Posts Tagged ‘international’

November 11, 2011 - 8:44 am Comments Off

It's a roller coaster! After falling to 1.3146 dollar, the euro has rebounded sharply, to $ 1.42. These days, he came back around $ 1.36. These violent movements illustrate the nervousness of the operators. In their defense, it is increasingly difficult to predict the various economic and political events.

Strategies in all were very pessimistic about the euro a month ago have adopted more moderate judgments fast cash now. "European politicians have given themselves time to solve problems. While Greece is in trouble but it still has until mid-December to collect the necessary financial support, "said John Kicklighter, Currency Strategist at DailyFX.

At Saxo Bank, comments are more incisive. "The sharp depreciation of the euro against the dollar mainly due to the renewed concern about the Italian debt.

Now you are not supposed to compromising with your needs just lack of few funds as payday loans are available to you.

November 2, 2011 - 2:04 pm Comments Off

Doubt continue to settle on Asian financial markets. Investors fear that the referendum in Greece announced Monday by Prime Minister George Papandreou.

After losing 1.70% yesterday, the Tokyo Stock Exchange Wednesday morning unscrewed at the close of 2.21% to 8640.42 points. Same atmosphere on Chinese stock markets: the Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost 0.92% to 19,192.70 points and the CSI 300 Index of Shanghai fell by 0.63% to 2680.49 points. "The Greek opinion is not favorable at the European level that includes austerity measures. Optimism prevailed before the G20 summit has faded, "said Fumiyuki Nakanishi, a broker at SMBC Friend Securities.The euro fell by 0.07% to 107.20 yen and the dollar fell by 0.32% to 78.12 yen.

Oil retreats

Oil prices were down Wednesday in Asia after the announcement of a referendum in Greece that could jeopardize the settlement of the debt crisis in Europe, said the courtiers.Le barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in December lost 74 cents to 91.45 dollars in early electronic trading. Barrel of Brent North Sea crude for December delivery gave up 59 cents to 108.95 dollars.

When gold becomes more expensive than platinum

September 21, 2011 - 6:12 pm Comments Off

Pay gold more expensive than platinum? Before 2008, impossible for investors to believe this hypothesis. At that time, an ounce of platinum, the metal so rare and more precious than gold, skirting peaks close to 2200 dollars, while the gold turned laboriously around the bar in 1100 dollars. That gold can fill such a gap appeared unlikely. Yet three years later, this is real. Since the beginning of September, gold has repeatedly passed the plate at the meeting.

What happened in three years for such a reversal of steam takes place? The answer lies in the United States. In September 2008, Lehman Brothers went bankrupt and causes his fall in the economy and global finance. Or "platinum, like palladium, is a precious metal that is used to build cars.The automotive sector, linked to economic conditions, decreased high during the crisis. The platinum price has consistently dropped sharply during this period, "said Steve Allard XTB.

The evolution of the gold price since February 2010 (top) and platinum in February 2006 (below). Source: XTB France

Arte is committed to regain his hearing

September 17, 2011 - 9:32 pm Comments Off

Veronique Cayla, President of Arte since last January, is working to redress the Franco-German channel.

LE FIGARO. – Are you worried hearings lower than for DTT channels?

Veronique Cayla. – Arte was affected later by the arrival of DTT. It was only in 2009 that the audience began to drop out. Until then, the evening of Arte has remained at around 3% audience share and, earlier this year, we went down to 1.8% and 1.5% in the evening on the entire day. As France 5, the transition to DTT implies, moreover, Arte for the transition to broadcast 24 hours 24. While the chain of France Televisions significantly increased its investment in programs, Arte spent only 5 million per year to its schedule of the day, offering viewers between 5:00 and 7:01 p.m. showcase particularly poor.Most of the budgetary effort focused on the distribution costs which increased by 46% between 2007 and 2011.

