Archive for the ‘money’ Category

Free Mobile which has recruited 1.5 million customers

March 5, 2012 - 9:33 am Comments Off

 

Who will be the big loser of the arrival of Free Mobile? While Orange, Bouygues and Vivendi have just published their annual results and must submit his Free Thursday, the operators have their accounts.

In only six weeks, Free Mobile would have earned 1.5 million customers, according to estimates by Stéphane Richard, CEO of France Telecom. Free for now refuses to confirm.

But everyone sees what he lost. Orange said 400,000 of its customers had left for Free Mobile. Bouygues Telecom, a quarter of customers since January parties have joined Free Mobile or 134000. SFR did not elaborate, but analysts said it could provide around 300,000 customers Free Mobile.

500,000 net new subscription

It remains to evaluate clients lost by MVNOs, network operators without these, like Virgin Mobile, La Poste Mobile, Auchan Telecom, etc.. "Some of these operators have lost heavily at the start of Free Mobile. While some have reacted very quickly, it was to stop the bleeding. They have de facto acted as shock absorbers for Orange, SFR and Bouygues, "said one analyst.

MVNOs with models based on commitment and with a strong distribution network suffered the least. And NRJ Mobile, which has 90% of customer engagement in and benefits from the network of bank branches CM-CIC, has limited the damage. The operator that displays 1.1 million customers continued to win in January, before losing around 5,000 in February. "Ultimately, MVNOs may have lost between 200,000 and 300,000 customers," said one analyst.

Summing up all these figures, Free Mobile would have earned about a million customers in the market in its various competitors. The remaining 500,000 would net creation, that is to say, new subscriptions. Given its attractive price, consumers who already have a subscription and can be subscribed to the offer 2 euros (EUR 0 Free for subscribers) as a second subscription or subscription relief.

One thing is certain: the fierce competitive battle was triggered not leave room for all operators and everyone is fighting for its survival.

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Candidates at the bedside of industrial sites

February 28, 2012 - 4:08 am Comments Off

 

No wonder that the backup industry has become an issue in the presidential Since 2001, the manufacturing sector has lost over 800,000 jobs in France. Each week brings a lot of sites in need. After the textile factory Lejaby and module manufacturer Photowatt, it is the turn of the steel plant of ArcelorMittal Florange in Lorraine, put to sleep by the judgment of its two blast furnaces, to generate the anxiety … and the attention of politicians.

Francois Hollande visited Florange Friday. There promised legislation that would prevent a company wanting to emerge from a French site to block a takeover by a buyer. Filed Monday in Parliament, this bill has no chance of being passed before the elections. But its content must be dated. In detail, the text is not so coercive as that. "If there is no buyer, we will force the company not wanting to close the plant to find one," said Alain Rousset, President of PS Aquitaine and responsible for industrial matters within the Holland team.

Defensive tool

"By cons, if buyers are presented, the company can no longer refuse to cede the factory, as sometimes happens now. This is the commercial court which will then choose the buyer, "added the official, who sees the device as a defensive tool against abusive practices by companies not wanting to deliver profitable customers or technology to a potential buyer competing .

On the other side of the political spectrum, we do not share this vision. "The logic of this bill is a logical administered economy that always leads to impoverishment," Francois Fillon on Monday denounced the Salon de l'Agriculture. RTL, Nicolas Sarkozy said he preferred to act through the Strategic Investment Fund (ISF), the armed wing of the State acquires a stake in companies. "It makes sense, is to invest," said the president-nominee. Nevertheless, in the case of ArcelorMittal, the use ISP has nothing obvious, the group being held to 40.8% by the Mittal family. Similarly, the government can push, as reaffirmed by Nicolas Sarkozy, the direction to invest in the blast furnace restarts in the second half. But this is ArcelorMittal, as a private company, which will decide whether to invest, based on economic criteria.

The state could in fact intervene through Ulcos European project, focused on CO2 reductions. Through this project, a new blast furnace could be built to high performance Florange. Last autumn, the French government is committed to provide 150 million euros to this program. Commitment that Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed on RTL. Still, it must also get the green light from Brussels. The European Commission must give its opinion in October 2012. Francois Hollande had gone to discuss the subject in Brussels last November. Nicolas Sarkozy has promised to speak at the European summit later this week. But again, the project will not succeed if it is not economically viable

.

