World News – International Headlines, Stories

The U.S. stock markets have remained on the defensive on Friday. At closing, the Dow Jones lost 0.21% to 11,233.68 points. The S & P 500 loose 0.26% to 1158.82 points. The Nasdaq Composite Index yield of 0.75% on its side 2441.58 points. U.S. financial markets were closed yesterday, while the country celebrated Thanksgiving. The day before, Wall Street finished in the red.

On this day of "Black Friday", the markets were open for half a session. This day, like every day after Thanksgiving, sounds the start of the race for Christmas gifts across the Atlantic. In this time of economic downturn, observers will be attentive to the behavior of U.S. consumers during this high mass consumption.

Tensions on the debt market

On the macroeconomic front there is no major indicator on the agenda.U.S. investors as their European counterparts, should focus on the developments of the debt crisis in the eurozone.

Tensions remain very strong in the market for government bonds. The performance of the Italian debt in two years reached a new peak since the creation of the euro, exceeding 8%, after an auction of short-term borrowings Italian who saw Rome used a record performance.

In the aftermath of mini-crisis summit between France, Germany and Italy, supposed to "support and ensure the sustainability of the euro", the concern persists. Operators complain German blockages on the tasks of the European Central Bank (ECB). France advocates a more determined it to buy the debt of troubled countries. Germany refuses outright. The issue of Eurobonds is at the center of the debate.

Many affordable individual health insurance products are available for practical and smart consumers of the modern period.

France now has 48 million subscribers with a package and 19 million users of prepaid cards, according to figures released Friday by the telecoms regulator (ARCEP), an increase of 6.4% over one year. Over 26 million users are free to change provider when they want, or 18.6% of the total stock. Good news for smaller competitors who continue to nibble MVNO market share. And especially to Free Mobile, which must soon land on the market and is currently negotiating with Sofinco (Credit Agricole) to sell mobile phones on credit.

"For voice, the overall quality of calls is good. The big trend this year is improving the flow for the mobile Internet, "says Joëlle Toledano, member of the ARCEP.

Tears and blood. After a "transition year" due to the hope of a recovery – finalementdouché by the sovereign debt crisis – and waiting for the presidential, the French will have to prepare for the worst. This is essentially what promise the combination of HR, Personnel & Company (E & P), in the 2011 vintage of his note of social conditions. "The scenario of the fall of 2012 may be highly deceptive and folders in the news, as detonators, regardless of the majority that won," predicts Jean-Pierre Basilian, the author.

For him, the implementation of a genuine policy of rigor, at the end of the presidential election, is no longer any doubt. "With the electoral process, the implementation of proposals on the table, the French will put their hopes for change in politics," he warns.But these expectations "may be disappointed" by the weight of economic realities. "It regardless of the majority that exit polls, austerity policies, fiscal restraint, increased direct and indirect taxes that lie ahead," says Jean-Pierre and Basilian, with the key "a challenging progressive "social shock absorbers, they have worked well during the crisis, appear outdated.

Chilling post-election

The question is whether more rigor to the sauce Greek or British, will become a reality in France. "In all dimensions of social protection, changes will need to be committed in the name of debt reduction, competitiveness of our economy and employment," swears E & P. The questions are rather on the acceptability of austerity policies developed low fee cash advance."At what point will the social cost he found unbearable, by which social groups?, Asks Jean-Pierre Basilian. Where will the divide? The foundation of social cohesion will break there? "If the worst is never certain, it is still really far away. Everything will depend in the end, according to the association, "the representation that citizens will be social justice" policy implementation "of the fair contribution of each social group efforts."

The shower post-election may be all the more ice that three major social issues are at the heart of the presidential debates. First employment, "the first concern of the French," associated with the competitiveness of the economy and a target of lower labor costs."The sharp slowdown in growth can have a negative effect on the rate of unemployment figures the next few months should not be good and may approach or exceed 10%," says the association. Second, youth employment and efficiency of the education system to find a solution to "lost to 18.0000" coming out every year of school without a diploma. And third, the preservation of a social protection floor. "For a taxation of contributions? A decrease joint benefits? "Asks E & P. "In any case, we will not avoid the issue of cost and financing," predicts Jean-Pierre Basilian.

