Posts Tagged ‘events’

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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Spain: protesters maintain pressure

May 22, 2011 - 4:00 pm Comments Off

The economic austerity, mass unemployment and the impending local elections have, since last Sunday, the emergence of a broad popular movement among the youth of Spain this week. Los indignados ", ie Indignant, as they call themselves, occupied since last Sunday instead Madrid Puerta del Sol.

Now "illegal", the electoral truce in effect banned the demonstrations, but determined to hear their ras-le-bol of the crisis and unemployment, hundreds of youths were mobilized Saturday in the camp alternative to the Puerta del Sol in Madrid .Shouting "we are now illegal," an immense crowd welcomed Friday at midnight on the start of the truce, after, at the stroke of the clock, symbolically launched a "silent scream" of scotch tape on the mouth, arms raised to heaven.

"Apolitical" and "citizen"

Saturday morning, a thousand protesters still occupying the "village" of tents and plastic sheeting instead of blue madrilène.L agency Efe, based on counting a specialist company, puts the figure of 19,000 protesters Friday night to the Puerta del Sol and surrounding streets, crowded. Other media put the number at 25,000 to 60,000 in Madrid and throughout Spain. The movement has indeed spread throughout Spain under the slogan "Toma la plaza" (Takes place). It is present in 57 cities.The youth movement, building on its growing popularity, plays on the ambiguity of the law and the embarrassment of the government, repeating that he is "apolitical," "citizen" and that the days of Saturday and Sunday will be devoted to the pursuit of "reflection" collective. "We act in full respect of the truce election meetings will be held but no action will be decided," Lopez said Saturday, a spokesman.

"We do not want to overthrow the politicians, just to restore the level of concern of the street, told El Pais Gandara, a spokesman of the movement. "We are not anarchists, nor opponents of the system. We are just normal people "who want a form of participatory democracy.

This spontaneous mobilization, also called the May 15 Movement, was organized as the Arab revolt, via online social networks Twitter and Facebook and on the principle of "right to be indignant." Wednesday, El Pais had counted 10,000 participants in Madrid. The watchwords: the stranglehold of the major parties on Spanish politics, social injustice and the "corrupt politicians". In the background, an unemployment rate of 21.19%, the highest in the euro area, which affects almost half the age of 25.

Police Discrete

"I have great respect for those who demonstrate, they do so peacefully, and I understand that this is due to the economic crisis, in their desire to find a job," said on Friday the first Outgoing Minister Zapatero socialist on the radio Cadena Ser.

The police presence, despite a ban on protests, remained quiet throughout the evening, limited to a few police cars parked around the square. The government, embarrassed by this spontaneous movement occurred a week of regional and local elections on Sunday ahead disastrous for the Socialists, had said on Friday to show "understanding."The Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, had suggested that police action could be avoided provided that no overflow takes place.

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The rent control: a false good idea

April 7, 2011 - 5:00 am Comments Off

Just unveiled the proposal to regulate the PS rents raised an outcry among real estate professionals. First, some believe that rental inflation is not a national problem. "Today, with the exception of the Paris area and some very large cities, rents are down. This is the case, for example, in Clermont-Ferrand, Saint-Etienne and Nantes, slides Jean Perrin, president of the UNPI (National Union of Property Owners) 4500 which brings together property managers and realtors.

"For investors who benefit from Scellier, rents are already capped, argues Guy Nafilyan, CEO of Kaufman & Broad France. In Paris, the square meter is rented more than 21 euros or 35 euros against 34 on the open market. "

As to specificity Paris, Jean Perrin was surprised that the Socialists do not know all the aspects."Each year, the state issued a decree blocking the rents in Paris, says he. But it is not respected. The tenants are so happy to find a home, none complains to justice. "

Above all, most real estate experts believe that rent control will not serve the interests of tenants in the medium term. "The danger is to lead to a shortage of rental properties with the key to a new higher price, said Laurent Vimont, general manager of the network of estate agents Century 21. Should this measure be implemented, those who buy an apartment for rent prefer to sell it online payday loans. As for potential investors who are reluctant, they would turn away from real estate. "

A bad precedent

In fact, many are convinced that this proposal is a false good idea."If the rent freeze was the right solution, we have established long time," said Bernard Cadeau, president of the network of estate agents Orpi. "The 1948 law that blocked the rents did not stop their surge," said Francis Bertière, CEO of Bouygues Immobilier. Others are not convinced that such a policy would be a plus for the national economy.

