World News, Financial News, Breaking US News

In late May, six of the sixteen members of the College of AMF should be renewed. The opportunity for the president's stock market watchdog, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, placing governments to their responsibilities in terms of parity. "We must be consistent with what we proposed or imposed by law," said Jean-Pierre Jouyet in Le Figaro.

In 2016, boards of directors of large companies will have 40% women. College of the MFA, they are now … two. "It would take at least five" in the eyes of its chairman, who called for those, starting with the Minister of Economy, who will appoint the six future members.Jean-Pierre Jouyet same ideas profiles that could be the case, they run businesses (Dominique Heriard-Dubreuil at Remy Cointreau or Stéphane Pallez, France Telecom) manage funds (Isabelle Bouillot) are derived from academia (Marie-Anne-Frisian Roche).

Chairman of the AMF also cites the example of Michele Monavon which unites the employee shareholders.

This time for sure. Or almost. March 2, Apple expected to unveil the highly anticipated iPad 2. It will suffice that the company sends an invitation to American journalists to revive speculation. A photo reveals a piece of screen that lets assume that this is the iPad 2. Additional evidence, the meeting will be held at the same place where the first tablet had been made, the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco. Reactions to the announcement may seem disproportionate. This overlooks the fact that after upset the market for music (iPod and iTunes), telephony (iPhone), Apple is addressing the issue and the PC world with its iPad.

When is the next revolution? Some are betting on a sensational debut in television. Meanwhile, the assumptions about race 2 continues the iPad.It would be finer, with new features, including a second camera to facilitate video conferencing.

The moment is perfectly chosen by Apple to silence rumors about his ability to launch a new version. Although no official date had been given, the rumor predicted a delay in this second version! They waited for the new iPad in January to launch three months later. But the health of Steve Jobs delayed the process. That gap could make him lose several million in sales. According to analysts, a period of three months in the marketing of the iPad 2 would pass the annual sales from 30 to 23 million.

Investor confidence

For Apple, the risk is even greater than the competition gets tougher. There are now over a hundred bars of all sizes.Admittedly, not all are marketed in the U.S. or Europe, but the profusion of offers incentives for the response. If Apple wants to remain the benchmark in the market shelves, it needs to change his. Success of the iPad 2 also proves that even if Steve Jobs is on sick leave, product launches continue. Certainly, many shareholders have asked last week presenting a succession plan, a proposal rejected in general meeting. But overall, investors maintained their confidence in society. The way Apple rose nearly 8% since the beginning of the year, the market outperformance.

ALSO READ:

"Shelves: Who will win?

"This might look like the iPad 2

"Tablets and game consoles to assert themselves against the computer

The redemption price would be fixed in April, and the report advocating the "right price competitive" known until mid-March. According to the Journal de Dimanche (JDD), the findings of this report, ordered the former director general of INSEE Paul Champsaur, "are ready and recommend the price of 39 euros per megawatt hour (MWh).

The new law on the organization of the electricity market (prefecture), which shall enter into force on 1 July, stipulates that EDF, the incumbent electricity, must yield to its competitors – GDF Suez Direct Energy and other Poweo – up to 25% of the electricity produced in nuclear power plants. The selling price must be set by ministerial order. This new mechanism is expected to boost competition in an industry dominated by ultra-EDF.More than three years after market opening to competition, the French are indeed remained mostly faithful to the regulated tariffs.

Reflect production costs

EDF had voted for a rate set at 42 euros per MWh, Henri Proglio, CEO of the group, believing that selling below this limit would mean the "looting". Alternative suppliers, including GDF Suez, hoping for a price closer to 35 euros per MWh.

To fix the wholesale rate at 39 euros, experts have focused on the impact that the price on your household. The increase for the public, would be at least 35% in five years, with the wholesale price of 42 euros asked by EDF. It would be 30% at 39 euros, a level considered more reasonable by the Champsaur report, according to the JDD, or 5% per annum by 2015.Difficile to go below, however, according to the report."If the government does not overly increase the rates for individuals, it should not set a price too high for manufacturers," said a relative of Paul Champsaur quoted by JDD. Nome law specifies that the award should reflect "economic conditions of production" of nuclear power plants and it will be "consistent" with a specific tariff to business, Tartam (transitory regulated tariff for market adjustment) .

Friday, Energy Minister Eric Besson had told AFP that "nothing was adjudicated" and that dialogue "continue."He said that this price would be fixed "by a decree signed in April, after an arbitration of the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister."