Our new contract with the state gives us a public grant of 270 million euros in 2012, an increase of 7.3% over 2011. The entire increase will be allocated to programs. In return, we will, over the next five years to reverse the curve of the hearing and to win back viewers. I believe that today, no historical chain would risk such a commitment!

The group Arte has a budget of more than 400 million euros (250 million for France). Is it normal in view of its audience?

Arte is a chain serving the Franco-German broadcast in both countries and whose mission is to produce works (fiction, documentaries, films, live shows …). Which necessarily more expensive.In addition, because of bilingualism, Arte can not be a TV stream as simultaneous translation is simply unbearable for viewers.

Your audience is close to 60 years. What will you do to rejuvenate?

There is no question of rejuvenating the audience but to expand it. We find in fact that the same programs that are viewed on our antenna by more than 55 years seduce our site arte.tv 40 years. In other words, these are not programs that age the hearing but the media. I hope so much courage to all those whose strategy based on a rejuvenation of their audience on television! With Arte, we believe that if we suffered on TNT, Internet will save us.

As for the grid, we will work by step, our goal this year is the access to work and then we will address the day gradually up towards midday.

What are the developments on the Internet?

Arte has always been way ahead of the Internet, as evidenced also the success of Arte + 7, our catch-up TV, Arte Live Web, our platform for concerts and live performances, and Arte Creative devoted to art. Today, viewers may find this offer via mobile applications. We will amplify this group policy by continuing to create specific content for the Web. The recent history proves audiovisual Arte must not remain isolated but create a "group" around its antenna.We plan to create three other platforms that could be spent, for example, environment, film and history.

In 2012 and 2013, we will focus on the production of hybrid programs that can be broadcast in television and declined at the same time on the Internet. So we will keep our lead on the connected TV is a blessing to us! It will enable us to attract a wider audience in television and offer a more demanding public and sharp versions of these programs, all on the same screen. At the same time, we will work to relinéarisation part of our program digital platforms to allow viewers to create their own channels Web2.0.

Some accuse you of being more a chain of discovery.What do you say?

Given the history of the chain, it was normal to do work of historical reconciliation between our two countries. That's why the story has long been the focus of programming Arte. Today, there is no reason not to add more in this chain. We must look at the world. Otherwise, Arte no sense in relation to public expectations. The discovery programs are quite a place on Arte.

The station is expected to increase its prices

August 27, 2011 - 9:00 pm Comments Off

It is a small revolution for the station and its customers: under a decree published this summer in a discreet and identified by Challenges.fr, the railway company could now set its prices much more freely. Gone are the peak and normal periods, the timing was officially recorded in advance and who presided over the setting of tariffs.

"The decree allows to adjust the price cap to the station for the gradual opening to competition of the railway market," says the text. Clearly, to boost the attractiveness and profitability of the public entity within the opening to competition of the European network, SNCF should be able to offer its customers a range of rates much larger, developed based on supply and demand.

Rate increases on the crowded trains

The gain to consumers is mixed.On some busy routes, these new capabilities would enable the public body to go beyond the current full price of the second class in rush hour fast cash without a hassle. Holidaymakers taking TGV lines busy for example will be expected to pay more. However, for trains shunned by customers, the SNCF would be allowed to go below rates currently charged to attract new passengers.

Such liberalization was requested by the SNCF to the government at the end of last year, in return for the introduction of a tax to finance inter-deficient lines. Neither station nor the government have so far expressed on the subject.Signatory to the decree, the Minister of Transport, Thierry Mariani, was at the time held that freedom of the SNCF tariff should remain regulated, "in that competition does not really exist."

According to Challenges, consumer groups such as FNAUT will be formally consulted before the application of the decree, "probably in the fall."

Internet operators face "netgloutons"

August 25, 2011 - 3:48 pm Comments Off

Faced with bronce generated by the project operators to end unlimited Internet packages fixed, two questions remain suspens.Premièrement, who are these "netgoinfres" very heavy users of Internet operators that want coach? Opinions differ. "These are 5 to 10% of consumers who use 80% of the bandwidth. They are found in all countries. The population is fairly limited, "says Yves Le Mouël, Director General of the Federation of Telecom.

