Posts Tagged ‘finance’

Bompard, "We want to build a new Fnac"

July 20, 2011 - 3:52 am Comments Off

LE FIGARO. – How do you solve the structural problem of Fnac, the erosion of its major markets?

Alexandre Bompard. – With the offensive Wednesday unveiled, we want to build a new Fnac looking to the future and whose identity will be based on three strong pillars. The first is the extension of our current product offering. Today, our offer is concentrated around the cultural and digital entertainment. With this plan, we will extend it to other types of activities: those aimed at children and families first, and in the future than in the discovery of the escape or the home and interactive design. The second line requires a paradigm shift for a brand that was built around its product: it aims to put customers at the center of our business and our business, emphasizing the relationship at any time with them.Of these, we will finally pay special attention to customer expectations family: it is the third pillar.

How will decline precisely this strategic plan?

To pass this plan, we will implement a number of levers. With the new consumption patterns, our stores will no longer be organized by product, but by world usage. For music, for example, you will find the same space CD, MP3 players, but also hats, concert tickets … well, we will create a world dedicated to children under 12 years with not only a comprehensive range of books to products edutainment and advanced technology, but also animations and dedicated services. More generally, however, the development of personalized services is a priority.We will innovate in this area soon, especially with takeover bids and the subscription of technical products.

This plan does not sign then the end of your physical network?

On the contrary! To be closer to customers in two French Fnac does not close to home, we take two major initiatives. By 2015, thirty stores will be open as well, on the outskirts of large cities in particular. Furthermore, after signing a partnership with Lagardère Services establish ourselves in stations and airports (the sign will replace the Virgin next week, Ed), we will launch a new store format: fifty Fnac proximity, about 300 square meters, should be released in four years, first in clean and free.These small signs, offering all the universe Fnac, will complement the department stores and will allow us to install in smaller cities. Of course, this is also associated with an increased fnac.com, because customers prefer the greater integration of the two sales channels. With our power in store as on the Internet, we will deploy a multi-channel strategy so successful and will offer such customers to withdraw all their in-store purchases made online or ordering of kiosks in stores.

You mention the date of 2015. Can you elaborate on the timing of this plan?

Speed ​​of execution of this plan is a key to its success. The first initiatives will therefore emerge in the next few months. Openings and reorganization of our stores are involved, they mainly in 2012 and 2013.The mobilization of our people, aware of the need for change, will also be one of the key elements of enforcement. I hope that the implementation of this plan is a lever to renew the social dialogue.

What budget has been earmarked to ensure the success of this plan?

I do not want to give numbers. The planned investments are suitable for our ambitions as we can. It is both a plan of conquest and a realistic plan. Therefore, we will continue to identify what we need to do it alone and that we can do through partnerships, both strategic in nature, as with Lagardère Services, or Screenrush SFR, or commercial, as with Apple, which a dedicated space in stores.

When do you expect to see the first results of this new strategy?

The first effects will be felt in the second half of 2012.Our aim is then to find a sustainable and profitable growth in France and abroad.

The sale by PPR of Fnac it not only jeopardizes the implementation of this plan?

My mission is to ensure the economic development of the Fnac. Since 1994, the PPR Group has played a leading role in particular for the implementation of the Fnac outside France and its growth on the Internet. As it does for all its businesses, the PPR group will manage the Fnac as if it had intended to remain within the group. Proof: This strategic plan is not a buildup of short-term, but a plan of conquest.

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Sponsors cautious against the return of the icon Laure Manaudou

July 14, 2011 - 6:40 pm Comments Off

Objective: London Olympics 2012! The challenge is ambitious Laure Manaudou but probably not impossible. "She recovered in the skin of a champion," said Gilles Portelli, CEO of Havas Sports & Entertainment. Absent from the basins since September 18, 2009, the swimming is preparing to make his comeback this Thursday in Athens to the United States. She has eight months to return to competitive, qualified for the Olympics taking place in mid-March. His former mentor, Philippe Lucas, believes it. "It's a good thing for French sport. It changed, it is a mother. She has thought through many things. Swimming was missing.

