Live News

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

Many companies have awarded the famous "dividend premium against" backwards. And in fact, the amounts paid are far from the expectations of the government, says a study by Deloitte from the first returns of negotiations in companies. As Labour Minister, Xavier Bertrand, was on the table before the payment of a premium of 700 euros per employee in companies that have paid dividends on the rise, the real turn around more than 300 euros. As for the maximum amount paid, it tops out at 600 euros.

Two reasons. The first is that the premium desired by Nicolas Sarkozy to "restore the purchasing power of employees in times of recovery," has been perceived by most companies as an additional constraint than an opportunity to motivate their troops.The premium has indeed added to the devices sharing the existing value, such as profit-sharing, mandatory for companies with over 50 employees who make a profit. "This is even more disturbing that the incentive for the prisoner has recently been tightened," says Emmanuelle Rivez-Domont, a lawyer in employment law at the firm Jones Day.

The other factor is the economic context. "Uncertainty room makes companies cautious," says Philippe Burger, a partner at Deloitte. The evolution of the economic situation is also evident throughout the negotiations. "Before the trouble was and he threw in the financial markets, companies thought given bonuses of around 500-600 euros. Today, the discussions revolve more around 150 euros to 200 euros per employee, "says Philip Burger.The crisis reduced the premium to a trickle.

Wage increases slightly affected

Some companies, such as Rhodia, were more generous than others. But it should not enjoy these raw numbers, without putting them in connection with the incentive policy, participation or wage increase of the company, the consultant warns. "Some companies had the tools to share value added very generous, and that worked well. Explain what they have paid premiums less important, "said he.

The study also brings its share of surprises. The dividend premium against does not seem to negatively impacted as wages were concerned that the trade unions. While most companies recognize that its influence is not neutral, only 10% of them say they have reduced the envelope increases the amount of the premium.And they are more than 60% to estimate its impact on wages has been small.

Companies have until 31 October to agree on the amount of the premium, or they are liable to criminal sanction. Evidence that firms do not rush, only one in two has already ended its negotiations on the subject. "Given the mandatory nature of these discussions, and urgency, companies are simple, says the consultant. They also generally a fixed amount equal to each employee. But if the premium is sustained, they could eventually refine their criteria for distribution. "

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.

ALSO READ:

"The" standing desk "is emulated

"Nine out of 10 employees engaged in personal activities in the office

After starting the session in the green on Tuesday, following information about a possible takeover of Italian debt by Beijing, the CAC 40 is pressed far into the red on Tuesday. One hour after opening, it lost 2.86% to 2773.07 points, after starting the session up (1.53%). The other European financial centers remain hesitant: the Footsie-100 from the London Stock Exchange down 0.11%, the Dax in Frankfurt rose 0.26%, the FTSE MIB in Milan down 0.11% and the IBEX 35 Madrid is at -0.13%.

According to a report in the Financial Times, had asked Italy to China to perform major purchases of its sovereign debt.Senior Italian officials told the newspaper that Lou Jiwei, the chairman of China Investment Corp (CIC), was the head of a delegation that went to Rome last week to meet with Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti and as responsible for the Cassa Despositi e Prestiti. After starting the session in the red, Wall Street has ended the session in the green Monday, the Dow Jones gained 0.63% on the session. This morning, Asian stock markets also popped up slightly. The day before, the Paris Bourse had ended the session on a sharp decline dropping 4.03% to 2854.81 points (their lowest level since April 2009), weighed down by banking shares.However, market rumors suggest that Beijing now hear is not finally ready to buy bonds in Italy.

Result: the banking sector is left in the red zone, having been literally massacred on Monday. For the record, the U.S. agency Moody's announced it would lower a notch notes BNP Paribas (-10.26% to 23.44 euros) and Credit Agricole (-2.01% to 4.73 euros) and two notches that of Societe Generale (-6.10% to 14.62 euros) because of their exhibits to Greece.

Investors are particularly concerned about the situation in Greece, including the possibility of bankruptcy is no longer excluded for many politicians. An output of Greece to the euro is now considered by many economists.To this must be added about this Monday, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, chairman of the Financial Markets Authority (AMF), which estimates that Greece may have to undergo further restructuring of its debt. "What is likely to be more pronounced restructuring of the Greek debt," he said on iTV. German side, Angela Merkel is trying to catch up about his Economy Minister Philipp Rösler, who spoke Monday the event of a default of Athens.In a radio interview BBB, the Chancellor found it necessary to "avoid any uncontrolled process in the euro area."

