Archive for the ‘technology’ Category

Drought and fires have saddled Russian growth

Posted in economic, economics, life, opinions, technology by admin on August 25th, 2010 | Comments Off

Droughts and fires will they bring Russia to its knees? The Russian government admitted on Tuesday that recent weather events will cost between 0.7 and 0.8 growth in the country. Without this unprecedented heat wave last half-century, the Russian economy would have increased from 4.4 to 4.7% in 2010, according to a first estimate unveiled by Economic Development Minister Andrei Klepach. The final cost of these disasters should be known in November.

"The extreme heat and smoke from fires have forced businesses to close their plants or reduce their production schedules," according to economists at HSBC payday advance lenders. "The productivity of those who have maintained their production has declined considerably." These climatic events were particularly affected the agricultural sector. Wheat production is expected to drop by and third.What make analysts more pessimistic than the government: they think the heat wave is expected to cost a point of growth.

Russia, however, had started the year well, with a growth rate of 2.9% in the first quarter and 5.2% in the second. "In the third quarter, the activity should be particularly weak and a scenario of stagnation can not be ruled out," HSBC economists said.

Late fees; car payments, an unexpected hospital visit. Those are legitimate reasons to secure a fast cash personal loan.

"M6 relevant model in crisis"

Posted in features, resources, special, technology, world by admin on July 28th, 2010 | Comments Off

The M6 Group on Tuesday said its results for the first half of 2010. Turnover increased by 9.4% and advertising revenue of 7.4% by M6.

LE FIGARO. – The results of the first half they marked the recovery of accounts?

Nicolas de Tavernost. – The model M6, which is based on two feet, with 55% of revenues related to advertising and 45% due to diversification, proved last year that he could withstand the crisis. In 2009, M6 has been one of the few media groups in Europe to maintain its result. Today, that same model shows that it is also effective in upturns. Thus, our operating profit grew by 23% in the first half of 2010.

Note that all segments of the group – the M6, digital channels, media rights, Internet, Distance Selling … – rose.Accordingly, the group turnover is above the 2008 level, which is not the case in the advertising market. Finally, with an operating margin growth of 2.1 points to 17.9%, the profitability of the M6 is two times higher than its main competitor. This validates the relevance of model M6.

M6 she stood facing the World Cup football?

Firstly, that the advertising market has benefited from a World Cup is not correct. Proof, M6, which was unable to attend matches of the World Cup as opposed to TF1, France Televisions, Canal +, has turned this handicap into an advantage. This is for two simple reasons: three-quarters of advertisers looking for a female audience, which is not the case with football, and during games it is difficult to insert commercial breaks.During the World Cup, M6 has made a good-cons programming including "Love is in the meadow, which was a great success. In the end, the World Cup has cost us about 0.3 point fall national audience but had no effect on our advertising revenue. Instead, in June, our screens were saturated and our advertising revenue in the second quarter increased 12%.

Does that mean you give up to buy sports rights?

I did not say that. M6 continue to purchase rights, particularly in football, but we approach the issue with caution. Today, the cost of rights is too important, even if they have started to fall on those of the France team and those of the Champions League.We acquired two games of the France team in the fall (Luxembourg-France and Bosnia-France) and we will probably go on the tender to be held in September of rights for Euro 2012 and 2016.

The hearing is continuing its erosion of M6. How about it?

Let's review the last ten years. During this period, the M6 has improved its position against its competitors historical. In 2000, we were only 38% of TF1's hearing today, we are at 42%. Better still, we're currently 64% of the hearing of France 2 against 57% in 2000 and we arrive at 95% of the audience at France 3. In absolute terms, of course, the hearing of M6 is increased from 12.7% in 2000 to 10.4% today. But in ten years, the number of channels has increased with TNT. We must therefore measure the audience of all group channels (M6, W9 and channels), which has now reached 14.2%.We have therefore gained market share in a decade.

