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Business leaders may have breathed a sigh of relief last night when he saw the plunge of the main raw materials. In recent months, they look indeed with concern the soaring price of those commodities. Their concern was evidenced in the accounts of the first quarter of the year or in the speeches of leaders.

All sectors are however not affected in the same proportions, even if they are likely to be.

Transportation is often the former. Lufthansa has reported such an increase in its fuel bill by almost 30% over the first three months of the year. This charge amounts to 1.4 billion euros over the period, when its billings reach 6.4 billion. The airline spends "overload" fuel to its customers, insufficient to offset any upward.The aim of companies is obviously to cushion the effect of "raw materials" through price increases. Michelin is well to advertise on some of its tires, the costs are related to rubber. The equipment itself as able to compensate 80% of the additional cost of $ 1.8 billion over the year.

This ability to change its prices based on costs, however, can erode. For steel, the latest report of the consultant CRU reported a slowdown in inflation and even lower in some countries in Europe. Gold, iron ore and coal continue to appreciate. The margins of steel producers could therefore suffer the end of the year payday loans.

Plastics hit hard

Lowest in the industrial cycle, the automotive supplier Valeo has recently detailed the structure of its cost "feedstock."The steel is 35%, followed by plastics (23%), copper (20%), aluminum (19%) and zinc (3%) … all the upside in recent months. Schneider Electric, for his part highlighted the increase of 40% of the money since the beginning of the year to explain an overload of 100 million euros in its accounts.

Chemical groups are now able to pass these increases on to their customers, as witnessed this week the excellent results reported by Rhodia and Arkema, manifestly optimistic about the future. Their customers converters are much less … They find that prices of certain plastics (polypropylene, polyethylene, PET) have almost doubled in two years!

Again, the phenomenon has an impact downstream. The plastic is a constituent of many products. In industry but also in FMCG.The U.S. Procter & Gamble has estimated at about $ 280 million this additional cost in its quarterly accounts.

If the decline recorded yesterday is good news, its magnitude can be a concern. Volatility, that is to say, large variations in a short time, represents an additional risk for companies, including strategies to provide raw materials for the long term or to hedge against inflation, they can be taken cons-foot.

On Thursday morning, Vivendi held its General Assembly at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris. The opportunity for its chairman, Jean-Bernard Levy, back on the recent strategic transactions conducted by the media and telecoms group. The acquisition in early April, the entire capital of SFR marks the end of an era. The former Générale des Eaux was transformed into Vivendi Universal Jean-Marie Messier. This group was then a holding company, often minority participations disparate telecoms, television, cinema, internet, music … After going through a severe debt crisis in 2002, Jean-Rene Fourtou and Jean-Bernard Levy has radically restructured the group .

LE FIGARO. – The purchase of 100% of SFR is it a milestone in the history of Vivendi?

Jean-Bernard Levy. – Since its inception in 1987, we never had sole control of SFR.Jean-Rene Fourtou, upon his arrival, has understood the strategic importance and it has fought since 2002 to buy Vivendi's participation for sale by BT. It is only recently that Vodafone, our partner from the beginning accepted the idea of ​​selling his share. In late 2009, we launched the sale of our 20% stake in NBC Universal, and there is barely three months we have realized. The proceeds from this sale enabled us to negotiate and secure the purchase of 44% of SFR held by Vodafone. It is a major turning point for Vivendi. It marks the completion of a long phase of restructuring and simplification. In less than ten years, Vivendi has experienced a profound transformation.

What is your strategy?

First, Vivendi has strengthened its core businesses into global and national leaders.Then, a conglomerate we have an industry group, managing all its assets and without minority participation. Finally, buying GVT in Brazil, we went looking for growth. Now we focus on organic growth through internal innovation, developing new products and services.

This transaction is financially attractive it?

