Posts Tagged ‘technology’

Posted in Uncategorized, news, opinions, publications, resources by admin on October 31st, 2011 | Comments Off

Danièle Karniewicz chairs the board of the National Old Age Insurance (CNAV) for ten years. The CFE-CGC union, known for his outspokenness, will transfer his seat Friday to a representative of TF.

LE FIGARO. – How do you with a year follow-up the last pension reform?

Danièle Karniewicz. – It was inevitable to act on levers and short-term increase in the age of departure was the parameter most effective in lowering the stress deficits by 2018 payday loan. And we are already seeing the impact on the accounts of the general scheme: CNAV should reduce its deficit in half by 2012 and the flow of retirements begin to slow this year to produce 8.7 billion euros in savings in 2020.

Pepsi launches against Danone in the U.S.

Posted in economic, home, news, online, opinions by admin on October 16th, 2011 | Comments Off

PepsiCo has the sequence of ideas. In 2005, the U.S. giant had failed to put its plans to buy Danone. But it remains today in its desire to add yogurt to its offer. PepsiCo is indeed about to enter the market in the United States, where he will face two well-known leaders in France: Dannon, Danone's subsidiary that produces and distributes America 6 million pots of yogurt a day, and General Mills, number two, which has confirmed its ambitions by acquiring 51% of Yoplait.

In search of food markets growing, the boss of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi, displays for months his ambition to enter the dairy sector. The group is indeed under pressure from shareholders to boost its growth, to compensate for the decline of its traditional soft drinks in the United States.The yoghurt market in contrast has almost doubled over the past decade in America.

The Wall Street Journal, the multinational company is in talks to create a joint venture in the United States with German dairy group Theo Müller. The latter, already present in the UK since 1995 with its brand Müller Corner, also happens to be looking for expansion outside Europe. The brand and type of yogurt that the alliance wants to produce is not yet known. No more than the amount that the two partners plan to invest easy payday loans.

Positive

With dairy products, Pepsi expand its portfolio of 19 product lines that each generates over a billion dollars in revenue, and would complement its offering food to the radius, at present limited to Frito Lay chips and other crackers Doritos and Cheetos.Above all, the yogurt group would bring to the positive image of the nutritional point of view. Soft drinks like Pepsi, Gatorade, Mountain Dew and Seven Up, are criticized for their high sugar content and are regularly projects surcharges, while snacks are for their salt content.

PepsiCo has already begun to diversify into less controversial products: fruit juices, with the acquisition of Tropicana in 1998, or breakfast cereals with the acquisition of Quaker in 2001. One of the strategic group is also to develop snacks and other snacks made from healthy products. The firm has for example launched last year Tropolis, mashed fruit presented in liquid water bottles for children.By creating a center last year called "Global Nutrition Group," PepsiCo has set a goal to triple its turnover in 2020 in this niche products based on fruit, vegetables, grains and of milk. Dr. Mehmood Khan, an endocrinologist came from the famous Mayo Clinic, was engaged in conduct that set.

The Paris Bourse chooses optimism and ends up

Posted in features, home, news, online, special by admin on October 14th, 2011 | Comments Off

The Paris Bourse, who did not know which way to turn this morning, finally chose optimism shortly before the opening of U.S. markets, and the day after a sharp drop in session. The CAC 40, which started up in shy and then fell below 3200 points in late morning, far back in the green earlier this afternoon. To 15 hours, he climbed 1.28% to 3227.37 points. The London FTSE is also up dansle green, up 1.37% to 5477.59 points. The Frankfurt Dax climbed meanwhile to 1.56%, passing over the threshold of 6000 points to 6006.86 points.

While the debt crisis still occupies all minds. Last night, Spain has been the target of the rating agencies.After Fitch, Standard and Poor's lowered turn a notch sovereign rating of Spain, to "AA-", citing the "uncertain prospects for growth" of the country and the likely further deterioration in the Spanish financial system . Banks are also in the viewfinder. While the leaders of the euro area support more vigorously a recapitalization of the sector, Fitch up seven institutions on negative watch, including French banks BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole and Societe Generale.

However, investors welcomed the good news last night: the green light given by the Slovak Parliament to strengthen the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF). This gives air to the single European currency traded at 1.3802 dollars around 15 hours.

Debt problems in the euro zone should just stay in the heart of the Paris meeting, tonight and tomorrow until Saturday, finance ministers of the latter must include G20.Ces prepare the summit to be held in early November. France has also supported the idea of ​​making Thursday the EFSF bank. The markets have hopes of progress on the case.

Busy schedule

Operators also appreciate the battery indicator on both sides of the Atlantic side disappointment, inflation accelerated more than expected in September in the euro area, moving to 3% against 2.5% the month above, said Friday the EU statistics office Eurostat.

However the U.S., retail sales rose more than expected in September (1.1% against 0.7% expected). At the same time, import prices in the U.S. rose 0.3%.Rather reassuring statistics on the state of the U.S. economy. However, most investors expect the index of consumer sentiment for October and business inventories.

In China, inflation slowed slightly to 6.1% in September, against 6.2% in August, the government said Friday, but remains at a high level that does not bode a loosening of Chinese monetary policy.

Values ​​to follow

Banking sector

Placement on negative watch by Fitch of several institutions weighs on prices.BNP Paribas lost 3.49% to 32.18 euros, Societe Generale 2.62% to 21.04 euros and Credit Agricole 0.42% to 5.26 euros.

Veolia Environnement: 1.21% to 11.30 euros

The group has hired investment bank DC Advisory for the sale Citelum, a major global players in the lighting and electronic equipment areas, reports Les Echos.

