Wall Street began with the announcement of Cisco

March 10, 2010 - 12:58 am Comments Off

U.S. operators could choose to pocket a share of the gains made last week by caution before a salvo of indicators in the coming days. But it was not including the announcement on Tuesday launched by Cisco Systems for a new ultra-powerful router, which mulitiple twelve Internet capabilities.

Towards 20h30 (Paris time), the Dow Jones, Nasdaq 100 and S & P 500 rising erespectivement 0.5% to 10,606 points, from 0.81% to 2351 points from 0.58% to 1145 points.

It was exactly one year, March 9, 2009, the major stock indexes have hit a "low point". Since the S & P 500 has started the largest rally in history. In one year, the U.S. index has increased by almost 70%!

The next U.S. statistics are expected tomorrow with the traditional weekly report on unemployment.Weekly Market in the United States, will then be placed under the sign consumer. The two major economic indicators this week, published Friday, will be the sales details for the month of February and the preliminary estimate of consumer confidence.

Oil prices retreated Tuesday in New York, a barrel of reference giving 38 cents to 81.49 dollars, penalized by the strengthening of the dollar no fax payday advances .

Boeing soars above the market

The values listed, Cisco Systems (-0.24% to 26.07 dollars) today announced a new bid to speed internet connections.Analysts said the group could announce as Google, investments in new broadband network.

Also in the technology sector, the U.S. manufacturer of electronic components, Texas Instruments (-1.33% to $ 24.36) has revised upward its earnings forecast for the first quarter.

In the wake of this news, AT & T, a major customer of Cisco, up from 1.73% to 25.7 dollars, and Apple climbed 2.54% to 224.7 million.

After the withdrawal of EADS and its U.S. partner Northrop's tanker contract to the Pentagon, whose first installment is only valued at 35 billion dollars, Boeing remains alone lice.Les Boeing shares advance of 1.06% to 67.95 dollars and Northrop Grumman back to him, from 0.3% to $ 64.

UAL shares climbed 8.3% after posting profits in February increased by 17% in one year.

Renewal of Nuclear Eldorado or mirage?

March 8, 2010 - 3:26 pm Comments Off

It is the global rush on atomic reactors. Nicolas Sarkozy opened Monday morning an international conference on access to civilian nuclear technology that would bring together a thousand participants including some forty foreign ministers and the new Director General of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), Japan Yukiya Amano.

Not less than sixty States have shown in recent years with the Vienna their desire for nuclear reactors to generate electricity. "The expectation in these countries is very strong," said an organizer of the conference. Iran and North Korea, which have violated their international obligations, have not been invited to Paris, unlike Syria and Libya.

Click on image to enlarge.

French Cheese: weak exports

March 8, 2010 - 9:23 am Comments Off

Exports of French cheeses have dried up in 2009, according to French customs. In value exports fell 4.8% to 2.5 billion euros as in volume, with a decline of 1.7% to 591,121 tonnes. Exports represent 30% of French production.

The price of milk in question

The primary cause of this decline is the price of milk. Highest average of 15% in France compared to Germany and 9.5% from the Netherlands. Germany is Europe's largest exporter of cheese in front of France since 2003 in volume and value since 2006.

This drop increases with the cheeses using milk as much of the Emmental. Its exports fell 10% in 2009 and processed cheese, like Saint-Moret or Laughing Cow, requiring a lot of milk, they decreased by 13.5%.These high prices are crises repetitions of French dairy farmers, worried about the fall of their income.

For other reasons, Gruyère is also in a delicate situation. The European Commission may not give the French Gruyere the protected designation of origin (PDO), leaving the field open to Swiss Gruyere . The decision will be made in a few months.

Prospects in the U.S.

However, signs of recovery in the high end is particularly noticeable in the U.S. market, the first destination of French cheeses outside the European Union ahead of Switzerland and Japan. Arnaud Gauthier, cheese and creator of Frenchcheese club, said that "the U.S. market is a huge potential."He created a club offering premium products and to penetrate different markets in terms of complicated legislation. Example: the tripling of tariffs on Roquefort cheese in January 2009.

