Archive for the ‘finance’ Category

The CAC on guard before the summit in the euro area

October 25, 2011 - 8:32 pm Comments Off

After resisting the morning, the Paris index has increased its losses Tuesday mid-day, finishing down 1.43% to 3174.29 points. Parisian investors have expressed a wait-and very excited at the eve of an EU summit in crisis considered major. Sign of a strong wait-and trading volumes did not exceed 2.6 billion euros. Some profit taking after two sessions of strong gains also came influencing the trend. Less marked decline elsewhere in Europe, where the German Dax has limited its losses to 0.14% at 6045 points and the FTSE in London 0.41% to 5525.54 points.

Immersed for weeks in a deep pessimism, investors had played the crisis Friday and Monday. However, the ability of European leaders to respond definitively to the debt crisis is still struggling to convince.A phenomenon that confirm the disagreements between countries in the euro area on the measures to adopt, and just wiping out the gains Monday. If the preparatory meeting of finance ministers of 27 (Ecofin) has been canceled, the leaders of the euro area, however, continue to negotiate before the meeting tomorrow Wednesday of Heads of State and Government (first of 27 and 17 of the the euro area).

At the heart of the discussions: the recapitalization of banks, the amount of the discount of the Greek debt, and strengthening the European bailout fund (EFSF). According to one diplomatic source, the representatives of the banks would like to limit the discount to 40% volunteered to stabilize the Greek debt, against 50 to 60% required by the euro area.Moreover, concerns about the Italian situation is escalated, as Silvio Berlusconi may have trouble getting the promised reforms the last weekend to reduce the debt of his country payday advance. The Prime Minister pledged to push trans to 67 years of age retirement.

Diving morale of U.S. households

In this context, mixed economic data revealed the Atlantic have increased pessimism. Stabilization of U.S. house prices in August, according to the Case Shiller index, and the unexpected plunge in the morale of U.S. households in October, have reinforced doubts about the health of the world's largest economy.

By sector, banks are logically the most attacked, BNP Paribas, lost 3.75% to 30.80, Societe Generale fell back to 3.80%, to 19 euros. Axa was down 1.76% to 10.90 euros.François Fillon, French Prime Minister confirmed that the banks of the Hexagon should recapitalize to the tune of "ten billion euros."

In contrast, cyclical stocks including oil services, were well oriented, supported by oil prices that reached a high for about three months. Maurel & Prom has awarded 2.86% to 14.90 euros and CGG Veritas was up 1.21% to 16.73 euros.

Also against the current, and two days before unveiling its sales for the third quarter, the title of Plastic Omnium has continued to rise (3.35%, to 20.76 euros) having already jumped more than 10% two sessions. Finally, on the eve of the announcement of its quarterly revenue, PPR has taken the lead in the CAC 40 with a gain of 3.84% to 111 euros.

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Barilla wants to eat his pasta to Chinese

October 22, 2011 - 8:32 am Comments Off

Pasta with pesto sold alongside kebab silkworm larvae or fried chicken feet? This is the crazy challenge of Italian Barilla, which hopes to soon be eating his pasta to the Chinese. "Fast food is an effective way to install the brand and a direct relationship with consumers, said Guido Barilla, chairman of the Italian group that carried out last year EUR 4 billion in sales. If food purchases for the home are traditional, there is now a real interest of people in the street to the kitchens of the world. "

In the Middle Kingdom as in the rest of Asia, food is becoming more and more often on the go, bought in the shops that fill the streets.Or international chains of fast food like McDonald's or Kentucky Fried Chicken, which are present in large cities.

"The goal of Barilla is to be present in twenty years with an offer dedicated to Asia, which is consistent with the true Italian gastronomic tradition, says Guido Barilla. We look at different ways to adapt the offer to local habits with recovery modes that do not exist in the business portfolio of Barilla. "

Ready meals in Europe soon

Therefore no question of selling Barilla noodles Asian or to eat his pasta with chopsticks. The Italian group, which wants to reach consumers in major cities of the region is still at the beginning. He formed earlier this year a regional team of five people based in Singapore. He also sent ten people in Tokyo.All work closely with the headquarters in Parma.

