Business World |

Online News

Thales: a loss that does not worry the markets

Monday Feb 14, 2011

Thales wants to really turn the page of 2010. The group must submit its annual results on February 24 next Monday reported an operating loss of around 100 million euros.

The electronics group justifies the loss of additional charges and provisions on some of its contracts "in excess of 700 million euros." The program of the military transport plane A400M and a contract for ticketing in Denmark are particularly concerned. "We did not charge as much as Thales the boat for 2010, says Christopher Menard, an analyst at Kepler Capital Markets. We had rather anticipated reserves of 100 million. "

Failing to reassure investors, Thales them at least sent a positive signal. "The group has had the good idea to clarify its outlook for 2011 and 2012," says the analyst of Kepler Capital Markets.A strategy that allows Thales to be optimistic for the coming years. The group wants to achieve an operating margin of 5% in 2011, increased to 6% in 2012. Objectives in line with market expectations. "The question is whether Thales sustainably exceed the 6% margin, asks the analyst.

And financial markets appreciate this transparency. Suddenly, the track behaves quite well on the stock market. After significantly underperformed the market opening, the stock is resumed, achieving even better performance than the CAC 40 personal business card. Around 10:30 am, Thales won 0.57% to 26.37 euros, while the index in Paris ahead of 0.27%. "The group had to communicate. The risk would remain unclear. Financial markets would clearly not appreciated.It is a salutary strategy, "says Christophe Ménard.

Vigneron dans le flou

While this information can give some interest to the value, there remains the question of the future CEO of Thales, Luc Vigneron. "Thales policy is and will remain, says an analyst. Financial markets already know. " According to sources quoted by La Tribune, his departure was mentioned by Nicolas Sarkozy, Charles Edelstenne, CEO of Dassault Aviation, which owns 26% of Thales and Serge Dassault, owner of Le Figaro.

Always supported so far by Edelstenne and Dassault, Luc Vigneron begin to irritate the Elysee. "A change of president would not change, however, says an analyst. The industry is highly competitive, the group needs stability. " Luc Vigneron priority remains to improve profitability in Thales, including operating margins. "Increasing margins takes between four and five.Any new candidate will not be otherwise than Vigneron.


Comments Off

Wall Street supported by purchases

Tuesday Feb 8, 2011

In lla closing U.S. equities, the Dow Jones advance of 0.58% at 12,162 points. The Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 rise respectively from 0.62% to 1319 points and 0.53% at 2784 points.

Nasdaq acknowledged Saturday that its computer system was hacked, which had interrupted his particular listing more than an hour Friday, January 28. But the index, dominated by technology, should work normally on Monday. A federal investigation is underway to identify those responsible for such intrusions. Part of the system that runs the exchange was not affected by piracy.

Wall Street continues its momentum and finally positive last week. Four times lower than expected for the month of January, job creation were disappointed last Friday, the U.S., but investors reacted positively to the sharp decline in unemployment.Also in the acquisitions, the manufacturer of biomedical testing equipment for Beckman Coulter (9.95% to 82.65 dollars) on Monday announced an agreement to be bought by the industry group American Danaher (2.19 to 49% , 03 dollars), with $ 6.8 billion in cash, including debt.

Household spending and consumer credit

"In the U.S., key economic data this week will be published Friday-state in that regard analysts Aurel BGC-with the trade balance for December and the preliminary estimate of consumer confidence by the University Michigan paydayloans. Wednesday, Bernanke will speak before the House Budget Committee.On the merits, his speech should be close to one he gave last week. "

62 Publication of results of companies in the S & P 500

The agenda of business publications, to the least busy this week, should have more impact on the market: 62 values in the Standard & Poor's 500 indeed reveal their quarterly results. Already since the beginning of the season's fourth quarter, 75% of companies beat the consensus in terms of turnover.

Carried by the prices of raw materials, metals and petroleum experts have closed up. The Alcoa aluminum companies is 1.05%, Chevron and Exxon earns 0.57% 0.78% advance.

