Archive for the ‘business’ Category

BlackBerry accumulated failures

October 12, 2011 - 4:28 pm Comments Off

Second failure in two days for users of BlackBerry. Just hours after suffering a first stop on its servers Monday, the Canadian was again faced with a similar problem yesterday. Virtually all countries are affected. Consequence: the sending or receiving mail on BlackBerry were disrupted and access to the Internet. The explanations provided by the group are at least succinct: "We are working to restore service and apologize for the inconvenience." The breakdown would originate from a server malfunctions in Europe, according to sources.

These blackouts are more embarrassing for BlackBerry, which had the reliability of its services is signed. Aimed primarily at business users, the brand can not afford such failures.Especially since it is increasingly challenged, including the professional market, including smartphones from Apple and Samsung faxless cash advance.

Rumors of sale to Vodafone and Microsoft

In addition, these incidents are still undermining the leadership of the group which faces a shareholder revolt led by investment funds. They call for a change of management or the sale of the company. Since the beginning of the week, rumors have multiplied. The Wall Street Journal referred to a sale of the Vodafone brand. Others imagine a takeover by Microsoft, but it already has a partnership with Nokia.

These rumors have helped support the stock price. On Wall Street, on Tuesday, shortly after 20 hours (French time), the action Research in Motion (the maker of BlackBerry) was the same upward trend, gaining 3.63% to 24.07 dollars.

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Nobel: Beijing takes it out on Norwegian salmon

October 8, 2011 - 8:52 pm Comments Off

The award, last year's Nobel Peace jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was an unexpected victim: salmon from Norway, host of the committee awarding the famous distinctions.

Furious at the sudden media exposure of Liu – they consider a "criminal" – Chinese authorities have in fact increased the veterinary strengthened against Norwegian salmon. The AFP ensures that the health tests are so extensive that these fish end up rotting in warehouses.

Result, exports of Norwegian salmon in China have fallen by half during the first eight months of 2011, Oslo hoped an increase of at least 30%. Three figures sum up the confusion of Scandinavian fishermen. December 2010, the date of the ceremony: 1000 tons sold. January 2011: 315 tonnes. February 2011, 75 tonnes.Norwegian exporters have tried to go through Hong Kong, but this shortcut stale quickly resulted in an impasse.

The operation antisaumon is very symbolic, since the other Chinese imports from Norway were up by 16% because of higher commodity prices. It is true that to meet their urgent needs of the Chinese energy resources are much less fussy.

Banks are once again back the CAC 40

October 4, 2011 - 4:44 am Comments Off

The atmosphere is dull on the Bourse de Paris. The CAC 40 has started the last quarter of 2011 in very bad auspices. It lost 1.85% to 2926.83 points in trading volume reduced by about 2.5 billion euros. In the third quarter, the index in Paris had already sold nearly a quarter of its value. Since the beginning of the year, the CAC 40 listed companies have fallen dramatically. Some of them are worth less than their enBourse assets.

The debt crisis in Europe and fears of more and more vivid on the strength of global growth continue to weigh on equity markets. Elsewhere in Europe, London has also fallen by 1.03% and 2.28% in Frankfurt.

Wall Street also continued to brood despite two indicators of good quality. The ISM manufacturing index rose unexpectedly in September and construction spending rebounded in August.Sitting in the Dow retreated, however, and the Nasdaq 0.81% from 0.66%.

Greece shower markets

Greece literally showered the markets by announcing Sunday night that it would lack its budget deficit targets. The news comes particularly ill at a time when the country is in discussions with the Troika of its creditors, which brings together the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund – and while the finance ministers of the euro area meet Tuesday in Luxembourg and those of the entire European Union, in order to advance the implementation of secondary debt to Greece business cards.

Athens puts out all the stops, however, multiplying the austerity measures to obtain payment by October 8 billion euros in loans promised in the first part of its rescue plan.Without this money, Greece may be in default in the coming weeks.

