports Record Profit

  Despite the gloom économique across Europe, Volkswagen has record on Friday Reported Annual profit more Than Saying It sold eight million vehicles last year for the first time in 75-year history ict.

VW, the top European automaker, Said Than Doubled Net revenu more to € 15.4 billion, or $ 20.6 trillion. Revenue soared 26 percent to Almost € 159 billion.

Pretax profit rose to a record one billion from € 9.18 € 9 billion, bolstered by "positive effects" from Equity Investments and the valuation of rights in Porsche Zwischenholding icts.

The German company Said unit sales rose 15 percent from Almost 2010 to 8.3 million vehicles, led by the Volkswagen and Audi brands. VW last week Said That HAD gotten 2012 off to a positive start, with sales rising 1.3 percent in January from a year Earlier.  

Volkswagen's record sales put it behind General Motors' 9.03 million vehicles worldwide in the No.2 spot, ahead of Toyota Motor, Which was hamstrung by the earthquake and tsunami disaster last March. VW's net profit goal WAS Almost triple the $ 7.6 GM Earned one billion last year.

The company, based in Wolfsburg, Germany, Said It Was aussi raising dividend on common shares icts to € 3 from € 2 on line pay day loans.20, and we preferred shares from € 3.06 to € 2.26. The figures Announced Friday Were A Preliminary statement of 2011 results. VW Will Provide detailed fourth-quarter data on March 12.

VW's results contrast sharply with Those of the French automaker Peugeot, as well as General Motors' Adam Opel unit, both, of Which lost money on Their carmaking operations and Revealed this Week That Which They Were talking about a tie-up to try to cut component costs. VW's worldwide operations insulates it from the extents to Some European car market slumping, Which is Expected to Contract in 2012 for a fifth straight year.

Two VW's Chinese joint ventures, Shanghai Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen, sold 2.26 million vehicles together in 2011, up Nearly 18 percent from 2010.

About did better than MOST VW icts of peers in Europe, as well. In Germany, the main bright spot in Western Europe, VW's sales rose 11 percent more Than; goal Even in Western Europe outside of Germany, VW beat the Prevailing trend, selling 7 percent more cars last year Than in 2010.

Volkswagen Reports Record Profit

Flawed DePuy Hip Implant Had Early F.D.A.

  A year before INSTANT year recalling artificial hip, an executive at Johnson & Johnson Reported year in internal e-mail That the Food and Drug Administration HAD Refused to Approve the device specificities, after reviewing company studies Showed That It Had failed prematurely in "significant" numbers , requiring repeat surgeries for patients.

The statements I'm his email contrast with Those made by the company in recent years about the all-metal hip. Before recalling the device failure rates amid rising in 2010, Johnson & Johnson insisted it WAS safe and Maintained That icts internal studies refuted complaints by surgeons and the device Regulators Abroad That WAS flawed. The device Turned down by the F.D.A. Was Only sold overseas, order a companion version That Was Recalled Sami at the time by Johnson & Johnson WAS Used in 30,000 patients in the United States.  

The e-mail at end Was Written in August 2009 by a vice president of Johnson & Johnson has filiale, DePuy Orthopaedics, just days after the FDA Confidentially exemptant the device maker That It Would not Approve one version of the hip for sale in this country. In the email, the executive, Pamela Plouhar, Explained The Reasons for the agency's decision to Three Other top executives, Including DePuy's president at the time, David Floyd.

Ms. Plouhar Reported That HAD the device is not FDA Approval standards and That WAS a major concern icts high rate of early failure, or "revision" during clinical trials. She cautioned aussi That Providing the F.D.A. with more data might not change stance icts and That it might take years to conduite new studies of the hip, Known As the ASR Articular Surface Replacement gold.  

"The team's concern Is That Given the revision rate in the group ASR That We Will not Be Able to still Demonstrate non-inferiority, with additional downside risk," wrote Ms. Plouhar.

