Posts Tagged ‘resources’

Worried about China, Asian stock markets fall

October 19, 2011 - 12:56 am Comments Off

The fear of a slowing Chinese economy weigh on Asian stock markets. On Tuesday, the day after a session, however encouraging, the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong and Shanghai Composite Index unleash respectively 3.34% and 1.67 points to 18,243.31% to 2399.58 points. Investors react to the publication of a slowdown in Chinese growth to 9.1% in the third quarter, against 9.7% and 9.5% in the first and second quarters.After this bad figure, other regional financial centers are also displayed down: the Nikkei of the Tokyo Stock Exchange lost 1.47% to 8749.08 points, the Kospi index in Seoul fell by 1.47% to 1837.73 points, the S & P / ASX 200 Index yields 1.82% at Sydney 4197.70 points, the BSE Sensex 30 in Mumbai fold from 1.66% to 16,742.80 points and the FTSE Straits Times of Singapore gives up 1.78% to 2729.51 points.

"Economic growth is currently facing a more complicated on both external and internal plans," said the spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Sheng Laiyun commenting on the growth of China. In fact, Chinese exporters are beginning to suffer from particular sovereign debt crisis in Europe, their largest market, a difficult economic situation in the United States.The Chinese economy is also impacted by rising wages and strong yuan, has appreciated by 7% in a year against the dollar. "The number of factors of instability and uncertainty increases," says Sheng Laiyun.

The concern weighing on Europe

In this context, the correct figures for China's industrial production have gone unnoticed cheap pay day loans. This has increased by 13.8% in September year on year, according to BNS.

In addition, concerns about the debt crisis in Europe grew yesterday and weigh Surles markets. The German Minister of Economics Wolfgang Schäuble has indeed warned that the EU summit to be held in Brussels Sunday will not lead to a definitive solution to the debt crisis. And, while the central bankers of the euro zone had promised a response "comprehensive and lasting peace" to the crisis at the G20 finance this weekend in Paris.

China Eastern Airlines to Hong Kong and Tepco

On the corporate side, China Eastern Airlines (-7.02% to 2.65 Hong Kong dollars) on Monday announced an agreement to acquire 15 Airbus A330 family for a selected list price of $ 2.5 billion, for delivery between 2013 and 2015.

Note that Tepco, the operator of the nuclear accident in Fukushima, yields 1.38% in Tokyo, after asking the first tranche of public assistance of some 700 billion yen (6.7 billion euros) for finance part of the compensation of victims, according to Japanese media on Tuesday.

On the front of currencies, the euro rose 0.28% to 1.377 dollars on Tuesday. Oil is meanwhile down in Asia after the confirmation of a slowdown in Chinese growth in the third quarter against a backdrop of skepticism about a speedy resolution of sovereign debt crisis in the euro area.The barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in November, up in the early electronic trading, lost 9 cents to 86.29 dollars, around 6:00.

Banks: tensions before the meeting Merkel-Sarkozy

October 9, 2011 - 10:00 am Comments Off

Faced with the fear of a general banking collapse, the Franco-German couple is once again under the spotlight. And once again, things are not simple. Nicolas Sarkozy will be tomorrow in the German capital to "speed up" with Angela Merkel the implementation of the bailout of a Euro still full turbulence. The urgent need for the French president and German chancellor, is to flatten their differences on the use of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) and reach a tentative agreement on the thorny issue of the recapitalization of banks.

Angela Merkel ruled Thursday that "there was a need to recapitalize, it would be reasonable to invest money" in terms of what could cost an emergency rescue industry.But she insists on the fact that the Fund will be used to bail out financial institutions on the condition that states can not themselves "to support the recapitalization of their banks' and it puts" endangered the euro area as a whole. "

In fact, Paris Berlin suspected of wanting to directly use the emergency fund to recapitalize banks weakened by the prospect of a debt reduction Greek. "The French have misunderstood the EFSF, decrypts it does in Berlin. Our position is that banks must first seek funding markets, and the side of the national public authorities. Only when there is no money available comes the European level. The EFSF is a tool for countries like Greece or Portugal.If a country like France – among the strongest financially of the euro area – wants to appeal, then this is the door open for all members of the area had ro dig into the fund. "

Berlin suspects Paris

An over-interpretation, says it does on the French side. "We have not yet begun to discuss that!" Do we wonder at the Elysee. At Bercy, it ensures not see fundamental differences with Berlin. "We agree with Germany, said the entourage of the Minister of Economy, Baroin, the fact that more capital into banks, including French," even if only to meet new international standards of Basel III in 2013.Whenever possible, the French banks also plan to comply with without recourse to the capital, let alone the U.S. – by separating certain activities if necessary, by distributing fewer profits to build equity .