ALSO READ:

"New austerity measures are not excluded

"Unemployment: The ILO describes a" traumatized generation "

The restaurant may have for their charges. As part of the review of legislation strengthening the rights, protection and consumer information, the National Assembly voted Monday to require an amendment to the professionals to reveal the freshness of their products. These should be systematically identified by an asterisk in the menus, instead of dishes made from frozen food, vacuum-based or canned.

Purpose of the maneuver: to promote "consumer health" and "quality of the restoration" of the tables of the Hexagon, said on its website Fernand Sire, UMP deputy from the Pyrenees-Orientales, which supported the text. For the elected "too many pubs and restaurants now offer the ready-made without anyone being informed," he told Le Parisien, Aujourd'hui en France.

Consomation specialist and director of Research Center for the Study and Observation of Living Conditions (Credoc), Pascale Hébel finds that the measure is likely to weigh on the business of many restaurants. "The French, especially the elderly, are very attached to the charge, and only a minority is aware of the place of the frozen" in their plates, she said. However, according to Roland Heguy, president of the Trades Union catering and hospitality (UMIH), "the 120,000 catering outlets in France, 20,000 are working with really fresh."

The frozen ostracized

Unlike the director of Credoc, Roland Heguy not worry unduly for the industry: "Unfortunately, he let go, people know they eat frozen food" restaurant. However, he deplored the "suddenness" of the measure, "the lack of dialogue" upstream.Above all, this roundabout way to banish the frozen, "which is not a poison," he insists. For him, "the problem is that there is no differentiation between the professionals who use industrial products, and those who are cooking their dishes with fresh ingredients, but sometimes the freeze" to avoid wasting .

If this argument will not necessarily appeal to health authorities, Roland Heguy also argues that a duty of freshness is already in the state label of "master restorer" created in 2007. "Until now, restaurants have won in 2000, knowing that we have agreed a target of 7500 by 2015," says the president of the UMIH.

To him, the copy is to be reviewed. A meeting of "consultation" has also been programmed with Frédérique Lefebvre.To the Secretary of State for consumption, it will be to "find ways" to implement a device "extremely innovative". For Pascale Hebel, communication about this will have a major impact for the sector. "Pragmatic", it believes that "we must not demonize the semi-prepared or frozen, as they democratize and improve their quality."

For professionals, it will shake to play knowing that the season will be difficult. Comprising 240 stores retail chains and restaurants, the federation Procosa sounded the alarm earlier this month, judging impossible mission to find his activity levels before the crisis next year. After a difficult summer, marked by a decline in sales of its members of more than 4%, the best table on a 1.5% increase for 2012. This amendment "anti-frozen" do not leave indifferent.

After completing the previous session on a positive note, the U.S. stock markets have once again closed up on Tuesday. The Dow Jones climbed 1.33% to 11,190.70 points and the Nasdaq 1.20% to 2546.83 points, investors welcoming the wishes expressed Europeans out of the debt crisis.

Since the beginning of the week, investors in Europe and the United States, is won over by a wave of optimism about the outcome of the crisis of sovereign debt. "The beginning of the week is placed under the sign of hope. Investors have decided to give credit to European policy makers and international willingness to find ways to resolve the sovereign debt crisis, "economists observe in Paris broker Aurel BGC. There are "high hopes that one is engaged in the right direction towards resolving the debt crisis in Europe," say experts on their side LBBW.Other analysts, however, want to caution. The strategists of the Crédit Mutuel-CIC believe that "the improvement should not last as rumors seem exaggerated. The expansion of EFSF does not solve the structural problems in Europe, while the challenge is there. "

The spokesperson of European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Olli Rehn, Europe is considering strengthening the capacity of the European support fund for countries in trouble (EFSF). Rumors press also reported a proposed quadrupling of the Fund's lending capacity to 2000 billion euros. In turn, an official of the ECB, the Austrian Ewald Nowotny, did not rule out declines in interest rates in the euro area.But soon, the German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble assured that Europeans had "no intention of bailing out" the EFSF.

