Archive for the ‘world’ Category

Japan: adult diapers progressing

May 13, 2012 - 12:04 pm Comments Off

 

Generally, the prosperity of manufacturers of diapers in a country reflects both its standard of living – the disposable diaper is a commodity rich country – and its demographic effect. It is different in Japan. For the first time in its history, Unicharm, the largest Japanese manufacturer of layers, found that sales of adult models had exceeded those targeting babies for the past year. Japan shows the proportion of over 65 years the highest in the world: 23.3%, according to official figures for October. If the fertility rate (1.39 children per woman) is also anemic, seniors will comprise 40% of the population of the archipelago in fifty years. In the image of Unicharm, out to conquer the market of the third age twenty-five years here, the Japanese supermarket is mobilized on this customer, "the engine of consumption," according to vice president of the largest supermarket chain, Aeon, quoted by Bloomberg overnight pay day loans. The "baby boom" Asian only, however, limited to the Empire of the Rising Sun. If more than 65 years represent less than 9% of consumers in China, the country's one-child policy, their number was still 26 million expanded gray heads in ten years. A market in which the Japanese Unicharm wants to tackle immediately.

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"Bras postatomiques Japan

The Madrid Stock Exchange at its lowest for three years

May 3, 2012 - 11:40 am Comments Off

Presidential in major cities Paris | Leeds | Lyons | Toulouse | Leeds | Sheffield | Liverpool | Bordeaux | Lille

A French company wins a contract to a Chinese competitor

April 20, 2012 - 7:48 am Comments Off

 

SELNI, last French manufacturer of motors for washing machines, has just robbed a mega contract to one of its Chinese competitors. This firm, which currently employs 150 people, provide from the end of the year in Vestel, a Turkish specialist appliances, two million engines per year, and for ten years. "This is a contract of several hundred million euros, whereby we are doubling our production. In France today, we can compete with the Chinese, "says Philippe Vidal, CEO of SELNI.

SELNI, whose turnover is currently around 25 million euros, has managed to match Chinese prices, while offering products of superior quality. "Our responsiveness has also weighed in the balance. Our technical tool allows us to fill an order within 48 hours, against more than 6 weeks for the Chinese, who suffer from very long delivery times, "says the director.

Production in Turkey

However, the company based in Nevers comeback. Hard hit by the crisis of 2008-2009, she almost put the key under the door, before being taken up by several of its executives. Today she is back on track. "We have optimized our products as our organization. Engines, for example, have been lightened up. It has replaced some components in copper with aluminum, but harder to work cheaper. Internally, we developed the versatility of each, "says Philippe Duval.

This additional production does not necessarily translate provided by new hires. 800,000 engines for entry level to provide Vestel annually SELNI had to agree to perform in Turkey, 3 kilometers from his client. "We would not have been able to make these motors very cheap in France, and we reserve margin. This proximity allows us to provide just-in Vestel, explains Philippe Duval. We approach our customers as we did before the automakers. "

From 30 to 40 people will be employed in Turkey. "That leaves 1.2 million engines a year to produce more in Nevers."

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"Sales of electrical resist the crisis

Spain: the rich in the sights

April 10, 2012 - 1:28 pm Comments Off

 

Subject to market pressure, the Spanish government is ready to break all taboos to address the public accounts of the country. Latest idea, unveiled Monday on a radio by the Minister of Economy, Luis de Guindos: as health care are no longer free for Spaniards earning over 100,000 euros per year. "The regions are responsible for health and education spending. Take into consideration that, in the case of health expenditure, we have accumulated a debt of 15 billion euros and that this can not happen again, "justified the Minister.

The reform is far from being seated. But the Conservative government of Mariano Rajoy has indeed decided to initiate discussions with local executives on this delicate subject. "The regions have to give up spending much of what they spend today," said the budget minister, Cristobal Montoro, in an interview in El Mundo. This can only go through cuts in health and education, two positions that absorb 60% of the budgets of the Spanish regions. Even weakened, the Socialist Party, however, give account of the voice, his number two Elena Valenciano, who said that the decline of these two budgets was a "red line".

British example

If the regions are on the spot like is that they are the cause of the slippage of the Spanish public deficit, which reached 8 guaranteed online personal loans.5% of GDP in 2011 instead of the 6% forecast. To reduce the deficit to 5.3% the government has unveiled a new austerity plan (down from departmental budgets, cuts tax loopholes etc..). But that was not enough to reassure markets. Hence this new trial balloon, that was just after the Minister of Economy assured in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Saturday that Spain will emerge from this crisis "without outside help."

The idea of ​​restricting the access of the wealthiest households in the social system is not new in Europe. The UK in 2013 will remove child benefit when parents earn over 88,000 pounds (106,000 euros). In France, however, no candidate provides such a measure. Health, successive governments have preferred to increase the share paid by all French. One solution that the Spanish Economy Minister determines not to be "a panacea".

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Commercial: the tendency is to "hunters"

April 9, 2012 - 11:04 am Comments Off

 

With nearly 38,500 hiring managers conducted in 2011 and 39,000 more planned in 2012, APEC confirms that the sales function is still leading the race. Unquestionably, it is one of the engines of job market or non-management frameworks. But in an uncertain period, where companies seek to expand into new markets, priority is given to hunters.

