Archive for the ‘economics’ Category

The wand is new at McDonald's

July 28, 2011 - 10:00 pm Comments Off

Cocorico at McDonald's. The American chain, famous for its burgers, is preparing to lead a revolution in the world of fast food, introducing the baguette on the card! Later in September, its customers will experience the charm of a breakfast at the French, by having bread and butter and jam on fresh bread in the 130 McCafe chain (separate counters of coffee , cakes and pastries). In the first half of 2012, McDonald's go even further by launching the new sandwich-based wand. Formidable competition for all bakers, especially since McDonald's is decidedly very affordable price.

The bread will be supplied by the Holder Group (owner of Paul Bakeries and Ladurée), which already manufactures the supply of cakes and pastries of McCafe in France."During its first fifteen years in France, in 1980, McDonald's has primarily offered a small slice of America in important model, said Nawfal Trabelsi, senior vice president, McDonald's France and southern Europe. Today, we are part of everyday French. Our priority is to integrate local and tint of French culture history of our offer hamburgers and ice cream, while inventing new forms of sandwiches. The French are passionate about bread, crazy wand. We respond progressively to a natural demand. "According to the firm Gira Council, the French consume nine times as many sandwiches as hamburgers, and more than 60% of sandwiches sold in France are based on baguette.The most acclaimed is the classic: ham and butter (75% of sales of baguette sandwiches).

Success of the wheat cake

By baking fresh bread in the morning, McDonald's hopes to boost its offering of breakfast, while flattering image. "We feel the smell of warm bread at the entrance," says Isabelle Kuster, Vice President of Operations in France and Southern Europe at McDonald's check cash advance. Specifically, from the start, the McCafe offers small individual flutes, two sold with a portion of butter (provided by the cooperative of Isigny) and a small jar of jam (apricot, raspberry and orange), handmade by a producer the Pyrenees. "We are responding to a request, warrant Isabelle Kuster.Our breads are baked on the premises all day, the idea being to sell them warm at all times. "Already, 25% of transactions are McCafé the morning (usually open from 7 to 8 hours), but breakfast is less than 1% of sales of McDonald's. "It would be wonderful to double sales," says Isabelle Kuster.

The arrival of the baton at McDonalds, so symbolic, is a step in the strategy of teaching to meet specific dietary habits if the French, while working with local suppliers. In 2009, the chain broke new ground with a Big Mac in the bread. In January, it launched a McCantal and in late February, Charolais, Charolais burger with French origin."At McDonald's, we strive to continuously reinvent ourselves," insists Nawfal Trabelsi, stressing that "diversifying the supply of bread is at the heart of our strategy of product development." Since May, McDonald's markets and the McWrap, cooked to order in a large cake topped wheat. France is the second country after Austria to build on this new generation of sandwiches to supplement the supply of burgers and salads. The first results are above expectations. In two months, over 50% of customers have tasted and three quarters have already renewed the experiment.

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Direct Energy buys Poweo

July 27, 2011 - 3:36 am Comments Off

After months of discussions, the two alternative operators in France, Energy, Direct Energy and Poweo, will join forces. The first will announce Wednesday morning the acquisition of 46% stake in the Austrian Verbund in the second. The transaction, which amounts to 36 million euros – at a rate of 4.77 euros per share – allows Direct Energy to become the shareholder of Poweo, the company founded and headed by Charles Beigbeder long. The UK fund Ecofin has for its part, 26%, against 9.5% for the investment company Luxempart and 18.5% for the float.

"This is the first step in the formation of a major independent challenger of EDF and GDF Suez, which already book a million customers in the gas and electricity," said Xavier Caitucoli, CEO of Direct Energy.The portfolio of the company amounted to 650,000 customers specifically, while some 350,000 claims in Poweo.

Xavier Caitucoli, there is no question of seeing this combination in the ultimate act of resistance of both companies in a market ultradominé by incumbents. "Instead, we are here to stay. The new law on the organization of the electricity market, adopted recently, gives us more visibility on our margins and gives the end user the opportunity to go freely in the competition and return to regulated rates if desired ".

