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Orange will launch its own tablet PC

Friday Aug 27, 2010

All hands to fight on the front of internet tablets. The Apple iPad, with more than 3 million copies sold in three months, is envious. For telecom groups, the return is that the cons-attack. And Orange is already in line. According to Les Echos, the telecoms operator feeds a very ambitious project at the beginning of school year: to "democratize" the market shelves.

How? With the launch by the end of the year signed a tablet Orange, whose price should be less exposed to 250 euros. This tablet 3G, equipped with the Android operating system from Google, would be manufactured by a "large Asian manufacturer," according to Les Echos.

The newspaper said that the tablet packages are bound to always study, but they would probably be closer to those keys that the 3G model chosen for the iPad.That is to say in the form of subscriptions with over-flow, rather than charging by the day, the volume of data. With a subscription package, the price of the tablet and Orange could fall under 100 euros, according to Les Echos. In comparison, the 3G model iPad the cheapest sells 599 euros.

"Several projects under consideration"

Reacting to this information, Orange said that "on the shelves, several projects are under consideration, particularly in France." The group also recalled that Stéphane Richard, its chief executive, had already said that Orange "would develop in the tablets by commercializing iPad". He had met the boss of Apple, Steve Jobs, last May.

For Orange, "sign is a way to regain control against the manufacturers," says the business daily. Because the foolishness of the shelf is only beginning.

Harvest new tablets

Even before the launch of the iPad last April, some blue chips have already announced their intention of cutting cruppers to Apple, including HP, Sony or Asus. By Christmas, a new crop of magic slates is expected. After HTC, Samsung, Motorola and Sony Ericsson, LG and Toshiba will launch their own shelves, also equipped with the system Android. Other players will join the fray in 2011, as Acer.

To win in this new balance of power, Orange must do better than the first time. Indeed, the operator has already attempted a breakthrough on the market shelves, there are more than a year, by launching a small portable screen and multifunction: the Tabbee. A product that has not really taken off.

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Accor biggest sale of walls in Europe

Tuesday Aug 24, 2010

Accor is ahead of schedule of asset sales. On Monday, the hotel group announced the sale of the walls of 48 hotels for 367 million euros. The real estate transaction, Accor calls "major in Europe, which should be finalized by the end of 2010, includes 31 hotels in France, 10 in Belgium and 7 in Germany, for a total 6,300 rooms. It concerns 28 Etap hotels, 13 Ibis, Novotel and a SuiteNovotel 6.

These hotels will continue to be managed by the group under the same signs – there are 28 Etap Hotel, 13 Ibis, Novotel and SuiteNovotel 6 – under a variable lease for a period of 12 years renewable 6 times Accor's initiative, or 84 years total. The average rent will be equal to 19% of turnover.On the basis of turnover in 2009, the rent would amount to 22.4 million euros according to Accor.

Under the lease, the new owner will assume responsibility for structural maintenance investments in hotels, insurance costs and property taxes.

The deal includes a renewal program of 47.6 million euros, 33 million euros financed by the acquirer, thus enabling Accor to accelerate the deployment of new generations of rooms Etap and Ibis in a forty establishments.

Chief objective of reducing debt exceeded

This operation, carried out for 80% of the amount from the insurer Predica (a subsidiary of Crédit Agricole) and the balance at the corporation Walls Land (Land subsidiary of Regions), will have a positive aimpact 282 million euros 2010 net debt of the hotel group and three million euros per year on its profit before tax.

The group had announced in May a program to dispose of hotel assets amounting to 2 billion euros over the period 2010-2013. He then indicated that such transactions were to reduce its debt of around 450 million euros in 2010 alone and more than half of that amount had already been the subject of transfer agreements.

With 282 million euros announced today, Accor therefore exceeds its annual target of reducing debt.

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Car manufacturers are positioning themselves in China

Friday Jul 30, 2010

This is the number one concern of manufacturers in China: keeping the fast pace of market? Volkswagen, which wants to double its production capacity by 2013-2014, to 3 million vehicles, will build two new sites, bringing the total to eleven. Rival Nissan will expand its industrial base by 70% by 2012, to 900,000 cars. This level may nevertheless be insufficient, hence the interest group for the Korean Ssangyong sites in the land of Morning Calm, which would allow it to export to China.