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At the meeting, food costs more in the mainland

February 26, 2012 - 2:56 am Comments Off

 

After Guadeloupe and Mayotte, it is the turn of the meeting to fight against high prices. If measures to lower gasoline prices and basic commodities were announced, anger persists. According to figures from INSEE, in 2010, prices were more expensive by 12.4% in Réunion in the mainland. A difference that amounts to 14 saving account payday loan.8% in Guadeloupe, and 16.9% for Martinique. In Guyana, where the price differential is highest, this amounts to paying twice the tax: a basket of goods (including rent) money is 19.6% higher than in metropolitan France.

Investigation of spatial comparison, INSEE.

Air Méditerranée relocates in Greece

February 23, 2012 - 2:12 am Comments Off

 

In a few days, the management of Air Méditerranée know the number of candidates to voluntary redundancy scheme and the number of those who wish to be reclassified from Hermes Airlines, a Greek subsidiary conveniently created in August 2011 by Anthony Ferretti, the president and largest shareholder Air Méditerranée.

The new company proposes to take Greek pilots and stewardesses its parent, provided they opt for a Greek status and pay accordingly – lower by at least 30% to those in force in France.

Affected by the Arab Spring

Outwardly, nothing appears. The three aircraft in the fleet of Hermes Airlines registered in Greece wear the shoe Air Méditerranée. Flights operated by these aircraft are also consistent with those made by the parent. Hermes is it then a ghost airline intended to lower costs to manage the activities of its parent company in trouble? "It's ten years as the president of Air Mediterranean dream to relocate, says a captain of the company. At first he did not dare use the word. Today, it frightens him more. He says it is for our good and it will help revive the company's business. "

Mediterranean air, which mainly works with tour operators and individuals by selling low-cost flights on the Internet, has been hard hit by the crisis Tunisian and Egyptian. In 2011, it achieved a turnover of 220 million euros and would have recorded a small loss.

Unions, convinced that the "relocation" was illegal, responded: "We met with leaders of the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on numerous occasions, said Denis Roumier, the SNPL. But they told us that there was nothing illegal in this montage. Nothing prevents an employer to operate equipment by registering in another country. ". Hermes Airlines has recruited crew members from different nationalities in Greek status to ensure the flights of the three devices with operating licenses Greek.

The salary of a hostess who received 1200 euros net per month in France rose to 900 euros in Greek status. That of a captain of 5000 euros to 3700 euros a copilot from 3500 to 2600 euros.

By summer, the Greek subsidiary should operate six aircraft, as declared by the president of Air Mediterranean in council.

Faced with this "misuse" of their flights, the 450 employees of Air Mediterranean – including 85 in CDI will leave the company under the plan to safeguard employment – wrote an open letter to President: "In the process things are going, we expect, if nothing is done, not only to pursue the relocation of six ten but had to start our whole fleet, the disappearance of our company and, worse , that the method is spreading to other French airlines … "

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Organic products continue to gain ground

February 19, 2012 - 12:36 am Comments Off

 

Organic products seem immunized against the crisis. Last year, sales were nearly $ 4 billion euros, an increase of at least 10%, as estimated by the Bio Agency. A sacred performance. Over the same period, sales of consumer products (food and hygiene products) have indeed stagnated in volume, and increased by only 3% in value.

Despite prices 20% to 50% higher, organic products, which represent less than 2% of the food market, continue to attract consumers. However, they are less likely to try the bio. In 2011, 40% of French reported consuming at least once a month for organic products, when they were 43% in 2010 and 46% in 2009, according to a survey by the CSA institute. "In a crisis, the curiosity of consumers is less, recognizes Elizabeth Mercier, Director of the Agency Bio. But market growth in 2008, the year of crisis, was 25% and 19% by volume. " In contrast, 18% of those who consume at least one organic product a week they intend to increase their intake this year. "This allows us to expect a further growth of organic products in 2012," said Elisabeth Mercier.

More visibility on the shelf

"The potential of new consumer stays there, half the French having no problem purchasing power," said Didier Perreol, group president Ekibio (Priméal, Bisson, My life without gluten?), Which states that Organic consumers are mostly from the wealthier classes.

