Archive for November, 2009

The morale of French households is still improving

November 27, 2009 - 6:08 pm Comments Off

French households have become even more confidence. Their morale even accelerates its rise in November according to latest figures from INSEE. And despite the very poor unemployment figures in France, published Thursday by the Ministry of Economy.

The indicator that summarizes this view and goes back to 4 points from October. The indicator leaves the historically low levels where it had fallen since late 2007 to return to the previous values of the floor last fifteen years in the hollow of 1995-1996 and 2005.

The views of households on the economic situation, which had hit a historic low in the summer of 2008 to -48 points, had subsequently begun a slow recovery phase and marked by a few shots off.In November, with this "improvement", he moved to -30 points, says the National Institute of Statistics.

Statistics rather encouraging in a few weeks of Christmas and New year period during which the French consume far. While Americans seem less inclined to spend than other years – the shopping season starts this Friday – French households also felt more appropriate to make major purchases, such as winning 5 points in a month.

The fear facing a future increase in unemployment continues to recede, but much more slowly than in recent months.

As for inflation, households continue as they have for more than six months, thinking that prices should increase only slightly in the coming months.

Record sales for 'Call of Duty "

November 23, 2009 - 6:39 pm Comments Off

Unparalleled success is won parActivision Blizzard, the world's largest video game publishing, controlled by Vivendi. The title Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the sixth episode of the series, marketed since November 10, has generated "revenues of 550 million dollars worldwide in the first five days of launch." In France also, the sales are amazing with 376 000 units and revenue of 25.5 million euros in one week, according to research firm GfK. In the world and the Hexagon, this is a record for the entertainment industry, all activities.

The war game, very realistic images worthy of Hollywood movies, has pushed revenues to film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Half ($ 394 million) or those of the DVD Welcome to the Chti's in France (17, 1 million euros) over a comparable period.The latest version of Call of Duty has surpassed the previous record of video game racing cars GTA IV (24.1 million euros in France, 500 million dollars in the world with 6 million copies), marketed in 2008. In units, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has already been sold 8 million copies.

The breakthrough is not over. "Sales could exceed 15 million units sold by the end of 2009," said Jean-Bernard Levy, Chief Executive Officer of Vivendi, at the Forum d'Avignon which was named the Gotha Culture and Media. Starting this year, Call of Duty could achieve a turnover of one billion dollars.The margin would be considerable investment for the game is estimated at 200 million dollars.

No under 18 years

To meet this challenge, Bobby Kotick, Activision's boss, and Mike Griffith, head of publishing, do not skimp on resources. The game uses tested recipes: very realistic images, the voices of characters in the game played by celebrities such as actor Bill Murray and singer of the rap group 50 Cents, a story very close, developed by the best writers of the time as one of those in the television series NCIS. Finally, to reach a wide audience, the game is designed for game consoles Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC versions. Main downside: the title, very violent, is banned at least 18 years.

The model Vivendi proves his strength to face the crisis

CMA CGM fate of the big storm

November 18, 2009 - 5:58 pm Comments Off

In full financial restructuring, CMA CGM seeks to reassure. The world number three container shipping has taken show figures to support that end the crisis was indeed visible.

Thus between June and October the prices of container traffic between Asia and northern Europe has increased from 416 to 1062 dollars. Similarly, the fall in volumes shipped, down 20% in the first half, was halted since early summer.

In this context the accounts should return to the balance from December. "We remain cautious, but positive signs are every day more," says Nicolas Sartini, head of Asia-Europe line CMA CGM.

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Wal-Mart always makes fun of the crisis

November 12, 2009 - 4:53 pm Comments Off

The results from Wal-Mart were already well wonder at the height of the financial crisis, they could only be better when the U.S. economy begins its recovery. The world leader in the distribution has announced Thursday that it earned in the third quarter sales up 1.1% to 98.67 billion dollars. Sales to U.S. store constant and excluding fuel have instead declined by 0.4%, where analysts had expected an increase of 0.4%.

Net income meanwhile rose by 3.2% over one year to 3.239 billion dollars. Reported to share, earnings reached $ 0.84, three cents higher than a forecast analysts. The group had said it expected earnings per share from continuing operations of between 0.78 and $ 0.82 for the third quarter.

In contrast, the group is cautious in the fourth quarter disappointed observers. Wal-Mart says and expects to post earnings per share from continuing operations of between 1.08 and $ 1.12, while analysts on average expect a figure of $ 1.12. In exchange for pre-market action shrank by 0.6% to 52.45 dollars to 13h20.

The CAC 40 strong as the U.S. employment

November 6, 2009 - 7:41 pm Comments Off

Showered by the publication of unemployment to 10.2% in the United States in October, the European and American markets had immediately swung into the red. But the image of what happens on Wall Street, the CAC 40 has quickly found the way up, offering a second reading, less negative than before, the employment figures. The index of the feature takes place in Paris 0.26% to 3718 points to 16.15.

Thursday, stock markets worldwide have been well oriented due to figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor Productivity in the country.