Oil prices mixed

On the foreign exchange market, the euro was down slightly Tuesday against the dollar and the yen on Monday after falling $ 1.35 for the first time since February and the lowest for 10 years against the yen, and the voltage was strong, the markets fear more a possible failure of Greece. Around 8 am, the single European currency was worth 1.3665 dollars against 1.3680 dollars on Monday in 23 hours.

As for oil prices, they were mixed, helped by a relative weakening of the dollar-weighted but the latest projections of OPEC anticipates a lower than expected growth in demand for crude because of the nervousness of the markets.In early electronic trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October gave himself 80 cents to 88.99 dollars a barrel while Brent North Sea crude for delivery in October, more sensitive to economic conditions in Europe, gave 52 cents to 112.25 dollars. "We see that oil has a weaker dollar," said Ker Chung Yang, an analyst at Phillip Futures commodity in Singapore.

On the front mécroéconomique, the consumer prices in France rose 0.5% in August from the previous month, said Tuesday the National Institute of Statistics (INSEE).This increase resulted mainly from the late summer sales but also reflects the higher prices, also seasonal, tourism-related services, these increases are offset by the seasonal decline in prices of fresh produce, INSEE said.

In addition, the current account deficit widened from France in July to 4.5 billion euros against 3.4 billion in June, due to an increase in the deficit of trade in goods, announced Tuesday Bank of France.

United States, the import price will be announced in late afternoon.

Values ​​to follow

Accor (-4.77% to 20.48 euros)

The hotel group announced on Tuesday a target for 2011 operating profit of between 510 and 530 million euros during the presentation of its new strategic objectives.

Renault (-2.69% to 23.33 euros)

The manufacturer has officially launched Monday in Maubeuge mass production of the Kangoo Zero Emission (ZE), which accounts for between 30,000 and 20.OOO vehicles per year.

PSA Peugeot Citroën (-2.91% to 16.04 euros)

The CEO of PSA Peugeot Citroen confirms Philippe Varin Tuesday in our columns his will "accelerate cost reductions," including employment.While ensuring that no significant slowing in demand was observed, explaining that the group wants to "guard against a possible market downturn."

Total (-2.29% to 31.38 euros)

The oil company announced Monday that he wanted to continue the search for shale gas in the southeast of France, while pledging not to use the method known as "hydraulic fracturing" now banned.

Interparfums

The group specializes in the design and marketing of fragrances, posted first half net profit up 33% to 17.1 million thanks to sales, according to a statement released Tuesday. This result should the "lead to revise upward its forecast for sales in 2011," added the group.

Wall Street was unable to string together a fourth consecutive session. The New York Stock Exchange finished lower on Tuesday: according to preliminary figures, the Dow Jones gives 0.68% to 11,405.25 points and the Nasdaq, dominated by technology, 1.26% to 2523.11 points. After opening down, the markets have increased their losses after the meeting, much anticipated, between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Around 20 hours (French time), the Dow Jones lost 0.89% to 11,380 , 46 points after hitting a low of 11,292.63 points. The Nasdaq loose in turn 1.45% to 2518.22 points.

The ads at the end of the Franco-German summit failed to reassure the markets, concerned about the contagion of the crisis of debt in the euro area.Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy called for a "real governance of the euro area", the introduction of golden rule of balancing the budget in national constitutions and a tax on financial transactions. They, however, repeated their opposition to the creation of Eurobonds. These must be the "culmination of a process of integration and not a prerequisite," said Nicolas Sarkozy. For the French head of state, they would, in addition, "serious danger" to the most stable countries such as Germany and France.

After the meeting, European markets ended on a note hesitant. The euro was briefly argued against the greenback before going down. The European currency traded at 1.4402 dollars around 21 hours, down 0.21%, after reaching 1.4471 dollars in the wake of Franco-German proposals.Oil markets, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery closed lower. He lost $ 1.23 to 86.65 dollars. The September Brent sold his part of 0.4%, or 44 cents to 109.47 dollars.

European growth disappoints

The bad mood also follows the publication of European indicators disappointing that send negative signals about the health of the euro area. Germany, European locomotive, reported a surprise slowdown and sharp growth in the second quarter. The entire euro area saw growth of 0.2% after increasing 0.8% in the first quarter.

Two good news though: the rating agency Fitch affirmed the "AAA" rating on U.S. debt, along with a stable outlook. The Federal Reserve also reported industrial production rose higher than expected for the month of July.It advances by 0.9% thanks to the automotive sector and the heat wave that has boosted the use of air conditioners and thus power consumption.

The release of housing starts, down 1.5% in July, but confirmed the slump. The number of building permits has meanwhile Contracted 3.2%. As for import prices, they recorded an unexpected rebound, while export declined.

