Archive for the ‘news’ Category

The world at the bedside of the euro

September 14, 2011 - 1:56 pm Comments Off

While Europeans are struggling to develop a common strategy of leaving the euro crisis, several major powers, anxious, just lend a hand to the old continent. The U.S. treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, will participate Friday and Saturday at a meeting of finance ministers of euro zone countries to be held in Poland. This is the first time a foreign official is invited to a meeting of the Eurogroup.

Officially, "the presence of a representative of the American administration will be part of the transatlantic dialogue on the current macroeconomic and financial issues," said the Polish Presidency in a statement. But in fact, Americans doubt the ability of Europeans to find a solution and Timothy Geithner should urge his counterparts to intensify efforts to resolve the crisis of the euro, says Bloomberg.One analyst told the agency "the Americans were anxious quietly and discreetly present, they become intensely anxious and present."

In the wake of rumors about a possible support from China to Italy, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told him at the opening of Summer Davos Forum, held for three days in Tianjin, China that his country "will continue to increase its investments in Europe Internet Payday loans." The prime minister said he was confident "China believes that the European economy can rebound." But Wen Jiabao said, "I hope that EU leaders consider their relationship with courage to China a strategic point of view." China wants to be granted market economy status from the European Union, which considers that the conditions are not yet in place.

China is not the only emerging economy to say ready to support the European Union.In fact, the five major emerging economies, BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), will discuss next week the opportunity to help the Union européenne.Ils could include increasing their holdings of bonds denominated in euros.

And Europe itself is mobilized. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel should discuss the situation of the country on a conference call scheduled for late afternoon.

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Recovery, precision: United States and Europe differ

September 11, 2011 - 2:44 pm Comments Off

Pressure on Europe. Even before the G7, which met Friday night in Marseille finance ministers and central bank governors of the G7 (U.S., Japan, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, UK), Christine Lagarde urged leaders of the Old Continent to "act now and boldly."

Executive Director of the IMF did not hesitate to dramatize the situation. "The world economy is in a period fraught with danger," she said in London, alongside the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, before flying to Marseille.She reiterated her concerns vis-à-vis European banks: "Faced with the rising risks and uncertainties and the need to convince the markets, some need to strengthen their capital." We explained to the IMF and the European economies are funded for three quarters by banks and only a quarter through the markets (the opposite in the U.S.) and are highly dependent on the health of their banking system.

Old friend of Christine Lagarde, the U.S. Treasury Secretary has also multiplied the statements at the Europeans. In an article in the Financial Times, Timothy Geithner asked "an unequivocal commitment to support the European financial system and ensure that states can borrow at interest rates as they adopt sustainable reforms."Then, Friday afternoon, he returned to the charge, live from the Old Port with Bloomberg TV in the rooms was sending a market enchanting image: "It is very important for the world that the Europeans do the right thing , he said. It is in the interest of the United States that the euro will survive. "

Tensions

The G7 meeting ended, Friday night, for a press conference Baroin, who chaired the proceedings. The central bankers have published "terms of reference" that mark a commitment to "strong" and "coordinated," said Baroin, on four themes: the challenges of the global economy, the balance between fiscal consolidation and recovery, pursuing monetary policies that allow banks to supply the necessary liquidity, and the reform of financial regulation.

The responses of the G7 remains limited.The possibility of an announcement of coordinated central bank for monetary policy even more generous seems unlikely, "I do not think we will see that," Geithner acknowledged. The IMF, whose services are exposed to a new state G7 encrypted in the world economy, called for a stimulus modulated, depending on the situation of each country, welcoming the passage the Obama plan for employment (see below below).

But Germany, the only G7 country whose public finances could provide room to maneuver, had refused in advance: "Combating the crisis with a debt even more pronounced, it would be the wrong path to take," said Wolfgang Schäuble, his finance minister. But that's another German who fed the conversations, Jürgen Stark, the chief economist of the ECB, resigned.

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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.

The station is expected to increase its prices

August 27, 2011 - 9:00 pm Comments Off

It is a small revolution for the station and its customers: under a decree published this summer in a discreet and identified by Challenges.fr, the railway company could now set its prices much more freely. Gone are the peak and normal periods, the timing was officially recorded in advance and who presided over the setting of tariffs.

