Posts Tagged ‘blogs’

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.

The weaknesses of the five Greek plan

July 28, 2011 - 8:00 pm Comments Off

The lull will not last long. A week just after the EU summit that was to stop the crisis by helping Greece, markets fall back into distrust. The plan of 109 billion euros, which would act as a sedative, is no longer effective. "While Greece is doing a little better than before the summit. But Wednesday the gap between interest rates Greek and German, the reference, has widened. Another day or two like this and the country will end up worse off than before, "notes Paul Donovan, economist at UBS.

Feared the contagion to other fragile states (Spain, Italy) was not stopped. Their rates have continued to climb and investors are questioning the limits of the plan presented last Thursday.

Inaccuracies

For the first time, investors will be strongly encouraged to participate in the rescue effort in Greece.Problem: lack of market information needed to assess how the financial industry will lose this game. "Financial institutions are supposed to have the three options, but these are not detailed in the European statement last Thursday", wonders Justin Knight, in charge rates for the euro area at UBS. The banking lobby, the Institute of International Finance, which participated in the negotiations, estimated probable losses for the sector to about 20% of total investments in the Greek debt.

Slow and laborious operation

EU leaders decided to put more tools available to the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), the mechanism to assist states in need. The latter, which could only provide the states, will now buy the debt of these countries if attacked by the markets.Such action requires great responsiveness. However, the EFSF will have to wait to obtain the unanimous agreement of Member States before acting. "It is as if a city council should meet every time before sending firefighters extinguish a fire," concerned the analysis of ING, who would have liked a more flexible operation.

Not enough resources

The EFSF could also not have the means to exercise its new powers. Laurence Boone, euro zone economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said it would take 290 billion euros to defend Italy and Spain if they were attacked by the markets Payday Loan for Bad Credit. However, it has only 220 billion euros available. "The lack of risk to amputate the Fund's effectiveness," the economist concluded. A member of the European Central Bank (ECB) said it would increase the envelope of EFSF to 1000 billion euros.Economists European Centre for the Study of CEPS for their part feel the need to 4000 billion euros.

Not generous enough for Greece

European leaders have relaxed the conditions under which they provide loans to Greece, Portugal and Ireland. The repayment period was extended and the interest rate was lowered to 3.5%. Insufficient, according to analysts at Nomura: "The average interest rate on the Greek debt should be below 3% to enable it to achieve its goals of reducing its debt to 2031, ie to fall below 90% of gross domestic product (GDP). "The rating agency Standard & Poor's therefore believes that a new Greek debt restructuring will be needed in two years.

Not enough integration

The German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, has himself acknowledged Wednesday: the summit does not mark the end of the European crisis of debt. "A deeper economic union, including debt issues debt securities in Europe, is needed before we can declare overcome the crisis of debt in the euro area," said Michala Marcussen, chief economist at Societe Generale CIB.

In the end, "a supranational institution with real power to limit public deficits is essential," ING slice. It is the dream of Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank on the move: a European finance minister who would enforce fiscal discipline, over the states.Until such a reform, economists predict further mounted fever, until the appropriate remedy is provided.

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Debt: Washington must quickly, according to Lagarde

July 27, 2011 - 2:20 am Comments Off

In the case of debt, time is a luxury that the United States as Europe can not afford. This is the message sent Tuesday by Christine Lagarde, director of the International Monetary Fund. Welcoming the plan against the crisis of the Greek debt presented Thursday by EU leaders, the French hoped "that these bold steps will be followed in the United States and that action in the fiscal area will occur as quickly as possible."

In Washington, "the clock is forever and you really find a solution," insisted Christine Lagarde. Democrats and Republicans can not agree on U.S. debt, then that must be addressed prior to August 2 the maximum amount that the state can borrow in the markets (the ceiling of the debt). Otherwise the U.S. will not reimburse investors.

