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The meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel with British Prime Minister Cameron, far from marking a reconciliation, a deed the differences between the two countries on the edges of Europe. Despite the cordial declarations of the two heads of government, differences on the issue of saving the euro continues. "Germany's interests, Britain has its own," acknowledged David Cameron at the end of the meeting.

The issues are still there and no solution in sight, the Chancellor conceded. Britain still refuses the idea of ​​a tax on financial transactions, supported by Paris and Berlin, because it severely handicap the City of London. On the issue of greater involvement of the European Central Bank to resolve the crisis of the euro, which promotes London, the German chancellor has proved inflexible.

The first thing to do while deciding upon an insurance policy is to get the term quotes from various life insurance companies.

Happy! Bernard Tapie alongside the greatest patrons of the planet. Here are the results of a survey Way Opinion on leadership and the qualities of a good leader conducted among 300 business leaders and our colleagues unveiled Monday by the Parisian. The former head of the OM occurs in the top 5 managers behind Steve Jobs (the first), Carlos Ghosn, Bill Gates and Michel-Edouard Leclerc.

Asked Monday by Le Figaro, the former head of the said OM has naturally flattered by the result but did not seem surprised. "People have accepted my statements on TV that have contributed to enhancing the business entrepreneur, he says. For years it was believed that the corporate world was synonymous with sadness and we do it not amused. I helped to change that image. "

"Good players become ill on arrival at the OM"

Bernard Tapie has little original definition of a good manager, is "to want its employees to offer the best of themselves to excel payday advance. The priority is not to be loved but to lead them to discover their full potential. " The most original are the examples come to mind the old boss "My former assistant became assistant Pinault and not the assistant of a hardware dealer" and the players of the OM – Papin , Wadle, Pele – were good players when they were recruited and then become real stars.

"Being a great manager was to make them grow up, says that to date remains the only French boss to win the Champions League. Today, good players become ill on arrival at the OM. This is the stereotype of bad management or bad environment. "

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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The contract whopping 42.6 million euros a year signed between the French Football Federation (FFF) and Nike Will it deflate like an old windbag? Girls Team France soccer unwittingly gave a good penknife into the balloon in qualifying, against all odds, for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Background: In 2008, The Christmas Graët, then vice-president of the FFF, signs the "Contract of the Century" with Nike: 320 million for the period 2011-2018. This negotiation will be the argument of his election as president. At that price, the Graët sells equipment for national teams.And bang, that the France team that female become pampered football in France, makes his way to the London Games guaranteed high risk personal loans.

Problem: all the French Olympic teams – football, basketball, athletics – must participate in the Olympic Games under the banner of Adidas, the equipment of the National Olympic Committee of French sport (CNOSF). This did not escape the law of Nike, which, according to RMC, call … € 10 million for breach of contract! The CNOSF, attacked on his prerogatives and paid by Adidas, will not compromise. Nike either. One of two things: either the new president of the FFF "sold" which does not belong to him or he had bet on the failure of the Blue qualifications.Charles Gautier

Canal +, Verallia, Lucien Barrière, Groupama and may soon Groupon Facebook … Months pass, and delayed plans to introduce as … Since the beginning of the year, stock markets have surpassed the dismal 2008 record of the number of IPOs interrupted, postponed or simply canceled. According to Dealogic, as of 1 January, 215 companies all markets (one more than the previous record of 2008) and have temporarily waived or not to stock their projects. The valuation of these suspended projects is estimated at 44.1 billion dollars.

As many failures as successes

Finally, with 224 new listed companies, plans IPO in 2011 materialized just above groups who backed down … Reveals a situation very unfavorable market conditions for the candidates to the adventure market."A successful introduction requires both companies which want to move in the markets and investors willing to commit, explains Philippe Kubis, capital markets partner at PwC. If the materials are there, the latter remain far behind, in a context of uncertainty in the business plan of candidates for introduction. In addition, operations are often arrested in very early stage, which means more delays than cancellations of projects. "