It is a very good transaction for our shareholders and I am sure they appreciate it. With 100% of SFR, we have better access to its cash, especially a sharp increase in the outcome of Vivendi over 400 million euros in 2011, more than 600 million euros in 2012 and 2013, 350 million euros in 2014. This acquisition will bring us so 2 billion euros in extra profits in four years. Accordingly, we expect to grow our dividend in 2012.However, the dividend will increase more slowly than profit, as our distribution rate, currently 64%, is among the highest.

Are you going to buy out the minority of Canal + and Activision Blizzard?

For our subsidiary Activision Blizzard, world number 1 video games, trading in the United States gives visibility and shows the true value of the company fast cash. It also helps to develop the best talent pay systems that underpin the success of such businesses. Regarding Canal +, Lagardère our agreement with a scheme based on fairly simple: either we reach an agreement on the purchase price of the 20% stake in Canal + France, or it can make the market participation stock. The operation failed OTC, Lagardere launched and then stopped the IPO.We did not reopen negotiations with Lagardere.

Vivendi now appears as a group of telecom. Will you keep the contents?

I reject the relevance of the classification between telecom and media. For me, it is the organization of markets in the last century. Today, we live in a continuity in the value chain to the consumer digital content creation, platform services and applications, network infrastructure. Vivendi has a unique advantage is that it is present at all stages of this chain. Recently, the value focused on platforms such as Google, Facebook, iTunes. We, we, our own specialized platforms that fully meet consumers' expectations and World of Warcraft in-game video, Vevo in music, Canalsat in television.We continue to firmly establish and develop platforms to expand our services, not to be reduced to the role of "dumb pipes" as some would have us confine.

Do you create platforms that will be the future of Facebook or Twitter?

From experience, this is not in large groups to create social networks like Facebook, Twitter or their successors. Our presence in the platforms has a logic of knowledge and travel beyond the borders of our core businesses. Our mission is to cultivate more land to our jurisdiction, our businesses and our territories.

Do you intend to create more synergies between telecom and content?

The group did not need to be justified by synergies artificial. In contrast, we develop joint projects in our activities, piecemeal.For example, Universal Music and GVT created a digital music offering in Brazil, SFR sells offers Canal + in its 820 shops, Morocco Telecom and Canal + are working together on pay-TV platforms in Africa. I think when the synergies they can create additional services and therefore additional growth.

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Upstream, Steve Rosenblum said that the policy of the company "has always been to work in harmony with vendors trying to promote all of their product lines. Our suppliers are our partners. Today, worldwide distribution and electronics or computer vendors can make or break retailers.

A new application

Recently, Pixmania has launched a new shopping application common online with partner Leetchi.com in order to offer gifts through Facebook. The principle is to create a pool with several, each of which may pay the sum of its choice, the beneficiary then purchases on Pixmania with the money received. "When they communicate with each other, with friends or family, our customers are mainly on social networks such as Facebook.It was obvious to us to make the link between the application of social network and e-commerce site that wants easy access to and usable by the greatest number, "said Steve Rosenblum.

Anxious to maintain a good reputation on the Web, Pixmania has a pole of a dozen people who monitor the forums and answer questions from consumers, including when they encounter a problem. With this dedicated team, Pixmania has been awarded three months ago E-Marketing Award for Best Community Strategy. Marketing side, a team of a hundred people keeps track of customer information, "to better understand their needs and provide them with appropriate solutions, not too often, but certainly relevant and timely .

THE FIGARO. Switzerland-What is it to the forefront in the fight against illegal money dictators?

Micheline Calmy-Rey. – Switzerland has a fundamental interest that the illegal enrichment of politically exposed persons may not be invested in its financial sector. The Government believes that it is an important asset in the competition between financial markets and the commitment of financial intermediaries at this point is in their interest. Since the 1990s, Switzerland has established a legal arsenal against money laundering, terrorist financing and corruption. Our system rests on two pillars: preventive and active. The law requires financial institutions to report suspicious transactions and where appropriate to freeze the accounts.And we respond to any request for assistance, including when the state is failing with a new law that has just come into force in early February.

