Archive for the ‘top news’ Category

November 27, 2011 - 8:00 pm Comments Off

They buy a mood, an art of French living, "says Bernard Reybier, CEO at the head of this company of 200 employees who made 35 million euros in turnover for the year 2010-2011 which 44% internationally.

In Dubai, walkers who stroll along the Marina or in Zabeel Park, will again enjoy a French furniture, made by Sineu Graff. In forty years of experience, including ten years abroad, this Alsatian company now operates in over thirty countries worldwide. "This allows us to work for export, is a strong positioning, products and solutions with high added value," says Vincent Schaller, president of Sineu Graff.

The design is an asset for export

This enthusiasm is also explained by a Francophile historical know-how and prestige associated with the French furniture.

If you have the right amount of money and can lay out a budget that adequately reduces your personal expenses, you can either reduce the amount of your fast loan or drop it altogether.

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.

October 25, 2011 - 11:22 pm Comments Off

Nothing more difficult than compare the mobile phone packages, when about twenty operators offer the market more than 1000 offers many and varied. Different durations of calls, time slots where access is unlimited, SMS or web access, including numbers, "bonus" included or not, with or without commitment, with or without a new phone … Le Figaro guides you through the jungle of offers.

• For the younger

The entry into the often marks the sixth acquisition (oh expected) of the first portable. For years college required a secure package, just to protect parents against any surprises. 30 minutes to one hour per month may be sufficient communication, especially as it is to call or be called by the parents.Young people who are not yet dependent, can be satisfied with a range of sms after school (between 17 hours and 21 hours). There is no need to take Internet access at this stage.

The proposal of Figaro: SFR Square Blocked Special under 18 € 14 per month for 30 minutes of calls (one hour of calls to numbers two parents) SMS Unlimited 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The alternative: Package Mini Secure Universal Mobile14, € 90 per month for 40 minutes of calls (30 minutes to two issues parents) unlimited SMS to 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

• For adolescents

The high school course involves changes in telephony. Your teen may retain a pass blocked, but more generous (1 hour or 1h30 call).It calls for unlimited SMS, including weekends, and not framed in a time slot.

The proposal of Figaro: Universal Mobile18, € 90 for 1 hour 24 h/24 appelsSMS unlimited to all opérateursSMS "apl me" unlimited to be reminded even when their credit is épuiséFull Music, Universal Music best hits of the moment Download free MP3

The alternative: Post Mobile19 € moisForfait Blocked by Loyalty 1 hour of calls sms

• For students

No more blocked packages, the grown children are now able to manage their own subscription.We spend 2 hours of calls, SMS (always) unlimited to the Internet and especially mobile music options.

The proposal of Figaro: SFR Square Connect Spotify heures34 € 2 per month, 2 hours of unlimited appelsappels 7 / 7 and 24 h/24 to three numbers to choose from all opérateursSMS illimitésInternet13 million shares of Spotify to listen to unlimited pay day loans.

The alternative: Origami Style heures36 2 € per month, 2 hours of appelsSMS, MMSWi-Fi Orange illimitésInternet and visual voicemail, e-mails (3G + speed, stuck at 500 Mb) unlimited shared with three of your friends calls, unlimited SMS between you all, a formula that provides access to premium music service Deezer

• For adults

Young adults entering the workforce want access to unlimited SMS but mobile internet and unlimited calls on evenings and weekends.

The proposal of Figaro: Bouygues Telecom Néo.4 heures34 2, € 90 per month for 2 hours of calls + unlimited calls in the evening from 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 to fixed and mobile operators all Web, e-mails, SMS and MMS unlimited 24 h/24 and 7 / 7

The alternative: Virgin Mobile Collector Divine 5 Package 2 free issues heures39, € 90 per month with 2 hours of unlimited communication moisSMS 24 h/24 and 7 / 7 to all e-mails and opérateursInternet unlimited 24 h/24 and 7 j/7L user also receives 5 numbers Unlimited calls to all operators with the Divine plan Collector

• For pro superactive

Superactive, between work and the demands of family life, it's time to move on to the iPhone to manage its e-mails, calls, locate themselves with GPS, download applications.It is best to have an iPhone plan.

The proposal of Figaro: Orange Origami Star for iPhone heures69 5 € per month for 5 hours of calls and unlimited calls from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 and the whole weekend to all mobile and fixed numbers métropolitains3 unlimited calls to all operators 7 / 7 and 24 h/24 in calls and SMS (unlimited shared between the three of you if they are Orange customers) SMS and MMS to all opérateursInternet + e-mails (including BlackBerry) unlimited 24 h/24 and 7 j/720 unlimited TV channels (3G + speed limit in excess of 2 GB per month)

The alternative: SFR Square 5 hours € 65 Web Unlimited 20 hours to 8 hours and weekend calls to all operators or operators all five numbers and unlimited 24 h/24 and 7 j/7SMS MMSInternet, e-mails illimitéL'usage Internet and e-mail is included in the formula up to 2 GB, beyond the flow is reduced.

