Posts Tagged ‘finance’

First semester with a bang for the CAC 40 companies

September 4, 2010 - 4:32 am Comments Off

The base effect was particularly favorable. But overall, companies listed on the CAC 40 – stock index comprising the 40 largest market capitalizations in France, headed Total – can boast of in the first half of fiscal 2010 profits up 86% over the first six months of 2009. Profits have almost doubled, reaching some 41.5 billion euros, against less than 23 billion a year earlier. To recall, throughout the year 2009, profits amounted to 47 billion euros payday advance lender.

Alone, Total, BNP Paribas and France Telecom accounts for one third of total profits. Total remaining the most profitable company in France (by far) Continue along the road and with an increase in profits by 28.1% in the first half of 2010 versus the first half of 2009.Other companies that have successfully managed the first half of the year, L'Oreal and LVMH, the luxury market is still juicy, Sanofi-Aventis and Capgemini, who continue their acquisition strategy.

656 000 staff in ten years

September 1, 2010 - 1:04 pm Comments Off

For the first time since 1980, the number of three public (state, territorial and hospital) have stagnated in France in 2008. Specifically, they rose only 1800postes. From never-seen since 1980. At 31 December 2008, according to report data annually on the Public Service published yesterday, the Hexagon were almost 5.3 million employees, or 20.5% of total employment, and 656,000 more than a decade ago.

The virtual stagnation of 2008 is largely to the credit of the state civil service has continued to decrease in population from 2006. It has eliminated 77,000 jobs last year, including through non-replacement of a staff of two who retire and to continue the policy of transfer of powers to local authorities. This represents a decline of 3.1% of its workforce in a year.France, employs 2.4 million civil servants, 69.5% and 14.1% of holders of soldiers. This total is 1.4% lower than in 1998, representing a decline of nearly 35,000 agents in a decade.

The numbers have declined in 2008 across all departments, with the exception of Justice and the prime minister. The portfolios of Education and Ecology have been most affected by the cuts with cuts respective 43,000 and 23,000 agents. Finally, almost a two-state official now works in education, one in five of Defense and Interior to eleven.

2328euros per month for a state agent

Another finding of the report 2009-2010 on the state of the public service: local authorities have continued to recruit with a vengeance with nearly 70,000 new jobs in 2008.The local civil service now employs 1.82 million people. A total of 3.9% higher than in 2008 and, especially, a surge of 40% compared to 1998. This dramatic increase is partly related to the second law of decentralization occurred in 2003. The regions – which employs only 4% of all local officials – have been particularly intensive public sector jobs as they saw their numbers jump over a decade, from 22.5% on average each year and even 49% per year since 2005. In more than one in four cases, recruitment occurred three years prior to 2008 had nothing to do with transfer of responsibilities from the State.

The public hospital has, meanwhile, was more reasonable since the increase of its workforce in 2008 was four times lower than that of local authorities: 1% over one year or more 10000agents.At December 31, staff of public hospitals accounted for approximately 1 million people. Those numbers have increased, on average ten years, 1.8% each year.

Pay later, an officer of the state received an average of 2328 euros net per month in 2008. An increase of 3.7% in current euros a year and 0.9% after allowing for inflation. Territorial Agent earned nearly 600 euros less and a hospital, 150. In both cases, the territorial and hospital officials have seen their wages decline in net income a year, by 0.6% and 0.1% in constant euros.

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Lafarge: margins fall

July 30, 2010 - 8:12 pm Comments Off

Lafarge, the group specializes in building materials, has announced a decrease of 3% of its turnover for the first half of 2010. At constant exchange rates and constant perimeter, the decrease amounted to 4%. The operating income showed a decline of 5% to 1.072 billion euros (-9% at constant scope and exchange rates).

Net income from Lafarge withdrew its side of 29% to EUR 233 million. The current operating margin shows finally a decrease of 30 basis points to 13.9%.

In the second quarter alone, sales rose 2% to 4.436 billion euros but, at constant perimeter and constant exchange rates, sales rose 2%. The operating income increased 5% to 836 million euros. It is stable at constant exchange rates and constant perimeter.