Half the jobs will be open to foreigners

July 26, 2011 - 1:20 am Comments Off

The reduction of labor migration in France is now effective. After fixing in April the goal of reducing by half the number of work permits granted to foreigners in France, the Ministries of Interior and Labour recently issued a new list of occupations open to non-Europeans. According to Les Echos on Monday, the draft of the new Order, which has been sent to the unions, cut in half the number of job families, open to non-EU nationals. 30, it is expected to rise to 15, said the business daily. It should be noted that the list issued by the Ministry of Labour in 2008 had remained unchanged for three years.

"This is to narrow the list to the most skilled occupations or specific, corresponding to significant needs for labor," which would be impossible to fill short-term workers already present in France, said the e of the General Delegation of employment (DGEFP), which was sent to the unions.

But this list may be adapted as needed in labor specific to each region. Each warden will be allowed to exclude some of the trades listed 15 families, if these jobs are not in power on its territory.

Restrictions in construction and computer

Among the jobs listed on the new list, we find the e-consultancy, management positions in audit and accountancy, engineering positions in information systems, and various trades technicians wood and glass processing payday loans for bad credit.In addition, the areas of chemical production, pharmaceutical and mechanical products always recruit foreign labor.

However, in construction, the positions responsible for education, site managers and supervisors will come out of the list, the sector is recruiting non-EU as for industrial designer jobs. Another area where Claude Gueant decided to impose restrictions on the information technology sector for nationals of non-European features only for experts.

Surprised by the return of the subject after the meeting of National Council for the use of the July 12 trade unions denounce a 'national' approach of the government and are skeptical about its effectiveness."Of the stations mentioned experts, the big groups use internal mobility from their subsidiaries abroad," said Raymond Chauveau (CGT) in an interview with Les Echos.

Reducing the list of occupations open to foreigners "liberate" from 10,000 to 12,000 jobs in France. However, according to experts, the government will face the difficulty of adapting this new list to fluctuations in supply and demand in the labor market in France.

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Fillon attack the proponents of de-globalization

July 3, 2011 - 1:20 am Comments Off

A true campaign speeches. Cambodia before the French together in a vast lounge of the Sofitel Hotel in Phnom Penh, the prime minister Saturday launched a violent charge against the left, without ever naming it: "Those who believe that the idea that one could 'de-globalization' history and the comfort of a domestic policy alone, without external stress, maintain a dangerous illusion, "he said, while some voices in the PS and the Greens in particular to call for ecological and social conversion of the production system. "Globalization is a fact, not a hypothesis," has dealt François Fillon, taking the opportunity to refine their profile politician "lucid" which tells the "truth" to the French.

"You who live in the Asian continent, you know what is meant by globalization and the (…) changes it brought with it," he said to an audience that the UMP would attract and retain the perspective the presidential election of 2012 (hence the creation Wednesday of a Secretary of State for French nationals abroad, at the ministerial reshuffle).

Fillon promised to fight against the risk of decline

The prime minister also criticized the "lack of responsibility" for "those who advocate, under a mask of generosity, the return to funding expensive." "Between the spring of election promises and fall of the exercise of power, the reality is responsible for breaking down dead leaves of inconsistent programs," he added, lyrical faxless cash advances.

While calling for more than "partisanship," the Prime Minister continued his charge against the advocates of protectionism. "Those who want to get France out of the euro, if unfortunately they came to business, they would endanger our economy, our social model, in the name of a false idea of ​​national sovereignty", he attacked. Against these "lax or populist proposals" which "we pose the risk of decline," Fillon promised he would fight "all (his) forces."