"If the state was embarking on such an adventure, it would be to restore purchasing power to the French, argues Serge Ivars, President of the USA (Union of Real Estate). However, lowering the rating of the tenants, it would lead to taking money to owners who are often small savers. "

In fact, to avoid an escalation of rents, it would be better to thoroughly review the policy of building."As France has not quite built for forty years, there is a housing deficit estimated at 1.2 million, explains Bernard Cadeau. For the reverse, it would build 500,000 houses per year. However, it does not exceed 300,000, which exacerbates the hole. "And to reverse the trend, it will take more than a miracle solution.

Ireland wants to renegotiate the plan with the EU and IMF

February 28, 2011 - 8:32 am Comments Off

The Irish vote is also a warning to Europe. By giving more than 36% of the votes of the opposition Fine Gael in parliamentary elections on Friday, voters clearly endorsed the government that had negotiated the bailout with the EU and the IMF. The ruling party had won just over 17% of the votes. The future prime minister, Enda Kenny, has already announced he intends to immediately renegotiate the terms "punitive" of the device. For Europeans, the case falls ill while looming in March, a marathon of negotiations critical to the future of the euro area.

"We will act on it next week," promised Enda Kenny, who considers "bad for Ireland and for Europe" the bailout of 85 billion euros signed in late November. The future prime minister wants to broach the subject on Friday in Helsinki at a meeting of conservative leaders of the EU.With two requests: to lower the rates "punitive" loan, fixed at 5.8% and involving banks, making them bear a larger share of losses.

European side, the rhetoric still print campaign promises was greeted with caution. "The Commission will continue to support Ireland" in the implementation of its austerity program, "which is essential" to the country's economy, said Sunday the spokesman on economic issues, Amadeu Altafaj. Before the elections, Brussels had suggested that there might be a little leeway for adjustments after 2011.A lower interest rate can not be excluded, but Dublin will probably make concessions on its corporate tax rate, seen as fiscal dumping elsewhere in Europe.

Fears for the other weak links

The Irish case puts the euro area in front of his responsibilities on the eve of a series of summits that bring together Heads of State and Government (11 and 24 March) and Finance Ministers (14 and probably 21 March) low fee payday loans. It is to decide on remedies for the debt crisis, first by raising the ceiling of the Rescue Fund (FESF) to assist countries in serious financial difficulties, and partly by tightening governance . Germany has much to impose his views on fiscal discipline.But his range of proposals, unveiled a month ago, was recently welcomed by its partners.

This bodes ill for the magnitude of the final result, even though the euro area sees risks reappear after a brief lull. Between record high oil prices and market concerns, Portugal was in the front line. The fear of another recession pushed its lending rates to astronomical levels (7.579% Friday, a record since the country's entry into the euro area). Investors are already convinced that Lisbon will shortly call on European rescue mechanism – such as Ireland and Greece before him.A perspective that revives fears for the other weak links in the eurozone, Spain in mind.

On Wednesday, the Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, will be received by Angela Merkel in Berlin to discuss the support fund – and how countries' having problems with their sovereign debt, such as Portugal "could best use of the devices financial assistance.

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The raw materials go up another notch

February 21, 2011 - 9:32 am Comments Off

After the fall of the regimes in Egypt and Tunisia, tensions rise in Bahrain, Algeria and other OPEC member countries, especially Libya, the brink of "civil war" as a son of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in power for 42 years, which would have left the country to seek refuge in Brazil or Venezuela, according to Al Arabiya.

On oil markets, the reaction is, as always, immediately on Monday morning. In Asian trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for March delivery gained 1.13 dollars to 87.33 dollars. As for Brent North Sea crude for April delivery, it took $ 1.02 to 103.54 dollars, a threshold of novueau strong techinque. "The main factor (this flight) is the disturbed situation in the Middle East," said Victor Shum, an analyst in Singapore, saying.He said that "Libya is a member of OPEC and although its oil production is modest at the global level, the country is near the main suppliers of black gold of the planet."