The importance of achieving good performance will depend in fact a new interest of major sponsors (Lancel, EDF, Arena, among others) who have stopped working when she announced her retirement. These contracts Lancel, EDF Arena and allowed him to reach about three million euros per year between 2007 and 2009. Reportedly, the contract of sponsorship with the chairman of PPR, through his holding company Artemis, who reported one million euros per year, is suspended and not broken. Discussions are therefore underway between the two parties to try to bring back Laure Manaudou and Francois Pinault.But suddenly, its value would decline significantly Advertising (LPG contract with him would bring 200 million euros per year). Necessarily all brands can not match the prices of luxury brands. " Most experts interviewed do not believe that the financial aspect is the main motivation behind this "comeback". "She would have stopped swimming in this case," explains Gilles Portella.

After accumulating the gold medals like pearls and posted disappointing results, shaken by romantic escapades, Laure Manaudou is trying to write a new story of his sporting career. "She now has a stable life, a companion who is immersed in the world of swimming (Frederick Bousquet) and one child (a little old Manon a little over a year). The risk of "relapse" is lower, "said François Guyot. But not nonexistent.

Price: supermarkets denounced

June 28, 2011 - 12:56 am Comments Off

Monitor prices and margins on agricultural products launched in September 2010 will make its findings on Monday. According quotidienLes Echos, the 250-page report, commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with INSEE and Agrimer, the responsibility of leading retail chains in maintaining the sales price to consumers despite lower commodity prices.

Cherries five times more expensive

The experts, headed by Philippe Chalmin, an economics professor at the University of Paris Dauphine, studied agricultural production subject to the most serious crises in the last ten years such as milk, beef and pork, and fruits and vegetables. According to their findings the distribution has made such an important and constant gross margin of red meat even though the farmers of this category recorded the lowest incomes.

The situation is similar with regard to pork. In ten years from the final price going to farmers has increased from 45% in 2000 to 36% in 2010. At the same time, one devoted to retailers jumped 39% to 55%. The long-life milk, gross margin was doubled when the signs that producers declined. Distributors also apply high margins on fruits and vegetables. Cherry cherry has been charged five times more expensive to consumers that it was paid by the distributor free credit score. Only segment where margins have been reduced signs: the yoghurt.The report provides no explanation but Les Echos believe that the power companies such as Danone, which reach more to negotiate prices is one reason.

Annual Report

The report, which should help parliamentarians better navigate the debate between producers, manufacturers and distributors for years, however, said it is difficult to track the price of a product from production to its exposure on the shelf. Investigators also complain that the distributors did not provide all the necessary elements to determine the composition of the margins.Information they hope to meet next year, the Observatory should indeed provide an overview of the situation every year.

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France has already exhausted its supply of fish

June 14, 2011 - 3:48 pm Comments Off

From this Tuesday, June 14, the fish will be on the shelves of foreign origin. In any case, this says a study published by the NGO OCEAN2012 and Nef (new economics foundation). Dubbed "the EU's growing dependence compared with fish from elsewhere," the survey said that from Tuesday, "We go fishing for fish other" because the reserves in the waters of the European Union are exhausted . For the Hexagon, "the date of self-sufficiency in marine products now comes six weeks earlier than in 2000." Without aquaculture, France even become dependent upon May 7

The country is obviously not the only one to get his fish outside EU waters. Further, where the fisheries sector is less developed, starting much earlier. This is the case of Austria, an enclave in the mountains, has to import from January 15, or of Germany (April 27)."It is surprising to note that this is also the case in some Member States with access to substantial EU marine waters, including Portugal (April 26), Italy (April 30), Spain ( May 8), "says the report.

Overall, the rate of self-sufficiency of the French following a downward trend common to all 27 EU countries. The average date on which member countries must import is currently July 2. "Last year was July 9, this indicates a decline of fishery resources in the EU of about 200,000 tons in twelve months," adds the study.