Have you used this law to the four recent cases of blockage?

We decided to freeze funds on the basis of the Federal Constitution, under the protection of the interests of the country for a period of three years. The aim is to prevent movement of capital and encourage requests for assistance. Since then, we received a request from Tunisia and Egypt personal loans for people with bad credit.

How much do you think these illegal assets?

Investigations are ongoing. We have lists of people for whom the assets were frozen. At this stage, the estimates refer to several tens of millions of francs.Switzerland now has a legislative deterrent …

But the returned funds are still limited …

This is not true. On 5 billion dollars returned last fifteen years in the world, Switzerland has made more than a third. In this we are truly pioneers. It is a very strong commitment of Switzerland, which seeks not to be a refuge for these assets and that these funds be returned to the people plundered. So is the reputation of our financial center. The procedures are complex and require strong political will of States. It is the experience of the long procedure for funds Duvalier in Haiti that has led us to legislate.

How to fight more effectively against these illegal funds?

We need better international coordination in the G20 and multilateral institutions.We launched several international initiatives on this subject. Switzerland played a particularly active role in implementing the Convention Merida by all signatory States.

After opening with no direction, the U.S. stock markets have closed sharply higher Tuesday. The Dow Jones climbed 1.03% to 12,214 points, the Nasdaq is 0.73% to 2766 points and the S & P 500 rose 0.89% to 1322 points.

In an attempt to limit the mad surge in crude prices and avoid an oil shock countries that export oil rally. After Saudi Arabia, three other cartel members would increase production, the Financial Times. The OPEC members are currently holding consultations on the impact of mental disorders in Libya in the oil market, said Tuesday the Kuwaiti Minister of Oil.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro lost it again a little ground against the dollar on Tuesday as investors reaping some profits after a summit in four months yesterday.In the evening in Paris, the euro bought 1.3904 dollars against 1.3971 late Monday.

McDonald's: -0.98% to 75.54 dollars

The side of values, the American fast-food chain McDonald's has sold its leading position worldwide in terms of number of restaurants in the Subway chain, which specializes in sandwiches. Subway has 33,749 restaurants on January 1 in the world, while McDonald's had 32,737 on the same date. Starbucks and the number two burger Burger King were respectively about 17 000 and 12 000 restaurants. However, McDonald's still has a considerable lead in terms of turnover at 24.1 billion dollars in 2010 against 15.2 billion for Subway.

Coca-Cola: +0.64% to 65.64 dollars

Coca-Cola and China Resources Holdings may be interested in Zhuhai Zhongfu Enterprise by the National Business Daily.Monday's action Zhuhai Zhongfu Enterprise was suspended pending further information, indeed jumped the track Thursday and Friday at volumes well above the average (Bloomberg).

Google: +0.11% to 592.31 dollars

Also note, multifunction phones running Google's Android system are now the most sold in the United States, surpassing the Blackberry phones from Canadian manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM) said Monday in a study firm ComScore.

Boeing: 1.64% to 72.04 dollars

The U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing announced it had signed sales contracts with two Chinese airlines for a cumulative amount exceeding ten billion dollars (7.16 billion euros).Eager to expand its fleet, Air China has announced plans to buy five Boeing 747-8 for a list price of about $ 1.54 billion, a welcome support for a Superjumbo selling relatively few. The 747-8, with a capacity of 467 seats, has a unit list price of $ 317 million. Air China is the third company after Lufthansa and Korean Air have ordered the aircraft, which Boeing is the replica of the Airbus A380.In addition, the aircraft manufacturer announced Tuesday the signing of a memorandum of agreement with the company Hong Kong Airlines to order 38 large aircraft for a list price of $ 8.5 billion.