In Focus: the "geek" who downloads movies and massive music, spends time on YouTube and Dailymotion. "They are also SMEs with a standard Internet connection and download all day, they are hotels or student residences," said an executive at one operator.

David Charles, president and founder of MVNO Prixtel, but rather the fault of television over the Internet.Growing, it smoothly, he said, the networks. "If we want to free up bandwidth, it must be stopped. The TV is made to switch to TNT, especially since the state has paid dearly for the setting up in France. "

Edouard Barreiro, association UFC-Que Choisir, goes further. For him, "the netgoinfres, these are all of us." "During the day fixed networks are not busy. But they explode in the evening when everyone comes home from work, watch movies, videos, updates made its Apple … We all do the same thing at the same time, he says.Talking netgloutons is an excuse not to make the investments. "

Amend contracts

Operators deny it, but if they decided to go into action, could they change the current contracts? "Yes, it's Chatel law: an operator can easily change its offer, but the client is then free to go free, as was the case during the episode of the VAT," said Edouard Barreiro. Clearly, either the consumer accepts the new conditions, it is part.

But leave her Internet provider is not as easy as changing mobile operator. First, we must do without the Internet for about two weeks. Second, number portability works well on mobile remains fragile on the set. "Things are going well when you leave France Telecom to another operator.But when we leave SFR example, sometimes you lose his number, "said Edouard Barreiro. Finally, it must also return the box and be reimbursed for the possible bond. Not so simple!

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Wall Street relapse, despite the agreement on debt

August 2, 2011 - 12:48 am Comments Off

International equity markets, Asia and Europe have already received the news by frank morning hikes. The main interest, Wall Street opens therefore no surprise to any one as beautiful flight. Picking colors after yielding over 4% last week, which will remain the worst of the year, the Dow began the week up 1.10% at 12,277 points. Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 rose in turn respectively from 0.86% to 1303 points and 2785 points to 1.05%.

It is in extremis, on the night of Sunday, which is reached an agreement on raising the ceiling of U.S. debt, after a speech critical of President Barack Obama.Two days before the deadline set by the U.S. Treasury, the stakes were high: without this increase, at least 2.1 trillion dollars, the United States, on the edge of default, could sow the wind panic on financial markets.

Barack Obama has managed to generate compelling reconciliation of Democrats and Republicans on this agreement, investors now hope to see a bill passed in the coming days. A condition that Congress gives the green light, no later than Tuesday night.

No one knows for how to react, however, the rating agencies. Despite the compromise finally reached on the debt, the loss by the United States, their AAA rating is not excluded and would have severe repercussions on the economy and markets.

Meanwhile, oil prices rose sharply, driven by the announcement of the agreement.On the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), a barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery was trading at 98.18 dollars, up 2.48 dollars compared to the previous day.

Industrial activity and construction spending

At the macroeconomic agenda of the first Monday of August, the ISM manufacturing index for July will be announced (expected at 54.4 according to a consensus of analysts), together with expenses building for the month of June (+0.1% expected).

This week, analysts said Aurel BGC, "investors will focus on indicators confirming whether a rebound in growth. In view of the latest indicators movement is far from certain. Surveys of business advocate for a regional downturn in the ISM manufacturing index for July, which will be released today.Auto sales (Tuesday) and retail sales side of Wall Street in July will also be eagerly awaited. Finally, this weekend, the employment figures will be released by the BLS. They will be very affected by the lay-off of 20,000 staff in the State of Minnesota. "

73% of companies did better than expected

The European steelmaker ArcelorMittal and U.S. mining company Peabody Energy (0.73% to 57.89 dollars) on Monday made a hostile bid on the Australian Macarthur about 4.7 billion Australian (about 3, 6 billion euros), after the failure of talks to reach an amicable agreement.The board of Australian mining group declined Monday to support the joint bid from ArcelorMittal and Peabody to 15.50 dollars per share.

