Archive for the ‘economy’ Category

Spain: economic course of the new Prime Minister

November 21, 2011 - 4:15 pm Comments Off

Employment, austerity and growth. The election program of the Popular Party (PP) is turned almost exclusively to the economy. Of six chapters, only the last two – and foreign policy institutions – are not related to the crisis in Spain.

Entitled "More company, better government," the program is inspired by a moderate liberalism and makes a message in the form of virtuous circle. A mantra repeated endlessly the conservative Mariano Rajoy, president of the Popular Party, which won an absolute majority in Sunday elections: change will generate trust, for growth and employment, which in turn will promote a return to financial balance.

Entrepreneurs appear to be the better off. Alone should benefit from tax cuts. For others, the austerity will be the rule.

November 11, 2011 - 9:40 pm Comments Off

At a silver lining. The great blunder of the rating agency S & P issued Thursday to its subscribers in error message suggesting that the note of France was degraded allowed to know the exact impact would have been the suppression agencies rating of the famous "AAA" from France. This information has been totally denied by the U.S. agency Standard & Poor's and the Financial Markets Authority (AMF) has launched an investigation, but the damage was done.

As such, it must be remembered that the S & P is not his first "mistake". In early August, when the deterioration in the rating of the United States, the agency had already deceived 2,000 billion in the calculation of the federal debt.

This lack of reliability of the agency does not affect the market reaction.Thursday, shortly after the dissemination of this false information to 3:57 p.m., the French rate on loans to ten years amounted to 3.46%, bringing the pay gap with German bonds of similar duration to a record 166 points percentage not seen since the creation of the euro.

Everyone to understand that France will soon be degraded

This Friday, at the opening transaction, rates eased around 3.36%, but markets have learned their lesson. In exchange, everyone understood that in case of deterioration in the rating of France, synonymous with loss of the "triple A", the rates of government bonds with ten years showed 3.46%, or 3 , 5%. This would mean that in this case, France would borrow twice from Germany!

The shock is harsh, but it is ultimately not so dramatic as that. A 3.46 or 3.5% borrowing conditions in France remain reasonable.

Officials: 51% turnout professional

October 23, 2011 - 12:30 am Comments Off

Barely more than one agent in two has passed. Participation in professional elections in state civil service fell 51% against 70% in previous elections. This dip can be explained by the Ministry of Education (more than half of voters), where the number of voters has plummeted to 38.5%. Participation has also maintained or slightly increased.

Several unions of education have questioned the electronic voting used for the first time. Besides errors "classic" in sending the professions of faith or the constitution of electoral lists – that private voting some candidates! – Bugs, especially complex and lengthy procedures have discouraged or computer agents prevented some from voting.The FSU, crumbling a bit, but still by far in the lead for Education (40.6%, double the UNSA and three times the CFDT and FOR), the judge "malfunctions" so many they constitute a "denial of social democracy." According to the CGT, "for 10% of the workforce, the conditions were not met in order to vote." Tens of thousands of voters have not received the code allowing them to vote.

Demobilization

"The elections were conducted generally without real difficulty," scans the Minister of Public Service, citing the use of "modern" and "environmentally responsible". François Sauvadet "rejects the word" failed ". Participation is also the result of the decision of each agent to vote or not. " The officers had "one week to decide," says one colleague in Education, Luc Chatel.Favor of electronic voting and … up, the CFDT and Unsa also note that if teachers are not mobilized, principals or administrative officers of Education have been more involved, as postal workers, while they also voted on the Internet. The vote for the first time, contract – which the unions have not always paid great attention – may also explain the poor performance against.

Mechanical consequence of the demobilization of troops of Education, FSU – so far the first union of all the public service of this state, but almost exclusively among teachers – see the gap is closing with its competitors low fee payday loans.It drops to 20.9% of the votes (19.1% including private school teachers under contract, for the first time integrated into the social dialogue bodies of the state).