"Having a default or a significant reduction in the rating assigned to the signing of the United States, an event would be very, very, very serious. Not for the U.S. only, but for the world economy in general, "said the leader of the IMF. In the longer term, the IMF has asked the United States Monday to hand over "the debt to a sustainable path." U.S. debt until recently was considered by investors as an investment "safe".

If it is proved otherwise, the consequences could be incalculable. The United States "can not default on their obligations," said John Boehner, a Republican official in Congress. "The jobs and savings of too many Americans (are) in."

Threat of 'turbulence'

Europe is no exception.After the summit on Thursday, the leaders of the euro area should continue their efforts, Christine Lagarde warned: "The plan was welcomed by financial markets, as evidenced by the stronger euro and lower spreads rates on bonds of the periphery. But the turmoil could easily reappear. For this reason it is essential that the commitments of the summit are implemented quickly. "

Problem: The plan must be submitted to national parliaments for approval. "This will be done in the coming weeks. This will not happen overnight because, as is often the case in many developed economies of the Northern Hemisphere, August is relatively calm. And parliaments are closed, "admitted the director of the IMF. But Europeans do not have the luxury of taking their time.I think there is an expectation that things should move forward and be implemented not only by the countries directly concerned but also by governments who, as I said, kept their promises. "

To help stem the debt crisis, the IMF disbursed $ 330 billion to date, also recalled Christine Lagarde. Given this fact, the IMF might have to seek new funds to its member countries, its director admitted: "In the not too distant future we will probably take an interest in this issue."

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U.S. debt: Obama an ultimatum

July 11, 2011 - 8:32 am Comments Off

Time is running out. While the U.S. may be in default of payment if no agreement is reached on the debt by August 2, Barack Obama issued an ultimatum. Before starting a meeting in 75 minutes Sunday night with parliamentarians, the U.S. president and said "must" that Congress reached agreement on the debt within 10 days.

After discussions between key leaders of Congress – Democrats at the head of the Senate and the Republican majority in the House of Representatives – Barack Obama said he will hold a press conference Monday at 17 noon, Paris. The negotiations between elected to continue thereafter.MPs also plan to meet every day until they reach an agreement, says Bloomberg.

Despite the optimism displayed by the U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who believes that "the U.S. will not default," the discussions on key topics such as tax increases or program of government spending have little progressed. Republicans and Democrats continue to disagree on the remedies to lower debt. "It is appalling that the president and his party continues to insist on the need to raise taxes in a crisis when they refuse to reduce spending," said the spokesman of the Republican minority in the Senate at the end of meeting Sunday night.For her part, Nancy Pelosi, representative of the minority Democrats in the House of Representatives, is confident that "a consensual agreement is reached (…) it could, she says," include more cuts in public spending but on a longer period. " But she says being uncomfortable with the idea of ​​"saving billions of public health."

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Retirement: the new rules quickly set

July 4, 2011 - 10:20 pm Comments Off

Once published Tuesday, the opinion of the Advisory Council pensions, the decree formalizing the transition to 41.5 years of contributions from the 1955 cohort could be taken quickly. CNAV request, to inform as soon as its nationals. The beneficiaries of the "long career" born in 1955 are, in fact, likely to retire on January 1.

The Ministry of Labour does not seem to see any objection, saying anyway have little choice: "The law is written Fillon very imperative low interest rate personal loans. Things mechanically apply, depending on life expectancy, "an official analysis.PS and unions denounced the prospect of a longer contribution period: CGT sees a decline in disguise of pensions, the CFDT talking about additional victims of the reform of 2010.

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China reaffirms its confidence in the euro

June 27, 2011 - 8:32 am Comments Off

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao expressed his "confidence" in the future of the euro area and promised to continue investing in the region at the beginning of a new tour on the old continent. In the midst of the Greek debt, Wen Jiabao gave a breath of fresh air to the euro by saying that Beijing had "continued to buy treasury bills from several European countries and had not reduced its reserves in euros." In Budapest and London to Berlin today and tomorrow o ù he will attend an economic forum with Chancellor Angela Merkel, the prime minister wants to present China as a long-term partner of the European Union.

