Archive for March, 2010

The Chinese prefer holidays in China

Posted in economy, international, news, resources, technology by admin on March 30th, 2010 | Comments Off

At dawn on a trail lined with pine trees, hundreds of faces marvel at the sunrise over ridges carved Yellow Mountain, immortalized in traditional Chinese paintings. Search for a little solitude during his vacation in China is a challenge. On most sites, it is not uncommon to see the flags float guides, which announced the arrival of yet another group.

"I travel a lot, but I've never had either the opportunity or means to go abroad," Huang Yun smiled. Commercial for a Chinese company, this young woman of 29 years has never traveled child. But since she works in Shanghai, she loves from a change of pace and has swelled the ranks of Chinese visitors to their own country. These represent the vast majority of tourists visiting the Middle Kingdom.Moreover, only a minority of Chinese can afford to leave the country for holidays.

"The video interview with Henri Giscard d'Estaing, CEO of Club Med

The China National Tourism Administration has counted last year 1.9 billion domestic tourist trips to China by plane, train or car. A steady increase in sales for twenty years, thanks to higher living standards, the relaxation of regulations on interprovincial travel and the emergence of paid leave. The award of "Golden Week" by the authorities in the late 1990s, now allows the public to enjoy each year, more than four public holidays, two weeks of leave data at all, for Chinese New Year and National Day on October 1.The Law on Employment Contracts of 2008 provides between five and fifteen days of additional holiday for employees according to seniority no teletrack payday loans.

Besides the New Year with the family, the Chinese go on holiday generally organized in groups, with a busy schedule to as much as possible in four or five days. Beginning with visits to historic and natural sites, their favorite activity. The Chinese territory is seventeen times the France and has twenty-seven sites classified cultural heritage by UNESCO.The local holidays are often more affordable than those spent abroad.

Restaurants & karaoke

Nearly 40% of Chinese tourists spend each year between 100 and 500 euros for travel, 30% between 500 and 1 000, and one quarter more than 1 000, according to a survey by Ctrip, the first Chinese travel agency , which depends on the state.

If the "sacred mountains", Beijing and the Great Wall continues to attract a mass of tourists, new emerging destinations. Almost deserted in the 1990s, the tropical island of Hainan in the south, has become one of popular destinations. Even if the tan is not part of beauty of Asian middle class does not sulk pleasure to enjoy a little sea air.And always have access to a choice of restaurants and karaoke.

For more exotic destinations, the Chinese can afford a small world tour for 16 euros on the national pavilions of Shanghai World Expo, which opens on 1 May Of the 100 million expected visitors, 95% should be Chinese.

World trade up 9.5% this year

Posted in finance, money, resources, special, world by admin on March 29th, 2010 | Comments Off

Its director general, Pascal Lamy, can only be welcomed. Forecasts of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that directs, published Friday, show a rebound in volume of 9.5% of world trade this year, against a fall of 12.2% in 2009. "We see light at the end of the tunnel," he said adding that developing countries would be the first to take the recovery with an increase of 11% of their exports in 2010, while the industrialized countries over severely affected by the crisis, would experience slightly slower growth of around 7.5%.

This increase, says the WTO, "assumes a resumption of growth of GDP (gross domestic product) World consistent with what we agree to provide, 2.9% and d 'stability of oil prices and exchange rates.A necessary precaution when we see deterioration including high speed climate of trade between China and the United States amid manipulation of the yuan. But China, confirms the WTO has indeed surpassed last year in Germany as world's largest exporter, with 10% of total sales made outside borders around the globe. It also constitutes the second largest importer behind the United States.

Protectionism Chinese

We must therefore rely more and more with this giant even more difficult to control it does not always respect the rules of international trade and often plays with protectionism hiding his name.

Pascal Lamy, however, notes that, contrary to what one could imagine, and despite rising unemployment, "the number of restrictions to trade applied by governments has declined in recent months.But unfortunately this does not suffice to revive the negotiations of the Doha round of trade liberalization, which stalled since 2001, admitted Friday at the Geneva WTO boss.

