Posts Tagged ‘features’

Doubts on funding from Societe Generale in Libya

September 6, 2011 - 10:48 am Comments Off

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

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

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

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Sessions stressful to predict market

July 24, 2011 - 7:04 pm Comments Off

"All global markets are wondering whether U.S. policy makers are able to compromise and reach agreement on the debt." Here is essentially what Sunday said the secretary general of the White House, Bill Daley. Adding that financial markets are prepared to live very stressful day, Bill Daley has brought into the hands of President Obama and Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner. Both said last night their will to reach agreement by Sunday night (Paris time), a few hours before the opening of Asian markets.

Just relieved on the question of the end of the Greek fire, after the adoption of a new plan Thursday to help Greece, all the concerns of operators should indeed focus on the United States, where elected Democrats and Republicans are still debating on what to do to reduce the U.S. debt. After another weekend of heated discussions, the status quo is always appreciated. Nine days is the time left now to senior U.S. policy makers to tune their violins. If no agreement is reached by Aug. 2 on raising the debt ceiling (about 14,300 billion) as well as budget cuts and additional taxes, the world's largest economy could be in default payment at the beginning of next month. Which would surely induce panic in the stock market.

Fear of a deterioration in the rating of sovereign debt

Even without going to default, the risk of a stock drop on the American question remains possible payday advance lenders. According to the White House, a simple short-term renewal of the debt (to which scenario we are heading according to Republican Senator Tom Coburn) could lead to a deterioration in the sovereign debt rating by U.S. rating agencies. These sanctions are rarely applauded the stock market, especially when they concern the world's largest economy. Waiting to see the Asian markets the first consequences of the new fruitless discussions of the weekend, analysts stress the importance of the issue to investors.

"The markets have liquidated" Friday, they had learned during the day the failure of negotiations between the White House and Republican opponents of a plan to reduce long-term deficits, said David Kotok, chairman of Cumberland Advisors. But now "the markets have had time to digest" and determination displayed by both others to avoid default is reassuring. Still, that nervousness should remain in force next week on the large world. After removal of the threat of the eurozone, the political debates around the indebtedness of Western countries have not yet finished obscure markets.

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The CAC could from the onslaught of 4000 points

July 1, 2011 - 9:32 am Comments Off

The Paris Bourse is expected to remain on the path to higher Friday morning after a nice session already saved up last night having completed 40 leCac an increase of 1.48% to 3892.21 points. The Greek situation reassured the financial world yesterday, as the Greek Parliament finally adopted the unpopular austerity plan, paving the way for the release of a next tranche of aid from the European Union and the Fund IMF. The euro has risen, moving at more than $ 1.45 this morning.

If no statistical significance is expected today, investors will monitor the U.S., where the issue of debt escalates. One report indicates that U.S. lawmakers should agree within three weeks on raising the debt ceiling, or the country will default.Timothy Geithner, the Secretary of the Treasury, would resign.

The figures in the automotive market

The Committee of French Automobile Manufacturers (CCFA) will release figures this morning the car market for the month of June and the first half.

Renault breaks the price of his Renault Twingo, faced with falling sales, will sell for the first time one of his vehicles, the little Twingo at a price lower than the Logan, the model input range of its Romanian subsidiary Dacia, according to La Tribune.

PSA is increasing in India The automaker is expected to invest 620 million euros in building its future manufacturing site in India, according to Les Echos. PSA will implement this facility in the state of Tamil Nadu, south of the country.

EDF EN signs a big contract

EDF.EDF Energies Nouvelles, a subsidiary of French group dedicated to renewable energy, has signed with the Danish Vestas Wind Systems for the use of wind turbines in Europe and the United States. The contract could provide the French operator up to 2000 megawatts over the period 2012-2014. The transaction amount was not disclosed.

LVMH.Philippe Pascal, who led for ten years, watches and jewelry division of LVMH, has been appointed adviser to Bernard Arnault, CEO of the world's number one luxury.

Areva said Thursday that the strategy developed since the creation of nuclear group by Anne Lauvergeon was a "success" and that his replacement did not involve a change of course.

EADS said Thursday the success of the acquisition, through its subsidiary Eurocopter, the Canadian aerospace supplier Vector Aerospace, 98.32% of shares were made to the offer made in late May.

TF1 announced Thursday to be in negotiations to become the sole shareholder of Metro France, the eponymous owner of the free newspaper which claims 2.4 million daily readers.

Carrefour has signed an agreement with Pixmania, the specialist in consumer electronics, to catch up in online sales of non-food.

Bénéteau sailboats world's leading manufacturer, said that sales in the first nine months of fiscal year 2010-2011 and the level of its order book allowed him to confirm its objective of annual turnover of 920 million euros.

