Amid all the buzz about the rising clout of sovereign wealth funds (SWF) and their affinity for foreign assets, there is at least one country that isn’t ready to roll out the welcome mat: France.
    
France will take steps to help its firms defend themselves from sovereign wealth funds and private speculators, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Tuesday.

That’s a far cry from the policy of the USofA, which has so far allowed SWF’s to swoop in and bail out troubled financial firms with mega chunks of money.

Apparently, that’s not something France is prepared to invite.
    
“There is no question of France not acting … France will make the political and strategic choice to protect its companies, to give them the means to defend themselves and to develop,” Sarkozy told a news conference.
    
He said state bank Caisse des Depots would play a role in implementing this strategy. 
     
So it’s probably safe to assume that while SWF’s are interested in pulling in American/European talent, they’re not scouring the market for French speakers.

(Image credit: Reuters)