In emerging markets, which account for only 7% of sales, Barilla also looking to South America. "Barilla is a family business, we are not pressed by the objectives of growth or profitability, says Guido Barilla. Our priority now is to install Barilla in new geographies. But we do not make shots. What matters are the group's financial stability and product quality. "

The internationalization of the Italian group has accelerated since the mid-1990s, when Guido and his brothers and sister took over the reins of the company at the death of their father, Pietro, grand-son of the founder.

After settling in France – its second largest market after Italy – and Germany in the 1980s, Barilla headed for the United States.Three years ago, he won first place in the pasta market. Barilla, which generates $ 500 million in sales in the U.S., it now holds 30% market pulp and posted growth of 4 to 5% per year. The Italian was offered four years ago a second plant in the country, near New York. The growth potential is enormous. If the Italians consume 27 kg of pasta per year per capita, Americans eat three times less …

Meanwhile, Barilla brand of pasta popular in Greece and Turkey. In Europe, where the group wants to expand its business scope, it introduced last year pasta with vegetables. This board today the launch of cooked pasta, bearing the signature of chefs.France, where the brand holds 20% of Barilla pasta market, would be among the first countries to sell this product.

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Coca-Cola launches cans of cold coffee in France

October 17, 2011 - 8:32 am Comments Off

Cold coffee "ready to drink" in a can? This is the new Coca-Cola hopes to drink from the French. Accustomed to swallow their little black zinc, they have already converted to coffee to drink in paper cups with the arrival of Starbucks and other coffee Columbus.

Since this summer, the world leader in soft drinks, combined with specialist Italian Illy coffee, launched its cans of coffee at Daily Monop 'and Monop' (Monoprix). Illy issimo named this new drink is declined "caffe" and "cappuccino". "This drink is not far from the tastes of the French, it's just a new way to drink coffee as was the case some years ago with the iced tea in cans," said Ilaria Presotto, marketing director of Ilko, the joint venture created in 2007 by Coca-Cola and Illy.

With this coffee "ready to drink," Coca-Cola wants to meet new consumer needs.He hopes to reach young and urban assets, on the road, often of tiredness during the day. "This is a premium drink that matches the new lifestyles, says Ilaria Presotto. This is a niche category that did not exist in the French market, so we need to educate consumers and encourage impulse buying. "Suddenly, the price of Illy issimo (2.20 -3 euros) is aligned with RedBull, alongside which he finds himself in the rays in the absence of competitor.

As with VitaminWater, the world leader in soft drinks has chosen a selective distribution. He wants to know Illy issimo by word-of-mouth.He focused primarily on fresh produce stores so that its drinks are lost on the shelf.

Starbucks and PepsiCo in ambush

These cans of coffee, which are now available in 400 outlets in France, were first sold exclusively at Colette, La Grande Grocery of Paris (Le Bon Marché) in several luxury hotels in the capital as the Hotel George V and the Côte d'Azur. "With these first months of launch, we will expand our offering next year and increase the distribution of our products to major retailers, says Ilaria Presotto, currently in talks with Carrefour. We hope to at least double our sales in France in 2012. "In the Hexagon, Illy issimo – which is produced in Denmark – is sold by the sales of Illy. In Barcelona and London where Illy issimo was launched along with Paris, the distribution strategy was the same.In the British capital, the drink is sold in stores in the chain Waitrose premium, in addition to sandwiches. It is also found in company canteens as Disney or head of the Daily Telegraph.

In Europe, Illy and Coca-Cola inspired by the success of Illy issimo Japan and the United States, where the drink was launched two years ago. In Japan, the first market issimo Illy, the coffee is sold in cans hot or cold in the millions of vending machines in the country. The country accounts for 70% of world consumption of coffee "ready to drink." A market of 17 billion dollars which increased by 5% in five years. In the U.S., too, is a high potential market. From year to year, sales have doubled in the country. But Coca-Cola is facing a strong competitor, Starbucks Coffee, combined with another heavyweight soft drinks, PepsiCo.After the United States, China, Britain or Germany, their coffee "ready to drink" Frappuccino will land next year in France.

