Posts Tagged ‘business’

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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IMF: Christine Lagarde rivals go on the attack

June 14, 2011 - 12:00 am Comments Off

While Christine Lagarde is the favorite to head the International Monetary Fund, his two rivals try to put a spoke in the wheels. The Governor of the Central Bank Israeli Stanley Fischer, freshly candidate initially put forward his training as an economist, which he said is "essential" to lead the organization in Washington during a crisis. The Minister of Economy and Finance has followed a career as a lawyer. "You need an intellectual framework," he said in an interview Monday in The Wall Street Journal. He added that there was "great in the past director of the IMF who were not politicians."

For his part, another rival of the Minister of Economy and Finance, the Governor of the Bank of Mexico, Agustin Cartsen, regrets the perpetuation of the domination of Europe on the position of boss of the IMF since 1946."There could be a conflict of interest between the IMF and the European Union if the French Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde was taking the head of the institution," he said business cards. We would have a situation where borrowers dominate a creditor institution. I think it's a problem that must be addressed. "

Carstens sees Christine Lagarde elected

This did not stop to see the Minister of Economy and Finance elected. "The chances for Christine Lagarde of getting elected are very high. I am sure she will make a good CEO, he told a conference at a research center on international economics from Washington, the Peterson Institute. This does not prevent him from criticizing a victory for Christine Lagarde he considers almost gained.

As for Christine Lagarde, she tries to gather as many supporters, including the United States that have not yet made their choice. They are however allowed to compliment Agustin Carstens, deeming it "highly competent". While the name of the future director of the IMF must be known by June 30, the fight promises to be full.

The mysteries of the bacteria killer who terrifies Europe

June 1, 2011 - 9:48 pm Comments Off

In recent days, European health authorities are engaged in a real police investigation and a race against time to trace the trail of a new epidemic. Prime suspect: a bacterium Escherichia coli, accused of causing bloody diarrhea and kidney complications. Yesterday, Europe accounted for 1 000 patients in Germany, England, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria. In France, six suspects, three of which the Germans are under investigation. All had lived in Germany. Fifteen deaths are regrettable in Germany, one in Sweden.

Where is the health survey? Is this really the cucumber?

At first, the deadly bacteria was traced to imported Spanish cucumbers in Germany. But the German authorities admitted Tuesday that the latest tests showed that the vegetable was not the offending bacteria.

Only the stool of patients contain Escherichia coli enterohaemorrhagic (EHEC). The hypothesis of a contamination plant is however maintained. Tomatoes and salad greens are suspected. The question remains: the vegetables have been infected in Spain, Germany, during transport?

Next Monday, all European health ministers meet in Luxembourg for an update. Francois Grossetete MEP, said "the need to label products to determine their origin."

What is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)?

HUS is a severe complication, sometimes fatal, infections of the digestive bacteria Escherichia coli enterohaemorrhagic (EHEC) types of E. coli that produce Shiga toxin. After 3-7 days of incubation, these infections are revealed by diarrhea, which may be bloody.Nine out of ten patients recover within ten days. HUS occurs in 10% of cases, linked to the spread of the toxin. It is characterized by acute renal failure, anemia and thrombocytopenia (low platelets). This complication is fatal in 3-5% of cases, a patient care on two renal sequelae. One hundred cases are reported each year in France, mainly in children under 15 years.

How to transmit these infections?

Cattle that are healthy carriers, are the main natural reservoir. Transmission to humans is most often through ingestion of undercooked beef (hamburgers, for example) or products containing raw milk. Water and other foods like vegetables contaminated by feces, can also be a source of infection. A direct human transmission is possible.Many serotypes of EHEC are identified, the most common is O157: H7.

What previous epidemics?

The first two outbreaks due to these producers shigatoxin coli were reported in 1982 in the United States. In total, about fifty people were infected with E. coli O157: H7 via hamburgers. In 1996, Scotland, over 500 people who were victims of the same serotype, also by eating beef. The largest epidemic was recorded in Japan in 1996. More than 9400 cases and 12 deaths had been identified, contaminated radish sprouts. In 2000, Canada, 2000 cases of infection were identified among the 4600 inhabitants of the town of Walkerton.In this area of ​​intensive farming of cattle, the infection was transmitted by drinking water.

What precautions should I take?

