Posts Tagged ‘global’

December 14, 2011 - 4:37 pm Comments Off

The family group is very discreet about its level of profitability, but ensures that the results are sufficient to guarantee its independence and its development without the need for external partner and relatively little use of banks.

Part of the offshore production

"In 2012, the economic environment would be bad in Europe and the United States, recognizes Jean Cassegrain, but we feel no impact in our stores." As a result, the company, which opened 20 stores this year in the world, plans to continue its expansion, even in mature markets. Longchamp is well to open a shop in Nantes. "Our priority is to open boutiques in major European cities in China," says the CEO. Longchamp will open a store in Milan in March.

November 28, 2011 - 11:20 pm Comments Off

The Council of State suspended the execution of the decree of September 29 on the sale prices of natural gas, the institution announced on Monday. Gas prices are definitely a real headache for the government. Enact increases in the order of 4 or 5% per quarter is difficult to six months of a presidential election, particularly in times of crisis. So the government there decided by a ministerial decree of 29 September, to freeze the rates for individuals. This price stability followed that decided on July 1.

Problem: after much negotiation, the State and the suppliers had agreed in December 2010 on a formula, which was to end criticism of the political nature of periodic reassessments of gas tariffs.

Violence: employment center consults its agents

October 25, 2011 - 5:40 am Comments Off

"We can not accept that the agents are subject to threats or attacks," warned Sunday Christian Charpy, the Chief of employment center. A few days after the hostage-taking occurred in a Parisian agency, on October 17, management of employment center announced the launch of a major consultation on internal security agents. One way to defuse the anger rumbling in the public institution. In an already tense social climate, officers were called last week to exercise their right of withdrawal, in protest against the increasing number of attacks.

This finding, management did not question. Christian Charpy acknowledged Sunday that the hostage-taking last week's "testimony to the rise of attacks, mostly verbal but sometimes physical, faced by agents." 5500 incidents were recorded last year.Above all, their number increased by 20% in the first half of 2011, he told AFP. Heightened tensions, insults more frequent in the Home: Agents evoke an environment that has worsened since the merger and the simultaneous rise in the unemployment rate.

Warning system

Christian Charpy, however, refuses to see a specific employment center. Believing that the public body does not suffer more than others of the progression of antisocial behavior, it does not bind the surge in attacks "any degradation of service cash advance in one hour."

The solutions were then primarily emergency measures in cases of proven abuse. "We must ensure that the existing warning system works effectively anywhere," said Christian Charpy. Each agent is indeed supposed to activate a silent alert his office, which appears on computer screens of his colleagues.They can then take action.

If Christian Charpy does not support the presence of security guards in the agencies – a "temporary solution" – he argues in contrast to the introduction of mediators, "to facilitate discussion and resolve conflict." Such a solution is currently being tested in Seine-Saint-Denis and Marseille.

The director of employment center would also like to "systematize the presence of executives close to the reception areas, which are often the scene of the assault." In many cases, officers who work there are indeed inexperienced, often in CSD, and less able to deal with a tense situation.

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"The attacks are increasing at employment center

Agreement on the euro is emerging

October 24, 2011 - 3:44 am Comments Off

All will be played Wednesday. "No decision will be announced following the summit of the euro area, which takes place this Sunday late afternoon in Brussels, although work is progressing well," said Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel in a joint press conference after a meeting of leaders of 27 countries of the European Union. French President and German Chancellor said that the work "techniques" were still to be completed by the new top of the euro area on Wednesday. The summit will be preceded by another meeting of twenty-seven, they said. "Work is progressing well on the banks of the support fund and the potential use of this fund. The assumptions are tightening and a broad agreement is taking shape. "

On the issue of Greece, progress, assured the leaders without giving details.The stabilization of the indebted country will pass through international loans and additional losses of creditor banks in the country. Europe the figure to at least 50%. According to the report of the troika (representatives of the EU, the ECB and the IMF), the discount should be 60% to maintain unchanged the envelope of € 109 billion promised to Greece, as part a second rescue plan officially recorded on July 21.

Main stumbling block between Paris and Berlin, the transformation of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) in the bank, which insisted on France, finally does more of the options considered by the finance ministers of the single currency. The idea was that the Paris Fund bank can borrow from the European Central Bank. "The two options still on the table to strengthen the EFSF do not involve the ECB," confirmed the German Chancellor.This leaves two options: either the mechanism acts as a partial insurance of the public debt of troubled countries or the IMF is expected to increase its participation in the scheme.