Accor: 2.70% to 22.64 dollars

Already a leader in Asia Pacific, the group will open more than 200 by 2014, including doubling its presence in Indonesia, new land for expansion after China and India. The group also plans to sell seven hotels Suite Hotel, located mostly in Paris, for $ 77 million to a consortium of French investors.

CA Cheuvreux has decided to lower its price target from 35.5 to 29.5 euros to reflect the slowdown in the global economy but it remains to outperform.

Carrefour: 1.78% to 17.15 euros

Cheuvreux lowered its price target from 19 to 16 euros and remains under-performance.

GDF Suez: 1.58% to 23.49 euros

According to a report in Le Figaro, confirmed by a spokesman, the gas distributor has filed an appeal Thursday in the Council of State against the government's decision to freeze gas prices for individuals from 1 October.

Belvedere: 3.22% to 29.14 euros

The Court of Appeal of Nimes, which examined the validity of Thursday a new backup procedure given in July to spirits group, has reserved its decision on 1 December, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Eurazeo: 1.53% to 33.21 euros

The group announced Thursday an investment of 37 million euros in 3S Photonics, a French specialist in opto-electronic components including the Strategic Investment Fund held 18%.The operation, which includes a capital increase will allow Eurazeo to control 83% of 3S Photonics.

Stallergènes: 1.11% to 45.60 euros

The group confirmed Thursday its growth objectives and scope for this year despite the slowdown in activity growth in the third quarter.

Eutelsat: 1.16% to 29.74 euros

The group announced Thursday night that he would propose to the November 8th general meeting of shareholders to elect as president of its board of directors Jean-Martin Folz, former CEO of PSA Peugeot Citroën, succeeding Giuliano Berretta .

Netgem: -4.51% to 2.75 euros

The group reported Thursday a drop of 45% of its turnover in the first nine months of the year to 59.4 million euros and said that the forecast revenue in the second half would be comparable to the first.He added that his business continued to grow profitably, to increase cash flow.

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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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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.

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"Soft drinks, tobacco, building: the rigor worried

Cac 40: Greek and American debt burden

Posted in international, life, news, technology, top news by admin on July 26th, 2011 | Comments Off

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 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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The euro falls, defective Greek "increasingly likely"

Posted in business, news, people, technology, top news by admin on July 13th, 2011 | Comments Off

Pierre-Antoine Dusoulier, the head of Saxo Bank

Fuel prices will rise again

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

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

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

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

$ 200 a barrel

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

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

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

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Wall Street gains cancels the previous day

Posted in economic, features, life, money, people by admin on July 8th, 2011 | Comments Off

The U.S. stock markets are yo-yo. After closing sharply higher Friday, Wall Street declined sharply on Friday. The Dow Jones lost 0.76% to 12,622.54 points, the Nasdaq yield 0.84% ​​to 2848.44 points and the S & P 500 0.99% to 1339.84 loose points. Thursday, Wall Street has ended sharply higher, reassured by the employment figures in the private sector.

These declines are explained by the release this Friday afternoon, disappointing numbers in employment in June that contradict the good results of the ADP survey released Thursday.The hires are in fact remained at a standstill for the second consecutive month, with only 18,000 jobs created, while the unemployment rate continued its rise, to 9.2%, according to figures released by the Department of Travail.Le report Official "is seen as a crucial gauge for assessing the short-term capacity of the world's largest economy to withstand" the signs of slowdown in the country's economic recovery, analysts explained the broker FXCM.

On the macroeconomic front, investors will also monitor the numbers of consumer credit in May (21 hours).

For his part, President Barack Obama acknowledged yesterday that the disagreement persisted with the Republicans on the budget and debt.He has given a new appointment on Sunday to elect to provide an update on the progress of talks will take place by then.

First results expected Monday half

Attention should also be strengthened by the forthcoming opening of the ball half-year results. As usual the aluminum giant Alcoa (-1.33% to 16.27 dollars) will open the show these ads on July 11 or next Monday. Generally considered a barometer of the health of the U.S. economy, the aluminum companies would announce analysts said a sharp rise in earnings in the second quarter.The rise of aluminum prices and increased demand, especially from aircraft manufacturers, accounted for much of this improvement.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro lost ground against the dollar on Friday, traders moved cautiously before the release of the official report on employment and unemployment in the United States, major indicator to assess the strength of resumption of the world's largest economy.In early afternoon in Paris the European single currency was worth 1.4323 dollars against 1.4356 dollars Thursday

The side of values, given the green light Thursday by the shareholders of the transatlantic exchange operator NYSE Euronext (-0.40% to 35.26 dollars) a merger with Deutsche Börse marks a victory for its chief executive Duncan Niederauer, who strongly defended the project since mid-February.

Always on the side of values, the U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer (0.10% to 20.25 dollars) is considering "strategic alternatives" including the potential sale of its animal health business and infant feeding.The animal health division of Pfizer in 2010 achieved a turnover of 3.6 billion and nutrition Pfizer $ 1.9 billion.

Moreover, after the close of Wall Street, CEO of Exco Resources (7.46% to $ 0.72) Douglas Miller has revised its bid on the company to 18.5 million in cash and a part in actions against 20.5 million in cash earlier.

For its part the News Corp. (-2.84% to 17.42 dollars) will close the British tabloid Sunday News of the World, in the heart of a wiretapping scandal.

Also note, the Taiwanese SemiLEDS (-8.06% to 5.70 dollars), listed on Wall Street has announced a loss of 5.1 million dollars, or 16 cents per share against 6 cents expected. Turnover was down to 5.6 million against 9.9 million last year and 6.3 million expected.