Values ​​to follow

On the corporate side, Home Depot (5.31% to 33.13 dollars) has issued a profit better than expected in the second quarter, while Wal-Mart (3.87% to 51.95 dollars) recorded a further decline in sales over the same period. The retail giant has nevertheless issued a profit and a turnover up more than 5%.

Agilent Technologies (-2.48% to 36.57 dollars) reported Monday after-hours trading from a profit of $ 330 million, or 92 cents a share, in the third quarter, up 62% The number of Business was up to 1.69 billion.

Berkshire Hathaway (-0.90% to 107.623 dollars) would have taken a stake in the retailer Dollar General (4.94% to 33.78 dollars).

Dell (1.94% to 15.80 dollars) has a higher than expected for deuxtrième quarter. It reached $ 890 million, up 63%. Saks (-4.63% to 8.77 dollars) has warned that he would discuss the fall "with a bit more caution" in light of general concerns about the economic recovery. The group, however, reported a loss of $ 8.4 million in the second quarter, against 32.2 million last year. Its quarterly revenue was also up 13% year on year.

It's the only bright spot in the dark landscape cyclical French: the labor market continued to regain strength. In the second quarter, 68,300 jobs were created in the nonprofit sector. This is 10,000 more than in the first quarter.

The tertiary sector contributes almost exclusively to these creations (57,200 jobs), the industry confirms his recovery: 6600 jobs were created in this sector, according to Insee. This is his second consecutive quarter of growth. "This sector lost jobs every quarter since 2001," says INSEE.

Only government minister to be able to celebrate yesterday, Xavier Bertrand (Labour, Employment, Health) welcomed that "210,600 jobs a year (have) been created." He sees "a positive signal about the vitality of the real economy." This movement is all the more surprising that growth has been sluggish in recent months.

"You have to look at the figure of 0% over the period issued yesterday: considering the annual growth and relating to the last four quarters, we see that the quarterly growth rate is invariably French 0.4%, says Frédéric Gonand, associate professor of economics at Paris Dauphine. This shows that even with 1.6% annual rate, which corresponds to its potential growth, France is creating jobs. "

According to Dares, the index of the basic monthly wage (SMB) increased by 0.6% in the second quarter, representing an increase of 2.1% over one year. This significant increase of basic wages does not mean a sharp increase in the purchasing power of households. In the second quarter, prices rose 0.5% year on year and they operate around 2%.The purchasing power has improved very little, which explains the weakness of consumption in recent months.

Disinflation energy

But-and this is another rare good news in the farm figures released yesterday, according to Insee, the consumer prices fell by 0.4% in July. A decline mainly due balances but also by the expansion of energy prices. Under these conditions, if the job market continues to grow at the same pace as earlier this year, the disposable income of households could improve a little.

"Disinflation energy currently underway should provide some support the purchasing power of households," say economists at Natixis.The main pillar of the French economy will be a little stronger in the second half, provided that the fiscal savings provided by the government do not result in a tax grab too much, the experts continue to Natixis.

ALSO READ:

"French growth stopped in its tracks

"The GDP is stagnant, more rigorous for

Back in the red for the Paris Bourse. At closing, the Cac 40 drops 0.77% to 3812.97 points. Investors are concerned about the United States. The elected representatives of the U.S. Congress again tried Sunday to reach an agreement on raising the debt ceiling, but without success. While the Speaker of the House John Boehner had slammed the door to negotiations with the White House on Friday night, they have continued behind the scenes throughout the weekend between the Democratic allies of President Barack Obama, the Senate majority and their opponents Republicans, who control the House of Representatives. But John Boehner told his troops on Sunday night that no breakthrough had yet been obtained.

The situation becomes very tense nine days of the deadline mentioned by the Treasury before a U.S. default.This morning, this concern has led to a relapse of the Asian markets. For their part, the U.S. markets, which had already ended Friday without direction, changing declined Monday. According to the IMF, the United States may suffer a "severe shock" if the debt ceiling of the federal state was not found in time.

Greece is also in the news: Moody's today lowered the country's sovereign rating of "Caa1" from "It" with a development, saying the country was still facing major challenges medium-term credit.

Oil down

On the currency side, the euro declined slightly against the greenback at 1.4347 dollar dollar in late afternoon. Oil is also down.To 17.30 U.S. a barrel fell by 0.542% to 99.35 dollars, while the gold, he goes back to 0.84% ​​and is trading at 1615 dollars an ounce.