French cheesemakers are two sides to the Paris Bourse. Bel Cheese (The Laughing Cow, Boursin, Babybel …) and Bongrain (Caprice gods, Coeur de Lion, Tartar …). At the opening of trading on Friday, as the Cheese Fair was up 2.38% to 129 euros and that of Bongrain at equilibrium (0.06%) to 54.55 euros.

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Veolia Environnement: 2009 earnings better than expected

March 5, 2010 - 2:10 pm Comments Off

Veolia Environment is doing well in 2009. The group, which publishes Better Canada on Friday reported a net profit group share of 584 million euros, a sharp rise of 44% compared to 2008. It is far more than expected by the markets as analysts expected an increase of 34%.

Regarding turnover, however, performance is online. The group's revenues decline by 3.4% to 34.551 billion euros. Observers expected a decline of 2%.

The group expects an increase in its operating performance in 2010, further reducing costs.

Veolia Environnement intends to pay its shareholders a dividend of 1.21 euro per share for the year 2009. This proposal will be voted at the General Meeting of May 7

More details to follow ….

At the Paris Bourse, Total and Renault will set the tone

February 11, 2010 - 7:36 pm Comments Off

In a session marked by a new series of major publications and the summit in Brussels, the CAC 40 should navigate the uncertainty Thursday. On Wednesday, the index in Paris gained 0.63% to 3635 points.

On the macroeconomic front, investors will listen closely to the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Governments of the European Union devoted to the economic crisis and to preserve the European social model. Germany could announce his signing on backup plan for Greece.

Furthermore, INSEE releases its survey of investment in the industry for the month of January.By late morning, the banks have an appointment with the Minister of Economy and Finance, Christine Lagarde, to discuss the credit.

In the United States, figures are expected in retail sales for the month of January, weeks claimed unemployment, inventories and business sales for the month of December.

New series of publciations

After the publication of ArcelorMittal, PSA, Sanofi Aventis and Nexans, a new series is scheduled for Thursday morning: Alcatel-Lucent, Total, EDF, Danone, Renault or Dassault Systems .M6 publish after-hours trade.

Alcatel-Lucent posted a net loss of 524 million euros in 2009 and 2009 sales down 10.8% to 15.1 billion euros.

France Telecom announced it would invest two billion euros in a fiber optic network by 2015 in densely populated areas of France by 2015, thus removing the freeze on spending in this area.

Air France-KLM reported a net loss of 295 million euros in Q3 2009-2010. The operating loss in Q3 reached 245 million and the company expects an operating loss similar to T4.

Property Walls said he expected a new stability of its recurring net profit in 2010 and expected to maintain a dividend to 1.40 euros.

The group acting CRITT announced a decrease of 7.3% of sales in Q4 2009 to 298 million euros.

Companies want to encourage the loyalty of their small shareholders

February 10, 2010 - 1:12 am Comments Off

"We are exploring ways to provide benefits to small holders faithful, these solutions exist, and we're working on." That was the message delivered by Pierre Bellon, the boss of Sodexo at the last general meeting of the group that denounced the attitude of speculators "that enter and leave."

How to build a strong relationship with individual shareholders? The question hangs over the board: whether to protect themselves from the vagaries of the Stock Exchange or the appetite of a rival, small holders, shareholders are stable and frequent strong allies. For loyalty, companies are using every weapon at their disposal. And to fly, nothing can replace the hard cash.

The payment each year of a generous dividend, indicating a continuous and healthy growth is certainly the most effective way to reward its shareholders.For the most faithful, "who hold their shares for more than two years, companies may pay a dividend plus a maximum of 10%," explains Eric Bleine, Director General of JRC Asset Management. "These same shareholders may also benefit from plans to award free shares also increased to a maximum of 10%.

Another lever: the right to vote can be doubled beyond a certain period of detention. Another technique that has proved itself: shares in registered form, directly into the records of the company make quick cash .