Renewed uncertainty requires the price of gold, a safe haven par excellence, also increased and currently process close to $ 1400, exactly at 1395.10 euros (+1.8%), and its highest Historical. Even tedance on silver prices, which hit a record last thirty years.

FinallyThe food prices are approaching the "level of alert," warned the World Bank on the sidelines of the meeting of G20 finance ministers in Paris, which revealed that between June and December, rising food prices has dropped 44 million people worldwide below the extreme poverty.

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Tekka does not convince investors

February 14, 2011 - 11:36 pm Comments Off

The first steps of Tekka on financial markets are definitely not easy. On 8 February, ten days after being officially launched its IPO process, management of dental implants specialist announced a fundraising well below 15-17250000 euros it initially wanted up, with only 11.25 million euros collected.

Set at 10.85 euros, the price per share was well below the price range announced in late January, from 13.15 to 15.15 euros. And for the first day of trading on Monday, far from unanimous among investors, the stock has collapsed. At noon, it fell by over 6.5% to 10.14 euros. A better, however, after some 11% of any decline in early trading.Despite an introductory price lower than expected, investors were therefore considered too high, the recovery group (43.25 million).

International growth slowed

After the operation, the company Rhône-Alpes has failed by almost 4 million goal down. A partial success forcing to "consider the establishment of a new timetable for international expansion, opening new branches being made more progressive," according to a statement.

For now, management does not give more details on the timing of this new calendar, but the international growth could take a year or two more than the three planned exercises.This uncertainty about the pace of development and thus on the horizon to arrive at the balance of society, is not likely to reassure the markets, in an already unfavorable to the confidence of the operators. Initially, Tekka wanted to open by 2013 six new branches abroad (United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, Canada, Egypt, Switzerland), in addition to the existing five (Spain, Germany, Turkey, Belgium, Morocco).

Financial markets still closed

This performance is disappointing but reflects the state of financial markets, especially little bit open and fond of corporate records had still not reached equilibrium. This is the case of Tekka. The company operates in a market enjoying strong growth, supported by favorable demographic trends, but had to invest heavily to develop its product lines and subsidiaries abroad.Result: If sales posted an average annual growth rate of 55% since 2001, annual losses in 2009/2010 totaled nearly 2 million (year ended 31 March), against 3.5 million a year earlier . Analysts said the group should not achieve its first profit until fiscal year 2012/2013.

Nevertheless, bourisèrement, the course should êtrer less volatile than small biotech companies with recent entry on Alternext (Carmat, Neovacs …). Like the "med-techs" Tekka has already approved and marketed products, which limits the impact of a possible failure on a product under development.

Also note that the listing venue chosen by the company does not promote its visibility, which inevitably limits the interest of investors.Certainly, trading on Alternext enables small and medium enterprises to acclimate smoothly with the requirements of the Exchange, but it offers them less well known, an element that is sometimes detrimental to the stock performance potential. One more factor that explains the poor performance of the track this morning.

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Oil: the situation of the Suez Canal worries

January 31, 2011 - 10:52 pm Comments Off

The situation becomes more blurred in Egypt and a barrel of oil rises. On the only day on Friday, the price of a barrel of light sweet crude for March delivery gained 4.32% to 89.34 dollars in New York as they leapt from 2% in London, pushing Brent a hair of $ 100 (99.74 dollars). A threshold has been crossed over from 1 October 2008.

On Monday, the rise continues. In morning trading in Asia, the "light sweet crude gained 37 cents to 89.71 dollars and that of Brent North Sea has appreciated by 18 cents to 99.60 dollars.

The Suez Canal in the heart of the concerns

This rise of prices, after several sessions swales, reflects the fear of the markets to see the routing of oil through the Suez Canal impacted by the events.Since the early disruption, port operations are slow and some employees can no longer reach their workplace. In addition, ships can no longer find in the port of Suez capable of military escorts to protect them while crossing the Gulf of Aden, whose waters are crisscrossed by hackers.

"No ship has been delayed for two days but no responsibility for immigration and customs has come to give permissions for security teams to shipments, said a coordinator of a freight company Suez. Crew changes have also been disrupted and some supplies, like food and water, are no longer transported to the port, "he added.

