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Asian stock markets stay in green

Wednesday Sep 28, 2011

The optimism was tinged with a slight caution. After Tuesday's rebound, which saw the Nikkei finished up sharply from 2.82%, Asian stock markets continued their upward trend, but less strongly than the day before. After opening up 0.15%, the index shows Tokyo, less than an hour from the close, up 0.29% to 8635.23 points. The Korean KOSPI ahead of his side of 0.47% and the composite index of Shanghai Stock Exchange of 0.18%. Only the Hang Seng in Hong Kong, which opened down 1.42%, remains in the red, down 0.90% to 17,967.30 points. Wednesday, he had won more than 4%.

As on Wall Street where the Dow Jones ended up on 1.33% and Europe, where the CAC surged 5.74%, Asian investors have earned by renewed optimism on the resolution of the crisis debt in the eurozone.According to various sources, Europeans should indeed decide to stabilize Greece and the banking sector business cards. Strengthening the emergency fund indebted countries (EFSF) was particularly mentioned.

The yen also paused in its upward trend against the dollar, which has benefited some export values, especially in electronics and automotive. The dollar is changing around 76.54 yen while the euro is worth about 103.81 yen. As for the oil markets, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for November delivery lost 1.25 dollars to 83.20 dollars in early electronic trading. A barrel of Brent North Sea crude for November delivery gave 96 cents to 106.18 dollars.The previous day, oil had spread over 4 dollars in New York.

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Levi's and RIM, stars involuntary riots in London

Thursday Aug 11, 2011

The timing could not be worse for Levi's. The king of denim, which had just launched its new global campaign "Levi's Legacy" earlier this week, was forced to turn back to the UK market. The spot, shot in Berlin before the events in London, reveals, in fact, scenes of young people in clashes with security forces. Demonstrations, riots, smoke: the images are too echoed the news, depending on the brand:

Called "Go Forth" (On the Move in French), signed by the advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy American, calls young people to take their destiny. The message is reinforced by the recitation of a poem by Charles Bukowski, The Laughing Heart, to the very explicit (your life is your life / do not be discouraged by a tender moist / Be on the lookout)."Because of what's happening in the UK, we have temporarily postponed the release in cinemas and on Facebook in the country," said a spokesperson for the brand with the Daily Mail. He added that "Go Forth to embody the energy and events of our time. She does not speak of a political movement or a specific theme, but rather evokes optimism, positivism and the entrepreneurial spirit. "

The spot has also been removed from the official Facebook page for the brand. "We have all witnessed the recent events that took place in London and other cities in England. It is difficult to see a glimmer of hope amid the violence. But looking good, you will see it no fax payday loan. Not one of the riots and chaos. But through its citizens who take the broom to clean up their cities. It is through their pioneering spirit that make change possible, "says Levi's on Facebook.

Stunt involuntary RIM

Even if the manufacturer of jeans trying to detach events, riots in London have a real spotlight on its new advertising campaign. A promotion that seems to also affect involuntary RIM, the maker of BlackBerry. His e-mail service that equips its phones BBM, known to provide a guarantee of confidentiality of trade, is under the spotlight. Now it plays an important role in organizing the riots. The British press also devotes a large part in deciphering the events.

But this stunt could serve the image of RIM on the UK market.Already some voices calling for the closure of the service in England, prompting the direction of the Canadian manufacturer to announce, without further detail, cooperation "with local telecom operators, the police and government" of the country if so requested.

This collaboration could involve the closure of the service. The risk is important for the Canadian manufacturer that could alienate her young local clientele. According to a study released last week Ofcom, the BlackBerry is currently the favorite of the English smartphones of 16-24 years (37%) to the iPhone (25%).

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Wall Street ends up with no direction

Monday Aug 8, 2011

The speech Barack Obama optimistic about economic prospects was not enough to lighten the mood in the U.S. markets. In the aftermath of a black session, Wall Street closed Friday on a very hesitant, after playing roller coaster the entire session. The Dow Jones gained 0.54% to 11,444.61 points but the S & P lost 0.06% to 1199.39 points and the Nasdaq drops 0.94% to 2532.41 points.

The fence marks the end of the worst weekly meeting signed by the S & P 500 over two years. For the week, the Dow has sold 5.8%, the S & P 500 -7.2% -8.1% and the Nasdaq. Obama does not reassure

The announcement of a significant improvement in job creation last month has not calmed the spirits. Publications disappointing state of the U.S. economy had yet chained, challenging the idea of ​​resumption of the first global economy.This publication confirms the figures released Wednesday by ADP, reports of more new jobs than expected for the month of July.

