Archive for the ‘money’ Category

Energy: simplified access to social tariffs

October 18, 2011 - 11:28 am Comments Off

Avoid the brake of the form. The Minister of Industry and Energy, Eric Besson to file on Monday an order to simplify the procedures for access to social tariffs for electricity and gas, announced Europe 1.

These rates are for beneficiaries of the Universal Health Coverage (CMU) or any person whose monthly income is less than 634 euros per month (for a single person). To request the application of these rates, you must obtain and complete an administrative form. Exercise inherently complicated for the target populations, not used to write. Worse, most of the time, people who could benefit do not even know they exist!

Effective in 15 days

The decree, in preparation since last year is expected to overcome these obstacles by automating access to these rates.Now, energy suppliers will receive a file directly from the CMU and will identify the affected customers. They will inform them they automatically assign the preferential tariff within 15 days guaranteed pay day loans. The new procedure should apply from the publication of the decree. EDF has already announced that its computer systems were ready.

The social tariff saves on the electricity bill of around 90 euros per year and 142 euros for the gas bill. A helping hand needed for 13% of households suffering from fuel poverty is to say that spends more than 10% of their budgets to cover their energy needs. Some 600,000 households currently receive social tariffs. The decree could raise the total to 1.5 million.

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Of French investors affected by the rise of the Swiss franc

October 7, 2011 - 8:16 am Comments Off

The rise of the Swiss franc does not penalize only the inhabitants of the Helvetic Confederation. It also makes havoc among bank customers. The French Association of bank users (AFUB) has already received nearly a hundred and fifty complaints from individuals who have subscribed to loans indexed to the Swiss currency. "But according to our estimates, at least fifteen thousand people were involved across France," Serge evaluates Master, managing director of the association. Financial products attractive at first sight, but which have proved extremely costly since the flight of the franc.

Almost all the loans that AFUB is aware have been contracted in 2008 or 2009 with Crédit Agricole and BNP Paribas. In one third of cases, these loans were to finance the purchase of a principal residence, the others having been made in the context of a rental investment."It's BNP Paribas has been the most offensive. 70% of the loans we have studied have also been contracted to her. These banks were dangling their customers better rates, while ensuring that the franc would remain stable, "said Serge Master.

A law in Hungary

This analysis proved wrong. Safe haven in the crisis, the Swiss franc has appreciated almost 25% between early January and late summer, causing an extra cost of the same magnitude for the subscribers. With money borrowed in the range of 200,000 euros to 300,000 euros, the difference is significant.

If the monthly payments have not changed, the duration of loans as the amount still outstanding has increased drastically. On a forum, a client of BNP Paribas complains, for example, seeing his outstanding capital increase from 133,000 euros to 162,000 euros in the space of a year and a half.

Solutions seem possible, however, in each case. "For three cases, the banks agreed to enter into an agreement with their client. They could exchange their loans indexed to the Swiss franc against a loan in euros. But the whole point of the negotiations is who supports the additional costs of increasing the currency of Switzerland. Banks have sometimes agreed to take half their dependents, "said Serge Master.

In Hungary, where the phenomenon took on a different scale – two thirds of the loans are currently denominated in Swiss francs – the government took drastic measures. A recent law forced banks to exchange the loans against loans in forints, with a fixed preferential 25% below the current market rate. For banks, this measure will cost. Austrian institutions, highly established in Hungary, could include losing the order of 6 billion euros.Furious, the sector has entered the Hungarian Constitutional Court, without success. But the EU could declare the process illegal.

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France refuses definitely shale gas

October 1, 2011 - 2:00 pm Comments Off

Shale gas are not likely to be exploited in France. This was decided by the government, according to our information, is about to repeal the three exploration permits in possession of the American Schuepbach respectively (in the Ardèche and the Larzac) and French Total (near Montelimar) . The decision should be formalized at the start of next week. It comes close a file full of controversy.

Under the legislation July 13 that prohibits the controversial technique of hydraulic fracturing to exploit shale gas, licensees had to put the government in September a report in which they detail their exploration techniques. Sixty-four reports have been well reviewed by the Directorate General for Energy and Climate (DGEC).Most relate to conventional deposits and are not a problem.

In its report, stressed Schuepbach did not give up hydraulic fracturing, considered the only available technique to extract oil trapped in narrow fissures of shale payday loan. The operator is therefore logical to withdraw his license by the government.

However, Total indicated on September 12 to do without this process. "We do not take for granted the release of Total, we will use the report" had then told the BBC the Minister for Ecology Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet. According to a source familiar with the matter, the experts found the report of the French group in accordance with law. Unless last-minute turnaround, it was not enough to prevent the decision to revoke the license of Montelimar."Nobody would have understood that we the American differences and not the French," said an industry expert.