Wall Street found the path to higher

Posted in Uncategorized, economic, news, opinions, technology by admin on March 26th, 2010 | Comments Off

Wall Street began the final day of the week in the green but without euphoria. At the opening, the Dow Jones gained 0.21% at 10,864 points, the Nasdaq climbed 0.33% to 2405 points and the S & P 500 is 0.69% at 1168 points.

The opening in the green indicates a positive response to the European Agreement on aid to Greece. However, enthusiasm is not appropriate, the dissent is still present between the leaders of the European Union. Discussions are also continuing this Friday. Yesterday the U.S. markets have ended almost in equilibrium, the indices being taken down at the very end of the meeting by the rising dollar.

Indeed, the foreign exchange market, the Franco-German compromise obviously does not reassure. The stern warning from the ECB president, Jean-Claude Trichet, the idea of intervention by the International Monetary Fund, weighs on the currency.This Friday, the euro recovers slightly (0.44%): 1 euro traded at 1.3363 dollar opening on Wall Street.

Note that oil prices rose slightly in the opening exchanges in New York, driven by a decline in the dollar. The barrel of light sweet crude for May delivery traded at 80.79 dollars, up 26 cents from the close of yesterday.

In the U.S., investors were awaiting the final figure of U.S. economic growth for the fourth quarter of 2009. The first two estimates showed a growth of U.S. GDP by 5.7% and 5.9%.Finally, economic growth was revised slightly downwards to 5.6% yoy overnight pay day loans .

Moreover, the index of consumer confidence from the University of Michigan appears to 73.6 in March, exactly the same level as in February. It is a little better than 73 points expected by analysts.

Oracle released its quarterly results

On the side of values, Oracle (-1.84% to 25.56 dollars) said Thursday after Wall Street closed with a 13% increase in sales of new software under its third fiscal quarter in due to a rebound in corporate investments.

Also in the area of technology stocks, Qualcomm (+0.26% to 42.30 dollars) a manufacturer of chips for mobile phones, has revised upward its sales for the second quarter.

The values related to energy and raw materials should still be under pressure, affected by fluctuations in the dollar on the foreign exchange market. Exxon Mobil (0.62%) and Chevron (0.87%) regained some ground from yesterday, as the DuPont chemist (0.54%). These companies mainly produce and bill dollar suffer doubly from the rising greenback against other currencies.

Ambac is in trouble again. Authorities in Wisconsin have reported taking control of about 64 billion dollars of impaired assets of U.S. credit enhancer, because a group's financial situation became uncertain. The Exchange sanctions: -8.94% to 0.60 dollars.

The marketing director of Ford (1.16% to 13.96 dollars) said the U.S. automaker is expected to increase its market share in the United States in March.

The former CEO of Vinci in the defendants' bench

Posted in economy, international, news, opinions, special by admin on March 25th, 2010 | Comments Off

If you want to meet Antoine Zacharias usually must go on the shores of Lake Leman to 71 years, the former CEO of Vinci now lives in Geneva. But Thursday and Friday, the boss forced to resign in June 2006 will be in Paris. Or more precisely at Nanterre, where his trial took place before the 15th chamber of the court.

All started from a complaint by a shareholder of Vinci, Michelangelo Tiphineau, filed June 12, 2006 a few days after the resignation of Zacharias. The approach of the small carrier and the departure of the historical pattern of the group have the same origin: the huge sums affected by Zacharias between 2003 and 2005 when he was the CEO of the world's leading construction companies. Up to 250 million euros, based on the share price higher.Including severance pay of 12.5 million, an annual retreat of 2.5 million and stock options by tens of millions.

The prosecutor in Nanterre has conducted a preliminary investigation for two years after which Philippe Courroye, public prosecutor has decided that the dismissal of former boss 40 of ACC before the court. A rare event, especially since, in this case, Zacharias did not leave behind a group of shareholders difficulties or ruined. Under his leadership, the net result of Vinci has been multiplied by 21, and the market capitalization by 20.

