Posts Tagged ‘finance’

Businesswomen's most powerful

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

According to Forbes in October, the Financial Times ranking of his book's most powerful women on the planet. The business daily meanwhile confined its scope, as every year, to the sphere of business. 50 women entrepreneurs from top flight were handpicked and classified according to criteria chosen by the FT: The size and performance of the company they run, the economic environment and the degree of competitiveness of their sector, some biographical … Finally, the 2010 vintage of women in business in the most powerful "women at the top" – gives pride to Americans, who captured 19 seats.After the Indian Indra Nooy, CEO of PepsiCo, which monopolizes the top of the list for the second consecutive year, American Andrea Jung, Avon cosmetics patroness of, rises in second place.

The Chinese operate a breakthrough

Only 10 seats expire in contrast to Europeans, including French Lauvergeon Anne, patron saint of Areva, is the first representative in 15th place payday loan. If the Financial Times does not comment on this small selection, he stressed that his classification reflects the breakthrough of China on the world stage, with five women in these rankings, one (Dong Mingzhu, President and CEO of the Chinese company Gree Electric) fifth place.

An annual ranking of which justifies the economic daily existence by the need to fuel the debate about women's place in the sphere of business."When the gender balance at this level of governance will be more fair to point the finger at the leaders of successful companies at the top level will be worth full to be mentioned. When that time comes, we will be the first to congratulate them, "says the editor.

"The first five businesswomen in pictures:

.

The tobacco price increases of 30 cents per pack

Monday, November 8th, 2010

New outbreak of labels in civets. The packets of cigarettes are sold on average 30 cents more from this Monday, up about 6%. The ministerial order determining the increase, which comes almost one year to the day after the previous increase, was published Saturday in the Journal Officiel.

Baroin confirmed by the Minister of Budget, mid-September, this translates into higher prices for the state by 660 million euros in additional tax revenue per year. Thus, according to Bercy, the revenue of the State under the law of tobacco (excluding VAT) are expected for the first time in 2010 exceeded 10 billion euros.These funds are all allocated to social security budget and will be distributed among various funds.

An increase in "moderate and reasonable"

For Baroin, responsible for registering price changes desired by manufacturers, this increase is "moderate and reasonable" and therefore consistent with the Cancer Plan 2 of President Nicolas Sarkozy. An argument is unconvincing associations fight against smoking, that an increase of less than 10% has no effect on consumption, and therefore on public health, then that smoking causes 60,000 deaths a year France.

On its website, right of nonsmokers (DNF) even asks the government and the president of preferring "an increase of 60 cents every two years" rather than "small increases of 30 cents per pack of cigarettes each year. "French Office for the Prevention of Smoking (OFT), "this increase requested by the tobacco industry is calculated to the penny so as not to reduce consumption."

Tobacconists fear yet the impact of this increase in tobacco prices payday advance online. According to them, it's not just a "dance labels. With this increase, "it is a network that could pitch," said the Confederation of tobacconists. For the profession, rising rates could "restart the procurement of cigarettes outside the formal network. That is to say across borders (Spain, Belgium, Germany) where cigarettes are 20 to 30% cheaper in a hurry or on the Internet.

Fears tobacconists

According to Pascal Montredon, the patron saint of tobacconists, "18-20%" of cigarettes smoked in France were not purchased in any of 28,000 tobacconists.He requested a formal study on this phenomenon. For their part, manufacturers evaluate different surveys between 12 and 22% off purchases of the official network.

On 9 November 2009, tobacco prices had already étérelevés about 6% increase already criticized by anti-tobacco as too weak to be effective in terms of public health. This increase was also not significantly changed sales tobacconists who fell by only 0.2% over the first eight months of 2010 compared to 2009. Data dubaromètre health 2010 show that tobacco consumption has increased by almost 2% between 2005 and 2010.

MPs recently rejected an amendment by Yves Bur proposing to overtax the profits of manufacturers. Next step, photos shock will be mandatory at the back of every packet in April. And the government continues to consider a generic package, without any logos or color.