"The decree allows to adjust the price cap to the station for the gradual opening to competition of the railway market," says the text. Clearly, to boost the attractiveness and profitability of the public entity within the opening to competition of the European network, SNCF should be able to offer its customers a range of rates much larger, developed based on supply and demand.

Rate increases on the crowded trains

The gain to consumers is mixed.On some busy routes, these new capabilities would enable the public body to go beyond the current full price of the second class in rush hour fast cash without a hassle. Holidaymakers taking TGV lines busy for example will be expected to pay more. However, for trains shunned by customers, the SNCF would be allowed to go below rates currently charged to attract new passengers.

Such liberalization was requested by the SNCF to the government at the end of last year, in return for the introduction of a tax to finance inter-deficient lines. Neither station nor the government have so far expressed on the subject.Signatory to the decree, the Minister of Transport, Thierry Mariani, was at the time held that freedom of the SNCF tariff should remain regulated, "in that competition does not really exist."

According to Challenges, consumer groups such as FNAUT will be formally consulted before the application of the decree, "probably in the fall."

Industrial activity is contracting in August

August 23, 2011 - 12:56 pm Comments Off

The slowdown in industry was confirmed in France. So much so that the activity in this sector has even contracted in August, according to the leading index prepared by Markit PMI. The latter appears to 49.3 points (against 50.5 in July) this passage below 50 points signals a return to recession in the sector. This is the fourth consecutive monthly decline in French industrial activity. The first time since 2009. "The volume of new orders in manufacturing decreases, the contraction is also most severe for 27 months," Markit analysis.

These figures confirm the slowdown in the second quarter as the government puts the finishing touches on additional measures of rigor.

The overall activity in France continues to grow

The French, however, overall activity continues to increase, to 53.6 points in August (from 53.2 in July), on the strength of services. The services sector recorded the first increase of its activity for three months, to 56.1 points against 54.2 a month earlier. "The increase in the number of new contracts received by service providers is accelerating and shows a high of three months," says Markit.But negative signal, trust services companies about their business prospects over-year declines, to an extent not seen since the crisis began in October 2008.

Whether in the servcies or industry, employment, however, continues to progress with a "rate of creation of posts which falls to its highest level in four months," said Mark. Jack Kennedy, economist at Markit, said further that "despite the growing concern in financial markets about the French debt, growth does not record further deterioration." The horizon is by no means completely clear. The economist considers indeed "likely that growth will remain sluggish in the third quarter."

The activity in the eurozone at their lowest for two years

Throughout the euro area, the overall activity stood at 51.1 points in August, unchanged from July."Growth in the Eurozone recorded a low of two years, the volume of new orders contracting again," said Mark. Services continued to grow at 51.5 points against 51.6 in July. This is its lowest growth since September 2009. At the same time, the industry is stagnating, just under 50 points, to 49.7, against 50.4 in July.

The coming months ahead do not pleasing. The index of business prospects in the service sector recorded its largest decline since October 2008. In industry, the activity should also slow in the short term, according to Markit.

"The private sector activity in the Eurozone only records again in August that a marginal growth, demonstrating for the past few months, the weakest pace of expansion in two years," notes Chris Williamson, economist Chief at Markit.It expects a growth lower than the already weak second quarter to 0.2% was established. He added: "The near stagnation of business in Germany, so far one of the main engines of growth in the euro area, is a source of even greater concern."

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Eurobonds: too expensive for Germany

August 22, 2011 - 9:00 am Comments Off

Eurobonds are too expensive. It is seeking to demonstrate that the calculations of the German Ministry of Finance, taken by the weekly Der Spiegel on Sunday. This mechanism, which is to pool the debts of 17 countries in the euro area, regardless of their health, the first year would cost 2.5 billion euros of interest in addition to the budget of the German finance minister. This cost would be twice as high the second year to a total of 20 to 25 billion at the end of ten years.

On this basis, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has once again firmly rejected the introduction of this system, although many market professionals believe that this is the solution to the crisis of European sovereign debt. "The Eurobonds are quite the wrong response to the crisis of the moment.They would lead us to a union of debt and not a union of stability, "she says in an interview with ZDF.