In another area, "the work is progressing well on the recapitalization of banks," said Nicolas Sarkozy, again without providing details on the proposed solutions. Countries of the European Union discussed a budget from 107 to 108 billion euros at the meeting of finance ministers on Saturday night. "Banks must find the money markets," stressed Angela Merkel.

Finally, the pressure on Italy is maximum. The two leaders urged the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, with whom they met ahead of the summit, for it to decisively implement a program of growth and debt reduction Alps online payday advance."I hope that decisions will be taken (…) Italy is a major economic force but it has a very high public debt should be reduced in a credible manner in the years to come," says Angela Merkel . Nicolas Sarkozy has outbid by saying that Paris and Berlin were "confident sense of responsibility of all the Italian authorities' political, financial and economic."

"Do not repeat the mistakes of the past"

"We must work differently in the future," said Angela Merkel. German Chancellor said that we should not "repeat the mistakes of the past." The problem of the euro area far exceeds that of Greece, she hammered, emphasizing the need for each country to conduct "a tighter fiscal policy."The President of the European Union, Herman Van Rompuy, confirmed on Sunday that the EU treaty could be modified to improve the functioning of the euro area. "The aim is to deepen our economic union and strengthen our fiscal discipline," he said.

Europe is facing economically to "serious challenges", said Herman Van Rompuy, at the opening of the EU summit this morning. He felt that the decisions to be taken by EU leaders to deal with were "perhaps the most important" they've ever had to face the financial crisis. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, had also felt it was "time" to take "decisive and effective." "It is clear that the crisis (debt) is not Greek. This is a European crisis, "he judged.

For its part, the Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme had tried hard not announce anything at all on Sunday, in light of market pressure. "It is essential for tomorrow morning at the opening of markets, we have made sufficient progress so as not to jeopardize the credibility of the euro area," he said. Same story for the European partners have not adopted the single currency, which are concerned about the fallout from the debt crisis. "The crisis in the euro area is being extended to all our economies, including that of Great Britain ', launched the British Prime Minister David Cameron.

(With agencies)

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Complementary health: 8% increase

October 17, 2011 - 8:32 am Comments Off

Mutual did not took off. And three-quarters of the French objected to the new tax increase on complementary health from 3.5% to 7% since October 1, according to a Harris Interactive survey for the French Mutuality published last Thursday. Over 85% believe that this will result in lower purchasing power. Mutual claim because they are forced to pass on the increase to their policyholders. "In recent years, the taxation of complementary health" officials "went from 0% to 13.27% since in the new 7% tax added to the CMU of 6.27%, that mutual insurers and health are the only ones to fund.We can not support such increases without raising rates, when, in addition, new regulations require us to strengthen our reserves and our solvency, "said Philippe Mixe, the president of the FNIM, the National Federation of Independent Mutual .

Only the GMF took the opportunity of talking to her, announcing that it would not apply to customers the increase decided by the government. A promise that did not cost too much: it has launched its health contract for just over a year, and still only 30,000 policyholders. "We want to develop healthy techniques and results are good. It is normal that we do enjoy our policyholders, "said Patrice Forget, Chief Operating Officer of the GMF. But the GMF stands alone.Even other newcomers in this market – as Amaguiz, the Internet subsidiary of Groupama, which has just launched its contract health – have incorporated the tax rates.

According to Mercer, the French who have subscribed to one of these individual contracts can expect an average increase of 8% of their bonus next year. An increase that reflects not only the tax but also the increase in health spending at the expense of additional no faxing pay day loans.

Contracts "storey"

Insured employees as part of their business are not better off. "The increase will be at least 7% on average," said Philippe Mixe. An invoice less and less accepted by employers. "From 2007 to 2011, contributions of corporate contracts have increased by 6.80% per year, including taxes," says Eric Demolli at Mercer.Today, faced with employees very attached to these contracts, companies, always keen to control costs, tack. "They seek to spread the increase over time in negotiating with insurers, mutual and pension funds. They play better competition. And they refine the guarantees, for example by eliminating reimbursements to "actual costs" too expensive, "says Eric Demolli.

More and more companies are opting for contracts as "storey" in excess of a basic "minimum" common to all employees, the company funded in whole or in part, employees who wish to be better protected may subscribe for options, they bear the cost alone.In their individual contracts, insurers also offer more health insurance "a la carte", where everyone can dose coverage of individual items (ambulatory care, hospitalization, dental, optical) depending on its needs and its budget. They also imagined, as in the last contract Amaguiz of low-cost, to benefit the insured packages for reimbursement when they increased from the previous year have not been exhausted, optics, for example.