A variety of tools

For the latter, the advantage is huge. It clearly identifies its shareholders and can detect any movement in the capital, where a significant proportion of the shares are registered in the nominative, as is the case with Michelin, Lagardère or Air Liquide.For the holder of action, the advantage is twofold: It is generally exempt from payment of custody and is constantly informed of the life of society. In the world of action "father", some titles are in a privileged position as Air Liquide and L'Oreal, darlings of small shareholders. "Among the 410 identified 000 individual shareholders, more than 150 000 were registered," says one from Air Liquide. Its main recipe: distribute generous dividends.

But the group uses almost the entire range of tools at its disposal with many levels of distribution of free shares, plus dividends and many buybacks. L'Oreal led until a different policy focusing mainly on the growth of its shares to pamper its shareholders.But now the group has decided to go further by also rewarding its loyal shareholders with a bonus dividend. The first will be paid in 2012 for profit in 2011.

Numericable Launches Social Internet package to 9.99 euros

February 9, 2010 - 12:40 am Comments Off

While the Internet has become as indispensable as water or electricity, Pierre Danon, CEO of Numericable, announced that the cable operator will introduce a social tariff, responding to the request of the Prime Minister.

LE FIGARO. – For 9.99 euros per month, which will service the right customers?

Pierre Danon. – The Prime Minister had asked the operators a triple play package of around 20 euros for the poor. Numericable goes beyond and offers 9.99 euros a month for 60 channels of television (DTT channels and a selection of foreign channels), Internet access at 2 Mbps and unlimited calls in metropolitan France.There are two requirements to be eligible for this offer: being beneficiary of the RSA or disabled adult allowance and live in housing benefit service unique digital Numericable.

Will you receive compensation from the state?

The universal service fund, managed by the Caisse des depots, should pay a subsidy of 4.21 euros per month per subscriber to Numericable. This package will therefore revert to 5.99 euros a month to subscribers, 4 euro is already included in the charges. I sent a letter yesterday with the offer to Prime Minister, Arcep and services Bercy. If they approve our offer within two months we could launch it this summer.

What advantage Numericable?

It is primarily a historical constant of the cable as being involved in social housing and community.On the other hand, Numericable, who will work with municipalities and departments on this job should be able to equip a large number of new homes. Some customers take the social tariff, but others choose our offerings more upscale. I think that with this offer we can win new customers. We are now at 25% market share on the recruitment of new Internet subscribers. This should enable us to progress further. Not to mention that in dealing with public housing offices, Numericable reduces acquisition costs and delinquency risks.

You had already launched in November offer "low cost" to 19.90 euros. What is the result?

This offer works very well. It represents approximately one third of our new subscribers. Auchan is also to engage the clutch on this niche, because there is a real logic to segment the market.They are not social but tender offers "low-cost targeted. For example, many people do not use the TV service yet they pay their standard Internet package at 30 euros a month. We must stop the dictatorship of the package at 30 euros, which was a stroke of genius Free, but has not moved for four years.

After Darty and Auchan Bouygues Telecom, will you welcome new operators on your fiber network?

We are in discussions with various partners, but he must first deal with the influx of new customers for our partners. Auchan has trained 1 200 hypermarkets in 72 vendors!

The picture improves Numericable does to customers?

Yes. Having been a champion of consumer complaints, admittedly, we're totally out of radar DGCCRF.The service was bad a year ago, we made a lot of work, it is now correct. And we will still improve.

Having renounced the 4th license, what are your plans in the mobile?

Our priority remains the fiber. On the mobile, we are virtual network operator Bouygues Telecom. We will soon launch a 3G and a key card offer prepaid. But we do not support the pedal fully, because we can not afford to spend millions of euros to acquire a subscriber base.In 2010-2011, Numericable focuses on profitable growth.

Are you still handicapped by the weight of your debt?

Having renegotiated our debt with the bankers in November, we loosened the noose and we are perfectly comfortable with our deadlines for repayment of 1.5 billion euros by 2014.

The connected TV is it a concern for you, whose job is to aggregate a bunch of strings?