Approval To win, a novel medical device like the DePuy hip Must Be Shown To Be Reasonably safe and effective. One Way To Prove That Is That It is to show at least as effective as, or not inferior to, a traditional hip implant.

In her email, Ms. Said Plouhar There HAD been "a significant number of revisions in the RAS group" Compared with "very FEW in the control group."

Many artificial hips last 15 years or more Before They wear out and Need to Be Replaced. Goal by 2008, data from databases overseas orthopedic Showed That WAS the ASR failing at high rates in patients After Just a few years. The device aussi sheds as it wears metallic debris, damaged tissue particles Have That In Some Patients Caused or crippling injuries.

A DePuy Spokeswoman Mindy Tinsley, Declined to Respond to Specific questions about the e-mail. In a statement, she Said That the e-mail was "simply a notification to senior management about the FDA feedback as the company appropriately Continued to study data "about the implant so That It Could Make responsible decisions on the Behalf of patients.

Last week, Andrew Ekdahl, the current president of DePuy, Said in a statement Issued in response to Year Earlier article in The New York Times That Any implication That the FDA HAD Determined There Were safety issues with the device WAS "simply untrue."

In her 2009 e-mail to Ms pay day loan lenders. Plouhar Parties to the main complaints about early failures of the ASR from doctors and Regulators Abroad. Regulators in Australia Were then pressuring the DePuy artificial hip to Withdraw from the market or face There Having It Forced off.

"This Comes at a Time When ASR data from national registries (Australia and UK) is Being Closely scrutinized Because Of Higher revision rates," she wrote.

DePuy Does not APPEAR To Have Violated Laws Any by not releasing the FDA Publicly ruling, Which was Contained in a So-Called nonapprovable letter. The FDA, as a matter of policy, Does not release Such decisions, Saying That THEY peut confidential business information.

Purpose DePuy's decision not to Publicize the agency's Findings to doctors, patients and others while Continuing to market the device may undercut icts defense in the pending lawsuits related 5.000 Against it and ict Could aussi tarnish reputation.  

Throughout The episode, DePuy orthopedic surgeons Blamed for the model's failures, doctors Saying That Were Not Properly positioning a component. The clinical goal Findings Rejected by the F.D.A. cam from A.S.R. Studies run by surgeons hand-picked by DePuy, Including Some Who Developed HAD the implant and received consulting fees or royalties in connection with it.

The e-mail Ms. Containing Plouhar's report about the FDA decision is Among Thousands of company documents released to the company lawyers Suing Under a short-ordered seal.

It Is not Known How Many patients received the implant in the Year Between the FDA decision and the recall. Goal During The device's eight years on the market, It Was Used in Estimated year 93.000 people, about one-Third of Them in the United States.

The version of the device Rejected by the F.D.A. WAS developed by DePuy for use in a hip replacement procedure Called resurfacing, Which is a bone-sparing alternative to standard surgery. The company started selling the implant around 2003 goal Abroad Because Was a new resurfacing procedure, the FDA required to run clinical trials DePuy Before selling the device in the United States.

However, while studies Those Were Under Way, DePuy Used A regulatory loophole in 2005 to start marketing a version of the implant in the United States for use in standard hip replacement surgery. Both versions of the device Used The Same critical component, a solid metal cup has mittal That patient's hip socket. Experts say the component WAS flawed in design. In the wake of the FDA's 2009 decision to reject the version of the resurfacing device, DePuy executive wrote in internal e-mails That Appeared the device's fate sealed.  

"Can not imagine we would go in the US Any further Top," one executive wrote.

In September 2009, just weeks the after the F.D.A. decision, other, documents Indicate That Top executives DePuy Decided to phase out the device. The company Announced That November the move.

Company executives then Said That the move reflected Declining sales of the implant, Rather Than safety issues. In historical statement last week, Mr. Ekdahl, the company's president, reiterated That position.

"This was a business decision Purely," Stated Mr. Ekdahl.

