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The European stock markets in a fragmented, Paris in the green

Wednesday Mar 10, 2010

Hesitation waltz yesterday at the Paris Bourse. After being undecided, the CAC 40 has finally risen from 0.17% to finish at 3910.01 points. Everywhere in Europe, stock markets have evolved sawtooth almost the entire session. At the finish, the indexes have ended in no particular order, the FTSE in London lost 0.08% while the Frankfurt Dax gained 0.17%.

The Paris market has recovered very end of the session, thanks to a small recovery on Wall Street. The NYSE, which also lacked enthusiasm in the morning after his fine recovery in recent days, trying to take a step forward at mid-term.Shortly after the close of European stock exchanges, the Dow Jones advanced 0.19% and 0.41% on Nasdaq.

While the pressure on the issue of debt Greek gradually eased after the successful launch of its loans, Fitch has rekindled concerns about the market deficits pointing to management by Portugal's budget deficit.

Banks in trouble

The rating agency said that a worsening credit rating of the country was "not excluded" bad credit payday advance . The market was also dampened by a load of the other major rating agency Moody's, against British banks.Analysts at Moody's explained that many of these institutions could see their grades degraded "to run if they failed to significantly improve their financial strength."

In Paris as elsewhere, banking stocks were immediately plunged into the red. Crédit Agricole has finally lost 1.41%, 1.49% Societe Generale and BNP Paribas 0.51%. Natixis fell by 0.78% and 0.93% of Dexia. Bad passes also for EADS. The group announced a loss of 763 million euros in 2009 after deciding yesterday to throw the towel in the race for tanker contract from the U.S. Army. The stock has lost 2.80%. Among the few increases in the day, Areva has distinguished (+ 3.59%) while held in Paris an international meeting on access to civilian nuclear power, the great specialty of the French group.


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Hybrids Ford also victims of brake problems

Friday Feb 5, 2010

After the Japanese manufacturer Toyota is Ford's turn to report problems with brakes on hybrid cars. Without explicitly mention a reminder of cars, the manufacturer said that the owners of certain 2010 models of the Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid mail to receive a letter advising them to go to their dealer for a free upgrade of the computer system manager braking.

The manufacturer said that the problem occurs when switching between the two braking the vehicle, and that drivers always have an effective braking despite posting misleading.

At Ford, the software problem equip 18,000 cars, but only a small fraction of that total "will suffer a problem, according to a consumer association.


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CGT strike against the port reform

Tuesday Jan 5, 2010

At the risk of scaring a few more customers of the French ports, the CGT chose continuity in strategy from one year to the next … After a one-day strike on 6 November and a strike overtime from that date, the association of ports and docks union's relaunch its action against the port reform, passed in Parliament July 4, 2008. The CGT called employees of large seaports, where it has a majority, with two strikes of 24 hours this Monday and next Monday. This should lead to a new terminal block of the seven major French ports.

"The answers we received were not likely to reassure all ports, the federation called to amplify the movement," says the union, whose representatives have met with Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau ago weeks.

For the CGT, the "Recovery Plan ports" of the government aimed to "privatize the autonomous ports. "Where are the development projects of traffic? Where are the 30 000 jobs that were created? "Asks the union. For the latter, the only concrete project since the passage of the reform, the LNG terminal Verdon Bordeaux, has been barred by the government.

Business bloodless

More importantly, the union opposes the measure lighthouse, the transfer of cargo handling activities (cranes and personal) of major ports to private companies, for which the procedure is being per-port basis.Given the crisis that has severely affected the sea traffic, the time would be particularly ill-chosen, the union argues: "The operators and major arms, which are the major claimants of this reform are now dying and unable to lead the transfer of tools and secondment of personnel. "

In Marseille, one of seven ports affected by the reform, Pascal Galeota, general secretary of the CGT major seaport, boasts a "moratorium to reinforce the activity, while the government seems determined to keep on schedule to be in order walk as the recovery will occur.

But the CGT leader Marseille insists: "We feel that nobody knows where we go." Reform is much more complicated to implement due to poor economic conditions, "said union leader, who refuses" transfer deficit bloodless enterprise. The question is whether these blocks are the best way to help businesses affected through this difficult period …

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The Port of Marseille tries to complete its reform


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The cloud computing revolutionizes IT

Monday Nov 23, 2009

The cloud computing mask does a tsunami? For months, the heavy hammer of new technologies that the future lies in the cloud computing literally computing in the cloud.

Amazon and Google, born on the Internet – symbolized by a cloud – are the pioneers of this movement that is revolutionizing the computer world. Their idea? Rent their gigantic business infrastructure and services via the Web, thanks to their huge data centers, these "farms" that can accommodate up to 100 servers 000.

It is true that these two global companies have invested billions of dollars into these gigantic and expensive tools of computing and storage.One for its sales online, the other for its search engine whose algorithms are greedy in power calculations and, therefore servers.

