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Sarkozy stops in Beijing to reassure the health of the euro

Saturday Aug 27, 2011

Crisis forces, maintaining half past two in Beijing Thursday at the Palace of the people, between Nicolas Sarkozy and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao has largely focused on economic issues. The objective of this whirlwind tour of the Pacific route to the French president, was to reassure the second largest economy in the world and world's leading investor in the resilience of Europe to the crisis of sovereign debt. "Hu is not worried about the situation in the euro area", despite the runaway budget deficits, said the head of the French state at the end of a working dinner. "He told us he had confidence in the euro (…)." "We are confident that Europe has the wisdom and ability to overcome current difficulties and maintain economic growth and stability.China will continue to make Europe a major investment markets, "for his part, Hu said.

In recent months, Beijing – which has 3,000 billion of reserves – was a major purchaser of European debt, particularly Greece, Portugal and Spain.

Identity of views

The visit was also an opportunity for Nicolas Sarkozy to reaffirm the importance of partnership with China, a few weeks G20 Cannes, chaired by France. Stressing "great convergence of views" between the two countries "on the assessment of the international situation," the Head of State stressed the importance of this summit, which is involved in the revival of global growth."This is a major issue and China has a key role," he said, accompanied by Minister of Finance, Baroin, came specifically to prepare the November summit.

For his part, Hu Jintao spoke of "great importance" to strengthen the dialogue between France and China "to the success of the summit in Cannes, for strengthening international economic cooperation and for the recovery and healthy development of economy ".

The two leaders also discussed the thorny question of the convertibility of the yuan.A subject on which Paris and Beijing "want to move forward," said Nicolas Sarkozy, but "without haste".

Finally, on Libya – Beijing was opposed to strikes from the coalition – the Chinese president said he "kindly analyze" the invitation of France to attend a conference of "Friends of Libya" that wishes organize the French president in Paris on 1 September.


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180 degrees for Hewlett-Packard

Friday Aug 19, 2011

It's a 180 degree turn qu'Hewlett-Packard took yesterday. The Californian giant, the world's PCs, has announced plans to dispose of its business in personal computers. Another major surprise: HP goes out of business in the mobile, arresting the development of tablets and smartphones. In parallel, to better exploit the potential of higher growth in services, HP will acquire the software company Autonomy to 10.24 billion dollars.

The abandonment of the PC by Hewlett-Packard's board of directors' authorized the exploration of alternative strategies "that," among others ", a" total or partial separation "- is a radical industrial decision. The activity is roughly one third of the turnover of the firm in Palo Alto. It is explained by lower margins in this highly competitive sector where brands, with the exception of Apple, are struggling to differentiate themselves.

Moreover, weakening demand for PCs as a result of a share of the slowdown in global growth, but also on the other hand the growing popularity of digital tablets, which Apple is the great leader with his iPad. This transformation of the market place Apple in number one position in all product categories combined, at HP, according to the firm DisplaySearch.

However, HP had paid $ 1.2 billion for the maker of smartphones and Palm OS webOS valuable in April 2010. The blow-off of the shelves – including the TouchPad launched just weeks ago – and smartphones therefore comes as a major surprise.

Strategy reminiscent of IBM

Under pressure from shareholders, Leo Apotheker as head of HP for a year, engaged in a strategy reminiscent of the late IBM.The computer giant, inventor of the PC in 1981, sold the business to China's Lenovo in 2005. IBM then accumulated losses in this sector despite its efforts to concentrate on high-end machines. The new head of HP Germany, itself from a software company, SAP, sees the future and therefore the best margins in the IT services. His decision is also bad news for firms like Microsoft and Intel, whose sales still depend largely on the health of the personal computers.

HP yesterday announced disappointing results for the third quarter of its fiscal year with sales up 1.6% and a profit of 9% in progress.

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The anonymous CV will not be widespread

Wednesday Aug 17, 2011

The anonymous CV will remain "a possibility among others", and will ultimately not generalized to all companies with more than 50 employees. In the law on equal opportunities in 2006, this measure of fight against discrimination is now increasingly popular. "I do not think the anonymous CV should be an obligation," said first Echos to the Commissioner of the Equal Opportunities Sabeg.

Before publishing the decrees of the device, the government had requested a progress report. By the Centre for Research in Economics and Statistics (CREST) ​​in conjunction with employment center, the evaluation was very critical.

In a note published in July and the conclusions of Crest, employment center points out that the anonymous CV does not improve the chances of access to interview candidates from immigrant backgrounds or areas sensitive urban. He even tends to reduce them: the anonymous CV, and diminish their chances by 9.6% to 4.6%.