"This is the trial of a system that loses his head with a CEO who receives are astronomical compared to the employee base of Vinci," says Frederik-Karel Canoy, the lawyer Tiphineau online payday advance! ???!!!???!!!."All decisions regarding those fees are legal because they were passed without any reservation by the Board of Directors," whispered one in the circle by Zacharias. The functioning of the board is just the heart of this case. It is in this place that had played the beginning, dramatic, CEO. His heir apparent, then denigrated, Xavier Huillard, had alerted administrators against the greed of his boss.

Five years in prison

He had a wound, he has returned to court the former leader to his beard neatly trimmed, on suspicion of abuse of social goods. He took particular offense to have changed in May 2004 the composition of the Remuneration Committee, which had capped his salary. Exit therefore Alain Minc, Patrick Faure, the former boss of Renault Sport, and Serge Michel, a former General of the water.In their place is especially Alain Dinin, Nexity's boss, Dominique Ferrero, banker, and Quentin Davies, a British MP. The salary Zacharias then flew, including up to 4.2 million euros in 2005.

If the abuse of social goods is confirmed, Zacharias risk up to five years imprisonment and 375 000 euros fine. And if his former employer, Vinci, was a civil party, he will not claim damages.

Airbus aid request transparent

Posted in economics, features, finance, resources, top news by admin on March 23rd, 2010 | Comments Off

New stage in the battle between Airbus and Boeing at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The WTO should make public today its decision on state aid received by Airbus as a result of a complaint filed by U.S. rival in 2004. She had already published September 4 last first report of 1 000 pages, weighed 10 000 pages of appendices on the subject.

The new document will be submitted to the European Commission and the U.S. Administration should resume the main conclusions of the September. According to one expert dossier "gave the first report due to 30% for Boeing and Airbus to 70%.

No refund

Boeing criticizes the system of repayable advances granted by Germany, France, England and Spain to Airbus by saying he does not respect international trade rules.The advances are repayable loans granted by the States. According to Boeing, Airbus can borrow money at rates lower than market. He also challenged other aid. It has, for example, estimated that widening roads in the region of Toulouse to help build the A380 was a form of disguised subsidies. The WTO did not accept the latter charge.

Following the WTO ruling, the European Union will enter the court of the WTO Appellate no fax cash loans . For its part, Airbus has also filed a complaint against Boeing in the WTO. According to experts from European aircraft manufacturer, the Boeing would have earned 14 billion of public subsidies paid by American States, NASA and the Pentagon over the period 1992-2005. The WTO will review its aid U.S. in June.The case is particularly complex, should know its epilogue in 2013. Whatever it is, the final decision will have no retroactive effect. Neither Airbus nor Boeing will not refund overpayments if convicted. It will simply change the system in place for the future.

Faced with this situation, Airbus proposes that Europe and the United States sit "at the negotiating table to discuss a system that satisfies everyone," said Tuesday the communications director of Airbus .The flattening of support systems in Europe and the United States would avoid that "we pulled our eyes while many competitors argue, particularly from Japan, an ally of Boeing and China.

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Wall Street supported by the health sector

Posted in economy, events, finance, life, top news by admin on March 23rd, 2010 | Comments Off

The adoption last night of the great reform of health insurance, proud of the Obama administration is very important for the health sector, the United States and elsewhere in the world. Its impact on the health sector on Wall Street will be closely scrutinized.

The U.S. markets are getting better: the Dow Jones closed up 0.41% at 10,785 points and the Nasdaq Composite 0.88% to 2395 points.

Investors will this week look at a few minor indicators, including sales in the previous Tuesday, and sales in the ninth Wednesday. Follow some figures on durable goods orders, before being released Friday, the latest estimate of GDP for the fourth quarter of 2009 and the index of consumer confidence.

Caution still dominates

Meanwhile, investors are still cautious amid the uncertainties that persist on the bailout of Greece. Even if the European Council held on Thursday and Friday in Brussels will not be much impact on markets, on both sides of the Atlantic, German Chancellor Angela Merkel have warned yesterday on German radio that "financial assistance to Greece is not on the agenda of the meeting Thursday …" But the pressure is raised a notch on Monday in Germany, for its approval a plan for financial assistance to Greece at the summit of EU leaders on Thursday and Friday.A summit to test the cohesion of the eurozone and the credibility of Europe.