Political leaders are still clearly divided on the responses to the debt crisis, while discussions on the payment of a new international loan to Greece, vital to enable it to avoid bankruptcy dragged on. At the same time discontent rises and Athens was again paralyzed Tuesday by a wave of strikes in public transport.

Oil opened up in New York

The euro was weakening on Tuesday to below $ 1.35. Mileu in the day, the euro stood at 1.3496 dollars, against 1.3523 dollars late Monday.He had fallen in session Monday to 1.3363 dollars, its lowest level since mid-January, prior to recover.

As for commodities, gold has recovered slightly this morning at 1640 dollars an ounce after declining over the last three sessions. Oil evolved soaring Tuesday at the opening in New York, driven by renewed optimism for the determination of the Europeans to resolve the debt crisis in the eurozone. On the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), a barrel of "light sweet crude" for November delivery traded at 82 high risk personal loans.64 dollars, up by $ 2.40 at the close on Monday night.

Good news also on the macroeconomic front, the sector still under close supervision of real estate. House prices in the United States remained stable in July compared with June, according to Case-Shiller survey released Tuesday by Standard and Poor's.The study, however, that over-year, declining home prices for sale widened in July to 4.1%, down less pronounced than the analysts thought.

As for values ​​to be followed on Tuesday:

As for values, Goldman Sachs (2.92% to 101.78 dollars) will intensify its restructuring efforts, after a disastrous third quarter, which could be one of the worst ever recorded by the U.S. investment bank since its IPO 12 years ago, says the New York Times.Goldman Sachs will be 1.2 billion to $ 1.45 billion savings goal of operation by mid-2012, the paper said on its website, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.

The mysterious tablet that the online retailer Amazon.com (-0.74% to 228.11 dollars) could present Wednesday promises to be a star among the products' high-tech "of the season, even the Seattle group has not yet revealed.Amazon Wednesday invited reporters to an event which he kept secret the subject, organized in a video production and music in Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan.

Motorola Solutions (1.20% to 42.30 dollars) would be within the scope of an investigation by U.S. authorities, according to the Wall Street Journal, concerning a possible corruption in the course of its business in Europe.

The Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto (0.93% to 46.53 dollars), listed on Wall Street, announced Tuesday it had increased to 49% its stake in Canada's Ivanhoe Mines, the upper limit is included in a agreement between the two groups that intend to operate an entire mine copper and gold in Mongolia.

ONEOK (2.64% to 67.22 dollars) announced expect to achieve a net profit of between 355 and 400 million in 2012, against 325 to 345,000,000 dollars in 2011.For its part, ONEOK Partners expects a net 740 to $ 800 million for the year 2012 against 630 to 660,000,000 for the year 2011, while natural gas volumes processed are expected to increase more than expected.

Also note, Standard & Poor's is within the scope of an investigation by the SEC, the U.S. stock market regulator, who questioned its rating of an issue of structured securities in 2007 just before the market collapse real estate, announced its parent company McGraw-Hill.

While the price war is raging in the mobile, the controversy swells at the end of unlimited Internet packages, the operators challenge the tender on licensing 4G, Eric Besson, Minister of Industry, responds to Figaro on all issues and criticizing the socialist project on digital.

LE FIGARO. – The bidding on licenses 4G is attacked. Will you give up?

Eric Besson. – The State Council will vote Wednesday. Expect. But thanks to this call for nominations, France will be part of the forefront of the mobile broadband Internet. The government is selling rare frequency of the highest quality, which all countries say they are strategic. We do this with the twin goals of coverage and stimulating competition, the benefit of consumers. Traders feared that a monopoly or duopoly is not recreated.But this call for applications is the first to include criteria as pro-competitive: the creation of four lots so that all current operators can expect to find their place, creating a criterion favoring offers to host virtual operators. We have gone as far as possible to encourage competition. But we also need strong operators, able to achieve very significant investment for years to come, both for the deployment of mobile broadband as that of the optical fiber.