On June 20, the materials group Saint-Gobain Building and renounced to introduce an immediate business of bottles and jars, Verallia. Two months later, the CEO of Wendel (Wendel largest shareholder) welcomed the decision, finding that ca "was not a good start to the stock market history."Alongside 59 other companies had suspended their plans after the official launch of the operation, Verallia escaped the summer meltdown of financial markets, which saw the CAC 40 lost 18% between late June and early September. "The very low current valuations are not conducive to achieving the project, adds Philippe Kubis. The adequacy of the valuation of a company with market conditions at a given time is a key to the success of an operation. However, companies do not want an introduction to the discount. "

Market volatility, however, is not solely responsible. In September 2010, the hotel group Accor has sought to withdraw from the group of Casinos Lucien Barriere, via an initial public offering, and market conditions much more calm.No more successful for this group suffered from poor stock market performance of its competitor Partouche, and especially of a development strategy too unconvincing to raise funds expected.

Tell a story

A successful introduction presupposes an attractive project for sale to investors (a "story to tell," according to experts). From this point of view, some candidates still have a stock speech ambiguity, or an economic model that have not been sufficiently proven.

Best example: the site group purchasing U.S. Groupon. The group was founded by Andrew Mason enthusiastic market for two years by the brilliance of its growth. What to think about a possible introduction free credit score. But the news could cool investors.The site, which is a valuation of $ 20 billion, would be delayed by several months its plans stock, following the refusal by the federal authorities of certain elements of his record. The group took many liberties with the accounting to embellish his figures, making it the most beautiful bride. The kind of hocus-pocus that would certainly not digested the market if the group had been rated! Especially since Groupon continues to widen its losses under the weight of investment in advertising and marketing commitment to support its growth.

In terms of social networks, some uncertainty still exists about how to value companies. "The valuations given for these sites seem important in light of an economic model that looks a little, says Philippe Kubis.It seems to move towards a model including user fees, which ultimately enhance the strength of their profile, and investor interest. "

Constraints rating

A case which also the developer of video games on social networks Zynga. Again, the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) had requested more information on the group's activities. What backward one month (November) the first steps in Zynga Stock Exchange. Even Facebook, social networking superstar, endless hesitation. Its founder Marck Zuckerberg, fear of such an operation a shift in focus of its product development teams to financial performance. From this point of view, the market performance of its professional counterpart, LinkedIn tends to reinforce his caution.Despite a triumphant introduction to the New York Stock Exchange last May, the group rating today in its opening price.

For SMEs, the fund raising smaller first appear easier. Following the example of specialist endomicroscopy Mauna Kea, which easily lifted in early July about 50 million euros on the Paris. Innovative technology, and markets more stable: the stage was set to attract investors. But since then, the small company founded in 2000 has not escaped the stock market panic. After being flown by 43% during the first two trading days (a common occurrence during IPOs), the title of the listed company has 13% below its price of admission.

Mauna Kea in its IPO price

For SMEs, the fund raising smaller first appear easier.Following the example of specialist endomicroscopy Mauna Kea, which easily lifted in early July about 50 million euros on the Paris. Innovative technology, and markets more stable: the stage was set to attract investors. But since then, the small company founded in 2000 has not escaped the stock market panic. After being flown by 43% during the first two trading days (a common occurrence during IPOs), the title of the listed company has 13% below its price of admission.

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The U.S. stock markets accentuate their losses on Wednesday. Shortly after the announcements of the Fed, the Dow drops 1.26% to 11,265 points, the Nasdaq 0.44% to loose 2579 points and the S & P was down 1.50% to 1184 points.

In accordance with the expectations of investors, the central bank of the United States announced new measures to support the U.S. economy. It will sell by the end of June 2012 for $ 400 billion of treasury bills and short-term buy for the same amount with a longer maturity in an attempt to lower interest rates in the long term ( it "Operation Twist"). To support the mortgage market, it will also buy real estate securities without increasing the size of its portfolio, according to the Committee.

But markets that find especially its verdict on the economy is not good.The recovery is considered "slow", hence maintaining the rate to almost zero "until mid 2013."

These remarks are similar to those Dufond International Monetary Fund (IMF), which raised the specter of a global recession and launched at policy makers in the world "a fervent call to action". At the same time the institution has significantly downgraded its growth forecasts for the global economy. This is expected to grow 4% in 2011 as in 2012, 0.5 points below its previous forecast of 4.5% last April.

