Archive for the ‘finance’ Category

Legal action after the failure of the BlackBerry

Posted in Uncategorized, economics, finance, online, resources by admin on October 27th, 2011 | Comments Off

Applications and offered an apology video co-president of the company have not stifled the wrath of BlackBerry users. Wednesday, two complaints were filed against Research In Motion by U.S. and Canadian consumers the smartphone, including email and Internet access were disrupted by a global failure for nearly four days in mid-October.

The American action in partnership, supported by a California resident, filed Wednesday in federal court in Santa Ana, California. Research In Motion is accused of breach of contract, negligence and unjust enrichment.The complaint, filed on behalf of 2.4 million BlackBerry users in the state, requires financial compensation.

The other complaint, filed in the Superior Court of Quebec, on the lands of RIM, is from the "Group of consumer law", a firm specializing in class actions. She asks RIM to "take measures to offset direct or indirect users of BlackBerry," and "arranging" for operators reimburse their customers.

A drop in share price

Following the cut massive services reached between 11 and 14 October, the group of Waterloo, Ontario, decided to offer its customers for $ 100 of free applications for compensation and a free month technical maintenance for businesses."We are committed to ensuring a high level of reliability now and in the future," had secured one of two owners of RIM, Mike Lazaridis.

These two class actions against Research In Motion have been filed when the company through this week a new crisis of confidence, stock market this time. On Wednesday, the share price was unscrewed from 7.48% after the announcement of the postponement until February of the second generation of the PlayBook. This tablet, which would compete with the iPad, has so far garnered very disappointing results. Since 2011, the title of Research In Motion has lost almost two thirds of its value.

ALSO READ:

"The failure BlackBerry sobering SMEs Safety

Safely: anti-fraud measures in the heart of the budget debate

Posted in economic, finance, online, people, top news by admin on October 26th, 2011 | Comments Off

The draft budget for Social Security in 2012 began his career tonight in the Chamber of the Assembly. The text provides € 17.6 billion deficit of the general system (Old Age Solidarity Fund included), after 22 billion this year and 28 billion in 2010.

The examination of the text in the Committee gave an idea of ​​the issues that should be hotly debated in the majority, and amendments likely. The major themes: the subjugation of parental leave benefits (CLCA) to the CSG, the reduction in benefits for loss of work and the fight against fraud.

On this point, several amendments of the UMP Dominique Tian were approved by the Committee on Social Affairs. "I support and I ask the group to vote, says the boss of UMP deputies, Christian Jacob.They stem from the report of the assessment mission and control of social security (MECSS), adopted unanimously, "left and right confused.

The first is to redefine the concept of "single person", which comes into play in the payment of benefits as the single parent allowance (API, now part of RSA). "That is to reverse the burden of proof. Anyone applying for the allocation should show that it is only to take on household expenses: rent, electricity, etc.. "

Another measure supported by Christian Jacob, the suspension of all benefits in the event of obtaining a number Safely from forged identity documents."Credit unions did not have that opportunity, which of course added to criminal sanctions," said the president of the UMP group.

Recalculation of benefits sick

Former Minister for Family, Christian Jacob is also aligned with the Committee on Social Affairs to refuse to submit to the 6 payday loans.2% CSG few hundred euros a month if paid parental leave. The measure, sought by the government, must report 140 million per year.

Another controversial issue up within the majority: the new method of calculating sick leave benefits, which reduces the amount of about 6% to a gain of 220 million.The issue will be discussed at today's meeting of the UMP group.

Additional tools to fight against fraud they relate enough to give these provisions without widening the deficit? Yves Bur questioned, at least in the short term, these tools put the time to bear fruit.

"The fraud MECSS evaluates the single parent allowance in the range from 160 to 300 million euros a year, and those arising from forgery to 1.3 billion, said Christian Jacob. By definition, quantify the extent of fraud is difficult and estimates are wide.But it is important symbolically, when efforts are required from all the French, to hit hard on fraud. "

Yves Bur adds other proposals to generate more savings: lower third of the threshold for taxation of benefits breach of contract work (out of court for dismissal …) to 72,700 euros, or launch tenders for the supply of generic drugs and drive down the price as well. He hopes to gain large enough to give up the measure on sick leave … while fearing that the government, looking for additional savings, retains all final.

