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Brussels offers a settlement to Google

Tuesday May 22, 2012

 

Time to innovation is not always compatible with that law. Joaquin Almunia, European Commissioner for Competition, has captured the difficulty and to regulate the Internet. "These markets are rapidly changing especially benefit from an early resolution of competition issues," he said Monday during a press briefing.

This has prompted Brussels to propose a settlement with Google under investigation for abuse of dominant position opened in November 2010. The Internet Group has a few weeks to propose changes to its services on the European Commission. In exchange, it will close its investigation, like that Brussels did for E.ON in 2008 and IBM in 2011. This would allow Google to escape a fine of up to 10% of its turnover. For its part, the regulator can hope to have an impact on the market before that certain players are completely suffocated.

Brussels expects improvements in four areas of Google. The first is the prominence of its own services in the search engine – to the detriment of Dailymotion YouTube for video, Google Maps Mappy privileged rather than to the location. The second concern of the European Commission for copying contents of thematic research services, including the opinion of online, on the pages of Google.

In the field of advertising, Brussels believes the problem that Google imposes exclusivity to advertisers is in the sponsored links. Finally, the European regulator calls for Internet accounts to the group on portability of purchased PPC campaigns on AdWords.

Google disagree

The European Commissioner for Competition detailed the grievances of Brussels in a letter to Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of the group. "In this case, Google has repeatedly expressed its willingness to discuss concerns that the Commission could, short of an adversarial process," Joaquin Almunia also recalled.

But the band plays Mountain View caution. "We have just begun to study the Commission's arguments. We do not agree with his conclusions but we will be happy to discuss any concerns they may have "in this case, reacted Al Verne, Google spokesman in Brussels. Google might as well play on the fact that the digital landscape has changed in two years and now he needs to face new competition, with the rise of social networks and mobile.

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These loans provide fast cash assistance, which enables you to deal with unexpected fiscal requirements without any delays.
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Montebourg promises to "audacity"

Friday May 18, 2012

 Baroin then replace the one that hosted the 6th floor of Bercy, Pierre Moscovici (and Minister Benoît Hamon). The two men – who have known for many years – did not hide a certain complicity. Moscovici Baroin even familiarly, before recovering … And that's the applause that the car for what will now focus on the legislative party is.

The atmosphere was just as friendly between Valérie Pécresse – which still required to get the message that it left "no surprises" to the left on the fiscal front – and Pierre Moscovici (along with Jerome Cahuzac). The new head of the Ministry of Finance took the opportunity to tell that in the late 80s, he passed the test of Ena public finances the young woman … and that she "had the best score." Laughter in the room …


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The CAC 40 ended one week morose gently sloping

Saturday May 12, 2012

Presidential in major cities Paris | Leeds | Lyons | Toulouse | Leeds | Sheffield | Liverpool | Bordeaux | Lille


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Monoprix: Casino offensive against the Galeries Lafayette

Monday Apr 23, 2012

 

The war between the Galeries Lafayette and Casino about their joint venture Monoprix changes dimension. The two shareholders clash since January on the valuation of 50% held by Monoprix and Galeries Lafayette: 700 million euro under Casino, 1.95 billion according to the owner of department store chain. The battle now drift on managing and Monoprix on its pricing policy.

Jacques Dumas, counsel Jean-Charles Naouri, principal shareholder and CEO of Casino, sent an April 17 letter to Philippe Houze scathing, president of Galeries Lafayette and Monoprix CEO. He criticized "an excessive increase in food prices" at Monoprix. The price index of the sign, which compares its rates to the market average (set at 100), rose from 107.7 at the end of first quarter 2011 to 110 a year later.

"This abnormal increase explains a significant share of the increased turnover of Monoprix end of March 2012 (+5.9% yoy) and corresponds to the bulk of the growth in operating profit in the same period," according Casino, which accuses her partner of "sharp to distort fair assessment" of Monoprix.

Pointing to the risk that rising prices does escape the consumer and leads to lower sales of the profitability of Monoprix, Casino Philippe Houze asked to "give instructions to stop such practices and ensure a normal management Monoprix" . Clearly, "Monoprix must return to an index of 108 tariff, as provided in the medium-term plan established in November," decrypts a spokesman for Casino.