Banks are feeling the pinch

Brunt of fears in the eurozone, banking stocks always accused the coup, like BNP Paribas (-4.64% to 28.65 euros), Credit Agricole (-3.84% to 5.03 euros) and Society General (-5.15% to 18.97 euros). For its part, Dexia plunged nearly 9%. Moody's threatened to degrade the Franco-Belgian bank. The rating agency is concerned mainly financing conditions of the group in a very difficult market environment, in turmoil for French banks.

Cyclical stocks were affected by their side signs of slowing global economic growth. Technip has lost 6.39%, 2.37% and STMicroelectronics Schneider Electric 2.76%.Even the titles of the car manufacturers have suffered while registrations leveled off in September. Renault finished on down 2.93%, 3.97% of Michelin and Peugeot SA dropped to 2.10%.

Alcatel Lucent (-11.61%) registered the largest decline in the CAC 40, Nomura has damaged the entire industry.

Paris sailing around the equilibrium

September 29, 2011 - 5:32 am Comments Off

The Paris Bourse, after changing course several times in the morning, remains close to balance mid-term. The CAC 40 in advance symbolically from 0.38% to 3034.20 points. The day before, was awarded the CAC 40 5.74% to close at 3023.38 points. Same trend in Frankfurt the Dax gleans 0.32% and the FTSE in London ahead of 0.18%. Fears about the strength of global growth are making a comeback. Economist Nouriel Roubini known to have foreseen the financial crisis of 2008 before anyone else, believes that the United States and most advanced economies are already in recession.

The Paris Bourse keep their eyes on the crisis in public finances in Europe and particularly Greece. For several days, investors expect tough decisions to stem the debt crisis in the eurozone.Europeans should take measures to stabilize Greece and the banking sector. Strengthening the emergency fund indebted countries (EFSF) was particularly mentioned. Donors of the "troika" must return to the country Thursday confirmed aa the European union. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday await the outcome of the audit of the troika on the financial situation of Greece, to determine whether or not to renegotiate the terms of the second aid plan in the country decided July 21 .

Meanwhile in Europe, the rigor needed everywhere. After Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Italy, it was the turn of France to deliver a message of rigor.The government will finalize a 2012 budget of rigor at 17:00 with a public debt of 87% in 2012 and a tax ratio that exceeds the 44% of GDP next year, against 42.9% in 2011.

The numbers of zero growth (0.0%) in the second quarter were confirmed by INSEE on Wednesday morning. Other macroeconomic indicators are expected across the Atlantic: orders for durable goods in August, the United States will be published at 14.30 and the weekly crude oil inventories at 16:30.

As for the oil markets, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for November delivery lost 1.25 dollars to 83.20 dollars in the morning. A barrel of Brent North Sea crude for November delivery gave 96 cents to 106.18 dollars.The previous day, oil had spread over 4 dollars in New York.

The bank to follow

Among the values ​​to be followed, the bank, which had literally flown Tuesday, evolve piecemeal. BNP Paribas advance of 3.59% to 31.13 euros.

Societe Generale (-0.02% to 20.50 euros) also seeks to sell its stake in Newedge, a subsidiary jointly owned with derivatives Crédit Agricole (0.91 to 5.23 euros), as part of its plan to sell non-strategic assets, according to Reuters.

Green Bank is expected to announce a sale of assets today, reports the Financial Times. Following the example of BNP Paribas and Societe Generale, Credit Agricole and wants to improve its solvency ratios.The amount of the sale, however, was not known by the British newspaper.

The Franco-Belgian bank Dexia (0.33% to 1.51 euros) examine options to strengthen its balance sheet but excludes any split in the group, said Tuesday its chairman at the end of a board whose held fueled much speculation.

Neopost (-2.34% to 56.36 euros) on Tuesday announced an increase of 2.7% of its turnover in the first half (+5.9% excluding currency effects).The solutions specialist courier has confirmed its forecast 2011 and launched a plan to optimize its structures in the United States and Europe which should generate annual savings of about 7 to 8 million euros in 2013 .