After jumping 45% in 2009, thanks to state aid, sales on the world's largest market could grow 20% this year (they were up to fourth in six months). For the next five years, analysts at Nomura anticipate an annual increase of 10%.The market would then exceed – all vehicles – 25 million cars in 2015, against 13.6 million last year. "I expect a long period of growth in China. There is no reason why the rate of motor equipment does not reach that of France, "said Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault and Nissan. China had 34 cars per 1000 inhabitants in 2008, against 600 for 1000 in France. Proof of the youth of this market: 60% of new car purchases are the first acquisitions made by elderly drivers average 35 years against 50 years in Europe.

With growth in volumes, manufacturers have emerged in 2009 on the market an operating margin of between 6 and 8%, according to the firm Alix Partners.They benefit from economies of scale related to the full factory utilization, and managed to impose price calculated to generate good margins. The German specialists of high quality rub their hands as their cars more luxurious than elsewhere, are selling much more expensive than in Europe.

Increased competition marks

The most successful brands have managed to adapt their cars to local tastes. This is what the French PSA Peugeot Citroen with its new Peugeot 408 and its future 508. Still small, French wants to increase its market share in China from 3.3% to 5% in 2015. All very ambitious, the conquerors of China, however, will face increased competition from local brands, specialized for the moment in small cars at low cost.Their market share could reach 37% in 2015, against 32% in 2009, according to Alix Partners.

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Albert Frere gates CMA CGM

Tuesday Jul 27, 2010

New twist in the drama of the French ship Financial. As stated Wansquare, Saade family, owner of CMA CGM, has initiated discussions with the Belgian billionaire through its capital increase required by the creditors of the group. These negotiations were still preliminary notified to the Commercial Court of Marseille. Brother Albert is not alone. He would lead the discussions in partnership with another French investor.

In this tandem plus the Strategic Investment Fund (ISF) has always said he would participate in this capital increase valued at approximately $ 750 million. Qatar Holdings, which in turn has made an offer earlier this month, would not be totally ruled out by Saade.


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Avalanche forecasts on the results of stress tests

Sunday Jul 25, 2010

For Goldman Sachs, which published its investigation on Friday morning, ten of the 91 tested banks will fail. That is to say it does not retain a sufficient level of equity in the event of deteriorating economic conditions.

The success rate would be 89%. According to the study of the American bank, the banks are based in Spain, Germany and Greece, which should raise the more capital, adding that the source of these funds should be half public and half private.

The newspaper El Pais reported in its edition today that part of the 18 Spanish savings banks failed the test of resistance.To believe the consensus reached by Reuters, in Spain, only seven banks have passed the exam, including the largest as Banco Santander, BBVA, Banco Popular, and the "Cajas".

That success expected for French banks

In France, banks found – BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, Credit Agricole and BPCE (Natixis) – should all pass. The analysts and Christine Lagarde have confidence.

Full house expected also for the United Kingdom, examined on HSBC, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group. In Ireland, Bank of Ireland and Allied Arish Banks also would reach to get good results.Same as in Italy, with Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit and Banco Popolare including headlining.

In Germany, a handful of banks should be in a situation of failure, particularly those that are undergoing restructuring.

Failure: it will recapitalize

According to Goldman Sachs, European banks should raise an average total of 37.6 billion euros in fresh capital as a result of these stress tests, whose results are expected Friday at 6:00 p.m., after the close of European stock markets but in full session on Wall Street.

In search of capital, these banks 'risk' may first explore to their shareholders or to appeal to financial markets no fax payday advance. If this is not enough, she can turn to state aid at the national level.Finally, as a last resort, they can "take advantage" of the famous European support plan put in place at the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

Confidence in the results, distrust Performances

With a success rate approaching that expected of the baccalaureate, the question is what will truly value the conclusions of these stress tests. Experts warn that it would be better to consider the assumptions made when simulating a situation worsened.

"The information currently circulating in banks suggest that the stress test favors disclosure of a satisfactory result compared to a real and solid technical verification," says Pierre-Antoine Dusoulier in a forum.

These data suggest that in fact the test cases would be fairly "light" in particular in the field of defaults on sovereign debt. Assumptions of the macroeconomic developments would also be applied "without knowing it for the moment the link established by the test between GDP growth, unemployment and inflation."

In addition, past forecasts on macroeconomic parameters were simply struck by the actual conditions. In spring 2008, the European Commission expected a growth of 1.7% in 2008 and 1.5% in 2009 for the euro area. Real growth was 0.45% in 2008 and -4.1% in 2009.

Pass the exam stress test is a bit like having your bachelor's degree with an overall average just over 10/20. This is not the best conditions for its future.


