Posts Tagged ‘business’

Eric Besson France launches plan Digital 2020

November 30, 2011 - 2:32 pm Comments Off

Eric Besson this Wednesday morning at the University Paris-Dauphine, his new plan, Digital France 2020 laying down broad objectives for the digital sector, which now accounts for 3.7% of employment in France and 5 2% of GDP.

Some fifty measures, the minister will announce that the government wants to free up additional spectrum for the development of mobile broadband. Good news for mobile operators, which, given the exponential growth of traffic, would need additional 450 megahertz. Good news in perspective as to the state, who can expect royalties.

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The CAC fell slightly before U.S. jobs

October 7, 2011 - 6:37 pm Comments Off

Investors play the card of caution in Europe before the announcement always expected employment figures for the month of September in the United States. Halfway through, the Paris index symbolically gives 0.42% to 3 062.55 points. Elsewhere in Europe, London slipped 0.30% to 0.27% and Frankfurt.

Thursday, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced a series of measures to help European banks to refinance. Global stock markets have accelerated their gains, the CAC 40 ended up sharply from 3.41% to 3075.37 points and the Wall Street lining up a third session in the green. This morning in Asia, the trend is bullish.

Nicolas Sarkozy, in addition, announced this morning that he will discuss the issue of a possible recapitalization of banks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at their next meeting on Sunday in Berlin.A barrel of Brent North Sea crude for November delivery gave up 38 cents to 102.44 dollars.

Vallourec is lowering its forecast EBITDA

As for values, the banking sector remains very guarded. Dexia said in a statement Thursday that the Belgian regulator had requested suspension of trading of its title until Monday morning.

Credit Agricole (-2.81% to 5.30 euros) and Societe Generale (-1.93% to 20.28 euros) suffered some profit taking.

Vallourec (-3.92% to 42.25 euros) Friday revised down slightly its forecast for gross operating profit (EBITDA) for the second half because of the uncertainties surrounding the economy, but confirmed that an increase its production and its sales on the strength of the energy markets.

Gecina (-0.63% to 66.58 euros) is considering the sale of 500 million euros of additional residential assets to accelerate debt reduction.

EDF (0.77% to 22.22 euros) loses an ally in the U.S.: chief of the service responsible for issuing controversial loan guarantees from the U.S. government for the development of "clean energy", Jonathan Silver, resigned, according to the Washington Post.He was one of the main support for the proposed construction of a nuclear reactor at Calvert Cliffs, Maryland, supported by EDF and its U.S. partner Constellation.

Veolia Environnement (-2.71% to 10.61 euros): UBS lowered its recommendation on the value to "sell" against "neutral."

NYSE Euronext (0.31% to 17.77 euros) recorded in September increased volume of transactions on the cash market and derivatives over a year. Trading volumes of derivatives totaled 9.5 million contracts daily in September, an increase of 23.2% over the year but a decline of 8.4% from August. On the spot market, 1.9 million transactions were recorded in Europe, an increase of 34.6% over a year and a decline of 13.5% over the month. In the U.S., sales rose 12.3% to 2.6 billion shares daily volume. A month, 19.8% volume regresses.

Goldman Sachs, in trouble, addresses cups of coffee

October 3, 2011 - 1:56 am Comments Off

Coffee breaks should be shorter now for the employees of Goldman Sachs in New York. In recent days, in fact, they have at their disposal coffee cups smaller than normal. The bank, which has embarked on an extensive program of savings $ 1.45 billion in mid-2012, estimates that reducing the size of the cups 35 cl at 29 he will save "thousands of dollars ". In the same vein, the machines "cashless" (to recharge with cash cards can be used to pay vending machines) are becoming increasingly rare in buildings. According to Goldman Sachs, it will pay less armored car to transport the money raised.