The market does not, however, leaves destabilize or by poor statistics, nor by rumors: they whisper such as the Federal Reserve would again raise its discount rate by the next meeting of its Strategy Committee, Thursday us fast cash . "But this is just an excuse to take some profits," says an analyst.

As for currencies, the euro strengthens against the dollar on Monday at 1.3552 dollars (0.31%) remains lower against the dollar on Monday after a brief foray as 1.35 dollar, dealers said opting for caution ahead of a summit of European Union, during which they will review again the Greek crisis.

The medicinal values rising

On the corporate front, the pharmaceutical values are well oriented. Pfizer Laboratories, Merck and Johnson & Johnson saw their shares rose by 1.88% to $ 17.23, from 1.76% to 38.73 dollars and 0.45% to 65.40 dollars. In contrast, health insurers are changing down: Humana fell by 2.20% to 48.90 dollars, UnitedHealth Group coward 2.27% to 33.61 dollars, Cigna lost 0.13% to 37.03 dollars Wellpoint and abandons 0.79% to 64.56 dollars. Aetna is only up 0.20% to 34.53 dollars.

Boeing (2.09% to 72.20 dollars) has announced an increase in production rates for Boeing 777 and 747.

As for publications expected will come on Thursday, Oracle and Best Buy, which will publish their earnings per share.Some computer companies (Red Hat Adobe Systems on Wednesday or Tuesday), builders (Lennar Wednesday) or deluxe (now Tiffany) also feed news.

The Qatar wants to invest in France

Posted in Uncategorized, economic, finance, news, world by admin on March 20th, 2010 | Comments Off

LE FIGARO. – Prime Minister, you take the 25 and 26 March in Paris at the Forum for Investment and Finance of Qatar. What do you expect from this meeting?

Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani. – There are many opportunities for our two countries and this forum can be positive for France and Qatar. This can help to rescue some struggling companies and then many French companies wishing to establish relations with Qatar. We are open to any investment which could bring benefit to both parties. We've already invested a lot in Europe in the fields of finance, industry and even agriculture and we are ready to consider other initiatives. This explains our enthusiasm and our strong representation at this forum.

A number of large French companies are very active in Qatar, like Total, Areva, Thales and Alcatel.What are the areas where the French could invest?

There are opportunities in several areas especially in energy. We will sign several agreements. But our domestic market is limited and in our relations, there is not that investment in Qatar. Why not consider financial partnerships Franco-Qatari to invest jointly in third countries? From our side, we are including in talks to enter the capital of Areva. For now, we're still in talks.

Qatar is a major producer of oil and gas. What do you think of the turmoil in energy markets?

It is important to have on the energy market, a balance between supply and demand, which allows an equilibrium price.If prices rise so exaggerated, it's bad for the market in the same manner as a rapid decline is bad because it hinders investment. In recent years we have been a yo-yo prices upwards and downwards. I prefer that prices do not rise sharply because it would hamper the global economy. Moreover, the markets hate the big gap.

What is for you the fair price of a barrel?

In my opinion, the reasonable price of a barrel now stands between 75 and 85 dollars. Ten years ago, when a barrel was at $ 7, Western countries were telling us it's the law of the market. But when the barrel has exceeded $ 140, the same did not want to hear about the market.If, since the great oil shock of 1973, oil prices had increased steadily in line with inflation (2% per year), the price would be at 125 or 130 dollars and the public as the market would find nothing to say. Besides, a car that cost 10 000 dollars in 1973 is now worth 150 000 dollars. In fact, we still want the right balance.

How satisfied are you with the global economic situation, are we out of the crisis or are you afraid of a relapse?