U.S. markets also hesitant despite market rumors to the effect that the European Central Bank is ready to support the Italian and Spanish bonds, if these countries to undergo structural reforms.

Moreover, operators have learned that Americans use to consumer credit rose in June at a pace not seen since the recession began, according to figures released Friday by the central bank (Fed) of the United States.The outstanding amount of these loans has jumped on this month of 7.7% annual rate over the previous month, the biggest increase since August 2007, reaching 2,446.1 billion.

Oil pulls himself together

After a slight increase at the opening, oil prices find their way back down to 18 hours, Paris time. After working in the Russian mountains on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in September was finally completed in 86.88 dollars, up 25 cents from the previous day

The reassuring news, from Europe have traced the course of the euro by 1.25%. The euro traded at $ 1.43 against the greenback to 19 pm Paris time.

AIG, GM and Procter & Gamble publish their accounts

On the corporate side, the semi-annual publications still dominate the news on Friday.

For the second straight session, the group Kraft (3.21% to 34.87 dollars), which has split its U.S. branch of its activities snacking, remain top of the list of the stock market.

Thursday evening after market, the insurer AIG (-4.96% to 25.09 dollars) announced a return to the green of its accounts in the second quarter, with net earnings of $ 1.84 billion over the period, against a loss of $ 2.7 billion a year earlier. Per share, net income totaled $ 1 ($ 0.69 after tax, against $ 0.92 expected by analysts).

At the same time, and its first quarterly since its IPO on May 19, LinkedIn (-4.85% to 90.89 dollars) was positively surprised markets by announcing a turnover more than doubled the second quarter to 121 million dollars (120 euros) and net profit (4.5 million), where analysts expected a loss.

General Motors (GM) (1.23% to 26.31 dollars) Thursday reported quarterly results exceeded expectations, with a near doubling of profits over the period.

Procter & Gamble (1.71% to 60.60 dollars) released before market on Friday for the fourth quarter of fiscal offset, net income up 15% to $ 2.51 billion.Of 2010-2011, so it shows a net profit of 11.79 Annual Statement billion, down 7% from the previous year.

Viacom (0.97% to 51.85 dollars), the parent company of MTV and Comedy Central, has reported a rise than expected in earnings thanks to strong revenue growth in advertising Cable and license agreements with websites. Its quarterly results (Q3) increased to $ 574 million against 432 million

Bank of America (-7.76% to 8.15 dollars) is highly exposed to the most fragile countries in the euro zone, according to a document from the bank. The group said exposure to the tune of $ 16.7 billion (11.8 billion euros) in total to Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain in June 30Management has indicated in a document submitted to the regulatory authorities that its losses could reach up to legal $ 2.3 billion in addition to the provisions already passed for this purpose.


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"The signals on growth are not good"

Friday Aug 5, 2011

LE FIGARO. -The markets are highly concerned in recent weeks of debt crises. In this context, the economy has not she also helped to disrupt?

Jean-Michel SIX. -If, of course. And we must start by saying that in times of summer holidays, the markets, which were then much lower volumes, overreact to any new economic situation. The lower the index is up or dive in a much more important than what happens in winter.

Right now, they are rather dive …

For several months, both sides of the Atlantic, the signals on growth are not good. United States, including employment prospects are very disappointing. In fact, employment is not really left since the 2008 financial crisis.Labor mobility is limited due to the housing crisis: moving to take a new position, which is much the United States, is difficult because it becomes difficult to sell his house. As for household consumption, it is significantly weakened by the debt levels of Americans. A total of 2011 should result in a 2% growth, which is very disappointing for the U.S., where the pace of activity is generally much higher than in Europe.

Europe, precisely, is it in a perilous situation?

The problem of Europe is the growing divergence between North and South. This is something that worries the markets, which are asking what does that mean in terms of consistency of the euro area.Then, after a strong first quarter, it was believed that the air hole is the second passenger (once the effects of the earthquake in Japan absorbed and oil back to lower levels). But we realize that the sequence is also likely to be poor Payday advance.

Markets can they regain composure?

It is quite possible to restore calm in September thanks to coordinated action. What happened in July is that we have simultaneously witnessed a loss of U.S. leadership, unable to break the deadlock of debt and a crisis of leadership in Europe in a context crisis on public finances. This is exactly the opposite which would have required!

So how about it?