The group Saint Etienne "will implement all actions necessary to safeguard the interests of Monoprix and its shareholder rights" against the Galeries Lafayette, prevents mail. In 2007, Casino revoked leaders Franprix and Leader Price, accusing them of having raised prices to give him a high price for their minority interests in these signs.

Monoprix group will choose a side

Philippe Houze's entourage speaks of "baseless accusations" and ensures that the increases, required in July by Jean-Charles Naouri, date from the summer. Casino considers that the increase, justified initially, was too strong and it continued beyond the reasonable in January.

In a few weeks, the Commercial Court of Paris will examine the respective assignments of the two co-shareholders of Monoprix. Galeries Lafayette blame their partner to hinder the evaluation process of their 50% stake in Monoprix, Casino accuses his partner of having refused to let the end of March to Jean-Charles Naouri President of Monoprix, as provided for their shareholders.

Mail Casino is a part added to the defense and the prosecution of the group against the Galeries Lafayette. But it will impact the management of Monoprix. Officially, its chief operating officer, Stephen Maquaire, placed a copy of the letter of Jacques Dumas, retains the confidence of its two shareholders. But he must choose sides or not returning to an index rate close to 108.

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Jerome Kerviel Societe Generale attack

Saturday Apr 21, 2012

 

The former trader Jerome Kerviel, who was sentenced in 2010 to a record loss of Societe Generale (SocGen) of nearly 5 billion euros, Friday filed a complaint for "fraud in the judgment" against his former employer. Kerviel Societe Generale accuses of misleading the Paris criminal court in not informing him that she had recovered, thanks to a French tax scheme, 1.7 billion euros on 4.9 billion that she believes she lost because of financial transactions undertaken by the trader.

At trial, in October 2010, the former trader was considered solely responsible for the loss suffered by the bank in early 2008, in a financial crisis. Convicted of embezzlement, forgery and using false and fraudulent introduction of data into the computer system of the bank, he was sentenced to five years in prison, three strong, and damages of four colossal, 9 billion euros.

The complaint is filed "for a simple reason," namely that Societe Generale "has failed to say she had received a sum unduly from the tax authorities of $ 1.7 billion euros, "said his lawyer David Koubbi in Europe 1. In a statement released in the evening, Societe Generale said "take note" of the complaint and announced that it "has asked his lawyers to sue for false accusations in the shortest possible time." SocGen also argues that it "will present its case at trial on appeal."

"Fictitious transactions"

According Koubbi Me and some accountants, the bank should not have this deduction because its systems of control of traders like Kerviel had found wanting in this case high quality business cards.

The lawyer asked last week to the French Parliament to establish a commission of inquiry into the tax rebate obtained in 2008 but he had not been reported during the trial of Jerome Kerviel. Shortly after the first verdict, news reports had revealed that the bank had taken advantage of a device that enables companies to benefit, in case of extraordinary losses, a tax deduction of up to one third of the amount lost, or the normal tax rate for corporations. SocGen had explained that the "tax treatment of losses related to fraudulent activities of Jerome Kerviel was done transparently, in accordance with tax regulations."

The former trader also said that Societe Generale has made fictitious transactions similar to yours at the same time. Interviewed by Europe 1, David Koubbi explains: "We discover in the quite extraordinary volume of documents comprising the record that there is a document where it says that Societe Generale has made itself" of "sham transactions ( …) before January 18, which is the last day that Mr. Kerviel was on the premises of the General Society, and then subsequently, on January 21, 2008, when he was not on the premises of the General Society ".

The appeal of Jerome Kerviel, 35, will last from June 4 to 28  

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After the wings, the nose of the A380 fails

Friday Feb 17, 2012

 

Hard times for the 380. After the case of microcracks detected in the wing of the superjumbo, Airbus will he deplore a new problem, this time in the "nose" of the device? The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is interested in any case the rivets of radom, that is to say the cover that protects the radar of the aircraft.

