Archive for the ‘world’ Category

Pain: an ATM in Paris

August 13, 2011 - 12:04 am Comments Off

In recent weeks, a new generation of vending machines first appeared in Paris. Located near the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, the machine offers, 24 and 24 hours seven days a week, fresh bread, sold a euro baguette. One hundred and twenty rods craft, pre-cooked for ten minutes, are placed for maximum seventy-two hours in the refrigerated dispenser. The end of the cooking is done at the pace of demand for ten more minutes. They can then be kept for more than five hours, to ensure consumers of warm bread.

The origin of this world first, as original as vending machines swimwear and sunglasses located at the entrance to the pools, is Jean-Louis Hecht.The baker was able to marry fifties vending, mainly industrial and bakery.

"Small steps slowly"

It all began in 2001 when the contractor completed the first prototype of its distributor, together with a technical school in Moselle. He suggested "small steps small steps" toward a machine patented by the company and assembly of industrial equipment Mecondielle Portuguese. The investment is huge for this baker without the cost of the assembly, the machine comes already at 30,000 euros. Then you would need two hundred and fifty hours of assembly.

The machine, the first of which is in commercial service since January in Moselle, in the other bakery owned by Jean-Louis Hecht, naturally allows to inflate sales, thanks to its opening hours."It is also a strong vehicle for promoting that is not gray at the bakery, says Jean-Louis Hecht. On the contrary, this innovation is a service that complements the baker's trade but do not replace. "

He said it will become indispensable in France and abroad, because of the quality of the product offered and the economic viability extraordinary profits are 30% higher than the store, according to the contractor.

A solution for villages without trade

In Paris, the distributor already sells 80 sticks a day, and Jean-Louis Hecht look forward to go further. The entrepreneur wants to "make the most of" his idea and does not sell his patent. He thinks big and would like to extend it by buying several bakeries and industrial equipment, backed by the facade.

The baker has other ambitions for his vending machine.A consulting firm located in Portugal working on a version independent of any trade, which would be installed in remote locations such as villages, tourist resorts or passage.

With the unmistakable design of his machine, Jean-Louis Hecht even considering creating a string, which spread in the desert regions of all trade, to allow each person to have its traditional fresh baguette every day. He finally claims that his invention has international potential, in Europe or the United States, where consumers are fond of "French baguette."

ALSO READ:

"The stick is new at McDonald's

The rebound continues on the Cac 40

August 10, 2011 - 3:08 pm Comments Off

Like Wall Street Tuesday night, which has rebounded strongly, and Asian markets Wednesday morning, that show – more moderate – from green, the Paris remains well in positive territory. At the opening at 9 am the Cac 40 rising 1.27% to still 3216.59 points. In London, the FTSE s lead of more than 1.7% in early trade, while the Dax in Frankfurt climbed 2.09% to 5040.68 points.

Investors are relieved by the outcome of the Fed, which ensured that it would extend its monetary policy ultra-accommodating while maintaining zero interest rates until at least mid-2012 and exploring other measures to support economy U.S.. The Fed confirmed that the U.S. economy is in trouble, especially since the deterioration in the debt rating of American long-term.

But the French side, poor statistical stopping the rebound came as the Paris Bourse was trying to afford.French industrial production has displayed sharp decline in June, -1.6% compared to May after a significant increase of 1.9% the previous month, said Wednesday the National Institute of Statistics (INSEE) . In the only manufacturing industry, which excludes mining and construction, production was also significantly decreased in volume compared to May (-1.9%), according to INSEE. She was up sharply in the previous month (+1.4%).

Now that the mood calmed down on the front of the U.S. economy, more eyes turn to Europe, a somewhat forgotten during the American episode, but continues to skate on the issue of debt. But the urgency is "crucial to restore market confidence," stressed the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy.But disagreements between countries are delaying the implementation of the rescue plan agreed in June

U.S. oil stocks on the radar screen

From a macroeconomic point of view, in France, the current account deficit narrowed in June to 3.4 billion euros against 5 Payday advance.5 billion in May, mainly due to a significant decline in the deficit of trade in goods, said Wednesday the Bank of France. The deficit of trade in goods reached 5.8 billion euros (7.5 billion after May) while the surplus in services trade has shown an increase ($ 1.5 billion from $ 0.8 billion) .

This is especially the United States the figures are viewed. Weekly crude inventories will be closely monitored while the oil has again depreciated sharply: Oil prices ended Tuesday to its lowest level since September 29, 2010, yielding about 2.5% in New York under the $ 80.At 20 hours, will be published the figures of budget execution in July.