Nervousness

The situation is even more problematic that about one million barrels per day pass through the Suez Canal.In 2009, the latest data available, more than 34,000 vessels passed through the canal, including nearly 2,700 tankers carrying approximately 29 million tons of crude free online credit report. "There is some nervousness about supply and this could affect Europe more than the U.S.," said Tom Bentz of BNP Paribas.

Now, ships calling at ports in neighboring countries like Turkey or the UAE for their supplies. "If the shipping lanes closed, it will be a detour of 6,000 miles (almost 10,000 kilometers) in order to ensure deliveries," warns Rich Ilczyszyn, Lind-Waldock.

Also concerned about the situation, OPEC said that a "shortage" of oil is possible. The secretary general of the organization, Abdullah El-Badri said, however, that OPEC stands ready to increase production if necessary.

"A blip"

Some observers, however, take the situation into perspective. "Investors are speculating on the situation of the channel but it has very little chance of getting stuck in the light of financial challenges it poses to Egypt," said Djillali Hacid, technical analyst at XTB France. Remarks confirmed by the Egyptian official media said on Monday that the Suez Canal works "full capacity".

"For now, the impact of Egypt on the course is not so huge. This is just an excuse for investors to speed up that takes place from August but stumbled on the psychological threshold of 100 dollars, "adds the analyst XTB.

Evolution of a barrel of Brent since February 2010. Source: XTB France

The Chinese bank ICBC part in the conquest of Europe

January 18, 2011 - 3:44 pm Comments Off

The symbol will say anything to anybody, or almost. Yet Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is the world's largest bank by market capitalization. But so far the banking giant, his stationed – gigantic – domestic market, had little visibility on the international level. It is precisely this that is changing. Having shown its ambitions in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, the organization announced Monday the opening in the coming days, five new branches in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Milan and Madrid. What a double presence in Europe was limited to the United Kingdom, Germany, Luxembourg and Russia. Coordinated from Luxembourg, the European network is now comparable with that of his fellow Bank of China.

Starbucks is changing its logo, the customer does not like

January 7, 2011 - 9:12 pm Comments Off

"Stupid," "horrible," "simple, modern and boring." Facebook page from Starbucks, the regulars of the coffee chain has more than enough words to describe the logo change envisaged by the company in March. One of the 281 comments posted on the official website of the brand is even more direct: "What is the moron in your marketing department who had the idea to remove the name world famous Starbucks Coffee on your new logo? .

Far from being radical, change is surprising indeed. Logo in force since 1992, when its IPO, the Seattle-based group that retains the stylized siren, abandons the black color that was present in its former corporate signature and keep only the traditional green. Exit statement also internationally known as "Starbucks Coffee".

Aware of the risks of marketing such a change, the company's CEO, Howard Schultz, took out the heavy artillery to be justified. Video, photos and special pages are multiplying on the brand website. "Although we have been and will always be a distributor of coffee, it is possible that we have in the future new products without coffee" Howard Schultz is justified. The latter also points out that such changes occur for the 40-year mark, a period conducive to a fresh start.

"A generic '

However, these arguments do not seem to satisfy fans of the coffee chain payday loan lenders. Some – like the man who says "never start their day without their Starbucks, even walking in 60 cm of snow" especially fear of no longer navigate. "When I go abroad, Starbucks are my benchmarks. Now I no longer recognize, "says one visitor.

Specialists are also surprised. "It's crazy. They will say what? 'The coffee formerly known as Starbucks?' "Surprised James Gregory, the consulting firm CoreBrand. The latter concern mainly the signing unnamed sui could harm the brand also present in other distribution networks. "Here you're dealing with customers who are not regulars. Your product becomes almost a generic product and it does not say it's a Starbucks product, "said he.

Financial issues also raise questions. Starbucks, which is emerging from a restructuring period marked by the closure of 1,000 stores worldwide, will change the logos on its 16,000 stores and hundreds of products. For now, the cost of this transformation of the logo is not mentioned.

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Background

Logo criticized and removed.

The NYSE should pause

January 5, 2011 - 4:44 pm Comments Off

The U.S. stock market should open slightly lower on Wednesday. Futures on Standard & Poor's 500 index retreating into effect from 0.73% to 1256.10 points and those on the Nasdaq 100 2231.25 0.63% in points. Tuesday, the U.S. indices finished piecemeal. After reaching the highest since the summer of 2008, the Dow Jones rose 0.2% to 11,691 points, but the S & P 500 fell 0.1% to 1270 points and the Nasdaq lost 0 , 4% to 2681 points.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro continued to fall Wednesday against the dollar raised by renewed optimism on the resumption of the U.S. economy, while continuing concerns about sovereign debt in the eurozone continued to weigh on the single currency.About 11:00 am in Paris, the euro stood at 1.3256 dollars against 1.3303 dollars late Tuesday.

