Archive for the ‘home’ Category

The franc is living its last days

February 11, 2012 - 11:16 am Comments Off

 

The single currency is not yet fully reassured about his future, but their free-living indeed their last hours. The ultimate ticket holders have until francs Friday, February 17 for exchange against euro in one of 70 branches of the Bank of France. After this date, 50 million in cuts, $ 4 billion francs, still in circulation will become worthless and become a well reserved only for collectors. A treasure estimated at nearly 600 million euros, most of which should disappear in the wild. Side of the Banque de France, we do not expect to recover more than 100 million euros, in the best case. What, at this time of fiscal restraint to the affairs of public managers.

Indeed, the free-considered missing that could ultimately represent a value of 500 million-have already been recorded in the revenue budget in 2012 by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. This is called "the nerve to issue": when she makes notes on behalf of the State, the Bank of France holds an accounting claim on the Treasury. Tickets not made by individuals are so much money that the state will not pay the bank, which explains the good news for public accounts.

jechangemesfrancs.com

However, the Bank of France has seen a marked acceleration of the return tickets at counters this week. "They should still grow until next Friday. In general, the French like to do it at the last minute, "said Olivier Fournier, collector and president of the Friends of the coin of the euro. "A great many people have kept a note of each value in memory. Unlike the euro, francs were distinguished by the beauty of the drawings that were very identity, "he adds.

The profiles of people still in possession of francs are quite varied. Some report bundles found in the family reserves, known or hidden. Others initially skeptical about the chances of survival of the euro finally gave up and believe in the single currency and bring stacks of tickets 200 or 500 francs. The rest, the vast majority of tickets that will not come back, are held by collectors but also by tourists who have not exchanged their francs during their stay in the country, there are over ten years. "If it is based on previous returns, it is mainly the small cuts that do not return. However, sometimes it tells us large sums of 100, 200 or 500 francs … the famous sock! "Says the Bank of France.

The current operation covers only the five types of notes from the last collection. The rooms, meanwhile, are more monetized since 2005. The Banque de France is committed to exchanging old francs, even damaged, against euro subject "that more than half of the paper is still present." Individuals who still have tickets at home a little torn therefore can still try to exchange them.

To simplify their lives, the monetary institution has launched a website detailing jechangemesfrancs.com branch address where the tickets and return values ​​into euros corresponding exchange.

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About the same corporate tax

February 7, 2012 - 11:48 am Comments Off

 

A common corporate tax between France and Germany to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Elysée Treaty next year. It is hollow, formed by the dream Paris and Berlin. The German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble and his French counterpart Baroin Monday presented a Green Paper setting out "the points of convergence on corporate taxation" between the two banks of the Rhine.

Reflection launched on 16 August 2011 and summarized by Nicolas Sarkozy: "Germany has a rate of corporation tax but a lower tax base broader" than France. In other words, German companies pay less tax but are more likely to pay. "Our idea is to broaden the tax base on French companies and thus to reduce rates," said the head of state.

The Green Paper points which quickly scans the fiscal convergence seems impractical for a long interest in those where the approximation is possible.

This is essentially the corporate tax. In Germany, the SI is set at 15.5% plus a contribution called "solidarity" of 5.5% and a "tax purposes" which varies according to the municipalities. On average, however, a German company pays a SI of 29.5% approximately. The rate was lowered by ten points over 2008. In France, the general scheme includes a corporate tax of 33.33%, with additional contributions of up to 3.3% for very large enterprises, while SMEs with a turnover of less than 7 , 6 million IS a pay cut to 15%. In total, if we add various other taxes – remnants of business tax – taxes paid by French companies of a certain size are 12 to 15 percentage points higher than for German.

According to the two ministries of Finance, "in order to maintain the competitiveness of German and French companies, the effort of convergence of corporate tax rates should mainly consist of lowering the standard rate of IS French, offset by a widening of his plate. " The effort, it is clearly stated in black and white, will be mainly to make the side of France: "Germany does not aspire to no change in the rate of corporation tax," we read in the Green Paper. Germany might instead be inspired by the French regime for the taxation of transactions between subsidiaries.

