Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

November 25, 2011 - 7:48 am Comments Off

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

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

Current day and night

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

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

The CAC 40 is good despite the fear of a recession

October 25, 2011 - 6:56 am Comments Off

Optimism is more than up to the Paris Stock Exchange on Monday. After increasing by 0.61% at the opening in the wake of the Asian markets, up sharply, the CAC 40 is pressed into the red after the release of poor figures on economic activity in the euro area, dropping 0, 31% to 3162.59 points shortly before 14 hours.

Private activity has accelerated its decline in October in the euro area, the PMI reaching 47.2 against 49.1 in September when he was dropped below 50 points for the first time in two years, indicating a decline in activity. France is no exception to this trend, since the firm Markit PMI index fell to lowest in 29 months, to 46.8 points against 50.2 in September.Note that in France, business failures showed a sharp rise of 19.4% in May, a month after three consecutive monthly declines, said Monday the National Institute of Statistics.

The prospect of a solution to the debt crisis in the euro zone after the EU summit this weekend has not been sufficient to support the CAC 40. Meeting in Brussels, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel Sunday near their positions on the key issue of European bailout fund and its clout in the marketplace. However, on request of Germany, the final decision will be taken until the night of Wednesday to Thursday, after another conclave of crisis. Considering the situation "very complex", Nicolas Sarkozy has sought reassurance "negotiations progress on the issue of banks on the issue of Greece, things are progressing," he said.Selun President of the Republic, "a broad agreement is emerging on strengthening the EFSF."

For its part, Angela Merkel added that the proposed model does not imply the ECB, as advocated by France. Clearly, the European bailout fund (EFSF) leverage its resources, but no new States' contribution of the euro, or use means unlimited in principle of the ECB. With leverage, the EFSF-today with $ 440 billion, and could see his strike force raised in 1000 or € 1500 billion.

In addition, the euro area is considering creating a special fund that could be echoed by emerging countries to stem the debt crisis. China has expressed particular the possibility of financial support.Still, this idea is controversial, some states are reluctant to explicitly request the help of Beijing, according to diplomatic sources cited by AFP.

Tensions within the 27 Member States

Until particularly critical of the slow pace until the European Union to manage the crisis, the International Monetary Fund, through its Executive Director Christine Lagarde, immediately praised the "very good progress" Sunday . "It was really an effective meeting, and I hope it is really in the right direction for Wednesday," she insisted.

However, the rising discontent among the ten states of the European Union not members of the euro area, Britain in the lead, complaining of the increasing willingness of states using the common currency to make decisions without consulting them."The crisis in the euro area affects all our economies, including that of Great Britain", insisted the British Prime Minister David Cameron on Sunday. Of tit for tat, Nicolas Sarkozy replied: "We are tired of hearing you criticize us and tell us what we have to do," the French president would have dropped according to the Daily Telegraph and The Guardian, quoting diplomatic sources .

Another measure expected: the Atlantic, Barack Obama will unveil this week a series of initiatives to support the economy and that will not require congressional approval, said an official of the White House.The U.S. president will announce such a measure to facilitate the refinancing of mortgages for Americans own their homes bad credit payday loans.

Activity contracted in France in October

On the macroeconomic front, Markit publishes this morning the Flash PMI in October measuring the level of activity in the private sector in several European countries. In France, the composite index fell to 46.8 from 50.2 in September, falling below 50 which separates growth and contraction. In other words, the activity in the private sector in France shrank in October for the first time since mid-2009, through reducing the risk of recession.In Germany, private sector activity in October also falls in the area of ​​decline, with a composite index stood at 48.9, while analysts expected a growth in activity across the Rhine over the month.

Orders to industry in the euro area will be published early in the afternoon.

For its part, the ECB will publish its report weekly purchases sovereign debt at 15.30.

Oil prices were up in early trade Monday morning in electronic trading in the morning, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for December delivery gained 8 cents to 87.48 dollars on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Hand currency, the euro is stable against the dollar on Monday, the single currency displayed in the balance dollars 1.389 (-0.02%).