First, we must continue the work on European Governance. This is critical. Second, the timing of implementation of the second plan is important for Greece.The European Financial Stability Fund will be endowed with significant firepower, which is to say the least-welcome, but there is some impatience markets. It is important not to drag the national parliaments to adopt the device. The political signal must come quickly. Finally, the ECB has played its role, it must continue to appear reassuring.

That's what she tried to Thursday …

The measures announced by President Trichet, in particular the resumption of purchases by the ECB on secondary markets, are extremely positive.

Investors do they always trust in the euro area?

Yes. Investor confidence, especially in emerging countries has not disappeared. She even remained strong, as evidenced by the excellent performance of the euro since the beginning of the crisis.The euro zone faces a crisis of governance, not a crisis of its currency.

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Christine Lagarde is campaigning on Twitter

Monday May 30, 2011

Christine Lagarde, Minister of Economy, candidate to succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn to the IMF, is also his campaign on the net, via Twitter. "Follow my campaign for the-post of Managing Director of the IMF," she writes in the introduction to his account @ lagarde_imf.

For now, 243 "followers" can thus keep track of time use of French. A figure that is expected soon to increase, most ministers have a twitter account is followed by several thousand people. Since last Wednesday, his account has been opened just before formalizing his candidacy – the Minister has published 46 twits (short message) alternating French and English payday loans. We learn as she lunched today with Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega and with the Governor of the Central Bank of Brazil, Alexandre Tombini.

Sunday during the broadcast of Jean-Pierre Elkabach on Europe 1 – during which the atmosphere was "studious," says a post – al least not twittered about ten times to keep fans informed.

Christine Lagarde also take this new kind of forum to defend the matter Tapie "arbitration was the least bad solution to put an end to Tapie affair," she wrote this weekend.

The minister listed a dozen groups, but for now, she does not follow any …


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The Cac 40 expected to decline

Tuesday May 17, 2011

This had not happened for a month. The CAC 40 closed on Monday below 4000 points, among others penalized by bank stocks. Investors worried about a new crisis on the debt of the euro area after the arrest of the International Monetary Fund boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Futures on the CAC 40 fell by 0.62% to 3965 points.

Monday night, Wall Street has ended the session down in response to the publication of indicators revealing the fragility of U.S. recovery.

The Euro continues Tuesday

In the absence of corporate results announcements, the index will evolve with ads that will be made following the meeting of EU finance ministers to discuss particular mechanisms of financial aid in the euro area. On the issue of Greece's debt, the Europeans are divided.Bank stocks will be well to follow, they have lost an average of 1% on Monday.

On the macroeconomic front, the new car registrations in the European Union fell 2.7% annual rate over the months from January to April, according to figures released Tuesday by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (Acea).

United States, are scheduled starts of dwellings in April (14.30) and industrial production in April (15.15).

On the currency markets, the euro rose slightly against the dollar, from 0.16% to 1.4183 dollar.

Energy stocks under pressure

On the corporate side, investors will be interested in energy stocks that should suffer from the decline in commodity prices.

Bouygues raised slightly on Monday its goal of annual sales after a first quarter marked by a rebound in activity but penalized at the net contribution by Alstom.

Vivendi announced Monday it had obtained signed with a syndicate of 17 banks a new line of credit totaling € 5 billion that will allow it to optimize the management of its bank debt at the time of the acquisition of the 44 % of SFR held by Vodafone.

Publicis buys U.S. digital marketing agency Rosetta for at least $ 575 million – the agreement provides that an additional payment may be made in 2014 to Rosetta in the case of good performance over the period 2011-2013.

Carrefour wants IPO for its real estate assets

During its Investor Day being held in Paris from 9:15 Carrefour will confirm its intention to IPO for its real estate assets, Carrefour Property.The group, which confirmed target growth in turnover and operating profit this year, said the demerger of its business Dia discount stores, whose IPO is scheduled for July 5, will be in the shape of the distribution of a dividend.

Gecina announced Monday that it planned to file a proposed buyout offer followed by a squeeze on the shares of its subsidiary Gecimed, a property company dedicated exclusively to the medical real estate which it owns 98.6% of capital .


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Good first quarter for U.S. stocks

Tuesday May 3, 2011

On Wall Street last week, the Standard & Poor's 500 was royally awarded 1.96%, returning to a new level since June 2008. It closed Friday at 1369.61 points, rising 2.8% in April and 8.4% since the beginning of the year. The reassuring words of the President of the Federal Reserve, but also publications of the first quarter results of companies in the S & P 500 led him to move forward.