(With AFP)

ALSO READ:

"Nuclear power: the redemption price set in April

"The price of nuclear power causes a battle royal

"The reform of the electricity market adopted

The text of the law of December 7, 2010 Nome.

"Direct Energy to attack the dams

"Electricity: The French faithful regulated tariffs

"Energy: The French shun new suppliers

Capgemini signs a wonderful year 2010. Group counseling and services has indeed recorded at the end of fiscal 2010 net income up in 2010 to 280 million euros, rising significantly by 57% compared to 2009, accompanied by a turnover up 3.9% to 8.697 billion euros a year.

Results higher than what analysts had expected.Ditto for the group's operating margin stood at 587 million euros, or 6.8% of turnover.

"Operating income, it is increasing (+47%) compared to what it was at the end of last year thanks to a sharp reduction in charges, mostly to restructuring charges reduced to 71 million euros in 2010, exactly one third of what they were last year, "says Capgemini in its press release of annual results this Thursday morning pre-market.

Note that the Board of Directors decided to propose to the next ordinary general meeting to be held May 26, payment of a dividend of one euro per share, "against 0.8 euros last year."

In exchange, the action Capgemini closed Wednesday up 2.22% to 39.85 euros in a market capitalization of 6.2 billion euros.Since the beginning of the year, it posted an increase of 14.1% while the index of pan-European technology has earned in the same time a little over 10%.

Growth 'modest'

In the services sector, yesterday, Wednesday, Atos Origin has also published results are healthy in 2010 and is confident for 2011. However, "except the excellent performance of Accenture, which seems very specific, other publications are consistent with our scenario of a weak recovery at Capgemini", noted analysts at Natixis in late January.

IBM has not experienced any acceleration in the fourth quarter, TCS grew by 13% in continental Europe, India for a modest performance guaranteed personal loan approval."Capgemini is mainly dependent on the European market and its high exposure in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands (40% of sales), very dependent on the public sector is a drag on the group," they say.

However, over the year 2010, the UK / Ireland region has seen its business fall by 1.4%, but increase by 7.8% over the last quarter. What is a good sign.But the Benelux countries, who "has seen the past two years a particularly acute crisis, remains the region with the largest annual decrease (-6.7%).

A year 2011 dealt calmly

During the telephone condérence that followed the publication Thursday morning, Paul Hermelin, CEO Capgemini says there is a `recovery in the sector even if it is progressive" and announces it will "double in the medium term from its Sales in emerging markets to 10%. "

Thus, for the year 2011, "the group plans to grow its revenue by between 9 and 10% at current rates and perimeter, and an increase in its operating margin between 0.5 and 1 percentage point compared to 2010 .

"Given the investments that will need to commit to support this growth and improving the business climate more or less rapid depending on the country and trades, it is expected that growth in turnover and this improvement in operating margin of the group will be gradual throughout the year, "says the company.

ALSO READ:

Capgemini launches brand campaign

Atos Origin has met its objectives in 2010

Capgemini pushes his pawns in Brazil

It's official: Sanofi-Aventis buys U.S. biotech Genzyme. The laboratory has improved its last offer, which was to expire at midnight yesterday after being launched on October 4 and extended twice. The two parties reached an agreement and the offer will end on March 16 upgraded.

Sanofi-Aventis and will spend $ 20.1 billion in cash (or 14.9 billion euros) to acquire the worldwide leader of rare diseases. An amount equivalent to $ 74 per share, or 5 dollars more than originally proposed. Genzyme shareholders will also receive certificates of conditional value (CCV). The latter could result in additional payments if the biotech meets certain sales targets.Security holders may receive up to $ 14 and additional action if sales Lemtrada, a drug used against leukemia that Genzyme is trying to certify against multiple sclerosis, achieve the goals most optimistic.

In financial terms, Sanofi-Aventis believes that the transaction would increase earnings per share of 0.75 to 1 euro by 2013. The Group Chief Executive, Chris Viehbacher, adds that the merger "should be accretive in the first year, in other words that the approximation should have a positive impact on the Group's profitability in the first year while the transaction should be completed in the second quarter of 2011.

Genzyme will be a new growth driver

Sanofi-Aventis also focuses on the strategic dimension of this approximation.According to Chris Viehbacher, the operation "will create a significant new growth platform for Sanofi-Aventis by expanding our presence in biotechnology." The lab also intends "to Genzyme's global center of excellence for rare diseases."