While the UMP is constantly mock the PS program considered "dated," Fillon drove the nail in praising the reforms carried out in four years: a guarantee "of international adjustment," he praised " we have continued to act to reinvigorate our economy, to capitalize on innovation to secure our social model, to contain our costs, "he added."None of these reforms has not been easy, he said. But I am convinced that their legitimacy will prevail, because the French feel that the new world will be uncompromising for nations that choose the easy (…) With the approach of elections, disputes conducive to systematic and utopias of all kinds, we will maintain our line of truth and realism ambitious. "

(From our special correspondent in Cambodia)

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The Cac 40 ended close to 3800 points

June 28, 2011 - 11:44 am Comments Off

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao expressed his "confidence" in the future of the euro area and promised to continue investing in the region at the beginning of a new tour on the old continent. Financial markets remain strained, however. Activists of Communist front Pame Greek trade union have made Monday morning on the Acropolis in Athens a giant banner advocating "against-attack" against the austerity plan that the country needs to adopt this week to avoid bankruptcy.

Having dropped below the 3,800 points Friday night, the CAC 40 was still open slightly lower on Monday morning. Green, however, made his return in mid-day. The benchmark index of Paris finally closing up 0.31% to 3796.55 points. The London Stock Exchange for its part, closed up, the FTSE-100 index gaining 0.43 of the main values% from Friday's close at 5722.34 points.Featuring Dax index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange ended down slightly from 0.19% to 7107.90 points.

Beyond the caution displayed by investors before the vote on Wednesday and Thursday, the Greek Parliament on the new austerity plan imposed on the country, the benchmark index of the Paris Bourse remains unsure hesitant to Wall Street. The New York Stock Exchange, which accused significant losses Friday night, started to trade the balance before attempting a rebound, too, without conviction.

On Monday, no statistical significance was also to follow the French and European side. United States, consumer spending of U.S. households were unchanged in May for the first time in nearly a year, while revenues increased 0.3%, slightly less than expected, according statistics released Monday by the Commerce Department.Adjusted for inflation, spending fell by 0.1% in May for the second consecutive month. The decline in vehicle sales after the disruption of production caused by the earthquake of March 11 in Japan may explain the decline.

On the currency markets, the euro went back to 1.4264 dollar.

Airbus Boeing has dominated at Le Bourget

EADS (-1.56% to 22.05 euros). The 730 contracts announced in four days propel the backlog of European best-seller over 1000 devices. Airbus, an EADS subsidiary, established a new record with 72.2 billion dollars in contracts.The Paris Air Show, the largest in the world, broke attendance records for both professionals and the general public, in its 2011 edition, which closed its doors Sunday, organizers announced.

After completing its first acquisition in China, the IT services company Capgemini (-0.14% to 38.69 euros) seeks to strengthen the United States, said its chief executive Paul Hermelin the Financial Times. The group, leader in Europe, is particularly interested in the health sector.

The automaker Renault (0.96% to 39.54 euros) account on a flurry of new products to rebound in Europe since 2012, rapporteLa Tribune. Thus, the group plans to launch new models of the car at low cost, Zoe (at a price of 15,000 euros), and Clio IV.In addition, a minivan before the launch of Dacia Logan New and Sander.

Bouygues Telecom has entered the State Council

According to information from Figaro, Bouygues Telecom (+0.02% to 28.85 euros) before the Council of State to challenge certain provisions included in the call for tender for mobile phone licenses in the fourth generation (4G).

The banking sector was misguided. Societe Generale: -0.28% to 37.67 euros, BNP Paribas: -0.06% to 50.16 euros, Crédit Agricole: -0.32% to 9.63 euros. Meeting in Basel, international regulators have agreed on a proposal to impose an additional requirement of capital to banks with systemic risk.The aim is to prevent banks grow larger and become "too big to fail" ("too big to fail").

In addition, the Franco-Belgian bank Dexia (-1.92% to 1.99 euros) is ready to sell its insurance activities in Turkey with French insurers Axa and U.S. Metlife, reported Monday the daily Les Echos.