Renault (-1.83% to 25.79 euros): According to a source close to the deal quoted by Reuters, its partner Nissan will invest $ 1.5 billion (1.1 billion) in building a factory in Brazil, capable of producing electric cars.

Alten (-3.79% to 21.55 euros) back fortementmalgré the publication of a net income up sharply in the first six months of the year (+26% to EUR 31.9 million) and perspectives optimistic about the rest of 2011.According to analysts of Gilbert Dupont, "the key issue now is the level of activity in 2012," for which the markets seem pessimistic

Goldman Sachs lowered its recommendation to "neutral" to "sell" and target price of 40 euros to 26 euros previously Peugeot (-1.06% to 16.74 euros).

Goldman Sachs has increased its share in Eurotunnel (0.98% to 6.48 euros), crossing the 25% threshold of voting rights, according to an opinion of the AMF, on Wednesday.

Sanofi (1.43% to 50.23 euros) has successfully placed a bond issue of one billion dollars (0.73 billion) maturing in 2014, with a coupon of 1.20%. The title Sanofi rose 0.73% to 49.88 euros.

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The world at the bedside of the euro

September 14, 2011 - 1:56 pm Comments Off

While Europeans are struggling to develop a common strategy of leaving the euro crisis, several major powers, anxious, just lend a hand to the old continent. The U.S. treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, will participate Friday and Saturday at a meeting of finance ministers of euro zone countries to be held in Poland. This is the first time a foreign official is invited to a meeting of the Eurogroup.

Officially, "the presence of a representative of the American administration will be part of the transatlantic dialogue on the current macroeconomic and financial issues," said the Polish Presidency in a statement. But in fact, Americans doubt the ability of Europeans to find a solution and Timothy Geithner should urge his counterparts to intensify efforts to resolve the crisis of the euro, says Bloomberg.One analyst told the agency "the Americans were anxious quietly and discreetly present, they become intensely anxious and present."

In the wake of rumors about a possible support from China to Italy, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told him at the opening of Summer Davos Forum, held for three days in Tianjin, China that his country "will continue to increase its investments in Europe Internet Payday loans." The prime minister said he was confident "China believes that the European economy can rebound." But Wen Jiabao said, "I hope that EU leaders consider their relationship with courage to China a strategic point of view." China wants to be granted market economy status from the European Union, which considers that the conditions are not yet in place.

China is not the only emerging economy to say ready to support the European Union.In fact, the five major emerging economies, BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), will discuss next week the opportunity to help the Union européenne.Ils could include increasing their holdings of bonds denominated in euros.

And Europe itself is mobilized. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel should discuss the situation of the country on a conference call scheduled for late afternoon.

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New black day for the ACC losing more than 4.7%

September 5, 2011 - 9:24 pm Comments Off

The CAC 40 plunges into the red Monday. The benchmark index of the Paris Stock Exchange, which closed Friday on the day of a severe fall of 3.6%, falling more than 4.73% to close below 3000 points to 2999.54 points, after a opened down 2.41% to 3072.51 points. The movement is the same in the rest of Europe in London, the FTSE-100 index lost 3.58%, in Frankfurt the Dax was down 3.94%. Madrid and Milan unleash respectively 3.38% and 3.97%.

The health of European banks up to the center of attention. The President of the French Banking Federation (FBF), François Perol, recognizes this Monday, in an interview with Les Echos, that if "bank liquidity in euro is not a problem," "the dollar is more refinancing tense. "Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, in turn repeats, in an interview published Monday in Germany, criticized the request of a European bank recapitalization. "We think in general it is necessary to recapitalize European banks so that they are strong enough to withstand the risks associated with the debt crisis and low growth," she told the weekly Der Spiegel.

The chief executive of Deutsche Bank, Josef Ackermann, in turn, poured oil on the fire by saying that some European banks would not survive if they were to reassess the sovereign debt of their accounts at market price.Recapitalization forced the European banking sector could in turn send the wrong signal to markets, in this case the loss of faith on the part of authorities in the ability of measures to succeed, however, said Josef Ackermann .