"We play with the future of stocks"

The French situation is, however, made more remarkable by the boom in demand for fish.The French consume twice as effects of seafood (34.2 kilograms per person per year) than the global average (17.1 pounds) according to 2008 figures from FAO and Eurostat, cited by study. The EU average stands at 22.1 pounds. "By eating more fish than the waters of the EU can not produce, we play with the future of fish stocks and communities dependent on fishing. We are risking the jobs and livelihoods, both within the EU and beyond, "says Rupert Crilly, co-author of the report no faxing payday loan.

"Fish stocks are a renewable resource. Yet, according to figures from the European Commission, we draw the fish faster than the stocks are able to rebuild, "says the study.The conclusion is clear: "In the EU, most of overexploited fish stocks is valued and many of them face a high risk of exhaustion."

Reforming the CFP

How then to match the ever increasing demand for and supply of fish within the EU? For the authors of the study, the answer is in the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). This must be reformed next year for an application to January 1, 2013. To put the stocks in good condition, OCEAN2012 therefore demands a review of access rights to resources for each country. "We should set up an evaluation grid with criteria such as environmental impact on the capture of juveniles, on the release of CO2, illegal catches," said Stephan Beaucher policy adviser for fishing OCEAN2012 and co-author of the study."The criteria are also social because 100 tonnes of fish can provide 15 permanent jobs." Based on this grid, a bonus-malus loaded weight of the fishing rights for the member countries would be established.

While waiting to present his ideas to the European Commission, the NGO has read the first draft of reform. It includes bans on ocean dumping, an objective of maximum sustainable yield by 2015 expected to provide only the surplus fishing stocks and the introduction of individual transferable fishing quotas between countries."We must focus on environmental sustainability but the Commission refuses to make this a priority," says Stephan Beaucher which provides that "power relations are being put in place and it'll be hot."

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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".

Consumption, support for recovery

June 10, 2011 - 7:44 am Comments Off

The French did not wait to see their incomes grow to consume more. Consumption expenditure of households are divided up in 2010 to 1.3% in volume against a slight increase of 0.1% the previous year. They contributed well to the tune of two thirds of the growth of the French economy last year, even though the purchasing power slowed its progression, according to a study by the INSEE.

Indeed, the rising purchasing power of the French was 0.8% in 2010, against +1.3% in 2009, hit by rising prices driven by oil. The Institute of Statistics shows that even if one deducts the expenditure incurred under a contract renegotiable difficult in the short term (rent, water, gas, electricity, insurance, telecommunications, etc..) Purchasing power individual level falls slightly down.

"The increased consumption for almost all positions," notes INSEE. Clothing costs rebounded 0.4% after falling 4.2% the previous year. After falling 3.5% in 2009, spending at hotels, cafes and restaurants are also lifts, 1.1% by volume. The cost of heating and lighting by volume rose 4.8% and spending on services of the information economy such as telephones or computers rose 4.2%. Conversely, with the end of the scrapping, purchases of new cars fell by 4.9% in 2010 after they jumped 18% in 2009.

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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

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The Cac 40 in heavy decline seen

May 25, 2011 - 1:32 pm Comments Off

On Wednesday morning, the Cac 40 should fall: the index futures yield 0.96% to 8.20am. Yesterday, the index stabilized at above 3900 points, after starting the week on a Loude loss. Concerns over debt crisis persists European: German morale, according to Gfk survey, should continue its degradation in June for the third straight month due to the debt crisis in the euro zone and the outbreak oil. The index shows a decrease to 5.5 against 5.7 in May In addition, the Netherlands and Germany are threatening to commit the privatization of the Greek economy to foreign experts, reveals leFinancial Times.A new threat which seeks to lobby the Greek government to take drastic cost-saving measures.

