Archive for the ‘technology’ Category

Tablets and smartphones, the uncontested star high-tech

September 15, 2011 - 3:32 am Comments Off

This year again, the market shelves is essentially … the Apple iPad, despite an influx of competing products on the market. "Other manufacturers are struggling to create the right set-shelf applications to counter Apple," says Kirk Campbell, CEO of IDC. Samsung advanced course in second place world ranking producers of tablets, but it is still far behind the iPad. "RIM, the maker of BlackBerry, will come with an improved product. It retains its chances of success, "said the boss of IDC, while sales of PlayBook, the first tablet of RIM, have not changed the world rankings.

"There's always room for one leader in the business world," said Kirk Campbell.Indeed, users have iPads'm more likely to want to use it in a professional, IT departments are often the resistance, finding the subject too insecure. "The market remains very open shelves and Apple will sell mechanically market share," said Kirk Campbell. However, the firm at the apple still have good days ahead. If Microsoft Tuesday unveiled a new Windows Tablet 8 can equip, no product should be on the market before the end of 2012. Accordingly, IDC does not anticipate any real rebound in the PC market before that date.Then, computer sales are expected to further growth in France, with the arrival of the new Windows, but also new forms of computers and especially ultrabooks These extra thin and light PC Faxless payday loans.

Sales of smartphones are also expected to continue to grow, reaching four billion euros, an increase of 33% at the end of 2011. About 12 million handsets will be sold in France this year. "This increase meets the mobility needs of consumers," said Kirk Campbell, for whom the main battle takes place on the side of operational systems. If for the moment the landscape is dominated by IOS (Apple) and Android (Google), "there is room for five or six players, according to Kirk Campbell. There will be regional solutions. Remember that the Chinese are still not entered the race. "In France, Bada, the operating system from Samsung that plays the third male. Korean is also passed by Apple in July. Android now holds more than 50% of the French market of smartphone sales, against 17.7% for Bada (which equips Samsung Wave) and 17% for iOS Apple.

"The future cars will be connected devices" said Kirk Campbell, who predicted the establishment of a new economic model that would allow manufacturers to generate recurring revenue by selling subscription services. Ford has already extensively engaged in this way with Sync.

Obama announces plan to 447 billion to boost employment

September 9, 2011 - 7:12 pm Comments Off

Barack Obama knew last night that he should seize the last opportunity to pass stimulus measures. For 32 minutes he has compiled the list of measures characterized as "urgent", intended to support consumption and encourage the hiring in 2012. With a little luck and cooperation from the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, some of these measures will be adopted in early 2012.

In fact, the time is right. The presidential campaign in full swing as early as January. Common ground between Democrats and Republicans are thus virtually impossible to find in March.

To appeal to conservatives, Barack Obama is wearing more than half of its plan to 447 billion dollars of reductions in charges paid by employees and businesses.By halving the payroll tax that finances the retirement program, Social Security, the President went even further than previously thought.

The issue of funding on hold

In the minutes after the speech, John Boehner and Eric Cantor, the two leading House Republicans, said they wanted to do that such measures are discussed. They do not want to obstruct all types of measures: their constituents are just as concerned about the risk of relapse into recession as the Democratic voters low rates payday advance. Other reaching out to Republicans: the promise to submit to Congress on free trade agreements negotiated for a long time with Korea, Colombia and Panama.

Finally, the issue of infrastructure spending, Republicans should also be attracted, even if the chances that they align themselves to finance projects rail transit are slim. Moreover, the proposed transfer of funds to States to preserve the jobs of civil servants might not pass Congress.

Then there is the crucial issue of financing of these measures. Barack Obama has stated repeatedly that they would all be funded. But he did not say how.

It should not provide details until next week, when finally published its plan for debt reduction over the medium term. The White House makes plans to finance these stimulus measures need to be involved in 2012, by savings in the longer term.Republicans, eager to reduce public debt now, will try to find savings elsewhere in 2012, to finance what they will accept the plan Obama.