Technical work now completed, the two capitals will now launch a consultation, "particularly in the Parliaments and businesses." The goal is to "allow implementation of legislative measures convergence by 2013."

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"Angela Merkel declared its support for Nicolas Sarkozy

November 28, 2011 - 11:36 pm Comments Off

The RGPP is accused of degrading the quality of public service …

She, however, improved the quality of service. The unemployed, who had previously two parties, the ANPE and Assedic, are addressed only to the employment center. There are two more administrations for taxes, but only one. Another advance, the French can make 80% of their usual procedures online at any time of day and night. Finally, we are always looking to reduce delays. Thus, the Hospices Civils de Lyon (CHU) fell by over 50% of the time to transition to pediatric emergencies, reducing it to half past one.

November 25, 2011 - 7:48 am Comments Off

Gradually, the Mediterranean Solar Plan is developed. Thursday morning in Brussels, the two flagship projects and Medgrid Desertec designed separately at first, will sign a cooperation agreement. Of French origin, the first consortium aims to build high-voltage lines connecting Africa to Europe. Inspired by German, the second involves the construction of huge solar farms in North Africa.

The document will be ratified by André Merlin, President of Medgrid, and Paul Van Son, his alter ego in Desertec. Eric Besson, the French Minister of Industry and Jochen Homann, his German counterpart, will also attend. In Brussels, which is also a Council of European Ministers of Energy, the Commission also takes advantage of having worked for the merger of the two initiatives quick cash.But technological advances have reduced line losses, which now stand at 3% per thousand miles, plus 2% at the entrance and exit of high-voltage network, says the expert of the IEA.

Current day and night

The future of solar photovoltaic Maghreb will not. This will be central to thermal concentration (on the principle of Gemasolar, Spain) that have the great advantage of storing energy and thus provide power at night or on cloudy days, and especially the demand.

The first project under the Desertec should expand its parabolic mirrors of 12 square kilometers, near Ouarzazate (Morocco) and an output of 500 megawatts (more than half of a nuclear reactor for generating Fessenheim for example).

November 21, 2011 - 10:00 am Comments Off

Released in early 2010, a year and a half of recession caused by the bursting of the housing bubble, Spain could plunge into the red. Supported by the only engine of exports and tourism, the economy will suffer from the international slowdown. And domestic demand – consumption and investment – remains stalled, weighed down by record unemployment. Economists forecast a decline in activity over the next two quarters. For the full 2012, Natixis expects an increase of GDP, limited to 0.2%, even more severe, Bank of America Merrill Lynch expects a fall of 0.7%. Two days before the election, the government had to accept lower growth for 2011 at 0.8% against 1.3%, less than half that expected by Brussels in the euro area.

Occupation: the red lantern of Europe

This is the black point of the Spanish economy fast cash without a hassle.With more than 22% Madrid shows the unemployment rate the highest in the euro area. One in five is unemployed and no improvement is expected in the short to medium term. Affected sectors, construction and real estate have lost more than 1.4 million jobs since 2007, while 700,000 jobs were destroyed in the industry. Are the front line jobs with low qualifications, young people without experience and foreign populations. The long-term unemployment has risen sharply, increasing the risk of dangerously exclusion. This file will be the priority of the next majority. Structural reform, initiated by the Zapatero government, to more flexible labor market, had no positive effect on job creation.

Damaged property market beating down the banks

In 2003, real estate euphoria, he built over 700,000 homes per year.

November 11, 2011 - 8:44 am Comments Off

It's a roller coaster! After falling to 1.3146 dollar, the euro has rebounded sharply, to $ 1.42. These days, he came back around $ 1.36. These violent movements illustrate the nervousness of the operators. In their defense, it is increasingly difficult to predict the various economic and political events.

Strategies in all were very pessimistic about the euro a month ago have adopted more moderate judgments fast cash now. "European politicians have given themselves time to solve problems. While Greece is in trouble but it still has until mid-December to collect the necessary financial support, "said John Kicklighter, Currency Strategist at DailyFX.