All eyes are turning to the Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde, the favorite to succeed DSK to head the International Monetary Fund, which should give a press conference "important" to the Department late Wednesday morning. Moreover, in France, we look particularly figures on registered job seekers and job advertisements collected by Pole in April. Baroin, Minister of Labour, has already warned that the unemployment rate would decline again in April for the fourth consecutive month.With regard to the Icelandic volcano, France should be minimally affected, which should reassure the airline industry.

Next major economic figures to be followed today: in France, we will look particularly figures on registered unemployed and job advertisements collected by Pole in April. In Germany, the GfK barometer of consumer sentiment will be released at 8:30. United States, is expected at 14:30 durable goods orders in April, at 16.30, the weekly inventory of crude oil.

Airbus confident for Le Bourget

Side companies, consumer complaints of gas and electricity rose 25% in 2010, about problems with their energy supplier.The mediator of Energy notes that complaints from customers at 43% of GDF Suez, to 38% of EDF, 12% of Direct Energy and 4% of customers Poweo payday advance.

Airbus and its parent EADS were optimistic Tuesday on future orders at the Paris Air Show in June in a market "active."

The French group Alstom and its Chinese joint venture Casco signed two contracts worth a total of 85 million euros for the supply of signaling systems in metros of Shanghai (east) and Kunming (south).

The partner of minority shareholders (Adam) who assigned Tuesday referred the saddle for Hermes "deprive" the essential rights of family voting at the next general meeting, has been confronted with an invalid procedure and case was adjourned to July 12.Or after the meeting to be held June 30

Casino on Tuesday denied having agreed to the opening of the opening of negotiations between the Brazilian distributor GPA, which holds 35%, and Carrefour Brazil.

PPR and Volcom announced Tuesday it had received notification of the end of the statutory review period on the bid of French on the American brand.

Rexel announced Tuesday it had won its bond issue of 500 million euros, whose order book has surpassed 1.8 billion euros.

Eurazeo Tuesday announced a capital increase, offering its shareholders one new share for 20 old shares held as of May 25, 2011.

The land Gecina in 2nd place behind France in Unibail-Rodamco will continue to sell its assets in Spain and in the logistics industry, said Tuesday its chief executive Christophe Clamageran.

BioMerieux announced Tuesday that the Health Authority (FDA) had recorded rapid testing and automated molecular diagnostic NucliSENS EasyQ MRSA screening for patients infected with Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin.

Europacorp publish its annual turnover, while LCD (poultry) will announce its annual results after-hours trading.

Facebook founder confirmed eG8

May 17, 2011 - 2:32 am Comments Off

It should not make the trip. Then said "reserve its response". Finally, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder, will indeed be in Paris on 24 and 25 May. He has confirmed his arrival in eG8 forum, organized on the initiative of Nicolas Sarkozy.

The young entrepreneur is one of over 1000 makers of the digital ecosystem to participate in this forum, whose aim is to discuss the Internet's role in economic growth. Among them are also Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia founder, Eric Schmidt, Google's chairman, Rupert Murdoch, or the boss of media group News Corp..

The result of their trade will be presented the next day at Deauville, the heads of state gathered for the G8.They will adopt a "statement" whose implementation will be another meeting in October at the initiative of Minister of Industry and the Digital Economy, Eric Besson.

Wall Street remains frozen in negative territory

May 13, 2011 - 11:20 pm Comments Off

After a session in the green Thursday, the NYSE should end on the last day of the week in the red. After an opening balance, the losses have increased for the Dow Jones was down 0.97% at 12,574 points. The Nasdaq also lost 1.02% to 2834 points while the S & P coward 0.82% to 13,438 points.

Oil heckled

The tensions are still very vivid in the markets for raw materials and oil. The U.S. House of Representatives Thursday passed a bill to increase oil production in the United States to respond to soaring gasoline prices, despite opposition from the Obama administration to new drilling WedFor its part, China has announced to suspend its exports of diesel and severely restrict its exports of refined products to ensure adequate domestic supply and fight against inflation in fuel prices.