Significant support before a crucial week for Greece.In fact, while the Greek Parliament will vote on Thursday, the new austerity plan required by the EU in exchange for the release of the next tranche of 12 billion euros, the Greek deputy prime minister warned that recalcitrant MPs could block some reforms sought by donors. Theodore Pangalos believes that overall the plan should be passed but the new tax reforms and privatization of national companies should be difficult to adopt, he warned. Yet the majority of the Papandreou government is reduced, the ruling PASOK deputies out of 155 and 300 Greek opposition repeats it rejects the call for a united front.

At the same time, France came up with a new plan to allow the private sector to help Greece, reveals Le Figaro.In the night from Friday to Saturday, the French Treasury and financial institutions have agreed on a scenario that will allow private creditors to subscribe to new Greek government bonds on a voluntary basis.

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Baroin Pécresse and Idrac vying to succeed Lagarde

June 15, 2011 - 4:56 am Comments Off

Brasilia, Beijing, New Delhi, Cairo … Christine Lagarde has just completed the first part of his world tour to tout his candidacy for the general direction of the International Monetary Fund. Here she is back in Europe. She is in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday will be the Elysee for the Council of Ministers. For his part, Nicolas Sarkozy consults to choose one who could succeed to the Minister of Economy. Multiplying during the weekend of Pentecost, phone calls to his closest. "Nicolas Sarkozy is favorable to a minimum redesign. Its priorities, it is women and centrists. He feels he can not promote that of men, "says one of them.Another relative agrees: "Even if the president is anxious to raise a generation" Sarko ", its priority is to weaken the operation Borloo."

Another Chirac?

Three candidates stand thus Bercy: Baroin, Valerie Pecresse and former Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Anne-Marie Idrac, whose name has been blown by the President Edouard Balladur. If you believe the president of the UMP group in the Assembly Christian Jacob, the appointment of Baroin would be "more natural". "Francis knows the house and it would be hard at work immediately," says his friend. Which adds: "Remember that the successor will be named Christine Lagarde for a relatively short time."

But Baroin name "would raise another Chirac," sighs an elected UMP. Baroin has used the weekend to demonstrate its utility by Nicolas Sarkozy.The "adopted son" of Jacques Chirac would have intervened with the entourage of the former President of the Republic that he inflected his words on his vote in favor of Francis Holland in 2012. Is he aware of the frustration has been caused to the Elysee, Chirac's exit? He dreads the knock-on effects that this might have on the next redesign? "Sarkozy thinks he was badly rewarded by Chirac. He thinks of the consequences of the attitude of Chirac, "said a close.

"Sarkozy is like Chirac"

Should be appointed Minister of Economy, the carrier would lose Baroin parolat government installment payday loans. Sarkozy has thought of Bruno Mayor to replace him. A nice consolation prize for the former chief of staff to Dominique de Villepin who would succeed him as Christine Lagarde but the president wants to stay in agriculture. "Sarkozy is like Chirac.He does not move people when they give satisfaction to their job, "analyzes a former minister. More recently, he cited the name of the Minister for Ecology Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet for door-parolat.

Nicolas Sarkozy would then play the "woman card" by ricochet. Unless he chooses to replace Lagarde by a woman. In this case, the Minister of Higher Education and Research Valérie Pécresse, Chirac also, who would hold the rope. More centrist than the Anne-Marie Idrac, on which the President recently expressed some reservations. Pécresse has several other advantages: the autonomy of universities is being hailed as the most emblematic of the reforms five years, his training and his career at HEC Ministerial Research have honed economic issues, his mastery of English , Japanese and Russian.

Viewed from the Elysee, his appointment at Bercy present another advantage: that of "liberating" a ministry full for the centrists. "John Leonetti or Marc-Philippe Daubresse Pécresse could succeed, but I think the president has a preference for Daubresse," said a relative. The name of Lawrence Hénart, secretary general of the Radical Party and close to Jean-Louis Borloo, also returns. Indeed, some suggest that poaching of this very close Borloo would be more "useful" than to honor a debt vis-à-vis Leonetti. "Leonetti said a member, is a faithful while qu'Hénart would be a prize of war."

