Archive for the ‘economy’ Category

EADS strengthens its position in satellite communications

Posted in business, economy, money, online, top news by admin on August 2nd, 2011 | Comments Off

EADS multiplies acquisitions. The parent company of Airbus announced Monday that its subsidiary Astrium took possession, for 673 million euros, Vizada, a specialist in satellite services. She took over the participation of the fund Apax Partners.

Vizada, which employs over 700 people and has a turnover of 458 million euros, was born from the merger of satellite communications Norwegian Telenor and France Telecom.It has 200,000 users worldwide, among them "ships of the merchant marine, emergency response agencies, government and military units, media companies, providers of telecommunications services and Internet, as well as 'business aviation, military and civilian, "said EADS.

Supplier of the U.S. government in the airline industry, Vizada has received this year a contract with the U.S. General Service Administration to "ensure access to services for mobile satellite communications to government customers and military payday loan." German and French armies are also among its customers.EADS achieves its fourth acquisition since the beginning of the year and its biggest operation since the acquisition, for 2.75 billion euros in September 2006, the 20% of Britain's BAE Systems in the capital of Airbus .

Reduce its dependence on sales of Airbus

In late June, Eurocopter has completed the acquisition of Vector Aerospace Canada for 450 million euros. Last week, Airbus has purchased the American Metron Aviation, a service provider for air traffic control, for an undisclosed sum. He launched a bid in the amount of 348 million euros in the Danish Satair, a specialist in the supply of aircraft spare parts. "These acquisitions reinforce Astrium, Eurocopter and Airbus in services and in the U.S. market," said Boris Zaïtra, corporate vice president and director of mergers and acquisitions at EADS.

Disturbances for the weekend

Posted in economic, economy, finance, international, technology by admin on July 30th, 2011 | Comments Off

While looming two weekends among the busiest in passenger of the year, Air France warned of now-already-and its passengers that they may have to be patient. If the airline has reached an agreement with the seven unions of Stewart and hostesses, thus avoiding a first strike scheduled for July 29 and August 1, and with the pilots, who have lifted their strike notice of August 5 to 8, it still faces other threats to social movements.

Another notice of pilots

A threat is … drivers, this time those who are carried by three minority unions – the SPAF, the Alter and R'Ways – and who have filed a strike notice for the July 29 to August 1. As the crew before them, the drivers are protesting against the offensive "anti-low cost" Air France plans to launch in its databases province.The new operation is expected to result, according to the drivers, an increase in the number of hours worked and trips a day.

For now, this movement somewhat worried the company, which does not anticipate any disruption in traffic this particular weekend.

Mechanics harden the tone

Meanwhile, the management of Air France must also manage another conflict, less publicized than those of pilots and aircrew, but that could be acted upon: some 4000 engineers responsible for maintenance of 260 units of the company practice of walkouts, for seven weeks no faxing payday loans. If the company minimizes the facts explaining that the work stoppages of one or more hours that are 50 to 100 people, the impact on traffic is nonetheless real.

According to Le Parisien, Aujourd'hui en France, long flights and medium-haul flights from Paris-Charles de Gaulle accuse each day delays of 15 to 20 minutes. Management also recognizes that it is obliged to postpone the launch of a two-plane in the evening to morning. Orly airport and Toulouse are also affected.

And before the stalled negotiations on wage demands, the engineers are threatening to get tough tonight at 22 hours. "Delays are possible and we do not exclude some cancellations," said Air France AFP. Alert bulletins on traffic conditions are published to the attention of travelers on the website of the company.

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Lafarge issues a warning on its results

Posted in business, economy, people, technology, top news by admin on July 28th, 2011 | Comments Off

Despite a sales increase of 3% to 7.9 billion euros in the first half and stable at 4.4 billion euros in the second quarter, Lafarge reported income down sharply from 34% to 260 million euros in the first half. The group warned that inflation and exchange rate effects will weigh on annual results. "The sector is still affected by high inflation and the absence of global recovery in developed countries," said Bruno Lafont, CEO of Lafarge, said in a statement.Half-year net income was, indeed, benefited last year, a gain of 160 million euros after selling its 17.28% interest in the Portuguese group Cimpor.