Hasbro also climbed from 1.81% to 45.63 dollars after reporting a quarterly profit decline due to limited demand for its fighter figurines, games and puzzles during the key holiday season year-end.

From Monday, Cognizant, FMC, Hasbro, Loews, Lorillard and Pioneer Natural Resources will open, among other things, this ball weekly.

By Tuesday, Walt Disney, Mc Afee, Sara Lee and sacrifice in the exercise, before Akamai Technologies, Cisco, Coca Cola and Whole Foods on Wednesday. By Thursday, it was the turn of C ephalon, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Kraft Foods, PepsiCo or Sprint Nextel (Thursday).


Comments Off

The CEO of Air France wants to promote safety

Tuesday Jan 25, 2011

LE FIGARO. – In what context did you start the audit on flight safety in your company?

Pierre-Henri Gourgeon. – We announced in the summer of 2009 that we were going to ask an external mission to help us advance our security. Our ambition is to make the best of what is happening in each of our competitors and to apply it. The day we will do what is best, what one does today, we can say that we reach our goal: to bring our performance in flight safety at the highest possible level of industry. Let me also clarify that this is not an audit of all: we are in all fields, in terms of safety standards and international standards.Our aim was precisely to put our flat organization and see where we could improve beyond the basic rules applied to everyone.

This mission is it related to the crash of Flight 447?

It is certain that the tragedy of the AF 447 has created a desire for change in management, but also the entire staff. The report's recommendations do not deal yet absolutely no accident that we do now know what causes. This is the first time that experts from outside a company come listen and have access to all of its services. We welcomed eight specialists undisputed international dimension. They have issued 35 recommendations on three key themes: our organization, our culture and individual responsibilities.We will apply the most.

What are the key reforms that will be launched?

Example, we will create a new track on ground support flights with a trade to which we give a new dimension: the art of dispatcher. It is a technical expert to intervene in ongoing operational support of our crews in all phases of flight. This craft will be deployed on all our long and medium haul flights. We will provide these professionals the best tools available on the market. This represents a considerable investment of effort by Air France. This new scheme will be phased into service with us at the end of summer, and all flights of the company will be involved in two to three years.It will enhance the safety of our flights, but also the robustness of our operations and responsiveness in case of contingency.

The international team with a strong Anglo-Saxon has probably noticed the cultural differences in the organization of your company.

The subject of unions, and their number of strikes has been raised by the external mission. In the United Kingdom and Germany, you have a single union of pilots who can discuss security issues with management of the company without election issue guaranteed online payday loans. In France, it is culturally more complicated.To take this into account, we created a joint committee comprising all proposals where the pilots' unions are discussed and where all the security measures in a spirit of professional cooperation.

What will you do to improve the skills of your drivers?

We will introduce a measure that, socially, would never last a few years ago, but has been accepted by our drivers, who are well demonstrated great courage and genuine humility. The Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) will conduct a thirty pilots of the company to move into our cockpits until March 2011 and to observe everything that's going to improve our overall safety and operation.Air France is the first major European airline to implement the compliance program, which, beyond the pilot, affects all trades company.

The company management and wider governance are they subject to development?

Yes, we created a committee of safety of flights on the board of directors. This was one of the preliminary recommendations of the external mission. The existence of this new committee to track the highest level of the company all safety indicators. We have also appointed a security officer at the Air France Group. This person will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of our standards of safety within our subsidiaries Britair, Regional and Citijet.In general, we must create more bridges between departments and ensure that safety culture is stronger, even among the ground staff.

Investigations into the AF 447 takes you perhaps take further measures. Are you optimistic that will then start a new campaign's research unit?

We hope that the fuselage will be found, because we absolutely want to know what happened. People working on this campaign are very optimistic, but they were already in the previous season. We must remain cautious. Will we find the black boxes from the plane? Will there be the use? Do we understand what really happened? It is difficult to answer in the affirmative prior to these three questions, but it is our wish. This accident was a real grief for our group.In response, all of us pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, ground staff at all levels, we all want to be the best student and add new pages to the book of aviation safety.