The reformists up

His pursuers, rather than reformist protesters, progress: FOR 17.8% (16.2% with private school teachers), the UNSA with 16.7% (15.3%), with 12.6% CFDT (14.5%). Then come the CGT with 13.4% (12.8%), Partners with 6.5% (6.2%), CFE-CGC with 6.3% (5.8%) and the CFTC with 1, 6% (3.9%). FO heels and the FSU and even seems able to catch up. However, the CFTC could disappear from the list of allowed unions to negotiate and sign agreements for all the officials, failing sufficient score.

But these results should be taken with a grain of salt: more than 300 000 registered agents are still missing the call, about 2 million.Are integrated nor France Telecom nor the Department of Justice, who will vote Nov. 22. In the first case, it was always intended, in the second the vote was postponed at the last minute because they have been properly prepared.

They do not include either the results of the Ministries of Economy and Budget, who had not finished stripping, yesterday afternoon. What added a little more sense of improvisation and confusion. At some point – even among union leaders – questioned whether Bercy did not take pleasure in soap the plank at the Department of Civil Service, at the forefront of this election. In the week already, as the "flop" of participation seemed to indicate the climate was tense between 101 and 110 rue de Grenelle – seat of the Ministry of Public Service and that of the National Education.

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The successor to Tim Cook has a clear path

October 10, 2011 - 10:31 am Comments Off

Everything is planned for the next five years. Even the price performance has been limited, rising 0.9% yesterday afternoon in the U.S., despite the death of the Wizard of Apple. Steve Jobs had prepared his succession to the millimeter. Six weeks ago, he had entrusted the keys of the company to Tim Cook, his loyal second, which made the group very profitable. He even left a road map for future innovations. "I think the list of products is stopped for three to five years ahead," said Pierre Peladeau, vice president of consulting firm Booz & Co.

The iPhone is growing at a second screen and payment functions, to become a real game console and an electronic purse. Most importantly, Apple will continue in his way, his real trademark, oversimplify the use of machines which become, therefore, luxury goods, high-margin.The speech recognition system "Siri", presented this week for the iPhone 4S by Tim Cook, should get on Macintosh computers and iPods the most advanced. Recognition of movements and even that of the user, as is the case for the Microsoft Xbox 360, should be to integrate other functions in future products. Shelves, computers and phones all have a camera that could be used to identify its owner.

"The strategy of" multiple monitors "will continue", provides an employee cash advance no faxing. After the computer and the telephone, television and its contents will be the next land to conquer. All television programs around the world could be available on future Apple-branded TVs, thanks to icloud, the system of cloud computing.As was the case for music, applications, newspapers and books, television programs are distributed by Apple. The company would then play a role of reseller and could strengthen in the business of advertising.

Demanding

The road map is drawn, the organization and working methods are arrested, men of valor are in place, including "designer" Jonathan Ive, and the director of marketing Phil Schiller, who "knows so intimately the competitive products, "said Carolina Milanesi of Gartner. In addition, "Tim Cook is as demanding as Steve," provide the employees of Apple. It has the same attention to detail and perfection "that are hallmarks of the group." But without Apple embodied the soul of Steve Jobs, the group may he continue to impose its laws to the content owners? It is not safe.In addition, the future is not written competitors, especially Google's married to Motorola. These competing strategies could encourage Apple to change the line to follow. The future would become uncertain.

Driving without insurance is costly to the community

October 8, 2011 - 10:07 am Comments Off

Driving without insurance is not a "marginal phenomenon." Between 370,000 and 740,000 vehicles traveling in France are not insured, according to a report submitted to the Bercy Guarantee Fund compulsory insurance (FGAO), which compensates victims of road accidents when the person is not identified or assured. This represents 1-2% of the total circulation. "Signing a contract of insurance is the only approach someone who does not normally allowed to drive can not do," said François Werner, CEO of FGAO. Indeed, it is possible in France to buy and register a car without a permit, or else to borrow the car of a friend.