ALSO READ:

"Safely: the deficit reduced to 14 billion euros in 2012

"Fraud Allowance: 90% of recovered industrial

The EU is considering 108 billion to bail out banks

Posted in economy, finance, life, news, technology by admin on October 23rd, 2011 | Comments Off

Creditor banks in Greece will have to accept losses "substantial" in the new bailout of the country, warned Saturday that the European Ministers of Finance. Last night, the central bankers of the euro zone had "agreed to say that we had to have a substantial increase in the contribution of banks" in the form of a depreciation of their claims, said the leader of European finance ministers, Jean-Claude Juncker.

• Discount of up to 60% of the Greek debt

According to diplomatic sources, the ministers agreed to effectively negotiate with the banks at a discount of "at least 50%" against a target of 21% decided on July 21 with the banking sector. They thus de facto endorsed the conclusions of an expert report which was presented by the troika of donor funds in Greece (EU, ECB and IMF).The paper believes that a discount of 50 or 60% hope to stabilize Greece without having to increase in the amount of gigantic international loans that have already been promised.

A "discount" is the term used in relation to the financial depreciation of the value of loans taken by creditors in this case private banks and investment funds that hold government debt. A discount of 50% borne by the private sector, the second program of financial support pledged July 21 to Greece, however, should be slightly revised upwards with government loans (Europe and IMF) to 114 billion euros, against 109 billion euros.To maintain the envelope of 109 billion euros unchanged, it would bring the discount to 60%, according to calculations by experts.

• Recapitalization of banks to the tune of 108 billion euros

The question is whether the banks that have so far dragged its feet to give the pot, will accept a negotiated settlement does not pass through a default of Greece. In return for the effort required on the Greek claims, there are plans to recapitalize banks in Europe. Following a meeting of EU finance ministers, this Saturday, in preparation for the summit Sunday, no agreement had been finalized on this point, due to the persistence of disputes.

"We have made some progress on the banks" and "we have laid the groundwork for an agreement" which will still be subject to "discussions between heads of state" and called for European governments to meet in summit Sunday said Swedish Finance Minister Anders Borg. Countries of the European Union are considering a recapitalization of its banks to the tune of 107 or 108 billion euros to help them cope with the crisis, has also said a source familiar with the matter.

But according to European diplomats, "there is no agreement on the recapitalization, it gets stuck a little." According to one of these diplomatic sources, "Spain insists on having a comprehensive, not only on the recapitalization of banks but also on strengthening the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF)." On the other hand, "the ministers are trying to agree on the minimum capital."The European Banking Authority (EBA) has proposed that banks reach a level of capital of 9% by mid-2012. A diplomat acknowledged that some countries in the viewfinder of the markets, like Italy, Spain or Portugal, feared that the recapitalization will further undermine public finances.

• The Fund will not support a bank

Moreover, the French proposal to grant a banking license to the Fund support the euro area (EFSF) so he can refinance with the European Central Bank "is no longer on the table," said Minister Dutch Finance Jan Kees de Jager. Only two options are being discussed to increase the firepower of the device, he told reporters Saturday.These two tracks on the agenda now that the mechanism acts as a partial insurance of the public debt of countries in difficulty or higher participation of the IMF to the device, according to a German government source. But there is "significant differences between countries" on the issue, said Jan Kees de Jager.

How to leverage the capacity of the EFSF was the main sticking point between Berlin and Paris at the approach of the EU summit. France, worried about its budget deficit and are "triple AAA" prefer tap into the existing European funds, starting with the ECB. Germany, also sensitive to the separation of powers as inflation risks, refuses anything resembling a crisis by printing money in Europe.France was not only to advocate the involvement of the ECB, arguing that this system worked very well in the United States or Great Britain. She was supported by Spain, Italy or Belgium.

The European Relief Fund currently has a lending capacity of 440 billion euros, part of which is already committed for Ireland and Portugal. This envelope is considered insufficient to prevent contagion of the debt crisis in countries as large as Italy and Spain, increasingly in the firing line of credit rating agencies.European countries negotiate so hard for weeks on the best way, via a "leverage" to multiply by up to five response capacity of the Fund's financial debt of fragile countries.