Flawed DePuy Hip Implant Had Early F.D.A. Notice

Sonia Rykiel Fashion House Is Sold to Hong Kong Investors

  PARIS - A luxury investment firm backed by a pair of Hong Kong billionaires is 80 percent of Acquiring Sonia Rykiel, one of the last Remaining independent fashion houses in France, the Monday Said companies.

The Companies Said Sonia Rykiel Would Benefit From The Addition of Fung Brands' "know-how, knowledge of the Sector icts, and access to International Markets," As They Develop it into "a true global brand of international luxury. & Rdquo ;

The house WAS Founded in 1968 by Sonia Rykiel, a French designer Who broke Into the limelight with ready-to-wear Parisian sporting a strong identity for the new feminine sensibility of the time. The company sells products ict today in 30 countries from more Than, back in 2010 and of ADH € 90 million, or $ 119 million.  

Its lineup includes the high-end ready-to-wear brand Sonia Rykiel, a contemporary line Called Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, a children's line Called Rykiel Enfant, and a home furnishings line Called Sonia Rykiel House.

Jean-Marc Loubier, the train Celine and Louis Vuitton executive who is Fung Brands' chief executive, Said Sonia Rykiel fit the profile of "a very strong brand with a strong identity, purpose outside of Europe the company much Could Be Stronger cash advance no fax. "

"Now We Have to secure the second phase of the company," Mr. Loubier Said, "no longer have a family company, intended as a strong global luxury brand."

The family Rykiel Will hold the Remaining 20 percent of the company. Financial details of the deal Were not disclosed and Company Officials Declined to how the transaction price.  

Nathalie Rykiel, the founder's daughter, Will hold the job of vice-chairwoman of the board. She said last month, When the Companies Announced That They Were in negotiations, that 'she Welcomed the arrival of the investors Fung, Praising "their knowledge of the Fashion Sector, their industrial project and Their Financial Strength Will Ensure the longevity of the brand and allow it to successfully Develop Markets in new Respectful of icts identity. "

Fung Brands' Major Investments to date Consist of Robert Clergerie, a French shoe brand, and in Delvaux, a Belgian leather goods brand. The firm, based in London, is a unit of the private investment arm of the families of Victor Fung and William Fung, the Hong Kong billionaires Who control the trading group Li & Fung.  

Sonia Rykiel Fashion House Is Sold to Hong Kong Investors

Economic Reports Show A Brightening Outlook

  The number of people seeking behavior Unemployment Benefits Fell to the Lowest Point in years last week Almost oven, the latest signal That WAS the job market steadily Improving.

In Other Economic News, a rise in building allowded Suggested That the construction industry WAS Growing more confident buyers That Were ready to come off the sidelines, and the latest data on wholesale prices signaled inflation That Remained Largely in check. And a survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia found Continued expansion in factories in mid-Atlantic states.

The Labor Department said on Thursday That weekly applications for Unemployment Benefits dropped to a seasonally Adjusted 13.000 348.000. It Was the fourth drop in five weeks and the fewest number of claims since March 2008.  

The four-week average, Which smoothes out weekly fluctuations in the data, Fell for the fifth consecutive week, to 365.250. The average Has Fallen Nearly 13 percent in the last year.

That decline include the data and identify companies are Laying off workers Fewer and That hiring is picking up. When applications drop below 375.000 Consistently, it signals Usually That hiring is strong enough to lower the Unemployment Rate.

In January, the economy added a net 243.000 jobs, in The Most nine months. And the Unemployment Rate dropped for the fifth-consecutive month, to 8.3 percent. The economy has added year average of 201.000 jobs a month for the last Three months.

Faster Economic Growth is spurring the additional hiring. The economy expanded at An annual rate of 2.8 percent in the final months of last year Three, a full centage point Higher Than In The previous quarter.