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The Paris Bourse is stabilizing in positive territory

Friday Jul 23, 2010

The CAC 40 would he find his way? In any case, this suggests that his continued positive territory by mid-morning, up 0.64% to 3623 points after opening down 0.13% to 3595.66 points.

Elsewhere, the same trend. The London Stock Exchange, which opened down 0.37%, is now up 0.15%. The DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, which had also started the session on a decline of 0.27% is now 0.39%. The Madrid Stock Exchange, where banks are under pressure as explained in the El Pais newspaper in its edition today, regaining ground with a fall of 0.16% against -0.54% in early trade.

The waiting game surrounding the publication of results of stress tests of European banks calls for caution investors. On the currency markets, the euro back a bit against the dollar, under $ 1.29.

Volatility will be the point common to all European trading sessions this Friday.

Asian markets have been chosen more strongly green this morning. Yesterday, U.S. markets have done a great meeting at which time the Dow has gained almost 2%, relatively insensitive to the announcement of a surprise increase in weekly unemployment registration.

Consumption of French decline

In terms of macroeconomic statistics, the session looks very calm. No major indicator is expected in the United States.

In France, the French household consumption of manufactured goods fell 1.4% in June after the previous month was supported by purchases of televisions before the World Cup, according to figures published by INSEE before the opening markets.Throughout the second quarter, it shows a decrease of 0.9% after falling 1.9% on the first three months of the year. Analysts on average expected a rise of 0.2% in June

INSEE also believes that the request to industry has increased significantly in the second quarter but is expected to decline in the third. The balance measures the views of industrialists on the past evolution of aggregate demand was 9 in the previous survey in April to 17 in July, and 4-14 for foreign demand.

In Germany, business climate has improved significantly more than expected in recent weeks. The Ifo index rose to 106.2 against 101.2 in June (revised from 101.1 in estimating intials) last month. Economists and analysts had expected decline to 101.6.

TF1 jumped after its results

The stress test, however, occupy the banking sector.BNP Paribas (-0.60%), Societe Generale (-0.84%), Credit Agricole (-0.36%), Natixis (BPCE. -0.39%) or Dexia (-0.39%), remain cautious.

Moreover, the markets will again this session to analyze several quarterly publications:

TF1 (4.83% to 12.27 euros) announced before market advertising revenues up 11% in the first semester for a total turnover of 1.28 billion euros, above consensus. Net income group share was 74 million euros over the period. The objectives are significantly revised upward with a turnover in 2010 rose by 7% instead of 4%.

STMicroelectronics (-2.30% to 6.58 euros) reported Thursday a profit above expectations at 18 cents per share, with sales up 27% to $ 2.53 billion.Analysts on average expected a profit of 14 cents per share and a turnover of 2.513 billion dollars.

Pernod Ricard (-1.56% to 63.11 euros) a statement on Thursday its forecast annual operating profit thanks to the improved economic environment and its position in emerging markets. Its turnover in 2009-2010 emerged, up 2% on a comparable basis.

Ubisoft (0.65% to 7.02 euros) issued a turnover up 94% in the first quarter of 2010-2011 to 161 million euros and confirmed its objective of a sales draft 160 million for the remainder of the year.

BioAlliance Pharma (5.29% to 5.77 euros) announced a record turnover of 15.2 million euros in the second quarter against 1.5 million a year earlier, after recording in April in U.S. Loramyc, headlight treatment of fungal infections in patients with oral cancer or AIDS.

As for ads, Alstom (1.80% to 37.83 euros) said it had won contracts valued at about 450 million euros for the construction of two units for a combined cycle power plant in India.

Air Liquide (-0.40% to 86.43 euros) announced Friday the signing of a new contract with Russian steelmaker Severstal for investments worth 50 million euros in total.

Legrand (-0.61% to 25.06 euros) Thursday announced a takeover offer for Indo Asian Switchgear India, where he produced nearly 4% of its annual turnover after the acquisition.Indo Asian Switchgea aims for 2010 sales of more than 35 million euros.

Maurel et Prom (+0.24% to 9.42 euros) announced Thursday it had increased to approximately 70 million euros the amount of its issuance of convertible bonds to five years following the full exercise of the option overallotment.