Societe Generale lost 8.75% to 20.25 euros (largest decrease in the ACC). The bank is also penalized by the U.S. federal agency oversight of mortgage that has filed a complaint Friday against 17 major international financial institutions which include the French bank, for a total loss of $ 41 billion in bonds linked to subprime .

In its wake, BNP Paribas lost 7.33% to 30.97 euros, Crédit Agricole 6.22% to 5.80 euros and 4.85% at Axa 10.01 euros. Natixis lost 5.05% to 2.57 euros.The aerospace equipment Safran (-2.78% to 26.25 euros) will make its entry into the CAC 40 index, while the bank Natixis is about to leave, said Friday the Scientific Council of the indices of NYSE Euronext. The changes take effect Sept. 19.

Bad signals on growth

In addition to banking problems, the first global economy has fueled fears of a global slowdown by announcing Friday it had no jobs created in August. Following this announcement, Wall Street closed on a sharp drop of more than 2%. U.S. markets will do on Monday with European stock any procedure they will remain closed for Labor Day (Labor Day observed every first Monday of September)."Wall Street remains closed doors, it seems unlikely that operators take the slightest risk," said Chris Weston, an analyst at IG Markets.

In China, HSBC index of purchasing managers in the Chinese sector services slowed to an unprecedented low in August. Seasonally adjusted and calculated by the Institute Markit, it fell to 50.6 after 53.5 in July

No other indicator may move the indices are expected on Monday. One highlight of the week will be the release of the Beige Book Fed on Wednesday night, which will be the summary of economic conditions in regions in the United States payday loans direct lenders.

No recession expected in Europe

The side of the euro area, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, has tried to reassure investors.Traveling in Australia, he said that the European economy would experience in the coming months a "moderate growth" without going into recession. "We do not anticipate a recession in Europe. The latest forecasts from the European Commission show that the growth will be at the meeting, although this growth will be moderate, it is true, "he said in Sydney.

Markit, the company that carries out the PMI, however, said on Monday that growth in private activity in the euro area slowed more than expected in August, falling to its lowest level in two years, reinforcing fears of a return to recession by the end of 2011. The composite index, which summarizes the activity in the service sector and manufacturing fell to 50.7 points against 51.1 points in July, according to a second estimate.

For his part, Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank said it is "imperative" to implement the decisions taken by Heads of State and Government of the euro zone in July to resolve the debt crisis.

The euro fell to 1.4127 dollars, its lowest level in three weeks. For their part, oil prices were down in electronic trading in Asia, depressed by the poor figures on employment in the United States. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October lost 59 cents to 85.86 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery 74 cents to 111.59 dollars.Saft takes off

EDF: -2.77% to 20.37 euros

The Italian Minister of Industry, Paolo Romani, said Sunday he would meet Monday Proglio about the power company Edison.

ArcelorMittal: -4.67% to 13.46 euros

Peabody Energy and ArcelorMittal announced Monday it had extended until September 27, the period during which the short bid for $ 5 billion (3.53 billion euros) on the Australian Macarthur Coal.

Zodiac: -1.94% to 54.05 euros

The group said it had completed the acquisition of the American Heath Tecna and have reached an agreement with its banks to raise 300 million euros the amount of an existing credit line.

Schneider Electric: -6.01% to 41.35 euros

The French government intervened with the company to freeze a plan for the removal of one.000 temporary positions, the daily Liberation in its Monday edition, but the group has firmly denied to AFP such a plan.

Saft: 4.81% to 22.87 euros (largest increase in the SBF 120)

The American automotive supplier Johnson Controls will pay $ 145 million (102 million euros) to the French specialist in batteries as part of an amicable agreement ending their joint venture in the automotive industry, announced Friday the two groups in a joint statement.

Alstom: -5.16% to 29.21 euros

The group signed a 66 million euros with Iraq to build a power plant in the province of Nineveh in the north, said the Iraqi Minister of Electricity.

