Archive for the ‘technology’ Category

Wall Street chooses the rise

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

Tuesday's session starts on a positive note. A few seconds after the opening, the Dow Jones is 0.66% at 10,258 points, the Nasdaq climbed 0.62% to 2258 points and the S & P wins 0.58% to 1096 points.

On Monday, after having risen during the session, the Dow Jones fell into the red after a further deterioration of Greece's debt by Moody's. At the finish, the Dow Jones dropped 0.20% while the Nasdaq has eaten 0.02%.

On Tuesday, markets were reassured by national indicators considered generally positive. The subscript "Empire State" measuring the evolution of manufacturing in the state of New York continued to rise in June although employment has declined sharply, according to the regional Federal Reserve. The index stood at 19.57 against 19.11 in June in May

Also note, the import prices in the U.S., who have registered their biggest drop in ten months in May because of the plunge in prices of petroleum products.

U.S. investors are also added reassuring the reaction of European markets after the announcement of the deterioration of the debt rating by Moody's greek last night. The evolution of the euro (which returns above the $ 1.22) has become a yardstick of investor appetite for risky assets. But auctions Spanish, Irish and Belgian reassured markets on the debt problems of the region despite the lowering of the Greek sovereign rating speculative grade by Moody's.

BP, still under pressure

On the side of values, BP shares traded on the NYSE are attacked again, facing political pressure on the British group: they fall from 1.29% to 30.39 dollars. According to the parliamentary committee of inquiry of Congress, BP took risks to save money in the drilling of Macondo, the source of the spill in the Gulf of Mexico. A hearing leaders of the group is scheduled today before this Committee and President Barack Obama has a speech tonight faxless pay day loans.

In addition, Fitch downgraded six notches Tuesday of the memorandum of oil due to higher estimated cost for compensation of victims of the spill.

The media group News Corp. (0.61% to 13.20 dollars) submitted to the British BSkyB, which already owns 39%, a bid rejected for being too low, but both companies are continuing discussions with a view a friendly offer.

Apple (1.21% to 257.36 euros) announced Tuesday the launch of a new version of its Mac mini personal computer, its entry-level model, sold from $ 699.

Best buy (-5.94% to 38.61 dollars) Tuesday reported a bpa of 36 cents under its first quarter and a turnover up 7% to 10.8 billion dollars. The consensus of analysts polled by Reuters gave an bpa 50 cents on revenue of 10.930 billion dollars.

Pepsico (0.58% to 64.22 dollars), the world's number two soft drinks, has no plans to split its bottling subsidiaries, whose capital it has recently risen to 100%, said Monday one of its leaders, Tom Greco, while his arch rival Coca-Cola has hinted he might go that route. He added that the buyout of minority other bottlers not among the priorities of PepsiCo but it could be a buyer if some shareholders wanted to sell their shares.

Hershey (-0.26% to 50.75 dollars) said on Monday forecast earnings per share (EPS) 2010 adjusted between 2.47 and $ 2.52, in line with the consensus. It also anticipates a turnover up 6 to 7% in 2010 compared to 2009.Hershey plans to cut between 500 and 600 jobs, or 5% of its workforce, as part of a restructuring plan and cost savings of 60 to 80 million dollars (49 to 65 million euros) per year.

Fillon wants to reduce spending by 45 billion euros

Monday, June 14th, 2010

Found 100 billion euros in three years. This is the government's objective to reduce the deficit from 8% to 3% in 2013, reiterated Prime Minister François Fillon on Saturday, which gave details of the proposed measures. "We have pledged by 2013 to reduce our deficit from 8% to 3% and all our efforts will focus on this priority. It means basically that should reduce the deficit of 100 billion by 2013, "he said during a meeting with new members of the UMP Salle Gaveau.

The $ 100 billion, "we (them) to find the half in spending cuts and half in revenue increases," said the head of government.The 50 billion euros in spending cuts will be made up of "45 billion by reducing public expenditure, 5 billion on reducing tax loopholes."

