World News, Financial News, Breaking US News

All on a diet! Insurance companies to banks, asset sales affecting the entire financial sphere. So after Groupama, Societe Generale, BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole is now the turn of Axa confirmed the reduction of its balance sheet in order to cope with the crisis.

The French insurer has confirmed the sale of its subsidiary's equity division, widely reported in the press. "The purpose of this review, which could lead to a transaction or not, is to explore strategic options for the participation in the group Axa Axa Private Equity," the insurer said in a statement easy to get unsecured personal loans.

And pretenders abound. According to The Tribune on Thursday, the group would be interested Eurazeo.The U.S. Carlyle and KKR would also have views of the largest private equity fund French.

ALSO READ:

"Societe Generale announces new savings plan

"Credit Agricole prepares asset sales

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.

ALSO READ:

"France presents its budget discipline

All Americans should be involved in the effort to reduce the deficit. This is the message sent on Monday by Barack Obama from the White House Rose Garden. The U.S. president, who presented his program of deficit reduction, confirmed a tax plan of 1500 billion to the deficit of 3000 billion over the next ten years. "We can not get out of this abyss only by reducing spending. It is normal that we ask everyone to pay their fair share, "said the president.

In Focus: the wealthiest Americans. Barack Obama chose not to extend beyond the end of 2012, the expiration date, the tax breaks granted to wealthier by the administration of his predecessor, Republican George W. Bush. "We can not afford these tax rates low for the rich.We can not help us while we are suffering large deficits, "he says.

The most significant proposal remains the introduction of a tax, "Buffett," the name of the investor Warren Buffett who has proposed. As expected, Bush did not go into details about the conditions of its applications but according to the New York Times, the tax on millionaires that will concern only 0.3% of taxpayers.

"This is not the class struggle is mathematical"

According to Barack Obama, "it is not the class struggle, it is mathematical," he joked, responding to criticism from his Republican opponents who accuse him of wanting to punish those who have succeeded and discourage "create jobs". "Any reform plan will increase revenues to help reduce our deficit.This must be part of the formula, "argued the U.S. president, noting that" middle-class taxpayers should not pay more taxes than millionaires and billionaires. It is loud and clear, and difficult to contradict. "

The project also includes U.S. President down $ 580 billion (425 billion) in mandatory spending on social programs, including Medicare (health insurance for the elderly) and Medicaid (the federal program for the poor). It is also banking on an economy of one trillion dollars (733 billion) over ten years due to the withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq.

But the camp of the Republicans who control the House of Representatives has already ruled out raising taxes to reduce debt abysmal in the country.The proposals of the White House must still be forwarded to a bipartisan parliamentary committee, which means that this bill is unlikely to be adopted in the state.

ALSO READ:

"Obama will spend 447 billion for employment

"Exemptions from charges, a key measure of the Obama plan

"SPECIAL CRISIS: fear of debt

After launching its offer in May with mobile calls, text messages and unlimited internet for 24.90 euros monthly subscribers to its box (and 49.90 euro for non-subscribers), Numericable goes further. Reportedly, the operator will now enable call abroad from the mobile unlimited. An option to pay 10 euros per month, which will be available as of September 19 for all.

"This is a world first, exclusive service and unprecedented," enthuses Jerome Yomtov, general secretary of Numericable. "We want to bring all the mobile services already on the box at home, at home or abroad called unlimited," he says. Over 100 countries are included in this offer, including most major destinations throughout Europe, the DOM, the United States, Canada, Asia.It is extended to calls to Morocco and Algeria for Numericable subscribers who have subscribed to the "Maghreb More" on the NCbox.

This new offering "world" not only to make calls to landlines abroad, but also to the Chinese mobile, U.S. and Canada fast payday loan. And supply expected to be enriched in the coming months. "You can call the U.S. since its unlimited mobile to 34.90 euros a month. United States, to call a mobile to mobile unlimited is $ 70. In short, it will be cheaper to call the U.S. from France, than to be there! "Said Jérôme Yomtov.

Numericable says the offer will be profitable.While the cost of communications decline in Europe and the world, he found a business model by negotiating agreements with major international operators such as Verizon, Telefonica, Cable and Wireless, Tata Communications.

One way to cut the grass under the feet of Free which means lower prices but also change the mobile uses. "This is the mobile revolution continues," trumpets for days on Numericable Tweeter … which led to his being sued by Free, which considers the term as its slogan identity. Atmosphere!

ALSO READ:

"Free raised the pressure on the mobile market

"Unlimited calls to less than 25 euros in Numericable

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.

The dream of motorists has it become reality? The site offers Kidioui.com for several days until September 30 to adjust the PV parking offenders who collect the votes of visitors to its site. The principle is simple: anyone who wants to be reimbursed must register on the mini social network for this purpose, explain the context in which the fine was imposed, and get as many votes as euros to pay.

Each registrant may, in fact, a vote for a candidate for reimbursement. A voting system which limits the scope of the regulations to be sent. "Not to push the crime", only minutes of parking are also affected by this unusual offer, which kidioui.com starts to make itself known to the public.