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Doubts on funding from Societe Generale in Libya

September 6, 2011 - 10:48 am Comments Off

New blow for SocGen. While the second French bank is particularly turbulent stock market since the beginning of the summer, with a share price halved in three months, she has to face new suspicions. After the unfounded rumors about the supposed risks of bankruptcy, after questioning by U.S. authorities in a fraud complaint on subprime, Societe Generale now sees its relationship with the Gaddafi regime scrutinized. The new Libyan authorities are looking into effect on the investment made by the French bank with the Libyan sovereign fund, the Libyan Investment Authority, reports the Wall Street Journal. Some of these funds would have landed in the hands of people close to the government in place, the paper said.Societe Generale would have paid a certain amount to a Panamanian company, Leinad, to help organize and advise an investment of one billion dollars in 2008. If the exact mission of Leinad is not yet clear, its role has at least been criticized by members of the Libyan sovereign fund, before the start of the Libyan revolt, the newspaper said payday lenders.

For now, the bank declined to comment on its relations with the sovereign fund Leinad or Libya, says the Wall Street Journal. Societe Generale, however, said she has "worked occasionally with financial intermediaries in countries where it is not directly present."And these consultants are "fully selected and monitored in accordance with our procedures and ethics with the law and in full transparency with the customer," said the group, some have "acted in full accordance with the laws and regulations the sovereign ".

Throughout the reign of Colonel Gaddafi, it was indeed common for large groups pay foreign intermediaries, advisors and consultants to do business with Libya.

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Irene: transportation disrupted on the U.S. East Coast

August 28, 2011 - 6:00 pm Comments Off

The people of the East Coast of the United States are preparing for a weekend out of the ordinary. In anticipation of Hurricane Irene, the authorities announced palsy or slowing of most means of transport that normally innervate New York Area. Once is not custom, the inhabitants of the Big Apple, including 250,000 living near the coast are being evacuated, will have to live in slow motion.

For security, the three New York airports – JFK, La Guardia and Newark – will be closed Saturday for aircraft arriving at noon (18 hours Paris time). The flights from these airports, however, may take off until further notice. This is an extraordinary disruption to an area that typically concentrates the air flow one of the densest in the world: each year, as many as 100 million passengers pass through this metropolis.This weekend, more than 8,000 flights should be canceled, according to the site FlightAware.com.

Like most of his counterparts, Air France announced Friday the cancellation of all flights to New York JFK on Saturday and Sunday, while disturbances are waiting on those provided to and from other cities the coast, like Washington, Philadelphia or Boston. The resumption of service, from Monday, could also be laborious and cause further disruption, have also warned the airlines.

Transport suspended

Measure more tangible for the people, public transport will be suspended in the Big Apple this Saturday from noon until probably Monday rush hour flexcheck cash advance. The subway, buses and railways do not circulate.Motorists have also been asked to leave their cars at home until the alert is lifted. If winds exceed this weekend 96 km / hour, the authorities of the State of New York have also warned they would close the main roads towards the city, and some bridges.

Given the restriction of transportation and possible damage caused by the passing of Irene, the inhabitants were ordered to stockpile water and food in preparation for the weekend. "Water is our product that sells best," noted the retailer Wal-Mart on Friday. Many are those who are armed with power generators in case of power failure.

To address these potential damages, the cost could rise to nearly $ 12 billion according to consulting firm Kinetic Analysis, U.S. authorities are preparing to deploy in new ways. 900 National Guardsmen and 2,500 workers in the electricity sector include ready to intervene in case of power failure. All these measures aim to avoid at all costs repeating a scenario to Katrina, the hurricane that was painfully struck New Orleans in 2005.

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The Cac 40 ended the week down 1%

August 26, 2011 - 7:08 pm Comments Off

New tough session in Paris. After opening close to balance (-0.11%), ACC widened its losses in the afternoon, in response to the speech from Fed chairman Ben Bernanke. The index rose from 3045 to 3015 points in minutes. But investors quickly resumed: a comprehensive plan was not finally ends probable.Le CAC down 1% to 3087.64 points.

Earlier, the index feature of the Paris market was disappointing not welcome the publication of the second estimate of U.S. GDP in the second quarter. It rose 1% annual rate over the previous three months, said the Commerce Department, revising and down 0.3 points his first estimate of growth in the spring published in late July.Analysts had forecast a less pronounced rate revision, to 1.1%, according to their median forecast.

