Posts Tagged ‘financial’

The lunch break is reduced to a trickle

Posted in Uncategorized, economics, features, opinions, resources by admin on September 29th, 2011 | Comments Off

The long pause between colleagues at lunch time lived. The increased pace of work was right in this traditional division, whose length has been reduced to a trickle in the last twenty years. While employees willingly stopped for over an hour and a half to sustain themselves in the 1990s, they now spend no more than 22 minutes on average to this ritual.

"The lunch break has become the adjustment variable of the workday, says Anne-Sophie Godon, director of prevention within the group of social protection Malakoff Médéric, who published a study Tuesday on the subject. The content of the day was densified, while the distance between work and home tends to increase. In this context, employees have no choice but to cut back on the lunch break. "Women are more concerned than men, many of them prefer to take the shortest time at noon in hopes of starting earlier work, says Odile Fox, medical officer in Paris.

Employees bring their lunch more

With less time spent at lunch, it is the nature of the meal that has changed. A perceptible change in the last few years yet, the study said. Since 2009, the number of employees who go home for lunch has been declining (29% of respondents in 2011 against 34% in 2009), as well as those who go to a restaurant business (19% instead of 22%). In contrast, the share of those who swallow a sandwich as a meal is still growing by 2 points in 2011 compared to 2009.

Shortening the length of the lunch break is not always synonymous with "junk food".The proportion of employees who bring their pittance to work after having prepared at home is steadily increasing. Nearly a third now say do it frequently, women are over-represented again. "The French are trying to eat more balanced, it is a serious sociological trend. Provide meals is a way to control your diet. It's also a way to save money, "says Anne-Sophie Godon. The crisis is over there.

Decreased concentration

Sandwich and dish prepared in advance, reducing the dwell time has nevertheless perverse effects. "When you eat quickly, no time to feel full. Satiety occurs only after a quarter of an hour. And when we eat at his computer, it's worse: it does not even pay attention to what you swallow.Result, we tend to snack in the afternoon, "said Patrick Serog, doctor. In 2011, 39% of employees admit to regularly snacking, two points more than in 2009. "Making a real pause, three-quarters of an hour, is crucial, says Odile as Fox. Without this cut, the stress builds up. "

The health of the employee is not only involved for the company either, the lunch break is not wasted time. An employee who does not stop and does not cut even if it's only twenty minutes with their working environment is an employee who may lose concentration. "Attention has its phases. It can be really careful for forty five minutes or an hour, but rarely more. If we restore his normal work environment at his office, for example, the concentration decreases even faster, and we made mistakes, "warns Patrick Serog.This did not include an office where you eat according to host Monster 400 times more bacteria than the toilet normally maintained.

"Testimonials – And you, do you take time for breakfast? Prepare your meals in advance or do you buy close to your work? Share your experience in comments below or by email at temoin@lefigaro.fr.

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Fraud: Moody's intends to degrade UBS

Posted in money, online, opinions, publications, top news by admin on September 16th, 2011 | Comments Off

UBS has not finished paying the consequences of fraud valued at 1.5 billion euros of one of its traders in London. Beyond a tarnished reputation, the scandal threatens the investment activity of UBS and its credit rating, sesame to borrow on the markets. In fact, Moody's has been quick to draw. In the evening, the rating agency has under surveillance the notes of the first Swiss bank to a possible degradation. If the loss due to fraud is "manageable" by the bank, Moody's noted, "these losses raise questions about the group's ability to successfully rebuilding its investment banking operations," said the specialist assessment Financial. More worryingly, Moody's believes that the event shows the "weaknesses in risk management group."

The rating agency also reserves the possibility to study "the implications of such an event on the ability of management to grow the sales of the investment bank in a suitable manner in terms of risk and the potential impact on profits of another setback on that front free business cards. " And Moody's adds: "Similarly, we will consider the potential implications of such an event on the reputation of UBS to its customers of its private banking and wealth management."

However, Moody's believes that the examination of the situation "is unlikely to lead to damage of more than one notch."The bank in turn stated that the case was likely to plunge into the red its third quarter results, but that customers should not suffer directly.