His comments echo those made by the Minister of Economy Philip Rösler the newspaper Bild am Sonntag: "The Euro-bonds are a bad signal sent to national economies failed. Cover the risks of other countries with Eurobonds would immediately drive up interest rates in Germany. This would have dramatic effects on growth in our country, "said he.

Strengthening governance

Despite all these outputs, the German government did not draw a line under this system. The finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, has again said that the countries of the euro area could issue Eurobonds if échafaudent prior fiscal policy and fiscal policy.But this move towards integration is not fast enough, he said. "Most Member States are not quite ready to accept the necessary limitations on national sovereignty. But believe me, it's a problem we can solve, "said the Minister in an interview with Welt am Sonntag.

Wishing to lead by example, Wolfgang Schäuble has said for his part personally prepared to transfer sovereignty to Brussels. "As a person, I would be ready. The idea of ​​a European finance minister I have no problem.But as finance minister I say that it is our duty to solve problems here and now, and that as soon as possible based on existing contracts. "

Wolfgang Schäuble will meet his French counterpart Francois Baroin Tuesday to discuss the harmonization of corporate tax and the introduction of a tax on financial transactions. France is the country with Germany most strongly opposed to the Eurobonds.

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HP in the footsteps of IBM

August 20, 2011 - 2:40 am Comments Off

Duly noted. The world of PC has failed to develop at the same time dedicated to business activities and those aimed at individuals. Léo Apotheker has decided to separate from its computers, tablets and smartphones, "knocked out Apple "in the words of one U.S. analyst.

The stock has also lost more than 20% at the opening of Wall Street on Friday.A heavy penalty for a major strategic shift and two ads that markets generally enjoy little HP is preparing to spend 10 billion dollars for the purchase of Autonomy, the UK's leading software, and provided that the split of its business PC would cost one billion dollars in restructuring costs.

Just like what IBM has done six years ago, HP has chosen to focus on the activities dedicated to businesses (services, servers, data storage, network), while maintaining the imaging and printing. This focus on the professional world seems "logical" in light of the past of its CEO. Léo Apotheker has spent over twenty years with the German software company SAP, which he directed for eight years. These are businesses that generate margins sharply higher than in hardware sales.In 2010, business services have made 57 billion dollars in sales with in the key, 8.7 billion of operating income. Opposite, the PC division, tablet and phone posted a turnover of 40 billion turnover, but only 2 billion loss payday loan lenders.

By refocusing on activities "business," Leo Apotheker also takes the bet that he will develop the activities of data storage and servers. HP boss set including data analysis and cloud computing (computer services remotely) to raise. Competitors will be renamed the IBM, Oracle, Cisco and not Apple.

Consecration of the failure

The future of the PC division, mobile and tablet (PSG) remains uncertain. All scenarios are possible.A split, with a possible initial public offering that would make an independent business, but competition to apply. Redemption, we know the ambitions of China's Lenovo, which has already bought the PC division of IBM and wants to become world number one. Finally, pure and simple abandonment is also not excluded. This scenario is the worst, while HP has spent $ 25 billion a decade ago to buy Compaq and 1.8 billion last year for Palm. The group also invested in the revitalization of its software WebOS, and in the manufacture of tablets and smartphones with touchpad that just marketing. "In this area, not a sprint, it's a marathon," said Leo Apotheker, in an interview with Le Figaro, in late June. It seems that the runner will be out of breath from the first kilometer.

Bad mood on the stock exchange in Asia

August 18, 2011 - 8:44 am Comments Off

Asian stock markets are in a bad mood on Thursday. Investors in the region are not reassured Wall Street that ended Wednesday in the balance after a volatile session. Fears of an economic slowdown in the world come to the fore.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange sets the tone with an opening in the red, down 0.42% for the Nikkei. The Japanese benchmark index widened its losses in the morning to show a decline of 1.24% to 8944 points at a time of closing. A new mixed indicators on the front disrupted operators: Japan reported in a July trade surplus, four months after the earthquake of March 11, but the surplus has shrunk by more than 90% because of lower exports and a surge in energy costs.The third largest economy last month generated a trading profit of 72.5 billion yen (650 million), confirming a recovery in economic activity, but its exports fell by 3.3%.