On the revenue side, the 50 billion do not result from increased taxes and levies, "said Francois Fillon. He bets on "35 billion upgrading after the crisis, loss of revenue cyclical. (…) As and when growth returns, revenues are growing once again, "he said. And the remaining 15 billion? They "will correspond to the end of the steps we have taken to boost the economy and have obviously not meant to last beyond this period of recovery," he added no fax pay day loan.

In May, Francois Fillon had already announced a freeze in spending value of the state but had not detailed the targets.These details are involved a little less than a week after Berlin has adopted a plan rigorously evaluated at 80 billion euros. France is under pressure from financial markets and rating agencies, who urged him to detail the measures to be taken to reduce debt.

"New sources of funding"

The Prime Minister also addressed the issue of pensions. While the government prepares to release his reform plan, Francois Fillon reiterated its intention to extend the duration of activity and pushing the "symbol" of the statutory retirement age to 60 years.

It will also seek new financing, he added. "Justice will lead us to seek new sources of financing because the effort must be shared by all," he said.Nevertheless, the government has temporarily waived taxing incomes over 11,000 euros per month, according to information from Figaro.

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Trade Electrical trial Kerviel

Friday, June 11th, 2010

The first witnesses in the trial of Jerome Kerviel to show unfavorable to the former trader. However, the three lawyers of the Societe Generale seem nervous.

My Veil, Reinhart and Martineau do not in place. Sometimes they twirl and shake, like swallows on a wire, while nearly two representatives of the Crown. The result is a mass effect on the side of the charge, which accentuates the loneliness of the accused, sitting in a chair – which is probably not displease her advice. Sometimes, in turn, lawyers for the plaintiff are powerful whisper the word to reporters, as if they have trumpeted the court might be misunderstood.

Here are just a witness who has everything to please them: SN is a trader at Societe Generale. Tall, slim, short hair, gray suit (a standard, obviously), this old friend of Mr.Kerviel stands slightly hunched, embarrassed of the man whose belly gargoyle society. "I do not necessarily asked to be there," he slips to the President. But since there is, he sings the lament of an honest financial embittered: "We all have limits to respect. Jerome Kerviel took positions stratospheric, endangering the bank and its employees. We are fighting every day to earn a little money in the bank. I am disappointed and disgusted. "

Mr. Metzner asticote this model employee: "If you say the lesser evil of the Company generally, you would find your chair tomorrow?"

The witness, categorically: "Yes."

The lawyer, humbug "Try …"

Martineau and yelping My Veil: "MSunder oath! We want him to give false testimony: "The prosecutor Jean-Michel Aldebert, while caveat:" Do not terrorize witnesses, Master! "

Mr. Metzner and his partner, Nicolas Huc-Morel, now produce a picture that at first sight, shows that the theoretical limit imposed on the traders would have been "disabled" – understood: it was not expressly prohibited Kerviel to invest billions. Claire Dumas, part of SocGen, refutes the argument. The three councils of the bank seriously nod of the head, Mr. Metzner is gloating.As Mr Kerviel, but it should be noted that his ostensible irony and his disposition to take up anyone questioned irritate the president, who often questioned.

Societe Generale, it comes out of his sleeve a graphic frightening: If it had not "unwound" Kerviel aberrant positions from January 2008, she had said she lost, not 4.9, but 29 billion. This time, his trio swagger, while Mr. Metzner, red as a peony, storm: "These pieces have not been disclosed to the defense!"

The performance resumed Friday morning.

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Switzerland: France Telecom renounces its merger

Friday, June 4th, 2010

France Telecom abandoned its proposed merger with the Swiss Sunrise, which had been blocked recently by the Swiss competition authority.

The French telecoms operator and the Danish TDC, parent company of Sunrise, have said in a statement that an analysis "detailed" the situation had led them to decide to stop their discussions.

"An appeal to the Federal Administrative Court will also be removed," added the two groups.

The Competition Commission (Competition Commission) in Switzerland has prohibited the merger in April between Orange Communications, Swiss subsidiary of France Telecom, and Sunrise Communications, the second mobile operator in Switzerland. The Commission had noted that the scale resulting from the merger would have created, together with a number Swisscom, a collective dominant position.