The banking sector in heavy losses

Dexia lost 8.09% to 1.95 euros, Crédit Agricole 5.44% to 8.92 euros, BNP Paribas 4.47% to 46.63 euros and Societe Generale 4.70% to 36.28 euros. Bank stocks suffer after degradation of the note of Greece by Moody's.

Axa (-4.26% to 13.72 euros), while welcoming the agreement reached by EU leaders on Greece, the insurers of the French Federation of Insurance Companies (FFSA) said they consider favorably participation in the project initiative of private investors, as part of the options.

Values ​​to follow

Areva: 0.10% to 25.37 euros, EDF: -0.28% to 27.09 euros

The new president of Areva, Luc Oursel, who succeeded Anne Lauvergeon end of June, will make his first official Monday by hosting one of its plants in the CEO of EDF, Henri Proglio, showing the warming of relations between the two groups. EDF and Areva have signed an agreement at that time technically and commercially, prior to a more ambitious partnership to be signed in September.

JCDecaux: -3 pay day loans.87% to 20.24 euros

JCDecaux was down sharply, after seeing the recommendation on its way down to "hold" against "buy" before, by Citigroup.

Alstom: -0.16% to 39.42 euros

RATP has ordered 66 additional subway trains for more than 300 million euros, of which 200 million will fall into the hands of Alstom Transport, Alstom said in a statement.

Score: -0.59% to 18.44 euros

The reinsurer Scor reveals a growth of 22% at constant exchange rates, the treaty renewals in non-life and specialties of the 320 million of premiums up for renewal in mid-year.

Saint-Gobain: -1.26% to 41.94 euros

The group will buy the British network Build Center and French Brossette in Wolseley, which is the world leader in the distribution of equipment, plumbing and heating.He will spend 145 million pounds (165 million) to Build Center and 186 million euros for Brossette. "These two acquisitions (…) represent a contribution of over one billion euros in sales," says Pierre-André de Chalendar, CEO of Saint-Gobain, said in a statement.

Unibail-Rodamco: -3.44% to 143.88 euros; Klépierre: 0.88% to 27.41 euros

HSBC has initiated coverage of Unibail-Rodamco to "overweight" with a target price of 175 euros and raised its recommendation on Klépierre to "underweight" to "neutral."

LVMH: 1.01% to 130.55 euros

Consob is considering a complaint from an investment fund over the price offered to pay the French to buy the balance of Bulgari, confirmed Sunday a spokesman for the Italian stock market.

Total: -0.48% to 39.26 euros

The oil amounts to ten billion dollars (seven billion euros) of investment needed to develop the oil field north of Moho Bilondo off the coast of the Republic of Congo, said its CEO, Christophe de Margerie.

Valeo: 0.05% to 47.32 euros

The group announced Friday that its U.S. subsidiary Valeo Inc., based in Troy, Michigan, had received a request for information from the U.S. court as part of an antitrust investigation.

Fimalac: 0.07% to 27.84 euros

The group announced a sales increase of 11.9% on a comparable basis to 515.8 million euros in the first nine months of fiscal year 2010-2011.Its subsidiary, the rating agency Fitch Ratings has led to an increase of 11.7% of its turnover over the same period to 401.5 million euros.

After market, Seb and Klépierre publish their half year results, April Group will announce its earnings for the second quarter, Faiveley the first quarter. Mercialys and STMicroelectronics will publish their results for the second quarter.

The New York Stock Exchange opened slightly higher Thursday, supported by a better than expected in the United States and hopes of resolving debt crises, despite disappointing figures on U.S. employment: the Dow Jones gained 0 , 16% and the Nasdaq 0.15%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is 19.75 points to 12,591.66 points and the Nasdaq, dominated by technology, 4.30 points to 2818.53 points.

On Wednesday, the New York Stock Exchange completed a small drop in session hesitant, catching her breath waiting for concrete solutions to the debt crises in the U.S. and euro area.

President Barack Obama received Wednesday several leaders of Congress and the White House has once again expressed confidence in a political solution to the crisis of debt before August 2, to avoid a default."I expect us to find a solution," the president said in an interview with local TV KMBC Kansas City, renewing his call for compromises from both sides, whether its Democratic allies or his Republican opponents.

As on other major exchanges worldwide, operators will also have their eyes riveted to Brussels where 13 hours started at the extraordinary summit of the leaders of the euro area. The latter will try to find a solution on a new plan of aid to Greece to avoid contagion of debt to other countries deemed weak in the euro area. According to draft conclusions of the EU summit, the conditions of loans to Greece would be reduced. The idea of ​​bank tax was abandoned.