When the cigarette break is deducted from the working time

October 5, 2011 - 1:51 am Comments Off

Must catch up behind his desk on time to smoke outside? The issue is being debated in France, where some companies and communities have adopted this measure. In general, they do not boast too much. Reportedly, the primary health insurance fund (CPAM) of Paris has adopted such a rule in several of its centers. Employees who smoke must go débadger when they leave the building and when they return to rebadge their office.

This measure applies from Monday all the officials of the Walloon region for which time is counted cigarette break in working time. "The rule is that when one leaves or enters the building that we register the clock," said Monday the spokesman of the regional government of Wallonia, Hugo Poliart. This measure, for 10,000 people, is being debated in Belgium."It's a stigma against smoking, says Xavier Lorent, an official of the Christian union CSC. Will be tomorrow worry someone will take a few minutes for a coffee break, or goes to the bathroom? ".

80 minutes a day outside his office

For now, no action or no generalization are planned in France. "I'm not shocked by what I encourage debate, says Professor Betrand Dautzenberg, president of the French Office for Smoking Prevention (OFT). This must be done on a company without marginalizing smokers: those who buy his paper leaves or sunbathe must also débadger. "

The OFT conducted a study in 2008 which emphasizes that smoking over 20 cigarettes a day can spend 80 minutes daily outside his office for his cigarette break time.

This study also emphasizes that the time spent on cigarettes has increased since the ban on smoking on the premises forcing employees to take the elevator and out to their business. "This type of measure denormalizes smoking, said Professor Bertrand Dautzenberg. Often, the attitude of the head is different vis-à-vis the cigarette break from his team if he is a smoker or not. This system of measurement of working time ends the convenience of the hierarchy. "

Debt: Beijing urges Europe to find a solution

October 1, 2011 - 1:59 pm Comments Off

Beijing puts pressure on the euro area. This Saturday, The People's Daily, the official organ of the Communist Party to power in China, called on European countries to act decisively to resolve the debt crisis that hits the old continent. "Europe is at a critical moment in its history. It must show great wisdom, great courage and great determination and take action. If the decision comes too late, some members of the euro area will leave "the daily warns.

Beijing, which was ready in early to invest more in Europe to diversify its three trillion dollars in reserves, could turn back if the situation does not improve quickly. "If Europe continues to dither, the situation can get worse. Foreigners who wish to help will not dare and the euro area will disintegrate.This would be a disaster for Europe and the world, "said the daily.

Nicolas Sarkozy will discuss with Angela Merkel

At the opening of Summer Davos Forum, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, however, had expressed his confidence in the euro zone leaders business card design. "China believes that the European economy can bounce back," he explained. Support has already been taken in Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Hungary.

Friday, Nicolas Sarkozy, who met Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, has again reaffirmed the determination of Paris and Berlin to support the country in which the probable default of most concern global investors. This last debate "in the coming days" with Angela Merkel of the rapid implementation of measures decided on July 21 to stabilize the euro area.For its part, Greece has called an extraordinary cabinet meeting of his government on Sunday.

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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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Speedy is preparing again to change hands

September 19, 2011 - 1:40 pm Comments Off

For employees of Speedy, the turbulence is not over. They thought that the actual sale in July, Kwik-Fit, Speedy UK parent company, Itochu in Japan ended the uncertainty born in October 2010 when the investment fund PAI Partners had announced its intention to sell the shares.

Itochu, however, was only interested in the activities of British and Dutch Kwik-Fit, and not by the French pioneer of the automotive fast, with 474 service centers and a turnover of 200 million euros. And as soon as August, the Japanese group has a mandate to sell this French branch. And things are going very fast, since according to our information, potential buyers must submit their bids on Wednesday 21 September.

Three candidates are in the running of the company, with 2500 employees. All three know the business.Jacques Le Foll plays continuity as it is the current president of Speedy. He wants to continue the strategy it has put in place when he took control of the group three years ago. With some success since Speedy returned to financial balance last year.

The second candidate also knows the house well. Gilles Chauveau's predecessor Jacques Le Foll at the head of Speedy. And he led the company for eighteen years. Its offer is supported by Butler Capital, an investment fund specializing in the mean values. The two leaders have very different personalities. And they cause internal reactions extremely trenches.

Option Green Light

Last candidate, Green Light, a direct competitor of Speedy. A reconciliation between the two companies is regularly mentioned.In 2007, Kwik-Fit had even launched a bid for the Green Light, but the fund Qualium, a subsidiary of Caisse des Depots, had finally won the day. A few months ago, tried to sell Qualium Green Light evoked the interest and some of PAI. The operation did however not made and the funds from the CDC now seems willing to invest to strengthen the position of the company.