Markets, the penalty was immediate: the title UBS closed Thursday down 9.75% to 10.80 Swiss francs in a market up 0.29%. It must be said that the bank accumulated problems. In 2008, she was among the banks most exposed to subprime. More recently, the bank paid the $ 780 million U.S. in tax evasion Affiris. And some observers are quick to mention the outright end of the business of investment bank UBS.

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Further decline in the CAC 40, the lowest of the year

Posted in economy, money, opinions, publications, resources by admin on September 7th, 2011 | Comments Off

The CAC 40 continues its slow descent into hell. The stock market, which recorded a third consecutive session ended with a downward decrease of 1.13% to 2965.64 points, its lowest close of the year. It should even go back in spring 2009 to find such levels.

Moreover, stock markets are all in red with the exception of London (1.06%) and Zurich (4.02%). But the DAX in Frankfurt still loose 1.04% and 2.06% Milan.

Greece again centralizes all fears since the country's authorities and inspectors of the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank, have suspended talks to ten days. The two parties disagree on the reasons and extent of delays by Athens in reducing its budget deficit. This situation endangers the second rescue plan concocted by the European Union.Some analysts believe even now that the plan was stillborn. "Greece has already slipped over new deficit targets," said Bruno Cavalier, as well, an economist at Oddo Securities.

Nervousness is also high, whereas the German Constitutional Court will make its decision Wednesday on the highly anticipated aid granted by Greece to Berlin and the establishment of a European emergency fund. Germany is the main creditor of Greece in the eurozone.

"It's a stampede"

Also in the issue of debt in the euro zone, Italy is suffering from a new crisis of confidence while accumulating doubts on its ability to curb its deficit despite the adoption of an austerity plan this summer.Finally, union sources said yesterday that the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero had recognized mid-August, the markets in crisis, that Spain was close to a "rescue" needed.

"It's the stampede, the free fall. Trust is the innermost and nobody does anything to reassure, "commented Xavier Villepion, sales of shares in Global Equities. "Investors have no reason now to invest in the equity markets," he says. "We are in a dynamic market similar to that of the fall of 2008, when prevailing psychosis triggered by the subprime crisis," said Patrick Jacq, bond strategist at BNP Paribas."Everybody goes in the same direction and fled to the German long-term bonds," he said.

"No recession in the U.S."

These problems of sovereign debt in addition to fears of a global recession while the health of U.S. economic worries. In this regard, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Tuesday that the United States was not threatened by a return to recession. "I do not think the United States and the world will fall into recession," he said.

Societe Generale and Credit Agricole to the lowest since 2009

Bank stocks were again the most attacked: BNP Paribas lost 5.24% to 29.66 euros, Crédit Agricole, 4.72% to 5.56 euros and Societe Generale, 6.54% to 18.92 euros.

Audika: + 1.56% to 16.30 euros

The group released a net profit up 17.2% to 4.8 million in the first half, Audika has benefited from financial instruments, whose contribution represents about 400,000 euros.

Medica: 2.54% to 12.50 euros

Medica said it had seven times its first-half profits to 20.7 million euros and raised its annual growth target of the activity of 15% to 17%.

NYSE Euronext: -1.68% to 17.80 euros

The group announced a return to continuous trading, as of Thursday, September 8, a series of indicators of the Paris Bourse, the SBF 120, which was suspended on August 8 for technical reasons.

Casino: -1.66% to 54.36 euros

The retailer Almacenes Exito Colombia, 54.8% owned by the French group, has launched a capital increase of $ 1.4 billion (one billion) unveiled in late June.

Paris airport: -0.38% to 55.29 euros

A consortium that includes ADP is one of the groups pre-qualified to take over the airports of Madrid and Barcelona, ​​said Monday the Spanish airport authority AENA.

Lagardère: 0.03% to 19.30 euros

Arnaud Lagardere said the media group is considering a share buyback or payment of a dividend with the proceeds of the sale of the international magazine division.In an interview published Tuesday by the newspaper Les Echos, he also said that the withdrawal of the group of EADS will not happen until the release of the Airbus A350, the future long-haul European aircraft manufacturers.

Air France-KLM: + 0.79% to 6.14 euros

The group wants to save 700 to 800 million euros in additional savings and will also scale back its flight schedule.