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Banks: tensions before the meeting Merkel-Sarkozy

October 9, 2011 - 10:00 am Comments Off

Faced with the fear of a general banking collapse, the Franco-German couple is once again under the spotlight. And once again, things are not simple. Nicolas Sarkozy will be tomorrow in the German capital to "speed up" with Angela Merkel the implementation of the bailout of a Euro still full turbulence. The urgent need for the French president and German chancellor, is to flatten their differences on the use of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) and reach a tentative agreement on the thorny issue of the recapitalization of banks.

Angela Merkel ruled Thursday that "there was a need to recapitalize, it would be reasonable to invest money" in terms of what could cost an emergency rescue industry.But she insists on the fact that the Fund will be used to bail out financial institutions on the condition that states can not themselves "to support the recapitalization of their banks' and it puts" endangered the euro area as a whole. "

In fact, Paris Berlin suspected of wanting to directly use the emergency fund to recapitalize banks weakened by the prospect of a debt reduction Greek. "The French have misunderstood the EFSF, decrypts it does in Berlin. Our position is that banks must first seek funding markets, and the side of the national public authorities. Only when there is no money available comes the European level. The EFSF is a tool for countries like Greece or Portugal.If a country like France – among the strongest financially of the euro area – wants to appeal, then this is the door open for all members of the area had ro dig into the fund. "

Berlin suspects Paris

An over-interpretation, says it does on the French side. "We have not yet begun to discuss that!" Do we wonder at the Elysee. At Bercy, it ensures not see fundamental differences with Berlin. "We agree with Germany, said the entourage of the Minister of Economy, Baroin, the fact that more capital into banks, including French," even if only to meet new international standards of Basel III in 2013.Whenever possible, the French banks also plan to comply with without recourse to the capital, let alone the U.S. – by separating certain activities if necessary, by distributing fewer profits to build equity .

But if there had to be re-capitalization, especially to reassure investors, "the sources must first be private," insists one at Bercy. "Ultimately, this should be to rely on injections of public capital." According to Paris, "a European coordination is essential to determine the amount of capital to meet the deadline by which this capital is to be achieved, and the tools for that. " It is on these criteria that France and Germany could agree this weekend.For its part, Brussels will make proposals for a coordinated recapitalization "in the coming days."

Moreover, given the deepening crisis, Angela Merkel has gradually accepted the idea of ​​economic governance of the European Union, defended by Nicolas Sarkozy. Expanding the powers of EFSF part of this process. However, the Chancellor – who imposed hard fought his troops to ratify the Bundestag building – is faced with a majority crossed by a strong current Eurosceptic.

Markets would also like to know more about the technical means to leverage the clout of EFSF. These contain the spread of the crisis heavyweight like Italy, Spain, and Portugal, while the levees are still weak.Should we go further and erase a more substantial part of the Greek debt? Should we consider that the Fund provides guarantees? The German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, at least possible that Germany spends more money than EFSF the 211 billion passed by the Bundestag.

These tensions, it is now the standard mode of operation between Paris and Berlin. Pressure mounts on both sides of the Rhine, until a compromise emerges in a head-to-head at the highest level. Given their respective domestic political weakness or Merkel or Sarkozy can not afford a failure.

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The CAC 40 down, eyes focused on the Fed

September 21, 2011 - 2:44 pm Comments Off

After finishing the day in the green yesterday, gaining 1.50% to 2984 points, the CAC 40 tackles the session close to balance, falling symbolically 0.04%% to 2982.86 points on Wednesday, pending an important decision of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed). After a two-day meeting, the institution is expected to announce measures to support the U.S. economy. The wait seems high, especially since the day before, the International Monetary Fund has raised the specter of a recession in the world by launching "a strong call to action" at the announcement of its lower growth forecasts for the global economy. This should amount to 4% for both 2011 and for 2012, 0.5 points less than the 4.5% announced in April.However, "given the weakness in economic indicators, it is almost certain that the Fed will do something but it is difficult to know exactly what," noted economists from Capital Economics.