At the Paris stock exchange, these ads are unwelcome.The title Lafarge has one of the largest decreases in ACC 40: 3.89% yield at 41.80 euros at the close No fax payday advance.

New measures to reduce debt

Bruno Lafont CEO of Lafarge, said in a statement that "the pace of economic recovery remains uncertain and highly variable from one country to another," led the group to adjust its market forecast for the year 2010. Lafarge table so now on a variation of the demand for cement between -1 and +3% on the year compared to 2009 (against 0% to 5% expected in late March).

The band announced further steps to reduce its debt amounting to 15.16 billion euros (down 1% during the first half).Thus, it will "limit its investments in 2011 to 1 billion euros" and sets "a new goal of structural cost reductions of more than 200 million euros."

The counterfeit euro banknotes were less popular

July 21, 2010 - 2:08 am Comments Off

The number of counterfeit euro banknotes declined in the first half of 2010 according to the biannual report of the European Central Bank (ECB). In total, 387,000 false banknotes were withdrawn from circulation, a decline of 13% over the second half of 2009.

The ECB said that "reported to the stock, up, of genuine euro banknotes in circulation (average 13.2 billion in cuts in the first half of 2010), the number of counterfeits is very small." The European institution does not specify whether the counterfeit notes were seized before their release.

Tickets are most affected by counterfeiting are € 20 (41.5%) and 50 euros (42.5%). Almost all (98%) of counterfeit notes seized this semester have been in a member country of the euro area.According to the Central Office for the Suppression of Counterfeiting Currency (OCRFM) quoted by Agence France Presse (AFP), France, Spain and Italy together account for 70% of the counterfeiting of the euro.

The ECB seeks public caution, recalling the method "Touch-Tilt-Watch" called "TRI" to verify the presence of several security features on tickets for the single currency.

G20: Sarkozy is located in the Obama camp

June 26, 2010 - 10:20 am Comments Off

In the battle over economic strategy, which raged in the country G8/G20 meeting in Toronto, Nicolas Sarkozy ranks clearly on the side of Barack Obama's hostile plans rigor precipitates. "For France, fiscal consolidation is a long-term need [...] the stimulus must be from 2011, progressively, according to individual circumstances," said one EU source.

Favorable cures severe austerity in Greece, Portugal and Spain, Nicolas Sarkozy calls for budgetary adjustments "progressive" in France and in Germany, in 2011, with "not too many taxes."

The fragile economic and financial worries Europe G8 and the G20. "Our partners Americans and Canadians fear the impact of austerity plans on resuming" said one EU source.The health of banks on the Old Continent is also a major concern in the U.S. No faxing payday loans 1 hour. "There is nothing to fear from that quarter. Our banks are very strong. The results of stress testing in late July will cheer the markets, "say the Europeans.

Faced with the Americans, Germans and Britons facing the G8 steadfast defenders of rigor. "A sustainable growth can not result from a fiscal policy based on the debt?" Repeats Angela Merkel. "Our public finances are in such a state, we have no other choice than a hard adjustment," defends David Cameron.

In this debate, Nicolas Sarkozy wants to distinguish itself from its European partners.Recognizing the need to reduce fiscal deficits in France, he does not want to rush, giving priority to pension reform. If markets were not so vigilant, he would gladly own the warning of Barack Obama: "do not overdo it in 2010 … or 2011.

Dassault Systems revises upward its 2010 targets

April 30, 2010 - 7:32 am Comments Off

Dassault Systemes announces quarterly results better than expected. In its statement, the company said it raised its forecasts to reflect the decline of the euro. He is now based on a dollar to 1.40 euro and 130 yen, against $ 1.45 previously and 140 yen

The publisher of software design and computer aided manufacturing, which has seen an improvement in activity on its main brands in the first quarter, posted a profit for the period from 51.3 million euros (+18%) . Returned to action, the net spring 0.43. For its part, the turnover reached 312 million euros, up 1% at constant exchange rates. Sales of new licenses have been particularly strong with an increase of 19%.