BioAlliance announced Friday the launch of a capital increase of EUR 16.6 million to accelerate development of its portfolio of orphan drugs in oncology, particularly Livatag.

This is no time to austerity for the stars of the bank

May 8, 2011 - 9:12 am Comments Off

The rigor is no longer appropriate for the big bosses of the banking sector. Aid paid by the state and now repaid their business reaping the effects of recovery, there are incentive bonuses, considering the annual reports and press reports, clearly an upward trend for 2010. While many top executives of French banks had waived their bonuses the previous two years, 2010 has signed the back of generous salaries.

In addition to a salary of 1 million euros, up from last year, the head of Societe Generale, Frederic Oudéa, reaching his first bonus since he took office and the Kerviel affair.Bank boss of the highest paid, he will receive a variable remuneration amounting to 598,400 euros paid immediately in cash, plus a paid deferred until 2015 to comply with European Directive CRD3 applicable since 1 January 2011. In total, the variable compensation paid for 2010 could reach up to 3.2 million euros, according to the calculation of Echos.

It's a little more than Baudoin Prot, CEO of BNP Paribas, which in turn will receive a fixed salary unchanged from the previous year, but a sharp rise in bonuses. About 1.67 million awarded in total, 60% will be paid in deferred over two years with conditions. His total compensation could reach 2.47 million euros as well. Last example, the boss of BPCE, former deputy secretary general of the Elysee Perol, who waived his bonus last year easy payday loans.According to AFP, he will receive 1.05 million euros to this title, for a fixed salary unchanged at 550,000 euros.

Variable pay "balanced"

If the amounts received are variable up substantially, however, banks have generally respected the requirements of European directive adopted in 2010. Transposed into French law by the end of last year, it sought to control the compensation of employees of banks that may affect the risks taken by their institution. To get them interested in long-term results, a fraction ranging from 40% to 60% variable compensation should be paid for example over several years, subject to results.

But according to the directive CRD3, this variable compensation should be "balanced" with respect to the fixed remuneration. And that's where the shoe pinches.As said the European Commissioner Michel Barnier to services in the columns of Liberation on Saturday, "behaviors have not changed as much as you want. The banks have not complied with the spirit and letter of our directive. " If French banks do not face good students, British officials are still better off. The new boss of Barclays saw himself awarded a bonus of 23 million pounds.

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In Paris, the anxiety of eating sushi

April 21, 2011 - 10:08 pm Comments Off

At Kiriko, a Japanese restaurant in the ninth arrondissement of Paris, this chef is adamant since the disaster Fukushima, "attendance has dropped from 20 to 30%. A few yards away, in Yokohama, the conclusion is the same. Another borough, figures identical to Kyotori between Place de la Bourse and the Opera, "we lost a third of customers." Even if he refuses to disclose its revenue, the head of another Japanese restaurant says: "In recent days, a lot of customers are asking for certificates on the origin of the fish we use in our sushi. "

Aurelian, a young 26 year old Lille, is one of many suspicious. "Even in normal times, when you see the television reports on Asian restaurants, it makes you skeptical.Where do the fish, seaweed, sauces, rice …? We do not know anything. "

Few Japanese fish imported into France

The ignorance of consumers about the origin of the products they use, just that battle Alain Bailly, Director of Counter ocean, a company based in Rungis, providing no less than 300 sushi restaurants. "The lack of communication and transparency creates among consumers a deep sense of doubt and anxiety, when in reality, almost nothing is anywhere in Japan cash advance." What pushed this company to send a communique to all its customers, recalling that "the salmon comes from Norway, tuna in the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean sea bream, mackerel and mullet from France …». A reminder that some restaurants have not hesitated to affix labels on their windows.In fact, among the products commonly used in Japanese cooking, only some wasabi and seaweed from the country of the rising sun. "And yet, one can easily find from the USA, China or Korea," says Alain Bailly.

When contacted, the European Commission recalled that on his side since the end of March, all food products from the area near Fukushima are subject to health checks reinforced from Japan, and are re-examined upon arrival on European territory. As the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, services stressed that only 450 tons of marine products in Japan have been imported into France in 2010.

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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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Carrefour strike: unions welcome

April 10, 2011 - 2:28 am Comments Off

Unions are rather relieved. After fears yesterday that their call for the strike falls flat, following the announcement last minute by the management to reopen salary negotiations, they welcomed a widely followed mobilization this Saturday. Employees hypermarket distribution group were in fact called by four unions to strike on Saturday to protest against including salary increases for 2011, considered insufficient. The appeal was launched in late March by the FGTA-FP, the majority union at Carrefour (with more than 45% representation), and supported by the CGT, CFDT and CGC.