Comments Off

The CAC 40 is expected to remain stable at the opening

Wednesday Dec 22, 2010

CAC40 should pause on Wednesday after two consecutive sessions. Concerns over debt and Moody's warning on Greece and Ireland could affect investment decisions. The day before the U.S. indices ended the session up to the inverse of Asian stock markets finished the session which have declined. Eyes will be on Wednesday to the United States that publish their sales growth for the third quarter this afternoon.

The Nikkei index of Tokyo Stock Exchange ended the day on Wednesday with a decline of 0.23%, investors, disappointed by the Japan External Trade Statistics and cautious before a holiday, having opted to pocket profits dealers said.

Statistical publications are many on Wednesday.Moreover, the U.S. GDP in the third quarter, investors be concerned with resales. In Britain, the growth figure for the third quarter will also be announced and the balance of payments and the minutes of the Bank of England.

When Moody's puts Portugal and Spain under pressure, the debt figure for 2010 fall. Unsurprisingly, the year 2010 was undoubtedly, in developed economies, that of the explosion of public debt. Thus, the net debt service of the U.S. state has increased by more than 2.000 billion for fiscal year 2010. The same applies to the United Kingdom: the country's public deficit widened more than expected in November to 16.8 billion pounds (19.8 billion euros) a month, or 2 billion higher than November 2009. The German and French indebtedness reached record highs.

As for values, the markets might react to the announcement of LVMH, which owns more than 20% of Hermes as a result of market purchases on and off the market, continuing its rise in the share of the group, while reaffirming not consider taking control or launch a takeover bid.

Moreover, the U.S. would Genzyme, the Wall Street Journal, now more willing to discuss with the group Sanofi-Aventis. The U.S. laboratory said so far his opposition to any negotiations so that Sanofi would not raise its offer as inadequate.

Total announced its intention to make its debut in the Brazilian sugar cane through its partner in Amyris to produce a series of biochemical products.By partnering with Brazilian companies, Total wants to claim 5% to 10% of the production of sugarcane in Brazil by 2020.

Veolia has signed a contract worth over one billion euros in turnover over one year to the operation of three regional trains in Bavaria, reports La Tribune. This contract is the largest of Veolia Transport in Germany.

The works of EDF will wipe almost 90 million euros in losses this year and needed an unprecedented austerity plan to restore its finances, according to Les Echos.

CAC40 off, Ingenico, who on Sunday rejected an offer for the entire company, said Tuesday evening that he had received no firm offer and was not conducting any discussion on its capital.

ALSO READ:

"Wall Street at its highest level since Lehman Brothers

Ingenico: end discussions redemption

"The Tokyo stock market is crumbling late in the session

"2010, a record year for public debt

Moody's puts Spain and Portugal under pressure

"LVMH owns more than 20% stake in Hermes


Comments Off

EADS employees are uninvolved in their work

Wednesday Dec 15, 2010

Slightly better but still unsatisfactory. The results of the second internal investigation into the degree of involvement of employees of EADS, Airbus' parent company, 15% of them said they felt only "involved" in their travail.Dans a letter Wednesday to 119,000 employees of the giant aerospace, defense and space, Louis Welsh, president of EADS, note that the rate of participation in this vast internal survey led by Gallup improved 10% since 80% of them responded to the survey, 22,000 people more than in 2009 when the first survey. Another positive signal for the direction of the group, "the significant increase from 10% last year to 15% this year, the total number of employees" involved in their work, which "deserves to be underlined, writes the president of EADS.

But, he admits, "we recognize that much remains to be done.""The survey shows the need to intensify our efforts to enable everyone to understand clearly what is expected of him. We also need to pay more attention to the quality of dialogue between managers and individual members of their teams, "says Louis Welsh. Despite a plan of management training provided to 4400 members of the coaching group, the troops believe toujoursévèrement their superiors more concerned by the projects and financial performance by their teams quick pay day loan.