GDF Suez profits down 23%

Values ​​on the forehead, the only value of the Paris stock to remain in Sanofi ke deckhouse is: -0.06% to 47.23 euros.

Note that GDF Suez (3.40% to 20.70 euros) issued a net profit down 23% to 2.74 billion euros in the first half of 2011. Mestrallet, interviewed by Le Figaro on Wednesday that his group believes in the process of deleveraging, which has signed a strategic partnership with China, is well equipped to benefit from growth in emerging markets.

Bourbon (5.90% to 23.34 euros) Wednesday reported a sharp increase in sales in the first half thanks to the continued improvement in the utilization of its fleet of bottom of market recovery.

Scor (3.16% to 15.81 euros) announced in a statement that it has completed the acquisition of the mortality of Transamerica Re, a division of AEGON, and it took effect from Wednesday. The amount of the transaction announced April 26 totaled 912.5 million dollars, said Scor.

Atari (17.69% to 1.73 euro) said Tuesday it has completed the sale of development studio at Cryptic Studios games Chinese Perfect World, listed in the U.S., for gross proceeds of approximately 35 million euros.

A site offers to refund the parking PV

August 5, 2011 - 8:16 am Comments Off

The dream of motorists has it become reality? The site offers Kidioui.com for several days until September 30 to adjust the PV parking offenders who collect the votes of visitors to its site. The principle is simple: anyone who wants to be reimbursed must register on the mini social network for this purpose, explain the context in which the fine was imposed, and get as many votes as euros to pay.

Each registrant may, in fact, a vote for a candidate for reimbursement. A voting system which limits the scope of the regulations to be sent. "Not to push the crime", only minutes of parking are also affected by this unusual offer, which kidioui.com starts to make itself known to the public.

The site, which usually sells cars and scooters new discount Internet, hopes to boost its sales.Opportunely launched after the passage of 11 euros to 17 euros in the price of parking fine, this communication campaign is already bearing fruit, says Uri Stopek, co-founder of the site. "In five days, we recorded over 20,000 visitors to our dedicated website. And in July, while the beta site was just launched, our sales were maintained, when new car registrations were down overall, "said he.

Budget "unlimited"

To date, the bill for this operation is approximately 2000 euros. But the site states that its budget is "unlimited." "The cost of the campaign will be proportional to its impact on public opinion. Plus we will pay fines, and we will have visitors to the site, "said Uri Stopek. This strategy, which uses a bait to attract the interest, is not new.Two years ago, the company had pushed the Rentabiliweb ploy to organize distribution of tickets in central Paris … finally canceled for security reasons.

"This type of operation, a relatively low cost compared to a conventional campaign, designed to make short-term buzz. It is a blow, Eric Weerdmeester analysis, associate director of marketing consulting firm Numsight. This generates awareness, but does not contribute to building a lasting positive image. "

But this is perhaps not the sole interest of the brand. For beyond the mere impact on the visibility of the site, the operation provides the same time to Kidioui.com data on a variety of offenders, which will then be reused for future solicitation. "Very few dealers who now offer their customers targeted offers and packaged.But this site has to do a formidable tool, said Eric Weerdmeester. It is in my opinion his best card to play. "

Greece: France does not want to talk about non-payment

July 22, 2011 - 11:16 am Comments Off

Greece Is in default? For Baroin and Valerie Pécresse, the answer is no. The Minister of Economy, interviewed on RTL on Friday morning, and budget minister, responding to RMC, however, swept this term used by many analysts in the wake of the passage of the bailout of the country, which provides including an extension of the term loan to Greece and lower borrowing rates. "This track is discarded because it would result in the destabilization of the deep zone," said Baroin. "These are not the words we use. Greece will repay its debt, "added Valerie Pécresse.

According to the Minister of Economy, the "partial failure" is that "legal characterization" that rating agencies could use in the coming days. "They will do what they want," says he.The derivatives market professionals, meeting within the International Swaps and Derivatives Association "(ISDA), should just meet in the coming days," probably "even today, to determine whether the new aid plan Greece is a "credit event".