GDF Suez: -2.07% to 19.63 euros

The newspaper Les Echos, there will be no increase in gas rates for individuals on 1 October, the Regulatory Commission (CRE) does not provide a complete analysis of the tariff before the end of September.

Séché: -9.65% to 42.45 euros

The company said it was reviewing its goal of decreasing operating income (ROC) for 2011, it now expected around the level reached in 2010 after falling 2.7% in the first half.

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The economic crisis is the moral frameworks falter

Posted in economy, online, opinions, special, top news by admin on September 5th, 2011 | Comments Off

Staff morale was recorded in late spring a dramatic improvement, the financial crisis of this summer related to sovereign debt of the United States and the countries of the euro area has dramatically changed the situation. And the beginning of September, white-collar grind black.

In any case, what emerges from the latest wave of the Baro-Eco Viavoice for HEC, Le Figaro and France Inter, in August, the total fertility fell by 30 percentage points from May "Unheard of. And, – 55, the index fell to its lowest level since its inception in 2004, "insists François Miquet-Marty, president of Viavoice.

All indicators are in red and some even collapsing altogether. Thus, three out of four frames (+ 25 points) expect a deterioration in living standards in France in general in a year, against one in two in May.And nearly eight in ten (39 + points) forecast an increase in unemployment in the coming months (the survey was conducted before the publication of poor figures from July). "The extent of the deterioration of macroeconomic indicators is particularly worrying," believes François Miquet-Marty No teletrack payday loans.

Fear of a recession

In this context, it is not surprising that they are pessimistic about the evolution of the economic situation. Seven in ten think that France "will again be in recession" over the coming months."The risks of recession concern especially as states now have more ways to revive the economy," said President Viavoice.

The personal perspectives of white-collar darker too, even though the labor market frameworks remained well oriented in July, according to latest statistics from the Apec, with offers up 67% over 12 months. According to the barometer Viavoice near a two-part (+ 16 points) think their personal financial situation "will deteriorate." More than eight in ten believe that the opportunities to advance their careers will be "weak". "Vote the budget framework of Franco-German proposals against the crisis, G20 in the fall: the appointment of school appear to be crucial to restore the confidence of executives," said François Miquet-Marty.

Click the preview to enlarge the graphic.

Europe is a "sustainable" 10% of hearing

Posted in economy, international, online, resources, top news by admin on August 30th, 2011 | Comments Off

Denis Olivennes set the course. The boss of Europe on Monday announced a desire to place the station "lasting beyond 10% of total audience," where its predecessor, Alexandre Bompard, always assured that "we had not set a target Hearing ". A Europe which ended the 2010-2011 season to 8.7% of the audience, did not exceed the symbolic threshold of 10% audience from January to March 2010. For Denis Olivennes, yet it is the "natural area" where Europe has to change 1. Currently, a play in which division France Inter (10.2%) and NRJ (10.7%). "It's a marathon not a sprint," said Denis Olivennes.

If the owner of the station, also at the head of information division of Lagardère Active (Europe 1, Sunday Journal and Paris Match), is given three years to reach its goal, it is pressed to do so."We need to increase advertising revenues and those from diversification. It provided funding for our programs, "commented Denis Olivennes. In the first half, Europe 1a indeed registered a "slight decrease" in advertising revenues. But advertisers have been attracted by the new schedule in September, reassured the control group low fee payday advance.

This new grid wants to "reconnect with the deep roots of the station." "Europe is a television station whose spine is the information which has the characteristic good humor," analyzed Denis Olivennes.Simple translation on the air: the three appointments of information of the day – the morning, afternoon and evening Europe – are interspersed with two "beaches of entertainment," in the late morning and afternoon.

New site info

Eager to improve its image among listeners as advertisers, Europe has become an an "opinion leader". It is the mission entrusted to Arlette Chabot, director of information of the station. "The information needs to be a reference to Europe, as its independence," she said. To strengthen its position as the standard for information, will also launch a Europe in mid-October a "pure player" of information, facilitated by a dedicated team of journalists. It will be fed content from other sites in the group, its own content and production of Internet users.