"Unable to change things in a year"

Officially, the EADS management is not surprised with the result – still disappointing – this second investigation. "It is impossible in a group as big of a difference in one year. Especially as you work on the emotional feelings and therefore humans, "said-there at the group's headquarters in Paris.EADS will continue in 2011 the action plans to management level "where things started to happen" but also at lower levels where "we have not felt the wind of change". In the future, human management is reflected in the variable portion of compensation of managers who are rated by their teams.

Remains that employees show their loyalty, their desire to remain working within the group and pride vis-à-vis the products and services developed by EADS. But they suffer from a lack of recognition. "We must continue our efforts at all levels to develop a work environment more satisfying and challenging for all.(..) I invite you all to think and work together across organizational boundaries and geographical, "writes Louis Welsh inviting employees to ask their questions at its next CEO EADS chat (conversation with CEO) on 20 December.


Comments Off

Spain: Flights resume after strike

Monday Dec 6, 2010

The first flights took off from Spanish airports late Saturday afternoon after almost 24 hours of a wildcat strike by air traffic controllers who has blocked hundreds of thousands of passengers on the ground at the dawn of a great weekend holiday weekend in Spain.

Two thirds of the Spanish air traffic controllers on strike since Friday night, have now returned to their positions, 109 of 159 strikers, allowing the reopening of the total airspace. The Minister of Transportation s Jose Blanco, however, does not return to normal traffic before 24 to 48 hours. Large foreign companies – Air France, KLM, EasyJet, RyanAir …- and the national airline Iberia have announced the cancellation of all flights until Sunday.

State of alert

The Spanish government had met this morning to decide what action to take to the air controllers' strike that paralyzed the country, and had declared a state of emergency. A fateful decision. Under this decree, air traffic controllers can be mobilized and strikers are punishable as criminal, up to the prison. This decision means "that the controllers are summoned to their posts and if not, they would be in the crime of disobedience under the military penal code," said Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba. This is the first time the government took such action since the death of General Franco in 1975. On Friday the government had already assigned to the Army the responsibility for air traffic control.Without success, the airspace has remained closed.

Opposition to the maximum working time

Air traffic controllers have abandoned their jobs late Friday afternoon to protest against a measure adopted shortly before the Council of Ministers, peaking at 1,670 hours per year working time.

This is part of the device of partial privatization of airport management Authority (Aena) adopted by the government under new anti-crisis measures. The Minister of Public Works, Jose Blanco, condemned what débryage wild as a form of "blackmail."

Tourism accounts for 11% of Spanish GDP and the Spanish hotel confederation said that these disruptions in air traffic would result in a shortfall of millions of euros for the industry and a blow in terms of tourist destination image Spain.

(With agencies)


Comments Off

Frameworks have changed in twenty years

Friday Nov 26, 2010

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.

ALSO READ:

"The income of two thirds of French people has been stagnant for 2 years


Comments Off

Put yourself in poker, pick a course

Sunday Nov 7, 2010

The agency H "recruits liars." It was daring such a slogan. The advertising agency, provider of L'Oreal and Citroën, is going all out to drain of promising young graduates. On 26 November, she organizes a poker tournament in which she will select eight of its future trainees. For these apprenticeships commercial or creative advertising agency wants to recruit more "unconventional" students from prestigious schools at the end of the course. The tournament winners will automatically offer a six month, but the losers who have caught the eye of recruiters are also likely to be solicited. Today, students of the fourteen schools selected (see list here) and eager to play the game can register on the website of the agency.Timid personalities and discrete refrain!

Than by the qualities of resistance to stress or anticipation conveyed by the poker, the agency's rationale H by the desire to establish "a meeting place richer" than the usual maintenance. As explained in figaro.fr its CEO, Elisabeth Billiemaz, "we would absolutely have chosen another subject as that of poker. But this tournament is an opportunity to spend four or five hours with the students, against a maximum time for an interview. " The organizers and participants will join around the gaming tables to identify the best personality of potential recruits.