New round of macroeconomic indicators

On the macroeconomic front, investors will be watching especially this Wednesday, the ISM index on the services sector. This figure is actually much more representative of the U.S. economy as the ISM manufacturing index released Monday. Investors also await the start of the afternoon counts of the ADP survey on employment in the United States. Statistics scrutinized by investors because they often foreshadow those of the monthly report on employment expected Friday, a major indicator to assess the strength of U.S. recovery.

For its part the U.S. central bank (FED) said yesterday in reporting its last meeting that the European crisis is one of threats to the recovery in the United States.U.S. growth should, however, experience a burst in the short term.

Also on the macroeconomic front, according to Retail Metrics, retail sales in the U.S., rose 3.4% in December over a year. This is their strongest growth since 2006 and the best month of the year for U.S. distribution. The snow storms that have occasionally affected sales, purchases by households after Christmas, were very dynamic.

Another good new real estate office would have experienced a slight improvement last year. For the first time in 3 years, rental prices have increased slightly in the fourth quarter 2010 vacancy rate remains high (17.6%, the highest since 1993) and the prices are low (they were $ 25 average in mid-2008).But the stabilization or even slight recovery, employment benefits to this area.

Facebook and Goldman Sachs in the crosshairs of the SEC

The side of values, Constable U.S. stock, the SEC has decided to focus on investment bank Goldman Sachs in Facebook, to ensure it does not circumvent the rules governing non-listed companies, says Wall Street Journal. Under the current rules, dating from the '60s, when a private company reaches a threshold of 500 shareholders, it becomes compelled to disclose certain financial information. Many commentators saw in the investment of 500 million made by Goldman Sachs with the Russian group mail.ru a way for the community site to gain access to customers of the prestigious U.S. bank, while remaining below this threshold, and freeing itself from any limitations of transparency.Depending on the outcome of its investigation, the SEC could recast the regulations in force, according to the Wall Street Journal. For the regulator, the newspaper said, the challenge is to find a compromise between protecting investors and unlisted companies will have access to sources of capital.

Also note, the year 2010 has been very positive for automakers and marks the return of the Big Three U.S. automakers General Motors (GM), Ford and Chrysler, according to figures released yesterday after the close of Wall Street. A total of 11.6 million vehicles were sold in the U.S. last year, up 11% year on year, according to provisional figures from Autodata. Manufacturers should respond to these figures.

Always on the side of values, also after market, the manufacturer of fertilizers Mosaic, released its results for the second fiscal quarter.The group's profits climbed to over $ 1 billion, well beyond analysts' expectations. Turnover was up 59% to $ 2.7 billion is also above expectations. Gross margin was 29% against 18% last year. A note in the margins phosphates rose 24% with an average price of $ 461 per tonne against $ 287 last year. Production capacities are rapidly recovering (88% on American soil).Sales prospects are positive according to the company.

In addition, the American designer of components for mobile phones Qualcomm on Wednesday announced the acquisition of its partner Atheros Communications, a specialist in wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, based on an enterprise value of $ 3.1 billion dollars.

Annual gathering of consumer electronics in Las Vegas

The world of consumer electronics is preparing the opening Thursday of its big annual event in Las Vegas. This market is in full recovery is expected to reach almost one trillion dollars this year. Moreover, the Chinese computer manufacturer Lenovo introduced on Tuesday in Las Vegas a new hybrid version of its IdeaPad computer, a laptop running on Microsoft Windows 7, the screen can become detachable tablet Android (Google ).In the same sector, the U.S. Court of Appeals reinstated a verdict quashed in September who thought the software giant Microsoft guilty of patent infringement against rival Uniloc, but has not confirmed a significant financial penalty $ 388 million.

In Europe a heavy presumption weighs manipulation on Google. This is evident first of questionnaires sent to European players of the Web by the European Commission as part of its antitrust investigation on U.S. Internet group.