In addition to price, the buyer will also put money in Speedy. PAI has indeed invested poorly in recent years. We must renovate the center, develop a communications policy more dynamic and intensify efforts in training. The profession is indeed changing. Historical benefits of Speedy-exhausts, brakes and shock absorbers, are declining because of their sustainable growing.The growth drivers, which already represent 60 to 65% of the activity, are to be found in more technical areas such as revising or air conditioning.

These investments must be decided and launched quickly or fall behind the competition. You should know who will be future leaders. This should go fast: Itochu is pressed and the case is expected to close before the end of the year.

States should they come to the rescue of banks?

September 12, 2011 - 7:32 am Comments Off

Every day that passes, especially when it is marked on Friday by a whammy on the stock market puts a little more pressure on banks. European states will they, as in 2008, help? No definite answer exists. For those who, at the head of the state, banks and central banks have a clear idea of ​​the seriousness of the situation do not speak or hold soothing speeches to not add to the crisis to the crisis. Those who are not business more freely evoke crisis scenarios. As Ségolène Royal, who on Saturday declared shamelessly that "banks are likely to reapply using the State (…) probably in the week."

• Why would banks they need public money?

Two potential pitfalls they face. The first is the complete drying of resources: banks need to borrow in the markets to finance their activities.But the debt crisis of state in Europe increasingly discourages lenders. The foreclosure market in which victims were successively facilities Greek, Irish and Portuguese, and Spanish and Italian, now seems to win the entire euro area. While the banks are adapting, borrowing more short term, "cutting" their positions to save their cash and, finally, by obtaining new money to the European Central Bank. But these solutions are not sustainable and some European banks now find themselves in a situation of great fragility of the front of the "liquidity".

The second threat to the banks, the losses they may have to cash because of the economic slowdown and the crisis of the State debts, the most immediate threat is that of the Greek debt.According to the German press, Berlin also preparing a plan to support public financial sector, activated in case of bankruptcy of Greece.

• All banks will they need help?

It is likely that some banks will need help. The challenge will be to contain the fire. In the current climate of stress, the announcement of a rescue may create a systemic crisis, investors no longer completing lend to any institution, investors preferring to withdraw their assets. In 2008, states had implemented plans with extensive, the mass drowning in the case of banks the most vulnerable payday loan. This time, large swarm may be against-productive because it gave credence to the thesis is prepared throughout the banking sector to a major shock on sovereign debt."As if the policies were sending a signal that they do not believe in their own measures" to rescue the eurozone, fell last week the boss of Deutsche Bank, Josef Ackermann.

• What form of aid could take?

For banks in need, the ideal would be to recapitalize private funds. In late July, two Greek banks have also announced a merger made possible by a cash injection … Qatar. But, with few exceptions, European states will be well on the front line. This poses two problems. The first is financial: some countries already weakened may be difficult to bring in bank balance sheets at times equivalent to their GDP. The solution could come from the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF). The European Agreement of 21 July – which is not yet approved by national parliaments – provided he can assume this mission.

The second issue is political: public opinion will they accept to "save" the banks again? "Only if they pay a lot more expensive that in 2008 the capital provided to them and the money they are paid," says a policy that "a justified rescue also new requirements for remuneration, renewal management and separation of activities. "

• French banks are they on the front line?

French banks, which had pretty well through the crisis of 2008-2009, are more turbulent than in 2011. Their expansion in Europe, particularly Greece and Italy, has become a weakness.They are also consuming enough liquidity in the markets for two reasons: their "universal" model makes significant players in investment banking and market structure of savings has offset it to the insurance life and mutual funds rather than bank balance sheets. To view added real or perceived weaknesses of each: a large dependence on market funding at Dexia, a reputation started and strong market positions at Societe Generale, a Greek subsidiary Crédit Agricole …

"A turnaround takes shape"

September 8, 2011 - 5:16 pm Comments Off

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New session down to the Paris Stock Exchange

September 7, 2011 - 12:32 am Comments Off

The Paris Bourse tries to back up the hill on Tuesday. The CAC 40, which began the day at the balance (-0.04% to 2998.29 points) climbed 0.73% in mid-session at 3021.58 points. Technical rebound but it did not last and one hour before the opening of Wall Street, the market revives loss: -0.75% to 2977.06 points. Moreover, stock markets are all in red with the exception of London (0.31%) and Zurich (3.70%). But the DAX in Frankfurt still loose 0.46% and 2.20% Milan.

Investors can not really come to their senses after the blow of yesterday who did fall by 4.73%, under 3000 points.The problems of sovereign debt, which resulted in all European markets falling and are still strongly back the Asian markets this morning, are at the heart of investor concerns.