Experimental bias

The organization provides two explanations for this paradoxical result. The first is that the anonymous CV would not allow the recruiter to put certain negative elements of the CV, such training less prestigious or less experience, according to social background or age of the candidate. Something that would naturally some recruiters.

The second reason to do more to challenge the findings.The experiment conducted between November 2009 and November 2010 would be biased as carried by companies sensitive to issues of discrimination, practices that would lead usually proactive in recruiting minorities. The anonymous CV so would deprive them of a way to diversify the profiles of their candidates.

One tool among others

Employment center stresses, however, that anonymous CV is generally less attractive to a recruiter a resume registered. Hence his concern that candidates applying via an anonymous CV will do also in turn be subject to discrimination compared to those who apply via other channels. All these observations lead the institution to question the need to generalize this scheme. A judge concluded that option "not possible".

Sabeg remember his part that "the government must decide" on this issue.But once staunch supporter of the measure, he argued today it remains a recruiting tool among many, "that some companies use successfully elsewhere," says he. To promote access to employment of diverse routes, employment center said meanwhile that other routes exist. Recruitment or without CV questionnaires skills are few.

The anonymous CV effective for women

If the anonymous CV is based on the Crest ineffective for candisats immigrant and Zus, it is however for gender discrimination. Indeed it has the advantage of counter behavior "hemophiliacs" recruiters. Behind this phrase lies their spontaneous tendency to favor the candidates of the same sex."When the interviewer is male, the probability for a woman to access the interview with a CV is registered 16.6 points lower than that of a man," is employment center. Recruiters prefer women as women, but to a lesser extent. The anonymous CV will reduce this inequality significantly, the study provides.

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Listens: new revelation against the Murdoch group

Saturday Jul 30, 2011

The wiretapping scandal organized by the newspaper News of the World is experiencing a new twist. It seems that the phone Sara Payne, mother of an 8 year old girl abducted and murdered in July 2000 by a serial pedophile, has also been heard. The name of the mother appeared at least on the list of Detective Glenn Mulcair charged by the tabloid to listen to the voice mail of some of the 4000 victims alleged piracy of their phone line in the 2000s. It is not certain that the investigators were able to determine whether there had been an oversight and what could be nature.

What is certain, however, is that Sara Payne is not a single victim over. She had become very close to the weekly after the death of his daughter Sarah.As part of its combination of child protection, The Phoenix Chief Advocates, she collaborated with News of the World to obtain a review of British law on the pointing of sex offenders. The photo of her daughter and had served as part of a campaign known, conducted in cooperation with the Sunday newspaper, which has yielded the right of parents to be informed of the presence of pedophiles in their neighborhood. This legislation easing access to information on sex offenders has also been called "Sarah Law," a tribute to the girl.

"Sara Payne was a friend"

Sara Payne has been "devastated" by learning that she too may have been referred by his "friends" News of the World, said his association in a statement payday loan.The young woman feels betrayed, she was greeted in the latest issue of the tabloid, published in July, a newspaper that was not only a "force for good" but also an "old friend".

As editor of the press title between 2000 and 2003, Rebekah Brooks is at the heart of these new charges. "These allegations are particularly heinous and shocking in that Sara Payne is a very dear friend", has defended the former president of News International, the division of Murdoch manages the British titles. "The idea that anyone could log in that Sara and the team of the campaign was covered by Glenn Mulcair is unthinkable."

Rebekah Brooks has always denied any knowledge of the practices challenged in News of the World. A public inquiry into eavesdropping, conducted by an independent judge, was officially opened on Thursday in London.At the same time, it was learned Friday that James Murdoch, son of media magnate, was confirmed as head of the bunch UK BSkyB satellite channels. Severely shaken by tapping the case, the group Murdoch had yet been forced to withdraw in mid-July its offer to buy 61% stake in the company he does not already own.

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The stock markets under pressure, the Cac lost more than 2%

Tuesday Jul 19, 2011

Pessimism still dominates the Paris Stock Exchange on Monday. After a week complex, marked by a loss of almost 5% for the CAC 40, investors do not find the moral. The CAC 40 lost 1.2% in mid-session and falls under the 3700 points to 3680.20 points. The gap even widened to 16 hours with a decline of 2% to 3652.77 points. Meanwhile, the London Stock Exchange lost 0.81% to 5796.60 points and the DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange was down 0.94% to 7152.30 points.

The Asian market has not sent a clear signal this morning. Only U.S. markets manage to stay the course despite the many warnings about agency debt. In this regard, President Barack Obama issued an ultimatum to Congress on increasing the debt ceiling while Republicans are sticking to their positions.In Europe, the problems of sovereign debt will also be at the heart of discussions of heads of state on Thursday at a special summit meant to calm markets.

