Parisians in Paris's financial district see prayer and buying of home safes
as 'solutions' during the global financial crisis.

PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 9, 2008) REUTERS -
The most serious financial crisis in decades has caused business
executives around the world to reign in their expectations for short- and
long-term growth and warn that business volatility will be around for some
time.
Traders and businessmen in various professions hit hard by the plunge
in global stock markets are turning to their faith as they endure the
difficult financial times.
In Paris' main business district, La Defense, executives and traders
attend a daily service during their lunch break to pray that markets will pull
out of their current panicked state.
"In 2001 we had the Internet economic crisis, now we have the
financial crisis so that allows us to slow down and get some perspective and
to start rebuild things in a good foundation. I think that spirituality can
bring that, to be extremely active in our professional lives while maintaining
our values so that we don't go to far," said Brice Le Deroff, an
executive at Axa Insurance.
"Indeed my faith gives me hope in all that I do. God is always
there if you call him and ask him for help. Of course, with a crisis of banks
like the current one human beings have to make an effort to find
solutions," added M. Reynaud, and executive at Total Oil company.
Some traders, who said the widening global crisis is constantly on
their minds, are also joined by their families at church in the business
district during their break.
Most said they were keeping a close eye on Washington, to see how the
700 billion U.S. dollar bailout package designed to halt the crisis would
work.
Meanwhile, a Paris shop that sells safes for individuals said sales had
risen nearly 40 percent since the start of the crisis.
"We see that since about three or four weeks, we've had a rise in
the sales to individuals. We can feel their fears because they no longer have
trust in their banks. They no longer trust their deposits in their banks. So
what has happened is that they are coming to our store. They are calling or
visiting our website. They want information about our products and they buy
the product that corresponds to the value of their possessions," said
Hugo Gervaise, a sales specialist at Solon, a store for safes.
Stock markets around the world continue to struggle due to concerns the
bailout will not be enough.