United Continental: 6.31% to 24.78 dollars

For his part, Continental United, the group merged U.S. Airlines and Continental Airlines announced a 1.1% decline in traffic over the month of February and up 1.8% of its capacity. The filling rate was down 2.3 points.

Fiat: 3.42% to 9.06 dollars

The recovery of U.S. automakers is confirmed. After the triumphant entrance of General Motors on Wall Street, Chrysler said Tuesday that its value has increased almost fivefold during the first 18 months under the control of Fiat.At December 31, 2010, Chrysler reached a value of 4.8 billion, reveals an analysis of documents filed by the group on February 25 with the SEC the authority of U.S. markets. In June 2009, when Chrysler came out of bankruptcy proceedings, the value of the builder was estimated at 996 million dollars. These figures give an overview of the potential value of Chrysler is preparing its return on the stock market, expected in the second half of this year. These figures give an overview of the potential value of Chrysler is preparing its return on the stock market, expected in the second half of this year. Chrysler has made those calculations to determine the remuneration of its senior leaders, including the managing director of Fiat Sergio Marchionne. The executives are paid in part by "phantom stock" which will be converted into normal action at a later date.In June 2009, the price of these shares was $ 1.66. End of 2010, it reached $ 7.95.

Wells Fargo: +2.49% to 32.51 dollars

In banking, Wells Fargo has announced the hiring of more than 1,000 people by mid-May 2011 to expand its teams in the retail banks of the East Coast of the United States. The California bank had already added nearly 600 people to its teams in the same region since the completion of the merger Wachovia / Wells Fargo late December 2008. Wells Fargo reported earnings "record" in 2010 to 11,630,000,000 dollars, up 46% over the previous year.

Prices have tended to decline slightly during 2010. This is shown by the Observatory's published Tuesday by Rural Families. Since 2006, the Consumers' Association points out six times a year the prices of consumer goods in different shops that are more rural. This year, between the first survey in January and the last in November, prices rose 0.19% on average, all brands combined.

The average price range – a set of 35 products from 13 categories ranging from water to personal hygiene products through frozen foods and feed-stood at 133.19 euros. It is down 0.5% from the panel through the 2009 atteignanit 133.89 euros.The association compares the prices by store type (hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores and hard discount), but also by product type (national brands, private labels, 1st prize). If the range of products sold on average 133.19 euros, the average price falls to 98.28 euros and if we take into account that the first price products. For brands (private label), it amounts to 127.32 euros, rising to 173.97 euros for national brands (+2% in one year).

In five years, prices rose 2.7% on average. The barometer also stresses that these are the first products prices experienced the largest increase since 2007.While retail brands fell 2.2%, the "entry level" took about 8.1%.

The price, at the expense of quality

The study of rural families also shows that it is better to shop in supermarkets, hypermarkets rather than in hard discount store or local shops. National brands are sold cheaper than 1.2% hypermarket, 17.5% also cheaper than in small shops. Supermarkets are also best placed in prices for private label products. 1st prize for the products, hypermarkets and supermarkets are at par, but are cheaper by about 5% of the hard discount retailers. Family Farm Association had already reported a year ago that the hard-discount retailers were not the best position, even for products first prize.According to Yves Puget, editor of the magazine LSA, which specializes in distribution, when asked on Europe 1 radio on Tuesday, major retailers have positioned themselves in the niche products said at the range – 50 to 60% less than marks national face competition from hard discount stores. For him, it was however at the expense of quality that is not there, which explains why sales of these products have stagnated. Rural families complain that the poor are disadvantaged by this practice.

(With AFP)

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Facebook financial results are no longer a secret. According to documents released by Goldman Sachs to its clients, the social network has posted a net profit of 355 million over the first nine months of 2010. Turnover was 1.2 billion over the period from January to October.

This information was contained in a prospectus than a hundred pages on a private placement in Facebook, delivered Thursday afternoon to customers interested in an equity investment in the website.

