Archive for the ‘people’ Category

"Consumers will be better protected"

July 23, 2010 - 7:20 am Comments Off

ABC News – Where is the bill that protects the personal assets of individual entrepreneurs?

Herve Novelli – The decrees of applications of this law appear before the end of the year for implementation status as of 1 January 2011. We will do everything to create a sole proprietorship with limited liability (EIRL) is simple. It is possible to create an online EIRL site counter-entreprises.fr. I also implemented a feature that allows the entrepreneur to avoid having to give a personal guarantee to the bank when he wants to borrow money, this financial product will be managed by OSEO will guarantee up to 70% maximum loan granted by the bank.

Banks are hostile to the creation of a sole proprietorship to limited liability.How to convince?

Banks must be with contractors, as the state has to be by their side when they needed it. I will ask the banks in September to explain the importance of this reform on 1.5 million individual entrepreneurs. I do not want there to be ruined because of artisans of a bankruptcy professional.

This Order is being signed and will include officials from exercising a complementary service activities to the person.

The study group set up with the budget minister working for the simplicity of the status of self-contractor be extended to 1.5 million self-employed. The aim is that the deadlines for payroll taxes are more in line with sales receipts.It is better to consider the impacts on cash social security contributions, especially when the turnover decreased quick pay day loan. The working group will issue its findings in late September.

I signed on July 28 financing agreements on the training of entrepreneurs with self-insurance fund training. The State will fund this year to the tune of 5 million euros.

Protecting consumers, as business support is essential to revitalize our economy. I decided three types of operation for this semester. The administration of fraud prevention is better control of online commerce sites that are becoming more numerous. It has created 17,000 sites trade thanks to the status of self-contractor. 24 million French people use them, and nearly one in two French selects his holiday on the internet.I will start early September also strengthened controls to enforce the rights of students who rent rooms and furnished and are sometimes subject to unfair terms. Finally, I want to limit the accidents of everyday life that are still too many in connection with the Consumer Safety Commission mandated that I have on this

After several months of negotiations between MEDEF and consumer associations, we have reached an agreement on the protection of personal digital data. Consumers who buy a product on the Internet should give their consent for their personal information is transmitted to other sites. They will oppose it easier to use their personal data for commercial purposes.

BP could contain the oil spill by Monday

July 11, 2010 - 7:00 pm Comments Off

This is the most reassuring news announced by the U.S. authorities for more than two months. According to Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen American to oversee cleanup operations in the Gulf of Mexico, BP should be able to contain 100% the gap in the well from which oil flows to by Monday. A new funnel, bigger than previous ones, is currently installed by the British oil.

This funnel, called "Top Hat Number 10", should recover up to 80,000 barrels of oil per day (12.7 million liters), against 25,000 now. The authorities are optimistic that based on their assessments, the well lost more than 60,000 barrels per day. The previous dome will be first removed. A large quantity of oil escape so well for 48 hours.But once the new funnel posed, the results will be immediate, promises Thad Allen.

Since April 20, the day of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon platform off the coast of Louisiana, BP has increased its attempts to clogging, all unsuccessful.

No stop before August

BP was more cautious in its forecasts. Bob Dudley, responsible for managing the disaster, spoke of another scenario where difficulties in installing the new funnel could delay the time from Monday to Thursday.

But authorities are confident: "We have the climate we need," said Thad Allen. The admiral, however, required to calm the enthusiasm that followed the announcement. "I used the word 'contain' and not 'stop'," he commented. According to him, the well would not be closed as well as two-pass will not be completed.These wells, dug deep to inject cement and mud, should not be installed until mid-August. Once the leak stopped, the extensive cleaning and restoration of the ratings will continue.

Anadarko does not pay

On this last point, BP was again struck Friday denied Anadarko Petroleum. The company, which owns 25% of wells responsible for the spill, said she would not pay the $ 272 million that BP is asking her to cover their share of cleanup costs, according to U.S. law known pollution.