The authority may decide to issue in the coming weeks an airworthiness directive (AD) requiring the change of six rivets aluminum rivets titanium stronger. The 19 airlines that operate the world's fleet of 69 A380, eight months have to do this for an average of 3:30. Clearly, they would have time to schedule it as part of their regular maintenance schedule.

After the decision to order the Efsa a general inspection of the planes of A 380 in service and production, totaling one hundred aircraft, the image of the A380 takes another blow. However, this type of airworthiness directive is very common in aviation. All aircraft receive throughout their careers.

Two types of directives

"The FAA, U.S. aviation safety authority, has issued more than 830 airworthiness directives for Boeing B 747 in forty years," says one at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse. "For an airplane, receiving such a directive is as ordinary as to think about changing the wiper blades on your car or an oil change," says one.

The Aesa issues two types of directives: the current, AD, and urgent, called "emergency AD." In the case of microcracks, the two directives were common. The agency goes up a notch when it considers that the subject can affect flight safety. In this case, companies have little time to react, sometimes not even 24 hours.

In the case of rivets, flight safety is affected in any part, Airbus insists. The manufacturer points out that these are not structural elements. Six rivets 40 to 50 by radom "are not likely to blow up" the unit cover.

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Paris receives thirteen ministers of digital

Friday Oct 21, 2011

By organizing a eG8 the eve of the G8 in Deauville last May, Nicolas Sarkozy has brought the Internet for the first time, among the concerns of leaders. In line with their statement. Now we must find the tools for an Internet "free, open to all." To do this, Eric Besson, Minister of Industry, Energy and Digital Economy, today organized a seminar in Paris bringing together 13 Ministers of the Intergovernmental digital from around the world.

Innovation and Networks, protection of privacy, digital divide, security against cyber attacks are on the agenda of the conference New World 2.0. However, "there will be no statement after the conference, because there is already the declaration of Deauville, Le Figaro said Eric Besson. I wanted to spend New World 2.0 principles into action. It is time to materialize. "

Participants include, among others, Elliot Schrage, head of public policy for Facebook, David Drummond, Senior Vice President in charge of development of Google and Stéphane Richard, CEO of France Telecom, and Neelie Kroes, Vice President of the European Commission , in charge of the digital agenda. "This is progress as concretely as possible. These are issues that must be discussed together. New World 2.0 will bring together participants from 18 countries from five continents and all walks of life: ministers, large companies, startups, bloggers, venture capitalists, civil society, "explains Eric Besson cashadvance.

Value of content

The question remains networks at the heart of the debate. "There would not have the current development of the Internet without investing heavily in networks. In addition, we are only at the beginning of the increased use of networks.This raises the question of standards, quality of networks and investments, "says the minister. Before continuing, "On networks, we also work with the Americans. We do not want to trap them. What is the value of networks that are circulating over the contents. Our goal is to involve all major players. Thus we are able to be in the same round table number 2 on Google and the boss of France Telecom. "

If no resolution is produced at the end of this seminar, we must also rely on the goodwill of the United States, who will take over the presidency of the G8, to wedge the next go digital . "The event was to bring Internet to the agenda of the G8. And the highlight today is to bring together so many Internet stakeholders to implement together the principles of Deauville, "said Eric Besson.


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Passos Coelho: "If Greece dark, the entire EU to be at risk"

Monday Sep 19, 2011

LE FIGARO – You met President Nicolas Sarkozy Friday. What is your analysis of the crisis in the euro area?

Pedro Passos Coelho – Our views are converging. We must accelerate the process of ratifying the plan in July that the EU speaks with one voice. It is essential to avoid systemic risk. How to convince the markets where European leaders expressed doubts on the future of Europe! It must be absolutely avoided, it is better to be silent than to sow doubt.

Would it be better to organize the failure of Greece?

I refuse to make predictions, I'd rather be patient and hope that Athens takes its objectives and carry out sustainable reforms. If Greece dark, the entire EU to be at risk.We need to help Greece and at the same time strengthen the EU, to establish a more integrated economic government which deals with taxation.

What are the consequences in Portugal of the deepening crisis in Greece?

Portugal is in a vulnerable position vis-à-vis Greece. If the crisis worsens, it will make our recovery process more difficult. My vision is very pragmatic: we must make every effort to carry out reforms and fiscal consolidation.