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"The costs of additional health singled out

The CAC 40 is reluctant

October 14, 2011 - 1:24 am Comments Off

The Paris Bourse after opening down slightly, sailing around the equilibrium after a session that saw the CAC 40 fly over 2%. In the morning, the CAC 40 in advance symbolically from 0.14% to 3235 points in early trade. Investors do not follow the mood on Wall Street yesterday and Asian markets this morning. The latter found confidence to the rhythm of advertisements European leaders on a plan to end the crisis. They particularly appreciate the position of the European Commission yesterday called for an urgent recapitalization of the banks deal with the debt crisis. Remarks relayed by the Minister of Budget Précresse Valerie, who, like Berlin, says it is "a necessity". France is willing to inject even said herself of public money to support its banks if necessary.

This commitment reflects a shift in the euro area on the Greek case.The taboo of failure is no longer excluded. The Chairman of the Commission José Manuel Barroso, called for "decisive action on Greece" while German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said yesterday that the overall level of indebtedness of Greece should be reduced s' it reaches an unbearable level, "to provide better opportunities" in the country. The discount will have to accept that private investors in the second aid package to Greece adopted in July would be 39% if we used the current market prices to assess the risk profile of the country, instead of 21% estimated at the time, said yesterday an official of the Institute of International Finance (IIF).

New vote in Slovakia, the euro rises

Concerning the Relief Fund in the euro area (EFSF), which must be expanded to support the plan to end the crisis, Slovakia has promised another vote tonight or tomorrow.It should be positive this time because four opposition parties agreed to support the government in place, Maturity of early elections. These data give back to the euro insurance. The European currency found the threshold of $ 1.38 in morning trading.

Oil, however, is small decline: a barrel of "light sweet crude" for November delivery lost 86 cents to 84.71 dollars. Barrel of Brent North Sea crude for November delivery yielded nine cents to 111.27 dollars for the last trading day of the deadline. The operators claim to be concerned before the publication of figures on weekly petroleum reserves in the United States no fax pay day loans. Another indicator to the American agenda: the weekly jobless claims, trade balance and budget.

Values ​​to follow

Total (-0.98% to 36.20 euros)

The oil company has discovered gas and oil off the coast of Norway, announced this morning the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate. According to preliminary estimates, this discovery is to be between 19 million and 101 million barrels. To dig the well that led to this discovery, Total was allied with Norway's Statoil, authorities said.

Carrefour plunged 4.16% to 17.17 euros

The group launched Thursday a new warning on its results in 2011, relying now on a decline in operating income between 15% and 20%, 15% instead of the planned end of August.

Lafarge (2.28% to 29.62 euros)

The French cement company announced an asset swap with the U.S. Martin Marietta, which he will sell the aggregates quarries and concrete plants ready and asphalt, in exchange for aggregate quarries and distribution sites .

Casino (1.98% to 62.71 euros)

The retailer saw its organic growth slowed in the third quarter with declining sales of its hypermarkets in France, but the group has confirmed its objectives for 2011 include the strengthening of its market share in the Hexagon and improving margins at Franprix-Leader Price.

Areva (0.72% 22.49 euros)

The consortium of the French group and Germany's Siemens called the Finnish operator Teollisuuden Voima (TVO) to engage in the path of cooperation with the approach the final stages of construction of the EPR reactor Olkiluoto 3 (OL3). The French nuclear group has also been licensed by the U.S. authorities allowing it to construct and operate an enrichment plant in Idaho.Finally, the boss of the group, Luc Oursel, raised the possibility "to smooth or to shift some investments to reduce risk and improve (the) financial situation"

ArcelorMittal (-0.38% to 14.47 euros)

The group decided to shut down two blast furnaces located near Liège in particular because of the deteriorating global economic situation, the financial daily reported on Wednesday Belgian L'Echo, information later confirmed by the unions.

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New in France Televisions drink cup

September 28, 2011 - 2:20 am Comments Off

Black week for France 2 and 3. Despite program schedules reviewed in depth, mayonnaise is difficult with the public. The two main public channels were last week is below their hearing before the summer is far from the promises made in September. According to figures from Médiamétrie, France 2 wins on the week with an audience share that does not exceed 13.3%, while France 3 is below 10% (9.4%). In September 2010, France 2 then peaked at 15.2% audience share, while the monthly regional channel still showed a 10.2%.