Investors should in all cases be cautious on the Old Continent, especially after the deterioration of the Italian sovereign debt on Tuesday, which must be added the absence of a clear response from the area in the euro area on the Greek crisis. The conference held the day before between the Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos and the heads of mission of the "troika" of the creditors of the country has still not been completed. Only "good progress has been made," the European Commission ruled in a statement. Yet it must release the next tranche of aid and vital in Athens 8 billion euros.The Greek authorities are pressed by their foreign creditors to accelerate the reduction of budgetary expenditures, while the other side, protesters denounced the daily ravages of austerity.

Brazil could help the euro area

In addition, the Greek daily Kathimerini Athens unveiled Tuesday would consider holding a referendum on the continuation of Greece in the euro area to strengthen its legitimacy in its management of the debt crisis. A bill prior to the referendum would be discussed in the coming days, the newspaper said, quoting unspecified sources.Athens, however, denied such a referendum.

While the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) had indicated last week the possibility of supporting the euro area by increasing their holdings of bonds, the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, confirmed this position at Barack Obama on Wednesday at a meeting in New York.

On the macroeconomic front, the United States, home resales for the month of August are expected in 16 hours as the weekly inventory of crude oil at 16.30.

In Britain, the public finance figures for August are expected.

In Italy, the current account balance for the month of July will be published.

In Japan, foreign trade figures for August will also be unveiled.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro remained stable against the dollar Wednesday after Greece has reported "satisfactory progress" with the troika of creditors, but the markets remained nervous awaiting the announcements of the Fed . Around 8 am, the European currency was worth 1.3703 dollars against 1.3702 dollars the night before.

As for oil, it was down Wednesday morning in a market desperate to face the crisis of debt in the euro area, pending a decision by the Fed to promote economic recovery of the largest consumer of crude in the world.In early electronic trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for October delivery gave up 53 cents to 86.38 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery lost 37 cents to 110.17 dollars.

Values ​​to follow

• Banking

After the degradation of Italian sovereign debt, Societe Generale, Credit Agricole and BNP Paribas, which are exposed, will still be observed.

Attention will also Dexia, which would have allowed for 25 billion euros in loans toxic entities in 5500, according to Liberation.The additional cost of these credits was estimated at 3.9 billion euros at the end of 2009.

• Bouygues

The group filed with the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) the prospectus of the takeover of shares of € 1.25 billion announced on August 31, at 30 euros per share.

• Saffron

The aerospace equipment mandated banks Mediobanca and UBS to bid for the Italian manufacturer of aircraft engines Avio, reports the newspaper front page.

• Canal +

The Competition Authority decided Wednesday to withdraw the decision to authorize the merger of satellite packages CanalSat and TPS, completed in 2007, finding that Canal Plus had "failed to comply with a number of commitments" made to avoid misuse its dominant position.Groupe Canal Plus also sees a fine of 30 million euros.

• JCDecaux

According to Les Echos, the group won an exclusive contract advertising on two subway lines in Chongqing in China for a period of 15 years, but did not disclose financial details.

• Le Noble Age

The company announced in a press up all its results in the 1st half (34% to 3.68 million euros for the net) and confirmed the increase in its forecast of EBITDAR margin ( Operating income before depreciation, amortization and rent) at cruising speed greater than 27% by year end.

Wall Street Weathering the Storm

September 13, 2011 - 6:20 am Comments Off

The U.S. stock markets resist panic that has driven down European shares on Monday. At the close, the Dow gained 0.63% to 10,061.12 points, the Nasdaq climbed 1.10% to 2495.09 points and the S & P is 0.70% to 1162.27 points.

Very hesitant, the indices increased to rise at the very end of the session after the Financial Times announced that Italy has asked China to perform major purchases of its sovereign debt. Senior Italian officials told the FT 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 Dspositi e Prestiti.

In addition, investors seemed anxious not to pass down the technical threshold of 1140 points on the S & P 500 (he flirted with during the day)."If we can not maintain this level, the next support is around 1120 points," said Marc Pado, an analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald.

U.S. operators, such as Europe and Asia, however, remain very concerned about Greece. They fear it will not be able to meet these budget commitments, which threaten to bankrupt the country and aggravate the crisis in Europe. The German Minister of Economy Philipp Rösler has also not ruled out a bankruptcy ordered Greece to save the euro.