Economists doubt your ability to meet commitments on fiscal 2011?

The aid package was negotiated before the elections. Since then we have taken additional steps preventive and our calendar of spending cuts is more ambitious. We have the political support for it.We will keep the target of 5.9% of GDP deficit in 2011 and are targeting a primary surplus (excluding debt service) in 2012 for a balanced budget in 2015 and an external account deficit by half a point against 9% last year. In addition to the expenditure side and the privatization plan, we will conduct several structural reforms, justice, labor market, too rigid regulation. We will create a board of public finances, which will be independent to ensure full transparency in the management of the state.

Where are you from privatization?

We are to remove the golden shares held by the state in public enterprises, then we will begin the process of privatization in the energy sector by mid-November, by selling the companies for electricity, gas and oil, which Galp.We will then proceed to the privatization of the airline TAP, the airport manager Ana, mail, freight rail and radio station public television RTP. The whole process should be finalized in late 2012, the objective to recover at least 7 billion euros.

Have you received expressions of investors?

Yes, many, from the European economies but also emerging countries, Brazil, China and several Arab countries bad credit unsecured personal loans.The president of the National Bank of Economic Development in Brazil (BNDSE), the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, Lula and his predecessor have already come to us with investor interest in Brazil.

This interest is there also for the government debt?

The purchase of public debt is subject to specific rules, but the important thing is that there were demonstrations of confidence in this government about the quality of Portuguese debt.

Will you create a wealth tax, such as Spain prepares to do?

We refused this solution, not to discourage large fortunes to come and settle in Portugal. However, we have created a special tax of solidarity that will help tackle the portion of 2.5% marginal tax on income that will affect higher wages and will last two years.We also created an additional tax of 3% on business profits in excess of 1.5 million euros, also for two years. The purpose of these taxes is not to create an additional revenue but to allow us to finance social assistance measures for families hit hardest by the crisis.

What are these measures?

They are primarily related to housing. Households that can no longer repay their debts to buy their apartments can contact their bank for the loan to be converted into low-rent, which will relieve the financially while allowing them to remain at home. Similarly, those earning up to one and a half times the minimum wage benefit from using public transport.In addition, if we were forced to raise to 23% VAT on gas and electricity, we have created a social tariff for the poorest.

How to boost growth given that domestic demand will remain very low?

It is true that the austerity has a recessive effect. The middle class will suffer significant sacrifices. That's the ticket out of the crisis, the price of a country that has spent too long. Domestic demand will have a negative contribution to the end of 2012. This will be offset by exports that are doing well. The adjustment must be done very quickly to ensure the financing of the economy. Privatization are important to increase the availability of cash to help recapitalize banks. This will improve competitiveness, greater openness and internationalization of our economy.The State abound 12 billion euros in guarantees for banks.

Competitiveness remains the weak point of Portugal?

Hence the urgent need to launch structural reforms, which should have been done in conjunction with the entry into the EU. The country in several sectors – textiles, information technology, biotechnology … the high performers.


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Sarkozy made a lightning visit to China to prepare for the G20

Thursday Aug 25, 2011

The whole world is seeking to reassure the world's largest investor, China. And France is no exception. On the way to New Caledonia where it is present at the opening of the Pacific Games, Nicolas Sarkozy made a stop today in Beijing. Announced only last Sunday – but planned for a month, provides the Elysee – the four-hour whirlwind tour of the French president is primarily to provide assurance to the leaders of the second world economy, while Europe and the United States face a debt crisis without precedent. The head of state is dinner tonight with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, in Beijing. "In the current context and a little over two months of the G20 summit in Cannes in November, it is not difficult to guess the subjects they will address," said one diplomatic source. Clearly, it will issue debt and G20.

Signs of nervousness

Beijing, which has invested since last year in debt Greek, Portuguese, Spanish and Hungarian, in general, shows a certain confidence in its accounts receivable. But this week, several signs of nervousness sweating in the corridors of power. "The debt crisis has slowly spread, like the black plague in the fourteenth century, from Greece to the peripheral countries of the European Union such as Ireland and Italy," wrote the beginning and Zhang Zhixiang week and Zhang Chao, two economists recognized, in an editorial in the very official People's Daily paydayloans.