Other banks, Wall Street stars, also address their operating costs.The offices are less green and Morgan Stanley, which decided to cut the budget plant. "Every dollar not spent is a dollar that can be used for growth," says her boss wisely James Gorman. Bank of America canceled several expensive meeting, while Barclays will strictly monitor the bill for business phones for its employees.

Bonuses reduced and job cuts

More importantly, the impressive bonus paid out to employees at year end should be reduced. Although for the moment, the cumulative 65.69 billion dollars, set aside for this purpose in the first half by Citigroup, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America, do not show it yet. In recent await the end of the fourth quarter before taking any decisions about it.

Saving measures will also affect employment high quality business cards.Goldman Sachs cuts and positions could not be about 3% of the workforce (1,000 people), as expected so far, but 5% of the total. Bank of America will eliminate 30,000 positions, JPMorgan Chase 3000.

A disastrous quarter

The time has come for U.S. investment banks to tighten their belt after a disastrous third quarter. The very poor stock market performance of major Wall Street banks over the period, characterized by loss of 16% to 49% over the period, illustrate the phenomenon.

The reason: the pressure around the debt crisis in Europe affects the banking sector on both sides of the Atlantic, the new cases of mergers and acquisitions and bond below the 2008/2009 levels, and economic slowdown in the U.S. and the euro area.Not to mention the always present impacts of the subprime crisis.

Symbol difficulties, Goldman Sachs is expected to announce on 18 October, its worst quarter since going public 12 years ago. The consensus of analysts now speak of an earnings per share of $ 1.35 (against 2.65 dollars a month ago), a loss of profitability of 50% over the year. Some even refer to a quarterly loss that the bank would be its first episode since the Lehman Brothers in 2008.

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Three leaders of Schneider Electric moved to Hong Kong

September 4, 2011 - 5:00 am Comments Off

When a patron of the CAC 40 announced that his family moved to Hong Kong, it creates inevitably stir. Jean-Pascal Tricoire, chief executive of Schneider Electric, a lot of time already happening in Asia, where the group generates 26% of its turnover and that, above all, it takes half its growth. Given the strategic importance of the area, the leader has planned to go there more often. Hence the decision to move his family from his base camp.

"It will not change the management of the group," insists there be at Schneider. The headquarters of Schneider remains in Rueil-Malmaison (Hauts-de-Seine) and its supervisory board will continue to meet in France under the presidency of Henri Lachmann. Nevertheless.The choice of a home owner in the CAC 40 – the first of its kind – has symbolic value: it illustrates the inexorable redeployment of large groups to emerging countries, foremost among them China and India.

Even before talk of investment, one of the main resources of a company lies in its teams. It is no coincidence that Jean-Pascal Tricoire decided in parallel, as he announced internally in late July, to "relocate" in Hong Kong two members of its executive committee: Karen Ferguson, executive director human resources, and Philippe Delorme, Executive Director Strategy and Innovation, based in Europe so far.A total of fourteen members who form the "comex" champion of smart grids and energy, five are based in Europe, five in the United States and four in Asia online payday loan lenders.

The war for talent

It is no coincidence either that the officers dispatched to the new "hub" of Hongkong drive the human resources and strategy. All international companies, General Electric, Siemens, engaged a war without thank you to Asia to recruit the best talent. "We send our best in Asia", recognizes also the CEO of another international group.

The battle rages also to identify and attract good prey. The stakes are high for Schneider, which continues at a run a targeted acquisition strategy.Between May and June, French disbursed within ten days some 2 billion euros to add in his tool kit a Spanish company (Telvent), an Indian (Luminous) and Chinese (Harvest Power Technologies).

While the economic recovery is delayed in Europe and the United States, the dynamic Asian economies stirs envy. The adjustment to which Schneider has just completed, led by the very Sinophile Jean-Pascal Tricoire, could give ideas to Air Liquide, Saint-Gobain and Lafarge other.

We are far, however, the violent change of course given by the British HSBC. The banking giant, headquartered in London but the birthplace in China, was the first to relocate in early 2010, its branch in Hong Kong.He just drive the point home with a strategic plan that includes 30,000 job cuts by 2013, partially offset by 15,000 recruits in emerging markets.