Indeed, over 324 companies over 500 have already published their results. And this statement is, at present, encouraging, "announced 74% earnings per share above expectations and 75% beat analysts' expectations on their turnover," says Christian Parisot at Aurel BGC. Only 62% of companies in the S & P Announce generally better than expected results payday loans.

In terms of forecasts, the discourse remains cautious.For the second quarter, 38 companies have lowered their projections of results and only 23 have reported. For 2011, however, 59% of predictions are reported. Among the heavyweights of Wall Street, have yet to announce their results, Pfizer (Tuesday), Time Warner, Electronic Arts (Wednesday). And the same day, Kellogg, Kraft Foods and Sara before Lee (Thursday). Three publications expected with a touch of apprehension, the margins could suffer from rising prices of food commodities, as food industry giants had trouble in pass prices.


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Patrick Pelata, the dolphin sacrificed

Tuesday Apr 12, 2011

When the alleged espionage case was transferred to the handling villainous, Patrick Pelata, the deputy CEO of Renault, was sacrificed once to take the blame and protect his boss, Carlos Ghosn. "When the investigation is complete, we will draw all the consequences to the highest level of business is to say to me," he said in a March 4 interview with Le Figaro . Duly noted. This incredible adventure will put a stop to a stellar career that began at the manufacturer there are twenty-seven years.

For several years, Patrick Pelata, 55, has emerged as heir apparent right arm and his classmate Polytechnique in 74, Carlos Ghosn. Appointed Chief Operating Officer in October 2008, he assumed operational management of the entire company in crisis, leaving the CEO's long-term strategy.Previously, it had already become the number two official, adding his wake in the footsteps of his mentor.

Brilliant and unconventional

Grand son of farmers, the son of teachers from the Ariege, Patrick Pelata doing a brilliant classical route: preparation at Louis-le-Grand, Polytechnic, School of bridges and causeways, which he was president since 2009. Brilliant but unorthodox, the young engineer developed a passion for sociology. Postgraduate at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, he wrote a thesis on the development of Taylorism and Fordism in French factories. Communist activist, a brief on the working conditions of miners in the Pas-de-Calais earned him a week off to X, for violating the duty of reserve soldiers saving account payday loan.

At 29, the young executive at Renault. An avid robot, is foreman of the welding robots Flins.It is then in charge of the platform Twingo. When, upon redemption of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn asks about him that is ready to follow him to Tokyo, Pelata packed his bags. His expertise in industrial organization and the range of vehicles, as well as his hobby of sociology help contribute to the recovery of the Japanese manufacturer in disarray. When Ghosn took charge of Renault, he brings with him his right arm. This is one of the few members of his bodyguards at tu boss and contradict appropriate.

Since 2008, Pelata the helm, during the crisis of the automobile. It has launched a voluntary separation plan of 9000 people, handled the failures of the Laguna and Twingo 3 2 and reoriented the manufacturer to the cars of the future. Lucid, he was aware of the questioning of the status of the self in contemporary society.He acknowledged the responsibility of the industry in global warming and went all-out on electric vehicle programs, as alleged spies were supposed to have tried to hack.

When, a year ago, the government pin Renault, which plans to produce the new Clio in Turkey, the boss left Pélata defends the logic of cost reduction business. This fan of hiking and judo, father of four children, now paying an unfailing faithfulness.

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The TGV is looking for a new life

Friday Apr 8, 2011

No fireworks or confetti, SNCF is preparing a relatively quiet birthday for the 30th anniversary of its TGV. A "TGV Birthday" will circulate throughout France from Thursday until mid-July. In September, the inauguration took place September 22, 1981 – a festive event … is still under investigation. The exuberance is clearly inappropriate.Once past nostalgia to see the locomotive and orange trains from Alstom, the retro deco trains and jingoistic pride of having given birth to the fastest train in the world, that he remains today the flagship the rail industry?

In recent years, the president of the station itself is trying to deflate the myth TGV "ten passengers carried by the station every day, nine are not in TGV," says Guillaume Pepy, whose priority is now in the "daily trains, regional express trains, Transilien, trams … He even called a" niche "industry dedicated to the TGV railway.

Financially, the activity is no longer the pool of profits it was: "Until 2007, the benefits of TGV were living the box," says Guillaume Pepy."Currently, 30% of TGV lines are not profitable," said Barbara Dalibard, executive director in charge of travel industry. And company officials repeated their concern about the future of this activity open to competition with the economic balance has become fragile due to the steady increase in the tolls paid to rail network of France, the owner of infrastructure. This year, the station will pay 200 million euros more than the 1.53 billion paid to RFF in 2010.