At Saxo Bank, comments are more incisive. "The sharp depreciation of the euro against the dollar mainly due to the renewed concern about the Italian debt.

November 3, 2011 - 7:08 pm Comments Off

Just adopted and already obsolete. Wednesday afternoon voted in first reading by the House, the bill funding the Social Security (PLFSS) for 2012 will undergo significant corrections in the coming weeks. The text presented by the government was in fact built on a growth forecast of 1.75% of GDP in 2012. However, the admission of Nicolas Sarkozy, the increase in activity will be at best 1% next year. Be "a shortfall of 1.5 billion" euros compared to the current bill, said Yves Bur, the rapporteur of the social security budget. "This bill is disingenuous," said Wednesday the Socialist MP Marisol Touraine to explain the negative vote of the group. Given the measures already adopted, could fill the hole but not limited to one billion.To compensate for the 220 million that was to bring this measure, the government is considering several options: postponement of one day of payment of daily allowances, creating a fourth day of default in case of sickness, a reduction of 0, a point of the national goal of health spending (ONDAM, set the time at 2 payday loan.8%) or correction of daily allowances for stops exceeding 15 days.

The switch left the Senate finally adopted complicated "as" the social security budget. The Social Affairs Committee on Wednesday rejected a text "needy, irresponsible and unrealistic." For the communist president Annie David, this budget marks "a return to the cessation of the corporate balance" with a deficit projected at 18.2 billion in 2012.

The New York Stock Exchange paused

October 19, 2011 - 7:08 pm Comments Off

After his recovery in the day Wall Street takes a break. The Dow Jones falling by 0.25% to 11,549 points and the Nasdaq 0.70% to 2639 points. Investors should indeed play the card of caution before the release, after closing, the beige book of the U.S. central bank. This snapshot report on the health of the U.S. economy is still highly anticipated by the markets.

Meanwhile investors remain focused on company results and the problems of sovereign debt in Europe. After the warning on the sovereign rating of France, Moody's downgraded by two notches on Tuesday night the note of Spain. This goes from A1 to Aa2 with negative outlook. The rating agency believes that the country remains vulnerable to difficulties in credit markets.In addition, Moody's does not exclude a further reduction if the crisis worsens in the euro area.

Paris and Berlin would be willing to strengthen the stability fund

Rumors press reported an agreement between France and Germany to increase the capacity of European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) to 2000 billion. But European officials have denied the existence of a formal agreement. This issue should be at the heart of the EU summit on Sunday. Yesterday, however, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated that the top of Sunday should be an "important step" but that the crisis can not be resolved "in a single peak."

At the macroeconomic level, housing starts in the U.S. rebounded strongly in September (15%), driven by the community housing sector, according to figures released Wednesday in Washington by the Department of Commerce.The consumer prices increased in September (0.3%) for the third consecutive month, continuing to erode the purchasing power of households. Investors will also monitor the weekly report on Wednesday oil stocks.

On the foreign exchange market, the European currency climbed to 0.60% in mid-session 1.3825 dollars against 1.3752 dollars late Tuesday.Oil, however, is more mixed.

The barrel of "light sweet crude" for November delivery lost four hundred, to 88.30 dollars a barrel while Brent North Sea crude for December delivery was appreciating by 13 cents to 111.28 dollars.

Mixed results

• Morgan Stanley (2.77% to 17.09 dollars)

The bank on Wednesday reported a profit of $ 2.2 billion in the third quarter against a loss a year earlier, along with a sales increase, both worn by an accounting adjustment.

• AMR (-7.80% to 2.60 dollars)

The parent of the airline American Airlines, announced Wednesday a net loss of $ 162 million for the third quarter, stronger than expected, partly attributed to rising fuel prices no fax payday advances.

• United Technologies (-0.39% to 73.83 dollars)

Technology Group has announced a 10.5% increase in profit to 1.32 billion in the third quarter and raised its forecast for annual results.