In spring 2006, Amazon launched the leasing business called Amazon Web Services.

Low-Cost Computers

With Internet access, any company can use the computing capacity and storage data from Amazon. And above all it is billed for use. A clever way for the giant e-commerce to recoup its costs. "You think we sell our waste? asked Werner Vogel, CTO of AWS turning to CIOs increasingly concerned by the potential savings represented by the cloud. We offer a unique technology, agile, safe, cheap, secure and with high volumes.It has become a big business for Amazon, as big as e-commerce, "says the leader of AWS without giving further details.

In fact, many start-ups and small businesses who can not afford to invest in an own computer network chose this solution immediately. Others assign only part of their computer when their business demands a bigger consumption computer. Finally some companies have decided to convert entirely to the cloud to make savings in staff and infrastructure, and especially better calculate these costs as if the computer had become a "convenience" as electricity. "Currently, information is still very traditional," says Philippe Bournhonesque, director of strategy for IBM Software in France. The cost of the equipment is expensive, but it must be added that the facility and human resources deployed.The cloud has the advantage of being charged according to usage. You pay only for what you use. "

According to Gartner, sales of computer dematerialized, cloud computing, is expected to exceed 14 billion dollars annually by the end of 2013. IDC, another firm, is more upbeat and consider that services on the cloud will reach $ 44.2 billion end 2013. A drop of water compared to current sales by hardware manufacturers, service companies and traditional software. But the trend toward the industrialization of IT tasks and reducing costs changed the face of techno.

The Internet, elected by the general public is conquering the business world. Now, all groups of high-tech began to cloud. They are not targeting any infrastructure like Amazon.Google has chosen services. Since February 2007, the ogre of Mountain View sells business software accessible over the Internet, such as messaging, calendar, document sharing … sold by annual subscription ($ 50 per user). The Google Apps competitor of Office, one of Microsoft's flagship software, totaled $ 553 million in sales in the first nine months of the year, or 3.25% of turnover from leader Internet research.

IBM and Microsoft have also shown that they were not out of the cloud. Big Blue has developed a comprehensive project called Blue Cloud, with partners. Microsoft has launched in its test platform called Azure cloud computing."We will be the only market to provide the infrastructure, development and software" as a service "that is to say the demand," explains Bernard Ourghanlian, technical director of Microsoft France.

But if the cloud computing will free business investment, it also leaves unanswered questions. These groups, all Americans do not have data centers in France. Companies will they accept that their data is hosted in Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium. This cheap computer will she need battalions of technicians and engineers active in the business? A cloud passes …

"The companies will pay only what they use"


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The plant Flins for Renault power

Friday Nov 6, 2009

The plant Flins in Yvelines, near Paris, will become the heart of the strategy of Renault electric car, a niche where the group has become the diamond leader. Its CEO, Carlos Ghosn, announced Thursday that the "electric vehicle that will form the heart of our range" will be built in this factory. Marketed in 2012, this model should represent term "nearly two-thirds of sales of vehicles' electrical manufacturer, he said. Named Zoe ZE, it will be of equal size to that of the Clio, which was also released chains Flins. The investment amount was not specified. The state plans to give soft loan of up to 150 million euros.

Renault will launch in 2011 a range of four electric vehicles, whose prototypes were unveiled at the IAA.The group expects a share of this technology in global sales by 10% in 2020. In early October, he said he made the future a small electric car in its range, in 2011, in Valladolid, Spain. This will logically its Twizy ZE Two other cars in the range, the Kangoo ZE (utility vehicle) and Fluence ZE (a family sedan due out in Israel in 2011) respectively should be assembled in the factory French Maubeuge and Turkey.

As expected, the site of Flins also manufacture electric batteries. Renault's Japanese ally Nissan, the Commissariat for Atomic Energy (CEA) and the Strategic Investment Fund (ISF) of the State, on Thursday signed a letter of intent to create a joint venture responsible for advanced research Industrialization and recycling of batteries.The planned production capacity is 100 000 copies per year in 2012. It would reach 250 000 batteries in 2015, according to Christian Estrosi, Minister of Industry.

"The game is open"

The investment of the first phase of the project is estimated at 600 million euros until 2013. The second component includes the development of the second generation of batteries. The ISP will invest 125 million and will own a share "but substantial minority" of all. The ECA will provide Renault 5 million and 125 million. This company aims to supply batteries to all carmakers. "It was a sine qua non for us to invest and be profitable, said Gilles Michel, Executive Director of the ISP in Figaro. Renault will be a major client in the early years, but it will not be alone: the game is opened. "Especially from 2013.It also confirms that Philippe Varin, CEO of PSA Peugeot Citroen. His group already has batteries for its future electric Peugeot iOn (planned for October 2010), provided by GS Yuasa Japanese partner Mitsubishi. But "we think the second generation of models and batteries," says he. To provide with Renault or Bolloré – which opened its plant in Britain – "is exploring options", by Philippe Varin, who has not decided between "manufacture" or "buy" batteries.