In general, these bacteria are destroyed by heat, "two minutes at 70 degrees or 100 degrees a minute," says Professor Patrick Berche, microbiologist (Necker Hospital, Paris). Currently, there is, in his view, no reason not to eat raw vegetables. "The only precaution is to wash your hands before and after preparing raw vegetables, and wash vegetables and fruit, possibly with hot water," he insists.

What is special about the current epidemic?

The first is the serotype in question, O104. "It's fantastic, I have not had a case several years ago, said Professor Edouard Bingen (Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris), whose laboratory is associated with the National Reference Center for E.coli-Shigella. This serotype O104 has been the source of an epidemic in the United States in 1994. "It's odd to have a highly virulent strain and immediately resistant to powerful antibiotics such as cephalosporins," adds Dr Berche. Moreover, the current epidemic affects mostly women, while the hemolytic uremic syndrome usually involves children. A difference that, according to Professor Bingen, may be related to the origin of infection: the hamburger more often, raw vegetables in this case.

A drug from Sanofi in the hot seat

May 21, 2011 - 1:00 am Comments Off

The prospects of a new drug from Sanofi darker. Marketed in France since October 2010, and reimbursed at 65%, the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia Multaq may no longer be reimbursed in France. The Ministry of Health will decide in coming weeks.

Following severe liver failure diagnosed in the Multaq users in Germany and the United States, the Transparency Commission launched a process of reassessment of the medical benefit (SMR) by this treatment and issued end April 1 project a negative opinion, according to La Tribune. If the final notice of this proceeding is unfavorable, the drug will logically be delisted.

Previously, however, a hearing requested by the laboratory of Sanofi will defend his product.Health authorities should also expect that the European authorities, leading in turn to a study on the risk-benefit ratio of Multaq, vote before taking sides.

The delisting in France of one of the few new drugs Sanofi – the Multaq is on the market two years – would lead to a sharp drop in sales. However, this treatment is not essential for laboratory, industry watchers nuance. "It is designed for uncommon diseases, its development and launch were complicated and it is unlikely, anyway, to become a blockbuster, that is to say a drug generating more than one billion in sales, "said one of them.In the first quarter of 2011, the Multaq reached 63 million euros in sales in 29 countries including the United States and key European states, Sanofi said.

Few new treatments

The laboratory has tricolor few new treatments to market quickly alongside Multaq. Its pipeline of only three drugs pending approval of marketing and a dozen products in phase 3, the last stage of clinical development. In addition, most of these treatments are not very innovative, because they are made from molecules that have been used by Sanofi. Chris Viehbacher, Director General of the sixth world laboratory, then put on activities other than drugs from traditional research.

Among the pillars of growth: emerging markets, animal health, self-medication, vaccines or diabetes.All areas which have contributed in 2010 more than half the turnover of the pharmaceutical group. Will be added in 2011, the potential of the U.S. biotech Genzyme acquired earlier this year.

Greece: After Berlin, the ECB suggests a restructuring

May 3, 2011 - 9:48 am Comments Off

In Brussels

The debt restructuring is no longer taboo Greek nor the Ministry of Finance in Berlin, or Frankfurt, headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB). For the first time on Monday, an official with the ECB discussed a possible rescheduling of debt repayments Greek, which should reach 340 billion euros (150% of GDP) at year end.

The restructuring is "not an option," said the Dutch governor, Nout Wellink, faithful to the official policy of the ECB. But to honor its debts "may sometimes take longer than expected.Sometimes this can lead to a restructuring – but not in the sense that some would defend – which leads to a longer maturity debt, "he added, in response to questions from students at the University of Tillburg, Netherlands.

Although measured, this evocation goes beyond the usual discourse of the ECB, very hostile to the idea of ​​restructuring. Just last week, Governor Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo said that this scenario would be "devastating" to the markets that the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers.

Fear of contagion

The German Finance Ministry, Wolfgang Schäuble, who was the first to break the taboo this winter, yet working very seriously on this assumption.

More recently, Clemens Fuest, chairman of the department advisors, considered this issue "inevitable make quick cash."This weekend, Lars Feld, one of economic advisers to Angela Merkel, said that the restructuring was "the only way forward so that Greece is a little relieved that creditors and help to solve the Greek problem" .