In total, employees of French retail group came to mass protest around the shops in this traditional day of great crowds in hypermarkets.According to union estimates, the movement is widely followed (50 to 85% of striking workers) in 130 of 203 hypermarkets in the group. Over thirty sites are completely blocked, preventing access of employees supermarkets. Even when they are not completely blocked, the strike rate range from 30% to 85% as estimated by Dejan Terglav, general secretary of the FO-FGTA reported by AFP. "The regions are the most mobilized the North, Britain and the Centre," said trade unionist. When contacted, the management of Carrefour has not confirmed those numbers, always carrying an inventory of mobilization, and ensuring that all supermarkets were open.

Union representatives yesterday morning anticipating a high rate of mobilization of employees. A rare occurrence in a group unaccustomed to large-scale social movements."Especially since the announcement of the reopening of Carrefour wage negotiations Wednesday could deter some people from coming forward. But reopening negotiations, it does not mean to succeed, "insists Dejan Terglav.

"It's a movement that looks pretty memorable," confirmed Frank Gaulin, Steward central CGT. Jean-Claude Mailly, secretary general of the Workers' Force (FOR), came to support the movement at the site of Le Mans, on strike for 80%. "People want a redistribution within companies.When they are unwilling to do that, there is a strike, "said union leader, also claims that" a device to make compulsory the transport allowance in all enterprises. "

Insufficient wage increase

While management offers its employees a 1% increase in wages to March 1 and another 1% increase on 1 October, union officials estimate that these proposals do not cover inflation announced by 2% payday loan online. "I do not really represents only 1% over the year," says a leaflet distributed by the FGTA-FO, which requests that the increases are decided once a year. The promise of recovery to 10% (against 7% previously) discounts on purchases of stores, and the announcement of the reopening of negotiations next Wednesday, will not suffice to bring back the union leaders on their decision.

Indeed, beyond wages, discomfort is increasingly strong-side conditions of use and new methods of work since arriving at the head of the group of Swedish Lars Olofsson, in January 2009. In total, FGTA-FO amounted to 10,000 the number of jobs cut since 5 years, and denounced a "new business model based on night work generalized ultra simplified workflow and increased employee stress .

The union also stipulates that future negotiations with management will not only wages and, even in case of high wage increase, it will not bend on the claims concerning the improvement of working conditions.

Opposition to the plans of division

While President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday expressed its willingness to link salaries to dividends, the unions could ask for more support for their speeches. For the third and final major demand, workers are opposed to the division by trading in the subsidiary Dia hard discount and the 25% of the land Carrefour Property. According to unions, these purely financial transactions would bring six billion euros to the two main shareholders, Bernard Arnault and Colony Capital (14% stake and 20% of voting rights between them).

In the words of Dejan Terglav in Les Echos reported on Friday, the organization also wants the Mutual Fund Business (CIPF) 'vote against the division (at the next general meeting of June 21 ed.)CIPF owns approximately 1.33% of the shares but the double voting rights "said the union leader. Bringing to nearly 4% the number of shareholders opposed the project, with the fund Knight Vinke (more than 1% of capital). But for now insufficient to meet a third of votes needed to derail the project.

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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.

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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Gasoline: 47% of French loans to consume less

March 12, 2011 - 10:40 pm Comments Off

The French will not endure forever rising fuel prices, without changing their consumption habits. According to an Ifop poll published Sunday in the South West, 47% of respondents intend to reduce their consumption now if gasoline prices continue to climb.

Consequence of the soaring price of oil, those fuel have reached record highs last week. A liter of unleaded 95 has sold 1.50 euros on average in the hexagon, and a liter of diesel 1.54 euros, said earlier this week the Directorate General for Energy and Climate (DGEC ). Some stations even offered Paris a liter of unleaded fuel to 1.8 euro.

If consumers incorporate more and more since 2005, the idea of ​​an inexorable rise in fuel prices, 1.5 euro per liter of diesel remains for many a symbolic threshold beyond which they consume as much. Only 15% of respondents put this threshold at a level greater than 1.5 euro per liter, said the survey. Jean-Louis Schilansky, president of the French Union of Petroleum Industries (Ufip), makes the same observation. He recalled that in 2008 when fuel prices had also risen sharply, the consomamation was down 3% once this threshold is crossed guaranteed fast personal loans.

Not lower taxes

The decision to reduce its consumption or not, however, depends partly on the level of life. 40% of workers have thus been limited.In contrast, managers and professionals are more likely (14%) than average (11%) said they will not alter their habits, whatever the price of a liter. For many, the level of fuel consumption is also strongly constrained by the lifestyle.

Faced with soaring prices, the government this week but ruled out any cut in gasoline taxes could reduce the transport budget of the French. "You can take steps this guy at a time when we must take into public finances," ruled the Economy Minister Christine Lagarde. It was therefore confined to advise the French to buy the morning and follow rules of conduct to reduce, even at the margin, the price at the pump.

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