This legal setback in Switzerland should not call into question the policy of merger and acquisition of the operator, however, had said the leaders of France Telecom several times in recent weeks. On April 29, when the annual results of the group, CFO of Orange, Gervais Pelissier, was still reported to remain "convinced that having a strong second operator in Switzerland, Swisscom side, is the way to recover dynamics of competition in the years ahead. "

Always looking for new growth

France Telecom is still looking for consolidation opportunities in mature markets, as well as targets in emerging markets, particularly in Africa and the Middle East.

Switzerland accounts for less than 1% of global sales group, and less than 1.5% of its EBITDA.Orange Switzerland, 100% subsidiary of France Telecom and third mobile operator in the Confederation, was done last year a turnover of 1.3 billion Swiss francs (924 million) with approximately 1156 employees.

Sunrise is in turn the number two industry in Switzerland, with sales of 9.9 billion kroner (1.3 billion euros) conducted in 2009.

Assistance from IMF will not be immediate

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has just been presented with a request for assistance from Greece. Until now, the IMF provided only technical assistance to Athens. The team of experts is hard at work in the capital of Greece. "We are ready to act quickly in response to this demand," said Dominique Strauss-Kahn Friday, IMF Managing Director. And Youssef Boutros-Ghali, chairman of the board of the institution, recalled: "Aid to Greece will take time. This can not happen from one day to another. "Especially since the Papandreou government is engaged in negotiations on a plan" covering several years. "

So far, the IMF had not been involved in developing the plan of the European Union. This is not a member of the board of the fund. The proposals could therefore engage the IMF, said it does in Washington.It is expected to "several weeks" of negotiations no teletrack payday loans. The amount of the full plan could exceed the record $ 58 billion set by Korea in 1997 with the conditions negotiated by the IMF.

The multilateral institution also assumed that the share of aid to Greece will represent one third of the package agreed by the other countries of the euro area. But this figure could possibly change after the verdict of the negotiators of the fund. The absence of a margin for adjustment by devaluation, however, seriously complicates the terms that the IMF should negotiate with the Greek authorities.This is not entirely without precedent: for example, Latvia has received 1.7 billion euros from the IMF in 2008, as part of an international package of 7.5 billion, while keeping its currency indexed euro.

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The CAC 40 down again

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

The Paris Bourse falling off again while Eurostat revised up the Greek deficit in 2009, and after having fallen sharply (-1.22%) the day before amid concerns about government debt.

The Greek interest rates to ten years has exceeded 8% in the day Wednesday. Investors wonder if Greece will well repay the debt, with growth stifled by a plan of unprecedented stringency.

At midterm, the CAC 40 yields 1.05%, to 3935.75 points.

Rain clues to look closely

This session will be loaded in major economic indicators. In France, growth accelerated in April in the French private sector, with a strong burst of activity in services, according to the PMI survey published Thursday by Markit Economics.The composite index rose to 58.4, its highest level in four months, against 55.8 in March.

The morale of French companies has jumped four points in April compared to March to reach 97 points, despite backlogs still scanty, according to Insee.

Moreover, the French manufacturing industry has confirmed its recovery in April from the previous month, according to the business survey released Thursday by the INSEE.The synthetic indicator of business climate index rose four points to 97, while remaining below its long term average.

Finally across the Atlantic, at 14:30, investors become aware of producer prices in March and traditional weekly claims for unemployment benefits and then at 16 hours, home resales for the month of March ser

Schneider, Vallourec and L'Oreal to take on the ACC

Schneider Electric on Wednesday confirmed its 2010 target of a moderate increase in its turnover in organic figures. The shares were down 2.06%, to 86.427 euros.

Vallourec (-0.74%, to 148.4 euros) has announced the acquisition for 150 million euros Serimax, a company specializing in offshore pipelines.

The group Areva (0.50% to 382.75 euros), yet prey to big delays on another local project, the favorites to meet the tender of the Finnish government, which wants to build two new reactors.