These uncertainties have weighed heavily on European banking stocks, weighed down by their exposure to sovereign debt but also by fears about their solvency and funding.

Busy schedule for

United States, Barack Obama will submit to Congress today plan to revive the economy and employment announced Thursday.The president renewed his call "to Congress to adopt this bill, which contains the kind of proposals to grow the economy and create jobs."

Week is low in business results – the retailer Best Buy and diverse manufacturing Pall is the only component of the S & P 500 to publish figures – investors will focus primarily on a series of macroeconomic indicators.The latter include retail sales, the producer prices and consumption as well as statistics on the manufacturing sector.

Note, however, leading indicators of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published this morning, reporting a "slowdown" of the world's major economies.

Oil climbs the slope

In the wake of renewed tensions, the euro remained sharply lower against the greenback Monday, falling below $ 1.35 even briefly, due to another bout of market panic response to the crisis in Europe. End of the session in Paris, the single European currency was worth 1.3645 dollars against 1.3649 dollars on Friday night. Earlier, the euro fell to 1.3495 dollars, its lowest level since Feb. 16. The euro also fell to its lowest level in a decade against the yen. The euro bought 104.64 yen against 105.91 yen Friday.In the early morning, the euro fell to 103.90 yen, its lowest level since June 2001.

Oil prices have them finished up in New York Monday, bouncing after suffered early in the day of the depressed European stock markets. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for October delivery ended at 88.19 dollars, up 95 cents from Friday. "All the elements seemed to fall together in oil prices. I do not know why they are up now. I talked to brokers in the trading room, everyone is scratching their heads, "said Rich Ilczyszyn, broker at MF Global. As equity markets, it evokes a technical reason "because of coverage positions."

Broadcom target NetLogic

The side of values, Bank of America (0.86% to 7.04 dollars) on Monday announced it would cut about 30,000 jobs "in the coming years", or just over 10% of its workforce, in As part of the first phase of a major restructuring.

The chip maker Broadcom (-1.11% to 33.07 dollars) plans to buy NetLogic Microsystems (50.80% to 48.01 dollars) to $ 3.7 billion (2.7 billion euros) to develop its line of chips for wireless networks. The announcement helped to bring the technology sector.

The French group Technip Engineering said Monday the acquisition of the entire capital of the U.S. Global Industries (51.07% to 7.78 dollars), a specialist oil services submarines, based on a valuation of $ 1.07 billion (770 million).Technip will pay $ 8 cash per share, Global Industries, a premium of 55% over the closing price of its prey Friday night on Wall Street.

For its part, the online retailer Amazon (2.45% to 216.56 dollars) would be in discussions with publishers to launch a book rental service digital subscription, said Sunday the Wall Street Journal in its edition line.

After the unexpected departure of the patron saint of Internet giant Yahoo!, Carol Bartz, rumors of a union between Yahoo! (-1.48% To 14.27 million) and AOL (0.14% to 14.74 dollars) have resurfaced. The CEO of the Internet service provider America, Tim Armstrong, have consulted with investment companies to test investor appetite for a reconciliation between the two groups advance Bloomberg.Tim Armstrong become the leader of the group.

For his part, Hertz Global (-1.73% to 9.66 dollars) has extended the date of its offer for Dollar Thrifty (0.05% to 64.92 euros) Automotive Group (DTG) until November 1 .

Wynn Resorts (2.19% to 151.68 dollars) through its subsidiary, Wynn Macau has announced the acquisition of land over 20 hectares to the government of Macau for approximately $ 193 million. The plot, located on the Cotai area, should allow the development of a resort and recreation.

FNSEA challenges the candidates of 2012

September 12, 2011 - 7:32 am Comments Off

FNSEA (National Federation of Farmers' Unions) is back in service Tuesday Space in Rennes, the second largest European exhibition of livestock. Beyond the hot topics of the moment, like the crisis in the hog sector, the Central Agricultural eyes on May 2012. It intends to be present in the debate of the presidential election. It prepares a summary document together its proposals for meeting the challenges of French agriculture during the next five years.