One client of Goldman said it had received a separate six-page booklet containing financial information on the Internet.For now, these financial statements were not backed by the auditors and provide little detail on how Facebook makes its revenues, says the customer, who said he signed a nondisclosure agreement same day payday loans.

Customers have until Friday to decide

Goldman clients wishing to buy shares in Facebook invest their funds in a new company registered in Delaware called FBDC Investors LP, according to the customer. They have until Friday to send an offer to purchase securities and Facebook until Tuesday to transfer the money to the bank.

Goldman plans to raise at least $ 1.5 billion from its wealthy clients to invest in the social network. The bank recently valued Facebook at $ 50 billion the Occasion of a 450 million investment in the social network.The Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. stock Constable, also questioned the conformity of the operation.

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Bernard Arnault chose not to sell Kenzo and revive the brand. This subsidiary of LVMH group since 1993 is often regarded as the unloved child of the French luxury empire. At that point recurrent rumors about a possible sale had surfaced before last summer. Credit Agricole, Bank of LVMH, has indeed studied the file and buyout offers were presented. But the boss of the group has denied. He decided instead to revive the brand, which recently celebrated its 40 years, but barely surviving the departure of its founder Kenzo Takada, ten years ago.

The president of the company for just two years, James Greenfield, is leaving. He should join another subsidiary of LVMH. According to our information, it will be replaced by Eric Marechalle early January. The latter shows a profile of business.After going through the clothing brand cheap C & A, he was in charge of the group Catimini kidswear Zannier. This recruitment should be only the first of a series intended to beef up the sales and marketing of Kenzo.

The boss of LVMH trying to recoup its smaller brands, which often live in the shadow of the "stars" of the group, like Vuitton, Dior, Moet & Chandon or Tag Heuer. Within the fashion industry, led by Pierre-Yves Roussel, claws Celine, Givenchy, Loewe, Pucci, Berluti Kenzo or contribute less than others in the group's profits when they are not home loss cashadvance. The revival of Celine since eighteen months, led by Phoebe Philo to the creation and Marco Gobetti management, is already a success.Bernard Arnault and Pierre-Yves Roussel would apply the same recipes at Kenzo.

The fate of the artistic director, the Italian Antonio Marras, in place since 2004, is unresolved. Extend his contract until at least 2012. His style often cultural or ethnic does not always convincing. Some models shown at the shows are not even marketed.

Restore profitability

The new boss will have to look at the structure of the collections to make the offer more consistent. Kenzo is a scratch less luxurious than its counterparts LMVH, more accessible, balanced between men and women. Its sales, estimated at 150 million euros, is at best stable and has little of the traditional sector relay accessories (bags, shoes).Moreover, if it developed in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia in recent years the brand has not a globally and remains absent from the United States. Reduced to balance in 2007 after several years of losses, the company did not release significant profit. The new boss's first task will be to redevelop the sales to restore profitability in the medium term. However, its perfumes, whose bestseller FlowerbyKenzo, are a lucrative nugget.

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graphic.

INSEE does not believe that France can do beyond 1.6% growth this year. Yet the government had made to believe. "In 2010, growth of the French economy will be significantly higher than our expectations," said even the Prime Minister at a meeting of the National Council of the UMP, the last weekend.

Public forecasters are less confident. Growth last quarter would have certainly continued to progress, but did not sufficiently detached. As for next year, it does not begin on the wheel cover. GDP growth should not exceed 0.3% in first quarter 2011 and 0.4% in the second, according to figures released Thursday by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies.Over this period, "the French economy would remain moderate and the trend it has known since the end of the recession," said INSEE.

Elements that are difficult to consolidate the Bercy scenario of growth to 2% next year – already considered somewhat optimistic by most economists. Why? Because at the end of June 2011, the growth of France will be gained 1.3% and 0.8% should be theoretically the third and fourth quarters to achieve the target of 2%. Not impossible, but ambitious! However, if the rate observed in the first half continued in the second, growth in 2011 would not exceed 1.6%, calculated by INSEE.