"The market continues to grow as a supply effect contributes mechanically to increased purchases," says Isabelle Senand, author of a study on the bio for Xerfi. This is the result of the number of openings specialized brands (Naturalia Biocoop, La Vie Claire?), Pioneer of organic and enlargement of the assortment in supermarkets and hypermarkets. Today, 10% of milk sales are conducted in organic section, over 15% of sales? Eggs but only 6% of sales of fruits and vegetables. Last year, innovations in the organic section have increased among the national brands, ham Fleury Michon Pom'Potes Materne to Mont Blanc.

"The distributors have established themselves in this market with their brands and national brands, explains Isabelle Senand. All signs now have their own organic brand, which is largely the democratization of the market. "

The price gap has in fact reduced in grocery, fruit and vegetables or dairy products. "In five years, our prices are down 15% due to higher volumes, which allowed us to increase productivity," says Daniel Tirat, CEO of two cows, the brand of organic yogurt from Danone, the second mark market.

In three years, the market for organic fresh dairy products has doubled to 100 million euros. "We are in a logical recruitment of consumers, two thirds of our buyers who have never eaten organic yogurt, adds Daniel Tirat, which will test next month at Monoprix sales of butter and cream The two cows. We need the bio is even more visible rays. "

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The obligations to which the unemployed

February 12, 2012 - 12:24 am Comments Off

 

In an interview with Le Figaro magazine, the head of state said he hopes to hold a referendum on the rights and duties of the job seekers. In the future reform that calls for the compensation of the unemployed "is not an allowance is touched passively", but the consideration for the training that will follow. "After this training, which becomes mandatory, the unemployed will be required to accept the first offer of employment corresponding to the occupation for which he has been trained," said Nicolas Sarkozy.

Already, job seekers are subject to obligations of this type. Since the Act of 1 August 2008 on the Rights and Duties of job seekers, denial of training or a job offer is indeed punishable.

According to this text, the unemployed person establishes with his counselor that employment center called a "personal project of access to employment." Specifically, are reviewed the experience of the job seeker, the type of job he seeks, his training, salary expectations, geographic preferences … All this – updated every three months – to define the contents of the famous "reasonable job offer", also introduced by the 2008 Act, that the unemployed can not refuse more than twice.

"Mini-jobs"

In case of double unjustified refusal, the unemployed person is removed from lists of employment center. The penalty is two months, during which it does not affect unemployment benefits. The same penalty applies if not responding to a summons from the employment center or refuses to develop his personal project. In case of refusal of an offer of training, the radiation is reduced to a period of 15 days. In principle, the more time passes since registration at employment center, less the unemployed may be demanding, at least in the geographical and salary plans. After a year, only paid less than the amount of compensation may be denied.

This tightening of compensation has been implemented in many European countries since the early 1990s. Germany in particular, the reform called "Hartz IV", initiated by the Schröder government since 2002, reduced the duration of benefits for job seekers to a period of 12 months, and forces the unemployed to accept all types of employment, including "mini-jobs" low paid. According to a recent report, if this reform has clearly helped to reduce unemployment across the Rhine, it also helped to increase the share of part-time jobs and impoverishing an entire segment of the population.

Radiation

In France, however, radiation for refusing reasonable offers of employment are rare. First, because the job seeker sets himself the criteria of this reasonable offer. It can also, if he wishes not occupy this or that particular position, voluntarily miss a job interview … "It would be productive to force against job seekers to accept any offer, justify one employment center. They are not motivated, quickly find themselves the way of employment center, and businesses, for their part, would not want to use us. "  

"In fact, the 2008 law has not really changed practices, confirms Tuchszirer Carole, a researcher at the Centre for Employment Studies (EEC). When she came into force, the economic crisis has changed the order of priorities, putting at the forefront of unemployment compensation, and making it more difficult proposition of job. "

Since the entry into force of the law, the number of administrative radiation has also not increased, however: last December, some 40,000 people have been de-listed employment center, against 50,000 in December 2007. Unemployed essentially excluded from compensation for failing presented at a meeting, rather than refusing an offer or training. As recalled by Nicolas Sarkozy in his interview with Le Figaro magazine, 75% of requests for training the unemployed are not met.  

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November 2, 2011 - 12:36 am Comments Off

"What will happen if the people say no? The risk is that the international community shuts off the money and the country will eventually leave the euro. There is matter of serious concern investors, "said Christoph Weil for his part, an analyst at Commerzbank. As for the CM-CIC analysts, the referendum "opens a Pandora's box about the size of the losses to be borne by financial institutions."