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The Paris Bourse remains frozen under the 4000 points

June 3, 2011 - 12:08 am Comments Off

The CAC 40 moved into negative territory on Thursday. After starting the day on a drop of 0.86% to 3930.59 points, the benchmark index in Paris was widened its losses in the morning. About 12 hours, it was down 0.96% at 3926, 85 points under the technical threshold of 4000 points which had escaped to investors Wednesday.

The movement is otherwise identical to other European markets. The Dax index featuring the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, which opened down 0.85% at 7155.86 points, losing 0.96% at the same time points to 7148.25. The FTSE-100 index of London Stock Exchange, which started on a decline of 1.06% to 5965.02 points, its share reduced its losses to -0.76% at 5883.67 points.

The mood has changed beyond recognition from the beginning of the week.Greece seemed to approach Wednesday in an agreement with Europe and the IMF for further financial assistance, which could avoid insolvency. But the announcement a few hours later by a new Moody's downgrade of the Greek debt was added to the fears already heavy burden on Athens. Judging probable restructuring of the country's sovereign debt, Moody's downgraded three notches the rating of the country, pushing further into the speculative grade.

For its part, Spain has managed to raise 3.953 billion euros of bonds 3 and 4 years on the market but, despite strong demand, the rates reflected on the rise.

In this context, risk-taking are not numerous. The activity is minimal anyway since France, Ascension Thursday is a holiday.Upcoming Events, however, some indicators should capture the attention of investors present electronic check payday advance. They are mainly American with productivity quarterly, weekly jobless claims and industrial controls.

Note that the currency market, the euro remains strong against the greenback at 1.4475 dollar. Oil prices, they were down in electronic trading in Asia. In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for July delivery yielded 21 cents to 100.08 dollars. That of Brent North Sea crude for delivery same lost 8 cents to 114.45 dollars.

Values ​​to follow

As for values, no news.Stay tuned, however:

The banking sector

High risk debt Greek, French banks react poorly to the degradation of the country note by Moody's: Societe Generale (-0.12% to 40.47 euros), Credit Agricole (-0.47% to 10.48 euros), BNP Paribas (-0.93% to 53.30 euros) decline. Only Natixis (+0.22% to 3.64 euro) is in green.

AXA (-1.83% to 14.78 euros) also declined.The day before the title had been the star of the CAC 40 gained 1.45%, boosted yesterday by the announcement of its new strategic plan and the sale of its Canadian subsidiary.

TF1: -1.28% to 12.38 euros

The group said Wednesday it had received offers "constructive" of several Internet service providers to distribute its pay-TV from 2012.

Trading in Gecimed remain suspended until the opening of the buyout offer followed by a withdrawal bond, its parent company Gecina (-0.59% to 99.41 euros). This opening will be later than June 8, after payment of dividend.

General Assembly stirred at Hermès

May 31, 2011 - 3:40 am Comments Off

LVMH invited the General Assembly of Hermes and is a sensation. With its 20% stake acquired last fall, the group Bernard Arnault has publicly responded to very hostile statements by the family heirs of Hermes. Through the voice of his vice-president, Pierre Gode, the second largest shareholder of Hermes tried to convey a "message of peace" after six months of conflict.

The meeting was opened Monday afternoon at the Palais des Congres de Paris, in a further demonstration of muscle vis-à-vis this new shareholder. After his interview Monday in Le Figaro, Bertrand Puech, spokesman for the families Hermes, repeated his charges on "a series of aggressive moves against our house started to weaken and destabilize.""I want to say how pleased I am shocked at the methods used against our people and our families to invite them to join a company with which we are universally hostile." He once again reiterated the commitment of the family "who wants to keep control of the jewel."