Greece again centralizes all fears since the country's authorities and inspectors of the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank, have suspended talks to ten days. The two parties disagree on the reasons and extent of delays by Athens in reducing its budget deficit. This situation endangers the second rescue plan concocted by the European Union. Some analysts believe even now that the plan was stillborn."Greece has already slipped over new deficit targets," said Bruno Cavalier, as well, an economist at Oddo Securities.

Nervousness is also high, whereas the German Constitutional Court will make its decision Wednesday on the highly anticipated aid granted by Greece to Berlin and the establishment of a European emergency fund. Germany is the main creditor of Greece in the eurozone.

"It's a stampede"

Also in the issue of debt in the euro zone, Italy is suffering from a new crisis of confidence while accumulating doubts on its ability to curb its deficit despite the adoption of an austerity plan this summer.Finally, union sources said yesterday that the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero had recognized mid-August, the markets in crisis, that Spain was close to a "rescue" needed.

"It's the stampede, the free fall. Trust is the innermost and nobody does anything to reassure, "commented Xavier Villepion, sales of shares in Global Equities. "Investors have no reason now to invest in the equity markets," he says. "We are in a dynamic market similar to that of the fall of 2008, when prevailing psychosis triggered by the subprime crisis," said Patrick Jacq, bond strategist at BNP Paribas."Everybody goes in the same direction and fled to the German long-term bonds," he said.

"No recession in the U.S."

These problems of sovereign debt in addition to fears of a global recession while the health of U.S. economic worries. In this regard, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Tuesday that the United States was not threatened by a return to recession. "I do not think the United States and the world will fall into recession," he said.

The ISM "non-manufacturing" rose for the first time since May, 0.6 percentage points from July, reaching 53.3%, while the median forecast of analysts gave the down at 51.0%.

The European currency the euro was trying to rebound against the dollar on Tuesday, however briefly climbed back above the $ 1 cash advance loan.42 threshold.Eurostat also confirmed its first estimate of GDP growth in the euro area. It increased by only 0.2% from April to June after 0.8% in the first quarter.

The famous German ten-year Bund collects all the favor of investors and its yield, which moves in the opposite direction from price, fell to below 2%, unheard of.

Values ​​to follow

The bank still in the red

Bank stocks remained misguided in Paris and did not benefit from the rebound. BNP Paribas lost 0.91% to 31.02 euros, Crédit Agricole 1.83% to 5.74 euros, Natixis 0.51% to 2.55 euros and Societe Generale 0.64% to 20.12 euros.Some values ​​are more dependent on market conditions, however, fell under the head, the image of ArcelorMittal, which gained 1.84% in mid-session at 13.32 euros.

Audika: + 5.86% to 16.99 euros

The group released a net profit up 17.2% to 4.8 million in the first half, Audika has benefited from financial instruments, whose contribution represents about 400,000 euros.

Medica: + 4.51% to 12.74 euros

Medica said it had seven times its first-half profits to 20.7 million euros and raised its annual growth target of the activity of 15% to 17%.

NYSE Euronext: + 2.54% to 18.57 euros

The group announced a return to continuous trading, as of Thursday, September 8, a series of indicators of the Paris Bourse, the SBF 120, which was suspended on August 8 for technical reasons.

Casino: 0.51% to 55.56 euros

The retailer Almacenes Exito Colombia, 54.8% owned by the French group, has launched a capital increase of $ 1.4 billion (one billion) unveiled in late June.

Paris airport: + 0.52% to 55.79 euros

A consortium that includes ADP is one of the groups pre-qualified to take over the airports of Madrid and Barcelona, ​​said Monday the Spanish airport authority AENA.

Lagardère: + 2.25% to 19.73 euros

Arnaud Lagardere said the media group is considering a share buyback or payment of a dividend with the proceeds of the sale of the international magazine division.In an interview published Tuesday by the newspaper Les Echos, he also said that the withdrawal of the group of EADS will not happen until the release of the Airbus A350, the future long-haul European aircraft manufacturers.

Air France – KLM: + 3.31% to 6.14 euros

The group wants to save 700 to 800 million euros in additional savings and will also scale back its flight schedule.

GDF Suez: + 1.50% to 20.35 euros

The newspaper Les Echos, there will be no increase in gas rates for individuals on 1 October, the Regulatory Commission (CRE) does not provide a complete analysis of the tariff before the end of September.

Dry environment: -5.03% to 44.62 euros

The company said it was reviewing its goal of decreasing operating income (ROC) for 2011, it now expected around the level reached in 2010 after falling 2.7% in the first half.

During the day Tuesday, Sanofi will meet its strategy. Boiron Transgene and must publish their results for the second quarter.

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