(With agencies)

ALSO READ:

"GRAPHICS – The crisis of the euro, or the history of contagion

"SPECIAL – Banks in turmoil

"Paris and Berlin are seeking a solution for banks

A bailout of the bank Dexia was proposed

Posted in features, finance, international, life, top news by admin on October 10th, 2011 | Comments Off

The French, Belgian and Luxembourg governments announced Sunday mid-day they had found a solution for the bank Dexia, about to be dismantled. Their proposals were still to be considered by the Board of Directors of the bank has been meeting for 15 hours in Brussels.

In a statement, the three governments reaffirmed their solidarity in the search for a solution that is shaping the future of Dexia, and ensure the management of the banking group, their full support."The proposed solution, which is also the result of intense consultations with all relevant partners, will be presented to the Board of Directors of Dexia which is responsible for approving proposals", they said, without giving more details on how they have learned.

A purchase of 100% of the Belgian branch

Sunday morning, Finance Minister Didier Reynders had indicated in an interview with the RTBF channel that Belgium did not exclude to redeem all of Dexia Bank Belgium (DBB), the Belgian entity of the bank. The price of DBB is estimated between 3 and 7.5 billion euros, and the Belgian State is priced in the low end. "The state will rise sharply in power. If we were 100% (in the capital of Dexia Bank Belgium), I do not rule, we do not intend to stay indefinitely. This does not mean that we will stay three months or six months, "he said.Given the scale of the debt crisis, the Minister of Finance estimated even possible that the state is still present in the capital of DBB in three to five years on line pay day loans.

The scheme favors dismantling of Dexia now a nationalization of the Belgian entity, Dexia Bank Belgium and in France the creation of a new bank dedicated to local communities. This would take the portfolio of loans to local Dexia's a small part comes in the form of toxic loans in the heart of the turmoil for several months. Other assets such as Denizbank, the Turkish subsidiary, Dexia BIL in Luxembourg or be sold. Quatar's sovereign wealth fund would also be interested in the latter entity. The amount of these operations is unknown.

Belgium Dexia has already saved the first time in 2008 by injecting, like Paris, three billion euros.So now it seeks to limit the bill, said Saturday the Belgian daily L'Echo.

In the spirit of Belgian politicians, the idea is to have a solution on the table before Monday morning and the opening exchanges in Europe. Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme wants the government proposals to be endorsed soon.

(With agencies)

ALSO READ:

"The Belgian branch of Dexia could be nationalized

"Dexia swells debate on the consequences of support

"" Bad bank "when the state pays the piper

"The rescue of Dexia organized emergency

"When Dexia dreamed of conquering the world

Exchange: 216 billion euros went up in smoke

Posted in events, finance, people, special, top news by admin on October 4th, 2011 | Comments Off

The market decline occurred in August and September did go up in smoke the equivalent of 216 billion euros over the market value of CAC 40 companies since January 1. During the one day of 22 September, falling 5.25% of the benchmark index of the Paris Stock Exchange has removed 40 billion euros, as much as the market capitalization of the size groups of EDF and L'Oreal!

Today, all forty major French companies weighed on the stock exchange the equivalent of 794 billion euros no fax cash advances. This figure may seem high to the uninitiated, but it is actually little more than the book value of assets of companies entering the CAC 40.The fall in prices has reached such proportions that the largest industrial groups in the rating on the stock exchange deal at the price of factories, stocks of goods or land on which are built warehouses or stores.

Air France will wait for his new boss

Posted in economic, finance, news, opinions, special by admin on September 21st, 2011 | Comments Off

There is electricity in the air when it comes to the estate of Pierre-Henri Gourgeon at the head of Air France. The future boss of the Air France-KLM in 2014, must initially be appointed head of the only Air France. The Board of Directors of the Company held Wednesday will not be an opportunity to put an end to the war of suitors. The four directors who comprise the Nominating Committee decided to take their time. It is only in the coming weeks as the quartet will present its recommendation, hoping to bring some calm and find a consensus on the board.