Markets always attentive to the crisis in the eurozone

Investors also remain attentive to developments in the crisis of public finances in Europe.Greece announced on the evening of its intention to launch new austerity measures to convince the Troika of its creditors and obtain payment of a new tranche of aid in October that will allow it to avoid bankruptcy.

Wednesday Rousseff, the president of Brazil, Barack Obama has assured his support for the euro area, together with other emerging countries, as it had already mentioned a week ago.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro lost some ground against the dollar after the Fed. The euro bought 1.3616 dollars late in the session on Wall Street against 1.3702 dollars late Tuesday. The price of a barrel of oil closed lower. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for November delivery ended down a dollar to 85.92 dollars on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex).He had opened down 14 cents, and had rebounded upward after stock figures showing a sharp decline in U.S. reserves.

On the macroeconomic front, sales of existing homes in the U.S. rose 7.7% from July, seasonally adjusted data, the NAR said that sales figures are higher than the median estimate of analysts payday loans.

Microsoft treats its shareholders

The side of values, Moody's said Wednesday it lowered the credit ratings of Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup on the ground that the Federal government may be reluctant to rush to the aid of large banking institutions in difficulty.

The oil company ExxonMobil (+0.11% A74, 09 dollars) will sell of deposits in the North Sea to fellow Apache through $ 1.75 billion in cash, announced Wednesday it.

Microsoft (-0.85% to 26.75 dollars) announced Tuesday evening after the close of Wall Street that it would increase the quarterly dividend 25% used to its shareholders. The dividend paid on December 8 will be increased to $ 0.20 per share, or $ 0.04 higher than the previous one. Also in order to treat his shareholders Microsoft also recalled that he had launched in September 2008 a program to repurchase its own shares for 40 billion dollars. Of this amount, the group can still make $ 12.2 billion of purchases before the scheduled end of the program in September 2013.

Also after the close, Adobe Systems (3.25% to 25.44 dollars) announced better than expected forecasts for the fourth quarter. The group expects adjusted earnings between 57 and 64 cents per share in the fourth quarter, against 58 cents expected by the consensus of analysts.The leading design software issued a profit of $ 195.1 million, or 39 cents Park share in the third quarter against 230.1 million dollars, or 44 cents a share, a year earlier. Turnover increased by 2% to $ 1.01 billion.

Still in the world of technology stocks, Oracle (6.88% to 30.30 dollars) has issued a net profit up 36% to $ 1.84 billion, just above expectations.The turnover to 8.37 billion, also slightly above what had been expected analysts (8360000000).

American Electric Power (-0.30% to 38.20 dollars) and its joint venture with MidAmerican Energy has been approved by the Texas authorities for electrical infrastructure projects for a total estimated at more than $ 520 million.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (0.35% to 1.60 dollars) and Japan's Ono Pharmaceutical has signed a development and commercialization of Orencia, a biological treatment against rheumatoid arthritis.

FMC Technologies (0.56% to 43.37 dollars) has won a contract worth $ 135 million from BG Norge in the manufacture of subsea equipment.

Medtronic (0.37% to 34.95 dollars) will receive 101 million in damages after the trial against the company by NuVasive.

U.S. stocks opened higher Thursday, JPMorgan considered the results of positive compensating the warning on Wednesday by Moody's sovereign rating of the United States.

In early trade, the Dow Jones gained 0.1% to 12,512 points, while the Standard & Poor's 500, the benchmark for fund managers, is 0.3% to 1321 points and the composite Nasdaq ahead by 0.2% to 2803 points.

Investors seem determined to maintain the momentum of the previous day despite macroeconomic still very tense. Last night, the rating agency Moody's threatened to lose them in the U.S. triple-A in the coming weeks if Congress failed to reach an agreement to raise the ceiling on the national debt.Before that, the Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke reiterated Wednesday that "a failure of the United States on its debts, or its commitments to its own citizens, would create a major crisis."

In Europe, the situation is calmer. Fitch downgraded the sovereign rating three notches to Greece, CCC, B + cons before, dangerously close to the category of issuer insolvency. The euro area is still unable to agree on the question of a possible failure Greek. A summit on the date still uncertain, should take place next week.