Prudente, Greece prepares the ground for this hypothesis, while repeating that there was no question of restructuring. "It is better that it still extends the repayment period of 110 billion euros that we have lent our partners and we further decline in interest rates," said Monday the Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou, in an interview with Liberation. The EU has already lowered in March the interest rate on its loans and rescheduled repayment.

Concerned about the risks of contagion, Brussels continues to exclude the scenario of restructuring."It does not and will not be part of our strategy," hammered on Monday, European Commissioner for Financial Affairs, Olli Rehn, citing implications "potentially devastating for the country itself and for the eurozone as a whole" . Athens has set up programs "very ambitious," he said. On Monday, the yield of ten-year bond rose by 14 basis points to 15.80%.

Hairdressers in low-cost terminals

April 15, 2011 - 8:24 pm Comments Off

One morning, Veronique Skalli has been cutting hair in the subway on her way to work at the Hopital Saint-Antoine in Paris. "I got up and I did not like my head, so I decided to make a cut and I was very happy," she says. The living room (so to speak) Beauty Bubble is installed since Christmas in a row RATP at Gare de Lyon, between metro and RER. 80 000 people pass by every day.

Born last year, the chain offers cut or blow dry for 10 euros in ten minutes flat. This new low-cost hairdressing case prices even further as the sector's pioneers. In recent years they have multiplied. The leader, Tchip, aligns more than 400 rooms, followed by Styling & Co (about 200) or Self'Coiff (37). Their packages range on average from 14 to 21 euros.

Beauty Bubble goes further and distinguishes itself from traditional competitors city.To practice his prices low and ensure returns, he bets on volumes, in places with very high attendance. His first six sites have sprung up in stations (Montparnasse), airports (Lyon-Saint Exupery), malls (Part Dieu) and even hypermarkets, Carrefour Planet in Lyon.

The concept was devised by a young business school graduate, Nicolas Langer, 27 years after a first experience in the cosmetics industry with L'Oreal and Coty, supported by his father, a former marketing specialist in the pub and supermarkets one hour payday loan.

"The market of hairdressing is one of those who have slipped the most in terms of price, said Patrick Lang, the father.We offer a quality, quick delivery. Like easyJet, we have removed a number of parameters to focus on the heart of the trade: the cut. "

No shampoo

Beauty Bubble does not shampoo and we ask our customers to come clean hair, which saves about a water supply, space and time bins. In Self'Coiff, you get yourself a blow dry after cutting. No appointments, no wardrobe, coffee or scalp massage. We go to the essentials.

The Beauty Bubble hairdressers are trained in a dry cutting technique imported from Britain. "They make refreshments, but also a complete change of style, some customers tell us they had the same thing for 45 euros usually" welcomes Ouis Lekhtari, one of ten hairdressers Gare de Lyon .In this space without a door or wall, open from 7 am 30-19 am 30, a hundred cups per day are made.

After its promising start, Beauty Bubble goes into high gear and provides fifty openings this year, including in partnership with the RATP, SNCF and Carrefour. The company is also open to membership by offering contractors a fair concept "turnkey" for an initial investment of 25,000 euros and an annual turnover of 150,000 euros per outlet.

Public open war between the Senate and LCP YEAR

April 13, 2011 - 12:56 am Comments Off

The bad blood between the two parliamentary channels: LCP National Assembly and Senate Public. The case is of such magnitude that it is on the menu for breakfast Tuesday morning, between Bernard Accoyer, president of the National Assembly, and Gérard Larcher, the Senate. These two senior figures of the Republic should even decide to convene the Board of harmonization and Arbitration, a body set up last year and charged with settling disputes between the two chains. This will be a first.This council brings together the presidents of both chambers, the two chairpersons of committees of Communications, Catherine Vautrin, Catherine Tasca, the CEOs of the two chains and six parliamentary deputies and six senators.

Why such a show of force? The spark that ignited the powder is the decision of the Senate to pass a public partnership with the AFP for its political program "Proofs by three," by Michel Grossiord and broadcast on Wednesday at 18 hours. This new partnership has angered Gerard Leclerc, CEO of LCP YEAR. For the AFP since 2006 is already associated with the issuance policy Questions info, "presented by Frederick Haziza on LCP YEAR. "Matters of info is also posted on Wednesday, but at 19 h 30. Gerard Leclerc Gilles Leclerc criticizes his Senate counterpart Target, taking the same partner for a political broadcast aired the same day.A veritable casus belli.

