Posts Tagged ‘resources’

Free, guilty of practices "abusive and illegal"

March 23, 2011 - 3:12 pm Comments Off

The consumer wins a round face Free. The Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris ruled in favor of the association UFC-Que Choisir ordering the service provider (ISP) to "stop a number of illegal practices" and to delete from its general conditions of sale particular clauses considered "unreasonable". Free society was ordered to pay the Consumers' Association the sum of 50,000 euros in damages. The Iliad, the parent of Free, did not wish to make comment.

Free will and remove certain "terms and conditions of the offer triple play (internet, telephone, TV), its brochure and pricing of its website," "multiple practices" are also involved, said to AFP Nicolas Godfrey, a lawyer by the UFC-Que Choisir.This underlines that the court found that "the presentation of the payment method seemed misleading to the consumer and guided him to direct debit low fee pay day loans. In addition, Free "billed additional charges if you choose to pay by check or credit card, which the court found unlawful."

Moreover, the consumer association was clearly engaged "in terms of termination to deferred collection for us," said Nicolas Godfrey were a semantic loophole (to apply a termination fee) and that the court well recognized as such. " The court's decision thus gives consumers "the ability to challenge the billings already made or those coming for those who terminate on the basis of the VAT hike," said the lawyer.Mobilization of consumers had already resulted in early, to thwart the rising prices of certain operators, such as Bouygues, in response to the VAT hike.

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Earthquake: BoJ takes exceptional measures

March 14, 2011 - 10:24 am Comments Off

While the country remains on alert this morning after a second explosion at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima Daiichi, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) to take exceptional measures to counter the effects of the disaster in the economic and financial systems. The BoJ has in effect this morning to four injections of cash for a total of 15,000 billion yen, 175.2 billion euros. The institution hopes to support the markets with its massive influx of cash.

His intervention had immediate effect on the yen, which fell abruptly when he was mounted in the early morning. The Nikkei index of Tokyo Stock Exchange plummeted finished him sitting on a decline of 6.18%.The volume of transactions reached a historic high on Monday to the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with over 4.88 billion shares traded on the primary market, representing more than 2.5 times the average normal. The Tokyo Stock Exchange has nevertheless been valuable to rate.

Automotive and nuclear values ​​fall

The share of the company Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), which operates nuclear plants in trouble, was particularly affected, it lost 23.57%, all holders of securities rushing to sell. The values ​​are also among the automotive titles most penalized Mitsubishi Motors plunged 10.9% and Toyota 8.1.

Indeed, many Japanese companies are facing serious damage on their production sites.Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Sony, Mitsubishi Motors, Suzuki, Panasonic or Toshiba have suspended their activity in one or more plants.

As for oil prices, they are on the downside on Monday in electronic trading in Asia. A barrel of Brent WTI lost nearly 2% to less than 100 dollars a barrel. The market is worried about a drop in demand in the short term in Japan.

Even if the destruction of the earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan on Friday remain difficult to assess, AIR Worldwide, a specialist in risk assessment, advanced at a cost of $ 34.6 billion to insurance companies.For its part, the rating agency Moody's believes that the consequences of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan will be only temporary for the country's finances.

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Wall Street has benefited from the decline in oil

March 9, 2011 - 4:24 pm Comments Off

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.

Lagardere sells at high prices to its Hearst Magazines International

January 31, 2011 - 9:32 am Comments Off

In a forced march. Less than a month after announcing the opening of exclusive negotiations with U.S. publisher Hearst, Lagardère has completed the sale transaction of its global news division.

According to our information, the operation reached a total value of 720 million euros, 650 million in cash and 8 million a year in royalties under the license for Elle magazine. What credit the women's magazine with a net present value of at least 70 million euros.

Lagardere, which has a framework agreement for this purpose in several countries, will retain ownership of the brand, merchandising and will have a say on the editorial line.

If Lagardère now refocuses on France, it protects the passage of one of its most beautiful asset in the national territory through a licensing agreement with a purchaser Hearst.Finally, Lagardere keeps 30 million euros of real estate that he intends to sell later. The scope of the operation on 102 newspaper titles in 15 countries. Neither Hearst nor Lagardère were willing to comment on the Sunday operation.

This sale is expected to positively surprise the market. Aware of the nuggets of the group as the 42 versions of Elle magazine and the 12 international versions of Psychology, the latter assumed an amount exceeding 500 million euros, but its high estimate never exceeded 700 million. Is roughly the turnover of the international press center, which has 5,000 employees and 58% of the total turnover of the entire magazine division of Lagardère my credit score.The latter amounting to 1.270 billion euros.