• Abbott Laboratories (4.50% to 54.80 dollars)

The health group will split into two listed companies, one centered on the biotechnology and pharmaceutical drugs, the other on medical devices, diagnostics, nutritional supplements and generic drugs, announced the laboratory management.

After the close of Wall Street, Tuesday, several big names from the coast, including three technology giants Apple, Intel and Yahoo! have announced their quarterly results.

• Apple (-5.17% to 400.41 dollars)

The company issued a apple annual net profit up 85% to 25.22 billion dollars but less than market expectations, with a fourth quarter hit by the slowdown in sales of iPhones. The turnover stood at $ 28.3 billion against $ 29.6 billion expected. The firm at the apple has sold 17 million iPhones during the quarter (as against 20 million expected), 4.89 million Mac computers (4.4 million expected) and 11.12 million iPads. For the current quarter, the group of Cupertino expects earnings per share of 9.3 dollars against 9.02 dollars estimated by analysts.

• Intel (4.40% to 24.43 dollars)

Micoprocesseurs a giant in the third quarter against a BPAD $ 0.65 $ 0.61 expected and $ 0.52 last year.The turnover stood at 14.23 billion against $ 13.87 billion a year earlier. The group also increased the amount of its share repurchase program to $ 10 billion.

• Yahoo! (4.46% to 16.16 dollars)

The engine iinternet published for the third quarter EPS of $ 0.21 against $ 0.17 expected. The revenue excluding traffic acquisition costs amounted to $ 1.07 billion, as expected. For the current quarter, the company expects a turnover of 1.13 billion dollars against 1.24 billion expected by analysts.

• Cree (-8.17% to 25.52 dollars) has reported a turnover of 269 million dollars in the first quarter of 2011/2012, stable over one year. Net income fell 58% to 28 million.For the current quarter, Cree expects a net profit of 29-33 million.

• CSX (1.63% to 21.05 dollars)

The group of small electrical equipment achieved a turnover up 11% to $ 2.96 billion. Net income was $ 464 million against $ 414 million a year earlier.

After the close American Express and eBay announce their figures.

Ireland is on track but still needs work

October 15, 2011 - 4:20 am Comments Off

On track, continuous effort. This is essentially the OECD verdict on Ireland, engaged for three years in a drastic recovery program of its public finances. After a decade of strong growth on an annual rate of 7%, which has risen to fourth in the OECD in terms of GDP per capita, the former Celtic Tiger has suffered a banking crisis and an unprecedented three years of recession. The deficit exploded in 2010 to over 32% of GDP if we include the expensive bank recapitalization and debt exceeded 100% of the national wealth.Distrust of markets has forced the authorities to use the end of 2010 with the IMF, the EU and the ECB.

In his study, presented Friday, experts from the Muette emphasize the competitive advantages of Ireland on Portugal and Greece, the other two countries under international supervision, "export sector a more developed and more high-tech"-the Exports account for 100% of GDP against 31% in Portugal and 21% in Greece, "a workforce more skilled, more favorable conditions for businesses, a more efficient tax system based in particular on corporate taxes low and stable and well-regulated markets and more flexible, both for products that work."

The conservation plan will represent 2.2% in 2012

Despite the recession, Ireland continued to attract significant foreign direct investment and the country, supported by the engine of exports and improving cost competitiveness, has returned this year with growth, while Portugal and Greece will experience another year of recession pay day loan lenders.

On the fiscal side, Dublin's goal is to bring the deficit below 3% of GDP in 2015. Before the intervention of the Troika, the authorities had imposed a cure equivalent to 9% of GDP. The economic plan of 2012 is still 2.2%.

If these efforts "are starting to bear fruit" requires further consolidation, the report of the organization of the Muette, in the perspective of a "global growth lower than expected."The OECD recommends including "broaden the tax base" and "focus more on consolidating spending cuts" -60% recovery, "by improving the efficiency of the public sector, reform of social protection and lower infrastructure projects. " Another priority should be the fight against unemployment from 4.6% in 2007 to 14.2% in the second quarter of 2011.