Relief on the Italian front

However, investors are reassured by Italy. Despite borrowing costs record, the country has successfully issued a total of 4.97 billion euros of bonds today, to a maximum target of 5 billion."The auctions were well received in Italy in the circumstances, given the volumes required by the market and correct oversubscription," said Orlando Green, strategist at Credit Agricole CIB in London. The Italian Senate has also given the green light Thursday to a first austerity plan reinforced in an attempt to stem contagion from the crisis of debt in the euro area.

Side indicators, good news came on the employment front. The jobless claims fell in the first week of July to their lowest level since mid-April, according to figures released Thursday by the Labor Department. On a seasonally adjusted, the Ministry estimated that 405,000 new jobless claims in the week of July 3 to 9, against 427,000 (revised) the previous week.Analysts had forecast a smaller drop to 410,000.

In addition, retail sales unexpectedly rebounded in June, where they rose 0.1% over May, according to figures released Thursday in Washington by the Department of Commerce. Analysts estimated that retail sales had declined for the second consecutive month by 0.2%, according to their median forecast. Year on year, the index of the Department increased by 8.1% in June

The producer prices fell 0.4% in June in the U.S. after rising 0.2% in May, according to figures released Thursday by the Labor Department.

Note on the currency market, the rise of the euro against the greenback. It is trading 1.4205 dollars against 1.4153 last night.Oil prices are without direction, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in August lost a cent to 98.04 dollars while that of Brent North Sea crude for delivery the same takes 14 cents to 118.92 dollars.

Values ​​to follow

Side values, investors are pleased with the results of JP Morgan. The title earns 3.2% to 40.91 dollars. The bank, which opened the ball of the second quarter bank earnings, reported earnings better than expected. JP Morgan reported net income of $ 5.4 billion (3.80 billion euros) or $ 1.27 per share, against $ 4.8 billion, or $ 1.09 per share a year earlier. Economists on average had forecast earnings per share of $ 1.21. Net banking income rose by 7% to $ 27.4 billion.

ConocoPhillips reported on Thursday its intention to split into two groups by separating its refining and marketing. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2015. Investors welcomed the announcement, the title clinching 6.28% to 79.09 dollars.

Marriott International reported Wednesday a rise in earnings while delivering bleak forecasts for the remainder of the year. Its earnings per share were 37 cents against 31 cents a year earlier. Analysts were expecting 37 cents. For the full year 2011, Marriott said, anticipating an EPS of between 1.35 and $ 1.43 instead of 1.35 to 1.45 above. The title is heavily penalized, losing 6.27% to 34.81 dollars.

Yum Brands, owner of the fast food chain KFC, released Wednesday a net earnings per share to 65 cents from April to June, while analysts expected 60 cents. The group now expects annual growth of at least 12% of BPA, instead of the expected 10% increase so far. The title earns 2.42% to 56.93 dollars.

Google reports earnings after the close. Its EPS is expected to show up to 71 cents against 68 cents the same quarter last year. The title is treading water (0.08%) to 538.83 dollars.

Douwe Egberts Dutch coffee distributor and subsidiary of Sara Lee, announced Thursday that it plans to get in stock in the first half of 2012.

The consultation ends on dependency. Roselyne Bachelot and Marie-Anne Montchamp participated in the last debate on Monday in Strasbourg. Yesterday, the Minister of Solidarity and the Secretary of State received the reports of working groups. The opportunity to review the options, when the decision phase starts – Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to decide by mid-July.

• The trails open

Roselyne Bachelot refuses to contribute the only people dependent on a recovery via succession. On behalf of the job, it excludes an increase in contributions Safely weighing on wages. More broadly, she refuses to "seek too assets" and conduct an overall increase in taxes, hence the rejection of a general increase in the CSG, as expressed last week by François Fillon.Finally, the "pattern Axa 'mandatory private insurance is also rebutted by the prime minister – incompatible choice to keep a" floor of solidarity "public.

• Funding potential

This base should look like the current personal autonomy allowance (APA), improved. To finance, the minister mentioned three tracks. First, the alignment of the CSG pensioners (6.6%) of the assets (7.5%). Then, up the "solidarity contribution for autonomy" (employer tax) in exchange for a second "day of solidarity" worked by employees, and / or its extension to independent professionals and retirees.Finally, taxation of all legacies and donations (1% suggested by the Economic and Social Council).