(With AFP)

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Sanofi-Aventis does not give face to Genzyme

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Chris Viehbacher, the CEO of Sanofi-Aventis, is unwavering. Just last week, Henri Termeer, CEO of U.S. biotech Genzyme, tried to demonstrate that its new forecast results justify a valuation of up to $ 89 per share or $ 22.7 billion. An amount far below the 69 dollars (18.5 billion) offered by Sanofi in its hostile takeover bid.

"The financial goals of Genzyme ignore market realities and the current situation of the company, said Thursday Chris Viehbacher. Some of them confirm our assumptions and some others seem quite unrealistic. On the merits, we have heard nothing that would lead us to change our offer of 69 dollars per share. "

Investors either, it seems.Despite allegations of Henri Termeer, who said last week it was in talks with potential buyers, the stock price Genzyme, 72.20 dollars Thursday in the afternoon, hardly changed since.

Sanofi-Aventis will continue to be "patient" and "disciplined," said Chris Viehbacher, reiterating its wish to discuss with leaders from Genzyme. Sanofi can take the time, even longer than one or two months the expiry date of its offer, set for December 10, feel more familiar with the matter.

In addition, a third of the shares is held by Genzyme investors positioned themselves after the early rumors of interest from Sanofi quick payday loans for Genzyme. They are a quick profit, not a long period of uncertainty on this issue, noted near the laboratory.On the French side, so we continue to believe that the operation can be fastened to less than $ 75 per share.

Acquisition in China

Sanofi announced Thursday a quarterly profit of 2.5 billion euros. Increased sales in emerging markets (+13%) allows it to compensate for "loss of over 500 million euros in turnover due to generic competition." The launch in July of a generic Lovenox in the United States are down by 50% because sales of this flagship drug from Sanofi. Across the Atlantic too, the health reform is expected to cost $ 100 million to Sanofi. The laboratory reviews yet on the rise between 0% and 2%, its forecast growth in earnings per share from continuing because he enjoys "a strict cost control, bringing his savings on a year to 1.2 billion euros.Sanofi announced Thursday the purchase for $ 520 million, the group's consumer healthcare BMP Sunstone Chinese.

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Next week looks even stirred

Monday, October 18th, 2010

A new day – the sixth since the beginning – of demonstrations and strikes is scheduled next Tuesday, October 19. The day before the vote by the Senate of the text on the pension reform.

Laurent Fabius said Sunday that the planned day of action Tuesday against the pension reform would be "the most important day" and called for dialogue to find a solution "while a number of PS Martine Aubry, CGT Bernard Thibault and CFDT Francois Chereque asked the Senate to suspend the debate.

For its part, the government remains firm. This Sunday, Bruno Navy, French Minister of Agriculture said on Europe 1 radio that "reform is in the hands of the Senate." If he "wants to add one point or another, a concession or another in the coming days is for senators to decide (…). There are sacrosanct rules and limits that we do not cross it.The two terminals, it is the age measures. "

• SNCF

SNCF has not yet said whether she was driving his strike Monday, but the French expect. This Sunday, the CGT has counted 26.55% of strikers in the movement against pensions, while management has not provided figures. Saturday late morning, the strike rate was 25.4%, down three points from the previous day.

This weekend, the disturbances are as expected including 2Two three TGV on the Paris-province relations, traffic eased in the south because of local difficulties, and a two Transilien and TER.

The station must provide its Sunday night traffic forecast for Monday.

• RATP (Paris Metro)

This Sunday, the RATP reported a normal or near normal traffic on the networks: Metro, Bus, Tram and RER A (area RATP).

On the RER B, disturbances persist. Especially between North Station and Robinso / Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, where three out of four trains are delivered.

Note that connections with the SNCF at Gare du Nord is not assured.

• Air transportation

Planes taking off from Roissy Charles de Gaulle should finally missed kerosene early next week. The pipeline that supplies the airport in Paris is back in service.