Bank stocks on Monday surrounded by very

The list of the progressions in the CAC 40 is dominated by the Monday morning increases of bank stocks, buoyed by hopes of an early solution to the debt crisis in Europe. Thus, BNP Paribas gained 0.25% to 31.86 euros. Allows itself Societe Generale 2.87% to 19.50 euros and Credit Agricole advance of 1.26% to 4.90 euros.

Outside the CAC 40, Faurecia (4.38% to 18.36 euros) stands up.The French automotive supplier controlled by PSA Peugeot Citroen, saw a 16% increase in sales in the third quarter to 3.8 billion euros, and confirmed its annual forecast.

The values ​​next to the lowest market-oriented Paris on Monday morning located Peugeot (-1.89% to 16.62 euros), Yellow Pages (-1.57% to 3.01 euros) and Mercyalis (-1 , 83% to 26.28 euros).

The land in the spotlight

• Gecina (0, 82% to 68.84 euros)

The land identified for the first nine months of a recurring profit of 239.8 million euros, down 8.5%, according to a statement. At six months, the decline of this indicator management was limited to 7.8%. The group does not publish its net profit for the period. He cashed for 476.5 million euros in gross rents on these nine nine months, up 2.9% over the same period in 2010.Gecina confirms its forecast of a recurring profit down 7% for the entire year.

• Icade (-1.08% to 64.30 euros)

The group released Monday property sales up 11% in the first nine months of 2011, thanks in particular to the full-year effect of the acquisition of Compagnie la Lucette. Its sales reached 1,065.8 million at September 30.

• Renault (0.40% to 27.63 euros)

The automaker expects to see its sales volumes grow in the range of 2 to 8% this year, said Carlos Tavares, the deputy CEO of the automaker, in an interview published by Automotive News.

• Sanofi (1.06% to 51.51 euros)

The pharmaceutical company announced that Lemtrada, a drug to fight against multiple sclerosis, was more effective in preventing relapse than medication legacy developed by Germany's Merck.

• April Group (3.15% to 11.95 euros) and Seb (2.36% to 59.95 euros) will also publish their turnover in the third quarter. While STMicroelectronics (0.34% to 5.33 euros) will report its third quarter results.

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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Junction box at a French household life

September 23, 2011 - 8:12 pm Comments Off

There was a time when, in the provincial lotteries, it earned only an alarm clock, a bottle of wine or a pig … Since then, cars and sunny vacations have become more valuable lots. Carrefour decided to go much further escalation in the promotion that leads its competitors.

To bring the house down, the dealer puts in. .. Phoenix house worth up to 240,000 euros. Even better, the winner will also receive a check for 70,000 euros to help it acquire the land at the place of his choice. To be housed for life by Carrefour, just shopping in one of the hypermarkets of the sign. At checkout, you get a scratch ticket. It should then save the code on the site Carrefour.fr.The draw will take place October 31.

To attract as many customers as possible in its hypermarkets, Carrefour promises that the value of the jackpot will increase the number of participants small personal loans. If they are few, it will be a modest house of 82 square meters, valued at 150,000 euros. But if the lottery wins the success hoped for, it will be an opulent house of 132 square meters, estimated at 240,000 euros.

Never in Leclerc and Auchan

With this operation, the successor to back promotions and wine fair, the retailer hopes to make its customers wait until November. To fulfill its stores, Carrefour will then be discounted to Christmas, with many offers for meals and gifts.

The winner of the lottery the moment will have to wait 2012 to celebrate the holidays in his house Carrefour, surrounded or not by products from the distributor.But the brand hopes that the proud owner never will buy at Auchan or Leclerc, and that he will remain faithful.