• Law or no law?

Alleviate the "rest dependent" people who are very dependent in retirement homes, relieving departments – the first funders of the APA – in need. These "emergency requirements" will be answered in the fall, confirms Roselyne Bachelot, who estimates that one billion annual funding required. Measures included in the budget of the social security, which can only accommodate financial arrangements. The working groups have launched other ideas, starting with better coordination of stakeholders around the dependent person (our Monday editions). Nicolas Sarkozy will decide whether the subject the campaign of 2012 or if it retains some now. In this case, should be considered a separate act, in a crowded parliamentary timetable.Marie-Anne Montchamp argues that meaning is: "A law would provide visibility, draw perspectives, we will show later that clogging effects of the crisis, as the Head of State wished" . In this case, it could be a framework law, setting guidelines, and perhaps initiating experiments.

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Pressure mounts on the management of Air France-KLM. 144 MPs of all persuasions have signed the petition launched by Bernard Carayon, UMP deputy from the Tarn, to induce Air France Airbus in favor of a mégacommande long-haul aircraft. Monday, Pierre Lellouche, the Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, has announced its intention to meet with Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, the CEO of Air France-KLM to seek "clarification" on its intentions. The meeting should take place this afternoon.

For the government, bad foreign trade figures – which widened to over 7 billion euros in April – have sounded like a severe reprimand. Particularly for companies whose shareholder is the State. Air France-KLM, it holds that "15%" of capital.But Pierre Lellouche believes that the company can "pass the buck" in a state that has "greatly helped" the group "when he had problems with Brussels." A similar approach to reprimand respondent last week to PSA Peugeot Citroen, after the revelation of its possible plans to close two factories in France. PSA is not a public company, but it has benefited from state funds during the crisis.

Strategic choice

The political pressure put on Air France is the extent of the challenge: a mégacommande – the first made jointly by Air France and KLM – a hundred long-haul aircraft. The project is described as historic by the leaders of Air France-KLM themselves: it should be in the tens of billions of dollars. The verdict of the direction the company should have to fall shortly after the general meeting in early July.Now, executives of Air France-KLM believe that the announcement will probably be delayed for several weeks, "the time that the discussions become less passionate."

Internally, the political turn taken by the back hurts. Bernard Pedamon, the pilot representative on the board of directors of Air France said he was "surprised and discontented." "These are the strategic choices that can be for an airline. It is a commitment for another twenty years to respond to economic considerations, he says. Currently, we are witnessing the return of our old demons. The days when you could bring in managers office at the head of the company or impose choices of planes is a bygone era. "

Currently, the weight of the two aircraft manufacturers in the fleet of the company tricolor is not identical.On all its long-haul aircraft, Air France totals 63 Boeing against Airbus 35. The company has indeed bought many Boeing 777-300 at a time when Airbus had no exact equivalent. However, all of its medium-haul (or 153 units) are Airbus.

The controversy of recent days is all the more surprising that for several months, officials of the fleet of Air France have expressed their intention to mix Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. "The case studied by our teams for the purchase of these devices are not made on a corner table," says an executive of the company. "We are studying a number of criteria: the choice of engines, the maintenance cost, the impact on our maintenance activity …" considerations rather distant from the campaign themes.

The digital adventure continues for Madame Figaro. This Friday, the magazine will launch the i-mad 2, the second issue of the magazine free interactive proposed on the Apple tablet. A second edition promises to be "ever more chic, shock and surprise."

As with the previous i-mad 2 will use technology developed by Adobe Digital Publishing Suite, a first in France in the world of magazines. This solution, used in particular by Wired magazine in the U.S., will control the process of creating content across a chain of production."A technology that delivers high-impact interactions such as panoramas and 360 degree spins," said a statement.

This month, the magazine will feature interactive "all these women who have the keys change hands" through a selection of articles of Madame Figaro, rich content and interactive videos. This special issue will draw such a portrait of Lady Gaga and propose a new meeting with Georgia May Jagger. Visitors can also explore the rising French actress photos, immortalized by Cedric Klapisch or unpublished portraits by Peter Lindbergh.

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