Posts Tagged ‘finance’

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Above all, he pretended to ask: "Imports do they contribute to the financing of our social model?" A new reference to the social VAT. On October 27, on television, already, the President had made it clear that this tax may be included in his campaign program … if it were to be a candidate to succeed himself.

The idea is to partially fund the social security system with a consumption tax us fast cash. In return, the employer contributions would be reduced, to reduce labor costs. The scenario, long taboo in 2007 as mentioned awkwardly between the two rounds of parliamentary by Borloo, brings together more and more supporters to the right and center, but not unanimous. The reluctance address the risk of inflation, so drop in purchasing power.

With such high stakes - such as the future financial well-being of a family - choosing the correct life insurance policy is a very serious decision and one that requires deep thought.

The Fed is embarking on a "Twist"

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

The Fed has launched "Operation Twist" on Wednesday. Following a two-day extraordinary meeting of its Monetary Policy Committee (FOMC), the U.S. central bank announced its intention to sell by the end of June 2012 for $ 400 billion of treasury bills maturity of three years or less, to buy an equivalent amount of maturity from six to 30 years.

This mechanism, which takes its name from the famous dance that was all the rage in the 1960s, had just been used for the last time in 1961. Its objective is to reduce interest rates in the long run to give a boost to business investment and the demand for housing loans, which use these rates as reference.

The Fed, however, chose not to touch interest rates that determine the short-term rates. They remain between 0% and 0.25%.And they will remain at historically low levels until mid-2013, said a statement.

Market disappointment

In addition to this twist, and in order to support the mortgage market, the Fed will also buy real estate securities without increasing the size of its portfolio. For this, it will continue to reinvest the securities-backed real estate it owns as they fall due. But the FOMC said, instead of buying Treasury bonds as it did previously, she will buy securities backed by mortgage-agency mortgage refinancing para as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

This double operation shows that the Federal Reserve, the economy remains very depressed."The latest economic indicators suggest a continued weak conditions in the labor market and unemployment remains high, the Fed said. There are significant downside risks weighing on economic prospects, including strains in global financial markets. " These findings are similar to those of the IMF, which announced Tuesday it had seen very sharp fall in its growth forecast for the U.S., in theory at a level insufficient to expect a decline in the unemployment rate, which remains very high, to 9.1%.

On Wall Street, where the launch of Operation Twist was widely anticipated, the operators retain the discretion not optimistic the U.S. economy. Shortly after the news release of the Fed, the Dow Jones, which evolved in equilibrium has shifted into the red.It closed down sharply from 2.49% to 11,124.84 points.

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The United States would release 300 billion for employment

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

At a time when European governments are in turn in place policies of fiscal restraint, the United States seems to them the choice of stimulus. Concordant sources, Barack Obama should indeed announce a plan for $ 300 billion (about EUR 213 billion) to boost employment and growth.

For now, the Obama administration has not officially given details on this program to support the economy promised on August 15 which outlines what must be unveiled Thursday by the head of the White House.But according to CNN, during his speech to Congress which will be broadcast on television, U.S. President should mainly announce new tax cuts for the fight against unemployment, which appears to 9.1% in August United States.

Likely lower expenses

The Bloomberg said that the taxes acquitées by workers expected to decline by 2% on 31 December. Expenses paid by employers should also be reduced. The agency adds that the program should also include new public spending on infrastructure construction next year.

The Federal Government should also give direct aid to states and local communities credit reports free. Bloomberg said that the aid would go through the suspension of staff redundancy programs in hospital emergency rooms and teachers.Education is expected as an important part of the speech of Barack Obama.

These new expenditures should be fully offset by budget cuts, which will be specified by the head of the White House, says CNN. But according to Bloomberg, to fund these new measures, Barack Obama should prompt Congress to offset the costs of job creation in the short term by new taxes on income in the longer term. According to Bloomberg, the president of the United States should present the proposed budget cut next week to members of Congress charged with finding a way to reduce government debt.Barack Obama and succeed in reconciling policy stimulus and lower budget deficits, Bush is indeed bound by a program to reduce the deficit over time.