Leader

Finally, the United States, Lagardère is also the publisher of prestigious brands such as Car & Driver (1.3 million copies) and Woman's Day (3.8 million). What have raised the stakes throughout the negotiations.

This operation will therefore allow the French group company debt in late 2011 and get him out of an industry where it considers no longer have the critical mass to compete favorably and restructure. In 2009, the victim of a sharp downturn in advertising, more marked than in France International, the group had already sold five U.S. specialty magazines (Popular Photography, Flying, Boating …) to the publisher Bonnier.He had also arrested a half-dozen magazines in the world.

For his part, Hearst consolidates its leading position in the magazine not only on its home market but also globally. The latter has a total turnover of $ 4 billion and employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide. He holds a dozen magazines like Harper's Bazaar – the biggest competitor of Elle – Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Country Living with nearly 200 international versions. If the strategy is clear to the American group, Lagardère will now have to convince his own. Last week, he emphasized his desire to concentrate on its subsidiary Sports Unlimited.

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The hard-discount stores are not the cheapest

January 11, 2011 - 1:12 pm Comments Off

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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The Chinese stock index in form

December 10, 2010 - 10:20 am Comments Off

The Tokyo Stock Exchange finished Friday's session down 0.72% to 10,211.95 points, many investors rushing to take profits in holding that the market was showing signs of overheating. The activity was very high, with 3.12 billion shares traded on the primary market.

Since the beginning of November, the Nikkei was up 12%. After touching a high of seven months in the morning at 10,373.70, it fell as a result of profit taking. The Nikkei remains behind other major international indices. According to analysts, technical signs that the market is overvalued. Coupled with the approaching end of the year, this should be downward pressure on the Nikkei.

On the whole week, the Nikkei has gleaned 0.33%.

The decline so far in the Japanese market is also explained by the index of consumer confidence in Japan continued to deteriorate in November for the fifth consecutive month, after a semester of improvement, including employees holding the poor employment situation, according to data released Friday by the government.The overall index of confidence was established in November to 40.4 points against 40.9 in October, 41.2 in September, 42.4 in August, 43.3 points in July and 43.5 points in June .

Record of Chinese foreign trade

China announced Friday a record level of foreign trade, confirming the strength of its economy ahead of talks with the United States that will address the question of the rate of the yuan.

In November, exports as Chinese imports hit a record high: 37.7% to 130.4 billion dollars. Strong exports, which rose 34.9% year on year to 153.3 billion dollars, is an argument for a revaluation of the yuan, which would relieve pressure on prices by making imports less expensive, according to observers.In total, the trade surplus from October, to 22.9 billion, declined.

On stock exchanges, Shanghai enjoys the CSI: 0.98% to 3153.92 points. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng, himself, was down 0.68% to 23,014.50 points.

Chinese refiner Sinopec on Friday announced the acquisition of the Argentine branch of the U.S. company Occidental Petroleum for $ 2.45 billion, an acquisition that will enable China to better secure its growing energy needs. Through a subsidiary, Western Argentina is involved in production and exploration concessions in over 23 provinces of Santa Cruz, Chubut and Mendoza.

Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific, the S & P / ASX Australian gleaning 0.10% to 4745.90 points.

The India great shape

In India, the BSE is in the form of Bombay: the index was up 1.04% at 19,443 points.

The growth of industrial production in India has clearly rebounded in October, rising 10.8% yoy against 4.4% in September, thanks to strong demand during this period of religious festivals, according to figures official published Friday.

The increased production of factories and mines of the third economic power in Asia in October was higher than analysts' forecasts which projected an increase of 8.5%.

This strong growth was driven by strong demand during religious festivals this month and the strength of the manufacturing sector.

"Companies Gulf kill our industry"

November 13, 2010 - 12:44 pm Comments Off

Jean-Cyril Spinetta, 66, is chairman of the board of directors of Air France-KLM. Uncompromising, he rebels against these competitors – or low-cost companies in the Gulf – which grow through subsidies or public support. Benefits suffered by companies history.

LE FIGARO. – Why the Gulf airlines like Emirates and Etihad, they seem unwilling to integrate alliances in the air?