Yet both Leclerc, Gérard and Gilles, both appointed in 2009, know, talk and appreciate. A big change from the era Jean-Pierre Elkabbach (Public Sénat) and Michel Richard (LCP AN) who ignored each other superbly and cordially hated. But even for two people of good will, the daily management is complicated and the disagreements on slots multiply. Because both channels share the same channel TNT in 2005. Their schedules are completely interwoven with a dozen flip from one channel to another day. Consequently, viewers become confused.

Merger of two chains

In each conflict, the substantive issue resurfaces. Should we merge the two channels? A question that arises from the creation of two parliamentary channels in 1999.But today Accoyer insists and says publicly that he regrets not having succeeded in 2007 to persuade the Senate president at the time – Christian Poncelet – to conduct a merger.

It must be said that the two chains are also jealous of their independence are the two Houses of Parliament.

However, they each have a tiny annual budget: EUR 16.1 million for Public Sénat and 15.9 million for LCP NA, directly from funds of the two assemblies. Advertising is prohibited on both channels. They define themselves as both political and news channels following an editorial line very close. Finally, they each claim a cumulative audience of twenty million viewers per month.Shake the specter of the merger will perhaps bring a semblance of harmony.

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The recovery in employment is accelerating in the U.S.

April 3, 2011 - 3:20 am Comments Off

Employment in the United States has seen a leap in March. Jobs created were $ 216,000 over the month, after 192,000 in February and 68,000 in January. Economists were divided, but the Labor Department figure exceeds the consensus, which expected a slight decline in job creation, to 190,000. The U.S. economy is "showing signs of real strength," responded the president Barack Obama.

"These are the best figures recorded since May 2010 when the massive recruitment for the census of the population had inflated statistics, notes Jean-Marc Lucas, an economist at BNP Paribas.Despite disappointing figures in January, average monthly job creation reached 159,000 since the beginning of the year, which portends a slight decrease in the number of unemployed. "

The smallest job losses in public administration (14,000 in March after 46 000 in February) have enabled the U.S. economy to show a figure better than the previous month. Job creation alone business, in fact, were slightly less active this month (230,000 against 240,000) low fee payday loans.

The unemployment rate drops to 8.8%

Among the fastest growing sectors are business services (78,000, but 29,000 in contracts for temporary services) and health (37,000). The industry continues to hire (17 000), as well as the mining sector (14 000).

The unemployment rate, calculated on a different basis, for its part, declined to 8.8% against 8.9% in February.The share of long-term unemployed (more than 27 weeks without a job) has continued to increase, to 45.5% in March, against 43.9% in February. "This stability reflects the persistent deflationary pressures from the labor market," Inna Mufteeva analysis, an economist at Natixis. The Fed should not change its policy of monetary expansion.

Job creation in recent months have not yet allowed to catch up the destruction suffered during the crisis. (Source: Société Générale CIB)

The British march en masse against austerity

March 29, 2011 - 12:17 pm Comments Off

"Participation is beyond anything we dreamed. It's fantastic. It is the largest event in a generation in London, "enthused the general secretary of Unite union, Len McCluskey. "There is a palpable anger in this country and hundreds of thousands of people came here to say overnight pay day loans. According to police, there would be almost half a million people, "he said.

Protesters across the Waterloo Bridge. Photo credits: Paul Hackett / Reuters

Endemol wins lawsuit against the issuing Dilemma

March 16, 2011 - 5:32 pm Comments Off

Endemol wins. The media company had attacked ALJ Productions, the company Alexia Laroche Joubert, who had produced Dilemma for channel W9. Endemol Dilemma accused of being an imitation of its formats star "Loft Story" and "Secret Story".

the Commercial Court of Paris has given him reason. March 11, he condemned ALJ productions to pay 1 million euros to Endemol and prohibited to use the format Dilemma in France and abroad under penalty of fine of 100,000 euros per infringement.

This conviction comes at a bad time. Asked the Buzz Media Orange Le Figaro, Alexia Laroche Joubert revealed that the second season Dilemma was negotiating with W9.This second season is very compromised.

Behind it, the story reveals the tension between Virginia Calmels, current CEO of Endemol France, Stephane Courbit, former boss of Endemol, which has mounted the production company Banijay, parent of ALJ productions.

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