According to the Secretary of State for Transport, Dominique Bussereau, there is "no more concern" for the supply of the Paris airports, and what "indefinitely".

CGT denounced a "violation of the right to strike" cash advance in one hour.

• Road

While specific measures have been implemented throughout the weekend, the movement of the road is expected to go up a notch next week.Sector unions call for employees to vote as of Monday morning on further actions, including possible strikes.

"We will increase inter-union from Monday to decide on actions," he said, adding that "next week will be decisive." "We must expand the actions and participate in demonstrations Tuesday", also called Saturday the CGT federation Transport.

• Gasoline

Bussereau said that nearly 200 service stations in France were "embarrassed" this Sunday, but "no" was short of fuel.Note that there are between 12,500 and 13,000 points of distribution of gasoline in France.

Christine Lagarde, economy minister, has reiterated that she should not panic, "there is no shortage of gasoline, there are stocks for several weeks."

Given the risk of gas shortage, the French are in fact rushed to the pumps, some even filling gas cans as a precaution. Result, fuel sales jumped 50% in recent days.

• High Schools

After the day of action on Tuesday in which more than 350 schools were disrupted, the student movement had yet seemed out of breath: only 135 schools were experiencing difficulties Wednesday. But since Thursday and the call for mobilization of the National Union lycéenene (UNL), the movement has regained strength.

Saturday, few schools have been disrupted.But next week promises to be heckled.

"We count the days until the holidays of All Saints. When the students return, the reform has been passed, "said one minister. "This week, it was mild and bright sunshine. Next week it will be cold and gray, still welcomes it.

This Saturday, October 16 was attended by between 825,000 (Interior Ministry) and three million protesters (unions) in the streets of France. Mobilization less than that of last Tuesday (between 1.23 and 3.5 million French) but almost identical to that of Saturday, October 2.

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Slight improvement of railway traffic

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

Most of the general meeting on Wednesday have renewed the motion for Thursday, approving a third day of strike in the context of a renewed notice Inter. Traffic at the station is still disrupted on Thursday morning, but a slight improvement over Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a statement released Wednesday by the company.

. At national level:

– TGV Paris-Province: four trains an average of 10 between Paris and the provinces, a little better than yesterday (one in three), the axes North East Atlantic and move to even see a train on both.

– TGV from province to province: a train of five.

– For Intercity trains, Coral and Téoz: a train of three is announced.

– Night trains are canceled.

. TER and Transiliens

The network provides average TER train in two, like Transilien, at least during peak hours.

SNCF spoke of an "enhanced service" on lines C, E, H, J, L and N.

. At the international level

– Eurostar: Normal

– Thalys: 9 out of ten trains

-TGV/ICE (France-Germany): 9 out of ten trains

-TGV Lyria (France-Switzerland): 9 out of ten trains

International service is normal on the Eurostar to Belgium near normal (9 Thalys in 10). Other international trains are not insured.

SNCF said that every ticket is valid broadly the same day in any train on the route in question and that passengers wishing to cancel their trip can do so without charge at the counter, whatever the price.

Information

http://www.sncf.com

http:// www.infolignes.com

http:// www.abcdtrains.com

The site-by-station mouvement.com also serves to check the billboards (departures and arrivals) from the station of his choice.

Hotlines:

0.805.90.36.35 to Outline (TGV), TER Téoz and Intercity

0.805.70.08.05 for Transilien

sncf.mobi for réerl time access to information on mobile.

RATP provides a normal or near normal traffic Thursday on all networks Subway, Bus, Tram and RER A. With regard to the RER B (area RATP), the RATP 1 set of 3. All trains will have to start and terminate at the station Denfert-Rochereau

More information: http://www.ratp.fr

Freephone:

0.800.15.11.11

Nobel laureate Maurice Allais is dead

Sunday, October 10th, 2010

Maurice Allais, the only French citizen to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Economics died Saturday afternoon at his home in St. Cloud. He was 99 ½ years. A tribute will be made on Monday or Tuesday by the government. He should be buried in the Invalides Saturday, October 16.