What are your predictions for the advertising market in 2010?

The rise of television advertising market is due to the very effectiveness of the media, which proved he was still the most powerful. However, after the crisis of 2009, the market still suffers from a decline of 10% compared to 2008. We hope in the second half we find these levels. It should be noted that in the meantime the offer of television has multiplied, and there is more competition on a smaller market. Despite this background, M6 has managed to improve its result. For the whole year, I do not give predictions but I can tell you that in the short term, over the months of July, August and September, the market is not bad.

In addition, W9 continues to grow very rapidly. W9 has a national audience share of 3% and 3.8% on our business targets.She continues to experience strong growth in advertising revenues and is the TNT channel most invested in advertising.

Will you return to innovate?

The M6 has always been innovative, two examples: it has been three years since we have successfully focused on cooking with "Dine With Me" and "Top Chef" of success that will continue in September. We have also developed the second generation of reality: with "Love is in the meadow", "New Star" and "Amazing Talent," which are programs to successful wide audience. The "19.45", launched last September, is already a success that should be amplified, we will pursue innovation in September with the recently highlighted the skills of French artisans.

We have also innovated with our services and VOD Catch Up TV (M6 and W9 Replay Replay).Even if these new services are growing very rapidly, we should keep. Eventually, the TV catch-up will represent between 2% to 4% of the initial hearing of the television and almost as much revenue.

M6 Will he participate in tenders issued by the CSA for the new DTT channels?

Currently, we examine the context of the tender. But be careful to balance the market in France, we are the European countries that saw the most public and private channels to develop.But the market can absorb new channels constantly.

Regarding funding, he must go after the clarification sought by the President of the Republic: government revenue for public broadcasters, private income for private channels, it is the condition of a balanced television industry.

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The apostle of German thoroughness at the Elysee

Posted in economic, economics, events, publications, technology by admin on July 21st, 2010 | Comments Off

The Cabinet will host today at the Elysee a guest: Wolfgang Schäuble, Minister of Finance and strongman of the government of Angela Merkel. Last survivor of the dinosaur era Kohl, Schäuble, 67, is both the most Francophile and most pro-European ministers in Germany. This man of iron is outspoken apostle of rigor in Germany but also in Europe.President Sarkozy and his government, which had inspired his brake mechanism to debt, lend him an ear.

This is the first time a German minister participates in a French Cabinet, a symbolic meeting to be held under the theme of "European economic governance," a topic that has divided President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

To revive the Franco-German, Paris and Berlin had decided in early February to open the meetings of government ministers of both countries. In late March, Christine Lagarde, with whom he maintains a good relationship, had attended a cabinet meeting Merkel in Berlin. Schäuble was forced to postpone his visit to the French Council of Ministers, in May, for health reasons.

It tames the suffering

This practicing Protestant was never one to panic.Some in Europe have criticized him his reluctance to rush to the aid of Greece. Schäuble dream aloud of a federal Europe. He put one on the table the creation of a European Monetary Fund. A mechanism has been adopted approached in early May by the euro area but in his absence: he had been rushed to hospital in Brussels. A poorly healed wound was nailed to a hospital bed, where he led his ministry for several weeks cash advance loan. What has not failed to feed the rumors about his departure from government.

But it has long been tamed Schäuble suffering. Minister of Interior of Kohl, his life is turned upside down in 1990, when he fell under the bullets of a balance. An avid tennis, the ambitious politician finds himself in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the chest down.His wife suggested that he give up politics. It is at the head of his department after several weeks of convalescence. And now asserts that his passion for politics has helped to overcome the ordeal, which he calls "this shit". Gray eminence of Helmut Kohl, which was also the dolphin, it was he who negotiated the contract of German reunification with East Germany.

