Archive for the ‘special’ Category

07
Sep

Berlin raises his voice against Athens

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While the German Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe Wednesday should make its decision on the validity of the first aid package to Greece, passed in 2010, the German government has increased pressure on Athens.

According to several newspapers across the Rhine, Chancellor Angela Merkel had informed members of his party (CDU) that Greece would not receive payment of the installment scheduled Sept. 15 if it did not meet its targets for reducing deficits. More explicitly, the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, said before Parliament that if the mission of the Troika, interrupted last week, did not resume quickly and did not end in a positive way, "the next tranche of aid would not be granted. "

Recent electoral defeat

This hardening of the tone is to contain the discontent in the ranks of the CDU since the election defeat on Sunday in the Land of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In fact, Angela Merkel only has a narrow majority to vote in the Bundestag on 29 September, the second aid plan in Athens. The Chancellor must give his firm pledges of Parliament to show that it does not dig a bottomless pit.

The pressure put by the Germans to the Greeks also reflects simply the blocking of the situation in Athens, unable to meet its commitments payday loan no faxing. According to Reuters, Greece would have asked to be faster than expected payment of the amounts promised in the second aid plan, which would mean that its finances are deteriorating faster than expected.Unlike France, more and more states are reluctant to vote with the second.

The head of the Slovak Parliament, Richard Sulik said that Slovakia would deal in December on strengthening the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF). The plan "can not therefore enter into force in February," Sulik said.

All these questions are still weighed heavily on bonds in the euro area on Tuesday. While Italy was forced to further accelerate the passage of the austerity plan is to Madrid came the aftershocks. The leader of the CCOO, one of the main Spanish trade unions, said Prime Minister José Luis Zapatero, would have admitted that the country was "on the edge of the abyss" and would need a bailout. Remarks Tuesday strongly denied by the Spanish government, which illustrate the growing tensions in each country.

03
Sep

Start with a bang for the post office in the mobile

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Party in May to conquer the mobile market, La Poste is a misfortune! The group has attracted 150,000 customers in three months. "We had anticipated 25,000 sales per month, we are at 50,000, is two times more than expected," revealed to Figaro Jacques Rapoport, Deputy Director General of La Poste Group and CEO of La Poste. And if postal workers were starting the first customers, they are now a minority.

This success has also led to stock shortages, some bugs and a saturation of computer centers. "We suffered a bit but it is now settled," said Jacques Rapoport, who is reviewing its objectives and is on the rise now "300,000 to 400,000 customers by the end of the year, against 210,000 originally planned."

No typical profile for the client to the mobile station, which is recruited from all social classes and age.Offers balanced, "there are so many packages with high-end smartphones that prepaid kits. The social package (10 euros for 45 minutes of calls and 60 SMS, Ed) also works well with 10% of sales, "said Jacques Rapoport. "The smaller are welcome here. But we are not the operator of the poor. We are committed to serve all customers. "Finally, subscriptions (most profitable) are in the majority compared to prepaid. Another lesson: while the Post was the first to launch non-binding offers, customers prefer offers mostly sold with a phone and then a commitment.

This initial assessment also confirms the importance played by the network of post offices which carries 75% of sales, the remaining 25% being done by Internet and telephone quick payday loans. "They want us to believe that everything is sold on the Internet. This is not reality.Consumers want the closeness and service. Seen in the return of small businesses face the hypermarkets, the return of customers in bank branches. In mobile, our presence throughout is a huge asset, "said Jacques Rapoport.

Hopes in rural areas

And the band accelerates: already in 1000 the largest post offices, the mobile will be distributed in 450 additional offices on 12 September and another 450 in November. It will even be sold in 70 small rural offices in September, they will not physically products, but customers can order and be delivered the next day by Chronopost. While the offices of small towns have sold more mobile than those in larger cities, La Poste Mobile high hopes on rural areas. "At the end 2012, 10,000 post offices will distribute the mobile offering.By itself, the Post will have more outlets that Orange, SFR and Bouygues together, "said Jacques Rapoport. The mobile station will also develop synergies with La Banque Postale, in line with the special youth launched in late August that offers a discount of 40 euros on the price of the mobile.