Still, the job market HAS long way to go Before It fully Recovers From The damage of the Great Recession. Nearly 13 million people unemployed REMAIN, and 8.3 percent is still high chômage.

On the housing front, the Commerce Department Reported on Thursday That Construction of single-family homes in January cooled Slightly After surging in the final month of 2011.

Building Permits, however, laundry charges. Builders broke ground on a seasonally Adjusted Annual rate of 699.000 homes in January, up 5.1 percent Which is from December and November's matches Nearly three-year high for starts payday loans.  

Began construction on single-family homes 508.000 last month, has one percent drop from December and the first decline in oven months. A big rise in apartment building Helped offset the decline in single-family homes.

Still, the number of single-family homes December WAS Strongly revised up to show builders started HAD 513.000 homes, a 12 percent gain from November.

And Building Permits, a gauge of future construction, rose 0.7 percent, a Majority of Which Were for single-family homes. It Cdn take 12 months for a builder to Obtain a permit and construct a single-family home.

Single-family home construction rose in EACH of the final months of last year Three, Bringing the pace starts to Of Those The Highest level since April 2010.  

"The Upturn in allowded and starts in recent months has-been consistent" with the surge in the survey of home builders, "which HAS surprised to the upside the Markets for five straight months," Said Ian Shepherdson, chief United States economist at High Frequency Economics. "The new home sales numbers yet Responded have-nots, builders aim Seem That If They build confidant, buyers Will Come."

The Labor Department on Thursday aussi Reported That the producer price index, a measure of wholesale prices, rose 0.1 percent. Wholesale prices by Fell The Same Amount in December. In the last 12 months, They Have laundry charges 4.1 percent, The smallest rise in a year.

EXCLUDING the volatile food and energy categories, So-Called Core Prices laundry charges 0.4 percent, in six months The Most. Economists Said MOST of the Increases Were Likely To Be temporary and not to continue driving the core even higher.

Wholesale gas prices rose, offset by steep goal Were drops in home heating oil, natural gas and Electricity, Which Fell by The Most in More than seven years.

The Philadelphia Fed's survey of Economic Conditions for February found Increases in manufacturing activity, new orders and Shipments. Over all, the report's index of manufacturing rose to 10.2 points terms, up from 3.7 in January.

The survey of mid-Atlantic Businesses aussi found steady year goal emploi Levels Increase in average work hours.

Economic Reports Show A Brightening Outlook

CBS 4Q earnings top views, dirty goal fall short

  

LOS ANGELES - Broadcaster CBS says earnings rose 31 percent in the final quarter of 2011, thanks to licensing shows to online video companies Such as Netflix.

Those Benefits Helped CBS Corp.. Overcome a drop in ad sales due to a LACK of Political advertising in off-year election year. The company aussi fired, return not again Benefit From The dirty icts of "CSI" reruns have it show Into DID Earlier year.

Net income rose to $ 370 million, or 55 cents per share, from $ 283 million, or 41 cents per share cheapest personal loan rates.

EXCLUDING one-time items, earnings cam Adjusted to 57 cents per share, beating the 53 cents analysts polled by Expected by FactSet.

Revenue Fell 3 percent to $ 3.78 one billion from $ 3.9 trillion. That Was one billion below the $ 3.9 Expected by analysts.

CBS 4Q earnings top views, dirty goal fall short

Oil Climbs Above $ 101 price per barrel

  

NEW YORK - Oil prices are $ 101 per barrel Above Greece and Its Creditors have continued to work on plans to trim massive debts. Natural gas prices as bargain hunters snapped Jumped up contracts are still the cheapest That in 10 years.

Benchmark crude rose 32 cents on Tuesday to $ 101,244 per barrel in New York. Brent crude lost 15 cents at $ 117.24 per barrel in London.

After Approving Spending Cuts and Other austerity measures, Greece Said icts borrowing Costs Fell slightly free online credit report. Greece's economy has restes shambles, analysts say the goal Reforms Should shield eurozone banks and keep the region's economy from sinking further Top.