The next day, a long interview with German magazine Der Spiegel gave the floor to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fu Ying, who did not hesitate to scold Europe "vain.""If you do not gather to solve these problems, the euro could collapse," and estimated the diplomat, who acknowledged that China also suffers financial crisis.

Nicolas Sarkozy's visit comes two days after the departure of Joe Biden, U.S. Vice President, came in person to allay Chinese concerns about the devaluation of U.S. assets. "We need to address our deficit and we will address this," said the American number two on the last day of his visit.

Nicolas Sarkozy, who chairs the G20 this year, should also benefit from meeting with Chinese President to push the issues close to his heart, such as reducing trade imbalances and the controversial idea, defended by the Franco- German, a tax on financial transactions.The Minister of Economy and Finance, Baroin, must also be part of travel and extend the discussions preparatory to the G20 in the day tomorrow.

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The Paris Stock Exchange ended the week on a strong increase

Saturday Aug 13, 2011

The Paris Bourse closed this week very agitated in the green. This Friday, the CAC 40 ended on a net increase of 4.02% to 3213.88. The London Stock Exchange gained 3.04% at the close, the DAX 3.45% to 5997.74 points, Milan 4%. But everywhere, the sessions have been very volatile in trading volume lower than the previous day (4.84 billion euros in Paris).

The CAC 40 is thus fell into the red immediately after opening up 0.17%. It still yielded 1.59% in morning before rising slope, and show an increase of 2.09% to 3154 points in mid-session.Around 16:15, the Paris index gained 2.76% to 3174.79 even despite the publication items, across the Atlantic, two mixed macroeconomic statistics that have hampered the enthusiasm of investors in New York.

Retail sales in the U.S. in July and were up 0.5% (after 0.3% in June), but the U.S. consumer confidence has it, fell in August. According to an index released Friday by the University of Michigan, which stood at 54.9, its lowest level since it is established, either since 1966. This drop has surprised analysts who had forecast a smaller drop to 62.5.

No growth in the second quarter

On the macroeconomic front in France, INSEE reported this morning from zero growth in the second quarter in France (0.0%), against an increase of 0.9% in the first quarter.Inflation also slowed: the consumer prices fell by 0.4% in July, resulting in an increase of 1.9% over the year (against 2.1% from June 2010 to June 2011 ).

Faced with these new investors are so cautious again after a week marked by extreme market volatility, which saw the CAC 40 push the psychological threshold of 3000 points during the session Thursday. Investors were finally reassured by the announcement of a meeting between Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on August 16 to issue joint proposals on the governance of the euro area.

Bank stocks rebound

Since the ban on short selling in the securities of eleven banks and insurance companies to counter the extreme volatility of the stock market values, the latter continuing their rebound started the day before, the image of BNP Paribas (4, 91% to 37.47 euros), which issued a statement Thursday night to reaffirm the strength of its capital, Societe Generale (3.15% to 23.72 euros) and Credit Agricole (1.77% to 6 , 49 euros).

Natixis wins 7.26% to 3.06 euros and signs the largest increase in the CAC.

Carrefour jumps more than 5%

Other values ​​to follow, Carrefour pulls out of the game: the way ahead vigorously 5.13% to 18.85 euros.U.S. giant Wal-Mart have mandated UBS to investigate the acquisition of the Brazilian subsidiary of French retailer, according to Reuters citing a source familiar with the matter.

Goldman Sachs lowered its recommendation on Lafarge (-0.17% to 28.96 euros) and withdrew the title from its list of recommended values ​​in priority to the purchase.The intermediary has instead built his list to Saint-Gobain (3.72% to 34 euros) and Vinci (2.42% to 35.3 euros).

Europacorp (3.13% to 3.30 euros), the production company of Luc Besson, Thursday reaffirmed its goal of a return to balance for the current year, despite a sharp decline its turnover in the first quarter.

Derichebourg (2.98% to 3.63 euros) on Thursday confirmed its target of improving its annual net income, after recording a sharp increase in sales over the first nine months of the year.

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