Whatever their decision, Baroin determines that the plan provides an adequate response to address the situation: "This plan is a firewall. There will be the Central Bank to play its role as lender and the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), more flexible, which will intervene to prevent attacks by speculators. "

Banks will no longer be sought in the future

For the Minister of Economy, the agreement reached in Brussels provides answers "exceptional, deep, powerful, durable giving guarantees to Greece to support the continuity of its delivery to an acceptable level.""This is a response to avoid any risk of infection by a public-private and technical arrangements for the European fund, which also outlines the future prospects of the future European economic governance," he added. Regarding private sector involvement, the economy minister reiterated that private creditors are not required to save other countries in the euro area. "This is not one second that the private sector finds himself called for a voluntary basis for Portugal, Ireland, which are two other countries in the European assistance," he said firmly.

"Many things have changed yesterday. It was a real go of history which gives a more stable Europe, "said Baroin. Valérie Pécresse also welcomes the "Instrument for Stability" what happened to the EFSF, "beginning of a European Monetary Fund."She said the new rescue plan was necessary to "save and protect the euro." "This is a reference currency that allows France to have the confidence of investors. If we had dropped Greece, it was the French who would have paid, "she says.

The government spokesman also announced that "the Prime Minister will receive all 11 hours of national representation: the Senate president, the president of the National Assembly, the chairmen of Finance, European Affairs to present the rescue plan for Greece, which was adopted yesterday and tell them the consequences for France. "

ALSO READ:

"The euro area off the Greek fire

"Nicolas Sarkozy resolder the Franco-German

"SPECIAL – The states facing bankruptcy

Competition: A Survey of Google in the U.S.

June 24, 2011 - 7:16 pm Comments Off

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is preparing to open an antitrust investigation of Google, said the Wall Street Journal last night. According to the daily U.S. economy, sending requests for information would be imminent. A committee of five people in the U.S. federal agency seeks to determine whether Google has abused its dominant position in the Web, particularly in the context of its advertising activities. They represent 97% of its turnover.

So far, the U.S. competition had not addressed the situation as Google through various acquisitions, such as the acquisition of DoubleClick Internet governance, governance AdMob mobile or, recently, the specialist ITA Tourism Online. The investigation by the FTC in addition to the one that opened in November the European Commission.Google is particularly suspected of promoting its own services in search results.

Fillon wants to tax companies that pay too bosses

June 18, 2011 - 12:20 pm Comments Off

Overtax businesses too generous with their leaders. The idea was launched by Prime Minister Francois Fillon in an interview published Saturday in Nice Matin: "With the government, I think about a device that is to overtax the companies issuing exorbitant fees."

The head of government is responding to the proposal of Xavier Bertrand, Minister of Labour and Employment, to "tax" or "frame" the "extravagant salaries." It lampooned in an interview published Thursday by Les Echos code of conduct drawn up on the subject of big salaries. "Write a code of conduct is good. The enforcement is better, "he said. Considering that some large companies did not comply with these principles, the Minister has threatened to legislate on the issue.

Shocked by some earnings

In Nice Matin, François Fillon rejects such an approach in trying to punish companies through a tax rather than the bosses through a ceiling unsurpassable. If it says "shocked" by some remuneration of senior executives, the Prime Minister "not [believe] not the regulation of wages for some totally disconnected from economic reality of the business and wage negotiations." However, he called the companies to regulate themselves. If they do not, the government will make decisions, he added.

The salaries of officers of the CAC 40 rose 19% in 2010 compared to 2011 according to a study of the expansion. Their average salary was 4.2 million.And increases do not always correspond to performance industrial markets.

No revaluation of the minimum wage

François Fillon said in the same interview in Nice morning that there would be no boost given to the minimum wage at its next revaluation. "Today, it would be an economic mistake. This will overwrite the hierarchy of wages and would drive up labor costs and thus unemployment, "he justified.

François Fillon has argued that "before 2000, the labor cost of products manufactured in France was on average 15% cheaper than in Germany."However, "since the 35 hours, this advantage was lost in some sectors such as agriculture and services, we are overtaking Germany," he said.

According to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the next automatic adjustment of minimum wage-price inflation when the achieved 2% since the previous revaluation, "could take place" in August.

ALSO READ:

"The salaries of top managers rose sharply

IMF: Christine Lagarde is favorite

June 11, 2011 - 7:52 pm Comments Off

Click image for larger graphic.

The post of IMF managing director will be between the Mexican Agustin Carstens and the French Christine Lagarde. On Friday, the third declared candidate, the Kazakh Grigory Marchenko, threw in the towel … As the former Minister of Finance of South Africa, Trevor Manuel, whose name was cited, he said Friday that it was beyond not in the race.