Stalls which raise the question as to whether the two chains have changed their schedule from top to bottom than the choice of new issues.France 2 and a string of setbacks on almost all of its new developments that would allow him to raise the level of 15% of audience share. The cultural program "preview" of Elizabeth Tchoungui, broadcast on Wednesday night in the second part of the evening, not taking off the 2.8% audience share on average over the first three editions. This does not represent more than 350,000 viewers. Worse, the average of this time slot falls from the hearings the first six months of the year. From January to June, met this box on average 1.2 million viewers and 9% audience share.

Too much competition

Similarly, the issue of Jean-Luc Delarue ("Family Reunion") is satisfied, on its first three editions, as 800,000 viewers on average for an audience share of 9%.Harder was the prime time last Saturday: "Sing Off, 100% Voice," which was to sign the renewal of the entertainment on France 2, has amounted to an audience share of 8.9% far from the figures usually produced by Patrick Sébastien, which peaked at 22.4%.

Finally, even the new programs of the day are not recipes. And "Hello-Good-bye," the sweet reality show on France 2, is far from the usual average of the chain on Saturday afternoon, or "Would you be a good expert," with Julien Courbet at 17 hours, has collected an average of 640,000 viewers. As the only major success of the chain is the current political program "Words and deeds" that convinced nearly 5 million people in prime time during the primary socialist."We did a lot of change and innovation on France 2 and now we set the grid on a daily basis. It is a spine that is being built, Claude-Yves Robin argues, the CEO of the chain, which defends its choice. The public needs to find its new benchmarks. "

France 3 next week, was saved by the sure value of the string, the series more beautiful life which, with its special evening on Tuesday, has almost reached 20% audience share. What correct very poor performance from the movie Carmen (only 6% Saturday night) and poor scores in some of the new issues of the chain. In Focus, the novelty of Cyril Viguier, "Friday on a plateau," which, on average, over its first three editions, totaling 500,000 viewers and only 4.9% of the audience. Or a score of half that of Mireille Dumas, at the same time, flirted with 9% of the audience.Even the program "Thalassa" modernized off easily. It was not until the last issue to find the audiences last year, around 9.7%. However, François Guilbeau, the head of France 3, prefers to remind "the excellent score of 19/20" with a new formula peaks at 17.3 audience share. "Moreover, he says, all our new programs are progressing. Ever, a program that installs not succeed the first time. Competition is too strong. We have the choice between innovation or re still the same programs. France 3 has chosen innovation. "Only the movie nights in the chain, éditorialisées by Frederic Taddei, are well above the average, to 11.4%.

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Local authorities will have their bank

September 24, 2011 - 12:24 am Comments Off

On one stone? Intense negotiations are under way for at least a solution, at least in part, to two simultaneous problems: the failure credit faced by French local authorities, and the fragility of the balance sheet of oversized French-Belgian bank Dexia.

Concordant sources, in fact, Dexia, the Deposit Bank and postal workers, under the watchful eye of the state, to create a new bank, public, local communities. Friday, none of the parties did not wish to make comments.

The new entity will take over long held by Crédit Local de France (CLF), ancestor of Dexia, with mayors, councils and other French regions.Its creation would be an opportunity to ease the minds of elected officials, heated by the explosion of interest on certain loans "toxic", including underwritten by Dexia before 2008. The new state-owned bank could put forward a much more wise.

Above all, his arrival on the market would open the tap of credit to local communities. In a financial crisis, Dexia and its competitors, such as savings banks, Societe Generale and foreign banks have largely abandoned this market in recent months.

The Postal Bank and the Caisse des Depots would hold society together, Dexia that may remain a shareholder.They should also take control of all or part of the loan portfolio of existing communities with Dexia French (70 billion euros) and Dexia Municipal Agency: such operators shall ensure, by means of mortgage bonds, the refinancing of the commitment of Dexia. A new ownership would bring also the financial strength necessary to maintain its "AAA" rating.

Pirouette history

For Dexia, the operation could be an opportunity to significantly reduce its balance sheet totaling more than 500 billion euros personal business card. It has already been reduced by 15% year on year, thanks to the divestment of assets made in the first half. But despite this recent treatment, the group remains fragile, especially in the current distrust of markets against financial groups in Europe.

"The idea is on the table.Its terms are far from being arrested, "said a source familiar with the matter. The role of Dexia, the volume of the transferred assets, their quality – particularly with regard to loans that are the subject of disputes with communities who have subscribed – all of which are still on the table. Many criteria which depend then the financial terms of the transaction.