The mobile station should be profitable in 2013. Both shareholders and SFR Post rub their hands.

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01
Sep

The unemployment rate fell slightly

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The figures follow and contradict each other. The unemployment rate calculated according to the ILO by INSEE on Thursday came out slightly lower in the second quarter to 9.1% of the workforce in France and 9.6% including Dom, 9 against, respectively, 2% and 9.7% in the first quarter. Overall according to Insee, metropolitan France in the second quarter accounted for 3.3 million people not working but wanted to work. The rate of youth unemployment dropped more sharply than the average (-0.9%), when those over 50, who barely declined, remained stable.

These figures engaged in a pattern opposite to that drawn by far the data of employment center. The number of job seekers Class A (comprising individuals seeking employment and not working, even part-time) has indeed increased overall in the second quarter.After a 0.4% decline in April, rebounded strongly in May and June, respectively 0.6% and 1.3% cash advance to savings account. To the extent that gains harvested since the beginning of the year were at the end of this period almost completely deleted (-2100 seekers Class A less compared to the end of December 2010). An upward trend that continued in July with a new and worrying increase in the number of unemployed.

The two institutes n'appréhendent unemployment statistically not the same. While unemployment on the ILO today released results of a survey conducted by INSEE, the data center jobs are the result of an administrative accounting. Moreover, only a person who has not worked even one hour during the week of the survey and actively seeking work are unemployed within the meaning of an International Labour Office.However, employment center distinguishes different categories (categories A, ABC …) depending on whether the job seeker is working or not. Category A is the one that is closest to the ILO data.

29
Aug

Reassured Wall Street opens in green

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Among the statistics expected Monday in Wall Street, the surprise came from consumer spending. The Americans have in fact spent more than expected in July. Up 0.8% on month, consumer spending across the Atlantic more than 0.3 percentage points the level expected by analysts. Because of inflation, which rose 0.4% from June, consumer spending rose 0.5% in real terms. Their progress is the highest since December 2009.

This increase serves as a good sign for U.S. growth in the third quarter. What mood enhancing buyer investors, who already showed optimism prior to publication.At the opening of the session on Monday in New York, the Dow Jones ahead by 0.74% to 11,368 points, the Nasdaq and Standard & Poor's 500 rising 1.36% respectively in 2514 and 1 points, 40% to 1193 points.

The final impact less severe than expected from Hurricane Irene passed over New York yesterday, also contributes to investor optimism. Similarly, after being confused by the speech of Ben Bernanke, the Fed chairman, on Friday, market participants regain hope in a possible intervention by the Fed.

The Dow Jones above 11,000 points

According to analysts at Aurel BGC in fact, the announcement by Ben Bernanke, a two-day meeting in September to study in detail the possible deployment of new monetary tools, reassured. "Either the recovery of economic activity is growing, or the central bank will implement new support measures, they summarize.Under these conditions, the U.S. indices rebounded sharply after Bernanke's speech. "

In fact, dropped below the 11,000 points while the Fed chairman began to speak, the Dow finished at 11 284.5, up 1.2% on Friday night. A final increase, which encouraged European stock markets bounce back on Monday morning, except in London, closed due to holiday.

Another indicator which will be followed on Monday, the promises of home sales for July are expected down 0.1% from a consensus of analysts, against 2.4% rise previously.

The bank should remain in the spotlight

No major publication is expected on the business side.

However, the banking sector will probably still at the heart of analysts' expectations, due to the rebound in the sector in Europe.

27
Aug

Essilor launches a new class of glasses

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Essilor International is innovative. According to the global glasses, "75% of wearers expect an anti-fog solution." To meet this demand, the group decided to create anti-fog lenses under the name of Optifog. With this new product, Essilor International is "1.2 billion consumers worldwide."

