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The publication of the sales of LVMH this morning, showing a 15% increase in sales in the first nine months of the year, shows that the luxury sector is beyond the gloom. It is now concentrated around a very small number of listed companies. To play the stock market, investors in Europe the choice of three values: LVMH and Hermes International in France and the Swiss Richemont, owner of brands including Cartier, Montblanc, Alfred Dunhill and Lancel.

In exchange, these groups are distinguished by the same characteristics. First of all, a very strong sales growth which is an essential element of appreciation to investors at a time when fears of a slowdown are increasingly strong in manufacturing and services.Markets expect according to the consensus published by Bloomberg in a 19.2% increase in sales of LMVH this year, against only 10.2% growth on average for the CAC 40 companies (excluding financials). Hermès expectations are even higher (25%). Richemont is penalized by the rise of the Swiss franc, but the market expects (excluding currency effects) to a 19% increase in sales, a level equivalent to that of the previous year.

Good resilience to the crisis

Most of the increase in sales due to the presence of these groups in emerging markets where growth remains strong. LVMH achieves almost 40% of its sales in Asia and the region at Hermès International represented 45.3% of sales in the first half to 590.9 million euros.Although the annual rate of China's growth fell from 9.5 to 9.1% in late September, the outlook for luxury business are very well oriented in these regions.

This exceptional situation leads to multiple capitalization rates of 16.5 and 16.8 times earnings expected for 2011 for LVMH and Richemont, which places them at levels much higher than the 8.6 expected for the CAC 40. Hermes is the subject of recurring rumors of a takeover bid, particularly on the part of LVMH, is paid for his part more than 48 times earnings estimates for the current year. In exchange, a high multiple is certainly synonymous with vulnerability, but in the minds of investors, it is clearly synonymous with exceptional value.

Result, in contrast to Richemont who suffer from the appreciation of the Swiss franc, most of these titles were very well in the market downturn.The course of LVMH declined only 9.4% since the beginning of the year and one of Hermes International prances among the highest growth of the year with a 50% increase since 1 January. While much of this increase was due to speculative buying, what are the prospects for growth and profitability that reassure investors.

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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.

On Tuesday, a giant glass, Corning, and a French specialist in composite materials, Mersen, announce an alliance whose ambition is astonishing: the partners plan to revolutionize the manufacture of drugs. Corning has indeed used the properties of glass to develop a "reactor" to better control the manufacturing process of molecules for drug or fine chemicals.

Everything works, but to move to industrialization, it is necessary to use elements that exhaust heat very well. And this is where Mersen, specializing in composites. The agreement with the ex-Carbone Lorraine into that framework."The technology developed by Corning combined with our expertise in silicon carbide products represents a technological breakthrough for the pharmaceutical industry," said Luc Themelin, board member Mersen. The discussions lasted nearly a year and a final agreement covers the exclusive supply of ceramic microreactors Mersen in Corning.

This type of agreement is of particular interest Mersen. French society is indeed an OEM, by definition particularly vulnerable in its relations with its customers. To protect its margins, the group has developed a strong expertise in composite materials. It thus becomes an indispensable partner to its customers.

Using the special graphite, the group has made a remarkable breakthrough in the solar field. Five years ago, Mersenne was not present in this sector.This year, it should achieve 100 million euros of turnover short term personal loan.

Products manufactured in Tarbes

In the end, Mersen recorded 13% growth in its turnover last year to 741 million euros, an operating margin of 10.5%. And there are other sources of growth in the LED or the pharmacy, as evidenced by the agreement with Corning.

Today, there is no direct revenue associated with this contract. "Corning is currently negotiating with potential customers, mainly in Asia. We hope that the first contracts will be signed in September. To Mersenne, this means that the first revenues could arrive next year, "says Luc Themelin.

Corning's new product has many advantages over earlier technology: less investment, lower energy consumption and better control during manufacturing.The rise will take time, however, pharmaceutical companies not renewing their plants very often.

