Archive for the ‘finance’ Category

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.

Internet operators face "netgloutons"

August 25, 2011 - 3:48 pm Comments Off

Faced with bronce generated by the project operators to end unlimited Internet packages fixed, two questions remain suspens.Premièrement, who are these "netgoinfres" very heavy users of Internet operators that want coach? Opinions differ. "These are 5 to 10% of consumers who use 80% of the bandwidth. They are found in all countries. The population is fairly limited, "says Yves Le Mouël, Director General of the Federation of Telecom.

In Focus: the "geek" who downloads movies and massive music, spends time on YouTube and Dailymotion. "They are also SMEs with a standard Internet connection and download all day, they are hotels or student residences," said an executive at one operator.

David Charles, president and founder of MVNO Prixtel, but rather the fault of television over the Internet.Growing, it smoothly, he said, the networks. "If we want to free up bandwidth, it must be stopped. The TV is made to switch to TNT, especially since the state has paid dearly for the setting up in France. "

Edouard Barreiro, association UFC-Que Choisir, goes further. For him, "the netgoinfres, these are all of us." "During the day fixed networks are not busy. But they explode in the evening when everyone comes home from work, watch movies, videos, updates made its Apple … We all do the same thing at the same time, he says.Talking netgloutons is an excuse not to make the investments. "

Amend contracts

Operators deny it, but if they decided to go into action, could they change the current contracts? "Yes, it's Chatel law: an operator can easily change its offer, but the client is then free to go free, as was the case during the episode of the VAT," said Edouard Barreiro. Clearly, either the consumer accepts the new conditions, it is part.

But leave her Internet provider is not as easy as changing mobile operator. First, we must do without the Internet for about two weeks. Second, number portability works well on mobile remains fragile on the set. "Things are going well when you leave France Telecom to another operator.But when we leave SFR example, sometimes you lose his number, "said Edouard Barreiro. Finally, it must also return the box and be reimbursed for the possible bond. Not so simple!

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Bompard, "We want to build a new Fnac"

July 20, 2011 - 3:52 am Comments Off

LE FIGARO. – How do you solve the structural problem of Fnac, the erosion of its major markets?

Alexandre Bompard. – With the offensive Wednesday unveiled, we want to build a new Fnac looking to the future and whose identity will be based on three strong pillars. The first is the extension of our current product offering. Today, our offer is concentrated around the cultural and digital entertainment. With this plan, we will extend it to other types of activities: those aimed at children and families first, and in the future than in the discovery of the escape or the home and interactive design. The second line requires a paradigm shift for a brand that was built around its product: it aims to put customers at the center of our business and our business, emphasizing the relationship at any time with them.Of these, we will finally pay special attention to customer expectations family: it is the third pillar.

How will decline precisely this strategic plan?

To pass this plan, we will implement a number of levers. With the new consumption patterns, our stores will no longer be organized by product, but by world usage. For music, for example, you will find the same space CD, MP3 players, but also hats, concert tickets … well, we will create a world dedicated to children under 12 years with not only a comprehensive range of books to products edutainment and advanced technology, but also animations and dedicated services. More generally, however, the development of personalized services is a priority.We will innovate in this area soon, especially with takeover bids and the subscription of technical products.

This plan does not sign then the end of your physical network?

On the contrary! To be closer to customers in two French Fnac does not close to home, we take two major initiatives. By 2015, thirty stores will be open as well, on the outskirts of large cities in particular. Furthermore, after signing a partnership with Lagardère Services establish ourselves in stations and airports (the sign will replace the Virgin next week, Ed), we will launch a new store format: fifty Fnac proximity, about 300 square meters, should be released in four years, first in clean and free.These small signs, offering all the universe Fnac, will complement the department stores and will allow us to install in smaller cities. Of course, this is also associated with an increased fnac.com, because customers prefer the greater integration of the two sales channels. With our power in store as on the Internet, we will deploy a multi-channel strategy so successful and will offer such customers to withdraw all their in-store purchases made online or ordering of kiosks in stores.

You mention the date of 2015. Can you elaborate on the timing of this plan?

Speed ​​of execution of this plan is a key to its success. The first initiatives will therefore emerge in the next few months. Openings and reorganization of our stores are involved, they mainly in 2012 and 2013.The mobilization of our people, aware of the need for change, will also be one of the key elements of enforcement. I hope that the implementation of this plan is a lever to renew the social dialogue.

What budget has been earmarked to ensure the success of this plan?