But if there had to be re-capitalization, especially to reassure investors, "the sources must first be private," insists one at Bercy. "Ultimately, this should be to rely on injections of public capital." According to Paris, "a European coordination is essential to determine the amount of capital to meet the deadline by which this capital is to be achieved, and the tools for that. " It is on these criteria that France and Germany could agree this weekend.For its part, Brussels will make proposals for a coordinated recapitalization "in the coming days."

Moreover, given the deepening crisis, Angela Merkel has gradually accepted the idea of ​​economic governance of the European Union, defended by Nicolas Sarkozy. Expanding the powers of EFSF part of this process. However, the Chancellor – who imposed hard fought his troops to ratify the Bundestag building – is faced with a majority crossed by a strong current Eurosceptic.

Markets would also like to know more about the technical means to leverage the clout of EFSF. These contain the spread of the crisis heavyweight like Italy, Spain, and Portugal, while the levees are still weak.Should we go further and erase a more substantial part of the Greek debt? Should we consider that the Fund provides guarantees? The German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, at least possible that Germany spends more money than EFSF the 211 billion passed by the Bundestag.

These tensions, it is now the standard mode of operation between Paris and Berlin. Pressure mounts on both sides of the Rhine, until a compromise emerges in a head-to-head at the highest level. Given their respective domestic political weakness or Merkel or Sarkozy can not afford a failure.

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The G20 mobilized to reassure the financial world

September 24, 2011 - 9:36 am Comments Off

Unity is strength. Armed with this saying and to respond to the stock market crash that plagues the financial markets around the world, the twenty richest economies in the world decided to act jointly. Thus, after a dinner Thursday in Washington, finance ministers and central bankers from the G20 pledged to provide "a strong and coordinated international response" to the crisis.

No statement should be issued initially. But given the urgency of the situation and "the common observation of the need for a collective response," said French Finance Minister Baroin, the G20 is prepared to take "all necessary measures to maintain stability banking systems and financial markets. " For banks, countries ensure that "they have adequate capital," they keep "sufficient access to finance."Central banks provide them with "the necessary liquidity."

At the same time and in response to a request by the G20 in September addressed to Nicolas Sarkozy, the euro zone countries have pledged to implement "necessary measures to increase the flexibility of the European financial stability and maximize its impact to prevent contagion bad credit unsecured personal loans. "

And G20 members say they are committed to act on all fronts: against "increased risk of deterioration" due to soaring public debt, against "the weakened financial system" and "turmoil" growth "low" and "unacceptable level of unemployment." To do this, they will take action to "support growth" while adopting "credible fiscal consolidation plans."And the time is short since the club 20 is the adoption of "an ambitious collective action plan before the summit in Cannes," in early November.

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FNSEA challenges the candidates of 2012

September 12, 2011 - 7:32 am Comments Off

FNSEA (National Federation of Farmers' Unions) is back in service Tuesday Space in Rennes, the second largest European exhibition of livestock. Beyond the hot topics of the moment, like the crisis in the hog sector, the Central Agricultural eyes on May 2012. It intends to be present in the debate of the presidential election. It prepares a summary document together its proposals for meeting the challenges of French agriculture during the next five years.

This platform will be closed in mid-November. "The French agriculture is a key sector and must be present in the Presidential debate, said Xavier Beulin, a number of FNSEA. We will ask the candidates to express themselves and engage in relation to our proposals. "

Important themes, four stand out.On the top of the stack, that of improving the competitiveness of French agriculture. It has been deteriorating over the past five years. So much so that France, land of all agricultural production has shifted from first to third place behind Germany and the Netherlands in the field of agri-food trade. Fills a gourmet meal while the French end of 2010 was listed as World Heritage Heritage of Unesco, the Hexagon now imports many of its fruits and vegetables, cheaper to produce outside our borders.