On June 18, the tension was raised a notch between the two partners lorsqu'Anadarko stated that the explosion of April 20 on the platform Deepwater Horizon, "was preventable and was a direct result of decisions and actions BP unthinking.

In another e-mail sent Friday, a spokesman for Anadarko, John Christiansen, however, felt that his group remained "committed to working in good faith with BP to reach a satisfactory resolution."

BP is now awaiting the response of Mitsui, which owns 10% of the wells. The British oil giant is claiming $ 112 million for cleanup costs. The company has not yet made its position.

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Railing against the tax loopholes green

July 9, 2010 - 12:20 pm Comments Off

After the government advertisement To reduce the funds allocated to several departments, Jean-Louis Borloo has described some of the measures envisaged to his ministry, according to Les Echos published on Friday. The Department of Ecology and Sustainable Development is indeed an important concern to put on a diet of government: it gives rise to tax benefits more expensive for the state (15 billion euros after Les Echos) that it would reduce to 8.5 to 10 billion euros. Moreover, these measures increase of 800 million euros annually.

In all, nearly two billion euros would be saved by 2012, including one billion on niches "green" these tax benefits related to work "green". Jean-Louis Borloo has raised the deduction available to individuals who install photovoltaic panels on the roof of their home.The shortfall for the State is estimated at 800 million euros. It could therefore be reduced by at least 50% reserved for existing homes.

The list of works "green" that give rise to tax benefits could also be reduced. The tax cuts themselves could also decrease by 10%. As for renovations "non-green", they could lose their advantage of a VAT at 5.5%.

Finally, the government also calls into question his support for biofuels. They enjoy a double benefit: a reduced fee and the requirement for all distributors to offer for sale.

Tensions between China and foreign bosses

July 3, 2010 - 2:52 pm Comments Off

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graphics.

The controversy swells daily. After the Europeans, it is now the boss of General Electric to accuse China of putting a spoke in the wheels of foreign companies. "I'm really worried, I am not sure that ultimately they want that we will succeed," he complained to an audience of businessmen from Italy, reported the Financial Times on Friday.

Last Tuesday was a report of the European Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, which accused China to increase the discriminatory measures. He denounced a "discretionary application of laws and regulations, the registration process unnecessarily complicated and" inconsistencies in the application of national criteria.

In Beijing, many business leaders say the word to cover: it is increasingly difficult to work in China."They understand that they can leave if they are not happy," says a corporate lawyer. Since April, the party newspaper, the China Daily, had sniffed the wind of revolt and was almost threatening."When foreign companies encounter difficulties in their projects (…) if they do nothing but complain that the foreign media and amplify the case without analyzing the merits and slandering the Chinese economy, they will end up delaying the process of improving the investment environment, "he wrote.

Funny way to appease the spirits when President Hu Jintao says it wants to "take concrete steps to reject any form of protectionism and unequivocal support free trade."

The World Trade Organization said in its latest report "Interest in China and its foreign suppliers of more rapid liberalization of China's service industries.But Beijing, which, in a gesture of goodwill, will leave July 15 rebates for export taxes on certain sensitive products, prefer to believe that foreigners "grunt" on account of wages.

Rising labor costs

Demonstration of support to employees of Foxconn, Hong Kong in June Photo credits: AFP

How reinvents its Carrefour hypermarkets

June 30, 2010 - 3:04 pm Comments Off

"Re-enchantment of the hypermarket." Of the seven projects announced just last year by Lars Olofsson, Executive Director of Carrefour, the biggest boost to sales in hypermarkets, particularly the larger ones, whose attendance continues to decline in France.

Tests are carried out recently in a handful of stores in Belgium, Spain and Chambourcy, near Paris. But in Rhone-Alps that focuses the bulk of the efforts of the distributor réattirer customers and make them spend. The group also planned to hold its investor days, 15 and 16 September in Lyon.Between two presentations on the progress of plan savings of 3.1 billion euros, brokers and analysts will be invited to a tour of hypermarkets completely "re-enchanted.