How will you deal with interference of DTT by 4G?

As has always been the case in all countries of the world, a trader who buys frequencies is liable for any interference that they can generate. We assess that risk to less than 2% of households.To facilitate the processing of any such interference, the government will establish a single telephone number, with a small call center, so that individuals can report any such interference on their TV and get the linkage with operator responsible. This device will be funded by all operators at a rate of 2 million euros per year for five years.

You advocate for changing the standard of TNT. Chains bonus going to be frozen, and consumers will they have to buy a TV?

I am not campaigning for anything, and there will be no change in standard of TNT in the coming years. The French continue to receive 19 free channels and 10 pay channels of TNT, with no changes.What we're talking about is the next step, and new services to be launched in the coming years: new TV channels, personal mobile TV, 3D TV … The question is whether these new services will use the older DVB-T or the new DVB-T2 which allows to get 70% extra services. Chains on bonus, not the government that calls into question, but the European Commission, which initiated proceedings bad credit payday advance. It would be irresponsible to issue permits for them to be canceled two years later, and that the state is then ordered to pay $ 800 million to 1 billion euros in compensation.Let the president of the CSA put its proposal and the prime minister officiate.

Packages Unlimited Internet at home are at risk?

The unlimited plans are at the heart of the development of the digital economy and are not threatened, quite the contrary. New unlimited call plans appear almost every week. Some operators have started to consider to better segment their offer, which does by no means the end of the unlimited. With the development of very high speed, there will be even more unlimited in the months and years to come.

How do you protect consumers?

We have set up with the social tariff Frédéric Lefebvre mobile phone, which allows 40 minutes to communicate and send 40 SMS for less than 10 euros per month.We will implement in the coming days the social tariff of the Internet, or 20 euros per month for telephone and broadband Internet, plus 3 euros per month for a box. We will sign an initial agreement on September 13. The order that I issued on August 26 also includes important measures as the establishment of an impartial mediator to each operator, the requirement to obtain consent from consumers for the automatic sending of commercial messages or for the establishment of witnesses navigation.

What are the issues you organize inter-ministerial seminar on October 21?

This is progress in the implementation of the declaration of Deauville.Networks (both funding and security), protection of personal data and the fight against the digital divide will be on the agenda.

What do you think of socialist proposals on digital?

The project of the PS is archaic. It is based on a tax Internet access, known as "socially progressive". Internet access will be paid based on their income! The PS also wants to abolish Hadopi and create a global license. This proposal has been accepted anywhere in the world. This would be the end of copyright in the land of the cultural exception! The PS also provides for the creation of a single public operator for the deployment of high-speed fixed and mobile. He still has not understood that the introduction of competition was the key factor in broadband deployment and growth of the digital economy.

ALSO READ:

"Free attack frequencies 4G mobile

• oil wells in a state "in the coming days"

Oil may be back soon in Libya. The country should rehabilitate wells "in the coming days," announced the new oil minister, Ali Tarhouni, at a press conference in Tripoli. "The situation will not return immediately to normal, but almost," he added.

In Geneva, the World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a tender to supply 250,000 tons of gasoline provisional Libyan authorities to deal with the most urgent needs of the population after six months of civil war .

• Libya buys French wheat with frozen assets

The interim government in power in Libya has signed two contracts for the purchase of French wheat with assets released this month by France, according to sources close to the negotiations.The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs French announced in early August its intention to release $ 259 million to make available to the National Transition Council to rebuild the country after six months of civil war.

Each contract weighs at least 22 million to about 60,000 tonnes of wheat, a senior leader of the French grain trader Bellows, who signed one of the two contracts.

• A four-day ultimatum issued to supporters of Gaddafi

The rebel leader Libyan Tuesday sent an ultimatum expires Saturday supporters of Muammar Gaddafi in the last strongholds of the regime that they surrender, otherwise they would face military operations my credit score.