In terms of Genzyme, the title earned 3.53% to 74.30 dollars at the close of Wall Street yesterday in preparation for this announcement and before publication of its annual results on Wednesday. In 2009, the biotech had achieved a turnover of 4.5 billion. Its activities are an important growth driver for Sanofi-Aventis, faces competition from generic drugs.

Furthermore, the reorganization of groups is running. Sanofi-Aventis has already indicated that the CEO of Genzyme step down but retain an advisory role on the transaction.Remains to be seen what any other restructuring induced by this marriage.

In early trading, Sanofi-Aventis under the lead of more than 2.4% and signs and the largest increase in the CAC 40. The benchmark index of the Paris Bourse rose by 0.4% to him.

ALSO READ:

"Genzyme and Sanofi-Aventis are close to agreement

"Sanofi-Aventis: 2010 results in line with expectations

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graphic.

After a bad year in 2009 during which their distribution was down 3.5%, the national daily information (non-press horse) recovered a little breath in 2010. According to final figures from OJD, the monitoring body of the press, broadcasting France paid the eleven national newspapers last year grew by 1.6% over the previous year, reaching an average of 1.598 million copies per day. "We must not hide his pleasure, these figures are good news, says Patrick Barter, Director General of OJD. While the ground lost in 2009 was not returned. But the bleeding has stopped. We are dealing with a real progression for the majority of titles. "

The largest increases, however, are not spectacular.Driven by new formulas, La Tribune and Liberation rose 2.3% and 1.36%, after a particularly trying year 2009 for both titles. Le Figaro retains its position as the leading national newspaper with a circulation of 316,732 copies, France paid an average increase of 0.77%, thanks to the full-year impact of the new formula was launched in September 2009. Sales did well in the second half. In December, Le Figaro has gained 6.3%.

Without displaying a rise in sales, three titles – The Cross, The Team and The World – have stabilized their positions.Currently in transition with the entrance to its new shareholders and capital of the imminent arrival of a new boss for its editorial, Le Monde, third nationally with 286,348 copies daily, has halted the decline in sales on the decline 2010 (-0 bad credit payday advance.59%) being small compared to that of 2009 (-4.1%).

The group suffers Le Parisien

Further decline in revenge for Today in France (-7.82%) and its regional edition Le Parisien (-4.65%), both published by the Amaury group, whose broadcasts had already fallen sharply in 2009. The business daily Les Echos (115,706 copies), which was one of very few titles up in 2009, went through a bad second half of the year which resulted ultimately in a decline of 4.66% of its dissemination France paid over twelve months. The International Herald Tribune has yet to turn down.After falling 15% in 2009, the spread of English-language newspaper owned by The New York Times lost 4.84% last year, dipping below the 20,000 copies. As for France Soir, which was relaunched last March, it reached a circulation of 74,531 copies. Its Russian shareholder, Alexander Pugachev, is 100,000 copies by the end of the year. A new formula was inaugurated in January.

ALSO READ:

"Distribution: The Figaro is the leading national newspapers

The top sites Figaro.fr Economic Press

In a forced march. Less than a month after announcing the opening of exclusive negotiations with U.S. publisher Hearst, Lagardère has completed the sale transaction of its global news division.

According to our information, the operation reached a total value of 720 million euros, 650 million in cash and 8 million a year in royalties under the license for Elle magazine. What credit the women's magazine with a net present value of at least 70 million euros.

Lagardere, which has a framework agreement for this purpose in several countries, will retain ownership of the brand, merchandising and will have a say on the editorial line.

If Lagardère now refocuses on France, it protects the passage of one of its most beautiful asset in the national territory through a licensing agreement with a purchaser Hearst.Finally, Lagardere keeps 30 million euros of real estate that he intends to sell later. The scope of the operation on 102 newspaper titles in 15 countries. Neither Hearst nor Lagardère were willing to comment on the Sunday operation.

This sale is expected to positively surprise the market. Aware of the nuggets of the group as the 42 versions of Elle magazine and the 12 international versions of Psychology, the latter assumed an amount exceeding 500 million euros, but its high estimate never exceeded 700 million. Is roughly the turnover of the international press center, which has 5,000 employees and 58% of the total turnover of the entire magazine division of Lagardère my credit score.The latter amounting to 1.270 billion euros.

