Archive for the ‘technology’ Category

Three manufacturers of dry convicted agreement

March 22, 2012 - 6:40 am Comments Off

 

After the Millers last week, it was the turn of the manufacturers of dry dog ​​and cat to be sanctioned by the Competition Authority. In a country of 8 million dogs and 10 million cats, groups Nestle (Purina), March (Royal Canin) and Colgate-Palmolive (Hill's Pet Nutrition) were sentenced to pay 35.3 million euros for cartel with their wholesalers.

According to the sages of the Rue de l'Echelle, Nestle and Mars agreed for five years (2004-2008) with their wholesalers, who then sold their stores croquettes (BHV Jardiland, Leroy Merlin, Truffaut …).

The two market leaders have imposed their resale prices, exclusive territorial or customer, thus limiting competition between them. Royal Canin had already been convicted in 2005 by Constable competition.

As for the subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive, she has arranged with its veterinary wholesalers to ban the export of its products outside the Hexagon.

If Nestlé and Mars are the most heavily penalized (19 and 11.6 million fine), they nevertheless benefited from reductions of approximately 20% penalty for not contesting the facts. They also set up compliance programs to competition rules. Finally, they reorganized their distribution system and p

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Carbon tax: Europe stands firm against Beijing

March 10, 2012 - 9:28 am Comments Off

 

The European Union will not allow itself to do. In the aftermath of retaliation by China against the European carbon tax, which came into force on 1 January, the Danish Minister of Climate, Lidegaard Martin, said Friday that Brussels does not intend to reconsider the measure. "The EU will continue to ETS (the European carbon market fee, ed) and I feel we have a Council of Twenty-Seven united on this subject," he said on the sidelines of a meeting Brussels with his counterparts. "Europe and other countries want a solution within the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)," he added. To date, 26 of 36 ICAO member, including China, the United States and Russia, opposed the measure.

China took the lead from the dispute by freezing orders for Airbus aircraft placed by its airlines. "The decision of Beijing has an industrial impact: it hits 45 Airbus long-haul, 10 and 35 A 380 A 330," Louis said Thursday Welsh, CEO of EADS, when presenting the results of the 2011 group . "In 2013, 6 A 330 deliveries in 2014 and another 19 are endangered," he added, asking the EU not to insist on applying a unilateral measure. "We promote an agreed solution on a global scale. The European tax is not the appropriate solution. It distorts and puts us at odds with the rest of the world, "insisted Louis Welsh.

Trade war

The carbon tax applies to all airlines flying over European airspace. They will, however, forced to perform in the spring of 2013. Carriers must pay 15% of their emissions in the year 2012, 32 million tons, according to the price of a tonne of CO2. Otherwise, Brussels has set two types of penalty: a fine of 100 euros per tonne, more radical, the flight ban over European airspace.

China has calculated that the bill will amount to nearly 100 million euros for his companies and four times in 2020. In total, the carbon tax would cost 705 million euros for 2012 to stakeholders worldwide. Unacceptable for the Chinese, who are ready to tussle with Europe, even start a trade war with disastrous consequences for Airbus. Beijing is far from isolated. The rejectionist front also includes the U.S., India and Russia.

The threat is real for Airbus, which is fighting against Boeing, in all these regions to sell planes. It affects not only future orders, but also on its order books and production rates, thus on employment. EADS could stop wearing the monthly production of the A 330 to 11 copies, against 7 currently, from the second quarter of 2014. The future of the A350 XWB long-haul next-generation, could be thwarted.

China's strategy of Airbus is shaken

China, the fastest growing market in the world, is strategic for Airbus, which has sold 15 A 380, 2 of which were delivered to China Southern ordered five of them. Hong Kong Airlines, a subsidiary of China Hainan Airlines, has already threatened to cancel its order for 10 super-jumbos. If the case escalates, how Airbus can hope to convince other Chinese players? All its China strategy, whose cornerstone is the introduction of an assembly plant in exchange for A 320 commands, is shaken.

Other measures of retaliation are not excluded. What would happen if Russia, where the A380 has achieved a commercial breakthrough with Transaero last summer (4 A 380), or India decide to follow suit in Beijing? According to Airbus estimates, India and China account for 40% of global demand for aircraft in the next twenty years, or 10,320 units. Something to think about European bodies!

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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.

BNP Paribas: 6 billion profit despite the crisis of the euro

February 15, 2012 - 4:08 pm Comments Off

 

BNP Paribas has limited the damage last year. Despite the crisis of the euro, which hit the banking sector especially during the second half of the year, the French group reached 6 billion euros in profit in 2011, down only 22.9%. It's better than expected by the market.

This figure covers two very contrasting. On the one hand, the retail place performance. Over the full year, this activity reached 5.9 billion euros'' profit before tax, of which nearly $ 2 billion in France (12%). the fourth quarter alone. Networks alone will clear almost all of the taxable profit of the group: 1.2 billion on 1.3 billion.

On the other hand, the sovereign debt crisis weighed heavily on the bank. A pressure that is exerted on the first banking business and investment banking. The division will have realized that 6 million profit last quarter, although this remains more than adequate compared to the losses recorded by many major European banks that have already published their accounts.

Especially, BNP Paribas will found in 2011 more than 4 billion euros in losses on its portfolio of European government debt: $ 3.2 billion on Greece, whose value was reduced by 75% in the perspective plan restructuring being finalized at the European level, plus 872 million of realized losses on the sale of government securities. Since the summer, BNP Paribas has significantly reduced its exposure to sovereign debt. She also collected 148 million of losses on loans it has sold to lighten its balance sheet.