Meanwhile, next currency, the euro fell slightly against the greenback at 1.4046 dollars against 1.4156 dollars on Friday night. Gold, meanwhile, took advantage of the nervousness of investors to assert its status as a safe haven: an ounce on Monday has risen to 1600.10 dollars, linking 11 consecutive sessions of gains. The most since July 1980.

In terms of indicators, the day will be particularly quiet with only the index of the real estate market in the United States waited for the afternoon.The rest of the week will be richer with, among others, the German ZEW index (Tuesday), the U.S. existing home sales (Wednesday), the weekly jobless across the Atlantic (Thursday) and the confidence index Business in France (Friday).

Oil markets, oil prices were without direction. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for August delivery lost 9 cents to 97.15 dollars while that of Brent North Sea crude for September delivery took 22 cents to 117.48 dollars.

Bank stocks led the largest declines

By sector, the entire banking sector unscrewed, after publication of the study undigested JPMorgan Cazenove, which assessed the need for additional capital of European institutions on the basis of more stringent capital adequacy ratio payday advance lender.According to JPMorgan, BNP Paribas (-2.64% to 44.08 euros), Societe Generale (-4.81% to 33.03 euros) and Credit Agricole (-2.31% to 8.28 euros) should raise 20 billion euros, one quarter of the amount to raise in Europe. This study follows the results of stress tests of the European Union that French banks have yet passed. In turn, AXA (-3.60% to 13.13 euros) and Natixis (-1.98% to 3.07 euros) drop sharply.

For beyond this study, a European project to create a tax on banks to help Greece is under consideration, according to Die Welt. It concerns all European banks, whether or not active in the Greek market.

France Telecom: -0.36% to 13.72 euros

The operator plans to launch a bid for the fourth mobile operator in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo-China Telecom (CTC).The terms of any agreement, still being negotiated, would provide for the redemption of 51% of CTC held by the Chinese manufacturer ZTE telecom equipment, and 49% owned by the Congolese state.

ArcelorMittal: -1.15% to 22.40 euros

The group could respond to the study of the British consulting firm Meps specializes in the steel industry that China would underestimate production. Beijing would have produced 672 million tons of steel, half of the world, against 627 million tonnes officially announced.Meps suspects including small local mills continue to run ads despite the closure due to pollution problems and productivity.

Publicis: -1.13% to 36.86 euros

The group has obtained a syndicated multi-currency $ 1.2 billion.

Atari: -9.77% to 2.31 euros

The French publisher Atari video game released Monday sales down 36.1% to 9.2 million euros for the first quarter of fiscal year 2011/2012, he explained his shift to online games and mobile.

As for publications, Edenred deliver its sales in the first half after market. Guyenne et Gascogne announce its second quarter earnings as Audika.


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Canon invests in a small French medical

Monday Jul 11, 2011

It is an agreement to both the financial and industrial software publisher based in Sophia-Antipolis, near Nice, has just concluded. The Japanese company Canon will spend 8.6 million euros to acquire 15% stake in publicly traded small business since mid-May By the way, he brings 2 million additional cash.

But it is mostly a vast geographical diversification and access to complementary technologies that the Japanese manufacturer of cameras and office systems gives Median Technologies. "Canon is located around the world and is highly complementary to our society in the imagery. It offers solutions such as MRI, while the expertise of Median Technologies is rather centered on the scanner.He also has a data management activities ("Data Management"), which will facilitate the deployment of our offer cloud computing ("computing pooled at a distance"), "said Fredrik Brag, founder and CEO of the company founded in 2002 .

Canon has already invested in Supersonic

Median develops software for interpretation of medical images in two and three dimensions to facilitate the detection, diagnosis and monitoring of cancers. LMS solutions, approved by the Health Authority (FDA), are already used in hundreds of hospitals in Europe, the United States, Australia, Korea. Median Technologies installs but also in the market for clinical trials conducted by major laboratories."Our solutions help them to evaluate responses to treatment at first and then develop tests companions (of tests to segment the profile of patients)," said Fredrik Brag. The SME has already reached an agreement with three of the ten leading pharmaceutical companies and preparing to sign a new contract with another giant before expanding its outreach to other health actors. Its sales – which amounted to only 1.1 million euros last year – to more than triple within the next two years and then explode.

Canon, whose 2010 revenues totaled $ 45.8 billion, relies heavily on imaging in the health sector. The Japanese giant announced earlier this year it would invest $ 9 billion by 2015 in medical technology companies.Before turning to Median, in December he participated in fund raising 34.5 million euros in Supersonic Imagine, a small d'Aix-en-Provence who has developed an ultrasound system to ultrasound.