Tokyo is hit by a rise in the yen against the dollar, which traded below 77 yen again this morning values ​​exporters are under pressure, in the image of Mazda Motor (-5.65%), Fuji Heavy Industries (-5 , 16%), Nissan (-2.96%). The electronics sector is hit by the fall of Dell in the U.S. markets. Toshiba lost 4.45% and 2.34% Panasonic.

Hong Kong is the perfect balance while in Shanghai, the stock market unscrews from 0.34%. The Korean Kospi lost 2.95%, the S & P Australian loose 1.40% and the Indian Sensex was down 0.73%.

Oil off again down

Oil prices were down Thursday morning in electronic trading in Asia as investors await key U.S. economic indicators, the first consumer of black gold in the world. On the menu, including: the weekly jobless claims, the index of leading indicators and consumer prices.

In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery lost 33 cents to 87.25 dollars. That of Brent North Sea crude for September delivery yielded 30 cents to 110.30 dollars.

IMF calls for austerity avoid too abrupt

August 16, 2011 - 2:48 pm Comments Off

Fight against the problems of sovereign debt should not kill growth. This is the message sent Tuesday by Christine Lagarde, director of the International Monetary Fund, the world's governments. While massive austerity plans have been passed or are under preparation in several countries, particularly in Europe, it warns against the creation of a "sudden brake budget" that would result in " block the global recovery. "

In this article published by the Financial Times, Christine Lagarde is primarily intended "advanced economies", on the same alarmist tone than its predecessor, Dominique Strauss-Kahn last year. For these governments, while fiscal adjustment "to solve the puzzle is to go neither too fast nor too slow."She said "what is needed is to focus on both fiscal consolidation over the medium-term and short-term support for growth and employment no fax payday loan. This may seem contradictory, but the two are mutually reinforcing, "she writes. "The spending cuts will not suffice, revenue should also increase, and the first choice should focus on measures that affect less demand," said she.

Restoring market confidence

The former French finance minister also notes that "the current market turmoil has shaken confidence in the economy in the world and prompted many to conclude that all the political possibilities had been exhausted."

But "this impression is false and could lead to paralysis," she warns.And remember that "markets can be of two opinions: they disapprove of a high public debt – and may welcome a strong fiscal consolidation – they like even less a low or negative growth."

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Crisis: the proposals of Aubry and Royal

August 14, 2011 - 7:32 pm Comments Off

• The observation

Martine Aubry. "France is suffering from a triple deficit," the public finances, employment, and competitiveness, it says in the Journal du Dimanche (JDD). Two thirds of the deficits are due to the policies of Nicolas Sarkozy, she said, based on a report of the Court of Auditors.

Ségolène Royal. "It's not just a financial crisis but a crisis of civilization," suggests the president of the Poitou-Charentes in an interview with Le Parisien-Aujourd'hui en France. She said "the level of life and employment" are threatened.

• Debt

Aubry. You should immediately "remove 10 billion euros of tax loopholes" as mayor of Lille. It promises to allocate 50% of the financial benefit generated by this measure and the resumption of growth to reduce deficits, echoing a measure explicitly listed in the program of the PS.It is opposed by contrast to the golden rule, namely fixed in the Constitution the principle of balance of public finances.

Royal. "I move that the expenses are secured by new savings." It accuses Nicolas Sarkozy had "doubled the deficit" in part because of "tax breaks to large fortunes".

• Taxes

Aubry. "To boost growth, [should] drop to 20% corporate tax (IS) that reinvest" and penalize those who prefer dividends by increasing the SI to 40%.

Royal. She wants the Estates General on the reform of tax and tax. Then "a referendum to stabilize the rules for five years fast cash online." It also intends to "fight against injustice and tax fraud."

• Employment

Aubry. The candidate wants to eliminate tax benefits related to overtime "that block the hiring."She wants to allocate 50% of future budgetary scope to "investment for the future", that is to say much to use.

Royal. It does not mention once the words "employment" and "unemployment" in the interview to Paris to denounce the current situation. Without advancing a proposal on the subject.

• Finance

Aubry. "It is time to take up the policies on finance," she proclaims. She wants to create an independent rating agency and a financial transaction tax of 0.05% in Europe. What to report 200 billion euros a year, she said.

Royal. It offers "the entry of the state capital of banks that are helped," and wants "to prohibit speculation in government debt." It ensures that in countries where the banking system is controlled by the state, "growth is the appointment."

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