France Telecom: -1.67% to 12.36 euros

TPSA its Polish subsidiary has announced to contest the fine of 128 million euros that inflicted the European Commission.

After market, environment and Dried Assystem unveil their first-half results.

Skirmish between the IMF and the Europeans

September 1, 2011 - 9:32 am Comments Off

New twist in the controversy over the health of European banks which opposes the IMF to European officials. The new CEO of the Fund, Christine Lagarde Wednesday held the first meeting of its Board of Directors of European banks. On this occasion, the Fund's economists presented their calculations indicate a probable equity gap of around 200 billion euros for all European institutions, the Financial Times. While European banks inscribed on their balance sheet obligations of States in the euro area market value, their tangible equity would fall from 10% to 12%, said the newspaper.

The newspaper stresses, however, that the amount shown in the "Report on the global financial stability", the traditional semi-annual report due on 21 September, is not final.These figures are obviously equivalent to those that led Christine Lagarde Saturday to encourage Europeans to recapitalize banks on the continent.

Analysis strongly opposed by European leaders. "The vision of the IMF is biased," said the Spanish Finance Minister, Elena Salgado, the FT, explaining that the Fund was wrong not to take into account potential losses without regard to assets Bunds, which saw During their ride. Wednesday, the Minister of Economy, Baroin, has in turn ensured that the French banking sector did not raise "no worries".Statements in line with those of the governor of the Banque de France Christian Noyer and the president of MEDEF Laurence Parisot, who had followed the lead of European leaders as the Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Olli Rehn.

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Indecision for Wall Street

August 26, 2011 - 5:52 am Comments Off

Shortly before the start of the session in New York, the index futures Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 declined by 0.26% to 1169 points and 0.77% at 2122.50 points. The Dow Jones was approached for its small down from 0.13% to 11,253 points.

After aligning the day before a third consecutive session, the U.S. stock markets may experience a more mixed session on Thursday. As of Wednesday evening, the title of Apple, the Apple brand famous plunged 7% in electronic trading after the close of trading in reaction to the departure of the group's founder, Steve Jobs, Tim Cook replaced by .

So that investors may enclose the value seriously, now, from the beginning of the session. The stakes are high for Apple.On 9 August, Apple had a happy time oil giant Exxon Mobil's first-place capitalization in the world in full trading day before falling on the second step of the podium.

Unemployment menu

In terms of macroeconomic indicators, the weekly jobless claims, which will be published before the start of the U.S. session at 2:30 p.m., will also be monitored. A consensus of analysts expected a slight decline to 405,000, against 408,000 previously.

Wednesday night, orders for durable goods in the United States had rebounded in July, prompting stock markets to rise, on both sides of the Atlantic. "But the indicator of business spending showed the U.S. economy remains fragile," do, however, keep stock analysts from Barclays.In a context marked by the end of the indicators is misguided, or worse in reality than it seems, investors are on their defense.

Meanwhile Jackson Hole

Especially since tomorrow is Friday that Ben Bernanke will speak from Jackson Hole this Friday at 16:00. We will then know whether a possible third last monetary easing, on which markets have been speculation this week, will be decided. Alternatively, investors can look forward to continued low interest rates likely. The second estimate of U.S. GDP for the second quarter will also be unveiled.

The growth rate of the world's largest economy in the spring, which had greatly disappointed a month ago, could then be revised down 0.2 percentage point to 1.1%.

HP in the footsteps of IBM

August 20, 2011 - 2:40 am Comments Off

Duly noted. The world of PC has failed to develop at the same time dedicated to business activities and those aimed at individuals. Léo Apotheker has decided to separate from its computers, tablets and smartphones, "knocked out Apple "in the words of one U.S. analyst.

The stock has also lost more than 20% at the opening of Wall Street on Friday.A heavy penalty for a major strategic shift and two ads that markets generally enjoy little HP is preparing to spend 10 billion dollars for the purchase of Autonomy, the UK's leading software, and provided that the split of its business PC would cost one billion dollars in restructuring costs.