In addition to the monthly report on employment in the U.S., markets also watch the publication of wholesale inventories in September.

Values follow

Lafarge is attacked (-4.5%). The French group has released financial results Friday down sharply in the third quarter.Net income is recorded down 38% year on year to 404 million euros while sales fell 20% to 4.25 billion euros. These results were slightly below analyst expectations.

L'Oreal is sanctioned (-1.46%) after the publication of a revenue deemed disappointing. For its part CapGemini is still undergoing clearances (-2.49%). Several brokers have changed their views following the quarterly judged below investor expectations.

Conversely, Hermes International stands (2.30%). The luxury group has for its part issued Friday sales up 5% at constant rates in the third quarter, to 452.1 million euros. The group said its goal of stable sales in 2009 could be exceeded if the trend continues this year.

Values M6 (6.41%) at the highest for two years and TF1 (4.23%) were also searched.The audiovisual group M6 has exceeded expectations by recording a marked improvement in advertising revenue chain and strong growth of its business diversification. In particular, M6 was confirmed as the month of September showed the first signs of an improving advertising market with stronger demand from advertisers in some sectors the consumer in particular.

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Cr?dit Agricole Georges Pauget will cede his place to John Paul Chifflet

November 6, 2009 - 7:41 pm Comments Off

As Le Figaro suggested in the October debates are open around the succession patterns within the Cr?dit Agricole. Early in 2010, Georges Pauget, the current director general, should give way to Jean-Paul Chifflet, Secretary General of the National Federation of Credit Agricole, and CEO of Regional Bank Central East. Cr?dit Agricole would "not comment" information, but the case was already settled backstage.

The handover between the two leaders would be formalized on November 10, during validation of quarterly results. Pauget should then remain at the head of the bank until late February.

Interviewed this morning on France Inter, Geaorge Pauget had neither denied nor confirmed."I am dependent on the board and I did not formulate an opinion on the subject," he declared.

The regional fund would not forgive Geaorge Pauget an international development and growth of bank financing and investment have resulted in heavy losses.

Aged 60, John Paul has held since 2000 Chifflet Branch Credit Agricole Center East in Lyon, and is also vice-president of SAS La Boetie.

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Unemployment exceeds 10% in the U.S.

November 6, 2009 - 7:40 pm Comments Off

A first since 1983 in the United States. The unemployment rate rose above 10% in October, to 10.2%, due to massive destruction of new posts. The U.S. economy has indeed lost 190,000 jobs over the period. Since the beginning of the recession, this brings to 7.3 million the number of jobs destroyed. Statistics released by the Labor Department are well below economists' expectations, which anticipated an unemployment rate close to 10% and job losses a little lower, around 175,000.

For the White House, these figures are "painful proof of the continued weakness in the labor market.President Obama will sign on Friday an extension of unemployment benefits for long-term unemployed.

The number of hours worked do not take off

Another vector for concern: the recovery is not yet so intense it would force companies to increase the number of hours worked. The latter remained taped to 33 hours weekly in October, hours worked throughout the economy has even declined 0.2%. For now, companies are content, therefore increasing the productivity of hours worked, as evidenced yesterday in the Labor Department. The only positive note in this sea of bad news, the number of job losses were revised down for September, with 219.000, against 263,000 originally announced.

If the trend over the last few months remains bonnne, with a decrease in job destruction, we are still far from the inflection point that the U.S. economy will create employment and reduce unemployment. Sign of the economic crisis in the United States: Another index, alternative at the official rate of unemployment that includes discouraged workers and those forced to work part time has increased to 17.5%. Either its highest rate since its 1995 record. The task of Barack Obama, elections before the 2010 interim, is therefore difficult. Like the Fed, which had warned Wednesday that weighed the risks still on the recovery. Forecasting the central bank of U.S. unemployment up to 10.1% in 2009 is indeed already expired …

The accounts of British Airways biting nose

November 6, 2009 - 7:40 pm Comments Off

Hard times for airlines. The British Airways announced Friday a loss of 271 million pounds in the first half of its fiscal year end in September shifted. Compared with 49 million loss in the first half of 2008, this figure has more than quadrupled.

The CEO of the company, Willie Walsh, said that the entire airline industry "remained in recession", citing estimates from IATA, the global association of air, which anticipates a total loss of 11 billion dollars in the sector this year.

The group said in the same time it would accelerate its cost-saving measures and increasing its job cuts. "With a turnover that might reduce one billion pounds this year, we can not stand idly by and further cost reductions are essential," said Willie Walsh.3,000 jobs would be affected by March 2010 by the deletions.

Following these publications, the action of the group rose 6% to 198 pence at about 11:00 am

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Enjoy your balances fall?

November 6, 2009 - 7:40 pm Comments Off

After a first trial concluded in the spring, the "floating balance" have reappeared in stores in recent days.

"Find the point on the organization of these balances fall

Get advantage of this new period balances? Have you done good business, or noticed a difference with the traditional summer sales and winter?

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