"Convalescent, automotive resumes appetite for risk


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Cosmetics for children are not harmful

Tuesday Oct 27, 2009

A generally favorable findings. This emerges from the survey conducted jointly by the French Agency for the Safety of Health Products (AFSSAPS) and the Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and Fraud (DGCCRF) on cosmetic products for children under three years. The controls operated by the two agencies have focused on packages containing washing gel, lotion, cream or cleaning wipes, distributed in some pregnancies but also cosmetic products for children and marketed in the country. Specifically, between October 2008 and February 2009, Afssaps completed twenty inspections on 47 cosmetic products. During these inspections, 37 samples of products for analysis were performed.For its part, the DGCCRF investigated between December 2008 and March 2009: 32 products have been checked and 21 samples including 4 involving products from kits distributed in maternity wards have been made.

Some products "non-compliant"

First observation: cosmetics examined contain no substances prohibited by the regulations. For Afssaps and DGCCRF, "microbiological testing performed were all led to results showing a good microbiological quality of these products. In detail, regarding allergens, 31 samples 34 were found to conform. At the Conservatives on 37 samples, only one was found not to comply. Another study: labeling.For both organizations, labeling study proved "satisfactory" although on some products, the rules were not respected. Thus, eight products, the ingredient list was not intended (error of ingredients, not respected order of weight) or the expression of date of minimum durability was not consistent for four products.

Strengthen checks at European level

Finally, the survey, progress remains to be done regarding the quality of the safety assessment for human health. Of 47 products tested, no assessment has been found for three products sold by one company and 44 evaluations were considered "improved."Regarding the companies alerted on this point, Afssaps noted an improvement in the quality evaluation certificates, "but the progress can not be considered sufficient. The survey by the DGCCRF has resulted in an administrative policy measure (injunction) and four regulatory reminders. A decision on animal health has notably been taken against a company that did no assessment to the supervisory authorities.

The results of the audits will be presented to other countries in the European Union to draw their attention to the need to strengthen inspections of cosmetic products for children on the European market.


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Mortgage: interest rates continue to fall

Tuesday Oct 20, 2009

Interest rates continue to decline. On October 14, they fell 0.10% to 0.20% compared to September in all regions and all periods of credit, the broker finds loans in its new barometer. The most pronounced declines were registered in Eastern and Northern. In detail, on average, rates on fifteen-year fall to 3.95%, and twenty years, to 4.05%, respectively accusing a decrease of 0.10% and 0.15% compared to last month. What attract future buyers! For example, a couple borrowed 200,000 euros in twenty years will earn 35,520 euros if he buys now, with a rate to 4.05% compared to October 2008 (with a rate of 5.40%). The least expensive region is the South West with 3.90% in fifteen years and 4% in twenty years. Empruntis also notes that the gap between regions is reduced: 0.5% between the cheapest and most expensive.This result can be explained by the fierce competition that will deliver major networks and regional mutual funds.

In his memo on the economy published earlier this week, the Fnaim believes that "out of financial crisis, improved conditions for distribution of mortgage loans to households is favorable to borrowers." Lower interest rates of nearly 130 basis points since November 2008 makes it possible to compensate the shortening of the duration of loans observed since 2008. This decrease is the "welcome" because it constitutes "a sort of remission for the poorest households, previously convicted of certain debt on to almost three quarters of the time devoted to their careers."

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Quadras SOS!

Tuesday Oct 20, 2009

They are presented as "the cornerstone of the company, but feel" left out "after having invested limitless. A paradox highlighted by the study conducted by consulting firm HR Solutions Alter Ego, and Françoise Toulemonde, marketing consultant and prospective studies (1). "Isolated," "disoriented," in full midlife crisis "… The survey paints a finding black … More specifically, it reveals that the professional motivation of this population are similar to those of the famous generation Y, characterized by individualism and infidelity to the company.

For Quadras, succeed at work is above all a personal project: "always learning" for 45% of them reconcile their pro-life to 39%. In contrast, only 12% believe that success is linked to having significant responsibilities.

If the quadrants have high expectations of HR, over 80% believe that evolution will not pass through internal mobility, but from somewhere else.

For the firm Alter Ego Solutions, "companies have an interest in reconsidering these quadrants, if they do not want to see in smoke from their expertise or simply face an acute risk of demotivation.

The conclusions to be drawn? Companies should treat this "quiet generation", which is showing "signs of impatience."

The study concludes with Generation Y, concluding that this "puzzle recruiters" may be basically a "shell" and that individualism is perhaps generations. A revelation …

(1) Survey conducted between April 23 and 14 mail in 2009, among 1200 men aged executives.


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