Carrefour (-1.10% to 26.45%) needs to evolve and perhaps in favor of its hypermarkets a delegation of certain powers, said Sébastien Bazin, CEO of Colony Capital Europe, in an interview published in the 'Monday edition of Les Echos.On the other hand, the distributor announced Friday the acquisition of three minority in China.

Séchilienne Sidec (4.24% to 17.07 euros) The independent power producer said in a statement that its gross operating profit (EBITDA) is expected to grow by at least 15% this year, including with products tax exemption The group also confirmed that it was a growth of 10% of its EBITDA excluding tax exemption in 201.

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Sixth year of real estate crisis in the U.S.

June 14, 2011 - 4:16 am Comments Off

It's been five years since the U.S. housing bubble deflates, after swelling for fourteen years. The consequences of this reversal are still stopping the economy and financial system of the United States poor credit personal loans.

Click on image to enlarge.

The tax-free donations to the descendants relaxed

June 9, 2011 - 3:20 pm Comments Off

The government hopes to facilitate donations between generations. Under the supplementary budget reforming the ISF, he filed an amendment to amend the rules for tax-free cash grants, aimed at children, or failing that, nephews and nieces.

Today, only people aged under 65 years can make a donation to a limit of 31,865 euros per child every six years, provided that the recipient is an adult. Which severely limits the use of this measure introduced in 2007 as part of the TEPA: few were those who could frequently reiterate their giving, while bringing its conditions. Now, if this amendment is passed, the age limit be raised to the donor, until age 80, currently the age limit applies to donations made to the grandchildren.

However, the government plans to extend the period of six to ten years, two tax-free donations guaranteed high risk personal loans. According to Les Echos, the amendment would increase the cost of these donations for the state of about 200,000 euros, while the expenditure had amounted to 190 million euros in 2008.

The tax on estates will also be heavier, to offset the cost incurred by the reform of the ISF. The rates for the last two installments of the tax scale progressive succession on each of five percentage points to 45% maximum. According to the supplementary budget, 1600 heirs should be affected by this weighting, a gain estimated at more than 130 million euros.

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"Good surprises are waiting for the telecom sector"

May 21, 2011 - 11:16 am Comments Off

lefigaro.fr – How do you explain the poor performance in the first quarter of the telecom sector, considered a defensive sector?

Yves Maillot – In general, defensive stocks have disappointed in the first quarter. Regarding telecommunications, financial markets are convinced that this is an area of ​​decay. I think that investors under-value in excess of these companies. Certainly, one should not expect to make money on the stock market with them, but a value such as France Telecom still generates a dividend of 8.5%.And even if its share price remains stable by the end of the year will be good for the group.

How do you explain the outperformance of Iliad stock exchange since the beginning of the year compared to the incumbents?

This illustrates that the market continues to appreciate Iliad as a growth stock, unlike the incumbents. Investors expect that Free (Iliad Group subsidiary) generate more growth through its new offering "Freebox Revolution." For three months the group has registered 154,000 new subscribers. Analysts expect 5% growth in turnover in 2011de its parent company, Iliad. This also confirms the good performance of small and mid-cap at the expense of larger ones.Now I think that this abuse of financial markets vis-à-vis incumbents will abate in the course of the year.

What reverse this trend?

Incumbents can not forever remain inert as financial markets anticipate. The telecom industry is back today as it was fifteen years ago, namely an activity to low growth but high profitability. He is immune to a speculative bubble, because analysts are no longer unrealistic forecasts. The risk / reward ratio is good. With this sector, investors have a "free option". In other words, an investor has nothing to lose by investing in value as France Telecom, whose price is very low (15.86 euros) and the opposite of a decade ago (220 euros).Good surprises are waiting on the telecom sector by the end of the year.

The 4G mobile is she a new growth?

It is difficult to assess the quantitative impact that 4G will have on the growth of operators. As I said earlier, analysts no longer looking like for 3G decade ago, to estimate the additional revenue that can generate these new growth.