To make France more competitive firm, offers FNSEA implementation of VAT "social antidélocalisation." Its goal: to reduce by at least 30% of the hourly cost of agricultural workers to align with that of its European competitors.A key position when you know that 60% of the cost in this sector, employing 200,000 people, from the cost of labor. Such a measure would cost $ 300 to 350 million euros to the state budget.

To finance it, the future tax soft drinks would not be sufficient. "This requires an increase in VAT terms to be defined. In addition this measure would also apply to imported products as opposed to an increase in the CSG, which again would penalize French farms, "says Xavier Beulin.

Second major issue, increased efforts in research and development in agriculture on G20.With, for example, the introduction of new varieties of animal and plant more to meet consumer expectations.

For a new irrigation policy

The third point concerns the inclusion of the entrepreneurial dimension of the French farm, including the creation of new legal status and accounting standards with the possibility of bankruptcy without affecting personal property.

Finally the fourth theme relates to the environment. FNSEA advocates a new irrigation policy to create water reservoirs to store winter and summer re-use rather than let her go to the sea This implies a reduction of administrative .

FNSEA does not give instructions to vote.The responses of presidential candidates will help farmers, who are no longer systematically acquired the right to guide their choice.

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The worsening economic and social crisis in Greece

September 3, 2011 - 1:44 am Comments Off

The debt crisis turns to Greek tragedy and psychodrama. Tuesday night, a committee of experts of Parliament in an official report revealed that the country's debt was "out of control." The next day, denial and criticism rang out, Evangelos Venizelos, the Finance Minister did not mince words, stating that these auditors did not have "neither the knowledge nor the experience nor the necessary responsibility to judge the debt ", a few hours later, the director of the parliamentary commission complained resigned.

Stock market crash

Friday, an additional layer was taken with the surprise announcement of the suspension for ten days, the mission started in Athens earlier this week by experts from the troika (EU, ECB and International Monetary Fund).This sudden departure caused an outcry in the country and the stock market plummeted at the opening, causing the European financial centers in its wake. The finance minister has tried to downplay the event: "There was no rupture of discussions between the country and the Troika," he said. But Evangelos Venizelos has failed to convince, especially as he admitted, following that "Greece will not hold its goals of reducing the public deficit in 2011 due to the deepening recession in the country. " GDP is forecast to decline by at least 5% this year, the government now provides, which leads mechanically to predict a deficit of 8.8% of GDP at end 2011, against a previous estimate of 7.4%.

It is a fact, almost a year and a half after the introduction of the first austerity plan, Greece is again up against the wall.The austerity measures have led to a sharp recession and sealed growth, competitiveness and production. The unemployment rate reached 16.6% last month. "The committee was right. The debt is really out of control because it is growing and will continue to grow, "Analysis Stefanos Manos, a former finance minister credit reports free. "It is sad to see that the government did nothing for months. No reform of the state system, not privatization, but only the imposition of taxes and cuts in wages! There are more public spending in 2009, before the crisis, he said. This time, it is urgent, bankruptcy is just around the nose. International leaders must tap your feet.They should refuse to grant the sixth installment of the loan of 110 billion euros granted to Greece if these measures are not implemented. "This is probably the direction of the departure of the troika, which means by this dramatic move to the pressure on the government.

But this game of poker liar weary Greeks who bear the brunt of austerity. Last significant extent, the increase in VAT in catering from 13 to 23%. "A step too far, according to Giorgos Delastik, a political analyst. The Greeks are exhausted. They think that especially in terms of rigor is not applied the right way to save their country from the crisis, just as Ireland and Portugal. "

Strikes and demonstrations were not long in coming. After the Athens metro and teachers, the outraged calls for a mobilization in Parliament tonight.Ilias Iliopoulos for general secretary of the union officials, the Greeks played their all. "We are on the verge of a social explosion," said he. "In 2010, when the deficit would be reduced by five points, the Greeks had to make huge sacrifices. Today, they can not accept other measures or new cuts on wages. " However, the troika request 2.5 billion savings by the end of the year. The authorities now fear having barely contain the anger of the Greeks, who was radicalized after the summer break.