Also in ACC 40, L'Oreal (0.46%, to 80.37 euros) said it signed an agreement to acquire the U.S. Essie Cosmetics, make-up brand nail polish, whose sales sales amounted to 28 million (about 21 million euros) over the last twelve months.

The Competition Commission has prohibited the merger between Orange, a subsidiary of telecom operator France Telecom (-1.16%, to 16.97 euros), and Sunrisecom "> cash advance. The company resulting from the merger would have created, together with Swisscom, a collective dominant position on the market for mobile telephony.

Guy Wyser-Pratte does not increase its stake from 0.53% in Lagard?re group with which it engaged in an arm-wrestling to be appointed to its supervisory board and change its governance.Lagardere shares were down 1.71%, to 31.35 euros.

Publications animate Exchange

Later publications, they have been good for Sodexo (3.19% to 45.60 euros), Remy Cointreau (1.32%, to 43.82 euros) and Carbone Lorraine (2.67%, to 27, 70 euros), which are among the highest increases in the SBF 120.

Sodexo has recorded an operating profit better than expected in the first half, and now expects a range between 770 and 790 million euros for the full year.

Carbone Lorraine on Wednesday released a stable turnover in the first quarter at constant perimeter and exchange rates and confirmed its targets for 2010.

The wine and spirits group Remy Cointreau announced Thursday an increase in its annual turnover (April 2009-March 2010) of 13.1% to 807.8 million euros.

Vranken-Pommery has also published a large turnover of 39.4 million euros, up 38.1% (+11.4% on a constant basis, excluding integration Listel), thanks to the recovery its activity champagne. The company expects a sales growth of over 20% "medium term". The shares are 2.63%

In addition, Publicis made a surprise Thursday by posting organic growth of 3.1% of its income in the first quarter, two times higher than that of Havas. Its shares rise 1.70% to 34.02 euros.

Plastic Omnium (-1.32% to 33.01 euros) announced an increase of over 43% of its activity in the first quarter, benefiting from a favorable base effect with the automotive market crisis a year ago.

Surprises

Side decreases, Nexans has the highest drop in the Paris stock exchange: -9.38% to 58.90 euros.The leader in the cable industry has registered a turnover of 1.35 billion euros, up 8.4% yoy while in the course of constant non-ferrous metals, it reached 971 million of euros, down 11.1%.

Just behind Technilocolor – formerly Thomson – was down 5.60% to 1.03 euro. The company posted a turnover of 691 million euros for the first quarter, down 24.4%.

Pensions: Kickoff is given

Sunday, April 11th, 2010

The heating is completed, the observation round begins Sunday at 8:30. Labour Minister, Eric Woerth, officially begins the pension reform. Accompanied by his Secretary of State for Public Service, Georges Tron, he receives throughout the day, rue de Grenelle, the leaders of trade union confederations and employers.

These appointments were, in principle, a specific purpose: to expose government stakeholders and especially the method of the calendar months. In the method, it is clear that it will be a consultation and not negotiation. The Executive will not seek to sign an agreement with unions he knows already lost the bet and try to get, at best, the benevolent neutrality of both restrained anger of others …

On the calendar, some guests Eric Woerth has already been informed of the broad potential.Except reversal, the government is a parliamentary debate early in the fastest possible in September. To avoid giving the impression to "trap" the French text, revealing a heart of summer, this would require legislation by the Cabinet in late June and early July.

In this context, the Minister of Labour should offer to unions and employers to review in early May to scan all possible to rectify the accounts, then dig in some more detail in a few weeks later. This agenda will not prevent small employer and union representatives today to remind the Minister priorities. Starting with the maintenance of the legal age of retirement at age 60 for all unions except the CFE-CGC."It is vital that young people regain confidence in our pension system, said the representative of the union executives, Daniele Karniewicz. If the government is prepared to guarantee to every French pension representing a minimum percentage of their final salary, that percentage could be higher for minimum wage earners than for executives, then we are prepared to look hard. "

"Taking the specific

If the file pension remains explosive, the Elysee seems to send some recent signs of goodwill towards the unions. Nicolas Sarkozy has discussed the idea of relaxing, it was minimal, the tax shield, which would allow the "efforts" necessary to save the pension to be borne by all.