Mersen products related to this contract will be manufactured at a factory in Tarbes, which belonged to Boostec, bought by Mersenne in April 2010. Before the acquisition, the plant realized about seven million euros of turnover. "This contract would allow us to triple the revenues of the plant to the next three or four years, says Luc Themelin. Beyond that, we will make additional investments to increase capacity. "

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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 …

From our special correspondent in Berlin

The next governor of the euro will be Italian. Angela Merkel last Wednesday raised uncertainty by supporting square Mario Draghi, head of the Bank of Italy, to take over from Jean-Claude Trichet at the head of a European Central Bank very vulnerable in crisis debt.

"I know Mario Draghi. (…) It is very close to the German designs: a culture of stability and defense of a strong economy, "said the Chancellor to justify a rally, in an interview with Die Zeit.Less encumbered by the nuances, the tabloid Bild now boasts the qualities "Prussian" the Italian candidate, having long alarmed to see the euro for the first time given to a banker from the south of Europe.

"Super Mario" has much to do at the head of a central bank shifted from cautious role as guarantor of the single currency to a primary mission to extinguish the fire of sovereign debt. Jean-Claude Trichet will leave office Oct. 31, after eight years in Frankfurt. The European summit in late June formally appoint his successor. The first lap will be held on Monday at the monthly meeting of the Eurogroup of 17 countries.

Outsider

Unless dramatic turn of events, the dubbing of Angela Merkel made the decision. Mario Draghi, 63, finally gather serious advantages: discretion, meaning the state and international stature.It is also the patron of the influential Financial Stability Board, appointed by the G20 forum to propose safeguards against any repetition of the financial crisis.

Status remains the favorite yet tasty contrast to the former lieutenant of the investment firm Goldman Sachs. Nicolas Sarkozy, toasting politeness in Berlin, had given her support since April 26. But not without some gnashing of teeth on the French side, facing a candidate passed by the U.S. bank, a pillar of financial globalization today challenged.

On the German side, the Chancellor has raised the reluctance to five days of the deadline. It has long been an outsider, because of a passport tough sell in the German public.Before you turn tail, the Bild Zeitung explained to his millions of readers that Italy and inflation go together "like spaghetti and tomato sauce."

The tide has turned in February lorsqu'Axel Weber, former head of the Bundesbank and champion of orthodoxy, has created a stir by throwing in the towel. Since then, Germany has found no replacement candidate. Wednesday, Angela Merkel has drawn a line. She preferred a consensus candidate to a fratricidal competition, the ECB has no need.

The reform of the ISF should apply to tax payable this year. This will help to 300,000 households with assets of between 800,000 and 1.3 million euros to escape the levy. Yet, June 15, usual time of payment of the ISF, the reform will not yet adopted by Parliament. To make the system applicable this year, the authorities have planned to postpone the date to September 15, 2011.

This vagueness will not push the subject to the first installment of the ISF to consider the tax exemption before being fixed and especially worried about the foundations of public benefit, which collect large donations through this channel. "The situation, its suddenness and its uncertainty, is frankly disturbing," says Francis Charhon, president of the French Center Foundation, which fears a fall collection.For assets exceeding EUR 1.3 million, donations to charities are tax-exemption form yet the most interesting, with a deduction of 75% and a ceiling remained at 50 000 payday advance. To simplify and personalize the process, the Fondation de France has even created a website to choose the project to be funded.

Funds that invest in unlisted companies, the FIP and the FCIC, provides, them, an ISF reduction of 18,000 euros maximum (50% of the amount invested in unlisted). Reform or not, they should still be successful. "Last year, they were competed by holding companies. However, they have virtually disappeared, "said Christian Foil, president of Finaréa. Like other managers FIP and FCIC, the company recently launched funds that will alleviate the ISF 2011 … in June or September.