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The Japanese economy sends positive signals

August 15, 2011 - 12:00 pm Comments Off

Japan is recovering slowly from the disaster of 11 March. On Monday, the government announced a slowdown of 0.3% of GDP in the second quarter. But this decline, of 1.3% annualized, less than analysts' forecasts which projected a contraction of 0.7%. It also shows a marked improvement over the 0.9% decline the previous quarter cashed.

Between April and June, exports fell sharply by 4.9% and is the main factor in the decline. During this period, deliveries of goods have been hampered by the destruction of factories and infrastructure in the devastated areas of north-east of the archipelago. Breaks in the supply chain were found in the key sectors of the automobile and electronics exports pillars.Industrial activity has also been slowed by the nuclear accident in Fukushima that led to the arrest of a significant portion of the reactor pool and therefore a fall in electricity production.

The downward trend was further accentuated by a decline of 1.9% of private real estate investment and a 0.1% decline in consumption. The trauma of the disaster, which killed more than 20,000 dead or missing, has indeed led the Japanese citizens to exercise restraint for several weeks, slowing private consumption, which is usually an engine of growth online cash advance. This slowdown was partly offset by the increase of 3% of public investment.

"We will rebuild Japan"

To observers, this leaves the second quarter, however, consider a rapid improvement in the Japanese economy."If the economy is improving as it takes shape in some respects, it is possible that growth back at the period from July to September", commented Takeshi Minami, an economist at the Institute Norinchukin whose opinion joined the Minister of Finance, Yoshihiko Noda.

For his part, Prime Minister Naoto Kan took advantage of the sixty-sixth anniversary of the surrender of Japan to promise an improvement in the economy. "Our country has emerged from the ruins of war through the efforts of every citizen and overcame many difficulties to date. With these experiences, we will rebuild with determination and force the devastated areas and Japan. "

These remarks have convinced the Asian markets on Monday morning.At the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Nikkei has closed the day on a sharp increase from 1.37% to 9086.41 points.

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Deezer waives the free and unlimited music

June 10, 2011 - 9:20 pm Comments Off

Not more than five hours of music per month. The platform for online listening Deezer decided to put its users on a diet. At the launch of its new, faster and more social interaction through Facebook, a new policy was implemented. It marks the end of unlimited listening obtained in exchange for advertisements viewed. The internet has thus no choice beyond the five hours of music heard, you have to pay.

The goal is "to accelerate the conversion of most active users towards premium offerings," says the streaming platform in a statement. For if Deezer is used by millions of Internet users, only 5%, or 1.2 millionsd'utilisateurs are paying subscribers. The shortfall is significant and Deezer trying to correct the situation since 2010.Became a shareholder in Orange since July includes such subscription to the site in some of its plans for mobile and broadband. Its main competitor Spotify has followed the same path in alliance with SFR. Since April, the platform also knows the same kind of restrictions: listening to you free is now more than ten hours beyond the first six months of registration and it is impossible to listen to more than five times the same song.

Pressed to see close the valves of the free and unlimited internet, the majors have strongly influenced these decisions. Their fight is also not complete: Universal Music has always Deezer impose the same restriction to five songs played. But all the stakeholders do not rejoice in this decision, as Adami, a collecting society of intellectual property rights of performers."Why limit listening to five free hours a month just announced as the champion French streaming? We see the requirement for producers who once again is the wrong economic model. Imagine that limits the radio listening to a few hours per month. Record sales they would find it doped? "She asks in a statement. "The proposed model opens the door to the concentration and will affect the diversity," says Adami.

The future of such limitations may depend on decisions made in the U.S. by other Internet giants. Amazon and Google have decided to launch their music service without the majors, at risk of being prosecuted or with a limited catalog of titles. Facebook should ally themselves to Spotify normally while Apple has its side chains agreements for its music service, expected to be announced Monday night.