Jean-Cyril Spinetta. – They say they simply do not need it, so it is they need to ask. In reality, these companies are the vast majority of their clients not in their respective countries, whose population is modest, but European markets, Asian or African. Therefore, it is very difficult to integrate an alliance, because there is an imbalance of benefits.When we sign an agreement with China or India, we facilitate the access of companies in these countries the wider European market. In return, we have improved access to Chinese market or Indian. There is a balance, reciprocity. With these companies in the Gulf, no such thing: they claim is open exclusively to their advantage. But there is worse. These companies are managed without the economic and financial profitability necessary in an economy open to all players. The requirement of profitability, which is the primary requirement of any private economic actor, is quite high for these companies. I was, I believe, the first in 2002 at the Cannes Airlines Forum, to denounce this situation. At the time, I was a little lonely. Since then, all airlines in the world are sounding the alarm.Why? Because no other major global economic activity is confronted with such situations. Imagine there be for example one or more automobile manufacturers may say "My purpose is not to win money, but market share? If you let them idly, they would kill the global automotive industry. That is what are these companies doing Gulf for our industry.

Some argue that these airlines are very profitable.

Nobody knows precisely because none of them are not listed. What is certain however is that they all give full support to their respective states.When we combine their existing fleets and their controls in 2020, we arrive at the figure of 800 long-haul aircraft, double the long-haul fleets combined groups Lufthansa, British Airways and Air France-KLM, which are yet Today the first three long-haul carriers in the world. There is an excess. Europeans are beginning to realize these companies, capturing the European traffic, import them from employment and export of unemployment at home.

Why the traditional companies have they left nibble significant market share by low-cost carriers in Europe?

Simply because economic actors operate according to the economic model that is theirs.The major European airlines, which are always the largest international carriers of the world, as the heart of business value for air links between Europe and the rest of the world instant payday loan. They have focused successfully on their model, which is to feed the long-haul flights by arranging matches between these flights and European flights. It's the hub model. But it hampers the ability of medium-haul aircraft to fly more than eight hours per day.This is the essential element of any competitiveness of traditional carriers face low-cost.

However, Air France had the experience of Air Inter, who was a specialist in short-haul?

The company, which only domestic flights, was focused on optimization of short-haul model, in order to be competitive with the TGV or car: aircraft turnaround, revenue management, intensification of cabins, organizing the call … It is true that in the merger, it has too often forgotten that way of working that was the best on a short-haul domestic network. We lost that culture is a pity.The new draft Air France to create databases province is a form of return to this model.

Ryanair said it reached its peak?

When the boss of Ryanair said: "If I am subject to the same charges as the others, so I'm going, I leave Marseille," he recognizes that its business model no longer works if it must meet the same rules as its competitors in continental Europe. He has just done the same thing in Frankfurt. However, European law is clear: any activity based in a country must respect the social rights of this country. It is unacceptable that European rules are so flouted by Ryanair. Without subsidies and with payroll equivalent, the difference in cost between the two models will be significantly less.I who am Corsican, I am amazed by what happens in Figari: 60,000 euros would be missing the promised subsidy to Ryanair, so she decided to stop everything instantly. Michael O'Leary is thus demonstrating that it needs public money to support his model.

What will the air in ten years?

The aviation landscape has been transformed in a decade with the emergence of low-cost carriers in Europe, the emergence of companies in the Gulf and especially the regional consolidation of our industry. It is now three major groups in Europe, the same number in the United States. The big question is whether, in the next decade, a global consolidation, as in the financial services industry, will take place. We are already seeing the first fruits, for example with KLM, which has 25% of Kenya Airways or Lufthansa, which took position at JetBlue in the U.S..We were ten years ago, national players joining our respective countries to the rest of the world we have become players in Europe, linking Europe to the world. Will we be tomorrow's global players present on all world markets? For me the major issue of next decade. That is what we must prepare.

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CCE Air France insolvent

October 29, 2010 - 8:44 am Comments Off

"From next month, half the restaurants business of Air France, managed by the central works council (CEC) could no longer be fed. Imagine the reaction of the mechanics! "This very short-term outlook is one of the practical consequences, reported by a member of the EAC, the cash flow shortages alarming facing the central works of the airline.

On an annual budget of more than 100 million euros, the instance name is fed by a grant of 42 million euros of the company, and approximately 10 million paid by the EC seafarers.But it would face a hole 15 to 20 million euros.

Faced with this situation, the auditors decided, according to our information, at a meeting Wednesday night to write to the President of the Court of Pontoise to ask him to decide actions: appointing a representative ad hoc or put into receivership. The CEC has authorized its secretary general parallel, Jean-Claude Filippi (FP), to declare insolvency.

260 permanent employees

The failure of the corporate body of Air France could have cascading consequences, including the eight works councils that compose it, to whom he owes money. The agency employs 260 permanent employees, a workforce that can climb to a thousand with seasonal bad credit pay day loans.