Just like what IBM has done six years ago, HP has chosen to focus on the activities dedicated to businesses (services, servers, data storage, network), while maintaining the imaging and printing. This focus on the professional world seems "logical" in light of the past of its CEO. Léo Apotheker has spent over twenty years with the German software company SAP, which he directed for eight years. These are businesses that generate margins sharply higher than in hardware sales.In 2010, business services have made 57 billion dollars in sales with in the key, 8.7 billion of operating income. Opposite, the PC division, tablet and phone posted a turnover of 40 billion turnover, but only 2 billion loss payday loan lenders.

By refocusing on activities "business," Leo Apotheker also takes the bet that he will develop the activities of data storage and servers. HP boss set including data analysis and cloud computing (computer services remotely) to raise. Competitors will be renamed the IBM, Oracle, Cisco and not Apple.

Consecration of the failure

The future of the PC division, mobile and tablet (PSG) remains uncertain. All scenarios are possible.A split, with a possible initial public offering that would make an independent business, but competition to apply. Redemption, we know the ambitions of China's Lenovo, which has already bought the PC division of IBM and wants to become world number one. Finally, pure and simple abandonment is also not excluded. This scenario is the worst, while HP has spent $ 25 billion a decade ago to buy Compaq and 1.8 billion last year for Palm. The group also invested in the revitalization of its software WebOS, and in the manufacture of tablets and smartphones with touchpad that just marketing. "In this area, not a sprint, it's a marathon," said Leo Apotheker, in an interview with Le Figaro, in late June. It seems that the runner will be out of breath from the first kilometer.

Pain: an ATM in Paris

August 13, 2011 - 12:04 am Comments Off

In recent weeks, a new generation of vending machines first appeared in Paris. Located near the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, the machine offers, 24 and 24 hours seven days a week, fresh bread, sold a euro baguette. One hundred and twenty rods craft, pre-cooked for ten minutes, are placed for maximum seventy-two hours in the refrigerated dispenser. The end of the cooking is done at the pace of demand for ten more minutes. They can then be kept for more than five hours, to ensure consumers of warm bread.

The origin of this world first, as original as vending machines swimwear and sunglasses located at the entrance to the pools, is Jean-Louis Hecht.The baker was able to marry fifties vending, mainly industrial and bakery.

"Small steps slowly"

It all began in 2001 when the contractor completed the first prototype of its distributor, together with a technical school in Moselle. He suggested "small steps small steps" toward a machine patented by the company and assembly of industrial equipment Mecondielle Portuguese. The investment is huge for this baker without the cost of the assembly, the machine comes already at 30,000 euros. Then you would need two hundred and fifty hours of assembly.

The machine, the first of which is in commercial service since January in Moselle, in the other bakery owned by Jean-Louis Hecht, naturally allows to inflate sales, thanks to its opening hours."It is also a strong vehicle for promoting that is not gray at the bakery, says Jean-Louis Hecht. On the contrary, this innovation is a service that complements the baker's trade but do not replace. "

He said it will become indispensable in France and abroad, because of the quality of the product offered and the economic viability extraordinary profits are 30% higher than the store, according to the contractor.

A solution for villages without trade

In Paris, the distributor already sells 80 sticks a day, and Jean-Louis Hecht look forward to go further. The entrepreneur wants to "make the most of" his idea and does not sell his patent. He thinks big and would like to extend it by buying several bakeries and industrial equipment, backed by the facade.

The baker has other ambitions for his vending machine.A consulting firm located in Portugal working on a version independent of any trade, which would be installed in remote locations such as villages, tourist resorts or passage.

With the unmistakable design of his machine, Jean-Louis Hecht even considering creating a string, which spread in the desert regions of all trade, to allow each person to have its traditional fresh baguette every day. He finally claims that his invention has international potential, in Europe or the United States, where consumers are fond of "French baguette."

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