At the opening session of questions, Pierre Gode has seized the opportunity to "denounce the trial of facts to LVMH for" with "force if not violence." The right arm of Bernard Arnault said LVMH's position in the capital of Hermes was "perfectly legitimate what anyone says," and that "in no case it can not be questioned." Bertrand Puech had asked the group Monday to sell half its stake. "LVMH has invested at Hermes for the long term and not meant to be a passive shareholder but not a shareholder activist and active but peaceful."As evidence, he pledged to vote on resolutions proposed at the meeting. He also assured that LVMH had never tried to destabilize Hermes, which would be "madness", "absurd" and put "anyone challenged to provide any evidence." "It is my hope that the bickering stop artificial, baseless and fruitless," he said.

The heirs of Hermes and officers have received more than freshly intervention. Ironically, Bertrand Puech has "taken note" of this "new era". Already tense, the atmosphere is therefore became somewhat rough. A small shareholder speaking then laid a new charge against LVMH and her boss, described as "predatory," "cynical" and "disingenuous." This has pushed back its representative, who asked officials at the meeting to maintain order and prevent about "defamatory".The meeting was also marked by the attempt of another individual shareholder, Patrick Repplinger, to deprive the family of Hermes voting rights because of its proposed holding heritage together a majority shareholding which, he said , amend the Control of Capital. This shareholder, whose application was rejected, is already causing an appeal against the decision of the AMF to authorize the project.

A French developed the mobile wallet Google

May 27, 2011 - 6:36 pm Comments Off

Ingenico is a giant step into the world of contactless payments. The world's leading payment solutions announced on Friday its participation in the Google Wallet, presented yesterday by the Internet giant. This mobile application allows mobile users to pay at once, by housing credit card information in their phone or powering a prepaid card, but also enjoy special offers from merchants, and validate cards fidelity.

"Our common payment solution will transform the traditional payment terminals to an outlet into a true point of care and thereby improve the purchasing for consumers," says Philippe Lazare, Ingenico's CEO in a statement."This new solution will allow consumers not only pay with the electronic purse but Google also benefit from a range of value-added services," he adds.

For Google, this partnership makes sense. With an installed base of more than 15 million handsets worldwide, Ingenico has a large strike force. The French group will therefore support its customers' in the implementation of the electronic wallet based on its new generation of terminals Telium secure. "

At the Paris Bourse, investors welcomed the news. Around 9:30, the track takes off from Ingenico 5.39% to 32.25 euros on a market up 1.28%. He signed the largest increase in the SBF 120.

Ensuring security

In addition, Ingenico, Google has partnered with Mastercard, the bank Citigroup and First Data encryption specialist.The application they offer is only for smartphone Android, including Nexus S designed by Google, equipped with an NFC chip, which transmits the data bank without contact. To finalize their purchases, customers will get their phone while in the merchant's payment terminal. Security level, the application will be locked by a code and the system will be disconnected whenever the screen is off. In case of loss, a call should be enough to disable all the payment function.

With geotagging, merchants partners will alert consumers bargain of the moment. These can be transferred with one click on their phone to benefit at the time of payment. Google will receive a commission on sales, as is already done community sites Facebook and Groupon.In contrast, the Internet giant would levy any commission on the payment themselves.

Google Wallet, currently in testing, should be accessible to mobile users in New York and San Francisco this summer, before an extension to the entire U.S., then Europe and Asia.

Welcome to the "era of Mo Lo

While the experiences of contactless payment multiply without achieving truly convincing, Google hopes to attract consumers and merchants to the technology. "This is a problem of the egg and the chicken. We plan to present convincing arguments that people are getting into, "said Osama Bedier, head of payments at the Internet giant. "We believe that 2011 and beyond will be the era of Mo Lo: Local trade with the Mobile Internet," says Stephanie Tilenius con side, Google sponsors activities related to trade.Google estimates that in 2014, less than half the mobile phones will be equipped with chips to transfer data without contact.

With this application, the Internet giant will gain valuable information on the consumption patterns of mobile users. Like the merchants who benefit from a powerful marketing. But fears about breaches of privacy might just be the main obstacle to the development of this technology.

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