S & P: Berlusconi denounced political pressure and media

September 21, 2011 - 1:24 am Comments Off

"Il Cavaliere" did not like to see the note in his country degraded by Standard & Poor's. "The ratings of Standard & Poor's seem more driven by stories in the newspapers as the reality and they seem to have been negatively influenced by political considerations," said Silvio Berlusconi in a statement. The Italian prime minister said that the country has already approved measures to balance its budget in 2013 and Italy in adopting new ones to stimulate growth. The austerity plan of 54.2 billion euros adopted on September 14 does not seem to have convinced the rating agency which doubted the credibility of the government and the Italian president.

Without having published a press release responding directly to the attack of the Italian President, Standard & Poor's is fighting back."The sovereign ratings by S & P ratings are apolitical, based on the evolution of" credit risk, provided to investors, "says one in the U.S. rating agency.

Moody's and soon …

S & P also ensures that its assessment is based on "independent analysis and detailed economic and fiscal outlook in Italy and on assumptions about the expected evolution of the debt.""The ratings indicate how the various policy initiatives may impact on the financial reliability and to hear any suggestions on policies that a government should or should not continue," said the rating agency.

Entangled in new revelations about his private life, Silvio Berlusconi is aware that the decision of S & P is a blow to the country, as Moody's may degrade the note of Italy in October that had never been lowered since the beginning of the debt crisis.

Player Figaro BFM

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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The euro struck by the possible failure of Greece

September 12, 2011 - 5:08 pm Comments Off

While the euro was more resilient to the debt crisis since the beginning of the year, the European currency on Monday found the lowest level since mid-February against the dollar, under $ 1.36, and for ten years against the yen. Around 10 am (Paris time), the euro was quoted at 104.23 yen against 105.92 yen Friday and 1.3562 dollars against 1.3651 on weekends.

But more than the strength of the euro is the weakness of the dollar that kept so far the exchange rate high. Since Friday and the arrival of a new wave of panic on the stock exchanges in Europe and America, the single currency is strong baisse.Si we consider the last two sessions, the euro lost 4.69 % relative to the yen and 3.83% vis-à-vis the greenback.

"There are more ways to save Greece"

The explanation is simple: "Investors act a failure of Greece, says Andrea Tueni, an analyst at Saxo Bank.With the statements of German officials to prepare a plan to deal with a lack of Greece, they have the impression that Germany surrendered and there are more solutions to avoid bankruptcy in Greece. Europe seems to think more to save its banks. " In other words, to avoid a contagion effect to Spain or Italy. "The situation is serious and everyone is wondering how this will end," said an analyst in the currency market. New economies announced Sunday by Greece have not reassured the markets.

After flirting with $ 1.40 in recent weeks, the euro plunged below $ 1.36.

Numericable: unlimited mobile abroad

September 3, 2011 - 2:48 pm Comments Off

After launching its offer in May with mobile calls, text messages and unlimited internet for 24.90 euros monthly subscribers to its box (and 49.90 euro for non-subscribers), Numericable goes further. Reportedly, the operator will now enable call abroad from the mobile unlimited. An option to pay 10 euros per month, which will be available as of September 19 for all.

"This is a world first, exclusive service and unprecedented," enthuses Jerome Yomtov, general secretary of Numericable. "We want to bring all the mobile services already on the box at home, at home or abroad called unlimited," he says. Over 100 countries are included in this offer, including most major destinations throughout Europe, the DOM, the United States, Canada, Asia.It is extended to calls to Morocco and Algeria for Numericable subscribers who have subscribed to the "Maghreb More" on the NCbox.

This new offering "world" not only to make calls to landlines abroad, but also to the Chinese mobile, U.S. and Canada fast payday loan. And supply expected to be enriched in the coming months. "You can call the U.S. since its unlimited mobile to 34.90 euros a month. United States, to call a mobile to mobile unlimited is $ 70. In short, it will be cheaper to call the U.S. from France, than to be there! "Said Jérôme Yomtov.

Numericable says the offer will be profitable.While the cost of communications decline in Europe and the world, he found a business model by negotiating agreements with major international operators such as Verizon, Telefonica, Cable and Wireless, Tata Communications.