Weighed down by a huge debt of 14 billion euros, the rating agency Standard & Poor's has pushed the note of cement to the level of speculative transmitter – Lafarge claims to be "on track" to meet its debt reduction target of at least two billion euros in 2011. Two weeks ago, the group sold its gypsum in Europe and America in the Belgian Etex to € 1 billion (enterprise value) and they could sell in North America and Asia.In the second quarter, the group achieved 50 million savings in structural costs, $ 100 million since the beginning of the year, in line with the objective of a reduction of at least 200 million in 2011 .

The group still expects an increased demand for cement and provides a market growth between 2% and 5% in 2011 compared to 2010.

Fuel prices will rise again

Posted in economic, economy, opinions, resources, special by admin on July 11th, 2011 | Comments Off

Christophe de Margerie confirmed and signed. In mid-April, the boss of Total has caused an uproar by saying that the super two euros per liter was something inevitable.This time the statements are more subtle but no less firm: on the margins of economic meetings in Aix-en-Provence, the head of the French company said that "the price (of oil) rather than being on the rise, so do not expect long-term prices (fuel) down. "

The issue is very clear to Christophe de Margerie, "If it does not reflect the increase in oil prices, the box runs." Under these conditions, while going on holiday will intensify in the coming days, the price the pump are about to take four to five cents extra.

The decision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IEA) on 23 June, to tap into strategic reserves to lower prices will have had a very limited impact."The effect was instantaneous – crude has fallen from 115 to 107 dollars, almost four cents less at the pump – but the fundamentals of the market quickly regained the upper hand," said Jean-Louis Schilansky, President of the French Union of Petroleum Industries (Ufip).

$ 200 a barrel

In this case, is the increase in demand on prices. While the IEA has estimated that the outbreak in the spring classes began to slow global consumption, but the 90 million barrels per day (bpd) is no longer so distant. Moreover, if growth continues, the cap could be gone by the end of the year, according to the scenarios of the Agency.

Meanwhile, it is unclear how far prices will rise at the pump. At the end of last week, the Brent crude in London closed above $ 118."The courses tend gradually to 120 dollars," said Jean-Louis Schilansky which states that within a few days fuel prices should find their levels of early June. An average of 1.50 euro for unleaded 95 and 1.33 euro for a liter of diesel. As for the bar that fateful two euros per liter, it corresponds to the experts at a price of 200 dollars a barrel. "We still have some respite," said Jean-Louis Schilansky.

In this issue so sensitive fuel prices – especially in summer – the government continues to be very careful. A few days ago, they had encouraged retailers to pass quickly down the barrel instantly.This time, they should encourage stakeholders – oil and supermarkets – to smooth the rise in crude.

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Mobile: Bouygues launches new brand

Posted in economy, features, news, opinions, world by admin on July 5th, 2011 | Comments Off

While the competition is fiercer than ever on the mobile phone market, after the battle of VAT and before the arrival of Free Mobile, Bouygues Telecom has decided to strike a blow. The group on Monday launched B & You (pronounced in English "and you bi"), a new brand in its own right, only distributed on the Internet, but in return offers two packages very aggressive.

B & You offers calls, SMS, MMS and unlimited Wi-Fi 24 hours 24 to 24.90 euros a month. A second formula, to 36.90 euros a month, adds more internet access 3G + (up to 500 megabytes).

Packages actually aggressive, which puts B & You among the cheapest in the market. Note however that these prices are for offers "naked", that is to say without subsidized mobile phone operator.Clearly, the customer will keep their old phone or pay for its new mobile "full price", or about 600 euros for a iPhone4 example. This is the cost of the mobile operator itself. The offer is therefore suitable for consumers who do not want to change mobile. Another advantage for the customer is not forced to embark on a period and is free to change operators at will.

The offer is cheaper for the customer because it is more economical for the operator: exit the costly call centers, stores, everything is online only. In case of failure? The client manages to find the answer through the forums, or returns its mobile mail through a relay package.Left to make do with an old mobile in the meantime.