The reactive pattern of lines of inquiry explored from 2008-2009. Even then, the idea of ​​the deposits of La Banque Postale deal with Dexia loans (assets of French local authorities are placed in the Treasury) was considered. The arrival of the CDC in the capital of La Banque Postale has facilitated the project. The project has also the flavor of a sacred spin the story to the Fund: Crédit Local de France was born of a branch of the Caisse des Depots, which then end up twenty years after a historic activity.But for the CDC, the issue is complex: it has (with the NOC) 20% of Dexia, it has recapitalized with the Belgian shareholders in 2008 to see the action rolled back in recent months. Perform an operation which finally reduces the bank's balance sheet and liquidity requirements would constitute a significant step forward. This is what its proponents would argue with the board, including representatives from Belgium, possibly as early as next Tuesday.

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 continues to increase and passes the threshold of 3900 points

June 29, 2011 - 2:56 pm Comments Off

Day of truth for Greece on Wednesday. While Athens is on strike yesterday, members are asked to vote for or not an austerity plan for four years. The vote will be followed by a second vote tomorrow on the law enforcement.

The President of the European Union, Herman Van Rompuy, warned Tuesday that the next few hours would be "decisive" for Greece, the euro area and the global economy.

Since yesterday, the U.S. and Asian markets seem optimistic about the outcome of the vote in spite of renewed clashes on Wednesday between protesters and police Greek. Optimism is always de rigueur at the Paris Stock Exchange: the Cac 40 rose 1.32% to 3902.87 points.

As for other European exchanges, the FTSE-100 in London gained 1.01% to 5825.21 points and the Dax in Frankfurt was up 30% 1.23 to 7258.50 points.The FTSE MIB in Milan climbs from 1.60% to 19,765.46 points. The Italian luxury group Salvatore Ferragamo for his first day of trading, taking 8.89% to 9.80 euros in mid-session.

The first quarter growth revised down

On the macroeconomic front, INSEE revised down growth in the first quarter of France at 0.9% against 1% set in mid-May

For the euro area, the confidence index of entrepreneurs and consumers in June fell for the fourth consecutive month. The index fell to 105.1 points, down 0.4 points compared to May.

In the U.S., two indicators are on the agenda: the promise of sale of homes in June (16 hours) and the weekly inventory of crude oil (16.30).

On the corporate side, the banking sector is in good company in this context of optimism surrounding the Greek parliamentary vote.BNP Paribas takes 1.51% to 51.90 euros, Crédit Agricole rose 1.34% to 10.11 euros and Natixis advance of 0.90% to 3.34 euros. Yesterday, banks have earned an average of more than 2%.

Offshore wind: Areva alliance with Iberdrola

Societe Generale: 2.60% to 39.82 euros

The participation of private creditors to the new plan of financial support to Greece to be as fair as possible to increase the chances of success, said CEO of the bank, Frédéric Oudéa, the Senate Public TV.

Values ​​cars respond well to the good performance of Japanese manufacturers on the stock market after the Japanese industrial production confirmed the rebound in April.Renault climbed 1.81% to 40.65 euros and Peugeot is up 1.61% to 30.95 euros.

EDF: 1.88% to 26.79 euros

The energy group confirms its investment in the LNG terminal in Dunkirk, along with Belgian Fluxys and Total.The cost will be borne by EDF to 65% (650 million), 25% Fluxys (250 million) and 10% by Total (100 million).

GDF Suez: 0.93% to 24.34 euros

The gas is in talks to take over the assets of the U.S. company Duke Energy in Latin America, according to the Brazilian business newspaper Valor Economico.

Areva: -0.40% to 25.20 euros

The nuclear group has confirmed that he would ally with the Spanish Iberdrola Renewables on two of the five areas of the tender for offshore wind launched by the state, confirming a report of Echoes.

Ipsos: 3.85% to 32.80 euros

The British advertising group Aegis said to be in exclusive talks with the institute of studies and surveys for the sale of its subsidiary Synovate market research.

Havas: 2.26% to 3.58 euros

In an interview with Echo, the executive director of the group will develop two commercial microarray in the world, one around his BETC teaches French and the other about Arnold, his agency based in Boston.

DS: 1.41% to 58.37 euros

The software developer, a subsidiary of Dassault, owner of the Figaro Group, combined with a subsidiary of American online retailer Amazon to offer a paperless commercial in "cloud computing" (technology that allows a company to dispense servers physically located in its premises), according to a spokesman for the group.

After the close of trading, EuropaCorp will release its results for the year 2010-2011.