The title of the American manufacturer Ford (2.54% to 12.52 dollars) could take 25% as the group reduced its debt, is launching new models and trying to expand in China and India where he remained late over its competitors, said Monday the magazine Barron's.

Shares of online retail Amazon.com (1.75% to 226.41 dollars), which is just below its record high, could earn 10% to 25% if the investment result rapid growth of its retail operations, cloud-computing and Kindle reading light, said Monday the magazine Barron's.

The railway company of the UAE, Etihad Rail, said Monday it has ordered seven locomotives Electro-Motive Diesel, a subsidiary of U.S. manufacturer of construction equipment Caterpillar (2.36% to 101.13 dollars).

On the corporate side, after Merck (+0.03% to 34.10 dollars) and Chevron (1.57% to 105.67 dollars), which published its quarterly results Friday, the ball of publications in the U.S. coming to an end. Nearly 65% ​​of companies have indeed published their findings in the U.S. and 73% reported earnings above expectations.

Among the publications planned the first week of August, include those closely watched CBS, Cephalon, and Pfizer (Tuesday). Will be followed by Comcast, Time Warner and Mastercard (Wednesday). Then, Kraft Foods (Thursday), Procter & Gamble and Viacom (Friday).

Faurecia is reviewing all its objectives on the rise

July 26, 2011 - 1:04 pm Comments Off

Faurecia exceeds its own goals. The automotive supplier announced Tuesday an operating profit (EBIT) up 57% to 340 million euros, giving a margin of 4.2% against 3.2% a year earlier. Net income group share jumped from 82% to 185.8 million euros. The specialist for exhaust systems and car seats, including the manufacturer PSA holds 57.4% stake, has also made the period a consolidated turnover of 8.15 billion euros in the first six months of year, an increase of 19.4%.

"With the strong growth recorded by the group in the first half and improved profitability, Faurecia is now a year ahead of its business plan 2010-2014 presented in June 2010", said the equipment in a statement.

Massive investments outside Europe

In this context, the overall objectives of the group are revised upwards.Faurecia, which estimates that growth "should remain strong in the second half in all regions", is a consolidated revenue of between 15.7 and 15.9 billion euros, against 14.8-15300000000 expected so far, an increase of 13.8% to 15.2% over 2010. Incidentally, the group refines upwards its target of operating profit in the range from 620 to 650 million euros, against a previous range from 580 to 640 million.

Yann Delabrière, CEO of Faurecia, said Tuesday during a presentation to analysts that commodities do not constitute a risk to the second half.

To achieve these results, Faurecia is at 450 million its investment objective for this year, against an initial assumption of 350 million.The effort will be concentrated in low-cost countries where investments will increase by 89% against 16% for countries where the cost base is higher. During the presentation of its strategic plan in June 2010, the OEM had also set a goal of doubling the share of sales outside Europe that carries 42% within five years, against 23% in 2009. In the first half, the share of sales generated outside of Europe had already reached 34%. Yann Delabrière announced that the share of sales outside Europe should strive for 50% of the objectives of the new plan in 2015 to be unveiled in November.

The stock market punishes

In a presentation to analysts, Faurecia said to expect in 2011 a new record in terms of new contracts expected between 13 and 14 billion euros, against 13.1 billion in 2010.According to Yann Delabrière, the group would continue to study small acquisitions to strengthen its technology portfolio, but the priority of the moment was clear to organic growth.

"The results are in line with consensus," said JP Morgan Cazenove soberly in a note. "The EBIT forecast is revised up slightly, but remains in line with consensus, while the increase in investment spending reduces the cash flow outlook," says the broker. Indeed, Faurecia has revised down to 100 million euros its forecast net cash flow in 2011, against 200 million euros expected so far.