October 28, 2011 - 7:08 pm Comments Off

Household consumption, the traditional driver of French growth, declined in September. It fell 0.5% last month, according to figures from INSEE published on Friday, after rising 0.2% in August. Despite this poor performance, the third quarter remains positive consumption rose 0.2% after a particularly bleak picture of the second quarter this indicator fell by 1.9%.

In September, it is the purchase of textile-leather and energy costs which have lowered consumption. These expenditures have dropped respectively by 4.7% and 4% last month, a much greater decline than in previous months. For the textile sector, the wrong number "announcement of hard times," Judge Camille Williencourt, an economist at Natixis. It points out that consumption fell by 17% in this sector since the second quarter of 2007.A sign that the industry "is recovering gradually, after a very poor second quarter impacted by the decision of the cash for clunkers," said Camille Williencourt payday loans for bad credit.

INSEE had Tuesday reported an unexpected improvement of consumer confidence in October. Indeed, they are much less likely to anticipate a rise in unemployment – although the statistics published this week have reported a record high – and are optimistic that this summer on their future standard of living. Other anticipation apparently bodes well for the consumption of the end of the year, they were also more likely to feel the need to make major purchases. But despite these positive developments, "consumer sentiment remains generally depressed, said Helene Baudchon, economist at BNP Paribas, well below its long-term average of 100."

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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Worried about China, Asian stock markets fall

October 19, 2011 - 12:56 am Comments Off

The fear of a slowing Chinese economy weigh on Asian stock markets. On Tuesday, the day after a session, however encouraging, the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong and Shanghai Composite Index unleash respectively 3.34% and 1.67 points to 18,243.31% to 2399.58 points. Investors react to the publication of a slowdown in Chinese growth to 9.1% in the third quarter, against 9.7% and 9.5% in the first and second quarters.After this bad figure, other regional financial centers are also displayed down: the Nikkei of the Tokyo Stock Exchange lost 1.47% to 8749.08 points, the Kospi index in Seoul fell by 1.47% to 1837.73 points, the S & P / ASX 200 Index yields 1.82% at Sydney 4197.70 points, the BSE Sensex 30 in Mumbai fold from 1.66% to 16,742.80 points and the FTSE Straits Times of Singapore gives up 1.78% to 2729.51 points.

"Economic growth is currently facing a more complicated on both external and internal plans," said the spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Sheng Laiyun commenting on the growth of China. In fact, Chinese exporters are beginning to suffer from particular sovereign debt crisis in Europe, their largest market, a difficult economic situation in the United States.The Chinese economy is also impacted by rising wages and strong yuan, has appreciated by 7% in a year against the dollar. "The number of factors of instability and uncertainty increases," says Sheng Laiyun.

The concern weighing on Europe

In this context, the correct figures for China's industrial production have gone unnoticed cheap pay day loans. This has increased by 13.8% in September year on year, according to BNS.

In addition, concerns about the debt crisis in Europe grew yesterday and weigh Surles markets. The German Minister of Economics Wolfgang Schäuble has indeed warned that the EU summit to be held in Brussels Sunday will not lead to a definitive solution to the debt crisis. And, while the central bankers of the euro zone had promised a response "comprehensive and lasting peace" to the crisis at the G20 finance this weekend in Paris.

China Eastern Airlines to Hong Kong and Tepco

On the corporate side, China Eastern Airlines (-7.02% to 2.65 Hong Kong dollars) on Monday announced an agreement to acquire 15 Airbus A330 family for a selected list price of $ 2.5 billion, for delivery between 2013 and 2015.

Note that Tepco, the operator of the nuclear accident in Fukushima, yields 1.38% in Tokyo, after asking the first tranche of public assistance of some 700 billion yen (6.7 billion euros) for finance part of the compensation of victims, according to Japanese media on Tuesday.

On the front of currencies, the euro rose 0.28% to 1.377 dollars on Tuesday. Oil is meanwhile down in Asia after the confirmation of a slowdown in Chinese growth in the third quarter against a backdrop of skepticism about a speedy resolution of sovereign debt crisis in the euro area.The barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in November, up in the early electronic trading, lost 9 cents to 86.29 dollars, around 6:00.