One way to cut the grass under the feet of Free which means lower prices but also change the mobile uses. "This is the mobile revolution continues," trumpets for days on Numericable Tweeter … which led to his being sued by Free, which considers the term as its slogan identity. Atmosphere!

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Vinci will build the Moscow subway

August 29, 2011 - 11:24 pm Comments Off

World famous for its underground parking, Vinci Park would become better known in Moscow. According to the Russian business daily Vedomosti, the group, in collaboration with its partner, the billionaire Arkadi Rotenberg, a close associate of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has offered his services for the construction of parking in the center of the capital, and extension Moscow metro.

These two proposals, which, according to officials in Moscow, are currently before the town hall. For now, the company manages parking only international airport Sheremetyevo in the north-west of Moscow. But she wants to continue to grow in the country. "Russia is one of our objectives clearly displayed.(..) We have a desire to develop ourselves in this country where the need for parking facilities are very important, "said a spokesman for Vinci, who declined to give further details on the subject.

Demand exceeds supply

Several years ago, the giant French had already proposed to invest $ 300 million (210 million) in the construction of underground parking near subway stations and in the central arteries of the capital (Tverskaya, Lubyanka). "But officials do not have their assigned sites in places as important," the newspaper said. Same for the metro, which is of interest, "which are under state protection."

Previously, the city financed the construction of car parks and subway lines with its budget without resorting to foreign investors.But today, the ability of Russian manufacturers is not enough to complete all projects planned by the city of Moscow. Therefore Vinci "has all these opportunities" to participate in construction programs, the officials commented.

Of large projects

By five years, the mayor of the Russian capital plans to create nearly 2 million parking spaces, and has already launched tenders for the construction of seven parking spaces for a total of 1520 seats. "A place so close to cost 200,000 rubles (500 euros) and will be more beneficial if an investor takes over the construction of a network," says the director of the Department of Antimonopoly Policy of Moscow Gennady Degtev.

As for the extension of twelve subway lines, the mayor of Moscow also has gigantic projects.The plan to build 14 stations expected to open within two years and opening 75 km of new lines paydayloans. To do this, it provides 343 billion rubles (8.5 billion euros) in its budget between 2012 and 2014.

Possible support for Putin

Through collaboration with the contractor Arkadi Rotenberg, Vinci won the 2009 tender to build the first section of the highway Moscow-Saint Petersburg, whose total cost is estimated at 66.081 billion rubles ( 1.65 billion). According to a former official of the Moscow mayor, support Rotenberg, close to Putin, will once again allow the French company won the contract.

The group Vinci has extensive experience in the construction of car parks in the world.He also participated in numerous construction projects in the metro French cities (Paris, Rennes) and abroad (Budapest, Athens, Hong Kong). However, analysts said, one of the main handicaps of Vinci, the lack of experience on the Russian market. And this handicap could be considered by the Russians during the bidding process. Vedomosti also states that the manufacturer Austrian Strabag also plans to get into the race for the extension of the Moscow metro.

The construction of the highway Moscow-Saint Petersburg is controversial

In July 2009, the Russian Federal Agency Rosavtodor decided to entrust the construction of the first section of the highway Moscow-Saint Petersburg (15th to 58th km) to the North-West Concession Company (NWCC), as part of a public-private project.This company is owned 50% by the French Vinci, the remaining capital is shared between the contractor and the fund Arkadi Rotenberg "N-trans." The construction should also be done with funds from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the funds of Russian banks VEB and Sberbank. Investors in the NWCC received in exchange for the right to operate the highway for 30 years. But the construction project, which started in 2010, has generated considerable controversy among associations of environmental protection because the route of the highway, which passes through a protected forest. Work has been frozen by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in August 2010 and were resumed in April 2011. After the withdrawal of the EBRD and the EIB, the group Vinci is the only Western participant in this project.

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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