His ambitions were often thwarted. For example, Kohl's, for which he retains a deep respect, clung to power for 16 years, only disappearing never to its advantage. In the late 1990s, Schäuble flows in the case of the CDU slush funds: he accepted 100,000 DM jars of wine a sour arms dealer to finance the party. The case forced him to resign from the head of the Conservative Party and bar him permanently road to the Chancery. Then between Merkel track.Fearing that it will make him the shadow Chancellor he preferred another candidate for the Presidency of the Republic. Merkel, who sought a strong man to hold his government partners Liberals imposed the Ministry of Finance. He has gained the nickname "Sparminator.

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PSA: a second partner in China

Posted in Uncategorized, business, online, publications, technology by admin on July 10th, 2010 | Comments Off

Philippe Varin hammered since his arrival at the head of PSA: China is a priority internationally. Determined to change size in this country's biggest car market in the world, the group has finalized Friday a joint venture equally with a second local ally, the Chinese Changan. The two companies will share an initial investment of 935 million euros for marketing light commercial vehicles and passenger cars in the Middle Kingdom from the second half of 2012.

Based in Shenzhen (Guangdong province), the joint plant will initially produce 200,000 cars and engines per year. It will manufacture the first models in the future DS, Citroen premium label, and vehicles, including utilities, a new brand created for this market.Next came the Peugeot and Changan.

Yet pioneer in China in 1985, PSA has seen sales take off only recently, thanks to the Citroen C5 and Peugeot 408, produced with Dongfeng, China's first ally. They have risen by half in 2009, with 272,000 cars passed, and the first half of 2010 (176 000), faster than the market (+27%). With a market share of 3.3%, the group remains a small player. Hence the need to find another partner to reach 8% in 2015-2016. An ambitious target, given the amounts invested by the leaders General Motors and Volkswagen.

New segments

The agreement with Changan to permit "to better cover the market" due to launch on "segments where we were not present," said Philippe Varin. Including vans, with sales booming in China.SAP is also focusing on high-end, also very promising. The group plans to produce locally large models of its range DS (DS4 and / or DS5), and its future Peugeot 508 (with Dongfeng).

This coupling with the fourth Chinese manufacturer could facilitate the growth of PSA on the east coast of China and Hong Kong, where the market is more dynamic. Dongfeng is based in Beijing and especially in the center of the country. The French, who has an annual capacity of 450,000 cars in China with Dongfeng, alongside plans to build a third plant with its first partner

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"A frequenter of social negotiations"

Posted in Uncategorized, business, opinions, resources, technology by admin on July 6th, 2010 | Comments Off

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Wall Street in the red

Posted in Uncategorized, online, special, technology, world by admin on June 23rd, 2010 | Comments Off

After starting the session on an uptick, the indices fall into the red after 16 hours. The Dow Jones lost 0.11% to 10.431points, while the S & P coward 0.20% to 1111 points. Only the Nasdaq is on track with an increase of 0.13% to 2292 points. Investors welcomed the announcement of a bad back, unexpected, in May, resales of new housing: – 2.2% last month to 5.66 million units annualized, while economists had forecast an average of 6 12 million units or 5.5%. This further decline comes after two consecutive months of rising sales.

The night before, after long hesitation which direction to take, Wall Street finished little decline in trading volumes very low: The Dow Jones lost 0.08% at 10,442 points, the Nasdaq 0.90% to 2289 points and the S & P500 -0.39% to 1113 points. Previously, Wall Street had lined up eight consecutive sessions.Yesterday, investors have largely reacted to the announcement by China to implement an exchange rate policy more "flexible".

On the foreign exchange market, the euro resumed its decline late Monday afternoon, and continued to fall in the morning against the dollar, falling below 1.23 dollars, amid persistent fears over the economic health Europe Guaranteed payday loans.

Energy and raw material expected

On the side of values, or related companies exporting energy and raw materials may still be affected by the rising yuan including Caterpillar (+0.17% to 66.18 dollars) a strong presence in China, Freeport -McMoRan Copper & Gold (-1.37% to 67.18 dollars) or aluminum specialist Alcoa (-0.17% 11.70 dollars).Conversely, the retail sector could suffer pressure on its margins.