Results aside, the mood is set fair. The group recorded the first half revenues up 6.9% to 2.1 billion euros and net profit up 30.7% to 258.2 million euros. These results confirm the group to maintain its growth objectives "between 6% and 8%" (excluding currency and acquisitions, strategic) for this year.

Side perspectives, Essilor says it "will continue to rely on innovation, operational efficiency and financial capacity to consolidate its position in the high end."The group also intends to "continue its conquest in the mid-range and benefit from the rapid expansion of high-growth countries."

18
Aug

Members want to regulate donations from RTT

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The aim is to encourage solidarity among employees. UMP deputy from the Loire, Paul Salen, filed in July 2011 a bill providing a legal framework for donations of RTT. A consistent practice in companies, which had so far developed in the silence of the Labour Code and case law.

The member was itself inspired by an actual case that occurred recently in his constituency. Badoit employees have offered 170 days of RTT to one of them to accompany her to the end of a child with liver cancer. A single gesture of solidarity was observed in April in the automotive supplier Fuji Autotech in the Doubs, in favor of an employee whose husband was suffering from lymphoma. Or at Merial, a subsidiary of Sanofi, which has even signed a collective agreement on this.

Company agreements

For now, no text did not mention the possibility of offering shorter working week, days off or recovery. This practice was not illegal as long. Spontaneous, it has developed on the basis of agreements between employees and employer, which is responsible for the holidays. "The agreements allow the company to implement virtually any provision not prohibited by the labor code," says Eric Rocheblave, lawyer office.

Thus the employees of Adixen in Annecy, could pay back all of their Christmas bonus for interim company, who did not have touched before fast cash now. Or that Renault executives have, by sacrificing RTT make ends months of Workers' group, one time forced to short.

Few dispute

But if an agreement is simple enough to offer its RTT, why, then, legislate? The bill appears to meet two objectives. First draw the attention of public opinion on a new form of solidarity. Then make sure to prevent abuses that could result.

Thus the proposed text, which focuses only on the donations bound for parents whose child is "gravely ill," says that the agreement required the employee donor such as his employer. "To the extent that these initiatives are based on agreements, litigation is rare. For now, it is even nonexistent, "Eric Rocheblave nuance. Already signed by 136 MPs, Paul Salen, interviewed Thursday morning in Les Echos, has high hopes to push through the text before the next presidential election.

"YOUR OPINION – Do you agree with the initiative of offering their employees days off? Would you be willing to do the same for a colleague? Share your thoughts and experience in the comments below or by email at temoin@lefigaro.fr.

12
Aug

Slight decline for Wall Street

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Shortly before opening, chewing Americans were expected small decline, but volatility remains very high, the index futures may return at any moment, like the indices themselves. Shortly before noon Paris time, the index futures Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 yielded respectively 0.3% to 1165 points, and 0.37% at 2150 points.

On Thursday evening, U.S. markets have rebounded sharply, welcoming new listings weekly fewer than expected. European markets had also enjoyed the news, closing up vigorously.

The pressure remains strong this weekend

Other statistics on the agenda for this Friday, may well generate a few responses. Retail sales for the month of July will be unveiled at 2:30 p.m., in fact, before the start of the session Eats United.Investors await with interest the first estimate of consumer confidence from the University of Michigan for the month of August, from 3:55 p.m..

Pressure remains high on world markets. Lack of macroeconomic and really good news in the absence of major business publications Friday, this weekend is likely to be overshadowed by even more obvious signs of a weakening of growth. The sovereign debt crisis, and severe drops in banking stocks recorded this week, amid rumors of bankruptcy, particularly in France, will affect the trend no fax payday loans.Asian stock markets have already finished down on Friday morning.

In this context agrave exacerbated by a volatile market, investors are going to look at publications such as retail sales, which should also benefit from a slight rebound in auto sales?