Born May 31, 1911 in Paris, the son of shopkeepers, whose father had disappeared early in captivity during the First World War, was raised by his mother in terms that admitted himself hard. A brilliant student in high school Lakanal Sceaux, then at the Lycee Louis-le-Grand, he is especially fascinated by history.

Travel to the U.S. in 1933

These are the teachers who guide on another track, to the Polytechnic, which he joined in 1931 and he released "Major" in 1933 before choosing the Corps des Mines.Student at the School of Mines from 1934 to 1936, he will also faithful throughout his life as a professor until his retirement in May 1981 and continuing to conduct research and give them during long years later.

In fact, there is no a priori predisposed Maurice Allais to turn to economics. His early work, instead, to guide the science of concrete and fundamental physics experiments on which he also published many books including the pendulum swings and the laws of gravity. Throughout his life he remained fascinated by the science, even though they are his economic theories that earned him to receive the supreme reward.

The story is that his meeting with the economy coincided with his first trip to the United States during the summer of 1933 in the midst of the Great Depression.He is shocked by the disastrous social consequences it causes and the fact that nobody really understands the origin. It is this ignorance that leads him to want to analyze it to try to disassemble the mechanism and prevent this crisis from happening again elsewhere in the world. The troubles of 1936 in France naturally comfortable in this process.

In France, it was in 1988 that the public discovers Maurice Allais, crowned Nobel Laureate in Economics, the only French, yet until now, to have won this award.Upon surrender of his sword academician in October 1993, he also recalled that two days have marked his life: "1943, year of publication of my first book, In Search of economic discipline, the 'pure economics, which decided in my entire career, and whose date is engraved on the heel of the guard of my sword, and 1988 when I received the Nobel Prize in Economics, who has dedicated my work and is called the letter "N" engraved on the hilt of my sword. "

Ironically, five years earlier, in 1983, another French, Gerard Debreu, who had studied economics Maurice Allais, had also obtained the Nobel Prize. However, a naturalized American, he has always been considered a Nobel overseas.

Maurice Allais was not always well understood, far from it."Many players consider him a champion of protectionism," which is "profoundly wrong decision," stressed at the same ceremony, the teacher and researcher Thierry de Montbrial. But it is true that by dint of wanting political union before the economic union, Maurice Allais had emerged as a staunch advocate of a European first pains to ensure its own economic security, which had passed for those who wanted to build a fortress around Europe.

"Liberal Socialist"

Author of over a hundred books, Maurice Allais, who had been the grand cross of the Legion of Honor this year was defined himself as a "liberal socialist".This, he explained that this position made him wish for example, to avoid destruction of agriculture and industry French, restoration of regional preferences in international trade since the wage gap became too important. Collaborating in numerous newspapers, beginning with Le Figaro, and he recalled last year in the magazine Marianne, a "rational protectionism between countries of very different levels of life is not only justified but absolutely necessary." The announcement of his death came as Nobel Academy on Monday to unveil the new name of the winner under the economy.

Blocked ports: truck against the risk of fuel shortages

Monday, October 4th, 2010

While the tanks of petrol stations have run dry Corsican, the government allowed Sunday circulation of trucks. This is to prevent the blockage of the oil terminal port of Marseilles leads to fuel shortages. "No shortage is feared for the moment" on the continent, it was attempted to reassure the Department of Ecology. "The order is simply a precautionary measure to prevent possible supply voltages.

According to the decree of the Ministries of Interior and Ecology and Transportation, allowing trucks to drive should help "alleviate, if appropriate preventive, inadequate supply of gas stations, warehouses or storage of hydrocarbons and industrial sites, which may result "of the strike affecting the Lavera oil terminals and Fos-sur-Mer.