Leader

Finally, the United States, Lagardère is also the publisher of prestigious brands such as Car & Driver (1.3 million copies) and Woman's Day (3.8 million). What have raised the stakes throughout the negotiations.

This operation will therefore allow the French group company debt in late 2011 and get him out of an industry where it considers no longer have the critical mass to compete favorably and restructure. In 2009, the victim of a sharp downturn in advertising, more marked than in France International, the group had already sold five U.S. specialty magazines (Popular Photography, Flying, Boating …) to the publisher Bonnier.He had also arrested a half-dozen magazines in the world.

For his part, Hearst consolidates its leading position in the magazine not only on its home market but also globally. The latter has a total turnover of $ 4 billion and employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide. He holds a dozen magazines like Harper's Bazaar – the biggest competitor of Elle – Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Country Living with nearly 200 international versions. If the strategy is clear to the American group, Lagardère will now have to convince his own. Last week, he emphasized his desire to concentrate on its subsidiary Sports Unlimited.

ALSO READ:

"Lagardère confirmed its 2010 targets

The Paris prosecutor's office announced Friday the opening of a preliminary inquiry entrusted to the Central Directorate of Internal Intelligence (DCRI) on the industrial espionage case that shook the car manufacturer Renault. The news came a day after the filing of a complaint by Renault cons X.

A long and difficult investigation looming to lift the shadows of the case of industrial espionage to benefit a "foreign power" for which Renault has filed a complaint against X and which is now under investigation preliminary.According to the prosecutor of Paris, Jean-Claude Marin, this is "a complex matter that will require international investigations," the complaint regarding "the provision of items of interest to the French business secret to a foreign power" , not specified.

The automaker's lawyer, Maitre Jean Reinhart said that Renault had on file all information collected under the internal investigation commissioned in August 2010, when he became aware of possible acts of espionage . For their part, the three laid-off executives flatly deny the charges against them.

Michel Balthazar, a member of the Management Board of Renault, one of his deputies, Bertrand Rochette, responsible for pre-projects, and Matthieu Tenenbaum, assistant program director of electric vehicles, could dismissal for gross misconduct, which can now be made at any time."We can draw the conclusion that a letter of dismissal for gross misconduct will be sent to us," said Friday's lawyer Michel Balthazar, Master Xavier Thouvenin.

"Suspicion of corruption"

According to Le Monde on Friday, the internal investigation Renault evoked that "suspicions of corruption" and its leaders demanded a further three months to support their investigations cash till payday. The newspaper said the two authors of this investigative report, a former member of the Renault Technocentre and a former policeman, drew on the work of a private investigator who worked alone and forwarded his information informally.

The investigation, begun in August 2010, was called after sending an anonymous letter with three names, including that of Michel Balthazar, the largest of the three executives in question, a member of the Executive Committee of Renault, said Le Monde .Their suspicions about the latter had appeared 18 months earlier, after an initial anonymous letter addressed to security in which his name appeared. The name of Bertrand Rochette, one of his deputies, does not appear in these letters, while Matthieu Tenenbaum, assistant program director of the electric vehicle, is quoted allusively in the second letter. Security builder suspects Michel Balthazard have overseen the operation and acted as a recruiter of staff members, according to the World.

"We felt that after four months of investigations we had enough information to lay off three people," responded Renault. Master Thouvenin, the lawyer Michel Balthazar, asked the private investigator that Renault is heard by the police. "This story could deflate quickly if the private investigator did nothing to bring us," said he.The Renault case appears to have overtaken the French government. The Industry Minister Eric Besson regretted not to have heard at the last moment in early January.

(With agencies)

ALSO READ:

"Renault: Beijing angry accusations of espionage

"France organized against industrial espionage

Bernard Arnault chose not to sell Kenzo and revive the brand. This subsidiary of LVMH group since 1993 is often regarded as the unloved child of the French luxury empire. At that point recurrent rumors about a possible sale had surfaced before last summer. Credit Agricole, Bank of LVMH, has indeed studied the file and buyout offers were presented. But the boss of the group has denied. He decided instead to revive the brand, which recently celebrated its 40 years, but barely surviving the departure of its founder Kenzo Takada, ten years ago.

The president of the company for just two years, James Greenfield, is leaving. He should join another subsidiary of LVMH. According to our information, it will be replaced by Eric Marechalle early January. The latter shows a profile of business.After going through the clothing brand cheap C & A, he was in charge of the group Catimini kidswear Zannier. This recruitment should be only the first of a series intended to beef up the sales and marketing of Kenzo.