The site, which usually sells cars and scooters new discount Internet, hopes to boost its sales.Opportunely launched after the passage of 11 euros to 17 euros in the price of parking fine, this communication campaign is already bearing fruit, says Uri Stopek, co-founder of the site. "In five days, we recorded over 20,000 visitors to our dedicated website. And in July, while the beta site was just launched, our sales were maintained, when new car registrations were down overall, "said he.

Budget "unlimited"

To date, the bill for this operation is approximately 2000 euros. But the site states that its budget is "unlimited." "The cost of the campaign will be proportional to its impact on public opinion. Plus we will pay fines, and we will have visitors to the site, "said Uri Stopek. This strategy, which uses a bait to attract the interest, is not new.Two years ago, the company had pushed the Rentabiliweb ploy to organize distribution of tickets in central Paris … finally canceled for security reasons.

"This type of operation, a relatively low cost compared to a conventional campaign, designed to make short-term buzz. It is a blow, Eric Weerdmeester analysis, associate director of marketing consulting firm Numsight. This generates awareness, but does not contribute to building a lasting positive image. "

But this is perhaps not the sole interest of the brand. For beyond the mere impact on the visibility of the site, the operation provides the same time to Kidioui.com data on a variety of offenders, which will then be reused for future solicitation. "Very few dealers who now offer their customers targeted offers and packaged.But this site has to do a formidable tool, said Eric Weerdmeester. It is in my opinion his best card to play. "

After Bouygues Telecom and SFR, it is the turn of France Telecom to engage in the battle of the low-cost mobile phone with a new brand, Sosh. The announcement, made in conjunction with the presentation of interim results of the group, aims to address "the intensity of competition" and prepare "the arrival of the mobile Free," according to the admission of the CEO France Telecom, Stéphane Richard.

Sosh will mark "all digital", only sold on the Internet. If have to wait until September for details and more particularly the rates, Stéphane Richard said it would be a "soft offer, without commitment," which will decline "two kinds of attractive packages in price ", available with and without mobile terminal.Sosh, whose name is "a nod to the term" social network ", wants to build on social networks and user communities, said Stéphane Richard. It offers a low-cost but not low value. "

With this brand, France Telecom follows the lead of its competitors. SFR was the first to lead the way in June 2010 with its "economic advantage". The operator proposed a package on average 10 to 20% cheaper if the customer subscribing or purchasing retaining also his mobile. A year later, at the launch packages "Square", SFR explained that 15% of subscriptions were dry, that is to say without a telephone.

In early July, Bouygues Telecom has taken a step forward in the world of low-cost brand by launching the first low cost of a large operator.The two packages of "B & You" (our editions of July 5) are attractive, for example, 24.9 euros per month for calls, SMS, MMS and unlimited Wi-Fi 24/24, but that a terminal it is associated.

Reduce subsidies

The recent popularity of telecommunications operators for low-cost offers several origins and first of all the expected arrival of Free, renowned for its ability to break the established codes. Whereas in 2012, its competitors are afraid to see him land in October 2011, with rates very low, just like what he has done over the Internet, with the first offers to 29.99 euros. There is also growing competition from virtual operators (MVNO).Finally, the increase in the price of the terminals has also forced the operators to review their business model.

Until now, to lure new customers or retain old, operators put forward the phones heavily subsidized. But the development of smartphones has changed the situation, with the arrival on the market for phones with more than 600 euros 149 euros … sold by subscription.

If operators and manufacturers refuse to disclose the sale price of "professional" and therefore the exact amount of the grant, it is the secret that the cost of acquiring new customers is a clear tendency to increase.The development offers low-cost in telephony, which are essentially free subscription offers mobile, could however not be sufficient to reverse the trend.

Consumers, especially the French are, by the admission of Stéphane Richard, very attached to offers of renewal.

Greece Is in default? For Baroin and Valerie Pécresse, the answer is no. The Minister of Economy, interviewed on RTL on Friday morning, and budget minister, responding to RMC, however, swept this term used by many analysts in the wake of the passage of the bailout of the country, which provides including an extension of the term loan to Greece and lower borrowing rates. "This track is discarded because it would result in the destabilization of the deep zone," said Baroin. "These are not the words we use. Greece will repay its debt, "added Valerie Pécresse.

According to the Minister of Economy, the "partial failure" is that "legal characterization" that rating agencies could use in the coming days. "They will do what they want," says he.The derivatives market professionals, meeting within the International Swaps and Derivatives Association "(ISDA), should just meet in the coming days," probably "even today, to determine whether the new aid plan Greece is a "credit event".