In my opinion the worst is over. But there are still dangers including the high indebtedness of many states that have intervened to support markets and growth. The runaway Scholarships seems also unhealthy, and an adjustment will be necessary. The steps to correct these excesses require cooperation of all countries, because we are collectively responsible for this bubble.However, it is not necessary that some officials are trying to use the crisis to impose constraints on political economy. Market regulation inherently good, but it is important to avoid politicizing it.

The Qatar now has an intense diplomatic activity. What initiatives your country could take to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

I am not very optimistic. I am convinced that the United States are making sincere efforts and sustained to achieve a just and lasting peace. But for its part, Israel calls for negotiations for a just peace with its measurement, which is unacceptable to the Arabs and very dangerous. Nothing has been done to call on Israel to stop its settlements in Jerusalem and it is clear that Israel managed to get away from any sanctions the UN or other international bodies.That fed the frustration, anxiety and thus increasing terrorism. I hope the U.S. give up its veto to protect Israel, to allow the legitimate rights of Palestinians. We have good relations with Israel, we would like to strengthen, but why Israel must accept the legitimate rights of Palestinians.

Westerners, France and the United States in particular, were very concerned about the readiness of Iran to develop nuclear weapons. What role can your country to help a solution?

The French and American officials familiar with the role that we play with Turkey and several other countries to find a diplomatic agreement without resorting to force. It is a very important issue for Qatar. Sanctions against Iran would have no effective results.That's why we want a negotiated solution to avoid increasing tensions in the region.

The Qatar made great efforts in education. All young Qataris have access to education. English is your second language after Arabic. What do you expect of France in the field of education and culture?

English is our second language because we lived under British mandate. Furthermore, it is a major international language. This does not prevent us from developing the use of French. We have many French schools and we have partnerships with universities and French schools. My two children also attend a French school in Doha.

The Qatar is bidding to hold the FIFA World Cup 2022. Will you be ready by then?

The Qatar has already proven itself in organizing the Asian Games.From all accounts, it was a great success. We mobilize all our human and financial resources with a strong commitment by the government. We will therefore be fully ready in 2022 to organize the World Cup football and make it a huge success.

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ArcelorMittal in talks with an Indian steel

Posted in features, international, opinions, resources, top news by admin on March 18th, 2010 | Comments Off

The steelmaker ArcelorMittal, through Christopher Cormier, a member of the board of directors of the group, and Pierre Gugliermina, who is the chief technology officer, met in New Delhi, officials of the Indian society unlisted Bhushan Power & Steel, reports the Indian business daily The Economic Times.

Discussions would focus on acquisition by ArcelorMittal of a stake in the company Bhushan Power & Steel to access a steel plant and certain mining rights of the latter in the region of Orissa best payday advance! !!???!!!???!!!. ArcelorMittal did not have access to the mines of this region.

The chairman of Bhushan Power & Steel, Sanjay Singal, denied the existence of such a project and he said ArcelorMittal had not approached.Currently the group headed by Lakshmi Mittal does not comment.

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Greece: the pleasant surprise of Standard & Poor's

Posted in economic, events, features, news, resources by admin on March 17th, 2010 | Comments Off

The austerity plan of the Greek government seems credible to Standard & Poor's. The rating agency affirmed the country's rating to BBB +, "she said Tuesday, ending the period of supervision of Greece. It has nonetheless imposed the Greek note a negative outlook.

"We believe that the fiscal consolidation program of the government to ensure sufficient current rating," said in a news analyst Marko Mrsnik. The rating agency Fitch also grants the BBB + debt Greek.

This decision should be the effect of a pleasant surprise in Athens. The agency S & P had in fact announced in February that it intended to degrade in 30 days the Greek notes. Such a measure would have stored the Greek debt in the class of investments called "speculative".

Athens is not provided out of business."Despite the new measures, we believe it will be difficult for Greece to meet its goal of reducing the public deficit to 5.6% of GDP in 2011 and 2.8% in 2012, it does not implement new measures in the coming years, "said Marko Mrsnik. S & P is in fact the government too optimistic when it expects growth of 1.5% in 2010 payday loans . As a result, tax revenues should not be as high as expected.