General Assembly stirred at Hermès

May 31, 2011 - 3:40 am Comments Off

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

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

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

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

The state grows Thales and Safran to unite

April 27, 2011 - 7:56 pm Comments Off

A reconciliation between Thales and Safran would be back on the agenda. Rumors of marriage between two French groups regularly return to the front of the stage, but this time the state would be to maneuver, reports the daily Les Echos. Despite the failure of recent negotiations last year, the OEM aerospace and electronics group had engaged "in discussions on a constructive fashion," the newspaper said.

The newspaper added that the previous defense minister, Alain Juppe, have pushed for a resumption of negotiations.The state shareholder and largest customer of both groups would want more support two competing consulting firms and advocates a merger of two groups of military assets to reduce costs.

Distrust of employees

Besides the savings from a union of military assets in both groups, the State believes that marriage is relevant from a strategic perspective. The reconciliation of optronics Safran and Thales that would indeed rise to number one in the field, with over one billion euros in revenue. The approximation of the cluster inertial navigation would also be justified.

However, last year and for the same reasons, the government had pushed for such an approximation, but in vain.The outlook for mergers and optronics business inertial navigation had aroused the suspicion of the employees who feared a possible breakup of their business.

But in early March, the CEO of Thales Luc Vigneron said his group was "open to talking with Safran because we are two major international groups, based on French, who have a mutual interest to strengthen an exchange of complementary assets." Remains whether the new defense minister, Gerard Longuet, will be more convincing than its predecessor.

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The Easter boost chocolate sales

April 23, 2011 - 5:08 pm Comments Off

Sunday, many children will go to the Easter egg hunt. A religious symbol, synonymous with abundance and renewal, but also an opportunity to enjoy chocolate in all its forms. "Easter is the traditional appointment with the French chocolatiers. The values ​​of sharing and conviviality carried by the support chocolate consumption during the festive periods, "explains Florence Pradier, general secretary of the union of chocolate.

So last year, purchases of other chickens and rabbits chocolate rose by 3.87% over the same period of 2009. In total, 13,400 tons were tasted in France to mark the Easter weekend, an average of 223 grams per person. At the sales charts, eggs, large or small, still occupy the top of the podium, even though dinosaurs or dolphins have appeared in the windows of chocolate."The large eggs or small eggs filled chocolates, milk and black are the most requested," said Arnaud Tavares, manager of the store of the Marquise de Sevigne in Paris' sixteenth arrondissement.

A distribution channel with bakeries and pastry shops account for 15% of chocolate sales in France as against 85% in supermarkets. "For us, Easter is the strongest period of the year before Christmas," Sophie adds, director of the Museum of Chocolate in Strasbourg, where traditionally it is the Rabbits and hares are popular. Taking into account the Christmas sales, which are chewed 33,800 tons of chocolate, these two periods of the year totaled more than 12% of annual sales of chocolate from France payday loans guaranteed no fax.

The price of cocoa beans has doubled in two years

"During holidays, the French are more likely to eat chocolate with an increase of 600 tons sold at Easter and Christmas 2010, the two highlights traditional chocolate consumption," says Florence Pradier. With 6.3 kg per capita in 2010, 378,000 tons, France is the 5th-largest consumer of chocolate behind Germany (11.3 kg), the European leader, and the United Kingdom (10.9 kg), his heir apparent.

In the kingdom of His Majesty, the Gauls are distinguished particularly because they are much more dark chocolate lovers as the rest of the British. The fans see it as the "only real" chocolate. In fact, dark chocolate is 30% of consumption in France, against 5% in other EU countries.During the year, the shelves are especially popular with just under a third of sales, ahead of sweets, appetizers, and other rocks, totaling a quarter of sales. The rest is divided between the spreads (19%), cocoa powder (15%) and chocolate bars (11%).

However, doubling the price of cocoa beans in two years following the civil war in Ivory Coast that supply 40% of the world, has curbed the appetite of the French. The shelf price of which is the benchmark rose 10% in two years. Result: chocolate sales on the single period of 2010 decreased by 2.9%. The question is how the market will evolve after the lull in Abidjan. Difficult to read in the dregs of cocoa!

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