Whatever their decision, Baroin determines that the plan provides an adequate response to address the situation: "This plan is a firewall. There will be the Central Bank to play its role as lender and the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), more flexible, which will intervene to prevent attacks by speculators. "

Banks will no longer be sought in the future

For the Minister of Economy, the agreement reached in Brussels provides answers "exceptional, deep, powerful, durable giving guarantees to Greece to support the continuity of its delivery to an acceptable level.""This is a response to avoid any risk of infection by a public-private and technical arrangements for the European fund, which also outlines the future prospects of the future European economic governance," he added. Regarding private sector involvement, the economy minister reiterated that private creditors are not required to save other countries in the euro area. "This is not one second that the private sector finds himself called for a voluntary basis for Portugal, Ireland, which are two other countries in the European assistance," he said firmly.

"Many things have changed yesterday. It was a real go of history which gives a more stable Europe, "said Baroin. Valérie Pécresse also welcomes the "Instrument for Stability" what happened to the EFSF, "beginning of a European Monetary Fund."She said the new rescue plan was necessary to "save and protect the euro." "This is a reference currency that allows France to have the confidence of investors. If we had dropped Greece, it was the French who would have paid, "she says.

The government spokesman also announced that "the Prime Minister will receive all 11 hours of national representation: the Senate president, the president of the National Assembly, the chairmen of Finance, European Affairs to present the rescue plan for Greece, which was adopted yesterday and tell them the consequences for France. "

ALSO READ:

"The euro area off the Greek fire

"Nicolas Sarkozy resolder the Franco-German

"SPECIAL – The states facing bankruptcy

The Alibaba China could become a major player in the field of operating systems for mobile phones just as Android, IOS, or WP7. In fact, according to the Wall Street Journal, the Chinese e-commerce specialist, prepares to launch its own operating system (OS). But this new system has a particularity: it is based on the cloud, literally the "cloud computing". In other words, this new system will store the user data on remote servers. Such OS therefore requires a connection to broadband Internet in all circumstances.

This project should be launched in the third quarter of this year, said the American daily. Initially, the system should be accessible only to the Chinese market but "nothing says it will not be used elsewhere after," said a source familiar with the journal.

This launch marks another milestone for Alibaba, more used to make software and especially shopping sites online no fax cash loans. Like him, more and more companies are trying to afford the lion's share in the growth market of smartphones. Another Chinese, Baidu, Google's competitor frontal China would launch its own OS for the Chinese market, based on the technology of Google Android. If these Chinese projects are completed, Apple, with its own system IOS, Microsoft Windows 7 Phone and Google, which has the Android operating system, could see their global market dominance eroded.

ALSO READ:

"Nokia will launch its first Windows phone in the fall

"Android-enabled mobile 500 000 days

"The French flock to Android smartphone

"The difference between the iPhone and Android tightens in France

Nearly 150 tail. Visitors to the Paris Air Show crowd to reach a huge tent, mounted at the end of the area dedicated to the 150 aircraft on static display. The tent is home to the Solar Impulse, the solar airplane pilot Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. It is the guest of honor at Le Bourget. The aircraft, powered by the energy collected by solar cells that dress, fascinates the public. The bird-dragon has a funny look with its size equal to that of an Airbus A 340, light weight (1.6 tons), its four propeller engines of 10 horsepower each, the power of a scooter and its narrow cockpit. André Borschberg spent sixteen hours to bring the Solar Impulse from Brussels to Paris on June 14. Since the device did not fly, rain and especially wind thwarted the schedule of demonstrations.With the return of calm and sunny, the Solar Impulse could fly this weekend. "It was important to return at the Bourget six years after the first presentation of the project partners – Solvay, Deutsche Bank, Omega and Schindler," says the duo.

Total Call

We are far from the early 2000s, when Bertrand Piccard was looking for funding – 100 million Swiss francs – to launch the project after the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne was funded and entrusted to André Borschberg the first feasibility study. But the duo sticks to the motto of Jules Verne: "All that is impossible to follow."

In 2004, Dassault Aviation hear about the project. The aircraft manufacturer will not money but the brains of its best engineers to the project, becoming the "manufacturer's advice.""Dassault was the guardian of the real aircraft," says Bertrand Piccard.

Today, the project entered a new phase. The assembly of the second device begins next week in Duebendorf, near Zurich. "It looks like the first by its general shape and appearance. Its scale will be greater, between that of A 380 and B 747-8. It benefits from technological advances, a new engine, a different type of solar cells, "says André Borschberg.This engineer, former fighter pilot and businessman, pilot of Solar Impulse, alternating with Bertrand Piccard, a psychiatrist by training, aeronaut – he managed a tour of the world by balloon in 1999 – and a descendant of a pioneer family in the air and under the sea

Solar Impulse with the second, they hope to make long flights in stages over four to five days in a row, with the ultimate goal of a successful world tour "without fossil fuel or pollution." "The world is full of big problems that are costly and discourage," said tandem. "Aviation can provide innovative solutions by showing that renewable energy is possible. They are a source of diversification for the oil and future growth, "Bertrand Piccard is developing. The Solar Impulse is "the best vehicle for that message."The recent acquisition by Total of Sun Power, the California company that produces solar panels of the Solar Impulse, "is a good sign," said he calling Total to partner.

ALSO READ:

"Solar Impulse flew to Le Bourget