The CAC 40 is expected to open up

August 24, 2011 - 1:32 pm Comments Off

Degradation by the Moody's rating of Japan, expected by market participants, since the rating agency announced last May that it could lower the rating of the country, should not interfere with the Cac 40.Supported by the good performance of Wall Street Tuesday night, the Paris index should open up on Wednesday.

The government must announce a series of measures to reduce the deficit in France ten billion more.

For the euro area, new orders in industry in June will be released at 11:00.

In the U.S., are expected durable goods orders in July (1430) and the weekly inventory of crude oil (16.30).

On the currency markets, the euro declined slightly from 0.25% to 1.4398 dollar.

Oil prices were up Wednesday morning during electronic trading in Asia, with Brent who was close to 110 dollars a barrel because of uncertainty about the situation in Libya. In morning trading, a barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery gained 50 cents to 109.81 dollars.A barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October was appreciating by 18 cents to 85.61 dollars.

Iliad:

Free (Iliad) filed an appeal with the State Council concerning the conditions of grant by the Government of the 4G mobile phone licenses, according to Le Figaro.

Accor:

The hotel group has published on Wednesday operating profit rose by 27.5% to 199 million euros in the first half. Accor has also returned to earnings, its net profit amounting to 41 million euros in the first half against a loss of 15 million last year over the same period.

STMicroelectronics

Fitch has downgraded the long-term European manufacturer of semiconductors "A" to "BBB +" with perspective, particularly because of the weakness and lack of profitability ST Ericsson, a joint venture with Ericsson specializes in chips for communications no son.

The CAC reassured by the U.S.

August 17, 2011 - 6:28 am Comments Off

The Paris Bourse remained hesitant on Tuesday. The CAC 40, which had closed up yesterday, was down 0.25% to 3230.90 points. The Paris index was pressed into the red at the opening, losing 0.73% after the release of German GDP is very disappointing. Deutsche Börse also accused the coup, the Dax closed down 0.45%, limiting losses after falling 2.40% to 5877.91 points. In London, the FTSE-100 index of the core values ​​ends up slightly from 0.13% to 5357.63 points after losing 1.13% during the session. The other European financial centers have also reduced their losses late in the day: the Madrid Stock Exchange lost 0.4% and finally to Milan 0.8%.

The markets were reassured by the announcement of the Fitch rating of the United States. The rating agency remains in effect its "AAA" together with a stable outlook.But caution prevails before the summit between Sarkozy and Merkel spent on the economic governance of the euro area. Combined these on global markets, all eyes will be on the Elysee Palace in Paris to take place a meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, to improve governance in the euro area . The two leaders will meet from 16 hours and hold a press conference around 18:30.

Investors already know that he must not expect miracles, especially not that the two largest economies in the euro zone agreed to set up Euro-bonds, which would be financially harmful to Berlin."Do not expect anything dramatic" at the end of the meeting Monday said a spokesman for Angela Merkel, that "people expect once again a spectacular blow." It should only be to continue discussions on the governance of the euro area, following decisions taken by Heads of State and Government of the European end of July.

Operators still expect progress on this issue. "If nothing is announced, it will mean that there is a deep rift between Paris and Berlin markets can get excited again," warned Yves Marc, sales of shares in Global Equities.

Meanwhile, Asian markets set the tone with very mixed sessions, followed by Wall Street that opened in the red. Oil down with a barrel of "light sweet crude" that is losing 45 cents to 87.43 dollars and that of Brent crude, which gives 42 cents to 109.49 dollars.Sign of nervousness room, gold is up, quoting around 1775.50 dollars against 1744 dollars the day before closing in New York.

German growth slows

The Franco-German summit is further expected that the disappointing figures were published today in the euro area. Germany has announced a particularly sharp slowdown in growth in the second quarter. German gross domestic product (GDP) grew by only 0.1% in the second quarter compared to the first, where he still displayed an increase of 1.3%.