The boss of LVMH trying to recoup its smaller brands, which often live in the shadow of the "stars" of the group, like Vuitton, Dior, Moet & Chandon or Tag Heuer. Within the fashion industry, led by Pierre-Yves Roussel, claws Celine, Givenchy, Loewe, Pucci, Berluti Kenzo or contribute less than others in the group's profits when they are not home loss cashadvance. The revival of Celine since eighteen months, led by Phoebe Philo to the creation and Marco Gobetti management, is already a success.Bernard Arnault and Pierre-Yves Roussel would apply the same recipes at Kenzo.

The fate of the artistic director, the Italian Antonio Marras, in place since 2004, is unresolved. Extend his contract until at least 2012. His style often cultural or ethnic does not always convincing. Some models shown at the shows are not even marketed.

Restore profitability

The new boss will have to look at the structure of the collections to make the offer more consistent. Kenzo is a scratch less luxurious than its counterparts LMVH, more accessible, balanced between men and women. Its sales, estimated at 150 million euros, is at best stable and has little of the traditional sector relay accessories (bags, shoes).Moreover, if it developed in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia in recent years the brand has not a globally and remains absent from the United States. Reduced to balance in 2007 after several years of losses, the company did not release significant profit. The new boss's first task will be to redevelop the sales to restore profitability in the medium term. However, its perfumes, whose bestseller FlowerbyKenzo, are a lucrative nugget.

The Paris Bourse was again closed below the 3900 points. After long flirted with the symbolic, the CAC 40 was finally picked to finish at 3890.65 points, up 0.83%. And this in a market again deserted by investors, trading volumes have barely exceeded 1 billion euros.

Even good will in the rest of Europe, with more moderate increases: in London, the FTSE-100 index key values clôtute up 0.21% at 5996.36 points, failing to slightly below the 6000 points.In Frankfurt, the Dax index ended up.

This morning, around 10:00, however, investors have taken note of the allocation of credits to the private sector in the euro area has accelerated in November, increasing by 2% a year against 1.5% in October, according preliminary data released Wednesday by the European Central Bank (ECB).

On Thursday, the day promises to be a little more animated. Americans in particular will publish estimates of their weekly jobless claims, promises of sales for the month of November and the Chicago PMI for December.

Meanwhile, on the side of the currency, the euro continued to rise against the dollar.By early evening, the Euro advanced by 0.27% to 1.3146 dollar per euro.

Areva completes its capital increase

As for values, Areva (0.78% to 37.58 euros) has announced the completion of its capital increase reserved to Kuwait Investment Authority and the French State for a total of about 900 million euros and the launch of the capital increase in favor of holders of investment certificates for a maximum amount of 38,311,992.91 euros. The nuclear expert said in a statement that the subscription period for preferred shares without voting rights would be open from 3 to 14 January this year, while the settlement is scheduled for January 27 payday advance.

Lagardere is gaining ground on Wednesday, the New York Post, citing a third candidate for the cluster group of international magazines.Meredith Corp., which owns titles including Better Homes & Gardens, Family Circle, would be interested to buy, according to an article in the daily New York dated Wednesday. The title of the French media group gained 1.08% to 31.4 euros.

Societe Generale (0.95% to 41.90 euros) does not provide for new wave of banking consolidation in Europe in 2011 and expects another year on the volatile debt market, said its CEO Fred Oudéa in an interview with CNBC to be broadcast Wednesday.The bank reaffirmed its ability to remain independent for 2011 and will always focus on organic growth, without excluding the possibility of an acquisition if the opportunity arises.

BNP Paribas (+0.84% at 49.18 euros) froze two investment funds with a total value estimated at 236 million euros for technical reasons after the transfer of management to another investment manager. The decision a month ago, is purely administrative, said Tuesday a spokesman for the bank, denying an article published Wednesday in Le Canard chains.According to the weekly, BNP Paribas froze funds to cope with leakage of investors and an increase in redemption requests.

STMicroelectronics (+1.05% to 7.82 euros) will redeem the activities of semiconductor Arkados Group for 11 million dollars, said Tuesday the U.S. company.

Alcatel-Lucent will pay $ 137 million to the American justice in a corruption case, was the laggard of the ACC in early trading, but managed to erase its losses in mid-session: the title clinching and 0.32% to 2.21 euros. It was Tuesday the largest increase in the CAC40 at closing.