In Frankfurt, the Dax-30, very bumpy this week limit case and ends with a drop of 0.84% ​​to 5584.14 points after losing more than 3% in séance.À the London Stock Exchange, the FTSE- 100 finished virtually unchanged: it loses 0.02% to 5129.92 points.

Fed pushes to place an ad in September

Highly anticipated speech of the President of the U.S. central bank, Ben Bernanke does not reassure investors. In fact, Bernanke has pushed the September announcement of concrete measures to support the U.S. economy. The central bank is expected to meet more fully next month, he indicated, to "discuss more fully" in the policy.Ben Bernanke also called on U.S. lawmakers to take fiscal stimulus, saying they have more flexibility than the institution.

As for currencies, the euro lost some ground against the dollar after the speech of Ben Bernanke. Around 16:30, the European currency was worth 1.4359 dollars against 1.4441 to 15 hours. As for the oil markets, I Brent North Sea for October delivery was trading at 110.25 dollars on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in London, down 37 cents, while in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, a barrel of "light sweet crude" (WTI) for the same maturity lost 35 cents to 84.95 dollars.

In the euro area, regardless of major macroeconomic news.This morning, the companies manufacturing have revised their forecasts down slightly investment for this year and expect a 14% increase (against 15% previously).

The bank's head Cac 40, Peugeot sinks

Essilor International: -0.30% to 52.97 euros

Essilor International in the first semester a turnover of 2.06 billion euros, up 6.9%, the band announced via a press release issued in the edition of Les Echos to appear Friday.

Financials

The ban on short selling financial stocks on Thursday was extended to France, like Italy, Spain and Belgium, and the Financial Markets Authority (AMF) said it would review its position by late September.

This decision only briefly managed to reassure investors.If this decision technique to limit selling pressure on the sector, it does not address the fears that persist on European banks and their exposure to countries in need. After posting the largest gains of the Paris stock in early trading, financial stocks are once again very attacked: Societe Generale lost 2.82% to 21.33 euros, BNP Paribas was down 2.33% at 33, 56 euros, Credit Agricole down 1.41% to 6.419 euros while Natixis closed the show the worst performance (-4.51% to 2.686 euros).

In an interview with Le Figaro, the CEO of Crédit Agricole (-1.41% to 6.419 euros) said the group had "significant cash reserves" and "has no difficulty in financing" .

Conversely, other cyclical stocks, car manufacturers, will gradually take after opening the largest declines in the Paris stock exchange.Peugeot (-0.62% to 19.36 euros) which bought between 12 and 22 August last, about 2% of its capital amounting to 92,010,000 euros, folds to 2.03 %, to 19.01 euros. Renault wins its 0.46% to 26.32 euros.

Total: -0.73% to 32.5 euros

Total expected to present a reorganization in the fall of scale of its operations downstream, with a planned merger of its refining and petrochemicals, according to Les Echos, citing union sources.

As for oil, prices were mixed Friday morning during electronic trading in Asia, in a sluggish market, before the highly anticipated speech of the head of the U.S. central bank (Fed).In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October gave 10 cents to 85.20 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery took 19 cents to 110.81 dollars.

Note that APRR and Bel Cheese (1.24%, to 163 euros) will publish their interim results after market close.

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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Bourse de Paris: EUR 70 billion evaporated in five sessions

August 11, 2011 - 4:32 am Comments Off

Treasury bills do not suffer from degradation of the note of the United States. Instead, rates remain historically low. U.S. finances are parties to drift, but investors have long known, and such a decision undermines their confidence in the ability of the United States to meet its repayments. "On the contrary, the threat of similar actions in other states has positive points: it encourages the ECB to carry more debt buyer of European public and invites States to precipitate the budgetary consolidation measures, which will strengthen intrinsic quality of government securities, "relativize Patrick Artus, Research Director of Studies and Natixis.