The head of the National Transitional Council (CNT), Abdeljalil Moustapha said that negotiations were underway with officials of those cities to try to secure their surrender without a fight. "This window of opportunity will expire at the end of the Eid al-Fitr. From Saturday, if a peaceful outcome is still not to the field, we can make a difference militarily, "said Abdeljalil. The launch of the final battle in Libya is "imminent", said the military spokesman of the rebellion Bani Omar Ahmed Benghazi in the east.

• Quiet on the front of Sirte, NATO continues its mission

The situation was calm on Tuesday morning on the front east of Sirte, Gaddafi's stronghold in central Libya. The rebels have increased by about ten kilometers and are line was about 40 km west of Ben Jawad beyond the hamlet of UMR Gandil.

Sirte Sunday has been caught between rebel forces, backed by NATO air strikes. The Atlantic alliance has reiterated its support Tuesday morning the insurgents, saying that his mission would continue "as long as the threat persists."

The CAC 40, which gained more than 2% over the last two sessions, could open up again this Thursday on the eve of the intervention (16 hours, Paris time) the President of the U.S. central bank, Ben Bernanke, which could signal further monetary easing to support the U.S. economy. Earlier, the U.S. government will plublié its second estimate of GDP figures for the second quarter. The growth rate of the world's largest economy in the spring, which had greatly disappointed a month ago, could then be revised down 0.2 percentage point to 1.1%.

Meanwhile, the stock market should continue to pick up a few points to be closer to the threshold of 3200 points.The session will be punctuated by two indicators are expected before the close of the Bourse de Paris: the index of consumer confidence but also the German weekly claims for unemployment benefits in the United States.

In France, unemployment figures and job seekers for the month of July will be published after-hours trading to 18 hours. Labour Minister, Xavier Bertrand, expects the unemployment figures "are wrong as were those of the previous two months."

Sharp decline in quarterly profit of Crédit Agricole

On the corporate side, the ball of the results continues.

Crédit Agricole has published a net profit down 10.6% to 339 million euros in the second quarter 2011, due to a charge of 640 million related to Greece.In addition, the group could spend 1.5 billion euros to recapitalize its subsidiaries in Southern Europe including the Greek bank Emporiki, according to the Letter of expansion without citing sources cash advance. half-year results of companies, including Credit Agricole and Edenred, the branch of Accor Services.

Edenred announced interim results and annual targets in line with analysts' expectations, the strong activity in Latin America continue to boost the profits of the group.

Cellectis has entered a development agreement and license with the American Recombinetics on "the creation of transgenic large animals" such as pigs, sheep or cattle.

Schneider announced his bid for Telvent Git SA expire 30 August instead of September 12.

Gemalto has reported a strong growth in its half-yearly sales, thanks to the strong growth of its secure transactions that are now the most profitable activity of the group.

Bureau Veritas announced adjusted net income up 10% to 164.2 million euros in the first half, operating margin declined 70 basis points to 16.0%, and confirmed predict a sharp increase in the number and business results in 2011.

Oil prices rise

Oil prices were up Thursday morning during electronic trading in Asia, in a market sensitive to the situation in Libya and cautious speech eagerly awaited the head of the U.S. central bank (Fed).In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October has appreciated by 14 cents to 85.30 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery took 21 cents to 110.36 dollars .

Last Friday, a small twenty senior analysts from the rating agency Standard & Poor's had noted in their agenda a top secret conference call. In fact, they were about to make history: the meeting focused on the debt rating of the United States. After several hours of deliberations, the leading world power has lost its prestigious AAA. Not a word has filtered out of the meeting.

Rating agencies cultivate secrecy around these appointments called "rating committees." The heart of their power: analysts will decide the fate of nations by voting financial, away from the public on the future of the country note. No list of participants has not been released. However, the assessment can set the tone to the market.Law and internal regulations require many investors to buy or sell some of their shares according to the decisions of the trio of major Anglo-Saxon agencies Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch.