In addition to the sharp slowdown in the German economy, the Gross Domestic Products (GDP), Spanish and Dutch have in fact suffered a similar fate over the same period, rising by only 0.2%, respectively, and 0.1%, amid debt crisis.

Economic growth also slowed in the second quarter in the euro area, 0.2% from 0.8% in the first quarter, according to data released Tuesday by the EU statistics office Eurostat. However, the euro area recorded a trade surplus of 900 million euros in June, after a surplus of 200 million in May.

United States, markets were also disappointed by the figures for housing starts, down 1.5% in July. The number of building permits has meanwhile Contracted 3.2%. However, industrial production increased more than expected in July, 0.9%, according to the Federal Reserve, with the automotive sector and the heat wave that has boosted the use of air conditioners and therefore electricity consumption .Finally, import prices have rebounded from their side, while export declined.

Values ​​to follow

On the corporate side, the news is much thinner. Bank stocks are again suivies.Sous pressure before meeting Sarkozy, Merkel, they recovered late in the session: BNP Paribas lost 0.07% to 37.5 euros, Natixis (-1.64% to 3.063 euros) and AXA (-0.18% to 11.22 euros). Societe Generale gained 1.92% to end 25.275 euros and Credit Agricole advance of 0.68% to 6.781 euros.

GDF Suez (-2.20% to 20.44 euros) is added to the list of preferred values ​​of UBS.

EADS (-0.95% to 21.80 euros): Russian Transaero airline will buy 12 Airbus A320. Qantas has in turn announced the purchase of 110 Airbus A320s and the deferral of delivery of six Airbus A380 jumbo jets.

Facebook debauchery of former Apple engineers

August 4, 2011 - 5:20 am Comments Off

Facebook announced Tuesday the acquisition of Push Pop Press, a publisher of books, multimedia touch pads co-founded by two former Apple Kimon Tsiteris and Mike Matas. Little known to the general public, the two men worked on the interface and software key on the iPhone and iPad.

Apple, Mike Matas has participated in the design of several interface elements of the iPhone, as the camera, the display of the battery and phone settings. Tsiteris with Kimon, he also worked on the mapping software for iPad."Mike Matas is responsible or has had responsibility for most of the best and most exuberant designs in recent times" at Apple, said the blogger John Gruber, familiar with the company.

Team Press Push Pop account other well-respected engineers in its ranks, as Austin Sarner, who worked for Sofa, publisher of software for Mac already bought in June by Facebook. On Twitter, the former head of the development of the implementation of Facebook for iPhone, Joe Hewitt, said he hoped "that the acquisitions of Pop Push Press and sofa style mean that Facebook is more like that of Apple that of Microsoft. "

An application for iPad

Facebook confirmed that some engineers Pop Push Press join its ranks, without specifying their assignment.Pop Push Press, who had noted earlier this year by publishing a book multimedia Al Gore for the iPad, will cease operations. "Facebook does not begin to publish electronic books, but the ideas and technology that are behind Push Pop Press will be integrated with Facebook," commented Mike Matas and Kimon Tsinteris. For example, to better present the interactive content, suggests the New York Times.

An image of the future application iPad Facebook.

U.S. debt: the draft agreement still under discussion

July 31, 2011 - 10:00 pm Comments Off

The uncertainty in Washington. After long weeks of negotiations, Republicans and Democrats seem finally to have reached an agreement to raise the ceiling of U.S. debt, according to U.S. television, ABC News, citing unnamed sources in Congress. But the White House quickly denied. "There is no agreement, said Obama adviser David Plouffe, on NBC. The clock is ticking. We need to find a solution. Today's (Sunday, ed) is obviously crucial "but" significant challenges remain to be resolved, "he said.