Eurazeo would be interested in Axa Private Equity

September 30, 2011 - 8:44 am Comments Off

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.

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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.

Further increases in cigarette prices to

September 25, 2011 - 2:56 am Comments Off

It's already Christmas in the "civet"! The government has made on Friday, a nice gift for tobacconists. Their pay on each pack of cigarettes will increase from 6.5% to 6.9% of the selling price. This increase will begin in January 2012 and will be spread over five years, the duration of the new "future contract" signed between Valérie Pécresse, Minister of Budget and Pascal Montredon, president of the Confederation of tobacconists. This is in addition to various support measures for tobacco shops located near the border and in rural areas, estimated at 320 million euros.

The increase in compensation benefits, it at all tobacco shops alike. Paradoxical, because "the sale of tobacco as aids have allowed your average income increase by 57% between 2002 and 2010," as recalled by Valerie Pécresse to tobacconists, who held their annual conference in Paris Friday."In total, more than 1 billion euros that came with your support and profession, which has also benefited, for many of you, the effects of the reduction in VAT in catering."

"At least 10 cents more per pack"

In early 2003, a sharp rise in prices had collapsed sales and forced the closure of nearly 5,000 retailers. There remains 28,000. But since 2004, the price increase regular, moderate (6% per year since 2009) did not in fact impact on the number of cigarettes sold in tobacconists, to the dismay of supporters of tobacco control and Department of Health. As a result, sales of tobacco outlets rose year after year at the rate of inflation of cigarettes for their benefit as for that of tobacco, and especially of the state, who pocketed 80% of price of a pack, which brings in each year over 10 billion euros Business Card Holders.

While the additional gift to tobacconists would have no direct impact on government accounts. In all likelihood, the increase will be offset in compensation not to lower fees charged by Bercy, which closely monitors its accounts, but rather by a decrease in compensation of the tobacco industry, as was the case in the previous contract for the future.

To the extent that tobacco companies have no intention of making less money, they will offset the decline in their pay on each packet by an increase in their prices. "To erase an annual decline of 0.1% of our earnings should be increased by at least 10 cents the price of a package," says one manufacturer. "It's a vicious cycle that will strengthen the cause of the difficulties of cross-border tobacco shops," adds another.

Tobacco companies can increase their prices at the beginning of each quarter.Their next rate adjustment will occur not necessarily next January, to the extent that prices will rise by 6% already on Monday, October 17 or 10, as decided by the government. The pack of Marlboro will then 5.90 to 6.20 euros.

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Arte is committed to regain his hearing

September 17, 2011 - 9:32 pm Comments Off

Veronique Cayla, President of Arte since last January, is working to redress the Franco-German channel.

LE FIGARO. – Are you worried hearings lower than for DTT channels?

Veronique Cayla. – Arte was affected later by the arrival of DTT. It was only in 2009 that the audience began to drop out. Until then, the evening of Arte has remained at around 3% audience share and, earlier this year, we went down to 1.8% and 1.5% in the evening on the entire day. As France 5, the transition to DTT implies, moreover, Arte for the transition to broadcast 24 hours 24. While the chain of France Televisions significantly increased its investment in programs, Arte spent only 5 million per year to its schedule of the day, offering viewers between 5:00 and 7:01 p.m. showcase particularly poor.Most of the budgetary effort focused on the distribution costs which increased by 46% between 2007 and 2011.

Our new contract with the state gives us a public grant of 270 million euros in 2012, an increase of 7.3% over 2011. The entire increase will be allocated to programs. In return, we will, over the next five years to reverse the curve of the hearing and to win back viewers. I believe that today, no historical chain would risk such a commitment!

The group Arte has a budget of more than 400 million euros (250 million for France). Is it normal in view of its audience?

Arte is a chain serving the Franco-German broadcast in both countries and whose mission is to produce works (fiction, documentaries, films, live shows …). Which necessarily more expensive.In addition, because of bilingualism, Arte can not be a TV stream as simultaneous translation is simply unbearable for viewers.

Your audience is close to 60 years. What will you do to rejuvenate?

There is no question of rejuvenating the audience but to expand it. We find in fact that the same programs that are viewed on our antenna by more than 55 years seduce our site arte.tv 40 years. In other words, these are not programs that age the hearing but the media. I hope so much courage to all those whose strategy based on a rejuvenation of their audience on television! With Arte, we believe that if we suffered on TNT, Internet will save us.