With 6 billion profit in 2011, BNP Paribas is expected to maintain its lead over its competitors. Credit Agricole SA announced in December that he would complete the year in the red after a cleaning operation of its balance sheets. Societe Generale – which will publish its Thursday tomorrow – has warned it would not distribute any dividend.

In this regard, BNP Paribas says it will affect a quarter of its distributable income to the payment of a dividend payable in cash or shares. The bank says in effect have already exceeded the target of 9% capital adequacy set by the authorities in the whole industry in Europe.

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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 16, 2011 - 3:44 pm Comments Off

Apple announced Tuesday after the close of Wall Street that the media group's boss Disney, Robert Iger, integrate its board, now chaired by Arthur Levinson, who was one of the leading officials of the board of the group in 2005. These decisions were taken one month after the death of founder and CEO of Apple Steve Jobs. In addition, Apple has opened for the first time Wednesday discussions with advocacy groups accuse the Chinese environmental industry working for the manufacturer of computers and smartphones U no fax needed payday loans.S. large-scale pollution.

The Dell IT group released Tuesday, also after the close of Wall Street, with net income up 9% in the third quarter of fiscal offset to $ 893 million, slightly above expectations.

New sharp rise in unemployment in September

October 26, 2011 - 9:16 pm Comments Off

The news could not have come at a worse time. According to data recently published by the Ministry of Labour, the number of registered unemployed at the end of month employment center has increased again in September. And not a little: from 26,000 in Class A (unemployed who have not worked at all) and 27,600 in categories A, B and C (including job seekers who have had a reduced activity during the month ).

By category, so there is between 2.78 and 4.175 million unemployed in France. A level not seen since January 2000 in Class A and never reached at all, the combination A, B and C.Results for the six months to less catastrophic for the presidential and the more so as the number of registered unemployed in category D (that is to say, training, training, illness or device reclassification as contract Professional security and therefore not required to seek work), jumped 3.8% in September after several months of declines or relative stability. Proof, if needed, that the social treatment of unemployment on public money is well and truly left full in September.

In a statement, Xavier Bertrand "takes note of these poor figures related to the downturn." The Minister of Labour and Employment took the opportunity to recall the "absolute engagement" government "on the employment front, especially for young people."And for good reason: the number of under 25 not engaged in any activity which have registered at employment center grew 0.6% in September, bringing down over-year to 2% when it was over 6 % on the first months of the year.

It is mostly young men who enrolled en masse in September (1.3% against 0.1% for young women)."The new measures already in force of the law of 28 July 2011, including the ability to start an apprenticeship contract immediately without learning, practical solutions to the challenges made in the field should enable all young people wishing to enter alternately you can do, "warns, however, Xavier Bertrand cashadvance.

Sudden economic downturn

The Minister did, however, no word in the direction of the unemployed and senior long-term which, when not hurt, have been hard hit by the economic downturn last month. The number of unemployed people over 55 increased by 2.1% in group A (a jump of 14.3% over one year) and that of long-term unemployed, 0.7%.

The cold shower is especially icy for job seekers registered for more than three years employment center (+2.5% on month and 21% year on year).Immediate consequence, the average length of employment center has yet to take one day at 456 (against 394 days two years ago), and the share of registered unemployed for over a year unemployed now stands at 38.2 %, up 8.5 points history since the beginning of the crisis.

Apart from the inscriptions following a redundancy which continue to decline (-2.5% over one month and 12% year on year), the other two main reasons for entry are on the rise: the purpose CDD (+4.5% on month and 9.7% year on year) and for temporary assignments (+0.3% in a month and 13.6% in twelve months).

As for administrative radiation, often a source of controversy, they are this time not in any case. They rose in effect from 4% in September and were virtually unchanged over the year.The other bad news, confirming the sudden economic downturn, concerns finally collected and vacancies filled by employment center that fell in September, respectively, 7.1 and 5.3% over one month.

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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.

Rents will increase by 1.90% this year

October 14, 2011 - 12:24 am Comments Off

The benchmark rents (IRL) continues its momentum. Indexed to inflation, the index increased by 1.90% yoy in the third quarter 2011, according to INSEE, its largest increase since the first quarter of 2009.

Following the same curve as the price index, the benchmark rents had fallen sharply during the crisis, before recovering from the first quarter of 2010. However, according to figures released Wednesday by INSEE, inflation emerged up 2.2% year on year in September, despite a slowdown during the past month.

Consequence of this increase in the IRL, the owners can raise rents to their tenants under lease, 1.90% maximum per year. This ceiling is not to be confused with the increase that may require the owner at the end of the lease, and which itself is not subject to this limit.

Rising rents slows

They are also in the process of marking time, like the sale price. The latest observation Clamor, the rents charged to new tenants were up 0.9% over the first eight months of the year, against 1.4% a year earlier. In 34% of cities in France, this trend is even negative. This is for example the case in Paris (-0.1%), Bordeaux (-0.9%) or Toulouse (-0.4%).

In other cities of the Hexagon, however, rents remain strong on the upside. This is the case in Lyon (+1.2%), Nantes (+1.7%), Lille (1.9%) or Le Havre (+2%). For the full year, Clamor expects an average increase of 1.5% to 1.8% against 2.5% in 2010.

The Observatory notes wide disparities between the cities but also between the quality of rented accommodation.Owners who make improvements before entering into a new lease rent on average well 9.3% more than the previous occupant. However, when the property is rented without work, its rental value decreases by an average of 5.4%.

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