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China launches mobile operating systems

Wednesday Jul 6, 2011

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

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

This launch marks another milestone for Alibaba, more used to make software and especially shopping sites online. Like him, more and more companies are trying to afford the lion's share in the growth market of smartphones. Another Chinese, Baidu, Google's competitor frontal China would launch its own OS for the Chinese market, based on the technology of Google Android. If these Chinese projects are completed, Apple, with its own system IOS, Microsoft Windows 7 Phone and Google, which has the Android operating system, could see their global market dominance eroded.


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Casino is growing in Brazil to retaliate against Carrefour

Thursday Jun 30, 2011

The battle between Casino and Carrefour in Brazil could rebound. While Carrefour is trying to get hold of a number of distribution Grupo Pao de Acucar in Brazil, Casino reported last night that it has increased its stake in the Brazilian group, owner of the sign Brazilian CBD. Casino now holds 43.1% of GPA, understands Bloomberg. The news agency pointed out that the distribution group based in Saint Etienne has acquired 16.1 million of preferred securities, representing a stake of 6.2%.

In addition, Casino last night reiterated his opposition to a merger between Carrefour and GPA. He believes that the proposed merger announced between the two groups is a project of "hostile", prepared in secret, but also highlights Casino that he "has the power to oppose" the operation.The group recalled and under agreements with Diniz family, with whom he has joint control of CBD through the holding Wilkes, "no negotiations involving the future (the Brazilian distributor) can not occur without it" no fax cash loans. The group will therefore Etienne "review in the coming days how to best defend the corporate interests of CBD and its shareholders that seems compromised by this project very complex and financial."

Data that could reshuffle the cards, while Carrefour seemed on track to merge with Brazilian teachers. The Brazilian company Gama has proposed to merge the Carrefour group's Brazilian assets with those of the French retailer CBD group Grupo Pão de Açúcar (GPA). They thus constitute an equally owned company.CBD had previously merged with Gama.

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The Cac 40 in the red before the European meeting

Thursday Jun 23, 2011

The Paris market continues to fall on Thursday, a reflection of what has been observed in Asian markets this morning and the decline in U.S. indices yesterday. Wednesday evening, the Cac 40 lost 0.15% and ended at 3871.37 points in a very dynamic market, with over 7.1 billion traded on the benchmark index of the Paris Bourse. And on Thursday, sitting in the middle of the index still declined 1.34% to 3819.50 points.

PMI purchasing managers in the euro area fell in June to its lowest for twenty months to 53.6 points, confirming a slowdown in European economic activity.The growth of private sector activity in France has slowed more than expected in June.

European side, European leaders find themselves on Thursday night in Brussels at a summit to try to reassure their ability to stem the endless debt crisis in Greece and prevent contagion throughout the euro area, which worries more and more abroad. Other items on the agenda: the confirmation of the appointment in November of the Italian Mario Draghi as President of the ECB to replace Jean-Claude Trichet.

The publication of the memo on the economy of France, to be released at 22 o'clock tonight, will be watching. In addition, the G20 agricultural ends today. In addition, Christine Lagarde, a candidate for the general direction of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), spends his oral exam today in Washington.The maintenance of his rival, Mexico's Agustin Carstens, was held Tuesday.

United States, a report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on Wednesday warned against an explosion of net public debt, which can reach 100% of GDP by 2021 if nothing is done to correct the current trajectory. In addition, the U.S. central bank is now focusing on a GDP increase of less than 3% in the fourth quarter. New measures could be considered if the economic situation deteriorated.

On the currency markets, the euro fell sharply against the dollar on Thursday, as the market digested the Fed announcements. The single European currency was worth 1.4254 dollars against 1.4349 late Wednesday.

EDF denies

The CAC 40, only Pernod Ricard rises in green: + 0.06% to 66.49 euros.But in the SBF 120, Lagardère stands: + 2.33% to 27.40 euros. Areva takes him 0.59% to 25.50 euros.

Side drops, banks suffer: BNP Paribas lost 1.86%, 1.69% Societe Generale, Credit Agricole and Natixis 2.1% 2.08% while trades a private sector participation to a new aid plan to Greece. European banks resisted, however, a defect in Greece, according to Bernard de Longevialle, head of bank ratings at Standard & Poor's. Note that BNP Paribas bought 25% of Findomestic to the bank Intesa Sanpaolo for 629 million euros and now holds 100%.