Net earnings per share expected between 2.19 and 2.28 euros for 2010

For the second quarter, Dassault Systems * expects net earnings per share in the range from 0.46 to 0.50. The turnover would be between 360 and 370 million and margin of around 23%. Dassault Systemes exceed its own forecasts. As analysts, were their latest estimates show a consensus of 0.37 euros.

For the full year, the group now expects earnings per share of 2.19 to 2.28 euros, a growth of 18% to 23%, from 2.09 to 2.19 euros before cons.

The group confirms its objective of raising 15% to 17% of its annual sales at constant exchange rates, with an operating margin of approximately 26%.

* The Dassault owns Le Figaro.

April 22, 2010 - 6:48 pm Comments Off

A letter dated end of January, setting the broad outlines of a trade union representation in the territorial commissions after elections in the TPE.

This bill deals with "three great subjects." First, it imposes in firms with fewer than 10 employees on a consultation list at the regional level every four years from late 2012. "This consultation will be through the internet or by mail, confirm there in the entourage of Eric Woerth. And it will affect all employees of small, except those of Agriculture whose election results, chambers of agriculture will be taken into account.In other words, all employees of businesses with fewer than 10 people will vote on the union they feel able to represent them in the territorial commissions, not the names of candidates.

Deuzio, the establishment of joint regional chambers (and the designation of their representatives) is returned to negotiations branch or inter-branch no fax pay day loans. The mission of these committees? "Monitoring and enforcement of collective agreements," says Bill.

Thirdly, the government postponed by two years the date of the next industrial tribunal elections to be held no later than at the end of 2015 and not 2013."There are many elections in early 2014 and we also want to allow time to analyze the recommendations of the Richard report," justifies a collaborator Eric Woerth.

"This is not the priority"

The Richard report, to be unveiled in the coming days, should offer new ways of "designation" of judges prud'hommes. One of the tracks would be considered to remove the election to go through an appointment of counsel based on the weight of each union at national level.Delaying the election of two years and has the advantage of allowing adequate time for governments to measure the weight of each plant under the new criteria of representativeness (will not be representative as the plants that, nationally, have a hearing than 8%).

No doubt this bill will meet the four trade unions signed the letter of intent in December with UPA: CFDT, CGT, CFE-CGC and CFTC. And will be fought by the MEDEF and CGPME rating as "excellent" social dialogue in the current SOHO and do not see the usefulness of measuring the audience of trade unions in the TPE.

"This is not the priority," has consistently indicated Laurence Parisot, the president of MEDEF, for several months.

Lagard?re: Wyser-Pratte won significant support

April 13, 2010 - 9:52 am Comments Off

New rebound in the case Lagard?re / Wyser-Pratte. Guy Wyser-Pratte, said the activist investor who hold 0.53% stake in Lagardere, has won the support of governance expert RiskMetrics Group (formerly ISS Proxy Advosry Services) in his critique of the structure of the media group.

Support size, because boards of RiskMetrics are followed by institutional investors. But they represent 78.51% of the capital of Lagard?re (50,51% of foreign institutional investors and 20% French).

Rejection of proposals by the management and the board

But on Monday, the general partners and managers of Lagardere SCA voted against the amendment of articles of the company – a company limited by shares to a company – in a proposed resolution before the next general meeting Guy Wyser-Pratte.A decision that is "not surprised" to advise shareholders of the activist. "The opposite would have been more democratic," he quipped.

Last Friday, the group's supervisory board had rejected outright the two main proposals of the Franco-American investor to relax the sponsorship of the Lagard?re group. For now, Arnaud Lagardere, the manager-partner of Lagardere, which holds all powers of decision with 10% of capital. Partnership status allows to use external financing without losing control of the company.

RiskMetrics 'agree' with Wyser-Pratte

Thus, the shareholder advisory firm RiskMetrics looking for arguments Guy Wyser-Pratte: "We agree with his criticism of the sponsorship per share.

"The presence of dissent to the supervisory board of Lagard?re would be beneficial to the long-term shareholder value," she said in a statement. In any case, any election "reflects the intention of the limited partners to adopt a different status," said the company. Verdict on 27 April at the general meeting of shareholders.