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U.S. bonds are resistant to the loss of triple A

Saturday, August 27th, 2011

Contrary to expectations, yields on government bonds to ten years U.S., the famous "T-Bonds," have not suffered the loss by the United States of their "triple A", which gave investors the best repayment guarantees available. Since the deterioration of the financial rating of Uncle Sat, August 6, the rating agency Standard & Poor's, the rate of return on government bonds ten years has even relaxed. It went from 2.58% the day before the announcement to 2.19% yesterday in New York.

"Common sense would that loss of the triple A, synonymous with degradation of the repayment capacity of borrowers, resulting in a tension on the rate of pay required by lenders, said Jean-Louis Mourier, economist at Aurel BGC. But the United States are in a particular position.In a world facing many economic uncertainties, bonds issued by the U.S. state are still considered a less risky than most other investments. "

Experts call this the "fly to quality", that is to say the postponement of international investors on asset quality at the expense of investment risk. "On the merits, there is no big difference between a AAA and AA +, said Philippe d'Arvisenet, chief economist of BNP Paribas. Everyone knows that the U.S. is heavily indebted, but nobody doubts their ability to repay their debts. However, there are concerns about the viability of the euro area, especially on signs of a slowdown in the global economy.These weigh on the shares, since one can fear a deterioration of business results. "

The shares were most affected

Since August 6, the Dow Jones, which includes the thirty largest U.S. companies, has in fact lost more than 3%, bringing in its wake all the global indices including the CAC 40 index, down 7.6% on the same period. Jean-Marie Mercadal, director of management at OFI AM, states that "analysts are still waiting for an increase of 14% of the profits of U.S. companies in 2012, but this estimate could be up to a 5% drop in a recession" . That's exactly what operators fear most.

In this context, the loans issued by the United States appears more secure.The U.S. bond market is mainly the most liquid and deepest in the world, ensuring that investors can sell their shares at any time, even in case of crisis. An advantage not available to France, which would it heavily penalized in the event of deterioration in its financial rating.

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Wall Street ended the session on a clear upward

Friday, August 12th, 2011

As in Europe, Wall Street rebounded sharply on Thursday after a session that saw the Dow Jones plunged by 4.6%. After opening up 1.25% at 10,854 points, the Dow Jones increased its earnings in mid-day. It ends with a sharp increase from 3.95% to 11,143.31 points. Nasdaq rises from 4.69% to 2492.68 points and the S & P 500 climbed 4.63% to 1172.64 points.

After being attacked the night before, banks rebound and take the rating up: Bank of America takes up 6.50% to 7.21 dollars, JPMorgan Chase 6.49% to 36.60 dollars, Citigroup 6% to 30, 20 dollars and Wells Fargo 5.94% to 24.24 dollars.

The energy sector, also roughed up yesterday, today contributes significantly to higher indices, like the ExxonMobil oil (5% to 71.43 dollars). This increase is in the wake of oil prices that ended up on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex).A barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery finished at 85.72 dollars (2.83 dollars the previous day).

Good news on employment front

The Dow Jones has further accelerated its rebound at the start of the last hour of trade, in a speech by U.S. President Barack Obama to ensure that there was always the possibility of taking measures to "help accelerate growth and job creation. "Investors also had a renewed confidence in the announcement of a meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday in Paris to discuss the reform of the governance of the euro area.

Also on the macroeconomic front, some good news also reassuring: the weekly jobless claims declined in the United States during the week to August 6 at 395,000 against 402,000 (revised) the previous week, said Thursday the Labor Department. Economists on average had expected 400,000 jobless.

On the front of the U.S. housing: the number of dwellings within the scope of foreclosures fell in July to a low of four months in the United States, according to a study released Thursday.Loan defaults, seizures and sales of bank foreclosures have affected 212,764 properties in July, a low not seen since November 2007, according to the firm RealtyTrac.

Note however that the country's trade deficit widened further in June according to figures released Thursday by the Commerce Department, reaching its highest level since October 2008 as a result of a sharp decline in exports.On a seasonally adjusted, the deficit reached 53.1 billion dollars against 50.8 billion (revised) the previous month, while U.S. exports fell by more than 2% over the month.