EDF (-1.23% to 25.78 euros), which plunged 3% yesterday at the meeting, had to deny rumors of leaks in nuclear plants in France instant credit reports.The CGT has nevertheless confirmed that called for an end of a reactor at the plant in Seine-Maritime Paluel due to extraordinary levels of radioactivity. The electrician has admitted it yesterday "an accumulation of small differences" after the publication of an article Mediapart citing incidents in series.

In addition, the dean of French nuclear reactors, the central Fessenheim, would be allowed in the coming days to continue to operate for ten years.

EDF is also increased to 96.71% of share capital and voting rights of EDF Energies Nouvelles after the public offer launched on its subsidiary, announced Thursday the AMF in a statement.

EADS (1.30% to 22.14 euros).The low-cost Malaysian airline AirAsia has placed a firm order for 200 Airbus A320 Neo, a record in civil aviation in the number of devices including vendus.Grâce this mega-contract, the total firm orders for Airbus is to about $ 58 billion for 621 aircraft. The buyers of the Airbus A400M signed a framework agreement on the development and maintenance of the fleet of the future military transport aircraft. Furthermore, after signing an order for sixteen billion dollars with Indigo.American Airlines could also favor the European aircraft manufacturer at the expense of its rival Boeing.

Air France-KLM lost 2.06% to 10.21 euros.

Dassault Systemes (-0.96% to 57.18 euros, the largest decline rating) expects a double-digit increase in sales in the aerospace and defense between 2010 and 2014 thanks to the many innovations offered by these sectors, Reuters said Wednesday its chief executive Bernard Charles said in an interview.

Automobile manufacturers seek to diversify their income and increase customer loyalty.

Peugeot (-0.40% to 29.77 euros) PSA installed production capacity that should allow it to manufacture more than 30,000 hybrid vehicles per year, reports La Tribune. "At Sochaux, we expect a potential of 70 to 80 units per day," says Serge Isler, project 3008 Peugeot hybrid.In addition, PSA has manufactured in Rennes, Brittany, just over 15,000 Peugeot 508 equipped with the same technology, the paper said.

The vaccine against typhoid Sanofi (-0.36% to 52.63 euros) was granted the status of "prequalification" of the World Health Organization (WHO), prior to its use by UNICEF and other international agencies, a first for a vaccine of this type, the group announced Thursday.

PPR (-0.60% to 116.80 euros) holds 87.4% of the U.S. manufacturer of sports clothing Volcom at the end of its tender offer (OPA) is friendly and able to reach 90% capital by playing an option, according to a statement released Thursday by the French group.

"COMPETITION – Estimate the Cac 40 in late June

.


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Reform of dependency: one month to decide

Wednesday Jun 22, 2011

The consultation ends on dependency. Roselyne Bachelot and Marie-Anne Montchamp participated in the last debate on Monday in Strasbourg. Yesterday, the Minister of Solidarity and the Secretary of State received the reports of working groups. The opportunity to review the options, when the decision phase starts – Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to decide by mid-July.

• The trails open

Roselyne Bachelot refuses to contribute the only people dependent on a recovery via succession. On behalf of the job, it excludes an increase in contributions Safely weighing on wages. More broadly, she refuses to "seek too assets" and conduct an overall increase in taxes, hence the rejection of a general increase in the CSG, as expressed last week by François Fillon.Finally, the "pattern Axa 'mandatory private insurance is also rebutted by the prime minister – incompatible choice to keep a" floor of solidarity "public.

• Funding potential

This base should look like the current personal autonomy allowance (APA), improved. To finance, the minister mentioned three tracks. First, the alignment of the CSG pensioners (6.6%) of the assets (7.5%). Then, up the "solidarity contribution for autonomy" (employer tax) in exchange for a second "day of solidarity" worked by employees, and / or its extension to independent professionals and retirees.Finally, taxation of all legacies and donations (1% suggested by the Economic and Social Council).

• Law or no law?

Alleviate the "rest dependent" people who are very dependent in retirement homes, relieving departments – the first funders of the APA – in need. These "emergency requirements" will be answered in the fall, confirms Roselyne Bachelot, who estimates that one billion annual funding required. Measures included in the budget of the social security, which can only accommodate financial arrangements. The working groups have launched other ideas, starting with better coordination of stakeholders around the dependent person (our Monday editions). Nicolas Sarkozy will decide whether the subject the campaign of 2012 or if it retains some now. In this case, should be considered a separate act, in a crowded parliamentary timetable.Marie-Anne Montchamp argues that meaning is: "A law would provide visibility, draw perspectives, we will show later that clogging effects of the crisis, as the Head of State wished" . In this case, it could be a framework law, setting guidelines, and perhaps initiating experiments.

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