Friday night, the closing date for applications, no other competitor had not said. A surprise could only come from a night deposit: Applications must arrive before midnight, Washington time – or 6 o'clock in the morning in Paris. The IMF plans to publish the names of candidates early next week, if there are three or fewer candidates.In the event that other names would arise, the Board shall give one week to agree on three people, the best position, he will request a hearing in Washington. The appointment must then occur before the end of the month.

"We clearly have two outstanding candidates," said Domenico Lombardi, an economics professor and former adviser to the IMF. Agustin Carstens is a candidate who has experience, combining four and half years as head of the Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Mexico. He also plays the card of emerging countries. But French is still the favorite to succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn to head the international organization.People as influential as the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, British Prime Minister David Cameron or the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin himself has publicly supported. Interpersonal skills in major international summits in recent years of crisis, has left its mark need a personal loan with bad credit.

Operation seduction with emerging

Christine Lagarde is assured of winning the votes of Europe, which represent just under a third of votes in the IMF, the Americans, who own 17%, will act as arbitrator. Officially they have not taken a position, but the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, personally, that Christine Lagarde would make an excellent director. Friday, finally, Africa has expressed support for the French.

An election would have the widest possible more panache.Why the French minister – as its Mexican competitor for that matter – has launched a huge operation seduction, these days, with emerging countries. Brazil, China, India, she gave pledges, while they want to question the tacit division of positions that enabled Europeans to lead the IMF and Americans to chair the World Bank continuously since 1946. None of these great country has officially declared for the moment for either candidate …

Remains the shadow of the Tapie affair. If Christine Lagarde said to be "very calm" on the subject and "being aware quite quiet, nobody today can predict that will turn the proceedings. On Friday, the French court postponed to July 8 decision on the possible opening of an investigation for abuse of authority.Christine Lagarde said on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the African Development Bank in Lisbon, that the postponement of the decision "does not change anything." At that time, she hopes to be already named yet … Some speak of a "time bomb".

Public debt: France must convince in 2012 and beyond

June 1, 2011 - 8:32 am Comments Off

Good student, but must continue its efforts. It is, in short, the message delivered by the rating agency Fitch in France. She confirmed the debt rating "AAA", the best possible, with stable outlook. The French government has taken "a series of measures", says the agency, "which have improved the outlook for public finances." And mention the pension reform, or the draft law in fixing the principle of balance of public finances.

"However, these efforts must be extended to stabilize and then reduce the level of debt of France, which was the end of 2010 to 81.7% of gross domestic product (GDP)," warns Maria Malas-Mroueh, responsible scoring countries at Fitch. A number of risk still hovers in effect on the financial health of the state. Starting with 2012, a major election year.It should not, Fitch warns that the budget skids on the bottom of the presidential election. Especially since the forecast growth in the medium term Bercy (+2.5% per year) are considered "optimistic."

It should not, the agency said that the newly elected unleash the flange to the public finances in 2013. Instead, the agency left little choice to the government that emerges from the polls: "We expect the 2011 budget will meet its objectives (a deficit of 5.7%, Ed), but further efforts are needed to reduce the deficit to 3% of GDP in 2013, as agreed. " Debt levels will then stabilize at a level higher than before the crisis, reducing the flexibility to cope with future crises.

Note "under pressure"

In the medium term, Fitch added that "the memo from France could be under pressure (read: be revised downward, Ed) if the competitiveness of France was deteriorating again and if the position of France was weakening." The agency plans and the current account balance, ie the difference between money coming in and who leaves the territory, will remain negative in 2011 and 2012, approximately 2% of GDP. Fitch impels France to further reduce its "structural rigidities".

Despite these black spots, the Hexagon rest for now, said the agency, a "healthy and diversified economy," equipped "social institutions, civil and effective policies." He added: "financial flexibility reflect its status as a major issuer of sovereign benchmark in the eurozone. Clearly, the markets like, so far, take on France.

Google goes on the offensive in mobile payments

May 28, 2011 - 8:20 pm Comments Off

It is a revolution as important as the emergence of the credit card there are more than thirty years! Within a few months, the mobile phone will be used to pay for purchases, store loyalty points, get discounts … It is a certainty, while Google announced yesterday the launch of its electronic wallet from that Google Wallet been to San Francisco and New York.

Mobile payments, we talk a long time. Japan had taken a step ahead. European operators will all work. The French have even launched last year in Nice with success, and Eric Besson, Minister of Industry, has promised that 9 other cities would quickly adopt it. But the announcement of Google reshuffles the cards and give a real boost. For three reasons.