Shortage of Corsican

In Corsica, the situation is much more critical.The main towns on the island of Beauty are now short of diesel, used by most drivers. To bypass the blocking port of Marseille, a boat was chartered by oil companies to supply via Corsica Sardinia, Italian Island nearby. He should be back Wednesday.

In the meantime, the traffic jam outside the gates closed the port of Marseilles. Under the direction of the port, "3 chemical tankers, gas 9, 11 and 13 crude oil tankers refined, 2 barges" are stranded. The Fos-Lavera oil pipeline supplying six of the twelve French refineries. In the past, "the logistical situation is a bit more tense than usual," admits one to the Department of Ecology and Transportation.

Period of one to two weeks

The hexagon has still not yet reached a critical threshold, according to authorities and oil companies."No difficulty in procurement of refined products is currently expected, because even the refiners that are no longer serviced have a stockpile of crude they can turn," the ministry said.

However, if the strike continues, refineries powered by Marseille arrive short of reserves and "likely to stop producing completely within one to two weeks," according to Jean-Louis Schilansky, president of the Union French oil industry. The CGT said that the movement was renewed for 48 hours next week.

Pensions opening for women

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Pension reform is barely passed first reading in the House that the Senate already reflecting the improvements will be implemented. Driven by Nicolas Sarkozy, who assured Tuesday that it would have a "margin" to amend the text, elected Upper House would like to improve the draft law on two aspects: the postponement of retirement age 65 to 67 years and taking into account the strain at work. The goal? "To reform the fairest possible," insists its chairman Gerard Larcher.

The first relaxation which reflect the majority of senators, with the approval of Gerard Larcher, aims to enable women to continue to receive full pension at age 65, not 67 years as provided by law.The mechanism under consideration is the book that progress to parents-fathers and mothers, so that the provision be deemed discriminatory, three or more children who have interrupted their careers. So, in fact, for women only.

"We will discuss the issue of women with the senators," Does it confirms the Department of Labor, declined to comment further. "There may be adjustments for certain categories between 65 and 67 years," says one at the Elysee, but without mentioning the case of women with three or more children. Such a provision could affect tens of thousands of women and cost $ 500 million per year to run.It would have the big advantage to please the unions, including the CFDT, and opinion, largely opposes the decrease in terminal 65.

Second softening of UMP senators are considering allowing the creation of early retirement in areas that have negotiated agreements for hardship. The idea, already suggested by Mr Denis Jacquat and Pierre Mehaignerie, is simple: the branches and business-as-Rhodia has already done that have concluded agreements on the adaptation of workstations at the end of career employees who have been exposed to heavy work may allow them to retire at age 60 payday loans. And without that disability rates have been found.If passed, this openness demanded by the unions could eventually cost 400 million euros per year.

Respect envelope

For now, the Ministry of Labour denies working on this, already rejected in the Assembly. "We did not refuse to allow the members to Senators, contends the near Eric Woerth. The text voted by the Assembly, which has already evolved considerably in the direction of women and workers, is now at an equilibrium. It is more inconceivable to recreate early retirement financed in part with public funds. "No," we also at the Elysee, where it says that this option was never even discussed with senators. "You study it," says Baron, however, a majority.

There remains the question of financing these hypothetical measures."The head of state senators said that they will meet the overall reform," says Will we at the Elysee. So do not invent devices that would increase the need for short-term financing plans. "It could bring a little tax on bonuses and stock options, or shift one or two years for the return to equilibrium," suggests a majority leader. "We do know the solutions found until mid-October and the government will not disclose any of them before," says one at the Elysee. Except to send some trial balloons before, to test the reaction of public opinion and unions.

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Monopoly World Farmland

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

With a report released Wednesday, the World Bank sets foot on a powder keg. Entitled "The growing interest in farmland in the world could he provide equitable benefits long term?", He relaunched the war between industrialists and farmers. Today, all over the globe, the acquisition of arable land or mineral-rich turn into a battleground.