Cisco did better than expected

On the corporate side, the telecoms and IT supplier in the U.S. Cisco (15.95% to 15.92 dollars) on Wednesday issued an annual net profit down 16.4% to $ 6.5 billion, and a profit in the fourth quarter, down 36.3% to $ 1.2 billion. However, both figures higher than expected.

The media group News Corporation (18.09% to 16.19 dollars) to Rupert Murdoch, shaken by the recent wiretapping scandal in Britain, tried to reassure on Wednesday, its investors by issuing a profit annual increase."Although this was a good quarter of a financial point of view, our group has faced in recent weeks to problems with our London tabloid News of the World", accused of having carried on tapping some 4,000 people in the 2000s, said the group's CEO, Rupert Murdoch, in a statement.

In addition, Google (2.39% to 562.13 dollars) is followed. The investigation by U.S. authorities in charge of Competition (FTC) about a possible abuse of dominant position of Google, announced in June, focuses on the Android operating system and the search engine, we learned on Thursday in the Wall Street Journal.

No major publication is expected this weekend. It will take into effect until next Tuesday for Home Depot, Walmart and Dell publish their interim results.In the meantime, Monday, August 15, Estée Lauder will unveil its third-quarter figures.

IMF: India does not undertake on behalf of Christine Lagarde

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

From our correspondent in India.

The French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry met Pranab Mukherjee, his counterpart of Finance in India, and on Tuesday she will meet with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It should also see Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Commission Plan. It is no coincidence. There are a few more days, Ahluwalia had been presented as a potential candidate from India. And why not, BRICS, the bloc of emerging economies that account Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Then the rumors were silenced. Officially, Montek Singh Ahluwalia would have exceeded the age limit for a candidate.In fact, Delhi has decided not to enter the race.

"The selection of the Chief of the IMF or the World Bank should be on the basis of merit, competence and transparently," Pranab Mukherjee launched after receiving Christine Lagarde. "Since the World Bank president has always been an American and a European director of the IMF, it would be logical to try to persuade the fund to elect now a candidate from a developing country, whose influence on the global economy is growing, "protested Anant Goenka, an economics professor. Continuing: "Why this silence (from India) while China, Brazil and South Africa are on the frontlines demand a change?"

Paradoxically, New Delhi does not seem interested in carrying the "Battle of the IMF."Defeatist, India? "You can say so, but the silence of Delhi shows that Indians are particularly realistic in this matter," says BL Pandit, director of the Delhi School of Economics. It is not a democratic election, the contribution of India to the IMF's reserves is not very high, and finally, everyone here thinks that games are made and, again, the position go to a European cash advance loan no fax. " He acknowledged however that "things are changing rapidly" and that growth is changing latitudes, "it might be that the leaders of the Western world are considering share positions in international forums."

The Mexican candidate is expected Friday in India

At the last summit of BRICS in China last April, India had not been left to demand a reform of the Bretton Woods for emerging countries.In late May, when Dominique Strauss-Kahn had resigned, Manmohan Singh, who was visiting Addis Ababa, had stormed: "Reform of the Bretton-Woods is a priority for developing countries." He has since changed his tune. On the occasion of the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in late May, the leader of the Indian government said: "A prestigious position must go to the best candidate, regardless of nationality."

Friday, it was the turn of the Mexican candidate, Augustin Carstens, to come "courting" the Indians. The Governor of the Central Bank of Mexico would have already secured the support of Brazil. As for Christine Lagarde, she will travel to China. Beijing would be willing to support the French if they receive in return, the post of Deputy Director of the Fund at the end of the year.BRICS speak anyway no one voice since, the last G8 summit, Russia has already row behind Christine Lagarde.

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The CAC 40 is expected to stabilize

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

On this day 50 years in the OECD, the Paris Bourse should behave a little better. The Cac 40, which has suffered heavy losses on Monday, weighed down by bad signs including the Italian debt, and could resume his spirits a bit, like the Asian stock markets on Tuesday morning, which had fallen the night before. Last night on Wall Street, U.S. indexes also ended in deep red.