In fact, it is especially risky assets, which suffer from fears of contagion cuts ratings of sovereign debt payday loan.Evidenced by the plummeting global stock indexes following the shock announcement Standard & Poor's. Over the past five trading days, the Cac 40 lost almost 8%, and the index companies were affected differently. These are "primarily growth stocks" that have suffered the most, says Patrick Artus, "since the fall of 2400 billion over ten years the U.S. deficit will cost a point of growth the first year." Over the period, it is almost 70 billion euros in market capitalization went up in smoke. The equivalent (almost) the biggest company in France, namely Total!

Obama has failed to reassure Wall Street

August 9, 2011 - 11:04 am Comments Off

At the opening of Wall Street, U.S. indices posted immediately red (around 3%). And losses have widened throughout the session. Accentuating even further their descent, the indices have hurt Barack Obama's speech, who spoke to 20 hours Paris time, the Nasdaq has lost more than 6.5% shortly after the speech. And bad mood has not dimmed until the closing bell on the contrary, the end of the session was sprotive. Finally, the Dow Jones appears falling from 5.55% to 10,809.85 points. This is the first time since October that the index feature finishes below 11,000 points, its worst day in percentage terms since December 2008, a dark period for the financial sector.

The Nasdaq, even punished, won 6.90% to 2357.69 points, while the S & P tumbles 6.66% to 1119.46 points.On Monday, European markets have dropped out late in the session, while the Asian markets, have also, finished the day on heavy folds.

When Barack Obama spoke in an attempt to reassure the markets, investors do not stop selling. Worse, they pressed the pedal and drop is even more markets. "The United States still deserve note 'AAA'," said Monday night during a speech Barack Obama, on the downgrade of U.S. debt Friday by the rating agency Standard and Poor's. The U.S. president also defended the credit of the United States but acknowledged a deficit problem. Barack Obama, however, that the economic challenge was surmountable but require political will.

Nothing to do."The deterioration in the rating of the United States is clearly the catalyst for the drop in markets today, but is not the reason, according to Michael Sheldon, chief strategy officer at RDM Financial. Degradation is simply evidence that the U.S. has problems. "

Note that in Latin America, falls are breathtaking. Financial center of Sao Paulo (-8%) and Buenos Aires (-10.73%) plunged. In Chile, the Santiago Stock Exchange (-6.96%) did not record such a decline for 13 years. In Lima, a decline of 7.03% has even led to a suspension of trading an hour before closing.

Gold still a step higher, oil falls below $ 82

Witness the panic in the markets, gold has posted yet another record high and rose 4.25% to 1722 dollars an ounce at 20:30, before returning to 1717 dollars to 22 hours.Oil, however, has dropped by more than 6% Monday in New York, their lowest levels since November. On the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), a barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery finished the session at 81.31 dollars, down 5.57 dollars or 6.4% on Friday.

Paradoxically, U.S. bond rates continue to decline, those same 10 years falling by 8.5% melting at 2.339% against 2.558% Friday. Good to 30 years returned to 3.663% against 3.823%. However, after degradation much faster than expected by Standard & Poor's sovereign rating of the United States, which had never been subjected to such a penalty could have been expected to climb no faxing payday loans.Sign that investors still believe that the U.S. still refer to the bond market.

Moody's said Monday it could, too, by 2013 reduce the debt rating of the United States if the fiscal and economic outlook deteriorated sharply. But she considers it possible in the meantime a new agreement in Washington to reduce the deficit.

Menu macro loaded, with the FOMC in dish

This week, the lower macroeconomic indicator to take the pulse of a threatened U.S. growth will be expected to turn to investors.

From Tuesday, the productivity of U.S. companies in the second quarter and will be scrutinized closely. The risk is to see it getting more than expected, resulting in a logical breakdown of the job. Consumer confidence is also on the menu.But the final communique of the Monetary Policy Committee of the U.S. Federal Reserve (FOMC), from that Tuesday night will go to the most crucial.

Analysts and investors are wondering already if further monetary easing, (3 or quantitative easing "EQ3") can get out. Unless it is an aid to banks, which could begin to experience problems of interbank liquidity, which is preferred. "In all cases, the reaction of short-term market is very uncertain …" says it does at Aurel BGC.