Among other tracks, it is necessary to improve employment services, training programs adapted to market needs, encourage job search, extend some cuts in employers' contributions … Finally, Dublin to pursue the restructuring of the banking sector and further improve competitiveness to promote exports.

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The Paris Bourse paid by banks

September 26, 2011 - 1:28 pm Comments Off

The Paris Bourse tries to continue the registered slight rebound on Friday. The CAC 40, which opened sharply lower did an about face in the morning. Around 11:00 he advances from 1.86% to 2863.9 points, pulled up by the banking sector. On Monday, Asian stock markets were grinding still black, still concerned about the problems of economic downturn worldwide. "The main problem is that neither the U.S. nor Europe has many options to address their concerns," said Masayoshi Yano, a broker at Meiwa Securities, quoted by Dow Jones Newswires.Investors include much more than expected joint statement of finance ministers and central bankers from the G20 at the end of the meeting in Washington Thursday.

Other major European markets are evolving in a piecemeal, Frankfurt ahead of 1.25% but London always yields 0.84%.

Moreover, the concern surrounding the problems of sovereign debt in Europe remains strong, especially as we enter a crucial week for Greece. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that a delegation will travel to Athens this week to determine whether or not the country can benefit from the sixth round of eight billion euros, it vital to avoid bankruptcy. Moreover, Germany will vote Thursday the agreement for the expansion of the scope of the relief fund of the zone (EFSF). Sunday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed confidence the outcome of the vote.Evangelos Venizelos, Greek Minister of Finance, for his part spoke with Jean-Claude Trichet, head of the ECB, a debt restructuring Greek.

In an effort to reassure global markets, finance ministers of the euro area are committed in a common text, to "do everything necessary to solve the crisis of debt and financial stability of the area in whole and its Member States. "The idea of ​​taking office faster than expected EFSF has also been raised by Germany this weekend.

EU Commissioner Olli Rehn himself has said that Europeans reflected to provide the EFSF additional instruments, beyond those agreed in July to give "more power" in an interview with Die Welt newspaper.

The Ifo index better than expected

The Ifo index of business climate in Germany has brought a little balm in the heart of investors. Ila recorded in September a decrease less than expected payday loans.However, this is its third consecutive decline, which seems to suggest that the activity of the first euro zone economy is slowing.

Program from the rest of the week are particularly, the index of investor confidence and U.S. consumers (Tuesday), the final reading of French GDP in the second quarter (Wednesday) and U.S. (Thursday) and retail sales in Germany (Friday).

As for currencies, the euro still appears under the $ 1.35 this morning at 1.3407 dollar. Oil prices, however, went up the slope in morning trading, amid hopes of an agreement to increase the reserve fund for the eurozone.A barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in November gained 18 cents to 81.04 dollars a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for November delivery took 42 cents to 104.39 dollars.

Values ​​to follow

• Banking

The banking sector led the trend. By late morning, returning 7.7% BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole and Societe Generale 7.3% 4.54%.

Rumors are still running on a recapitalization by the state of all French banks. The Journal Sunday this weekend evoked an injection of 10 or 15 billion euros.

In addition, the Deposit, the Postal Bank and Dexia negotiate the creation of a new public to fund local governments, according to Le Figaro.In addition, the Franco-Belgian bank could increase its program to sell its toxic assets, housed in bonds, 20 billion euros, according to Les Echos.

• LVMH (-2.23% to 103.10 euros)

The group announced Friday now hold almost all the shares of the Italian jeweler Bulgari, the luxury giant announced the takeover in March.

• France Telecom (-0.91% to 11.40 euros) Iliad (-0.70% to 84.80 euros), Vivendi (-1.29% to 14.57 euros), Bouygues (-1.89 % 24.43 euros).

The state is on track to win his bet on the financial 4G mobile frequencies after a first series of which reported more than budgeted and, according to experts, suggests an aggressive posture in the second round by operators who have not had the expected number of lots.

Note that the IPO of Groupama, long anticipated, was again postponed and is now expected "more towards 2015," said its director general, Jean Azema, in an interview with Les Echos.