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In Paris, "a huge chunk of land is common property and land opportunities map does not exist," warns Michael Korsakoff, General Secretary of the Club property developers and land in Ile-de-France (CDIF). If the local development plan (PLU) gives clues to the land of gators, the mutation sites remains difficult to predict. So when a nugget of land is finally identified, "we all meet, as sponsors, on the same projects," says Veronica Guillemin, President of the CDIF. The bidding has become very difficult to measure … "In addition from 3000 € / m2 GFA (Gross Floor Area Net, that is to say actually building), the price of land flies. In a recent vast wastelands of Paris, in the heart of the new district of Batignolles (XVII), the City of Paris ceded the end of 2010 to Cogedim land to 3 800 € / m2 floor area.There are apartments sold off-plan more than 8000 € / m2. Their delivery is expected in 2012, this eco-neighborhood in saving energy. Some buildings will peak at 50 meters, 37 meters beyond the date authorized. The future high court will reach even 200 yards on the ground of a former station. Altitudes deemed inefficient, but that may be authorized by the latest changes in the local plan, currently subject to public inquiry.

In Paris, the property is seeking a future in height. Future but also social. In the eleventh, boulevard de Charonne, 8000 m2 of a former industrial site will give birth to 100 housing units in 2014. Meanwhile, in the thirteenth, a EcoZac flourish on the site of the former goods station at Rungis, which will combine offices, housing and social amenities.In the hunt to land, the BIA (concerted development zones) is cut, it will be understood, the lion's share. Social housing too. Yet in 2001, only the wide range of Paris left bank was a planning area. Teams of the Deputy Mayor of Paris responsible for Housing, Jean-Yves Mano, are on the lookout for the slightest bit. The intervention service division of the Directorate of Planning does not hesitate to preempt. "Provided that motivate the right of first refusal by a social housing project or general interest, it says there. In 2010, 11,831 declarations of intent to dispose (DIA) have been investigated. But only 2736 cases were studied with a magnifying glass, which led to 68 preemptions. "It is far less than in 2009 (93), and especially in 2008, where 146 pre-emptions had been decided …The City Council did, too, the cost of soaring prices, despite an annual budget of preemptions for 100 million euros. In the eighth, the response service to acquire land abandoned building, too expensive.

Paris could catch up by 2014 its backlog in social housing, with six years ahead of schedule. "10% of the space are changing urban Paris, Jean-Yves Mano evaluated. But a hundred other plots may be subject to negotiations, which we could consider 15,000 homes … "The City Council has established in recent years, the list of forty car repair garages … Rue de la Pompe in the sixteenth century, Renault has sold one at Sodearif, a subsidiary of Bouygues. Another avenue Mozart, should follow the same path … Each time, the City negotiates affordable housing, at least half of the program.Private developers and public donors, however, working in concert. Despite political tensions in the sixteenth century, several other sites, blocked for years by the use of residents, should result in parallel, such remedies being depleted low fee payday loans. In the key housing, particularly social services.

Committed to a policy of transfer tax, the state adds its contribution to the transformation of land in Paris. According to Jean-Martin Delorme at the regional and inter accommodation and housing (DRIHL), "in 2009, the state has allocated so that the land can be built 329 homes, including 194 social.In 2010, participation has increased, so that 1302 units are produced, of which 859 social. "In 2011, the state has spent on housing in Paris a bigger budget (100 million) for the regions and Rhone-Paca Alps combined.