Alice Guy-Bolmin, responsible recruitment and career management, Inmac WStore.

Monti played his last card on the reform of labor law

March 21, 2012 - 5:20 pm Comments Off

 

Firmly supported by the Head of State, Mario Monti has pledged Tuesday in an unprecedented forcing to wrest the agreement of the unions and management to a comprehensive reform of labor law.

A real marathon began Tuesday afternoon at the Palazzo Chigi to convince the social partners to accept a proposed capital for renewed growth and the return of foreign investment. Leaders of business and all confederations workers clashed Council President and several ministers, including Labour, Elsa Fornero, who prepared the reform.

Throughout the morning, it has stepped up informal contacts to try to reduce the opposition of the main workers confederation, CGIL, strongly opposes any amendment to Article 18 of the Labour Code that prevents layoffs "without just cause. "

In a manner quite unusual, the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, has thrown its full authority in the balance by calling the social partners to "understand that it is time to uphold the public interest."

Line of Sight markets

The Head of State supports the efforts of the government: It is serious that there is no agreement. You must negotiate. "Meanwhile, Mario Monti has invited the unions to" give up something. "

The economic commentator duCorriere della SeraFrancesco Giavazzi reminded Tuesday that Italy was still in the crosshairs of the markets: "One wonders how investors would react if they had to learn German as (for lack of labor market reform), Italy is not able to return to balanced budgets in 2013 as planned. "

The measures taken so far have been welcomed by the markets, evidenced by the reduction of 166 basis points differential between Treasury bonds and German Bunds Italian: "The largest decline in the euro area", welcomed European Central Bank (ECB). Susanna Camusso, the patroness of the CGIL, Elsa Fornero recognizes the merit of the stubbornness. This minister, who broke down in tears in front of television cameras by saying the word "austerity" when presenting the government's agenda Monti last November, has proved a tough negotiator and determined.

Moderate unions and political parties had welcomed last week in his proposed reform, complex and highly structured. Until the CGIL flu not the wheels.

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Complaints about mobile phones rose by 11%

March 17, 2012 - 9:40 pm Comments Off

 

When the VAT hike in early 2011 and the arrival of Free Mobile early 2012, mobile operators have seen their customers from leaving in droves to a competitor in search of a better price. "The price does not explain everything. We underestimated the frustration of customers, "recently confessed an operator. Because, rightly or wrongly, telecom focus the discontent of consumers. The sector holds in the palm of 2011 claims (24%), before the consumer (22%) and computers (12%), as the documentary credit.

Within the family telecoms, mobile internet is back in front in claims: in 2011, 53% of complaints received by the French Association of telecom users (AFUTT) concerned the mobile Internet access 38% and 9% fixed phone. Mobile-related complaints rose 11%, while those related to Internet were down 28%.

In Mobile, the fourth door on the invoice disputes: consumers are left with overruns, mostly due to premium rate calls as the SMS + or spam for users scammed. Also involved, according to AFUTT, misuse of mobile Internet abroad, and the complexity of fee schedules.

Furthermore the bill, disputes also include the termination of the contract. Customers who have purchased a package included with phone and find themselves thus committed 12 or 24 months, resent not being able to cancel without charge, including for reasons considered legitimate: death, moving abroad, loss of employment, etc fast cash without a hassle..

After contacting customer service, then the service consumer of their operator, the aggrieved clients can always resort to the mediator. "When the Ombudsman receives, operators generally find a solution because their desire is to reduce complaints," said Francois Cuinat, mediator of electronic communications. Complaints are more likely among clients of virtual operators (MVNO) than the "big" operators, indicates the AFUTT. "Orange, SFR and Bouygues have an index of conflict less than 1, the Bouygues Telecom is much improved this year. That of MVNOs still significantly higher, "said the AFUTT.

In this context, what impact will the arrival of Free Mobile? "We have nothing to report about Free Mobile. But for the mobile market as a whole, we are very interrogative on the effect of a competition that would be too exclusively based on prices, said Jacques Pomonti, president of the AFUTT. We hope that the price competition will not affect the quality of service or investment in infrastructure, "he concluded.

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France, European champion of opinion on the Internet

March 11, 2012 - 8:16 am Comments Off

 

The French like their views. In 2011, the 45 million Internet account that France have published on the Web about 1.1 million recommendations on local businesses, according Nomao, a search engine "places" which screens more than 100 daily million web pages in five languages. Hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, hairdressers or museums, more than 15 million locations that are subject to the judgments of users throughout Europe. And the French are the champions in this field. They "posting" a comment for 40 users, one for 45 against Italy, one in Spain to 51, and 55 for the UK. Germany is lagging behind, with a comment for 106 users.

Changes in gross terms, notices on the Internet between 2007 and 2011. Photo credit: Nomao.