For several years, the trend is upward. Road Safety has noted, between 1999 and 2009, a 50% increase in the number of uninsured vehicles responsible for fatal accidents."This practice is approximately 78 million euros each year," said Francois Werner. "The burden falls on the insured who finance the fund with a contribution of 1.2% levied on insurance premiums, or about 2 euros per contract."

Device control incompletD'après the report, which aimed to establish a diagnosis on the degradation of Finance Guarantee Fund, 60% of the uninsured are between 18 and 35. Francois Werner are two categories of drivers are driving without insurance. The "sloppy" on the one hand, that knowingly or not missed steps to ensure their car. They have, for example, not paid their premiums or said buying a new vehicle. "The anti-social and dangerous" on the other hand, are those drivers who simply should not drive. These are people who have never had a license or whose license has been removed for serious and recurrent.In 40% of cases, the vehicles are not insured because of non-payment of premium, says the FGAO. Finally, two-wheelers are over-represented (5.1% of uninsured mopeds and motorcycles 3.1%).

"Very few drivers are aware of the risks they face while driving without insurance," says François Werner, pointing to "an almost non-existent awareness" and offers an auto insurance inadequate personal loans for people with bad credit. "Prices remain inaccessible to some audiences," especially young people. Finally, the Director General of FGAO believes that the repression of the phenomenon is "scattered and based on unreliable information." To overcome this weakness, the Guarantee Fund calls for the creation of a "central repository of files provided," he would manage.

This tool, already in place in several European countries, including Spain, Italy and the UK, would be powered by the file registrations (registration cards) and statements of insurance companies and brokers. A huge database which, in the overlapping information, detect uninsured vehicles without waiting for the fraud was discovered during a traffic stop or accident.

A tool "win-win"

This project could still face the fears of motorists on their privacy. The Director General of FGAO therefore emphasizes the fact that this mega-file does not include "any personal data" and would not be "marketable". It is hoped that consultation with stakeholders – insurers, consumer groups and governments – will start soon in order to establish the terms of this file.If this proposal were adopted, it would take about three years to implement.

For François Werner, the device is a win-win. "A 50% decrease in the number of uninsured vehicles could eventually provide the Fund a saving of 40 million euros. Above all, this central repository would be a valuable tool to prevent tragedies road, it would identify some reckless drivers and put them out of harm's way.. "

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The graduate recruitment up

September 29, 2011 - 6:39 am Comments Off

All news is not black now on the employment front. Especially for the 2010 graduates were more successful in entering the labor market as their alter ego of the two previous promotions. In any case, what emerges from the latest survey of "the employment situation of graduates' released Wednesday by the Association for the employment of cadres (Apec).

In spring 2011, eight months after graduation, just over seven in ten were in fact employed. Seven points higher than for graduates of 2009. In total, only 24% of them were still looking for their first job before the summer. "After two difficult years, the job market again smiling young graduates," says APEC and notes however that "the level observed in 2008 for the Class of 2007 (employment rate 77%) is not reached. "

Decline in job insecurity

Young engineers are, not surprisingly, those who have benefited most from the renewed welcome. Nearly eight in ten were employed, an increase of 14 percentage points from the previous promotion. The graduate business school and management are hardly worse off with an employment rate, also rose sharply (+ 11 points), 76%. Only university students are left behind with "only" 65% in employment (+ 6 points) and especially while three in ten were still seeking their first job.

The vast majority (81%) of those who have gained their first job was still in the spring, after searching for an average of two months, four against the previous year fast payday loans. 13% had changed employers and 6% switched unemployed at the end of their first professional experience.Line side, "services remain the outlet of two out of three graduates," says APEC, with a majority presence in education, training, health or social work, banking and insurance, or IT activities.

The industry, meanwhile, recruited as a young graduate in four, mainly in the automotive, food and pharmaceuticals.

The proportion of permanent employment, which fell in 2010, regained its 2009 level, 54% of contracts held. "This increase is accompanied by a sharp decline in precarious," especially among academics, Apec observed. As for the remuneration of employment, they are also rising again at 27,700 euros gross per year, respectively 400 and 700 euros more than the previous two years.The increase is particularly significant for young business school graduates (2700 + euros a year) as opposed to the university whose average annual income fell from 800 euros compared to 2009.