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Pension reform in the National Assembly

Tuesday Jul 20, 2010

The parliamentary battle begins. The proposed pension reform concocted by the government will be examined, starting today, for three days by the Social Affairs Committee of the National Assembly. An important step, because it is the text version of the outcomes of these discussions will then be discussed in plenary session from September. However, given the still ongoing negotiations between the government and social partners, members of the majority will ensure the least possible to amend the bill.Objective: To give the government leeway in August and especially September, after the union mobilization of 7 to make concessions on the subject of harsh, assets who started working before age 18, or even polypensionnés as had already suggested Nicolas Sarkozy.

If 400 amendments have already been filed, most are from the opposition, and have very little chance of being passed. Even on the 80 from the UMP, only thirty probablelement be adopted, for instance on strengthening retirement savings. This strategy, as well as the refusal of the chairman of the committee, Pierre Mehaignerie, opening the debates to the public, provoke the ire of the opposition and unions, who believe that the three-day review that will not result 'in a mock debate.

Renunciation of certain amendments

Even some members of the majority, the coming days will gnaw their brakes. According to the rapporteur of the bill UMP, Denis Jacquat, the majority party will waive provide an automatic carry the legal age of retirement from 2018, so as not to inflame the debate, "It's a good question but it is probably not yet time to respond, "Denis Jacquet justified in Les Echos.

In an interview with the Tribune, Pierre Mehaignerie believes however that such amendment would in any case had no chance of being adopted. "I think the majority within the UMP and the New Center is not conducive to the filing of such amendment. It is very difficult to predict long-term parameters such as growth, productivity, determining the resources of pension schemes, "he says.According to Les Echos, Pierre Mehaignerie would otherwise also agreed not to make provision on the establishment of a fund financing the arduous, yet he advocates.

Despite the debate to proceed in camera, Pierre Mehaignerie chose to hold press conferences after each session in order to silence the controversy about the stifling of debate. At least one opportunity for the PS to hear his voice.

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Projects take shape in Russia Renault

Friday Jul 16, 2010

Industrial projects of Renault in Russia are becoming clear. In cooperation with its Japanese subsidiary Nissan, the automaker in diamond should invest 300 million euros in the construction of a plant of national carmaker Avtovaz, which holds 25% stake. The goal: to produce three new small car from 2012.

This information has been reported by the Japanese business daily Nikkei, citing the chairman of Avtovaz, Igor Komarov. The total investment on the site amount to 400 million euros, Renault and Nissan, taking on two of them three quarters.

The models will then be marketed by each group its name, from 2012 or 2013 will come out every year with assembly lines, 150,000 Renault, Nissan 75,000 and 75,000 vehicles Avtovaz Lada brand.One way for the firm of Togliatti (980 kilometers southeast of Moscow) to benefit from technologies developed by the Franco-Japanese. Last March, the three partners had already announced the creation of a new common structure to increase the use of parts produced in Russia and improve the quality of suppliers.

Restructured, Avtovaz returned to the green

This announcement follows the presentation on Thursday, the financial restructuring plan Avtovaz, which plans from Renault investment of 240 million euros in the enterprise technology and materials no fax cash advance. In return for this, and in accordance with his wishes, the French manufacturer keeps intact its stake in the Russian manufacturer, while the conglomerate state Rosstechnology increases his (29%).In contrast, the investment bank Troika Dialog sees its participation diluted. The cards will be reshuffled in 2012. Like all builders in the country, Avtovaz has benefited greatly from program scrapping set last March by the Russian government, which has also planned to extend it.

At the price of a heavy restructuring, the group that there is less than a year, was on the brink of the abyss, even recorded a profit of 1 billion rubles in the second quarter (25 million euros). Nevertheless, the models produced by Avtovaz, including the famous Lada, are far from holding the rope against the European competitors, even if the manufacturer holds 30% of Russian market. "He does not let the success of the plan of scrapping done overshadow our true goal: to modernize the company, recently recalled the Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin the President of Avtovaz, Igor Komarov.Under the watchful eye of the Kremlin, the objective of the three manufacturers, Renault, Nissan and Avtovaz, is taking 40% of Russian market in 2015.

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Trend hesitant to Paris Bourse

Tuesday Jul 13, 2010

The CAC 40 begins the week in positive territory. At the opening, the benchmark index of the Paris Stock Exchange gained 0.23% to 3562.70 points. This gain is difficult to maintain and to 10 hours, the ACC is slightly in the red (-0.13%).

This morning, Asian markets have chosen a conservative increase in the wake of the positive closing of Wall Street Friday. U.S. markets ended the week on a fourth consecutive session progress (0.57%).

The LSE has also opened up, the Footsie index gaining 0.34% to 5150.41 points. The DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange has its open side for a gain of 0.24% to 6079.95 points.