The "wise men" are aware that the candidate will also appeal to the state, which supports the candidacy of Alexander Juniac, adviser to the Minister of Economy, Baroin instant personal loans guaranteed.Pierre-Henri Gourgeon is on the same line, but not Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Group Chairman, a supporter of the appointment of a "pro" for a business sector heckled by the TGV, the low-cost, companies of Gulf and Asian competition.

ALSO READ:

"Austerity Cure for Air France

"The boss of Air France-KLM will re-enlist

"The CEO of Air France-KLM received by Pierre Lellouche

Tax on soft drinks: Coca-Cola annoyed

Posted in business, events, finance, publications, special by admin on September 8th, 2011 | Comments Off

Coca-Cola is angry against France. To protest against the tax on soft drinks that the government of François Fillon wants to establish in 2012, as part of the austerity plan, the U.S. giant announced Thursday the suspension of an investment of € 17 million provided for the next year at its plant in the Bouches-du-Rhone, the Pennes-Mirabeau.

This is the first concrete decision of the U.S. company from ads on 24 August. By this gesture, the group's management intends to "symbolic protest" against the tax. The investment "is not canceled but it must be reassessed in the context of uncertainty created by the tax," says the group. These 17 million would be used to launch a new production line for cans at the plant, the second in France in terms of production, which employs 203 people and five years has already received 45 million euros of investment .

It was to be formalized on September 19, on the occasion of the celebration of 40 years of factory Pennes-Mirabeau. The arrival of John Brock, president of Coca-Cola Enterprises for 40 years the site is also canceled.

"I understand the position of Coca-Cola"

Coca-Cola, which employs 3000 employees across five production sites in France, says wait and see what will unfold the vote in Parliament before taking a final decision. The tax should indeed be debated in the coming weeks as part of the bill for funding Social Security."We hear and symbolic protest against a tax that punishes and stigmatizes our company our products," said Coca-Cola, which "reaffirms its strong opposition to any form of stigmatization of soft drinks and their assimilation into other product categories such as tobacco. "

This tax, which should bring 120 million euros to the state, according to the manufacturers should increase the cost price of the can of a euro cent on average. For the National Association of Food Industries (ANIA), the decision of the U.S. company is understandable. "I understand the position of Coca-Cola, said Jean-René Buisson, president of the association. Coca is one of the companies that have signed charters with the government on reducing sugar and nutrition education policy.Why do food manufacturers would they continue to trust the government? ", He gets mad. "The tax Fillon is the stigma of food which is harmful is not scientifically proven," he adds.

ALSO READ:

"Soft drinks, tobacco, building: the rigor worried

Wall Street falls after four increases

Posted in business, economic, events, finance, special by admin on September 2nd, 2011 | Comments Off

The New York Stock Exchange, which has accelerated its rise in early trading after the publication of a good ISM, quickly found the red and has continued to widen its losses. In the end, the Dow fell 1.03% to 11,493.57 points, the S & P by 1.19% to 1204.42 points and the Nasdaq 1.3% to 2546.04 points. Trading volumes were low in anticipation of U.S. employment figures on Friday. Wednesday, the increase was set for the fourth session later time.The U.S. investors were reassured by the tone of the minutes of the last monetary policy committee of the Fed.

While the manufacturing sector remained in growth in the United States in August, while analysts expected a contraction. This index, calculated by the Institute of Supply Management (ISM), falls to 50.6 against 50.9 in July and 48.5 expected.But investors have extra caution while construction spending heavily relapsed in July in the U.S., continuing to suffer from the weak housing market, according to figures released Thursday by the Commerce Department.

In addition, the decline in nonfarm productivity in the United States was larger than initially announced in the second quarter, against a backdrop of weak economic growth, according to revised figures released today by the Department of Labor. And the number of jobless declined in the United States during the week to August 27, at 409,000 against 421,000 the previous week. Economists were anticipating 410,000 registrations.

The blow came from the White House. If it has revised down its forecast budget deficit of the U.S. federal government for 2011 and 2012, it has also revised down its growth forecasts.The Budget Office of the White House (OMB) said in its biannual journal that the deficit should reach 8.8% of GDP for 2011 and 6.1% for 2012. It revised down its economic growth forecast to 2.1% this year and 3.3% for 2012, pushing the unemployment rate to 8.2% in the fourth quarter, up 0.9 point less than in July 2011.