The theory and practice

At the beginning of the procedure leading to the convening of a committee must be an event that could have an impact on the rating of a country, a new government or the publication of statistics. That's the theory. In practice, agencies are not locked in their ivory towers. "The noise of the markets or the hype, the phenomena of modes outside the agency also cause internal discussions that may cause the reopening of cases," says a former senior analyst at Moody's.

To prepare for a summit meeting, the analyst in charge of the target country meets members of the tax administration.Once or twice a year in general, often in a crisis. He did not have access to more information than large investors also regularly received by the authorities. Following a strict methodology and specific to each agency, he wrote a memo and draft a proposal for the "conf call." On the day, it will have to convince between 4 and 20 of his colleagues, a figure which varies depending on the size of the country but also … each holiday, a former gliding.

One man, one vote

One man, one vote: in principle, democratic rule prevails in rating committees. In practice, less glorious. Clan wars and other struggles for influence can disrupt the debate. As in any large company. "It can heat from analysts," says Pierre Cailleteau, ex-head of sovereign ratings at Moody's, now adviser at Lazard.For example, he says, "we were very divided about Greece last year. We had some very important debates internally. "Moody's, which was the first to lower the rating of Athens in 2009, then sharply deteriorated four notches, out of season.

In case of disagreement, how to find a majority? Standard & Poor's has found the solution: the committees are always in odd numbers. Then the strict methodology of the agency under discussion. And, theoretically, the great leader is there to calm things down. "In some cases, the director may have a strong grip on the committee," says Norbert Gaillard, specialist rating agencies *. Analysts may come under pressure, admits to spell Pierre Cailleteau: "We arrived during the session to ask an analyst to reconsider its vote, given the dominant position on the committee."Moody's, the bylaws stipulates, however, to limit the pressure, the lowest in the hierarchy and a vote in the first analyst to appeal a decision.

Subjective criteria

Still, the year-end bonus are set by the Area Manager, at Moody's in particular. The criteria are multiple, subjective: the variable compensation of an analyst depends on the work of presenting and representing the firm on the outside, the frequency of updating of countries covered, or the level of the analyst. "There are good and less good," says Pierre Cailleteau, which concluded: "It is I who stood out on bonuses." Moody's says

The former analyst, who left his practice in 2008, said: "The reports became confrontational, the atmosphere would grow over the independence of opinion. This is one reason I left. "And asks: "Given the importance given to them, is it not problematic that the agencies do not communicate about the independence of their analysts?"

In the end, the committee's decision is published, with an argument, in a press release. But no mention of voting results, the agencies do not want to reveal internal divisions. We do not know if the note of the United States has been lowered with a broad consensus. Or with a voice apart.

Agencies to staff shortages

"Agencies do not have the resources corresponding to the importance of financial regulations and investors give them-and they give themselves," lamented a former Moody's. Standard & Poor's, the largest agency in the world, the Wall Street Journal has only 70 to 80 analysts, juniors and seniors, covering 126 countries.Result, "every senior analyst is responsible for an average of 6 to 10 countries, shows the former analyst. When I was at the International Monetary Fund, an economist focused exclusively on one country. "

Same thing during visits to the Ministries of Finance of the State. Former Moody's drives the point home: "At the IMF, the missions are conducted on site by five and last 15 days. Moody's, we were two, and the visit lasted two to three days. "In Fitch's rating committees collect a minimum of four analysts. At most, 20 people participated, but it is very rare. Contacted by lefigaro.fr, Moody's would not say how many senior analysts it employs.

Rating agencies could afford to recruit: profitability is very high. Moody's expects a gross margin between 38 and 40% in 2011.The past year, Fitch was more than half of revenues (58%) and the Standard & Poor's to 43% on the only first three months of 2011.

* Norbert Gaillard is the author of "The rating agencies", Éditions La Découverte, 2010

ALSO READ:

"These men who note states

"GRAPHICS-The world as seen by the rating agencies

"The rating agencies decrypted

"Specially FILE – Depression, fear of debt

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.

ALSO READ:

"McDonald's in search of better farming practices

"McDonald's to conquer China