Always on the side of values, Visa (-1.33% to 79.82 dollars) and Mastercard (-0.05% to 223.22 U.S. dollars) closed sharply higher Monday after an agreement between members of Congress on the regulation banking fees.

Also note, Goldman Sachs (-0.37% to 137.23 dollars), receives an extension from the court to answer a complaint filed by the SEC, which accused him of fraud. Goldman Sachs has until July 19 to provide evidence to defend himself against the complaint, which concerns the sale of CDOs.

The gold at the highest in its history

Posted in business, economics, finance, publications, technology by admin on June 21st, 2010 | Comments Off

Gold continues to mix with peaks. The yellow metal is still beating his personal best on Monday morning, closing at over 1265 dollars an ounce on the spot market, improving the previous record of 1262.50 dollars entered Friday night.

In Asian trade, the precious metal climbed to 1,265.07 dollars per ounce. Unheard.

Gold price over the past ten years.

Russian Avtovaz plans to be profitable this year

Posted in money, online, people, resources, technology by admin on June 14th, 2010 | Comments Off

After a nightmarish year 2009, the first Russian manufacturer, in which Renault owns 25%, his head out of water. While it had reduced its production by three last year to adapt to the collapse of the Russian market, the manufacturer of the Lada is now the biggest beneficiary of the scrappage of about 1300 euro launched its domestic market in early March. "80% of cars sold through this device are Ladas," says Igor Komarov, CEO of Avtovaz, appointed last summer. And 10% are assembled by Renault Logan in Moscow.

Result, sales of Avtovaz jumped 62% in May An upturn that could allow him to make a profit this year after a loss of one billion euros last year. "We must produce more than 450,000 vehicles (cons 300,000 in 2009) to generate an operating profit.While that seemed unrealistic at the beginning of the year, we now see pre exceed this threshold in 2010, "said Igor Komarov.

This adjustment is also allowed by drastically lowering costs. Russian has reduced its workforce last year to 30,000 people on 102 000. A job that required "the support of the state," said Igor Komarov. Some social activities of the group inherited from the Soviet era (nurseries, hospitals, nursing homes) has been transferred to the municipality of Togliatti. According to Renault, only a Russian could carry out this mission.This explains the departure of former French boss Avtovaz, last summer.

Five models assembled on the platform Logan

Avtovaz, Renault and Nissan aim to ally his term 40% of Russian market against 38.7% through May, in a context where the market share of Lada models obsolete, had significantly eroded by the crisis for the foreign brands. To achieve this, Renault must succeed in modernizing the plant of the former Soviet dinosaur. The French account to produce five new models on the platform of the Logan from 2012. Two Lada (station wagon and van versions), a Nissan and Renaults. A new small cheap Lada will also be constructed from the end of 2011.

Another priority: "Deliver upgrade local suppliers, in terms of cost and quality," said Christian Esteve, CEO of Renault in Russia.His goal is to move to Renault vehicles produced in Togliatti, 74% of local components in 2012, against 40% currently in its Moscow factory. To encourage suppliers to locate in western Russia and protect the development of local players, the group campaigning for the introduction of tariffs on imports of components.

The manufacturer has escaped bankruptcy last year, with help from the Kremlin about 1.7 billion euros, which allowed him to restructure its debt and cover its liquidity needs. Renault was able to maintain its share in the Russian capital without paying money, thanks to technology transfers valued at 240 million euros. According to Renault, the Russian market could reach 4 million cars in 2015-2016, which would make it the largest European market.

The budget deficit of France is reduced

Posted in business, online, opinions, special, technology by admin on June 9th, 2010 | Comments Off

The hole in government finances gradually fills. The state budget deficit has narrowed significantly over one year thanks to higher tax revenues. According to recent estimates by the Ministry of Budget released Tuesday, it rose to 56.2 billion euros in late April against 71.6 billion a year earlier, at the height of the crisis.