First, its strike force.It is a global leader enters the market with other global giants MasterCard and Citibank, bank side, Ingenico payment terminals and telecom operator like Sprint. He wants to generalize his service in 20 U.S. cities by the end of the year. And already negotiate with major European operators to launch in Europe next year. Second, to pay with his mobile, it is that traders are also equipped with readers. Now Google will subsidize the market by financing the equipment traders.

Thirdly, Google goes far beyond the mere payment: the Google Wallet is a real vacuum services: it helps make couponing, store loyalty points and activate automatically. "It's awesome in terms of promise and customer value creation.Mobile payment alone is not profitable, what counts is the whole ecosystem of services around, "said Stéphane Dubreuil, director of the firm Sia Council.

Specifically, Google knows, thanks to Google Search, a search engine, you went 20 times on the Internet sites of course. He knows with Google Maps that you walk near a golf shop. He can with Google Wallet send you a promotion that will make you enter the store. Then you will pay and store your loyalty points. "There is a side Big Brother, which can be a hazard if struck public opinion, but the attractiveness and ease of product should forget that aspect," said Virginia Laz, associate director at Bryan Garnier.

The delay of Apple

This is the first time a giant web between and walk-in retail."Google returns to the brick and mortar and will potentially be able to receive a commission on all transactions in the physical world. It's huge! , "Says Stéphane Dubreuil.

The arrival of Google, if it gives a boost to mobile payments, is also dangerously compete others. From yesterday, eBay and its payment subsidiary PayPal, which represents 20% of traffic off the credit card payments over the Internet, filed suit against Google, accusing it of stealing trade secrets, especially in recruiting one of its leaders.

Apple, far behind mobile payments, is obligated to respond. Even if the future iPhone 5 allows to make payment, their model risk is still very closed to show its limitations.

Occupation: reduce immigration, a red herring for economists

May 27, 2011 - 5:24 am Comments Off

In recent weeks the government has repeatedly expressed its willingness to reduce migration flows. In April, the Interior Minister, Claude Gueant, promised "to bring down the volume of legal immigration." This week, the immigration of work he begins work. "Contrary to legend, France did not need the skills of immigrant, said the minister. It has the resources necessary "to fill its vacancies and" did not need bricklayers nor servers restaurants. "It is common sense," outbid Tuesday Budget Minister Baroin. A sense that still leaves many economists skeptical.

"On paper, it may be tempting to put face to face and unemployed immigrants," said Patrick Simon, a demographer at INED.If the French labor market was free of immigrants, it would make it not even more vacancies for indigenous peoples whose unemployment rate is one of the main concerns? "They forget that these two categories of people are not interchangeable," said Patrick Simon. Clearly, natives and immigrants do not occupy the same types of jobs, and make little competition. "They would rather complementary. And in this regard, there is a relative consensus, says Xavier Chojnicki, economist at CEPII and University of Lille 2. Most studies find indeed a very small impact of immigration on unemployment. "

"In France and Europe, the labor market is very segmented," he says. Immigrants often occupy low-skilled jobs, low wages, difficult working conditions.Areas of restoration, construction and personal services for example, still struggling to fill jobs that natives consider insufficiently attractive. According to the latest survey on the needs of labor performed by employment center, 61% of the offers of aid to home and pose difficulties for recruitment. "If the stream of immigration had to be reduced, this would create further difficulties in recruitment of these areas," said Xavier Chojnicki. With a probable consequence of a sharp rise in the black.

20,000 people per year

"In addition, try to reduce labor migration is surprising because it includes more migrants selected," Patrick says Simon.These 20,000 people a year who come to work in France at the request of business owners do in fact represent a small fraction of the 200,000 immigrants who settle there each year, including family reunification or humanitarian grounds. "Employers expect an easing of the rules because they need the foreign labor," he says.

Since 2006 and until recently, Nicolas Sarkozy also advocated for a "selective immigration", encouraging the arrival of candidates selected according to their professional profile. "Since then, labor migration has increased from 10,000 to 20,000 per year," said Patrick Simon. A marginal number compared to 500,000 job vacancies currently unfilled in France. "In total, this is not much either compared to the total migratory flow," J. demographer.Because France, like most European countries, is struggling to bring immigrants into its territory the most attractive. As such, Canada, Australia or the United States doing well ahead of the game their best

ALSO READ:

"The needs of the French economy in terms of legal immigration

"In Germany, immigration to the rescue of Demography