Friday, retail sales will be the second major economic meeting a week at high risk on financial markets worldwide. "The sales figures published by the values ​​of the S & P 500 were clearly disappointing July, underline in this respect analysts Aurel BGC.But the report shows significant employment job creation in the distribution. A figure that looks very uncertain. " The trade balance in June should also be well attended.

Bank of America falls 20%

Meanwhile, the business side, the publications of interim results are less numerous and can only remember very little attention to markets, obsessed by the European and U.S. sovereign debt. Walt Disney reveals in particular accounts on Tuesday, ahead of Cisco in the matter and News Corp (Wednesday) and Nordstrom, Sara Lee, and Kohls (Thursday), and finally JC Penney (Friday).

American International Group (AIG: -9.92% to 22.61 dollars) continues Bank of America (-20.07% to 6.53 dollars), calling him more than $ 10 billion (7 billion euros) losses related to mortgages, it said in the text of the complaint.According to this document, which Reuters obtained a copy, AIG believes it was misled by the bank about securities backed by mortgages, which caused losses. The insurer wants to sue Bank of America to the Supreme Court of the State of New York in Manhattan.

A buyer for perfumery Annick Goutal

August 4, 2011 - 5:08 pm Comments Off

Annick Goutal perfumes changes hands. Korean cosmetics group Amore Pacific, which owns the Lolita Lempicka fragrance and cosmetics Laneige, acquired the French brand to the U.S. fund Starwood Capital. The latter had acquired in 2005 by taking control of several jewels of the Taittinger family group: hotels Crillon and Lutetia or Baccarat crystal pay day loans.

Goutal perfumes, bought by Taittinger in 1985 and still led by Brigitte Taittinger, had been founded by Annick Goutal in 1981. The brand has stores in France, Belgium, UK and Canada, but mainly distribution agreements with 1300 stores in twenty countries. Amore Pacific sees growth potential in Asia.

Europe wants to stop the panic before the holidays

July 17, 2011 - 11:04 pm Comments Off

Find a solution to the debt crisis before the holidays. This is the roadmap of finance ministers of the euro zone next week. The European Council President, Herman van Rompuy, do not let them choose by calling Thursday for a summit. In the meantime, they must agree on the terms of a new plan of aid to Greece, the key to stability in the euro area.

"Our agenda will be the financial stability of the euro area as a whole and the future funding of the program (help) Greek," said Herman van Rompuy in a statement released Friday night. A summit should be held this week, but the disagreements were apparently still too large to meet the ministers of the euro area.

Friday, the German government still insisted on the need to reach a solution on this point before considering a meeting at the highest level."It's not a meeting in itself will help Greece, is a new program," said Berlin spokesman of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Steffen Seibert. A meeting will take place only if "it makes sense and is necessary," he added.

"Practicalities"

The fact that the president of the EU sets a date for the meeting means that the countries of the region are close to an agreement to overcome their differences on the plan must shelter Greece until 2014. The difficulties relate to the private sector. While States have agreed on this principle, "the element that continues to be discussed is the scope and practical arrangements," said the Belgian Minister of Finance Didier Reynders.

This question, seemingly technical, is the more political aspects.Specifically, Germany would like the creditor banks of Greece their hands to the portfolio. German Chancellor Angela Merkel does not want to antagonize the public, tired of paying for its European neighbors. The German solution has the potential to place Athens in de facto default. An option rejected by the European Central Bank (ECB), France and Madrid. "We made good progress" in discussions of the issues that upset "but there is still work to do," said a source close to the talks.

"Treat the Greek problem '

These dissensions troubled financial markets in the euro area. The crisis reached a new level this week, the contagion affecting Italy's third largest economy in the euro area. Rome, however, managed to extinguish the fire in the markets by adopting an emergency in the austerity plan of 48 billion euros.Publication of the results of stress tests of European banks on Friday could also help calm the fears of investors.

If the finance ministers do not want to disturb the relative calm, they will present next Thursday, practical solutions. "It should address the problem of Greece, as a starting point of an overall therapy," say economists at Credit Agricole. The recipe that will be applied to Greece as an example. "

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