Oil prices have also played a roller coaster, unsettling investors. After opening up in New York, a barrel fell sharply in mid-day, the barrel of light sweet crude (WTI) crude for June delivery yielding 84 cents to 98.13 dollars. Finally, the barrel ends up on redemptions of short positions after previously mounted on reports that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had been injured. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, the barrel finished at 99.65 dollars, up 68 cents, or 0.69%, after hovering between 97.09 and 100.70 dollars.

The course followed the evolution of currencies.During the session, the sudden inflation of the dollar made it less attractive dollar-denominated assets such as oil, while the volatility of trade was exacerbated as we approach the weekend. The euro initially lost ground Friday against the dollar after the announcement of accelerated economic growth in the first quarter in the euro area, but eventually succumbed to concerns still living on the Greek budget crisis .

Around 18:30 in Paris, the European single currency was worth 1.4091 dollars against 1.4316 at the opening of U.S. markets and U.S. dollar against 1.4244 on Thursday. Yesterday, she already had fallen in session at 1.4124 dollars, its lowest level since April 1.

Consumer confidence rises

Fluctuating oil prices have pushed into the plan's announcement contained inflation.The consumer prices in the U.S. rose as expected by 0.4% in April compared to March because of rising food prices and gasoline, according to statistics released Friday by the Labor Department.

Moreover, consumer sentiment recorded a rise to 72.4 in May unexpected vision against 69.8 in April, the index of the University of Michigan. Analysts were waiting to 70.

Yahoo! penalized

The side of values, the Nasdaq Composite is sealed by the fall of Title Yahoo (-5.18% to 16.28 dollars) after the Internet portal said Alibaba Group has reorganized the capital structure of Alipay, one of the leading online payment systems in China, without being notified when it is a shareholder of Alipay.

The earthquake in Japan, which has disrupted production car in the Japanese archipelago, has claimed its place as world number one sector to Toyota, doubled in the first quarter and probably for the year by the American General Motors ( 0.06% to 31.44 dollars) and Germany's Volkswagen. Toyota sold 1.79 million vehicles worldwide between January and March, down 12% year on year.Meanwhile, GM sold 2.22 million cars, and returning, at least for this quarter, the world number one spot he had sold to Toyota in 2008.

For his part, Nvidia (-6.65% to U.S. $ 19.14) reported after the close of Wall Street, for the first quarter of 2011 from a profit down 0.2% to 135 million. The gross margin was 50.4%, a record level. Sales reached $ 962 million against 948 million and 1 billion expected a year ago.For specialists Aurel BGC, "the group is clearly affected by the downturn in PC sales and growth opportunities on the shelf is far from certain … For the current quarter, the Group expects a growth of 4 to 6% of its sales. "

SunPower (-0.89% to 21.19 dollars) achieved during the first quarter 2011 revenues of $ 451 million against 347 million last year and a loss of $ 0.02 per share against a BPA from $ 0.13 a year earlier. For the current quarter, SunPower expects a turnover of 500 to 550 million.

CA Inc. (-8.86% to 22.84 dollars), formerly Computer Associates International) in the fourth quarter of financial year 2010/2011 a turnover of 1.13 billion dollars against 1.17 billion expected and earnings per share of $ 0.48 against $ 0.5 expected.About its prospects, the group expects a growth in turnover of 6% to 8% at constant exchange rates for the year 2011/2012, and GAAP EPS in the range of 1.79 to 1.86 dollar. In addition, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of 0.05 dollars per share and a stock repurchase plan of $ 500 million. Last night, losing the title

Nordstrom (-1.64% to 48.37 dollars) for the first quarter sales of 2.32 billion dollars, in line with expectations, and earnings per share of $ 0.65 against $ 0.67 and expected $ 0.52 last year. The board of directors also voted a share repurchase plan of $ 750 million.

The wave of mergers and acquisitions continues. Yum! Brands (+0.28% to 54.88 dollars) has announced the launch of a tender on the Asian restaurant chain Little Sheep at a price of 6.50 Hong Kong dollars per share.