European debt worries yet

In Europe, the issue of debt remains a concern for investors. According to calculations by economists of the IMF if the European banks were asked to write on their balance sheet obligations of States in the euro area market value, their tangible equity would fall to about 200 billion euros in total, from 10 to 12%, reports the Financial Times. In fact, the debt crisis is far from over and the discrepancies between European leaders are continuing.Latest, the EU president, Herman Van Rompuy, downplayed the significance of the "golden rule" budget that Paris and Berlin want to impose the euro area, even as France in extolling the virtues.

Values ​​to follow

The side of values, French Fimalac announced the sale of its Canadian subsidiary Algorithmics, specializing in software for the financial industry, IBM (-0.92% to 170.32 dollars).

Automakers said Thursday strong growth in sales of cars in the year to August in the U.S., 31% for Chrysler, Nissan 19%, 18% for General Motors (-4.16% to 23.03 dollars) and 11% for Ford (-2.52% to 10.84 dollars), despite difficult economic conditions.

The title Ciena surged 20.18%. The manufacturer of equipment for telecommunications shows a profit for the first time in three years, while analysts expected a further loss.

Goldman Sachs has been unscrewed from 3.49%. The U.S. Federal Reserve demanded that the U.S. bank to make the services of an outside consultant to review the mortgages issued by one of its subsidiaries, to identify and compensate borrowers who have been victims of improper seizures .

In addition, a judge overturned the conviction of SAP (-1.04% to 53.85 dollars) to pay to $ 1.3 miliard Oracle (-0.80% to 27.85 dollars).

The distribution group online eBay (-1.43% to 30.43 dollars) is looking for acquisitions in Japan and China, the two largest economies in the Asia, where the group wants to develop, said an official of the eBay Wall Street Journal Thursday.

Also note, after closing the CEO of the U.S. investment bank Bank Of New York Mellon (-0.15% to 20.64 dollars), Robert Kelly, has resigned because of "differences in management approach Company "with the rest of management, said Wednesday the establishment.He was replaced by Gerald Hassell, a member of the board, the bank said in a statement.

For its part, the number two mobile phone in the U.S., AT & T (-0.74% to 28.27 dollars), suffered a blow Wednesday with the opposition of the competition agencies, the proposed takeover its rival T-Mobile for $ 39 billion.

Cameron International (-0.83% to 51.53 dollars) has announced the acquisition activities of LeTourneau drilling products held by Joy Global for about $ 375 million in cash. The same Joy Global said it had experienced for its third quarter ended July 29, orders rose by 49% to $ 1.4 billion and sales up 34% to $ 1.1 billion.Operating profit reached $ 236 million against 172 million last year.

Costco Wholesale (1.20% to 79.48 dollars) issued net sales up 17% year on year to 6.9 billion in August and 27.6 billion dollars in the fourth quarter. In addition, CEO Jim Sinegal announced his departure on 1 January 2012 and its replacement by the Director of Operations Craig Jelinek.

Stryker (-1.23% to 48.24 dollars) will acquire Concentric Medical, specializing in the manufacture of products for the treatment of ischemic stroke, for $ 135 million.

Arthuis: "Europe needs an economic government"

Posted in economic, finance, international, publications, world by admin on August 19th, 2011 | Comments Off

What are your proposals for Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel?

Europe is ready to adopt guidelines on beetles or grading apples. But when it comes to economic and financial regulation, it nothing happens. The EU countries have transformed the Stability and Growth Pact in a cheats and liars. Europe needs the government's proposed economic finally the President and Chancellor.

Will you vote the "golden rule" if Congress is convened?

I will vote, even if the proceedings of Parliament are below what I expected, including the monopoly of the tax provisions. With this rule, the president is in the direction of history. But in September, the presentation of the budgets of the State and Social Security in 2012 will be the first litmus test flexcheck cash advance. We need to find 10 billion euros.I propose a new tax bracket on income, rising from 0.25% of the CRDS and a large movement of the plane on tax loopholes. It must also cut spending for operating and intervention.

Do you understand the dam from the left on the "golden rule"?

It is time to change our political practice. It is outdated and disastrous. Major reforms can not be a camp against each other. This is not because Nicolas Sarkozy has not been exemplary control deficiencies that must be opposed to the recovery of France.