On Monday, the shares are granted Lagard?re 0.46%, to 31.51 euros in a market equilibrium.

Wyser-Pratte had accused Mr Lagardere's "mismanagement", accusing him of preferring to "go play tennis in running the company." Arnaud Lagardere leads the group since the death of his father Jean-Luc Lagard?re in 2003.

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Real estate: how to take advantage of bargains

April 6, 2010 - 11:00 pm Comments Off

Realtors? A good indicator of the economy. Today, the stone as the economy heads out from the water, but both of them are not yet fully recovered and remain afloat in midstream. Tails, the good news, transactions leave. This year, Fnaim, the federation of estate agents, believes that the bar of 600 000 transactions could be completed. But the market remains mixed. The nine was widely supported by the success of Scellier law, which allows investors to benefit from a tax of 25% within an investment of EUR 300 000. The former, he, still suffers. Because the coin has two sides. Front side, the bad news, the former has not solved the fluidity necessary for proper functioning of the housing market.These professionals call that the secondly-time buyers, that is to say, households who sell a property to buy another, are still not massively back on the market. In many places and on many products, it is still often difficult to match the expectations of those sellers with buyers.

After a blip like this has crossed the housing market, have a good idea of the price of a property is difficult. All the buyers and sellers are determined based on their expectations about future price developments. Roughly speaking, professionals assume a status quo prices. The most optimistic evoke certain properties, the most sought increases in the order of a few percent. Others believe that the balance should tilt towards a price reduction. Mathilde Lemoine, director of economic studies of HSBC France, and expects a decline in prices of the old 4% this year.For its part, the Land Bank expects "a drop in prices of 3% in the former and stability in the new." And pout Mouillart Michel, Professor of Economics at Paris X-Nanterre, "there is no risk of sudden fall of the market.

Another less quantifiable changed with the crisis and must be taken into account. In real estate, as elsewhere, households are determined to buy at the right price, to be smart consumers and investors informed. The beating of the heart are more difficult. Today, we buy more with his head than his heart. The ball is still in the camp of buyers. They have attractive credit terms. It is indeed possible for those who have the best records, to find a fixed rate loan over fifteen years to 3.5%. It will be hard to beat. "Interest rates will necessarily undergo one or more increases in 2010," said the broker CAFP.In a market recovering, prices are difficult to read. We publish in this case the numbers of notaries, those of the Credit Foncier Fnaim and according to our tour of France prices in Ile-de-France and its regions. Searched information, necessary but not sufficient. For now, the price changes between a product with and without defects, good or bad situation, are becoming wider. To help you better understand these variations, we have pushed the investigation further. With concrete examples of prices that are resistant and those who decline (page 114) and a tour of France that you can buy if you're lucky enough to have a budget of EUR 500 000 (page 142). On most goods, prices have declined from their level two years ago. But they did not collapse.In the Ile-de-France, for example, notaries emphasize that "the decline in prices recorded between autumn 2008 and summer 2009 was about 10%" low fee payday loans. But the downward trend in prices has "interrupted". "On an annual basis, the decline in prices between late 2008 and late 2009 is more than 5.6%," they add. This year they expect a stabilization of prices. And sounding the alarm. "The resumption of the construction of new housing in the private sector was essential to the recovery of the market. The shortage of quality housing appropriate to the needs of Parisians is short-term risk of a return of speculation.

The network Orpi evokes a "real recovery, but fragile." A word that recurs in several experts. Mathilde Lemoine and speaks of a "housing demand remains fragile because of imbalances persist.Yet the French like stone. After the fall of shares in 2008, the erosion rate of return on financial investments, many households have even rediscovered the charms of real estate, which enjoys a level of trust greater than financial markets. If market participants, professionals and individuals, are reasonable, it could therefore grown out of this crisis.