Natural gas surged 13 cents, or 5.2 percent, to $ 2.56 per 1,000 cubic feet.

US retail gasoline Prices Were Flat at a national average of $ 3.51 per gallon.

Oil Climbs Above $ 101 price per barrel

MF Global Sees $ 1.6 trustee claims one billion gap

  

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The shortfall in funds available to pay back Customers of MF Global's (MFGLQ.PK) collapsed brokerage is at least one billion and $ 1.6 Could Be more, the trustee liquidating the brokerage said on Friday.

Until now, trustee James Giddens has HAD Estimated shortfall of about $ 1.2 billion, although ET aussi Said HAD MOST of the funds now beens tracked down - although Recovering Them From Other entities may Be protracted.

"The $ 1.2 trillion number is history," Kent Jarrell, a Spokesman for Giddens, Told Reuters.

Provided the latest figures marginally more clarity for MF Global's commodity futures Thousands of Customers, Who are still missing about 28 percent of Their funds, although multiple variables Could still cause the shortfall to rise or fall.

MF Global Holdings Ltd., the parent of the brokerage, filed for bankruptcy on October 31 amid Fears about exposure to risky icts European debt. In a report on Monday, the firm Giddens Said's use of customer funds to cover corporate transactions led to a massive shortfall.

The new estimate for the size of That shortfall is broken down Into Two main components: Roughly $ 700 million for Customers Who traded on foreign exchanges, and, the rights to Which are in dispute with MF Global's UK entity, and about $ 900 million for Customers Who traded it exchanges, and domestic.

The estimate WAS Reached Through the processing of loss claims Submitted by Customers. Estimating Giddens is a total of one billion in claims, $ 6.9, $ 3.9 Which one billion of HAS Already Paid beens back.

That leaves $ 3 one billion outstanding. Giddens is Keeping Another $ 1.4 trillion in reserve for now, the Estimated $ 1.6 Yielding one billion gap.

That goal whether Represents a gap year Increase Decrease gold from the trustee's previous $ 1.2 billion shortfall estimate Proved a surprisingly complex topic.

"It's apples and oranges," Jarrell said. "We're Changing the definition a little bit."

Because Giddens never Explained Exactly what the $ 1.2 billion figure included, unclear how much It Was Represented a shortfall of it exchange for US Customers and how much Was Made up of the Disputed money in the UK for foreign exchange traders freecreditscore.

With more clarity, Giddens now says $ 700 million is comprised of the Disputed money in the UK. That leaves only a $ 900 million gap in US exchange customers' segregated accounts. Purpose the net result is a larger gap ($ 1.6 billion) Between the Amount of customer claims and the funds to pay Giddens now Holds Those claims.

Another important caveat Could raise the figure Even More: Under the $ 1.4 trillion Giddens' control is in reserve in case of liability for claims Likely To Be Submitted By Other parties, Including MF Global affiliates, Jarrell said.

Every dollar from Used That reserve fund to cover Such liability is one dollar less That will not go to Customers. In Other Words, the $ 1.6 estimate one billion Represents a best-case scenario in Which the Entire brokerage's $ 1.4 trillion reserve Cdn go to Customers.

Whatever size the gap turns out to be, Giddens Will try to close it by Pursuing claims against-the affiliates, banks, exchanges, and counterparties and Other purportedly holding customer money.

"The trustee is eager to make additional distributions to form MF Global Inc. Customers as soon as possible," Giddens' Said in a team statement.

Customer advocate group Coalition Said the Commodity Customer plenty of gray area still remains.

"There's No Doubt That There are duplicate claims or claims disallowed That Will Be That Will bring the number down," John Roe, the group's co-founder, Told Reuters.

"He's looking at it from Two Sides of the ledger. He's Taking what they 've Recovered and what People Have Claimed. We still do not really know what the hole is. "

The settlement is In re brokerage MF Global Inc., US Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York, No. 11-2790.