According to our information, the most spectacular project will be unveiled in Ecully, in the upmarket suburb of Lyon. Work will start in the coming days and be completed in late August. The different radii, starting with those on the non-food (textiles, hi-fi …) will be reorganized in the form of blocks, or shops open on a driveway. A radical break with the organization of gondolas "spike", perpendicular to the rays.

Expensive and spectacular

Another radical change, hyper might be organized around a single street, which would allow customers to wander at will … without missing a spoke."A spiral path, which would impose a smooth path to clients as Ikea," says one close to the matter. A precision belied by Carrefour.

Rather expensive, spectacular concept, designed by the design office Malherbe, should be reserved for the most hyper among the high-end 231 of the brand in France. Also, changes may not be as radical, but they should nevertheless be numerous, as in Venissieux.

There remains the issue of the less profitable stores in the chain. Here the group test by the end of an adaptation of his Brazilian concept Atacadao involving hypermarket and hard discount, with few services and references 7000 sold to declining prices based on volumes purchased.Eventually, nearly a dozen stores could be converted, and renamed Hypercash.

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Around the world, the administration is making the diet

June 10, 2010 - 4:12 am Comments Off

Washington wants to reduce public expenditure

Barack Obama on Tuesday gave members of his Cabinet until Sept. 13 so they identify reductions of 5% of funds in their agencies and departments. That extra effort the White House to reduce spending in response to American concerns before the expected surge in debt to Uncle Sam more than 100% of GDP in 2012. However, the actual impact of this initiative looks marginal. It will only result in recommendations to Congress may be accepted for fiscal year 2012, not before. In addition, over 60% of federal spending by definition beyond these potential restrictions. These expenses called "automatic" which include debt service, expenses of the pension plan and those of public health systems.

In February, Bush has already requested a freeze for three years (after inflation) of many public spending "not automatic". But the categories have been added untouchable military spending, those relating to civilian security and international aid. But the Pentagon budget alone is $ 700 billion, or half of total discretionary spending. Moreover, the Congress, including Republicans, routinely refuses the few savings proposed by the White House in weapons programs. In point lead Barack Obama now threatening to veto the budget law drafted for the Pentagon by Congress.

Moscow is 20% of staff within

The ad has a taste for rigor, but it is not formally rigorous.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday ordered his administration to make proposals to reduce by 20% the number of officials in the country. "It is obviously, a far too severe, which can not be made mechanically or on the basis of purely financial criteria. We are talking about the fate of people, "said the head of the Kremlin, which gave no further details. Already last week, during a cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin had discussed such a proposal would lead to the removal of 120 Guaranteed pay day loans.000 positions and would save 43 billion rubles (1.13 billion euros). In contrast, half of this allocation would serve to increase the salaries of other cadres of the public.Despite the beginnings of the European crisis that could hit Russia, the government continues to boast its program of social spending that benefits particularly to retirees. In the past, such cost-saving measures have already been proposed, without being acted upon.

Germany on the wagon

Monday is a detailed history of savings – 80 billion euros by 2014 – announced by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In order of priority expenditures of the federal government. Number of allocations will be scaled down and almost 15,000 jobs disappear in the civil service by 2014.The removal of 40,000 soldiers in the Bundeswehr is also under consideration.

New sections in Hungary

After his rescue in late 2008 by the IMF, the World Bank and the European Union, Hungary had announced an initial dose of austerity with a wage freeze for two years in the public and the removal of the 13th month for pensioners. Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday a detailed budget which provides, in addition to creating a financial tax, further cuts in public spending to the tune of 425 million euros. The revenue cap leaders and the public is considered a strict examination of spending to purchase a car or phone service.

Elsewhere in Europe

It is not good to be official now in Europe.Down 5-15% of wages in Ireland, abolition of 13th and 14th month and down 7% in Greece pensions, freeze wages and non-replacement of a staff of two in Portugal, wage freeze in Italy, Spain, hiring freeze in Great Britain … Besides the cuts in operating expenses that are spreading.