This platform will be closed in mid-November. "The French agriculture is a key sector and must be present in the Presidential debate, said Xavier Beulin, a number of FNSEA. We will ask the candidates to express themselves and engage in relation to our proposals. "

Important themes, four stand out.On the top of the stack, that of improving the competitiveness of French agriculture. It has been deteriorating over the past five years. So much so that France, land of all agricultural production has shifted from first to third place behind Germany and the Netherlands in the field of agri-food trade. Fills a gourmet meal while the French end of 2010 was listed as World Heritage Heritage of Unesco, the Hexagon now imports many of its fruits and vegetables, cheaper to produce outside our borders.

To make France more competitive firm, offers FNSEA implementation of VAT "social antidélocalisation." Its goal: to reduce by at least 30% of the hourly cost of agricultural workers to align with that of its European competitors.A key position when you know that 60% of the cost in this sector, employing 200,000 people, from the cost of labor. Such a measure would cost $ 300 to 350 million euros to the state budget.

To finance it, the future tax soft drinks would not be sufficient. "This requires an increase in VAT terms to be defined. In addition this measure would also apply to imported products as opposed to an increase in the CSG, which again would penalize French farms, "says Xavier Beulin.

Second major issue, increased efforts in research and development in agriculture on G20.With, for example, the introduction of new varieties of animal and plant more to meet consumer expectations.

For a new irrigation policy

The third point concerns the inclusion of the entrepreneurial dimension of the French farm, including the creation of new legal status and accounting standards with the possibility of bankruptcy without affecting personal property.

Finally the fourth theme relates to the environment. FNSEA advocates a new irrigation policy to create water reservoirs to store winter and summer re-use rather than let her go to the sea This implies a reduction of administrative .

FNSEA does not give instructions to vote.The responses of presidential candidates will help farmers, who are no longer systematically acquired the right to guide their choice.

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The worsening economic and social crisis in Greece

September 3, 2011 - 1:44 am Comments Off

The debt crisis turns to Greek tragedy and psychodrama. Tuesday night, a committee of experts of Parliament in an official report revealed that the country's debt was "out of control." The next day, denial and criticism rang out, Evangelos Venizelos, the Finance Minister did not mince words, stating that these auditors did not have "neither the knowledge nor the experience nor the necessary responsibility to judge the debt ", a few hours later, the director of the parliamentary commission complained resigned.

Stock market crash

Friday, an additional layer was taken with the surprise announcement of the suspension for ten days, the mission started in Athens earlier this week by experts from the troika (EU, ECB and International Monetary Fund).This sudden departure caused an outcry in the country and the stock market plummeted at the opening, causing the European financial centers in its wake. The finance minister has tried to downplay the event: "There was no rupture of discussions between the country and the Troika," he said. But Evangelos Venizelos has failed to convince, especially as he admitted, following that "Greece will not hold its goals of reducing the public deficit in 2011 due to the deepening recession in the country. " GDP is forecast to decline by at least 5% this year, the government now provides, which leads mechanically to predict a deficit of 8.8% of GDP at end 2011, against a previous estimate of 7.4%.

It is a fact, almost a year and a half after the introduction of the first austerity plan, Greece is again up against the wall.The austerity measures have led to a sharp recession and sealed growth, competitiveness and production. The unemployment rate reached 16.6% last month. "The committee was right. The debt is really out of control because it is growing and will continue to grow, "Analysis Stefanos Manos, a former finance minister credit reports free. "It is sad to see that the government did nothing for months. No reform of the state system, not privatization, but only the imposition of taxes and cuts in wages! There are more public spending in 2009, before the crisis, he said. This time, it is urgent, bankruptcy is just around the nose. International leaders must tap your feet.They should refuse to grant the sixth installment of the loan of 110 billion euros granted to Greece if these measures are not implemented. "This is probably the direction of the departure of the troika, which means by this dramatic move to the pressure on the government.