The purchasing power of households holding back price increases

In the nine programs are, at least for this year, many to sprout and marketing is well underway (see page 148), and some programs, proponents talk about buyers sleeping room not to miss the opening the sales office. Others talk of bidding on the price of land currently for sale. We find places for runaway phenomena.Sign of fine weather sets found for Real Estate? Nobody dares to translate it well. Because we have not yet met for the recovery that is taking shape into a market stabilized and restored. "A major risk of the recovery is that sellers reflect recovery by rising prices," says Orpi. For the market to find its stride, the sellers should stop dreaming about trees that rise to heaven, and that construction professionals are able to reflect the changing purchasing power of buyers in their projects. In a recent study based on the relationship between prices and incomes, Patrick Artus (Natixis) estimates that property prices are still too high (10 to 15% in France). Today, many proponents say, if prices rise too far, the application will not be there because the acquisition of a home no longer go into the budgets of many households.This constraint incomes and high unemployment limit the potential for price recovery. Managing the crisis will be difficult for the economy as a whole and real estate. This is the challenge of coming months to policies and professionals. For individuals who have the means to, global rates, market and taxation are conducive to a real estate purchase.If they have a project, they have a vested interest in the reality.

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A tax on banks to "save the taxpayers'

April 2, 2010 - 2:49 pm Comments Off

Lefigaro.fr / Jdf.com: Why banks they have strongly criticized the recommendations made in the framework of rules prodentielles Basel III?

Delzant Ellen: The Basel Committee has submitted to banks on December 31 last, ten recommendations for strengthening the system of banking supervision and harmonize accounting and prudential standards.

The new regulation called "Basel III" offers a better credit side, with the strengthening of equity and weighted by their market activities, securitization or counterparty risk. And the other, a much higher level of liquidity that banks can refinance markets. According to recent studies, these new standards would impose on banks to raise, by 2012, approximately 450 billion euros in capital to 1.500 billion debt.

What seems impossible in the eyes of banks, explaining that such rules would threaten the financing of the economy. The recommendations of Basel III were subjected to these banks, who are currently studying more accurately the impact of such measures. They make their copy on April 16 next.

The aim would be to implement a new regulation in 2012, the time that the economy really recovering from the crisis.

What exactly is the tax on banks which Berlin and Paris agreed on Wednesday?

At Summit Pittsburgh, which took place in September 2009, the G20 countries have shown their determination to rethink the regulation of the financial system, particularly for states to prevent digging into the coffers filled by taxpayers to save banks the bankruptcy crisis.

In Europe, there are already many discussions on this aspect of bank failures. And in Germany, recently adopted a tax credit that would put money into a rescue fund to be used in case of difficulty of the banking system. Such a tax would yield between 1 and 1.3 billion euros per year. What remains poor compared to the hundreds of billions of dollars injected by the German state banks. But pre-election period in Germany is already a good way to reassure taxpayers, who are also voters no fax cash loans.

Such a tax is not she justified since it was introduced in all countries?

Yes. But he must first of each country working at national level.Last Wednesday, while Christine Lagarde was alongside his German counterpart Wolfgang Sch?uble, France went in the direction of a tax credit. But it would fuel the state budget.

Whatever the allocation of such a tax, these are national decisions that will prevail, but will add a European, and even to globalize this process predominates, partly to avoid distortions of competition.

Already, the Franco-German cooperation is a strong sign of the desire to bring the case to the European level.A global control is obviously essential and the principle of transforming debt of banks capital seems consistent with the desire to take arms against a possible new crisis and save the taxpayers of the world's financial woes.

History:

• Basel I: In 1988, central bankers from the G-10 countries have issued recommendations to "ensure the stability of the international banking system by setting a minimum limit to the amount of bank capital.It showed the famous "Cooke ratio, established in 1992, which required that capital in relation to all lending commitments do not exceed 8%.

• Basel II: In 2006, the New Basel Accord, has established standards constitute a prudential perspective to improve understanding of banking risks, mainly credit risk or counterparty and capital requirements.

• Basel III: The governor of the Bank of the Netherlands, Nout Wellinck, chairman of the Basel Committee, announced December 31, 2009 "a profound change" prudential rules. The application of new standards will not happen until the world economy will not be permanently out of the crisis.Experts believe that Basel III should not occur before 2010 and 2011.

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