As a result, financial markets do not believe in the potential of 4G. This explains the low valuations of the stock market operators. However, the 4G gives operators access to a historic new world of services. They still need to generate more revenue with subscriptions. And for that, more services and thus more features are needed.Traffic from the mobile broadband Internet will be increased tenfold in the next two years! These frequencies are strategic for the future.

Do you think that a fifth operator to participate in the tender that the state has launched?

There is no room for economic fifth licensee. This tender aims to give additional spectrum for existing licensees. Given the announced reserve price, I do not see what other operators – the mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) or other – could afford to participate in this tender. I see more MVNOs try to position themselves for the future and fit into the traditional grid in search of money. They seek primarily to promote their business model.

The eG8 be held on 24 and 25 May.Do you think the telecoms have their place in the G8?

This meeting is a good thing to discuss global issues in the sector and especially the arrival of new generations and new standards, at a time when the industry is looking for new growth. Whatever think the financial markets and rating agencies, telecoms evolve technologically.

RSA: Fillon criticizes the initiative of Wauquiez

May 11, 2011 - 6:32 pm Comments Off

Laurent Wauquiez expressed confidence Monday in throwing a "healthy debate". The group's European Affairs Minister in the Assembly, the "social rights" must file "within 10 days" a bill to force RSA recipients to "take" five hours a week of "social service". Also planned, capping the "accumulation of all tested benefits at 75% of SMIC," and the requirement for foreigners to have worked at least 5 years in France in order to qualify. To justify its offensive, Laurent Wauquiez denounced "abuses of welfare" as "the cancer of French society." But his proposals divide his own camp.

On Monday, the national leadership of the UMP had welcomed a "significant contribution" to the next party convention on "Social Justice", June 8According to the MP-Valérie Rosso Debord, Deputy Delegate General of the UMP, these proposals are "common sense" and "should help to maintain a link between the person seeking work and the workplace."

But Tuesday morning, Laurent Wauquiez has been reframed by François Fillon himself. During breakfast the majority, at the Elysee Palace, the prime minister criticized the release of his minister. Criticism he repeated before the UMP deputies, meeting in the Assembly: "I'm not sure we need to subject all the reforms that fate has subjected the tax shield" in the process of be removed during the tax reform."Do not destroy it strives to balance" the quinquennium of Nicolas Sarkozy and "we should not discredit the reform of RSA," Francois Fillon has called yet.

Minister Roselyne Bachelot Solidarity, François Fillon close, which recalls in a statement it is "in charge of this matter," says his side's proposal Laurent Wauquiez present "difficulties of principle and implementation . She said it had already formulated his objections to the person "at a depth interview." In response to the arguments of the Minister of European Affairs, she recalled that the device provides "an important difference exists between the RSA and the minimum wage." The minister writes that she finally submit "ideas for improving the system to the President of the Republic", while an assessment mission on the SSA must issue its findings in July.And Labour Minister, Xavier Bertrand, embarrassed, did not express.

Hirsch: "This idea does not hold water"

More severe, Marc-Philippe Daubresse centrist member of the leadership of the UMP party, said on lepoint.fr "very surprised that this proposal is a total ignorance of the reality on the ground and irresponsibility." "I am responsible (Secretary General) and the UMP in charge of a mission entrusted by the president on this issue," says the member of the North was responsible for leading, June 8, UMP convention on "social justice".