Aides to President also raised the possibility of a "specific charge on certain categories" population Guaranteed pay day loans. Tracks that can only talk to the CGT or CFDT, who constantly demand the abolition of the shield, or FP, which requires additional resources for retirement.

Another element could help to relax the atmosphere a little: the unions know that the documents be published on Tuesday Guidance Council pensions-that is the second highlight of the week will go less far than expected. The NRC will assess, as expected, "the extent of damage."In recalling an annual shortfall of 100 billion euros to balance plans in 2050 in late January in Le Figaro, Francois Fillon has already set an order of magnitude.

However, encryption of 7 scenarios for postponement of retirement age or longer duration of assessment is delayed two weeks at least. And it will be published as part of an "Attachment", supposed to have less power than a traditional formal report. There are a few more days, Jean-Christophe Le Duigou (SGC) raged against "these extravagant hypotheses tested without scientific rigor."But this time might amount only to fall to jump better.

A deep left-right

According to a Harris Interactive poll for RTL (online survey 8 and April 9 to 1 073 people quota method), the French consider it necessary to pension reform (80%) … but to show opposed to preferred by the tracks government. 56% say they are not "personally willing to contribute for longer" and 60% rejected the idea of lower legal age of retirement.

These two cases show a deep political divide. The left-wing supporters refuse to 78% as the legal age of retirement is down beyond 60 years. The supporters are right whereas 62% consider this track.Oddly enough, a story appears, however, collect some consensus: 87% say "right" but 77% of respondents "left" are in favor of "a pension plan for employees in the same public and private . That would still be, from a strictly technical point of view, one of the most complex to implement!

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Sharp launches a small screen 3D without glasses

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

The story accelerates. This Friday, the Japanese group Sharp has introduced a tiny touch screen, color, reproducing 3D videos. The big innovation is that this screen does not require glasses. A step that should be taken seriously. Unfashionable as it may eventually large screen televisions in 3D now being launched in the U.S. by Samsung and Panasonic but need to don special glasses.

However, to see the effect in relief, it is necessary to be right in front of the small screen, 30 cm apart. "We can only produce small screen in this technology. In addition, 12.7 cm diagonal. It must be well in front, otherwise the perception of 3D fade, "says Patrick Chardin, director at Sharp France. To develop its new technology, the Japanese group has improved its previous innovations.Three years ago, in Tokyo, Sharp has introduced an innovative technology which allowed three people to watch at the same time, a different program broadcast by the same TV, depending on the position of each face on the screen. Each point on the screen was broadcasting a different image depending on the viewing angle of the viewer.

According to this principle, with an image emitted for each eye, the semiconductor division of Sharp has designed its new 3D display device called an "interlaced effect. The additional cost compared to a conventional screen is not excessive.For the screen in landscape consists of a conventional LCD panel on which is placed a filter.

Nintendo

But because of its limited size for the 3D effect, "we focus on three markets: portable gaming devices, smartphones (note: mobile phones for surfing) and embedded screens, such as GPS in cars" said Patrick Chardin best payday advance.

Production should begin in September. One of the first objects that can use this technology should be the next portable game console, Nintendo 3DS, announced last week and promised for 2011. For its previous screens of the DS, sold 125 million units, Nintendo had already appealed to Sharp as a supplier.

Nintendo's next console will be presented in June in Los Angeles at E3.The Japanese group said the old games the DS can be reused on its future console. With 3DS, the group led by Satoru Iwata will take another step ahead of the Sony PSP (67 million), which was sold two times less than the DS. In addition, the CEO of Nintendo will reduce competition from the iPhone and iPod Touch which guests are on the market for portable game consoles.

Moreover, it could sell 78 million smartphones equipped with 3D screens by 2018, says DisplaySearch.For now, only one mobile is sold only in Japan by Hitachi, with a 3D effect without glasses.