People keep his soul

No way to offset these costs by a sharp rise in ticket prices with pricing to "low cost" emphasizes especially travelers who anticipate their movements. The TGV popular origins must retain its soul."France is one of the few countries that have succeeded mass transport at high speed, said Patrick Kron, CEO of Alstom, which has supplied all of the 540 TGV trains at the station since 1981. Families, young, old, students take the TGV. In other countries, they are businessmen who take advantage of very high speed. " In total, 1.7 billion passengers have crossed the TGV for 30 years.

The rail has dethroned the aircraft on routes between Paris and Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg, Montpellier, Lille … Conscious of its economic impact, all want their elected officials high speed line. The projects have multiplied. Five of them should be completed before the end of the decade (eastern branch of the LGV Rhin Rhone, the second phase of the East, South Europe Atlantic HSL between Tours and Bordeaux, LGV Pays-de-Loire between Le Mans and Rennes and finally, circumvention of Nimes and Montpellier).But only the financing of the East and the Rhine-Rhone is curly. The dozen other projects in the framework of the Grenelle Environment Forum in 2007, representing a total of 70 billion euros, however, is not etched in stone. That line between Paris and Le Havre which would cost nearly $ 9 billion for only 200 km! "We must have the courage to say that some projects will not be feasible, loose Herve Mariton, UMP. Already, the lines being built require more political will than economic rationality. "

"Our task is to ensure the continued success of the TGV, said Hubert du Mesnil, president of RFF. The first lines had been made without public financing package.The State would not have gone into debt in a kind of excitement. "Each project is now based on forecasts of attendance must allow the debt. "In practical terms, a funding problem will arise for both regions sought to build high speed lines and engaged in investments in their networks and B," says Hubert du Mesnil. Decision time has come.

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Renault wants to build engines in Romania

Sunday Apr 3, 2011

Renault could have done this possible controversy. But a few weeks after pleading guilty to wrongfully dismissed three executives accused of espionage and one year after the turmoil created by the case of the Clio – it planned to relocate to Turkey – the manufacturer must again be accountable.

The group decided to entrust the production of two new engines to its sites in Romania and Spain, he said Friday. The H4 (3 cylinders) and H5 (4 cylinders) are respectively made from 2013 on the site Dacia Pitesti, specialist low cost, and Valladolid (2012). The announcement had been made in these two countries, but Renault had kept the trumpet in France.

This decision could affect the French mechanics Douvrin in the North.The plant, owned jointly by PSA Peugeot Citroen and Renault, the engine produces D4, a less powerful 4-cylinder (60 to 80 horses, 90 horses cons for the H4 and H5 for 115 horsepower). The motor assembly D4 employs 450 people, about 3450. The downturn could cost more than 200 jobs, said the CGT. These positions will not be replaced by the manufacture of cylinder heads and camshafts for the new engines, which could employ 40 people, said the union.

In response, the group has indicated its commitment not to make any plans for layoffs or voluntary redundancy as part of its new strategic plan. But unions fear that retirement will not be replaced.

Lower volumes

"It relocates slowly, even if management tries to minimize," sighs Alain Labarre, CGT Douvrin.The group, however, rejects these accusations. "The H4 and H5 are required to take the place of older models that were almost similar already made in Turkey, Spain and Romania," said a spokesman, adding that such engines "are not competitors D4 Douvrin made. This engine, fitted to small cars like the Twingo and the Clio (as will the H4) and low-cost models, will be "produced in parallel in the coming years," because "it can offer rates aggressive. "

In late January, Philippe De Coene, director of the French mechanics, however, said that the arrival of a small 3-cylinder would "intervene in the market" of 4-cylinder engine manufactured in Douai, as mentioned by Liberation. He said the volume of the D4 engine "will tend to decline," even if "we will not stop producing it in 2013 and he did not" concern "for the job.He added that he "fought to get another engine family."

In 2010, Renault has made 29% of its engines in France, against 85% for PSA. Renault says it will carry, however 40% of its investment in France by 2013. Engine side, the group said it will produce R9M, a 130 horsepower diesel for the Megane to Cleon, Seine-Maritime. A factory will also manufacture electric motors in 2013.

While the new European standards will make diesel engines more expensive gasoline engines of new generation have a bright future ahead of them. H4 and H5 models, which will reduce CO2 emissions by 30 to 40 grams per kilometer, would represent 85% of the volume of gasoline engines for Renault in 2015.


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