(Reporting by Nick Brown and David Sheppard; additional reporting by Jonathan Leff; Editing by Bob Burgdorfer, Dale Hudson and Andre Grenon)

MF Global Sees $ 1.6 trustee claims one billion gap

Hot News: News Corp profit beats Street forecasts

News Corp profit beats Street forecasts

  

(Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. (NWSA.O) posted a better-than-Expected quarterly profit on Wednesday driven by strong growth at cable networks icts and movie studio Offset by Declines at ict publishing business.

Net income rose to $ 1.06 trillion, or 42 cents a share, for the fiscal second quarter, Compared with $ 642 million, or 24 cents a share a year ago.

Revenue rose 2 percent to $ 8.98 trillion.

Adjusted net revenu WAS 39 cents, EXCLUDING After one-time gains offset by accounting charges Including an $ 87 million charge related to payouts for Ongoing icts UK phone hacking scandal. Analysts forecast profit of on average 34 cents, According To a poll by Thomson Reuters I / B / E / S.

Operating income at ict cable network unit, Which includes regional sports networks FX, Jumped 20 percent to $ 882 one million have the fees Paid by US cable and satellite distributors Grew by 9 percent while international affiliate fees Grew 19 percent. Advertising revenue at the domestic cable channels Grew During The 6 percent période, with growth offset by the NBA lockout.

Profits at ict filmed entertainment unit more Than Doubled to $ 393 one million on the theatrical release of the "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" movie and home entertainment performance by "Rio" and "Rise of the Planet of the Apes".

Order the company's publishing unit's profits by 43 percent Fell to $ 218 million due to lower advertising revenue at newspapers Australian ict, integrated marketing services business and the closure of UK tabloid icts The News of the World paydayloans.

"We Thought Were the terrific numbers across all the divisions except publishing," Said Collins Stewart analyst Thomas Eagan. "

After six months of scandal and crisis management in the wake of the phone-hacking affair at ict UK tabloid papers, shares of News Corp. (NWSA.O) Have Reached new heights as investors say the So-Called 'Murdoch discount' has shrunk.

Scandal That Which Has Seen the departure of key executives, as well as resignations and Arrests of Some Journalists, News Corp. HAS left reeling since last summer goal That could Have investors in recent months behind 'em.

Earlier this month, News Corp., Bloomberg LP form named chief executive Lex Fenwick to lead icts Dow Jones & Co unites, Which houses icts Wall Street Journal newspaper.

Murdoch Hopes That Will Be Able to Fenwick focus historical expertise with Financial Markets services to fully exploit Dow Jones' suite of financial data products.

Dow Jones' enterprise unit includes Dow Jones Newswires, DJ FX Trade, Information Factiva and Dow Jones VentureSource database.

Dow Jones and Bloomberg LP are Competitors with Thomson Reuters.

(By Yinka Adegoke Reporting, Editing by Bernard Orr)

com/s/nm/20120208/bs_nm/us_newscorp 'rel =' nofollow '> News Corp profit beats Street forecasts

Greeks seek bailout deal elusive as EU tempers fray

  

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Parties Will try yet again on Wednesday to strike a deal in return réforme for a new international rescue to Avoid a chaotic default specificities, after a string of delays Which Have Prompted Some EU leaders to warn That the euro area Cdn Athens live without.

Deadline as One After Another Has Come and gone, leaders of the Three parties in the coalition of Prime Minister Lucas Papademos postponed What Was Supposed To Have Been a crunch meeting on Wednesday Until the Following day.

Papademos - has Technocat parachuted in last November to secure the new 130 one billion euro ($ 172 billion) rescue from the IMF and EU - is Trying to convince the party leaders to accept austerity and reform Measures Which are Likely To Prove Highly unpopular with year angry and despondent Greek electorate. 