The text is still under negotiation, under the leadership of the White House. After a long back against the long struggle between Republicans and Democrats, Barack Obama Saturday decided to get involved again in the negotiations. Return ardently desired by the Republicans.The head of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Harry Reid said he was "cautiously optimistic" about reaching an agreement, saying that some issues remained to be finalized. For its part, the Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell assured on CNN: "We are very close to agreement" .3000 billion over ten years

Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate rejected a Democratic proposal to raise the debt ceiling, which had already been rejected by the House of Representatives. In a procedural vote of 50 votes against 49, elected officials have pushed the text elaborated by the head of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Harry Reid.

The Senate will have to decide again on the new text. Only a few details have filtered through the compromise now being negotiated. According to Mitch McConnell, it calls for reducing spending 3 trillion dollars over ten years.The Republicans have also agreed a mechanism to ensure that the debt cap could be raised beyond the U.S. presidential election in November 2012, claiming instead that they reopen early next year, or election campaign.

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Casino again rejects proposed merger of Carrefour

July 13, 2011 - 3:28 pm Comments Off

Things are further complicated in the case of Carrefour in Brazil. On Tuesday, during a special meeting, all directors of the Casino dealer rejected the proposed merger between Carrefour and its Brazilian subsidiary CBD Pao de Açúcar (GPA). "The Board found unanimously that the proposed financial transaction is contrary to the interests of GPA, to all its shareholders and Casino. He recalled that this proposal, unsolicited, is hostile and illegal, "said a statement.

Only the Brazilian businessman Abilio Diniz, who has operational control of GPA on par with Casino in the holding Wilkes, reaffirmed its support for the project "and did not want to vote," says statement.

"Significant execution risks"

To justify this choice, the directors draw up a list of all the issues raised by the transaction size. According to them, "this operation is based on a strategic vision for GPA wrong" with such an increase in the hypermarket segment, "even as market share in this segment are experiencing a continuous decline." Moreover, "the estimates of synergies in support of this operation are well above the levels announced at similar operations.They amounted in effect to 3.2% of revenues in 2010 combined, against an average of about 1% of synergies announced at ten comparable transactions. "

The Board also points the finger at "excessive concentration" in some cities which could lead to intervention by competition authorities as well as "important managerial risks GPA." From a financial point of view, the operation would otherwise be detrimental to the shareholders of GPA because it relies on "an unnecessary dilution via the entrance to the capital of the Brazilian National Development Bank (BNDES) and BTG Pactual up 2 billion euros. "Finally, administrators are concerned that the merger does take GPA "company operating in an unregulated holding company undergoing a deep discount."

On this, the Board of Directors has appointed its president "to present as soon as possible the position of Casino on the board of Wilkes and, more generally, the claim in accordance with existing agreements and Brazilian regulations. "

The Brazilian government does not follow

This news comes to worse for Carrefour. This morning, the group has faced the decline of the Brazilian government that supported the project yet. "The way the agreement was handled was disappointing and the government has decided to withdraw its support for the financing of the Brazilian National Bank for Development (BNDES)", said a senior official who requested anonymity.According to the latter, governments could review their position if the terms are changed.

Last week, BNDES announced that it would not choose his camp, suggesting that its participation would be conditional on an agreement between the parties. Comments that had been called since retreat was originally agreed to support the financing agreement amounting to two billion euros, even calling the operation "economically interesting and viable" and creative "value for all parties concerned. "

Pressure

Since early July, the case takes a turn for legal and political. The federal prosecutor has asked Brazil's BNDES him clarify the origin of funds used and if it will be in the public interest. The public bank has fifteen days to respond.Opposition parties in Brazil for their part, strongly criticized the involvement of the public bank in the project. MPs have called for him to come Wednesday explained to them. For its part, Abilio Diniz assured last week to have alternative funding in case of withdrawal of BNDES.

Meanwhile, around 15 hours on Euronext Paris, as Carrefour has one of the largest drop in the CAC 40 index with a decline of 3.08% to 21.90 euros on a market down 1.18%. For its part, the action Casino loses 1.14% to 62.68 euros.