As for the grid, we will work by step, our goal this year is the access to work and then we will address the day gradually up towards midday.

What are the developments on the Internet?

Arte has always been way ahead of the Internet, as evidenced also the success of Arte + 7, our catch-up TV, Arte Live Web, our platform for concerts and live performances, and Arte Creative devoted to art. Today, viewers may find this offer via mobile applications. We will amplify this group policy by continuing to create specific content for the Web. The recent history proves audiovisual Arte must not remain isolated but create a "group" around its antenna.We plan to create three other platforms that could be spent, for example, environment, film and history.

In 2012 and 2013, we will focus on the production of hybrid programs that can be broadcast in television and declined at the same time on the Internet. So we will keep our lead on the connected TV is a blessing to us! It will enable us to attract a wider audience in television and offer a more demanding public and sharp versions of these programs, all on the same screen. At the same time, we will work to relinéarisation part of our program digital platforms to allow viewers to create their own channels Web2.0.

Some accuse you of being more a chain of discovery.What do you say?

Given the history of the chain, it was normal to do work of historical reconciliation between our two countries. That's why the story has long been the focus of programming Arte. Today, there is no reason not to add more in this chain. We must look at the world. Otherwise, Arte no sense in relation to public expectations. The discovery programs are quite a place on Arte.

Job creation slowed employees

September 9, 2011 - 5:52 am Comments Off

Despite zero growth in the second quarter, the French economy continues to create jobs, but at a slower pace. Payroll employment grew by 0.2% in the second quarter, according to INSEE and employment center, and 0.3%, according to ACOSS. This low growth follows the sharp rise in the previous quarter (0.3% employment center, and even 0.5% or INSEE ACOSS).

Depending on whether one considers the figures released by the three institutions, which use slightly different methods of calculation but that publish their data at the same time Thursday morning, it was 33,000 to 55,000 jobs were created during the second quarter . The French economy finds a job creation rate closer to that of 2010.

Fewer jobs created in the tertiary sector, the most promising

The tertiary sector is once again benefiting the most from this dynamic.By itself, it carries the bulk of net job creations. Payroll employment rose to 0.3% (0.4% according to ACOSS), although note that INSEE has created half the jobs in the previous quarter (69,200 to 32,100 jobs against first quarter) fast cash advance loan.

Employment in industry also continues to stabilize. After ten years of bleeding, loss of this sector had continued to widen in the first quarter. Again, the industry recorded a near-stability of its workforce, with 300 stations destroyed in the second quarter as employment center, a flat evolution, also observed by ACOSS. Perhaps a sign that the adjustment of long-term employment in the sector is nearing its end.

Finally, the interim, a leading indicator of employment, is down sharply, however. After two years of steady increase, temporary employment drops to 0.5% over the quarter.A change in both positive and negative, in part due to a higher reactivity of the interim depressed economic conditions, and another part in more sustainable employment creation by firms.

Salary: companies are rising in 2012

September 7, 2011 - 1:36 pm Comments Off

Finally a positive signal in the current economic environment. According to the firm AON-Hewitt, the companies expect an increase of 3% of their budgets for salary increases in 2012, against 2.8% this year. According to the 183 companies surveyed in this study, the general increases to 1.9% (against 1.7% in 2011) and the individual, mainly intended for managers, 2.7% (against 2.3% in 2011 ). These prospects for wage increases are close to pre-crisis levels of 2008, but achieving them. In 2009, budgets were part of an overall increase in growth of 3%, but reached 3.3% in 2008.

If companies somewhat loose purse strings is to best manage a triple constraint, says Ariane de Calbiac, head of compensation consulting at Aon, Hewitt."Their priorities for 2012 are at the same time to maintain the purchasing power of their employees, retain their best people while controlling costs payday advance online." The "talent retention" is indeed an urgent need for HR managers at a time when the rate of commitment of employees show great signs of weakness in a company in three.

The variable has the dimension

The current stock market turmoil, with their potential economic consequences of corporate life, are they likely to question the good intentions wage. Not at this time, meet officials of AON-Hewitt. "The forecasts are reliable at this point. The survey was conducted between late June and 19 August.At that time, companies were already aware of the economic uncertainty, "insists Ariane Calbiac.

Other trends survey wages, AON-Hewitt is the further development of variable compensation, including among the non-executives, and increase the overall value of the "package" of compensation, which includes the Perco or employee ownership.

Indecision for Wall Street

August 26, 2011 - 5:52 am Comments Off

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

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

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

Unemployment menu

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

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

Meanwhile Jackson Hole

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

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