The auditors have requested information on the financial position of CEC in the month of June.Postponed several meetings during the summer and September have shifted deadlines. They triggered an alarm at a previous meeting on September 29 and Wednesday, were not satisfied with the answers of the leaders of the EAC which failed to meet a deficit of several million euros at the end of the year Despite a line of credit of $ 5 million and another 1.5 million euros paid recently to 6 million.

This is not the first time that the organization faces financial difficulties. Its offices were raided in January after suspicion of embezzlement. An audit report on the management of previous years had revealed a chronic budget deficit, or nearly 15 million since 2005. The situation had been regularly covered by advances of Air France.For 2009, the CEC had announced last September a historic loss of 11.6 million euros, but said the point of "get out of the rut this year."

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PV parking: the fine would rise to 20 euros

October 14, 2010 - 3:20 pm Comments Off

The Finance Committee of the Assembly on Wednesday adopted a series of amendments to the draft deBudget 2011. Amendments that will mean more in the direction of higher taxes. It remains to be seen what the members will vote in plenary.

For households, the Commission first noted 11 to 20 euro fine for parking police. It was lowered to 50% of the amount invested, instead of 75% reduction of ISF enjoyed by those who invest directly or through a holding company in an SME (SME scheme ISF). Members of the Commission had deferred for three years the implementation of the reduction in capital gains on securities (2015 instead of 2012). They changed the calculation of the tax shield to reflect the products of euro portion of life insurance contracts MPT.And they noted the taxation of stock options.

Moreover, the Commission decided to address the pension caps, limiting them to 30% of final salary. A penalty that will bring nothing to the coffers! The golden parachutes are also capped poor credit personal loans.

Only positive for households: the Commission has allowed taxpayers lived alone and had raised their children alone for less than five years to receive the half share of income tax until 2013 inclusive (instead of 2011) . Another small step: Taxpayers who have signed a loan at September 29, 2010 may continue to receive the tax credit to 50% on solar panels, even if they have not paid a deposit to the supplier.

Companies are also sentence. The removal of the last installment of fixed annual tax is deferred in 2014.And most importantly, the research tax credit is clipped. Operating expenses are fixed at 50% of staff costs (instead of 75%). The company must itself carry half of its research. Increases under the first two years are removed. Especially, the calculation of turnover thresholds will be at the group level.

France Telecom will defy Vivendi Morocco

September 22, 2010 - 12:56 am Comments Off

France Telecom holds his hand in Morocco. The group announced Tuesday the acquisition of 40% of Meditel, number two in the mobile market, amounting to 640 million euros. Acquisition will return to France Telecom in key markets of North Africa that has eluded him.

Near Telecom Morocco because of historical ties, similar structures and a shared culture, France Telecom in 2001 was the candidate "natural" to enter the capital of the great Moroccan incumbent on the occasion of its partial privatization. But then almost bankrupt because of its record debt, France Telecom had to give.A good bargain for Vivendi, which had immediately seized the Moroccan nugget: the group now owns 53% of Morocco Telecom, which is one of its most successful subsidiaries (839 million euros in net profit in 2009 for a turnover of 2.7 billion euros).

With Meditel, France Telecom thus found a place in the United Shereefian. Type SFR Moroccan Meditel, born in 1999 to compete with Morocco Telecom, became the first few years private telecom operator in Morocco. With 1,000 employees, having recently broke the 10 million customers, representing 37% of the local market, a turnover of 465 million euros and an operating margin of 40% (against 35% for France Telecom Group). Better, "Meditel can still grow strongly backed the Orange brand," said Stéphane Richard, last week, in an interview with Le Figaro bad credit personal loan lenders.France Telecom intends to expand offerings include high-end mobile data, in a market dominated by prepaid offers.

Growth Policy

This acquisition is fully in the group's growth strategy in emerging markets to offset sluggish demand and fierce competition in Europe. "Meditel is the first manifestation of our new policy for growth outside Europe and contributes to our stated goal of doubling our turnover within five years in the Africa and Middle East," said Stéphane Richard Tuesday Rabat, where he was received by the Moroccan Prime Minister and Minister of Industry.

"The idea is participation in a first step but important minority, with a schedule that allows us to run, and after an IPO, to consolidate this operation," also said Stéphane Richard.France Telecom will rise to 45% of the capital by 2011, when the IPO Meditel, then to 49% by 2015.

As always at its facilities abroad, France Telecom is to rely on local partners. Meditel no exception to the rule, with its two shareholders located in the local industry: CDG group, the Deposits Moroccan and diverse group FinanceCom. CDG and FinanceCom had bought Meditel Telefonica and Portugal Telecom in 2009.