The father of RSA Martin Hirsch, former Secretary of State in the government of François Fillon, became outraged Monday night on France 2, the idea of ​​"cons RSA hours."All the moves are not allowed to face the vulnerability of people," he said after being denied the "false things" who "sow doubt among the French." "This idea does not stand a single second when one takes into account seriously," he added. "If these things were implemented, it would begin to work without pay recipients of the RSA. But then we would look for all employees, canteen staff, cleaning any part of the French and they would say, 'now working for free', or worse, your work will be taken because someone will do it free in exchange for a social allowance '. "

CFDT: Laurent Wauquiez "frieze with the extreme right" The words of Laurent Wauquiez provoked an outcry among many associations.The National Federation of reception and reintegration (Fnars) oppose a debate "corny and demagogic." "The cancer society is not the assistantship, but unemployment," replies the minister Uniopss, which includes the major associations of health and social sector. "The five hours of social work is proposed aimed at people who can work, but who first need a job, or to people who can not work and who need social support" , Bruno Grouès analysis, special advisor to the leadership of Uniopss. The national movement of the unemployed and precarious (FFDM) has accused the minister of "stigmatize an entire segment of the population." "This speech is dangerous," said Lawrence Berger, the national secretary to the CFDT.For the union, adding counterparts to take advantage of RSA is "suggest that the unemployed would be profiteers," while "these are people who are victims of the crisis and mass unemployment recurring."

Even indignation on the part of opposition parties. The Socialist Party first secretary Martine Aubry has denounced a draft "shameful." "To say that people who live on the RSA are people who have their arms dangling waiting and are very happy to be of assistance, it really does not know the reality of things," said she. PS The member of Essonne, Manuel Valls, criticizes proposals to "designate the unemployed, those who benefit from RSA as responsible as the perpetrators, as the scapegoats of the crisis."Jean-Luc Melenchon, co-chair of the Left Party, said he was "appalled" by these "measures absurd, cruel and unjust" that "aim to show people the finger" and "hunt down and say 'you want to do anything, lazy' . Communist MP for Marie-George Buffet, the government tries to "round up the electorate of the extreme right in pointing to the French who live on handouts". Judgments shared by François Hollande: "After stigmatized abroad and opened a debate on national identity, the government is now the weakest in the debate to get the votes of the Front National." Laurent Wauquiez moves to the right Marine Le Pen, "adds Cecile Duflot, national secretary of Ecology-The Greens Europe.

The FN reacted Monday, but not in the sense of Laurent Wauquiez."The French are not assisted! Crisis (child policy of Nicolas Sarkozy) and the current policy makes it essential to protect the state can make to the poorest, "writes in a statement Wallerand de Saint-Just, a member of the executive bureau of the party. While also indicating that the FN, he, would grant "more means-tested benefits to foreigners."

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More than two thirds of French people prefer the greater Euro

May 10, 2011 - 11:12 am Comments Off

The French are less Eurosceptic than the Germans. According to a poll by TNS-Sofres for the political foundation and published on Monday, 67% of respondents wish that France retains the euro, against 30% who would prefer to return to the franc. For comparison, a survey conducted a few months ago in Germany gave half of citizens in Germany favor a return to the Deutsche Mark, the currency dropped during the transition to the euro in 2002. More broadly, the French are rather attached to the European Union (EU). Only 13% of respondents expressed willingness in effect to leave. Results "surprising" to Secretary of State for Europe Laurent Wauquiez: "The French are more pro-European than we think," he responded on France Inter.

The French only lip though not the European Union on all fronts.Their trial against him is even more mixed: 30% of respondents, hope is the first feeling evoked by the EU for them. But for 29%, the disappointment! For some aspects, the EU is their protective: for three quarters of respondents, it ensures peace, and for more than half, it makes France more strong against the U payday loan lenders.S. and China. But in parallel, 60% of French believe that the term unemployment "corresponds to the EU, and for more than half, it accentuates the problem of immigration.

While the conditions of the plan of aid to Greece should be discussed again, the French are also mostly favorable for financial support to countries in difficulty, "even if this represents a cost to France." Only 39% believe that France did not pay for others.Overall, respondents call for a Europe of solidarity, more involved in the fight for employment, purchasing power and welfare. "The French are not skeptics, they just want Europe to change," concludes Laurent Wauquiez Monday.

* This survey was conducted for the Foundation for Political Innovation (Fondapol) from April 15 to 21 among a nationally representative sample of 1500 people aged 18 and over (quota method).