Deficits: Brussels will validate the national budgets

June 8, 2010 - 11:20 am Comments Off

This Monday has been the day of surprises. A few hours after completing the rescue funds to the euro, the European Union president Herman Van Rompuy announced Monday night that the EU finance ministers agreed that the Commission consider their national budgets. An agreement all the more unexpected given that some hours before the meeting between Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel to be held on Monday evening was canceled at the last moment. Every indication that this was yet another sign of the tension between France and Germany. And even if both sides because they advanced the calendar.Markets do not make mistakes: Shortly after the cancellation, the CAC 40 lost more than 1%, while it had managed to return to balance in mid-session.

Budgetary discipline

Anyway, this agreement will enable Europe to invent a new fiscal discipline. This is especially good news that Germany and France had openly opposed on this issue. We remember especially about the government spokesman, Luc Chatel, who said "this is not the European Commission to approve the budget of the French nation."

The EU finance ministers have also agreed Monday night to create new sanctions against countries too indebted to strengthen the Stability Pact.The agreement envisages the possibility of sanctions even when the current limit of 3% of GDP by the Covenant for public deficits has not yet expired, said President of the European Union, Herman Van Rompuy, at a press conference. The idea would be to trigger the excessive deficit procedures earlier for countries whose debt is not declining fast enough low fee pay day loans. It also put more emphasis on the future monitoring of the overall debt deemed not exceed 60% of GDP, and not just the annual deficits.

A modification of treaties is not excluded

The ministers have asked the European Commission to make proposals to define new sanctions.Brussels thinking, for example the suspension of payment of certain subsidies from the European Union for uncooperative countries. Germany also advocates for the suspension of voting rights at European ministerial meetings in Brussels. "We talked about but everyone is aware that financial sanctions not require a treaty amendment," said Herman Van Rompuy.He added: "We have not ruled out a treaty amendment, but has concentrated on what can be done at short notice and under the current treaty that does not have to go to the ahead and impose sanctions, non-financial, "he added, however, ensuring that there was" no taboos "for the future.

These sanctions, which remain to be defined, could be decided whether a country has ignored warnings from its partners on the drift of public accounts, or if the overall level of debt swells too fast.

In an environment where markets are concerned about the financial situation now in Hungary – which is not part of the Euro-zone, this agreement, which follows the completion of the rescue funds of the euro, should enable bring some stability to financial markets that really need it.

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The CAC 40 is expected to start in the red

May 15, 2010 - 11:23 am Comments Off

The Paris Bourse is scheduled to begin last week's meeting in decline, in the wake of U.S. markets worried about the difficulties in Europe – Wall Street closed down over 1% – and the Nikkei in Tokyo down the same order Friday morning.

Since the beginning of the week, the CAC 40, which replaced the European aid plan of 750 billion euros announced in the night from Sunday to Monday. Last week, the CAC 40 index had fallen more than 11%.

Thursday evening, the benchmark index of Paris has stood still while the rest of Europe has evolved disparate: Spanish IBEX fell 1.11% to 9,977 points, when the BEL 20 has folded 0.22%, to 2534 points. While the Dax frankfurt took some 1.1% to 6251 points and the FTSE in London, 0.93%, to 5433 points.

The IMF: a report on public finances G20

Today, Europe is free of major statistical.In contrast, the United States, the indices continue to rain. Are scheduled for this afternoon publication of retail sales in April, very controlled, industrial production for the same month – also highly regarded – the index of confidence from the University of Michigan for the month of May – for a forecast of economic health – and stocks and sales companies in March.

Other important events this Friday, the IMF will publish its report at 5:01 p.m. on the budget deficit and public debt G20 Fast Cash Without a hassle.