But this game of poker liar weary Greeks who bear the brunt of austerity. Last significant extent, the increase in VAT in catering from 13 to 23%. "A step too far, according to Giorgos Delastik, a political analyst. The Greeks are exhausted. They think that especially in terms of rigor is not applied the right way to save their country from the crisis, just as Ireland and Portugal. "

Strikes and demonstrations were not long in coming. After the Athens metro and teachers, the outraged calls for a mobilization in Parliament tonight.Ilias Iliopoulos for general secretary of the union officials, the Greeks played their all. "We are on the verge of a social explosion," said he. "In 2010, when the deficit would be reduced by five points, the Greeks had to make huge sacrifices. Today, they can not accept other measures or new cuts on wages. " However, the troika request 2.5 billion savings by the end of the year. The authorities now fear having barely contain the anger of the Greeks, who was radicalized after the summer break.

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Two movies on VOD three are purchased on iTunes

August 24, 2011 - 2:08 am Comments Off

Apple has made off with digital music. The group of Cupertino recurrence in video on demand (VOD). United States, its download platform iTunes controlled the first half of 2011, 65.8% of movie sales online, says a study by the Institute IHS Screen Digest. According to it, video on demand and downloading films have generated $ 229 million in revenue over the period.

Within a year, Apple has gained almost a point of market share. In parallel, the number two market, the platform Zune Video Marketplace Microsoft lost 2.3 points to 16.2% market share. The disappointment is huge for Sony, whose PlayStation Store will not pick up more than 4.4% of revenues from online video, against 8.2% market share in the first half of 2010.

Only Wal-Mart, with its platform Vudu and Amazon have increased over the period.They control 5.3% (+4.3 points) and 4.2% (0.2) of the market. Both players have recently muscled their offerings in the online video, is launching a range of streaming, or by signing new agreements with Hollywood studios.

"The expansion of the market share of iTunes is a remarkable result in view of increased competition from aggressive rivals some" notes Arash Amel, senior researcher in charge of digital media at IHS. The Apple platform was driven by the growth of the park iPad, special offers on movies and the ability to stream movies from a wireless terminal on a screen Apple TV, IHS analysis.

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Silvio Berlusconi chooses to tax high incomes

August 13, 2011 - 1:16 pm Comments Off

The Italian government, which has set a target to stop the speculative pressures of markets on Friday adopted an emergency order providing for a new austerity plan amounted to 45.5 billion euros over two years. These austerity measures designed to recover 20 billion euros in 2012 and 25.5 billion in 2013. Their adoption will enable Italy to cancel its public deficit to 3.9% today – by the end of 2013.

For the first time, the prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has agreed to weigh the tax burden with a "solidarity tax" on higher incomes. According to leaks distilled by the social partners, this contribution could rise to 5% for every € 10,000 for employees earning over 90,000 euros, and 10% in excess of 150,000 euros. Self-employed workers earning more than EUR 55,000 will be taxed at 41%.However estates and housing will remain free of taxation. A single tax of 20% will be charged on income from capital, currently 12.5% ​​against and 25% of bank deposits.

Aggressive fight against tax evasion

The introduction of fiscal federalism will be early in 2012, the government hopes to make them more aggressive fight against tax evasion. It will become mandatory to report transactions of more than 2500 euros and harsh penalties are provided for activities not issuing bills or receipts, up to closing. The project plans to make savings, the merger of provinces (38 disappear) and municipalities (in 1500 should be merged). On productivity should be increased with the removal of bridges and the automatic transfer of national holidays on Monday.

The cost of the policy will also be cut with the elimination of 50,000 positions elected at the central government and local communities. Heavy sacrifices will be required to Italians in particular as regards social welfare (social services and family) who will suffer next year the bulk of the effort (about 20 billion euros) all levels of assistance and social transfers to local governments will be affected. However the Northern League had opposed the cuts, pensions will be spared. Women in the private sector will be encouraged to continue working until age 65, or 7 years older than today.

Silvio Berlusconi said his "heart bleeds" to the idea of ​​going against his promise to "never get their hands into the pockets of Italians."But he justified his decision by "the dramatic situation", stressing that the new measures were "inevitable." He added that "the vote in the council of ministers was unanimous." Silvio Berlusconi said that the new measures "are in line of what had been hoped the European Central Bank."

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