In the end, more than nine out of ten graduates said spring "satisfied" with their jobs, a level is still up from years of crisis.

These companies know that motivate their troops

September 26, 2011 - 11:07 pm Comments Off

The crisis has not only severely affected the French economy, it also severely impaired employee engagement vis-à-vis their business. In other words, their motivation, commitment, loyalty and loyalty.

Thus, according to a survey by Mercer to appear this morning and Le Figaro revealed economy, one in three employees think "seriously" to leave his company. They were one of only two in 2007. "This is a worrying situation for employers, as can be expected in the immediate departure of precious talent, which could increase if gradual economic recovery," said Eric Sarrazin, head of the investigation .

How to avoid this harmful? "The commitment of employees, major subject of ten years, wins.It is a reflection of the quality of management, "insists Didier Pitelet, founding president of Moons'Factory, a firm in corporate reputation. The initiatives implemented in Flo (Flo signs, Hippopotamus …), Bouygues Telecom and Bain & Company (consulting in strategy and management) demonstrated.

The 1200 participants of the Bain World Cup

"Apart from the second half of 2010, when a ray of sunshine appeared, we were and are still heavily affected by the crisis, admits Dominique Giraudier, chairman of Flo. In response, communication, and even over-communication is essential. "Since 2009, the group has set up a" chat ", where employees have direct contact with him. Since then, the regional directors have taken over.

Earlier this year, a survey to take the pulse of 5,900 employees was conducted. The results are flattering."The teams are highly motivated, strongly attached to the group, 98% proud to be part of. Spread over 300 restaurants, all of which are SMEs, they have a real need for information on our strategy, our vision for three to four years and how they fit into the picture. To give meaning to their daily commitment, meetings have been held in 2011, "said Dominique Giraudier.

Bouygues Telecom (9200 employees), the "staff perception surveys" are conducted every two years. The latest, 88% are "motivated", 95% are "proud" to work in the company and 86% are "confident" in its future. "We are in an area where innovation is the queen, the skills are constantly reevaluated, says HRD, Philippe Cuénot.Meanwhile, since our inception, fifteen years ago, we focused on training, internal mobility and balance between professional and personal life. We have succeeded in building a win-win relationship that meets our employees. "

In the group Bain & Company, the initiative is part of the base. Initially, a handful of football fans. Upon arrival, a major event organized by and for employees. In early September, in Paris, the 25th Bain World Cup has brought together 1200 participants (employees, consultants, partners …) from around the world. On the program: football, but also volleyball and a video contest. "As a result, franchise without aggressiveness, team concept, passion, pleasure, this event demonstrates the values ​​of our group," said John Hazan, Partner of the Paris office.Bernard Lequiller, also associated, added: "During the World Cup, there is no social barrier, communicating with each other. She is involved in the transmission of values ​​from one generation to the next. "

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Loans toxic Bartolone wants to charge banks

September 21, 2011 - 2:36 pm Comments Off

The bill for banks that have distributed toxic loans to local authorities may be salty. Claude Bartolone at war for three years against Dexia and its sister does not count because no release. PS MP who chairs the Assembly today a Commission of Inquiry on "risky financial products underwritten by local" has already federated number of public entities that have contracted loans toxic.

The President of the General Council of Seine-Saint-Denis since 2007 fought first for his department. Claude Bartolone has discovered that he had contracted in 2008, led by Communists, many loans have become toxic. Thus, a debt of 953 million euros, the joint may have to pay a premium of about $ 300 million over the next ten years because of toxic loans contracted between 1997 and 2008."The equivalent of building a school year," criticizes Claude Bartolone. "And that amount could be even higher," said the MP. In fact, some of the loans contracted by the municipality are indexed to the Swiss franc and interest rates can reach 50% depending on the evolution of the franc.