Between 1998 and 2008, he was not selling more than 4 million hectares per year. In 2009, this figure rose to 45 million hectares. Soaring commodity prices, volatility of oil prices, an explosion of food requirements, all contributes to encourage speculation. Speculation states such as China, want to ensure self-sufficiency.Speculation multinationals who scent a market more than promising.

Drought in Russia has forced the country to freeze its exports of wheat last summer, causing prices to rise by 70%. Brazil has decided to restrict land purchases by foreigners. India has rejected a British mining project to protect the 8,000 members of a local tribe. Everyone tries to organize face to speculators.

Fraudulent

The World Bank, stressing that a billion people do not eat their hunger on earth, is careful not to decide. She noted that foreign investment can be a way to correct the lack of financial resources of the countries concerned to make transfers of technology, improve productivity of their agriculture and reduce poverty.But it also recognizes that these investments can be a source of serious conflict or even outright fraudulent transactions payday advance lender.

His report covers fourteen countries (Brazil, Cambodia, Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Liberia, Laos, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Peru, Sudan, Ukraine, Zambia) and notes that in Africa, in particular, promises are rarely required, unlike in Peru, Brazil, Mexico, where the rules concerning acquisition of land are clearly defined.

Because foreigners are not only culprits. Governments are often responsible for lack of legislation, competent managers or simply political will to organize their agricultural development.All of which, combined with the lack of information, foster corruption.

"The magnitude and often the appearance of speculative land transactions recorded in recent times have taken everyone by surprise," argues the World Bank. He added: "Suddenly the acquisitions are often at the expense of local people, especially those who are most vulnerable, without bringing them appropriate compensation."

Besides China, South Korea, Japan, Gulf countries are also involved in the giant Monopoly. But the bank does not designate a person by name. It just sends the actors to their own responsibilities.That governments enforce laws that civil society behaves "watchdog", as international organizations to be vigilant and that the private sector finally become aware that this is not only invest but to "invest more".

The benefit of EDF affected by provisions

Friday, July 30th, 2010

EDF has unveiled a new series of bleak, including the formalization of the two-year delay in the construction of the EPR Flamanville. In addition, the group's net profit plunged tricolor 46.9% in the first half to 1.66 billion euros, while analysts were betting, on average, profit of 2.57 billion euros. The group has indeed passed a provision to cover the risk of loss in value of its nuclear activities U.S. $ 1.1 billion. "This provision covers the risk of impairment of assets CEng, investment in Unistar and certain future costs and risks of the project, EDF will now continue his studies for the development of a new reactor at the Calvert Cliffs site, "said in a statement.

Sales and EBITDA exceed expectations

The energy company's EBITDA rose him, from 4.4% to 10.4 billion euros against 9.93 billion euros targeted by analysts. And the turnover amounted to 37.5 billion euros, up 7.7% and also above the expectations of experts, which amounted to 35.9 billion euros. The increase in sales figures is primarily due to acquisitions and CEng SPE, the company said.

EDF maintains its annual outlook

In terms of outlook, EDF has confirmed its objectives for the current year. It is thus an organic EBITDA growth of between 3% and 5%, a ratio of net debt / EBITDA of between 2.5 and 3, and a stable dividend.However, the company said it was a nuclear power between 405 TWh and 415 TWh in France for the whole year, with an availability target of its nuclear plants between 78.5% and 79.5 %. It had previously targeted a rate of availability of its French nuclear plants up 1.5 point "at least" in 2010 compared to 2009. This rate is crucial for the profitability of the group has been set at 85% over the medium term.

In addition, EDF has confirmed two information widely mentioned by the press. The electrician has announced a delay of two years starting from the EPR Flamanville cost of construction and re-evaluated at 5 billion euros.

On the other hand, the group said it has received an offer from Li Ka-shing on its UK business.The Hong Kong billionaire head of Cheung Kong Infrastructure offers 6.9 billion euros for the acquisition of the distribution network owned by EDF in the UK.