I do not want to give numbers. The planned investments are suitable for our ambitions as we can. It is both a plan of conquest and a realistic plan. Therefore, we will continue to identify what we need to do it alone and that we can do through partnerships, both strategic in nature, as with Lagardère Services, or Screenrush SFR, or commercial, as with Apple, which a dedicated space in stores.

When do you expect to see the first results of this new strategy?

The first effects will be felt in the second half of 2012.Our aim is then to find a sustainable and profitable growth in France and abroad.

The sale by PPR of Fnac it not only jeopardizes the implementation of this plan?

My mission is to ensure the economic development of the Fnac. Since 1994, the PPR Group has played a leading role in particular for the implementation of the Fnac outside France and its growth on the Internet. As it does for all its businesses, the PPR group will manage the Fnac as if it had intended to remain within the group. Proof: This strategic plan is not a buildup of short-term, but a plan of conquest.

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Twenty European banks have to raise 80 billion

July 19, 2011 - 2:08 am Comments Off

European banks may need to raise 80 billion euros, to reassure the markets. A report by JPMorgan Cazenove, led by analyst Kian Abouhossein, estimates that if the level of reserve requirements is strictly adhered to 7%, nearly two banks will raise new money. French banks Societe Generale, BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole would need twenty billion.After the publication of this note, banking stocks are displayed among the largest declines in the Cac 40: while the benchmark index of the Paris Stock Exchange was down 1.13% to 10.30, Credit Agricole wipes a drop of 1.77%, BNP Paribas was down 2.05% and Societe Generale lost 3.08%.

But French banks are not the only ones to be shamed by JPMorgan Cazenove, which encrypts needs capital to 25 billion euros for UK institutions and 14 billion euros for German lenders, including Deutsche Bank . The Italian UniCredit, Credit Suisse and Santander are also cited in the report.

This study revealed the results of stress tests published last Friday by the EBA.These tests, built on capital requirements as 5%, entered into a need to refinance 2.5 billion euros for eight of the 90 banks assessed, including any French. But investors believe these tests inadequate, particularly criticizing for not sufficiently taken into account the default risk in Greece. JPMorgan Cazenove said the criticism in his study, indicating that these stress tests have "limited value".

The evolution of banking stocks on European stock markets will be very observed on Monday morning to find Investors Arbitration between the reassuring results of stress tests and numerical study of JPMorgan. In March, ratings agency Standard & Poor's had conducted its own tests of resistance.His conclusion: European banks would need 250 billion euros of additional capital.

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Marc-Olivier Fogiel back to the antenna M6

July 9, 2011 - 8:56 am Comments Off

Marc-Olivier Fogiel left mid-February morning of the orders of a Europe that was in September 2008. At 42, he will find at the back of the antenna M6 where he had led the program "everyone to stop you sleeping."

The FIGARO. -You will return to television with a project to M6. What will this new appointment in September?

Marc-Olivier Fogiel – It will be a weekly news magazine providing an update on current events that marked the week with those who make it. If I had to make a comparison, I would say it resembles the concept of the Sunday Journal, a daily newspaper published once a week and often the event. M6 has already emblematic of news magazines and reports of investigation, we want a news program, interviews with no frills and away from the talk-show atmosphere.It will be the opposite of an issue since zapping will be based on in-depth interviews. Thus there will be no more than three guests. They will live on the channel just as was the case for "7 of 7" or "The moment of truth." Moreover, this one-hour program on Sunday at noon.

On this market, competition from other channels is tough …

It is tough but not insurmountable. Of course, we have to create an appointment for a check and content that do not exist today on M6. But if there was no issue, it would not be worth the trouble to launch this new program.To me being able to meet weekly casting and the best to become the M6, like other chains, a place where those with expressed wish in the news.

When you leave the morning of a Europe in February, many gave you leaving for the public service?

He never discussed or near or far no faxing pay day loans. The only contacts I have had were with the news channels free DTT. To redo the TV, it was essential that it be consistent with what I have begun in recent years and therefore in the wake of the info. I admit that it was not easy to match a weekly basis with the passion of the "hard news". What was more, was returning to M6.When I left three years ago, there was a tacit agreement with this system, I've known for twenty years, talk with their leaders if I wanted to remake the TV.

On the occasion of this new project, you again become producer?

Not at all. When I came to Europe 1, I closed my news agencies and production Paf Paf Press and Prod. It seemed important to enroll in the drafting of the radio, as it is clear to me now to work with that of M6. For me the best way to participate in writing the History Channel and be somewhat in the same "juice" that the teams in place.

However, give yourself projects that you started with Matthew Pigasse?