The new brand, which is both very highly participatory and community, offers subscribers a Web site, a forum, a blog, a space on Facebook and Twitter, where they can submit their problems, provide advice , vote for or against future offers, etc..

"This is the mobile phone 2.0," said Caroline Lehericey, Director of B & You. "Our goal is the generation Internet, users tend to be young, on the lookout for low prices, very comfortable with technology and reluctant to need help."

Create the break in the patterns of market

This new brand, which is managed by the communication agency DDB, functions as a start-up independently. It has of course the network of Bouygues Telecom.The operator Bouygues Telecom, meanwhile, retains its identity, with its network of stores, its service, its consumer hot lines, etc..

It is a flagship project for the group, working for months on this project top secret, under the code name "U2". Inventor of the package in 1996, the first unlimited offers all operators with Neo and the fixed-mobile convergence with ideo, Bouygues Telecom hopes to re-create the "break" in the habits of the market.

Conservative, the company does not communicate sales targets. She claims to have created a brand responding to an emerging need that may develop in the future. And if B & You start with two mobile offers, nothing does it markets tomorrow as the Internet box.

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Greece offers a respite to 12 billion euros

Posted in Uncategorized, economy, international, money, online by admin on July 3rd, 2011 | Comments Off

Europe is gaining time, but did not extinguish the fire in Greece. Following a conference call Saturday, finance ministers of the euro area have given the green light to release "by July 15" 8.7 billion euros in loans that should add 3.3 billion paid out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This decision was expected after the adoption this week by the Greek Parliament of the austerity program imposed by his European creditors. "It (the decision) strengthens the international credibility of Greece", immediately congratulated the Greek finance minister, Evangelos Venizelos.

As the new Executive Director of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, to take office Tuesday, the organization welcomed the developments."We welcome the commitment of the Eurogroup to a funding strategy that ensures that the Greek economic program is fully insured," said the spokesman for the IMF, Caroline Atkinson. No details however were given about a possible date on which the Board could meet to release the funds.

Berlin puts pressure

If these 12 billion euros to Greece should avoid going bankrupt in the short term, it is not enough to save the country permanently and fully reassure the financial markets. For this, the country has called for a second bailout International 110 billion euros. Finance ministers of the euro zone have promised yesterday decisions "in the coming weeks." For its part, the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, more prudent, spoke of an agreement by the fall only.Berlin looks indeed to be certain that Greece implement austerity measures quickly that the country has promised. "After the release of the fifth installment of the countries of the euro area and the IMF, the next step must be addressed decisively: the measures passed in Athens should be implemented quickly. Privatization, for example, must be launched without delay, "responded the German Minister of Finance. Response of Athens: the austerity plan of 28.4 billion euros will be implemented before mid-September.

Ireland, Portugal, Italy and Spain could knock on the door

These two months of rest should also help to advance on a second rescue plan 110 billion euros. Finance ministers of the euro area have not spoken on this subject last night.They expect to clarify the private sector, banks and other creditors, imposed by Berlin to a new plan to help decide. "The details and extent of the involvement of private and official sources of additional funding will be determined in the coming weeks," they said.

Time is running out: Ireland and Portugal may need a new international aid. As for Spain and Italy, both countries are under pressure from rating agencies. "The failure of European political leaders to resolve the crisis quickly and decisively hits the rest of the euro area," says Ben May, economist at Capital Economics. The United States pressed more in Europe to solve its debt problems to avoid a global impact."If Greece fell deeper into recession following the new austerity measures, it could reduce the willingness of governments to implement additional fiscal measures," says Ben May.

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Drought could push up the price of a half of beer

Posted in economy, features, online, people, resources by admin on June 28th, 2011 | Comments Off

The "minicanicule" announced for the next 48 hours will probably only reinforce the trend: "With the good weather that prevailed in France, beer consumption has registered an increase of 2.7% over the first months of year, "said Pascal Chevremont, managing director of France Brewers, whose 76 members account for three quarters of the beer produced in France. The increase is mixed following market segments: + 0.6% for cafés, hotels, restaurants and up 3.7% in supermarkets.