Buildings over bus depots

Nothing would do but without the SNCF and RATP Réseau Ferré de France (RFF). Heritage Land SNCF? 156 hectares. That of RATP? 260 hectares. As to RFF, the second landowner in France with 103,000 hectares of land. "The RATP has today more than empty land," assures yet Rémi Feredj, director of space and heritage of the RATP, which helped in the 90s, building programs Montsouris, in the nineteenth, in the seventeenth and twentieth. And yet today, boulevard Jourdan, RATP still collaborates with the City of Paris for 200 housing units and 350 students.The buildings rise above a bus depot. Technical prowess. "Here in the twentieth, opposite our office, we will bury another repository, then build on top of offices, a school and a nursery," said Remi Feredj. RATP therefore maintains depots and workshops in Paris, but imagine a new land, while overlays and juxtapositions. Street Desnouettes (fifteenth arrondissement), 47 units will emerge behind a business unit of the metro line 12. According to a performance contract with the state, RFF is committed to mobilizing its land for 1.2 billion euros over five years between 2008 and 2012. Goal: Create 15,000 units in France. A private operator, Pitch Promotion, for example, already won in late 2010, a site RFF Street Castagnary (fifteenth arrondissement). Other rail sites could still mutate, in the twelfth, eighteenth, and nineteenth arrondissements.In all, "1 million square meters of floor area to fifteen years," we are assured at RFF. Meanwhile, in the nineteenth century, a new station-Gospel Aeolus will come with the added bonus of 27,000 m2 of offices and 1000 m2 of shops.

Meanwhile, to release more land more quickly, experts, to the State, reflect on fiscal measures. They are looking to reverse the plan capital gains and taxing landholders refusing to sell them. Tax on undeveloped land is not very effective. "We could consider increasing the property tax on developable land," suggested Poirot Pascale, president of the National Union of developers developers (Snal). Some suggest a tax on the minimum density.More iconoclastic imagine "to add another floor to Paris buildings, because very sparsely protected," recalls Henry Buzy-Cazaux, honorary president of the Institute of Management of real estate services.

The city of Haussmann has long obeyed an ideal city less dense, difficult to reconcile with the height of land planners in the twenty-first century. "You could also consider a rationalization of action, often abusive, hampering construction projects", he explains. An idea that engages players from all sides of the ruthless world of land development.

After 47 days on strike, unprecedented in a company yet accustomed to the harsh social movements, sailors CGT, met Friday afternoon on the "Paglia Orba, voted to return to work by consensus. In the aftermath, both boats sailed Friday evening from Marseille and Bastia.

It took several general meetings to achieve the signing of a Memorandum of crisis. Because after such a strike, it is difficult to vote the recovery when the result is not up to expectations. The main demand, the maintenance of the fleet to ten ships, according to a promise made at the time of privatization, has not been obtained.

The movement was in fact party to the sale of a vessel due to the decrease in the number of rotations between Nice and Corsica.Even if the rotations were increased from Marseilles and no layoffs planned, the union saw the beginning of the dismantling of the company strengthened by the sale of the headquarters in Marseille!

The CGT, however, obtained a commitment from the state to retain its 25% stake at least until 2013, when the renewal by the territorial collectivity of Corsica of the Delegation of public service is awarded the SNCM with CMN.Veolia, the majority shareholder with 66%, for its part, "confirmed its willingness to support the SNCM, provided that the company quickly generate positive economic and business outlook."

Collapse of market share

The company, already suffering in recent years by fierce competition, out of this very weakened.

The strike has cost 15 million euros, excluding the shortfall of reservations that customers have been discouraged to do for the Easter holidays or next summer.

This comes even worse, since its privatization in 2006, the company has continued to lose ground. With a 9% drop in the number of passengers carried in 2010, its market share fell to 30%.It was 82% in 2000!

Accordingly, SNCM last year accused an operating loss of 15 million euros for a turnover of 285 million, down 12%. In 2009 already, only the sale of the shares in the capital the SNCM's SPC had allowed the balance.

Main responsible: the battering of Corsica Ferries, a French company whose ships fly the Italian flag (40% cheaper than the French flag which is liable SNCM) which greatly increased the supply of transport on the Island of Beauty breaking prices. A policy called the "social and fiscal dumping" by the CGT deplores a "perversion of public support."