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Vinci project would benefit the TGV Tours-Bordeaux

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

This Tuesday morning that the candidate for the mega railway project LGV Sud Europe Atlantique (SEA) to over 7 billion euros should be announced by R?seau Ferr? de France. This route will connect Tours to Bordeaux on a journey of 300 km, involving the construction of 40 overpasses and 390 bridges. Companies Bouygues, Vinci and Eiffage are on deck for this contract to allow linking Paris to Bordeaux in two hours instead of three now.

The winner will design, financing, construction and maintenance for 50 years in this concession. In return, it will be paid by revenues paid by companies using the railway line.

Work could begin in mid-2011, year of recovery for a provision in 2016.

Vinci, the darling

Vinci is anticipated to win this huge contract.According Latribune.fr Monday evening Vinci would have won the tender.

For Natixis Securities analysts, the business model of manufacturer-dealer and know-how are relevant for this type of project cash advance payday loan. In addition, its financial situation is excellent.

"If the group Vinci was nominated for LGV SEA, the title should react positively. This contract represents nearly 30% of its backlog, "said the broker.

Such an announcement could also benefit other manufacturers, the market showing that these large projects as expected will actually materialize.In fact, keep in mind that the candidates approached other railway projects will be announced in the coming months, including LGV Bretagne (4 billion estimated), which will link to Paris in 1h30 Rennes and Brest in 3 hours and N?mes-Montpellier (1.2 billion).

According to Natixis, "it seems unlikely that a candidate wins more of these three railway projects.

Funding unpublished

In terms of funding, the project should receive the government guarantee and the savings of the CDC.

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Sarkozy calls Obama "listen Europe

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

From one of our correspondents in New York

Sarkozy the American, the return. Dampened by the failure of regional confronted with doubts of his majority, battered in the polls, the president could not find better than this visit to the United States to escape the burdens hexagonal. The chances of diplomatic agenda sometimes things well. A discreet arrival Saturday in New York, along with Carla Sarkozy, the ritual of jogging in Central Park on Sunday morning, then a family day, away from cameras and microphones before the official on the scene Monday morning, with a speech at Columbia University.

The opportunity for Nicolas Sarkozy to urge "a friend" the United States to "work with Europe to invent a new global model", in order to regulate capitalism, stabilize currencies and improve governance World."If Europe and the United States do not invent this new model, nobody will," argued the head of state before several hundred students and professors from the prestigious University of New York. Amount to the podium in an imposing neoclassical dome, Nicolas Sarkozy has openly made his speech to his aide – "if you read this kills creativity", he said, before launching into a very controlled improvisation. "The crisis we've known we offer extraordinary opportunities," said the head of state. By asking the regulation of capitalism, I lay the groundwork that will save capitalism without rules is killing freedom, "he said, a few" blocks "of Wall Street, the epicenter of the financial earthquake.

"Irresponsible"

In the field of environment, access to raw materials, Nicolas Sarkozy has also called for support of the United States. "In two years, the price of oil has risen from 30 to 150 dollars, is this normal?," He noted. Have we no interest in laying the foundations for a regulation that would have a barrel to 80 dollars? "Even imperative of transatlantic cooperation for reform of global governance" that the United States and Europe must request. It will, he said, the resolution of major challenges such as Iran, against which "the alliance with the United States is fundamental, but also the fight against terrorism.

"We love you, admire you, we expect a lot from you," Nicolas Sarkozy has launched the Americans.A friend, therefore, but a demanding friend, who also does not hesitate to lecture the United States, calling for tolerance, "not closing" on themselves and listen to Europe. For, he launched the first world power, "no nation, however strong it is, can the twenty-first century impose its views to the world."

"Some hundreds of irresponsible done anything with the money of others is indefensible," he also said the French president, warned that "the same are ready to begin. "There are hundreds of thousands of Americans who lost their jobs because of this crisis, is this normal?" Asked by a student on the reform of the health system, Nicolas Sarkozy congratulated Barack Obama. But he also gave a pike: "When we see this debate on health, it was sometimes hard to believe, in Europe it is fifty years we have solved the problem.In France, we do not ask your credit card before going to hospital ", he shackled, before launching his audience:" Welcome to the club of states that do not allow people to fall sick! "

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