It is this last point that holds the attention of investors on Tuesday at the Paris Bourse. In early trade, the title Faurecia drops 1.55% to 29.87 euros in a market up 0.55%.

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China launches mobile phone OS

July 5, 2011 - 11:32 am Comments Off

The Alibaba China could become a major player in the field of operating systems for mobile phones just as Android, IOS, or WP7. In fact, according to the Wall Street Journal, the Chinese e-commerce specialist, prepares to launch its own operating system (OS). But this new system has a particularity: it is based on the cloud, literally the "cloud computing". In other words, this new system will store the user data on remote servers. Such OS therefore requires a connection to broadband Internet in all circumstances.

This project should be launched in the third quarter of this year, said the American daily. Initially, the system should be accessible only to the Chinese market but "nothing says it will not be used elsewhere after," said a source familiar with the journal.

This launch marks another milestone for Alibaba, more used to make software and especially shopping sites online no fax cash loans. Like him, more and more companies are trying to afford the lion's share in the growth market of smartphones. Another Chinese, Baidu, Google's competitor frontal China would launch its own OS for the Chinese market, based on the technology of Google Android. If these Chinese projects are completed, Apple, with its own system IOS, Microsoft Windows 7 Phone and Google, which has the Android operating system, could see their global market dominance eroded.

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Solar Impulse will be a second product in Switzerland

June 26, 2011 - 6:00 pm Comments Off

Nearly 150 tail. Visitors to the Paris Air Show crowd to reach a huge tent, mounted at the end of the area dedicated to the 150 aircraft on static display. The tent is home to the Solar Impulse, the solar airplane pilot Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. It is the guest of honor at Le Bourget. The aircraft, powered by the energy collected by solar cells that dress, fascinates the public. The bird-dragon has a funny look with its size equal to that of an Airbus A 340, light weight (1.6 tons), its four propeller engines of 10 horsepower each, the power of a scooter and its narrow cockpit. André Borschberg spent sixteen hours to bring the Solar Impulse from Brussels to Paris on June 14. Since the device did not fly, rain and especially wind thwarted the schedule of demonstrations.With the return of calm and sunny, the Solar Impulse could fly this weekend. "It was important to return at the Bourget six years after the first presentation of the project partners – Solvay, Deutsche Bank, Omega and Schindler," says the duo.

Total Call

We are far from the early 2000s, when Bertrand Piccard was looking for funding – 100 million Swiss francs – to launch the project after the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne was funded and entrusted to André Borschberg the first feasibility study. But the duo sticks to the motto of Jules Verne: "All that is impossible to follow."

In 2004, Dassault Aviation hear about the project. The aircraft manufacturer will not money but the brains of its best engineers to the project, becoming the "manufacturer's advice.""Dassault was the guardian of the real aircraft," says Bertrand Piccard.

Today, the project entered a new phase. The assembly of the second device begins next week in Duebendorf, near Zurich. "It looks like the first by its general shape and appearance. Its scale will be greater, between that of A 380 and B 747-8. It benefits from technological advances, a new engine, a different type of solar cells, "says André Borschberg.This engineer, former fighter pilot and businessman, pilot of Solar Impulse, alternating with Bertrand Piccard, a psychiatrist by training, aeronaut – he managed a tour of the world by balloon in 1999 – and a descendant of a pioneer family in the air and under the sea

Solar Impulse with the second, they hope to make long flights in stages over four to five days in a row, with the ultimate goal of a successful world tour "without fossil fuel or pollution." "The world is full of big problems that are costly and discourage," said tandem. "Aviation can provide innovative solutions by showing that renewable energy is possible. They are a source of diversification for the oil and future growth, "Bertrand Piccard is developing. The Solar Impulse is "the best vehicle for that message."The recent acquisition by Total of Sun Power, the California company that produces solar panels of the Solar Impulse, "is a good sign," said he calling Total to partner.

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