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The Paris Bourse recovers markedly, Greece reassures

June 25, 2011 - 9:36 am Comments Off

The CAC 40 is back on Friday after his heavy fall of more than 2% Thursday night. The index opens up 1.34% to 3838.50 points. From a technical point of view, it would reach 3850 points to enter a bullish phase. Markets appreciate the calming of the Greek case. While Europe has promised a new plan Thursday to save Greece, while maintaining the pressure to Athens in exchange for adopting an unpopular austerity program, Greece, she has reached an agreement with international donors on the final details of a new austerity plan, whose adoption in parliament expected next week.

Moreover, the French Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde was released Thursday in Washington visibly relaxed in his great oral before the Board of the International Monetary Fund, which shall designate within a week its new CEO.She assured that she would not be lenient with European countries if it took the head of the institution.

European leaders, meeting on Friday formalized the appointment of Mario Draghi at the head of the European Central Bank, to replace Jean-Claude Trichet.

In France, INSEE said that growth will wait for 2.1% in 2011.The first months left on the ground running, with a 1% growth in the first quarter but spring is marked by a strong downturn in part because of the end of the scrapping a car that plunged household consumption, in the face of any support in the international environment.

Oil has won

The eyes are also looking to the monthly survey of French consumer confidence survey for the month of June: French consumer confidence remained stable in June, while fears of unemployment and inflation continued to decline. The composite indicator of consumer confidence stood at 83, unchanged from the revised figure for May

In Germany, the Ifo barometer (10 hours) followed, while the U.S. side, durable goods orders will be scrutinized closely.

Meanwhile, the euro stagnated this Friday morning (0.02% to 1.4268 dollar) while the side of commodity markets, the last few hours were hectic. Yesterday, the price dropped $ 5 in New York, at $ 90 and $ 7 in London. A decline caused by the International Energy Agency that surprised by deciding to draw on its stocks to supply the market.

EADS not "indifferent" to an approximation Thales / Safran

After a week early for professionals, the Paris Air Show opens Friday for three days the general public who can see the stars in flight aviation such as the A380 or the Rafale fighter.The 667 contracts announced four days propel the Airbus order book of European best-seller, the A320 Neo, over 1000 copies. In total, Airbus set a new record high with 72.2 billion dollars in contracts.

In addition, EADS (1.18% to 22.28 euros) can not remain "indifferent" to a rapprochement between Thales and Safran, two major suppliers, said Thursday on radio BFM Business Marwan Lahoud, the director of the European aviation group's strategy.

Bernard Charles, CEO of the world leader in 3D software, Dassault Systèmes (0.92% to 56.95 euros), told the BBC that the aviation economy is on the verge of a revolution.

The Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) denounced a "deliberate process" of non-reporting of accidents at the site of the Flamanville (Manche), particularly on the part of Bouygues, in a report revealed Friday by humanity.

Vinci (1.87% to 42.50 euros) has signed a new syndicated credit line of four billion euros in five years, two options to extend for one year to fund general needs of the group. This new facility replaces several existing credit lines not drawn, maturing in 2012, a total of 3.685 million euros.

PSA (2.42% to 30.07 euros) refused to commit to a future timetable for its plant at Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis), said the CGT.

Societe Generale (2.05% to 39.25 euros).Bank unions have denounced a draft direction to reduce the incentive and incentive to be paid to employees in 2012.

The IT services company Capgemini announced Friday the acquisition of Praxis Technology, a small computer services company and consultancy based in Beijing, its first acquisition in China.

Areva (0.13% to 26.05 euros) has announced the creation of a new joint venture in nuclear power in China. The nuclear group has signed a contract for the supply of instrumentation systems from the heart of two reactors at the plant Ningde.

Sanofi (1.19% to 52.91 euros) won on Thursday ahead of the health authorities of Canada to put his cancer Jevtana on the market.