Finland threatens plan for aid to Greece

Posted in economics, international, money, resources, technology by admin on August 21st, 2011 | Comments Off

Greece seriously concerned about new markets. First because of its new economic forecast alarming: the finance minister, Evangelos Venizelos, admitted yesterday that the austerity plan would cause a recession than expected, with a decline in GDP is now estimated at 4.5% " at least "in 2011 against 3.8% prior.

But mainly because the second plan with 158.6 billion euros, concocted by the Heads of State on July 21 and has yet to be ratified by all members of the euro area, has been seriously shaken by Finland.

Helsinki this week announced it has signed a bilateral agreement with Athens where, in exchange for his participation in the bailout, Greece to collateral ("Collateral") to Finland. This sum, which some analysts valued at 1 billion euros would be invested by Finland in risk-free assets.Interest earned will, in the end, to cover the amount loaned in the rescue plan. In other words, the Finnish government has made pledges to ensure against any risk of default of Greece.

Two-tier system

Technical in appearance, this agreement could have an impact politically devastating. Although this is a bilateral agreement, "Member States of the zone will validate this discussion between Finland and Greece," said a spokesman for the Commission, Amadeu Altafaj, ensuring that " Negotiations are already underway. "

But in Brussels, it does not hide his concern. If it is definitely validated the agreement between Finland and Greece could open a Pandora's box by allowing other countries to step into the breach. Austria, Slovakia and Slovenia are already tempted to do the same."We believe this agreement will exacerbate the problems of Greece and did not fall," warned yesterday the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. He said the solution is equivalent in effect to "resume direct" the money lent. However, the Dutch Prime Minister said that if the Finns get this guarantee, it should apply to all countries in the euro area quick cash.

Therein lies the problem. By creating a two-tier system, the agreement undermines the solidarity displayed by the leaders of the euro area on July 21. "The participation of Finland has been canceled," said one EU source, deploring an arrangement going "against the spirit of the agreement" for Seventeen.

Difficult, however, to reverse, the source added.Helsinki is indeed required to deal with the nationalist party of the True Finns since their breakthrough in the last legislative elections and their reluctance to come to the rescue baskets drilled in the euro area.

Markets are not fooled

Under the pressure of Finland, the Heads of State of Seventeen had included a short clause in their agreement of July 21, stating that "where appropriate, a security agreement will be established to cover the risk arising, for Member States of the euro area, the guarantees they have provided to EFSF. " The rhetoric is vague and leaves open to interpretation. Yesterday in Brussels, experts from the ministries of finance in the euro area came together to floor on the issue.

For the Commission, this development is not a surprise, and he emphasizes the urgency of ratifying the agreement of July 21.José Manuel Barroso had written to heads of state of the euro area from August 3 to ask them to speed up the timetable, and thus "avoid introducing excessive stress in terms of conditions or additional collateral." We understand better the rush now.

Athens wanted reassurance yesterday, indicating he had entered into negotiations with a pledge of Helsinki. But financial markets are not fooled: "If all countries in the euro area, each requiring a Trust Agreement, this will restrict all the help that will actually be available for Greece," say economists at Barclays Capital. This would imply de facto establishment of an additional third envelope.

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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.

The Greek plan passes the test markets

Posted in business, economic, events, online, special by admin on July 23rd, 2011 | Comments Off

After the immediate relief, the scrutiny. The decisions of the EU summit in distilled As the day of Thursday, had caused a real euphoria in the markets. The important thing was then to resist the further analysis which would not fail to deliver the observers. Result: the markets have continued to welcome a plan that went far beyond their expectations, even though Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Barclays, we regretted not getting an expansion in the size of EFSF (European financial stability).

Real financial thermometer, the CDS (credit default swap) of Greece – or the premium paid by investors seeking to insure against the default risk of Athens – had symbolized the tension alone: ​​this instrument has lost 500 points these hours to reach 1500 bps.As recently as Monday, July 18, he had earned in 2568 basis points. In this case, the ISDA – the professional body responsible for deciding whether to initiate hedges and therefore pay those who hold them – decided on Friday that the European level do not justify.

A first in the euro area

Conversely, the rating agency Fitch has confirmed that it would place Greece in "selective default". This penalty – provided from the time the private creditors were asked to contribute to the rescue of Greece – a first in the euro area. The default is "selective", only a portion of the loans in Greece are concerned. There will be temporary. Fitch says it will award the following further notes that Greece will consider reducing the weight of its debt.