Attract the "digital natives"

But mostly, the agency H, a subsidiary of Havas hopes, by organizing and media coverage of such an event, make themselves known to the public and potential employees."The business of advertising attracts less young people, because this sector is associated with a consumer society they criticize sometimes justified Billiemaz Elizabeth. In addition to this, H is a young agency, rather unknown. This tournament poker is a way for us to attract young graduates of high schools, with emphasis on a playful approach to work. And why not, after these courses, convert the try with a full-time position of chief commercial or advertising junior?

More and more companies, eager to woo the famous Generation Y (born between the late 70s and mid 90s), rely on this type of recruitment strategies, straddling between human resources and marketing.On the same model, for example L'Oreal had launched last January a video game on the internet, Reveal, whose mission was to feed the talent pool of cosmetics group, targeting "digital natives", those individuals born with internet. His scouting director, Francois de Wazières, then explained that it was "not to enter a loser in the war for talent" to come.

ALSO READ:

"Businesses rely on games to recruit and motivate


Comments Off

Beijing plays the weapon of "rare earth"

Saturday Oct 23, 2010

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graphic.

Our correspondent in Beijing

The father of Chinese economic power had once said that if the Middle East was rich in oil, China, she had the "rare earth". Deng Xiaoping was referring to a group of 17 strategic minerals. Materials with unpronounceable names – yttrium or praseodymium – found in civil industries such as advanced military, missile iPod through the cars. Beijing now supplies over 95% of the needs of the planet. Like oil, these rare earths can become a weapon, as shown in verbal sparring in recent days, between China and Japan. And today is the United States and even Europe, which could be involved.

At the height of the diplomatic crisis arose from the arrest of a Chinese trawler by the Japanese in disputed waters last September 7, Tokyo has denounced a decision of exports to the archipelago. Thirty Japanese companies would be deprived of supply since September 21. Beijing responded Tuesday in ensuring that these exports have "never stopped". But the same day, Japan has demanded the opening of formal talks to demand the resumption of deliveries. Especially, the "battle of rare earths has crossed the Pacific.

Rise of "economic nationalism"

Since Monday, exports to the United States would likewise be blocked in response to a U.S. survey on illegal subsidies granted to the green industry in China, according to The New York Times. Washington is studying the compatibility of these restrictions with the WTO rules.As for Germany, she announced in midweek have adopted a "strategy for its supply of rare earth." Meanwhile, Japan and Vietnam said they wanted to reach an agreement by the end of the month to produce all these commodities.

The Chinese firm hand on the valve of REE did not start yesterday. Beijing has set up strict quotas since 2005 and reduced its exports by 5 to 10% per year. But last July, the Chinese have raised the pressure in deciding to reduce export quotas of 72% for the second half of 2010, which immediately caused a price rise. And Monday, the official China Daily said that China planned to cut quotas again next year, around 30%.Information contradicted by an anonymous source from the Ministry of Commerce, without this amendment shall not really reassuring.

This clamping screw fueling speculation on a rise of "economic nationalism" in Chinese leadership circles. But it also responds to economic imperatives Chinese development greatly increases the domestic demand for these rare metals. In support, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce recently stated that the reserves of rare earth in the country had dropped by 37% between 1996 and 2003. And could be exhausted within fifteen to twenty years if the current rate of production continues."But there probably also will force multinationals to produce more and more goods that require these minerals in China," says one Western businessman, creating jobs and growth in the country. "When Europe-China summit, ten days ago, Premier Wen Jiabao – geologist – wanted to reassure the Europeans, saying that there was "no embargo, no blackmail. While reaffirming the need to closely monitor this resource, "both in the interests of China than in the world."