It will also monitor the evolution of the Milan Stock Exchange, which lost more than 3% the day before because of the prospect of lowering the debt rating of Italy by Standard and Poor's. But the rating agency has reassured last night assuring that the country would not need help. The government has prepared an austerity plan of 40 billion euros.

On Tuesday, the Brussels Stock Exchange is likely to be heckled while Fitch has placed the country's debt on negative watch.

To this day wait at the front of economic data likely to move the trend in France, the monthly business survey in industry, in construction, in retail trade and repair services for automobiles and May fall to 8.45. Even now, the business climate and economic downturn, still on May, are known. In Germany, Destatis publish the detailed GDP in the first quarter (8:00) and Ifo important barometer of the morale of the financial community will be unveiled at 11 am. In the EU, we will connsaissance new orders in industry in March (11:00).While the United States, 16 hours, we will note the new home sales in April (16 hours) payday loans direct lenders.

Bickering between Carrefour and Casino

Side values, expected interim results from Compagnie des Alpes.

Casino boss, Jean-Charles Naouri, did not appreciate the discussions for a merger between Carrefour and the leader of the Brazilian supermarkets, CBD.

Moreover, S & P is considering lowering the rating of Dexia because of its exposure to Greece.

Vallourec has announced the acquisition of Zamil Pipes, the leading processing and finishing of seamless tubes for oil and gas industry in Saudi Arabia for 96 million euros.

EDF and Enel are among the groups under discussion with Russia's Rosatom to participate in its proposed nuclear plant in Kaliningrad, Russia.

CVC Capital Partners has reached an agreement to repurchase shares in the family holding Delachaux offered for sale at a price of 83 euros per share.

Areva has announced the acquisition of 30% stake in its Brazilian subsidiary Areva Koblitz it did not already own.

BigBen Interactive has filed a proposed acquisition of Modelabs that values ​​the maker of mobile phones tailored and specialist distributor of telecom products between 90 and 100 million euros, announced Monday the Financial Markets Authority (AMF). The group will publish its annual résutlats Tuesday.

Note Iliad, Arkema, EDF, Société générale Gecina and hold their general meeting today.

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The father of CDs and former CEO of Sony is dead

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

A man at the crossroads of the worlds of music, technology and business. Norio Ohga, father of the "Compact Disc" and former boss of Sony, died Saturday at age 81. It was as boss of the Japanese consumer electronics that monitors closely the birth of the CD with its Dutch partner Philips in the early 80s. He insisted then that the disc 12 cm in diameter can hold 75 minutes of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

This commercial success and technological, which then lead to the emergence of DVD, will remain as the main weapon is to Norio Ohga. But it should not overshadow his work as head of Sony. "He transformed the Japanese conglomerate manufacturer of electronic products in a firm's creative music, movies and video games," says the Wall Street Journal."We were always digging the tracks that other groups did not dare to follow," explained Norio Ohga in 1998. "This is the real secret to our success."

Explosive path

His entry into the firm, like the rest of his career then detonates. Student in musicology at the University of Tokyo, in 1953 he impressed the executives of the firm which became Sony in a letter advising them of improvements to the prototype of tape. Hired as a consultant, Norio Ohga follow a rapid and brilliant trajectory within the company. He became one of the executive directors from the thirties, something extremely rare in Japan. In the '70s, he led negotiations with CBS that will lead to the creation of Sony Music Entertainment and will lead.

President of Sony from 1982 to 1995, Norio Ohga innovates. It supports the development of the Walkman, launched in 1979.In 1989, he led the largest acquisition at the time a Japanese firm abroad by offering the Hollywood studio Columbia Pictures for $ 3.4 billion. This maneuver discontent across the Pacific. Rumors will ever drive on the possible resale activity, difficult to make profitable. The real stroke of genius of the president Norio Ohga is unquestionably won his bet in video games. In the early 90s, he in fact supports the launch of the Playstation division within the group. It is now one of the largest departments of the group.