Most disturbing is that the department of Seine-Saint-Denis (93) is not alone in this. MP PS refers to "hospitals, small towns or communes, departments, ports such as port of Le Havre" and "communes of all political stripes like Saint Etienne, Rouen, Saint Maur or Saint Tropez."

According to Claude Bartolone, "the total amount of toxic loans granted to public entities be around 15 billion euros of which would be 5 billion of potential losses low interest rate personal loans."

"Banks can not not pay"

MP PS is clearly concerned the role of banks. He said "they are responsible for the explosive situation in the French subprime" where thousands of municipalities are now over-indebted. Indeed, it is satisfied that they have not fulfilled their code of ethics. "They had a duty to inform and how their customers customized uninitiated" or the quest for profit seems to have guided more banks. Thus, the President of the General Council 93 filed a complaint against Dexia, Depfa and Calyon (Credit Agricole). The court should rule in October. But even Claude Bartolone said that "banks can not avoid paying." The MP also believes that "the whole chain has failed." The state has not applied a circular on the prohibition of structured products and regulatory authorities have also failed in their duty.A helping hand of the state can not be excluded.

Otherwise, "the local authorities would be forced to raise local taxes, reduce investment and jobs." And technically if the failure of a local community is not possible, it can be put under the tutelage of the state as was the case of Angouleme, said the chosen PS.

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The Paris Bourse keeps morale in mid-session

September 17, 2011 - 10:56 am Comments Off

After a third round of chained up on Thursday, the CAC 40 is hesitant. In this Friday called "the four witches' mature futures in the U.S., which always increases volatility.

After opening up 1.21%, the benchmark index of the Paris Bourse is pressed into the red in the morning before showing a slight increase of 0.54% to 3062.14 points. Sign that markets are not completely reassured by the decision of the central bankers of the richest countries to mobilize to prevent the drying up of banks' liquidity in dollars. "There is no particular news. The market is perhaps a little profit after rising in recent days, "says Dov Adjedj, vendor shares at Aurel BGC.

In turn, other European financial centers are currently in the green: the Footsie-100 from the London Stock Exchange rose 0.84% ​​to 5382.27 points, the Dax in Frankfurt in 5570 to 1.14% , 82 points, but the Madrid Ibex-35 yields 0.17% at 8323.7 points while the FTSE Milan Mib rose 0.82% to 14,763.22 points.

Thursday night, the European Central Bank (ECB), the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of England, Swiss National Bank and the Bank of Japan reopened their facilities dollar loans to European institutions to three months, at their request . The decision was hailed by leading international institutions including the IMF, through its President Christine Lagarde: "This is a clear indication from the two largest euro area members of a economic point of view that Future of Greece is truly in the euro area.This appears to be strongly rooted in them both, "she said Thursday, referring to the Franco-German tandem. The same applies to the ECB: "We are all very closely 'united in one purpose,'" said Thursday Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the ECB.

A meeting of finance ministers in Poland

Still, brokers are concerned that this improvement was not part of the time. "The coordinated central bank takes the market on Friday," noted Toshiyuki Kanayama, broker at Monex, quoted by Dow Jones Newswires. But this does not solve the problem of the euro area should have a temporary effect. "And for him to echo, the Austrian Minister of Finance, Maria Fekter, has not ruled on Friday that a failure of Greece is a better alternative to a bailout too expensive."We should consider this alternative," she started.

Suddenly, all eyes have turned to Wroclaw in Poland, where there is a meeting of EU finance ministers on Greece. It should last two days and overcome the remaining obstacles to the implementation of the second aid plan in Athens decided July 21 to avoid a bankruptcy of the country. Note that Timothy Geithneir, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, will attend the round table. Two press conferences are scheduled this Friday at 24:00 and 17:30.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro bought 1.3798 dollars, down 0.61%. Similarly, oil prices down slightly popped, a barrel of "light sweet crude" earned 5 cents to 89.33 dollars."This liquidity will likely prevent the recession to hit the euro area, supporting crude oil prices," said Victoire Shum, an analyst at Purvin and Gertz in Singapore.