Change your

The change in tone of the rating agency came after the presentation of new austerity measures in early March. A plan welcomed by the EU markets.Finance ministers of the euro area have also met again on Monday to "clarify the technical arrangements" for any "help coordinate" for Greece, said the head of the Eurogroup Jean -Claude Juncker. No amount has been officially reported, but the figure of 20 billion euros circulating in Brussels.

The Greek prime minister has asked again for his part in the European Union to demonstrate solidarity. "We need the solidarity of Europe to combat financial speculation," he said Tuesday. He said the establishment of a "European Monetary Fund to promote economic growth and competitiveness is necessary.

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'SPECIAL: Greece, a challenge for Europe

Weekend hesitant to Wall Street

Posted in business, events, international, resources, technology by admin on March 13th, 2010 | Comments Off

Investors began to doubt when the morale of U.S. households showed slightly damaged on Friday. However, U.S. exchanges had entamn? sitting instead in the green – after three consecutive sessions in the green – through retail sales better than expected.

At the close on Friday, the Dow Jones closed up 0.12% at 10,624 points while the Nasdaq and the S & P 500 have ended in any small fold, respectively, from 0.03% to 2638 points and 0.02%, to 1,150 points.

Retail sales in the United States have resisted to the bad weather in February. Against all odds, they rose by 0.3% compared to January (in data seasonally adjusted) while analysts felt they had declined by 0.2%.

But a little later, the publication of the index calculated by the University of Michigan has sown doubt.Americans are less moral than the beginning of the year. The indicator is in effect in March fell to its level of December, to 72.5 against 73.6 in February. Economists had forecast on 74 March. This is the second straight month of decline for the index, highly regarded as the tone of the current economic

News that fell after other statistics rather reassuring, even if they still emphasize economic problems overseas. Like the U.S. trade deficit fell to 37.29 billion dollars from 39.9 billion in January. For specialists Barclays Exchange, "it is a pleasant surprise to the extent that economists were expecting a deficit of 41 billion dollars."Other good news side of the labor market "listings weekly unemployment fell to 462,000 from 469,000 the previous week.

Oil prices retreated Friday in New York, the surprise cut in U.S. consumer confidence prompting traders to take profits. On the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), a barrel of light sweet crude for April delivery finished at 81.24 dollars, down 87 cents from the previous day cash advance payday loan .

Citigroup has blown

Rated values of the fertilizer industry was bustling Friday at the NYSE by the withdrawal of Norwegian Yara in the race for the acquisition of Terra, leaving the field open to CF Industries.At closing, the Norwegian Yara International, has renounced improve its offer to buy Terra (-1.32% to 46.28 dollars), allowing the hand to CF Industries.

Meanwhile, Canada's Agrium (7.94% to 72.08 dollars) has dropped its hostile takeover bid, one year old, against rival FC Industries.

Financial stocks continued to be relatively sought. One of the largest increases in the Dow Jones was signed by the issuer of credit cards American Express (1.67% to 40.78 dollars).

The CEO of Citigroup on Thursday promised a return to profitability of the bank. The state could get rid of all of its shares within twelve months. The title of Citigroup rose 30% since the beginning of the month and by 20% since the stock market Monday.Friday, the shares resumed their breath, down 5.26%, to 3.96 dollars.

The health sector was neglected while the debate on reform of health coverage in the United States seems to be entering its final stretch.

The decline as Pfizer (-1276% to 17.07 dollars) weighed on the Dow Jones. The pharmaceutical company announced late Thursday the failure of three clinical trials of two molecules of the department of oncology.

In the energy sector, Devon Energy (-2.17% to 70.48 dollars), the specialist production of oil will sell at BP Plc for seven billion dollars of assets located in Brazil, Azerbaijan and Gulf of Mexico.

Note also the manufacturer of semiconductor National Semiconductor announced after the close of the NYSE, a profit of 53.2 million, or 22 cents a share against 18 cents expected by analysts' consensus.Turnover was 361.9 million against 348.6 million expected by analysts. The securities have grapill? 0.14%, to 14.36 dollars.