"We have a cautious forecast for the first part of next year, because we think there are reasons to be cautious," said the head of the business cycle, Sandrine Duchêne.Which cites the uncertain international environment, a Euro still fragile situation, with pressure on sovereign debt, or a fiscal tightening in major economies.

According to the scenario of INSEE, the growth of France would suffer thus slowing demand sent to it, which will weigh on exports. And this, just as the favorable effects of the depreciation of the euro should begin to fade. Business investment should accelerate slightly by mid-2011. "It would benefit the business outlook and improved financing conditions," said INSEE.

Unemployment to 9.5% in June 2011

Household consumption continue, too, his progress, "with a quarterly profile marked by the effects of scrapping, which must end in a fortnight.The first half of 2011, household spending should be "modest."

Employment, finally, would not interrupt its progression. Given the decline in activity, "the employment adjustment during the crisis was moderate (…) The growth seen since early 2010 is also greater than would be expected past behavior," says the INSEE. Job creation in the private sector should be from 50,000 in the first half of 2011, and about the same in the previous semester. Mid-2011, unemployment should have dropped to 9.1% in France (9.5%, including DOM). This nevertheless still "degraded" labor market should weigh on earnings. The purchasing power of French is expected to grow "moderately".

In this "uncertain economic environment," the French would continue to save as a precaution at a high rate, around 16%.A sign that confidence in the French economy is not back yet.

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Growth is back in the U.S. since the summer of 2009 but Barack Obama still takes little credit. The Democratic Party is poised to lose many seats in Congress, a victim of expressing concern and also the disappointment of the Americans.

The concern was primarily due to insufficient job creation to fall back on unemployment. The Conference Board, a research institute employers, reveals that in October only 14.1% of Americans anticipated an increase in job offers. More than 8 million jobs have disappeared in the United States since the recession began in late 2007. That is fourteen months that the unemployment rate remains above 9.5%: this has not happened since 1948, the date of the compilation of employment statistics.

The disappointment of the Americans is proportional to the initial objectives of Barack Obama."The White House had predicted in January 2009 that the passage of his stimulus plan would prevent unemployment exceeding 8%. This prediction was silly, "says Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts who chairs the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives. In fact, 73% of Americans disapprove of the way Barack Obama runs the U.S. economy. Impatient people, Americans have wanted the great recession of 2008-2009 is already forgotten.

Outstanding infrastructure

The Republicans make much of the meager results of the apparent massive plan to revive the $ 787 billion passed without their support in February 2009. A third plan (288 billion), said "stimulus" was devoted to tax cuts.But the effect of stimulating consumption would have been larger if a good portion of those tax cuts had not been hoarded.

A third plan (224 billion) has also covered the transfer of credit to U.S. states under their health programs and education for example faxless pay day loans. Without them, the precarious finances of most states would have been downright tragic.

The remaining third (275 billion) was supposed to cover infrastructure costs. We realize today that the projects of roads, bridges and rail transport and subsidies were not as mature as the Democrats claimed. 45% of funds allocated to such projects have not yet been spent.More reason, say the Republicans, alarmed by soaring public debt, to "immediately freeze all spending."

The explosion of debt is another major concern of Americans. The risk that Barack Obama made them for years they seem disproportionate to the results obtained to date.

In 2009, Uncle Sam spends less than $ 200 billion in interest on its debt. This amount will be twice as high as 2014. The fact remains that without this stimulus, most economists believe that America has shifted into a depression. "The president is very little credit for having averted a depression," laments David Cote, Honeywell International boss. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the revival of Obama created between 1.4 and 3.3 million jobs.Reduced its total cost, it still represents an enormous sum of more than 238,000 dollars per job. Tea Party conservatives are screaming foul.

Reforms thwarted Barack Obama:

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