Corsica enjoys because most of the "passenger welfare" granted by the CTC (19.5 million) along with subsidies in the context of the DSP (187 million in 2010 to SNCM and CMN).The system, called "perverse" by the regional chamber of accounts, must be overhauled.

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Cancellations will travel faster than the revolutions themselves Arab. While the wind blows still timidly revolt in the Middle East, several of them noted a sharp drop in hotel bookings.

Jordan in particular, several sources said that cancellations had reached 50%. A tour operator confirms that in 3000 tourists who booked a trip in the coming months, 1200 had already annulled. Jean-Francois Rial, CEO of Voyageurs du Monde, a leading tour operator in France, also referred 50% of cancellations to the country. This situation is particularly worrying for a local economy where tourism represents 14% of GDP, with a turnover estimated at one billion dollars in 2010.

Syria is no exception.Ghassan Chahine, owner of Naya Tours agency in Damascus, said he registered 35-40% cancellations for peak tourist season which runs from March to May, mainly by Europeans. The Syrian Minister of Tourism Saadallah Agha al-Qala, has been forced to revise downward its objectives: "We do not expect an increase of over 11% to 12% of the number of tourists" against an average annual growth of 15% since the early 2000s.

"All in the same bag"

Tourism professionals in the Middle East denounced the confusion in the minds of Western tourists. "They are influenced by media coverage and put all countries in the Middle East in the same bag, do not differentiate one country from another," said Nabulsi Touhami, office of tourism in Jordan. Tourists have canceled their trips to all Arab countries. "

Jean-Francois Rial, "people are more worried about what might happen in other countries than those where the revolution is over. Is that King Abdullah will not jump, do as the king of Morocco does not have a problem, as Hu Jintao? ". Ghassan Chahine agrees: "People tend to think that the revolts are taking place across the region."

Hopes

Despite their concerns, industry professionals want to believe in an imminent improvement in the situation. "The perception of people change very quickly. It does not take much time before the booking for a country not resume, "says Sean Tipton of the Association of British tour operators.

Until the fears subside, tour operators could, like the Maghreb, betting promotions.Marmara, the leading destination Tunisia is already seeing the success of its offer a "pay for a given": "We found in March the level of bookings last year, with 8000 departures scheduled within a month," explained Le Figaro Florian Vighier, its director general.

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Over the past two decades, the population of managers in the private sector has risen sharply, from 2 million in 1990 to nearly 3.5 million in 2008. At the same time, accelerated its feminization (34% women against 24%). But behind these figures hide important changes, highlighted by a survey of APEC (she had performed a similar study in 1990)

• Less power to influence

If managers always believe play a role in business, the way they look at their environment is quite negative: 51% consider that their situation "has changed unfavorably in recent years." In 1990, there were only 12%.Furthermore the crisis, they highlight the globalization of the economy financialisation, the vision of "short-term approach" leaders finally increased pressure which alters the organization of their work.

They also feel that their influence on the conduct of business has declined significantly in two decades and felt "increasingly isolated" in their business. "But this distance does not necessarily mean the failure or rebellion, says Apec.This can also be the mark of a more balanced work.

• A critical look at HR policies

If a majority of executives (53%) consider that the strategy implemented by the management of their business will "in the right direction," one in two think their leaders "are not paying attention to working conditions of employees", only 42 % say they "care about the future of their staff", while they are only 35% believed that "when leaders make decisions, they care about their human impacts fast payday loan no faxing."

• Five categories

The APEC study identified five categories of executives. The Satisfied (27%). With an almost total confidence in the leadership of their company, they are in full agreement with the strategy implementation. The Pragmatic (23%).Located primarily in a contractual relationship, seven in ten are willing to leave their employer in the near future. The Dissatisfied (19%). They are dissatisfied with their working conditions and prospects. The Overwhelmed (17%). Their over-investment in their business seems to have a significant impact on their privacy. Finally, the distances (14%). They are very critical, including vis-à-vis their journey, but they have a good life balance-professional life.

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