Difficult to answer this question. For analysts Aurel BGC, "while" so far the timing of publications of macroeconomic indicators has been poor, a reaction, positive or negative, this indicator would in any case an early normalization "of market behavior. Excluding cars, the indicators are still available for now more mixed.

On the corporate side, the U.S. airline AMR, parent of American Airlines, announced plans to separate its regional affiliate American Eagle.A document filed with the stock market regulator described a "possible separation" with the American Eagle to introduce the stock market separately. American Airlines is still bound for nine years in its subsidiary. American Eagle will continue initially to operate 281 aircraft for American Airlines, which will wind down its cooperation in 2012.

01
Aug

Drugs: Bertrand wants transparency

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The text provides for the implementation of financial sanctions in case of conflict of interest.

LE FIGARO. – What are the main points of this text?

Xavier BERTRAND. – I said I want there to be a before and an after-Mediator. That's why I wanted an ambitious reform and concerted based on three pillars. The first is transparency in conflicts of interest. For it is clear that it is essentially this question that has caused confusion in public opinion after the Mediator by creating a climate of suspicion unbearable. Another important point when there will be questions about a drug, the doubt should benefit patients and not laboratories. Finally, better information for patients is necessary, as well as better information and training for health professionals.

Only sanctions can overcome the conflicts of interest.What are your plans?

The law sets up financial and criminal penalties for violators. Any decision of a proceeding in which a conflict of interest is identified will be void. For laboratories, the penalties can go as far as the marketing ban. All this is particularly chilling.

You know a law can not do everything. How do you proceed?

The law will not be the only element of this overhaul of the system. We must prepare decrees, including the training of health professionals. Thus, the continuing education of physicians should no longer give the feeling of being entirely in the hands of medical representatives. That is why I want this new system is evaluated in two to three years.I do not want to do in half-measures but in radical reform.

The General Inspectorate of Social Affairs called to abolish the profession of pharmaceutical sales. You do not accept this proposal, why?

There is a distinction between promotion and information. It is clear that the existence of the medical as we knew it is over. It is even prohibited individual to the hospital. Physicians will face several health visitor. Funding for the training of doctors must be watertight. Certainly, the pharmaceutical industry will contribute, but not directly as is the case today. It will do so through taxes and royalties, which go through the state and Medicare before being paid back. I want there to be far fewer links between laboratories and physicians in training low fee payday loans.Finally, the Minister of Health should be aware of all the training modules for sales representatives and all the documents they will present to health professionals. This is the French Agency for Safety of Health Products, renamed the "National Security Agency of Medicines and Health Products" (ANSM), who will have control.

The text also plans to make public all contracts with the press, learned societies and patient organizations. This means he the death of the medical press?

This is not to stop there advertising in the newspapers, but we can require that the amounts of payments to be made public.

While France has decided to prohibit the marketing of the Actos diabetes, the European Medicines Agency wants to leave it on the market.What do you do?

We will maintain the suspension of Actos. This medicine will not be back in French pharmacies. With Germany, we call an approach at European level so that our position is respected. If the European Commission sided with the European Medicines Agency and forced us to return the Actos on the market, there will be a showdown. Also, I am convinced that it is necessary to reform the drug in Europe, because I want that one gives more power to national agencies. Laboratories must understand that things have changed.

The Constitutional Council has just approved the text on the compensation fund for victims of the Mediator.To the laboratory Servier is it always the first charge before the health authorities?

Yes! We should not be mistaken about the primary responsibility in this matter: it is the responsibility of laboratory Servier. The compensation requested by the National Compensation Medical (ONIAM) for victims of the Mediator will be increased to a 30% penalty if the laboratory Servier refuses to comply. We were told that with this 30% penalty (in the body of law, the penalty is 15%, Ed) it was an emergency law, the Constitutional Council has given us reason. In addition, I ask Servier to cooperate fully to compensate the victims.