Instead, we move forward. At that time, I become entrepreneur! But at this point we're still thinking.A reflection not only conducted but also Pigasse Matthew David Kessler, who directs Les Inrockuptibles. I stay in the same vein, that of the info. The idea is to propose a new offer but this time on digital. We would like to launch in 2012. If we had originally planned to create a newspaper on the shelves, now we want to expand our project to all digital. We're a team and especially to think about the business model.

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Business tourism: Greater Paris could do better

July 7, 2011 - 5:04 pm Comments Off

Far ahead of London and New York, Ile-de-France is the first tourist metropolis in the world. It is also the first French economic region, with a gross domestic product (GDP) alone accounts for 4% of GDP in the EU! Pride of place, then, but a place increasingly challenged: Paris is losing market share, overtaken by Singapore, Vienna or Barcelona for the organization of congresses. 26 billion euros in 2006, business in France has fallen to 14 billion euros in 2010, according to a barometer American Express. For Bercy, so it was now "urgent to take measures to enable the Grand Paris to retain its preeminence."In February, Christine Lagarde, Minister of Economic Affairs, and Frédéric Lefebvre, Secretary of State for Tourism, has commissioned Gilles Pelisson, Accor's former boss, to develop a precise inventory of the situation and formulate proposals improvement. The report presented yesterday – titled "Business tourism in the Greater Paris: a new ambition" – recommends a score of practical measures, which include both travel, equipment, reception conditions, the organization but also taxation.

Priority to the CDG Express

"Paris is a destination that is well and is efficient in terms of reception bad credit pay day loans. But in a world that moves, other destinations are on the rise, said Gilles Pelisson. A number of handicaps and weaknesses that passed before will be more crippling future. "Her number one priority is to CDG Express project."Like the great European cities, Paris should have a direct fast with its main airport, it said in its report. The project, in the form of public-private partnership of the CDG Express, should be released: it will in the near time horizon (2015-2017) to connect directly (19 minutes) Roissy to Gare de l'Est. "

Paris also lacks large rooms. "There is only one large auditorium of 3000 seats, while most major cities have two or three," said Gilles Pelisson, convinced that it also lacks "a few thousand hotel rooms "and" 100 to 200 employees "to improve service to the border police at Roissy-CDG."Small things" could also make life easier for tourists to encourage taxis to be equipped including electronic payment terminals or negotiate packages for some races (CDG-Villepinte, for example).

The CEO of Procter & Gamble seeks five billion customers

July 4, 2011 - 9:00 am Comments Off

The world's leading consumer is again in top form. The annual accounts ended June should show an increase in turnover of 5% over last year, when sales reached 78.9 billion dollars. Bob McDonald, who took over the group in the middle of the crisis in July 2009, was last week in France for his first visit since taking office cheapest personal loan rates. This former military academy at West Point, who spent five years in the U.S. Army before joining Procter in 1980, his book Figaro battle plan to win every year 200 million new consumers.

Click the preview to enlarge the graphic

Wall Street sign a great week in the green

July 2, 2011 - 12:04 pm Comments Off

The NYSE has ended sharply higher Friday, boosted by a surprisingly strong industrial indicator in the U.S., allowing the Dow to gain 1.36% and the Nasdaq 1.53% on Friday before a weekend of three day – Monday, the stock market is closed due to national holiday in the United States.

According to final figures, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 168.43 points to 12,582.77 in points and the Nasdaq, dominated by technology, from 42.51 points to 2816.03 points.The broader index Standard & Poor's 500 rose 1.44% (19.03 points) to 1339.67 points.

The Dow Jones ended in green all sessions of the week on which it jumped 5.4%, its best performance since July 2009

The day before, now, Wall Street had closed on an open rise, encouraged in this direction by the Chicago PMI – and the relief felt on both sides of the Atlantic after the second vote in Parliament in Greece. Voting allows the application of the austerity plan as expected, and the release of 12 billion euros in aid to Athens.However, the agreement of the Eurogroup surl second aid plan, expected this weekend, take a little longer than expected, according to diplomatic sources.

U.S. Policy and Debt

Another current, more American and more uncertain, however, could be followed by operators, mindful of the political context, while U.S. debt back on the front of the stage: the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States Timothy Geithner, in fact, consider soon resign from his post.Information reported yesterday by the Bloomberg financial news agency and other U.S. media, but qualified this morning.