The increase in revenues explains this improvement, with 81.6 billion euros against 70.2 billion a year earlier. The only tax revenues increased by 11.3 billion. In contrast, spending rose slightly, to 130.6 billion euros in late April against 127 billion a year earlier.

Revenue growth could continue in the coming months if economic activity is more vigorous as anticipated the Bank of France (BDF).The institution has in fact confirmed its growth forecast for the second quarter to 0.5% in its May business survey released Tuesday. The activity increased only 0.1% over the first three months of the year.

Dynamism of the interim

In May, the services have been fired by the rebound of the interim and computer activities, details the Bank of France. However, "forecasts indicate a more moderate increase in activity in the coming months," notes BdF. In industry, all sectors advanced, with the exception of the car, even if the rate of use of means of production remains below its long period to 76.2% in April against 75.7 % in March."The outlook in the short term [the industry] are oriented towards maintaining production," notes BdF.

Trade deficit down

On Tuesday, Customs has also published the trade figures in April. The trade deficit was only moderately reduced by 160 million euros compared to the previous month, -4248000000 euros. Exports, driven by major aerospace contracts, rose 1%, more strongly than imports.

"The geographical breakdown of the data confirms that the resumption of world trade is indeed driven by demand from emerging economies," notes Alberto Balboni, an economist at Xerfi."The French exports to China grew by 38.6% in value compared to last year, a pace almost four times more sustained than those to the European Union." But the empire Environment is still only 3% of exports hexagonal.

Falling German exports

In the same month of April, German exports fell by 8.03% compared to the previous month, according to figures released on Tuesday the Federal Statistics Office Destatis. After a dramatic rebound of 22.3% in March, this figure "must be analyzed as a small correction," relativize Natixis economists in a note.

However, the decline in German imports of 4.63% seems to be bad news for France, the first trading partner of Germany.And things should not be arranged in the coming months, with the establishment in 2011 of fiscal savings of 11.2 billion euros in Germany. As noted Juliette Hubert, Aster, "plans rigorously engaged by our trading partners will lead to a contraction of the request to the French industry."

Apple should make its 4G iPhone next Monday

Posted in Uncategorized, economic, people, technology, top news by admin on June 7th, 2010 | Comments Off

The surprises have always been the marketing muscle of Apple. But the presentation of the iPhone could turn to four non-event. This Monday, June 7, at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, Steve Jobs is expected to formally present the new version of its iPhone. A difficult task since the surprise had been nipped in the bud by Gizmodo, a blog specializing in the area. The latter was obtained for a fee, a version of the last device that was lost in a bar, then had completely husked, literally as figuratively. Result: Apple expected to miss elements of surprise in his presentation.

At this conference, Steve Jobs should focus on news and updates available for this new iPhone.But then again, few surprises in the program: the company had already submitted the software that will be applied to the iPhone 4 as she presented the platform iad, allowing Apple to develop the market for advertising applications.

According to analysts, a real surprise could come from the announcement of an extension of the exclusive sales of the iPhone to Verizon. So far, only AT & T can sell the unit on the U.S. market. But again, the mere announcement of talks with Verizon would not be a revelation: more rumors, sometimes belied by the operator to move the subject on the canvas for several weeks.

The product's most profitable brand

Although there is hardly any surprise about the iPhone 4, Apple knows that this presentation could take effect with the customer.The iPhone remains an undeniable success for the brand and the popularity continues unabated since its launch in 2007. In the first quarter, Apple said it had passed 8.7 million iPhones, representing a sales growth of 131% over a year.

The turnover of the phone is 5.4 billion dollars against 3.76 billion to $ 1.3 billion for Mac and iPod. The widening gap so quickly that observers now expects a gross margin of between 50% and 60% for iPhone cons 20-30% for Mac. In other words, the iPhone product line will be more profitable for Apple.

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