In Paris, the stock reached Friday to keep the threshold of 3,500 points, allowing the benchmark index of snatch 6% in five days. On Monday, investors will try to keep this momentum. The meeting, however, looks very calm on the side indicators.The markets have learned before market that current account deficit had settled in France to 4.5 billion euros in May, from 2.9 billion in April, seasonally adjusted data.

The rest of the week will be loaded, the U.S., several interesting publications such as the budget (Tuesday), sales information (Wednesday), registration weekly unemployment (Thursday), or the index of sentiment consumer (Friday).

Caution is also placed on the European stock exchanges should begin when the ball Publications overseas credit reports free. From Monday, Alcoa will launch the festivities with the results of its second quarter.

Zodiac rejects the advances of Saffron

As for values, the supervisory board for Zodiac (2.78% to 40.89 euros) announced Sunday that he would not pursue a business combination proposal made by Safran.

Alstom (-0.12% to 38.68 euros) was applying for the construction of four stations on the route high-speed rail that will link Jeddah to Mecca, said Sunday the company to Saudi Railways ORS .

Carrefour (0.61% to 34.81 euros) is to publish its second quarter results on July 15 after the close of trading.Analysts already expect a turnover of 24, 78 billion euros (+5.7%) including 10.29 billion in France (+1.6%) and 5.18 billion (-0.6% ) in hypermarkets.

Cameo (0.61% to 162 euros) announced Friday for the second quarter decreased by 11.3% of its sales, surface and currency comparable because of the lag of a week of dates on balances as of June July. The turnover for this period amounted to 190.2 million euros, up 1.1% on published data.

Total (+0.69% at 38.56 euros) had launched legal proceedings to challenge the decision of the Court of Appeal of Douai to force him to reopen his site Dunkirk.


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The Paris Bourse has gained over 2.7%

Wednesday Jul 7, 2010

As in Asia this morning, the CAC 40 has taken great colors on Tuesday. The benchmark index of the Paris closed up 2.73% and finished well beyond 3400 points, 3423 points exactly. Investors changed course in Paris while on Monday, the ACC has approached its lowest level this year at 3332 points (-0.48%).

Elsewhere in Europe, the same trend: the Ibex-35 index of the Madrid Stock Exchange Tuesday ended up 3.59% at 9615 points, strongly supported by banking stocks and the FTSE in London gained 2.93% to 4965 points while in Frankfurt the Dax was 2.15% awarded to 5940 points.

The euro also continues to rise, which was accentuated in session after the publication of an ISM service activities in the United States still above 50. Around 18 heurse, EUO rises from 0.84% to 1.2649 dollar.

Despite this rebound, volatility remains very strong markets.These days, investors were not reassured by the mixed indicators published last week, the United States as in the euro area. The doubts about the speed of global economic recovery weighed increasingly on morale.

On Tuesday afternoon, the markets await the opening of Wall Street may choose to pursue. U.S. markets open again after an extended weekend related to the national holiday. The meeting will begin with the analysis of the PMI services which will be published shortly after the opening. Apart from this indicator, no other major news is expected.

Alstom to

Alstom was up 4.46% to 38.4 euros. The Saudi-French consortium, joining Alstom and SNCF, has in fact likely to report a TGV project in Saudi Arabia.Contract Amount: at least 10 billion dollars according to Philippe Mellier, President and CEO of Alstom.

The rating is also taken up by the rebound in bank Credit Agricole (5.43%), Societe Generale (6.27%) and BNP Paribas (4.23%) are among the highest increases.

Air France (Air France-KLM), which posted a record loss last year, plans to cut 4109 jobs over the period 2010-2012 to meet the air transport crisis. The stock gained 3% to 9.81 euros.

Areva (0.81% to 328.65 euros) should always be led by Anne Lauvergeon. According to sources close to the matter quoted by Agence France Presse, Nicolas Sarkozy has decided to maintain the group's boss at his post until the end of his mandate.Rumors had often reported the contrary.

Also in the nuclear site EPR Flamanville, led by EDF (+1.3% at 30.67 euros) also suffer delays. An audit suggests a period of 24 months. EDF expected to make the announcement soon.

Finally, investors should still respond to the publication by Stephane Richard's strategic plan of France Telecom (2.68% to 14.75 euros) for 5 years. The operator also wishes to reach 300 million customers around the world to this date and hire 10,000 people by 2012.

Please note that Club Med has increased by almost 15% Tuesday.


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