The warm spring and very dry, however, is not very good news for the sector. He has had a devastating effect on crops of malting barley."With the rain in recent days, there may be good surprises, but overall we expect yields down 55 quintals per hectare or so, a decrease of 10 to 20% compared to Last year, "Christophe fears Grison, president of the network Farre (Forum of farming environmentally friendly), himself a farmer of malting barley in the Oise.

Especially since the quality risk, too, to be less. "The water did not fall at the right time, we expect to see the analysis made after the harvest on the eating quality and protein content of barley, says Pascal Chevremont. Decommissioning of feed barley malting barley should be more important. "

Christmas Beer

The offer should be hexagonal in decline. Yet France is the second largest exporter of barley after Russia cash advances pay day loan.The price of this raw material, essential to the manufacture of beer, will therefore remain at high levels. According to the latest monthly bulletin of economic FranceAgriMer (the body responsible for collecting data on agricultural crops in France), prices have more than doubled in one year, more than 235 euros a tonne. They even reached in early May 320 euros per tonne on the futures market Euronext.

For the moment, "the brewers are working on stocks three months ago," said Michel Portier for his part, Director of Agritel, a company specializing in risk management in the prices of agricultural commodities. So no risk of immediate price increase of the half at the counter.

The first harvest of barley into malt today – it takes between 150 and 200 grams of malt to make a liter of beer – will not be in the glasses before the end of the year, with Christmas beer.

"But ultimately, it will have an impact on the final product increased barley as packaging, another important component of cost, also recorded significant increases," warned Pascal Chevremont. Tariff negotiations ahead sandwiched between the purchasing of large retailers – which sells three-quarters of the beer – and the four major brewers, who control more than half the world market: AB InBev (Leffe), SAB Miller, Heineken and Carlsberg (Kronenbourg).

Greece: the solution proposed by Paris

Posted in economy, money, online, opinions, resources by admin on June 26th, 2011 | Comments Off

While the crucial talks between government and private creditors of Greece continued the last few hours across Europe, they rose sharply in Paris. Reportedly, the French Treasury and financial institutions have agreed on the night of Friday to Saturday on a proposal that they hope to win their European partners now. Important first step, a highly anticipated meeting of the IIR (International Institute of Finance), which groups 400 banks worldwide, will be held on Monday in Rome.

It will be remembered, European governments have launched negotiations Wednesday with the holders of Greek debt. They are seeking a contribution of banks, insurers and other pension funds to the tune of 30 billion euros, backed by a new extension of Europe and the IMF to Greece.So far, the proposal on the table was simple: the voluntary, private creditors agreed to reinvest in due proportion the debts repaid by Athens over the next three years in new loans Greek to 5 years. It is the "rollover". However, private capital, especially German, had requested that these new loans are guaranteed in one way or another by Europe. But Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, refused this demand, which is to transfer the responsibility of the public an additional part of the burden.

Hence the impasse. The problem for private financiers, is to pay a state that nothing says it will be out of trouble in five years, the plan has expired. Of course, under pressure from governments, banks and insurers could be convinced.But specifically, if the process is not perceived as voluntary, rating agencies may raise the flag of the "default" and the plan falls overboard because the ECB can no longer accept sovereign debt and stigmatized in the refinancing of Greek banks cash advance no fax.The French proposal is a parade, making the "rollover" both more attractive and relevant to them and to Athens, by lengthening maturities.

New loans to 30 years

In addition to the original proposal, a working group led by BNP Paribas, in fact, imagined an alternative, opening the opportunity to reinvest only 70% of amounts received in connection with the Greek borrowing fell 50% are allocated to Greek new loans issued this time in 30 years as to 20%, they are placed on what the financial call a "zero coupon", ie a fund invested in securities of high quality self-reinforcing through then cumulation of interests: the piggy bank somehow secures new borrowing Greek, as would have government guarantees.According to the discussions, these borrowings could be long carry an interest rate equivalent to that of Greece pays vis-à-vis its "rescuers" public, with the addition of a variable interest rate likely to be linked to an economic indicator Greek, such as GDP.

In any case, this alternative would yield less per creditor only 50% returned to the Treasury Greek but is likely to attract more people. And above all, by providing funding for 30 years, she pushes the horizon in part refunds for Athens. The French solution began circulating in the corridors of the European Council on Friday. "We received an initial favorable response," says a close case.