On the macroeconomic front, the euro area recorded an external trade surplus 4.3 billion euros in July against 4.7 billion a year earlier, according to first estimates released Friday by the EU statistics office Eurostat .

In France, business start-ups in France rebounded in August after two months of decline. A total of 41,697 companies were created last month, according to Insee, a figure up 7.5% from July, which was the worst month for a year and a half.

In Germany, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today that German GDP growth would be "closer to 3% than 2.5%" this year.This statement comes as concerns about the impact of cooling of the global economy on the German economy, heavily dependent on exports, are more vivid.

United States, the net capital flows and the index of consumer confidence from the University of Michigan will be published early in the afternoon.

Values ​​to follow

Banking

After the decision by central banks to help European banks, the banks were moving in a disorganized mid-session: Societe Generale (2.40% to 18.77 euros), Credit Agricole (-0.05% to 5 , 52 euros) and BNP Paribas (-1.61% to 30.01 euros)

Air France-KLM (1.39% to 6.14 euros) and EADS (-0.88 to 22.06 euros)

The manufacturer will control 50 devices equally between European manufacturers Airbus and Boeing, for a total of $ 11.3 billion (8.1 billion euros) to ensure the renewal of its fleet, say Les Echos to be published Friday.

Hermes (-7.10% to 249.25 euros)

Resumption of trading on Friday for the title of the luxury group, which was suspended the day pending the decision of the Court of Appeal in Paris on speculation about the fate of its capital due to a possible takeover bid by LVMH.

Areva (-1.62% to 20.66 euros)

The group has suspended two months for the production of two French factories processing of uranium due to the decline in demand for nuclear power plants in Japan after the disaster in Fukushima, officials said Thursday from the French nuclear group.

EDF (3.34% to 21.33 euros)

Group and Electrical Delmi A2A and its majority shareholder, who jointly control Edison, announced the extension of their shareholder agreement until October 31 at number two in the Italian electricity.

Numericable breaks the price of the Internet at 4 euros per month

September 13, 2011 - 7:32 pm Comments Off

Numericable goes on the offensive. The cable operator will propose on Tuesday a new offer "triple play" (Internet, TV and phone) at competitive rates of 4 per month. This provides a high-speed of 2 megabytes (box included), access to 19 television channels and DTT 4 DTT channels in high definition, and a phone line to be called or to join emergency numbers, says Jerome Yomtov, general secretary of Numericable.

In total, 10 million cable households Numericable in France are concerned, knowing that this offer has already been tested to 400,000 of them. However, an individual can not support it on its own. Since this offer is "building managers and local communities" as well as trustees for the condominiums, said Jerome Yomtov."We sign contracts with social landlords, which reflected the 4 euros on charges of their renters or we respond to invitations to tender to local authorities, which we pay in proportion to the number of inhabitants," explains Secretary General.

According to Jerome Yomtov, the use of collective subscriptions would drastically reduce costs. "We will have only one bill to send to the community or the landlord," he argues. Confident, he says the group will sign on Thursday including a contract with the municipality of Sagnieu-Colombier, in the Rhone, with 2300 inhabitants.

A round table in Bercy

However, nothing says that communities will not raise taxes to offset this cost.On this point, Jerome Yomtov was evasive, citing for example the "rail investment, for regional trains" that some of them do not pass on their constituents. But in the clear, "they do what they want," he concludes.

According to information of Paris on Tuesday, Numericable and this offer is at a round table of telecom operators and Internet service providers under the same day at Bercy. Eric Besson, Minister of Industry, they must submit an agreement setting up a social tariff of the Internet (for people touching the RSA), they are free to offer or not. Then accept the heels "operator" whose name has not yet been revealed.Still, the rate envisaged by the agreement (23 euros, 3 euros for the rental of the box) remains much higher than that of Numericable, even if the services requested by the government are more complete.

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