ALSO READ:

"Aubry denounced the" smoking out "Borloo expresses satisfaction

"Paris and Berlin want a golden rule for the euro area

The course crazy rumor that rocked Société Générale

Posted in Uncategorized, economic, finance, online, technology by admin on August 12th, 2011 | Comments Off

It all starts in late July in the French newspaper Le Monde. In a lively pen, "Philae" tells, in twelve parts, how a role play between two traders who are bored leads to rumors of a plot against Angela Merkel and the euro, all on the eve of elections French law of May 2012 ….

In this series of summer, we follow the wanderings of a young journalist from the Wall Street Journal sent to Frankfurt, headquarters of the European Central Bank and the financial hub of Germany. The names of the characters in the story are well known: Bruno Le Maire, portrays in Germanophile finance minister, Mario Draghi, Governor of the BCE, to the old speculator George Soros. On the agenda of the masters of the economy, threats to Societe Generale, next target of a takeover bid, and the Italian bank UniCredit.Their exposure to Greek debt fueling concerns.

Although it is amazed by the accuracy of the descriptions and the likelihood of situations, the informed reader understands that this is a fiction. In August 2011, Bruno Le Maire is not finance minister, but of Agriculture, and Italy's Mario Draghi has not made the head of the ECB, which is still headed by Jean-Claude Trichet.

On a rumor of a fall fiction real

It seems, however, whether this summer series that has inspired the fictional journalists Mail on Sunday, the Sunday edition of the Daily Mail for a story published Sunday catastrophic. In this paper, Simon Watkins and Dan Atkins have Societe Generale "at the brink of bankruptcy after terrible losses from its exposure to the Greek debt" and UniCredit "could collapse so similar" to the French bank.

The journalists added that "David Cameron has interrupted his vacation last night [Saturday, ed] to discuss the situation with Nicolas Sarkozy", a fact that has not been confirmed but exists also in the series of daily French.

Listed on online sites such as CNN mentioned on many forums, Twitter by many users, copied on blogs, the article from Monday, August 8 heat the rumor machine. Many elements accrediting effect the veracity of the article in the Mail on Sunday: Societe Generale is very exposed to the Greek crisis. August 3, his boss Frédéric Oudéa announced quarterly earnings down after a depreciation of 395 million euros for the shares of Greek states.

Wednesday morning the rumor that the company would be general in a situation so serious that the French government should intervene to save her is growing the market. The surprise announcement of a meeting at the Elysee Palace on the financial situation in the morning is a bombshell, and credibility to the words of the Mail on Sunday. The lack of communication officers of the Societe Generale does not help.

Meanwhile, as the stock market collapsed and with it the other financial stocks. At the heart of a black session, rumors succeed: France could lose its triple AAA, the government must save the banking system …

Only the evening that the management of Societe Generale denounces rumors and application to the financial markets opened an investigation into the launch of these sounds.But the damage is done: the bank saw its stock melted from 14.7% in one trading session.

A series of unexplained errors

Several questions remain: how an article in the Sunday edition of a tabloid, usually specializing in photographic study of cellulite British starlets, he could be taken seriously and set fire to the stock market ? How is it also possible that the two journalists of the text may have been confused, which to be inspired by what has been a fiction?

The text of Philae is, indeed, confusing realism. Hidden under the pseudonym, a journalist from the Tribune, Brussels correspondent of the daily economic, and whose employment by the evening paper did cringe at the writing of the World.A French bank would also indignant at the tone of the newspaper that gave off the soap truth, so much so that the newspaper added from 1 August 1 line warning: "Le Monde reminds its readers that situations, facts and figures reported in this fiction is imaginary and should not be taken as an expression of reality. "

There are no quotes in the article by Watkins and Atkins, which are directly drawn from the World Series, but the charges against SocGen and UniCredit, and the words of the intervention of Nicolas Sarkozy to be found in both documents. The Daily Mail has deleted Article guilty of its online site and apologized, acknowledging that the paper was based on "false information". Thursday noon, the Cac 40 fell below the symbolic threshold of 3,000 points, while Societe Generale fell by 7.26%.