Debonair boss

Nohga Norio, Japanese boss atypical-described good-natured, not shy, and has an artistic temperament, however, has not as successful. Shortly after the launch of the CD, and it fails to impose its Betamax video format against HSV.Advisor to Sony these days, he could only see, in recent years, the cons-performance of its group. Sony did not see coming the success of the flat screen and has lagged behind its South Korean rival Samsung. In video games, Nintendo has his compatriot hewn cruppers. Even in the music industry, the Japanese has been exceeded. By innovations from Apple this time.

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The mad surge of copper

Monday, February 7th, 2011

They are 12 apostles of finance. "Ring Dealers category 1. At the heart of the City, behind the classical façade of 56 Leadenhall Street, only these traders shock from renowned banks are allowed to occupy the red benches of the "Ring", the basket of the London Metal Exchange, the London Metal Exchange (LME). A hundred others standing, agitate, notebooks in hand, several phones in his ear, to receive the positions of investors and manufacturers, informing them of the price in real time.

Those of copper, aluminum, zinc, tin, lead or steel, that appear every night at tea time, serve as global references payday loans. Although futures and options also trade in New York and Shanghai, the LME is the world's largest market for non-ferrous base metals.The "Devil's Metal" was pushed against a backdrop of soaring oil prices to a record $ 10,000 a tonne last Thursday. Essential in the building and cabling, star of base metals was driven by emerging economies, especially China. It consumes 40% or 45 billion dollars per year.

The heart of the City fast-paced beats in the copper price, star of the London Metal Exchange. Traders will also officiate at the auction around the basket, called the Ring.

Madrid ready to fly to the rescue of its banks

Monday, January 24th, 2011

This time, the Spanish government seems determined to take the bull by the horns. Having downplayed for months the difficulties that struggling fourth of its banking system, Madrid was ready to go to partly nationalize some savings if that became necessary.

This change of foot, compared with the soothing speech given so far by the Bank of Spain, due to the pressure put by the European Commission, and especially by the European Central Bank, which saw its funding boost for Spanish lenders. The aim is to avoid the scenario in Ireland. Late last year, Ireland's sick banks had to accept an aid of 85 billion euros.

The parallel is not trivial: whether in Ireland or Spain, the housing crisis is eating away at the balance sheet of credit institutions.To convince that the situation of Spanish savings banks has nothing to do with the Anglo Irish Bank and Allied Irish Banks others, Madrid will beef up its rescue plan. In particular, the Spanish government plans to encourage "cajas" to open their capital to investors through a possible initial public offering to cover their capital needs. If it proved impossible to attract foreign capital, the Fund for orderly restructuring of banks (FROB) is willing to "take a stake on a temporary basis." The formula, however, does not fool anyone: at this stage, investors are not lining up. The fund JC Flowers, specializes in turning financial institutions, chose to abandon an investment project.

The warning from Fitch

Much work has been restructuring operations in recent months.Under the leadership of the Bank of Spain, the cajas have started a consolidation which has limited their number from 45 in 2009-17. "This screening technique reduces the grip of local governments," says an expert. Operational side, the savings will have to close between 20 and 25% of their agencies and reduce their workforce by 15% on average.

During this first phase of restructuring, Frob has injected 11.6 billion euros of capital into new entities. Remains to be seen how many are missing. While the Wall Street Journal had an invoice raised from 30 to 80 billion euros, Elena Salgado, Minister of Finance, said the reality was "very far" from those amounts. UK broker Evolution him, amounted to 142 billion, 83 billion for the cajas, impairment losses on future loans to developers and other SMEs whose activities are often related to construction.Even Bankinter – which Crédit Agricole owns 20% – which has little exposure to real estate professionals, has seen its profits plunge last year.

Madrid, ultimately, has promised more transparency with the publication by the end of real estate commitments. The government will decide there and then create an entity – a "bad bank" – to use the impaired assets, as in Ireland? Everything seems still open. The rating agency Fitch has called for its part, yesterday Spain to establish a "credible bank restructuring plan," while stressing that the country score, which has a stable outlook, could be lowered if the recapitalization cost more than expected.

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