Behind these technical quibbles lies a considerable challenge.Whether the 50 billion of impairment suffered by the financial sector to come to the aid of Greece are yes or no if a "unique and exceptional" as European leaders have hammered. These statements have not prevented Fitch stressed that the Greek case did constitute a "precedent", when Ireland and Portugal are far from out of the woods. "This means that Ireland and Portugal have eighteen months to put up their house in order, they will suffer further degradation of their rating," warns Gary Jenkins, head of research at Evolution.

Apart from Ireland and Portugal, the first priority was to stop the contagion to Spain and Italy. On this point, the efforts have paid off. The rates at which these two countries borrow on the markets have significantly relaxed this week.

This renewed confidence has yet to confirm."We see four risks in the plan," detailing the Societe Generale analysts. Get ahead of the national parliaments, first. Limit the duration and impact of selective default, then. Confirm a response rate of 90% of creditors to the plan – in this respect, the French banks said they would meet there. And, last but not least challenge: that Greece found a dynamic itself.

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Piracy costs hundreds of thousands of dollars per boat

Posted in economics, features, news, publications, special by admin on July 20th, 2011 | Comments Off

In launching his new business tuna in the Indian Ocean in 2007, Yannick Lauri, president of Sapmer rubbed to a less pleasing to fishing in Seychelles waters: the fight against piracy. Used to fight against illegal fishing in the Southern Ocean, its historical business, the second French fishing vessel owner must now deal with direct attacks against ships, conducted off the coast of Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania. "A real paramilitary organization," also describes the leader, the tuna-freezer Franche-Terre foiled a pirate attack in 2010.

To avoid being faced with demands for ransom of up to tens of millions of euros, the group has had to adapt.After the first fishing season in September 2009 carried out without any protection, fleet Sapmer has adopted a "for the protection of its crews, under the strong incentive of the state," explains Yannick Lauri. The measures are rather restrictive and expensive …. The obligation to "binômage" (navigation of ships by two, alternating with fishing time) in effect reduces the effective time fishing and limits the free movement of ships. "Especially since we had to navigate a given speed, which has a significant effect on fuel consumption." This obligation has been reduced on June 1, but could be reconsidered in case of renewed attacks.

Insurers ship their bets

But the effect on fishing in itself is a first illustration of the additional costs incurred by piracy.Faced with these increased risks, insurers have been quick to react. "The coverage of these risks represent 10% of our insurance for our tuna fleet, about 75,000 euros for our fleet of three tuna," said Yannick Lauri.

Finally, a report by the Institute of Higher National Defence Studies (IHEDN) which participated Sapmer, released in June, estimates that several hundred thousand euros a year ship the additional security measures.

This cost may seem exorbitant, but due to the requirement for owners to use the personal protection of their ships. Cost is in addition to the measures on navigation, and insurance-costs. For example, Arnoult Gauthier, president of sales VNavy benefits of private military companies (PMCs) from 4000 to 9000 dollars (2800 to 6200 euros) per day per boat.For the heavier the device includes boarding protection teams on boats.

Armed men on board for the protection of marine

For shipowners flying the French flag as Sapmer, these are men from the bodies of state (marine commandos, marines, etc.). Who come to protect the crew. Five armed men complement the 33 sailors present on each of the three tuna of the group. Considering that their vigilance decreases after six weeks, the state imposes, by that time, a return to earth for five days of rest before returning to sea This is not consistent with the ten weeks during a campaign fishing, and induced costs of accommodation and logistics for tracking weapons.

If the teams are state bodies, is financially Sapmer "put to work" for the care of these men.Yannick Lauri, which does not specify the percentage of participation, while acknowledging the nature of effective protection measures by professionals.

To a use of private protection?

As for use of private companies, "this device is not yet approved for vessels under the French flag, although discussions are ongoing, and there is some legal uncertainty on the issue." Currently, MPI experiments with private companies to protect the devices that need to be as effective as the protection of embedded military teams, but technically lighter. But for now, no alternative "has not yet developed," says Yannick Lauri.

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