EADS net profit down 39%

The giant European aerospace firm EADS said Friday a 39% drop in net profit to 103 million euros. The A380 still weighs heavily on the performance of EADS. The group has however confirmed its objectives for the year.

For this Friday, it is the only publication of results and no presentation of turnover is expected.

However, investors will follow the evolution of Cr?dit Agricole, showered yesterday: Securities fell 3.56% Thursday evening at the closing (the largest drop in the CAC 40). The bank posted earnings of 470 million euros in the first quarter when its rivals Societe Generale and BNP Paribas are respectively reached profits of more than 1 billion euros and 2.3 billion in the first quarter of 2010.

Furthermore, the Attorney General of New York has opened an investigation into eight banks, including Credit Agricole, to determine if they had provided misleading information about their mortgages before the subprime crisis, "according to The New York Times.

EDF side, the series on electricity prices is not over.Priced at 42 euros per MWh, the price increases would be 11.4% in 2011 and 3.5% per year between 2011 and 2025, according to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Figures disputed by EDF. The government – which sets prices for electricity – and EDF belie such increase.

Questions about the crisis in the euro area

April 29, 2010 - 6:00 pm Comments Off

"Greece can she leave the euro area?

"What is the role of rating agencies?

"Greece can go bankrupt?

"Is there a risk of contagion to the rest of the euro area?

"What risks for European banks?

"Why do they attack the markets as Portugal?

"Does France have any reason to worry?

• Greece can she leave the euro area?

»Back to top

The want it – despite the financial risks – Greece would have the greatest difficulty to get out of the eurozone for legal reasons. If a Member State may be expelled from the EU if it no longer meets the political criteria, this option is not provided by the Treaties for the euro area. This legal vacuum is subject to interpretation."It is inconceivable that a Member State legally so the euro area without retiring in parallel with the European Union," says Phoebus Athanassiou, legal adviser to the ECB. As for expulsion from the monetary union, it would be "virtually impossible from a legal standpoint, because it would amend the treaties unanimously, says he, in a research note. Angela Merkel had called in March to exclude the possibility of a country does not fulfill the conditions of membership of the single currency. Without revising the treaties, the option of expulsion would be "perhaps achievable through the back door" by establishing a de facto monetary union with two speeds. The emerging countries could keep the euro as parallel currency.But it is more of a possibility is more theoretical than practical, as the hazards are many.

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"Merkel should be able to exclude a country from the euro

• What is the role of rating agencies?

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Rating agencies – the number three in the world – are private and independent agencies that assign a score to countries or financial companies. Investors rely on this note to know the risk level of bonds they buy. Each agency to its own methodology. Standard & Poor's, for example, attributes the "AAA" rating to the best transmitters, then descends to "AA" and "A" and "BBB". Each time, these notes are accompanied by signs + or -.Then, the notes come down to "BB" and are then considered to reflect the level of obligations "rotten" … In general, the rating reflects the percentage probability that the issuer will default. Thus, an issuer rated triple AAA, like France, has 0% chance to fail in three years. An issuer 'BB', as is now Greece, 23.08% to fail within three years.

• Greece can go bankrupt?

»Back to top

Photo credits: AFP

De Beers will reduce its production of diamonds

April 26, 2010 - 8:48 am Comments Off

The De Beers diamond bet on a shortage of diamonds in the long term. To prolong the life of its mines, therefore he wants to reduce its production. Such a decision could have an immediate impact on prices, with an increase of 5% according to some analysts, De Beers alone representing 40% of sales of rough diamonds throughout the world.

The world provides a stabilization of its production to 40 million carats in the next two years, against 48 million carats in 2008.The predicted shortage should be accelerated by new demand from Asian countries, including China, where these stones are very popular online cash advance.

In twenty years, no site has been discovered that can compete with the mines operated by De Beers in South Africa or that of Alrosa in Russia.

After a difficult 2009 which resulted in losses, the diamond table on profits this year, and until 2014. Some analysts see the move as a preamble to a re-IPO of the group.

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