Consumption, construction and industrial activity

In terms of macroeconomic indicators, the activity of manufacturing accelerated in June in the United States, according to an index released Friday by the professional association ISM, which stood at 55.3% as against 53 3% month précédent.Cet index, analysts expected a decline to 51.1%, is above 50%, the line between expansion and contraction, for the twenty-third consecutive month.

Consumer confidence fell in June in the United States, according to the index of U.S. consumer confidence released Friday by the University of Michigan, who finally stood at 71.5, lower than analysts had thought .A first estimate, released in mid-June, the index stood at 71.8 and analysts expected that this figure does not change pas.Après two months of increases, this index declined 2.8 percentage points at the end of May, and falling to its lowest level since April.

$ 4.5 billion for Nortel patents

On the corporate side, the maker of BlackBerry phones Research In Motion (RIM), is 0.28% to 28.93 dollars after the announcement yesterday of an agreement avoiding, at the General Meeting of July 12, vote on a motion challenging the operation of its management.Turbulent in recent times, the action RIM has tumbled almost 41% in one year, closing at 28.85 dollars Thursday on the Nasdaq, while the S & P 500 gained at the same time 28.55%.

Apple (2.26% to 343.26 dollars) Research in Motion and Microsoft (0.08% to 26.02 dollars), however, are part of a group of six companies that got their hands on the latest patents The telecoms equipment maker Nortel (1.82% to 29.14 dollars). The acquisition represents $ 4.5 billion (3.10 billion euros), after an auction that Google has removed (2.89%) and Intel (1.67% at 22, $ 53)

EMC Corp., and Sony Ericsson are the other members of the winning consortium, Nortel said in a statement released Thursday night.Telecommunications giant to the Internet bubble burst, Nortel filed for bankruptcy in January 2009 and has since liquidated most of its assets, raising about $ 3.2 billion.

In any other industry, General Mills (0.35% to 37.35 dollars) announced Friday the completion of the acquisition of half of the yogurt maker Yoplait, which he was the franchise in the United States. General Mills bought for about $ 1.2 billion (830 million), with the investment fund PAI Partners and the cooperative Sodiaal, 51% stake in Yoplait SAS and 50% of the entity holding world Yoplait brands.

High wages: tax withheld by employers

June 30, 2011 - 6:08 pm Comments Off

The French Association of Private Enterprises (Afep), which includes very large groups, will this evening at dinner Xavier Bertrand. Labour Minister and his guests have something to talk about everything found: the taxation of the remuneration of top managers.

Xavier Bertrand Tuesday reiterated the government's intention, not to establish a "maximum wage", but to increase the levies on companies' pay extravagant wages "- which in his view, means" several million euros. " The idea was initiated by a part of the majority in the debate on the alleviation of the ISF and the end of the tax shield. The Left had also seen a way to feel good after a "gift to the rich" … The measure should be passed in the fall.It could take two forms: a new tax or the inability to deduct the payments of the tax base of companies. "I favor the latter possibility," the minister said Tuesday.

"Branding a category»

Neither of the two formulas, in any case not suitable for Afep. Its chairman, Maurice Levy (Publicis Groupe), found the need to "be bad enough faith to consider that there is a problem together" on the compensation of top managers of French companies. Based on a study Aon Hewitt, he assured that they are on average paid less than their counterparts at the head of U.S. companies, Swiss, British, Spanish or German. "It's not healthy to attack a general executive compensation. This leads to stigmatize a category, "says Maurice Levy."I'm not at all support the idea that decides what should be the compensation of one or the other, in a total abstraction of what the company," he says. As to subject executive compensation to the general meeting of shareholders, rather than the board or a special committee, the president of the Afep sees "no need to submit to such AG decision over another ", saying that there is already" in the company a democracy that works very well. " Annual reports, accessible, detailed executive compensation.

"Personally," Maurice Levy, however, sees "no objection" that the persons whose total income is high "contribute more in difficult times," as an "element of solidarity."

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Competition: A Survey of Google in the U.S.

June 24, 2011 - 7:16 pm Comments Off

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is preparing to open an antitrust investigation of Google, said the Wall Street Journal last night. According to the daily U.S. economy, sending requests for information would be imminent. A committee of five people in the U.S. federal agency seeks to determine whether Google has abused its dominant position in the Web, particularly in the context of its advertising activities. They represent 97% of its turnover.

So far, the U.S. competition had not addressed the situation as Google through various acquisitions, such as the acquisition of DoubleClick Internet governance, governance AdMob mobile or, recently, the specialist ITA Tourism Online. The investigation by the FTC in addition to the one that opened in November the European Commission.Google is particularly suspected of promoting its own services in search results.