The Japanese case was a shock. And the world is now considering responses. Tokyo has launched a national plan to secure its supplies, but also by diversifying them by supporting research on alternative materials.Washington attacked the resumption of production on its soil, while the Pentagon launched a study on the U.S. military dependence on REE. The Chinese attitude accelerates all projects to exploit reserves in the world. Despite their name, these lands are in fact not particularly rare, but production has been concentrated in China, both for reasons of low extraction costs for low environmental constraints. As a result, large deposits are being developed in Australia, Canada and the United States. Others also follow the movement, such as Russia – which has big reserves – India, Brazil and Mongolia. The Japanese – with Korea that consume a fifth of global output – are also exploring projects in Kazakhstan and Vietnam.

All these deposits should not really be operational before 2014.In the meantime, the western industrial might have some cold sweats, global demand expected to double within five years to come.

ALSO READ:

"The Chinese want to keep their REE

"Europe is concerned about access to rare metals


Comments Off

The CAC 40 in 3750 points

Wednesday Oct 13, 2010

Caution before Fed. That is the watchword now become usual before each meeting of the U.S. central bank. At the close, the CAC 40 was down 0.52% at 3748.86 points, managing to save 3750 points. On Monday in a meeting once again very volatile, the index in Paris ended on a slight rise, as Wall Street a few hours later.

On Wall Street, the trend is to wait too. around 17:30, the Dow Jones lost 0.24% and dropped below the 11,000 points. In fact, investors are not taking a position before the famous conclusions to be made this evening by the U.S. central bank – the Fed – on the economic recovery overseas. Verdict, about 20 hours.

On the currency markets, the dollar regained some ground on the euro in favor of buybacks on the cheap, investors essentially assuming that the greenback's decline has been too strong lately.At 17:30, the single currency fell by 0.28% to 1.3840 dollar.

EADS 'top CAC 40

EADS posted the largest increases in the CAC 40: +1.67% to 18.31 euros, in favor of some soft euro. Please note that Emirates expects to have 120 Airbus A380 when a new airport space has been opened in Dubai. Michelin rose 2.95%, 2.07% Accor and STMicro of 1.69%.

The banking sector remained in the red, while large U.S. banks are preparing to submit their quarterly results this week. JP Morgan Chase will be the first Wednesday.Societe Generale dropped 0.19%, BNP Paribas 0.36%.

Alstom: -1.71% to 35.85 euros

After that Eurostar has chosen Siemens to the detriment of Alstom for the construction of its trains, the president of Alstom, Patrick Kron, said Le Figaro would consider "legal aspects" of this choice cash advance payday loan.

Areva: -0.57% to 313.40 euros

Areva continues its withdrawal from the OEM aerospace and defense Saffron by selling up to 3.65% of its capital, which he will hold no more than 1.99% after the operation, according to a statement released Tuesday.

GDF Suez: -2.06% to 26.62 euros

GDF Suez said yesterday it issued bonds to maturity of 7 and 12 years for a total of 2 billion euros.This operation aims to redeem other bonds previously issued, which will expire between 2012 and 2014.

Vinci: -1.04% to 38.03 euros

Vinci win the shipyard building the future of Manchester stadium, according to Christian Estrosi, Industry Minister and Mayor of the City. The project represents an estimated 245 million euros, according to the mayor of Nice. The final decision will be made on December 10. Bouygues and Carl are also candidates for this achievement.

Dexia: -2.73% to 3.27 euros

Postal and bank restructuring program was the presentation of strategic Dexia on Tuesday.The Franco-Belgian bank targets a taxable income of approximately EUR 1.8 billion in 2014 and has announced plans to increase to 60% from commercial banking and retail banking revenues in 2014 against 36% in 2007.

Ipsen: -1.16% to 24.71 euros

Ipsen has announced the departure of its CEO Jean-Luc Bélingard and substituting Marc de Garidel.

Rodriguez: +7% to 5.35 euros

Eric Saintdo, 46, was appointed October 7, 2010, Board Member and Director General of Rodriguez Group.


Comments Off