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28
Jul

Tax loopholes: Bercy prepares a tightening

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Baroin the stage. He keeps repeating the last few days: it will require further cuts in the tax loopholes in 2012. For now, the government planned to cut $ 3 billion. "It is very likely that we will go beyond, as part of the Finance Act," warns the Minister of Economy. Otherwise, the objective of reducing the public deficit (4.6% of GDP in 2012, 3% in 2013) will not be met. The IMF says the same thing Wednesday, in the final version of his report on France, he warned that without additional effort, the deficit "would decline more slowly contemplated" and still reach 3.8% two years.

However, Prime Minister François Fillon reiterated last week even as the French would not have to tighten their belts further.If the IMF is seeking new revenue – or additional savings – is that it considers the government's growth projections too optimistic. He did not table more than 1.9% next year (after 2.1% this year), where the government is preparing its 2012 budget on an assumption of 2.25% (after 2%).

The cost of Greece and Libya

But that's not really what worries Bercy. Growth at 2.25%? "The account will be," says without a doubt a top official of the Ministry of Economy.

However, Bercy identified several elements that could degrade the accounts. First, the second bailout of Greece faxless payday advance. While it will not weigh directly on the deficit of France, as François Fillon stressed. The private sector has agreed to cash a loss equivalent to 21% of the value of the loan granted to Athens.The slate for French banks would exceed 2 billion euros. "We will inevitably income tax on companies and less," admits the Ministry of Economy.

Then "there will be a time when we look at the balance of external operations," Do we loose the ministry. In other words, the commitment of the army in Libya and Afghanistan could be very expensive.

Finally, remember that at Bercy Taiwan frigates affair will cost 460 million euros to France. In early June, after ten years of a bitter legal battle, Thales has indeed been ordered to pay more than $ 800 million in Taiwan, for commissions on the sale of frigates in 1991. The State had brought its guarantee in the contract."Public finances must now endure the heavy consequences of the decision in 1991 to pay commissions, unlike the letter of the contract," Matignon had pointed to the announcement of the court decision. This cost was included in the supplementary budget at the beginning of July. It will, however, offset this expense.

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19
Jul

Chinese companies out of favor among investors

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Courted by the stock exchanges around the world, Chinese private enterprises would they be about to fall into disgrace? After several scandals revealed in recent weeks, rating agencies go up to the plate one after the other. Fitch Ratings yesterday estimated that fraud cases were probably only just begun in the Middle Kingdom.

The U.S. agency has assessed 35 companies listed on the Shanghai and is ready to review its portfolio of Chinese. She considers their standard accounting and trading in Shanghai as many "key indicators of their weakness."

Although the Chinese accounting standards, adopted in 2006, are very close to IFRS (international financial-reporting standards), audit firms have not the confidence of investors, and obviously not the rating agencies which still largely prefer the four major (Ernst & Young, KPMG, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte & Touche).The Fitch report said that companies from these large firms "would be more difficult to publish than those fraudulent reports go through domestic companies."

Fitch does not mean to review the scores awarded to different companies observed, adding that they "are already taking into account the context of a Chinese legal environment and an under-developed documentation, practices and specific business low corporate governance practices. "

Nevertheless, this case is the latest blow to Chinese companies. Last week, Moody's, which was hoisted the "red flags" of sixty-one companies that note. Fitch's rival evoked particular the opacity caused by a family shareholding in forty-three of them.

For several weeks, scandals involving Chinese companies listed multiply.Everything was packed in June, with the case Sino-Forest the title of which collapsed in Toronto. Since February, the business of handling accounts or misrepresentation of results had already forced many companies to delist in the U.S..

Loss of confidence

In total, nearly forty companies have shown irregularities, not the United States. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Constable of U.S. markets, has established a special committee to investigate these Chinese companies.

Hong Kong is no exception.The financial analysis firm Dealogic calculates that Chinese private enterprises were canceled or postponed them of trading, the equivalent of $ 3.8 billion.

Finally, there is a shift among investors who gradually give more confidence in the state, whose sovereign debt is rated A + by Fitch and Aa3 by Moody's, as private companies.