It is a subject that we anticipated early 2009 with our range of interactive TV "2.0", and we continue to invest. We have discussions with several manufacturers of televisions. In April, Numericable present its first applications in the form of widgets available on the TV screen.We will launch thematic portals (youth, sports, entertainment …) which will become real media capable of guiding the client and recommend programs.

Berlin completes his tax plan antifraudeurs

February 7, 2010 - 12:56 am Comments Off

Angela Merkel has found his political instinct thanks to German tax evaders. Criticized since the inauguration of his new center-right government in late October for his lack of leadership, the chancellor has imposed against the will of its partners liberal FDP and the barons of his party, the CDU, the purchase files containing the names of thousands of taxpayers who have hidden assets in Switzerland. The German opinion ranks behind Merkel's opinion and personalities of all political gradually overcome their moral reservations about buying stolen data, to endorse its decision.

100 000 taxpayers

According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, citing sources close to the investigation, fraud could be much more massive than was originally estimated.After studying hundreds of cases randomly draws the German tax authorities now believes it could recover up to 400 million euros. According to several sources, the data come from the second Swiss bank, Credit Suisse, also reaffirms the daily despite the denials of the institution. In addition, an "internal estimate" of the bank can show that up to 100 000 taxpayers German practice of tax evasion in Switzerland, for a total of 34 billion Swiss francs (23 billion euros), says Süddeutsche Zeitung cash till payday .

Internal documents from Credit Suisse from 2004 might suggest that "over 80% of all Germans who deposit money into accounts at Credit Suisse, Switzerland, German tax authorities to conceal the proceeds of their interests" .An informant offers to sell the files to the German government, for 2.5 million euros a bargain defended the more convinced by the Chancellor that some fraudsters have engaged in concealment amounting to several million euros. "I think there is a common interest in the information. Tax evasion is not a crime chivalrous, "said Friday, the Chancellor.

Legal experts have now the treasury verified all the legal implications related to the purchase of the list, and the way is clear for its acquisition. Fraudsters have only a few hours to withdraw without risking additional sanctions.

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2009, black year for French hotels

February 5, 2010 - 7:16 am Comments Off

The crisis has sealed the budget holiday tourists. La France, the most visited country in the world, made the charge. And the hotel industry has been the first victim in 2009, according to research firm Protourisme published Thursday. It shows a decrease of 5% of overnight stays in France compared to 2008, 9 million fewer nights. This represents a shortfall of 1.5 billion euros of turnover.

Half of this amount lost on the niche hotels 4 stars whose revenue per available room fell by more than 15% because of declining attendance and lower average price per room. One third of this decrease, approximately 500 million euros, was recorded by the 3 stars with a fall of 11% of revenue per room.

The 2 star hotels and super-economy (0 and 1 star) has offset the decline in occupancy rate by an increase in average revenue per room.Nevertheless, the overall turnover of the industry is down by 300 million euros.

"It's a black year for the hotel. They talk of the campsite but outperformed the revenue it has generated are only 300 million euros, "says Didier Arino, director Protourisme.

Ile-de-France and PACA, the first victims

In detail, the Ile-de-France appears in the study as one of the most affected. The region, which weighs approximately one third of hexagonal nights, lost 4 million nights with a decrease of 6% of its annual attendance. Paris has seen its overnight decline of 1.2 million (-4%) for a total of 31.8 million nights in 2009. "A good number anyway. Paris is the capital of Europe in decline the least, "relativize Didier Arino saving account pay day loan . "The way to help, not only applaud, is to establish a monitoring tool and monitoring the implementation of this program" fiscal recovery, "said European Commissioner for economic, Joaquin Almunia. "For the first time we put in place a monitoring system as intense and almost continuous, but is necessary given the circumstances."

Confidence does not reign. Greece has for several years, played the unreliability of its statistics.In this regard, it will be an infringement procedure.

After the announcement of the Commission, the Greek bond yields back down to 6.516% against 6.742% on Wednesday morning around 8:30.

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