Busy schedule

On the foreign exchange market, the euro rebounded sharply against the dollar Thursday, buoyed by the draft agreement at the summit of the euro area in Brussels. Around 1330 GMT (1530 Paris), the single European currency was worth 1.4322 dollars against 1.4212 dollars around 2100 GMT Wednesday, after getting off to 1.4139 to 10:30 GMT. The euro climbed also clearly against the Japanese currency at 112.63 yen against 111.94 yen yesterday.

Oil prices were moving up slightly at the opening in New York, the market welcomed with relief the first details of the draft agreement between leaders of the euro area to meet the debt crisis cash advance today.Around 1:15 p.m. GMT on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), a barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery was trading at 98.84 dollars, up 44 cents from the previous day.

On the macroeconomic front in the U.S., the day will begin with the weekly jobless claims. They proved disappointing: the number of new unemployment benefit recipients back to 418,000 people during the week of July 10 to 16, the figures Aoccdrnig Department of Labor. Analysts had forecast 410,000 new registrations.

Values ​​to follow

The side of values, the publications will continue today before the opening of Wall Street including Travelers, Pepsico, Morgan Stanley, United Continental and AT & T.

Investors will pay particular attention to Intel as Thursday.The world of microprocessors released after the market close, quarterly results better than expected. Net income progresséde 2% to 3 billion, a record turnover, up 22% to 13.1 billion. The title loses 1.78% to 22.58 dollars.

For its part, American Express Financial Group exceeded market expectations by announcing Wednesday an increase in earnings in the second quarter from 31% to $ 1.3 billion, thanks to higher costs to its customers on the cards crédit.Le of revenue has in turn increased 12% to $ 7.6 billion, above the 7.35 billion expected by analysts. The title earns 1.42% to 52.83 dollars.

For its part, the distribution group online eBay issued a net profit of 283.4 million dollars for the second quarter, down 31% due to the acquisition of marketing services GSI Commerce. The action wins 2.68% to 34.06 dollars.

Always on the side of values, Google (0.83% to 600.28 dollars). would grow in telephony. The Internet giant has begun discussions to buy the specialist in mobile phone technology InterDigital says the Wall Street Journal. The newspaper said the interest of the Internet giant for InterDigital comes in the wake of its failure on the redemption of certificates of the Canadian telecom equipment supplier Nortel. InterDigital, with a market capitalization of $ 2.8 billion, he is studying a possible sale.

The lack of consensus in Washington on ways to prevent a default by the U.S. Treasury in early August was still crying Friday. "We are clearly running out of time we have left. So I asked members of Congress to give me, within 24 to 36 hours, an indication of the plan that will raise the debt ceiling, "said Barack Obama. The American president has reiterated its willingness to accept adjustments in social programs, that number of elected its own camp, however, refused. But he asks the same time to give the Republicans on tax increases, or at least, on the elimination of tax loopholes, "The Republican voters are willing to (in) to accept," he said, citing recent surveys.

"We're not Greece or Portugal. We do not need to do something drastic, "said Barack Obama.The situation of the United States is indeed very different from the peripheral countries of Europe are grappling with the crisis of sovereign debt. Nevertheless: the absence of a congressional vote before August 2, the U.S. Treasury can no longer borrow as it has already reached the limit of its debt. It would be forced to stop paying some of its creditors.

"Golden Rule" Republican

Shortly before the intervention of Barack Obama, John Boehner, chairman of the House of Representatives, promised the adoption by his fellow Republicans of a "robust plan" to raise the debt ceiling to 2.4 trillion dollars. This text does not include any tax increases, cap on federal spending and also provides for the adoption of a constitutional amendment such as "golden rule" to prevent budget deficits. In other words, it is unlikely to generate a consensus in the Senate.Barack Obama has confirmed that he opposed it.

In the Senate, bipartisan negotiations, subtle and inventive, continue. The leaders of both parties hope to combine a reduction of expenditures in the order of at least 1 000 billion over ten years, raising the ceiling to be de facto delegated by Congress to the President.

The aim is to enable elected not to vote explicitly for raising the ceiling or to the tax increase. Increasing the cap would take place in three stages and maximum total amount would be 2 500 billion, just enough to allow the Treasury to pay all his debts until after the 2012 elections.

According to the proposed scheme, only two-thirds majority in both houses can block increases ceiling decided by Barack Obama. It does not say that this effort to succeed.Or that the elected House of Representatives accept the principle or detail. The installation is complicated as it may be associated with a new method of reduction in social health (Medicare) and retirement (Social Security). A bipartisan commission would draw up by the end of a list of savings to be realized.

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.

ALSO READ:

"4G: Besson meets Bouygues Telecom