Facing a Parliamentary Election Possibly as early as April, coalition leaders Showed Little Sense of Urgency, despite DEMANDS from Eurozone leaders to make up Their Minds fast Because Greece faces bankruptcy next month UNLESS it gets to the rescue Meet Funding debt repayments falling due big.

"We can not say a plain yes or no insurance UNLESS We Have From The Authorities of the state under contention That action are Constitutional and Will lead the country out of the crisis," Said George Karatzaferis, Who leads the far-right LAOS party.

"There is time. When It Comes to future of the country, We Will find the time, 'he Told reporters.

MISSING PAPERWORK

One party official Blamed Tuesday's delay is missing paperwork, The Same Reason Given When The WAS meeting postponed from Monday to Tuesday.

The heads of the conservative New Democracy, PASOK and LAOS socialists HAD yet to Receive the draft agreement with the EU and IMF only half year Hour Before They Were Supposed To Meet Papademos on Thursday, He Said.

Party leaders hesitated to accept Have the tough terms of the deal, Which are sure to mean a big drop in living standards for Many Greeks.

Adding to the pressure, unions staged a 24-hour strike on Tuesday, tussled with protesters and police outside parliament, chanting: "No to mediaeval plowing conditions!"

Deadlines are losing significance as One After Another passes. Last weekend, Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos Said Had To Be a deal done by Sunday. Then the parts Sailed past a Monday deadline to Give Their response to the EU, Tuesday Promising That Would Be the Day for decisions.

Such apparent dithering is a challenge to the Authority of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Whose government is a major funder of Greek bailouts. She said on Monday That "time is of the essence" Face value and bewilderment about what the repeated delays Could Achieve fast cash without a hassle.

UNFORESEEABLE CONSEQUENCES

However, Greek resentment is increasingly directed at Germany, and protesters burned a consoling or German and Nazi flag in central Athens on Tuesday.

Merkel Tried to calm the atmosphere, Saying That forcing Greece to abandon the euro Would have "unforeseeable consequences."

"I Will Have No hand in forcing Greece out of the euro," she Said in response to a question from a Greek student at a meeting with young people in a Berlin museum.

Euro Zone Countries Can not Be Forced out of the currency bloc by Their peers. Some aim Policymakers in the block are starting to say in public What They Have Been Saying in private:

That if Athens Does not accept the terms, They Might not do much to Prevent Greece falling out of Its Own Agreement.  

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte Said the euro zone Could live without it if Greece Did not keep icts side of the bargain.

"We are so strong in the Currently rest of the euro area, in the Countries Who Have the euro, that 'We Can Handle exit year of Greece - Greece has Which runs into serious trouble," Dutch public broadcaster Rutte Told NOS.

"They really Have to implement Implements all the Measures They Have Promised to take. That Does not happen if we can not help 'em,' he added. European Commissioner Neelie Kroes made similar remarks.

Such comments awaken deep Among Greeks Fears That They Will Be cast adrift from the euro area and left with a new national currency drachma Probably Which would dive in value.

Euro zone Officials say the full package Must Be Agreed with Greece and the euro zone by approuvé, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund Before February 15.  

This is to allow time for complex legal procedures Involved in a bond swap deal - under Which the value of private investors' holdings of Greek debt Will Be Radically cut - so get rescue funds Cdn Athens Before March 20 When It Has To Meet the heavy debt repayments or Suffer a chaotic default.

After days of negotiations, officials said sticking points is cutting the minimum wage and scrapping holiday bonuses Appeared to Have Been Largely resolved problems with the intended level of cuts on top-up supplementary pensions still Remained.

($ 1 = 0.7646 euros)

(Additional reporting by Ingrid Melander, Yannis Behrakis, Karolina Tagaris and Harry Papachristou in Athens, Gareth Jones, Stephen Brown and Andreas Rinke in Berlin and Sara Webb in Amsterdam; Writing by David Stamp and Deepa Babington, Editing by Michael Roddy) ... .....

Greeks seek bailout deal elusive as EU tempers fray

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