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Windows phone by Nokia in the fall

Posted in business, economy, finance, resources, technology by admin on June 22nd, 2011 | Comments Off

Pending the arrival of his eagerly awaited first smartphone with the Windows operating system Phone at the end of the year, and production "mass" in 2012, we have to wait markets and customers. That Stephen Elop, president of Nokia strived to do during the CommunicAsia exhibition in Singapore. "Our main strategy in the field of smartphones is to focus on the Windows phone," he said, for its next billion mobile.

For Nokia, it is urgent. Last month, the group issued a warning on its sales and results, giving even to make predictions, as the period is difficult.Its sales continue to decline, it would hold more than 13.1% of the smartphone market in the first quarter against 25% a year earlier.

But maintaining a strong presence of the Symbian operating system in its range and choice of Microsoft at the expense of Android leave many doubts cast. While the number of applications available on a smartphone is a paramount requirement, the Finn is not in the race. It strives for the time to catch up in smartphones, highlighting the N9 in Singapore, expected to outdo the iPhone and Android to its competitors. To do so, Nokia boasts jumble "three home pages," his "handy user interface," "better voice quality," connectivity … The N9 (under platform Meego) is also equipped with a NFC connection, which enables contactless payments.With this feature, shows that Nokia is still able to board the train for a new technology, not to watch the competition from without it.

With the launch of three new models (N8, E7, C7 and C6-01 will be sold in July) Nokia has pushed the highlight of its commitment to Symbian OS. These terminals will be equipped with the new update system Symbian Anna. Novelty of this new version, it will be downloadable for those who have already bought one of these phones. And over the next twelve months, Nokia will market up to ten new smartphones based on Symbian. From there to imagine that the Finnish and protects against possible setbacks of its U.S. partner, there is only one step.It also reaffirms its loyalty and its customers, accustomed to its operating system, and that it might lose by abandoning it completely. Hence the idea to favor a smooth transition.

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FNSEA call not to repay the illegal aid

Posted in economy, online, publications, resources, world by admin on June 12th, 2011 | Comments Off

Farmers do not easily repay the aid they have been illegally paid between 1998 and 2002. "Do not pay!" They were still directed Beulin Xavier this Sunday, the president of the FNSEA, micro Europe 1. "We want to continue the discussion on the subject. The current situation also requires some restraint, "he said, referring to the dual crisis that farmers currently, due firstly to the exceptional drought they suffered, and secondly to the fall in sales of fruit and vegetables following the discovery of a bacteria killer in Germany. "So far, 2011 is probably the toughest year to live for agriculture since 1949," Xavier held Beulin.

European Commission demands since January 2009 the repayment of French subsidies paid to producers of fruits and vegetables between 1998 and 2002.Received a complaint from a French farmer who felt aggrieved, the European Commission finally ruled that these subsidies distort competition in the market. It is therefore around 600 million euros that France is committed to be reimbursed by the farmers. The Minister of Agriculture, Bruno Le Maire, confirmed this week that the first claims had been issued to operators.

A plan of assistance deemed insufficient by the operators

Farmers are even less inclined to pay as they deem insufficient aid plan deployed by the state to help them during this difficult time payday loan. While compensation from the national guarantee fund for agricultural disasters (FNGCA), with 200 million euros, should not be paid until mid-September, operators were waiting on the part of the state allocation direct subsidies.But the move by the Charente Thursday, the head of state has rightly refused to "fall into the bad habit of giving allowances that would be declared illegal in a few months." Nicolas Sarkozy has decided to offset a one-year repayment of loans to farmers in 2009 as part of an exceptional level of support, $ 1.6 billion.

"The billion euros of measures [announced by Nicolas Sarkozy], I still trying," said Xavier this Sunday Beulin Today is a little over 500 million euros. " A sum that compares to the heavy expenditure that farmers will face this year. Between the difficulty to find fodder to feed the animals because of drought, rising grain prices and lower meat prices, which could amount to "much more than a billion euros, said Chairman of the FNSEA.

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