PSA could join forces with General Motors

February 22, 2012 - 1:04 pm Comments Off

 

PSA Peugeot Citroen could find salvation in America. Held by the French manufacturer Peugeot family experiencing great difficulties – the automotive division has lost money in 2011 – has confirmed tonight that "considering proposed cooperation and alliances (…) in its globalization strategy and performance improvement. " The group does not directly project with General Motors but Latribune.fr and Financial Times both report that the French group is in advanced talks with the U.S. giant. For now, GM has declined comment. Kelly Cusinato, spokesman for the group, simply reaffirmed that GM "regularly speak to other companies in the sector but we do not comment anything beyond that." According Latribune.fr, discussions between the two automakers started there "few months" might even lead to an agreement that would be formalized during the Geneva Motor Show in early March.

The reconciliation between the two groups are "an alliance, not a merger or ad hoc cooperation" as the French group may have with competitors like Ford, Toyota and BMW. Such a project would enable a PSA to get a second wind while the group in crisis is unable to fund the investment needed for its redevelopment internationally.

If this project goes to completion, it would make strategic sense, and would bring synergies for both groups. It would create a powerful global industry leader with over 11 million vehicles sold per year worldwide. PSA lacks international basis although it is a major strength of GM, the first manufacturer in the world. For its part, the American manufacturer said last week that he wants to refocus the strategy of its European subsidiary Opel, which has lost $ 747 million in 2011. "An alliance between Peugeot and Opel would be strategic because their production units do not overlap. PSA is mainly located in France and in southern and eastern Europe as Opel is more present in Germany and the north, "says the Financial Times.

But any agreement must first be approved by the Peugeot family, which owns 30.9% of the capital and 48.3% of the voting rights of PSA, said LaTribune.fr reminder that the American manufacturer is "twice as big "in sales as its French rival.  

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Halal meat industry rejects accusations of Le Pen

February 19, 2012 - 6:00 pm Comments Off

 

Saturday accused by Marine Le Pen to slaughter according to halal "all meat" distributed in the Ile-de-France, industrialists defend themselves. President of the National Association of interprofessional Livestock and Meat (Interbev), interviewed by France Info, the judge charged the president of the National Front "absolutely false".

"In the Ile-de-France, a vast majority of meat is not slaughtered according to halal or kosher," which involves killing animals without stunning, ensures Dominique Langlois. "It may be that parts or pieces of meat from carcasses are slaughtered according to these rites, but that does not change the quality of meat and it does not change at all the qualities of the product," adds Will it.

For professionals in the meat, the charge of Marine Le Pen "is meant strictly political and did not match the reality of things." "It's a debate that can only be detrimental to both the meat industry to French and French production that does not need it," warned the president of Interbev.

The animal rights groups mobilized

This debate is not new. Since a 1964 decree, the slaughter in France requires the stunning of animals before killing, thereby mitigating their suffering. But European legislation provides an exemption, "when stunning is not compatible with the ritual prescriptions under the free exercise of religion."

Last year, six associations have denounced the increasing proportion of animals slaughtered according to Jewish or Muslim rites. According to the Foundation Brigitte Bardot, who had made an investigation in slaughterhouses, more than 60% of sheep and goats, 28% of adult cattle and 43% of calves were then killed without stunning.

In Ile-de-France, according to a study by the House of livestock and quoted this week on the show Special Envoy on France 2, the five slaughterhouses in the region adhere to Islamic and does not stun their animals. The reasons are economic, in order to distribute the meat in the halal butchers and traditional, where consumers are not necessarily aware of the method of slaughter.

Approval before waive stunning

Two bills were filed in late 2010, the Senate to the Assembly, without success, to obtain a specific labeling of meat slaughtered without stunning paperless payday loans. "The consumer has the right to know what he eats. He has the right not to eat meat slaughtered in a ritual which does not believe him, "argued the UMP deputy Nicolas Dhuicq. A new amendment, introduced in September 2011, was also rejected.

On 29 December, a decree was published in the Official Journal, however, requiring 275 French slaughterhouses to obtain, on or after 1 July 2012, before an official authorization from the rule of stunning. "It does [may] be granted only to slaughterhouses in favor [...] of a registration system to verify that it is used to slaughter without stunning as a result of justifying the commercial orders, "said the Ministry of Agriculture.

Marine Le Pen wants to complain

The animal rights groups have expressed quite satisfied with this text. "Being able to justify a ritual slaughter is a specific order is important because, currently, most of the meat of this kind of slaughter is found in conventional circuits without any indication to consumers," recalled Christophe Marie, spokeswoman Brigitte Bardot Foundation.

Marine Le Pen was not in favor waiting for the entry into force of the decree. On the sidelines of the convention of his party, being held this weekend in Lille, it announced its intention to attack "a few major retail supermarkets in Ile-de-France for misrepresentation of the product." She said wanting to file a complaint with a civil order for a judge to be seized, which could lead to an investigation of several months.

On the government side, said Sunday it does not have "accurate information" about the slaughter in Ile-de-France. But a spokesman for the Ministry of Food said that the meat supply in the region "did not originate exclusively" in the slaughterhouses of "proximity", which "may have to supply a particular community, and therefore work according ritual slaughter of halal or kosher. "

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