World News – International Headlines, Stories

So that opens Monday at the Mobile World Congress, high mass annual telecom, Barcelona, major European operators go on the offensive. "The alarm clock rang operators. We now have a clear vision of the challenges faced by our model. We are determined to go on the offensive, "says Stéphane Richard, CEO of France Telecom, Le Figaro.

The "G5", this informal club which meets the five major European operators (Orange, Vodafone, Telefonica, Telecom Italia and Deutsche Telekom), met this morning in Barcelona. First concern is the increasing traffic by 18 on the fixed and mobile networks within four years the network congestion threatens. To avoid saturation, operators have to invest heavily … and fully intend to share the bill with those who are the primary beneficiaries: YouTube, Google and others."For years, compensate operators naturally flows exchanged between them is the system of peering. What they sent about what they were getting compensated. But this system has experienced since the flows are completely unbalanced for two years due to the explosion of video. Some players who are behind the explosion of traffic must be willing to help finance the investments needed to route this traffic, "insists Stephen Richard.

Another concern is the lack of competition in the shops of applications. "Competition in telecom has always been seen by Brussels in terms of infrastructure and networks. Today, there is another reality: the arrival of new players like Google and Apple, "says Stéphane Richard.And example is the Read & Go application, developed by Orange and various publishers, behind Apple to allow on its online store. "This practice is acceptable?" Interrogates Stéphane Richard. It will meet in Brussels.

Netting on 4G

The five major operators should also announce a better coordination on mobile contactless or NFC, with a launch expected this year. "Contactless will bring out new services and our customers. They can use their mobile as a payment card, such as ticketing, such as badges for access to buildings or as a transportation tag. Orange aims NFC 500,000 customers by the end of the year in France and the integration causes many of these new services without contact from the SIM card. The market is ripe now, "says Stéphane Richard.Orange is also announcing today an agreement with Samsung for the upcoming European launch of a new NFC-enabled mobile.

The CEO of France Telecom is very proactive on the fourth generation of mobile, "it is inevitable that changes to the 4G. Orange is ready to participate in the tender in France. What bothers me is neither the timing nor the principle of a high reserve price (the government wants to recover 2 billion of licenses to be issued in France in the summer, Ed), but problem is to increase the stress on operators when they are asked to invest heavily. Operators will face a fourth operator in a mature market, "he says.

And the beautiful game operator to point the proliferation of taxes, the latest being the recovery of VAT."In crude, we had a lot of termination, but this represents a net lost few customers. Because the vast majority of customers who cancel a subscription at Orange resume here. In any case, those who still thought that there was insufficient competition in the market were able to verify the bitterness of the fight, "says Stéphane Richard.

ALSO READ:

"Salon de Barcelona rush phones and tablets 4G

Better than an official statement, an absence confirmed on Friday the Berlin waving speculation since Wednesday. The head of the Bundesbank, Axel Weber, was omitted from the Economic and Financial Advisory Franco-German gathering in Berlin, the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble and his French counterpart, Christine Lagarde.

Since announcing his candidacy to the surprise withdrawal of the European Central Bank (ECB), which has overtaken Angela Merkel, the media do not broadcast in unison more than a single image: that of a man sweating big drops … As if the events of recent days had revealed a personality nerves too fragile to guide the euro out of the storm.

Axel Weber was called on Friday afternoon at another appointment, at the Chancellery in the presence of the Minister of Finance. It was for the Chancellor to push him toward the exit as quickly as possible.The president of the German central bank will leave office April 30, for "personal reasons". "His successor will be announced during next week," says a statement from the Chancellor very dry, which contains no shorthand praising the work of the President of the Bundesbank.

Jens Weidmann, 42, economic adviser to the Chancellor, who defends, as Weber, a monetary policy ultrarigoureuse, is the favorite to succeed him as "Buba".

Weber announced Tuesday night at his colleagues in the Executive Board of the Bundesbank, he renounced his ambitions to the ECB.He lamented a lack of clear support from the Chancellor in recent months, while his candidacy aroused opposition from several countries including France because of its monetary conservatism.

Liberals pledge to

For Berlin, put this former professor of economics at the helm of the ECB, was to guarantee the stability of the euro and thank you without a fight against inflation, which remains for the Germans absolute evil since the Great Depression of 1923. Within the coalition government, the appointment of Weber allowed to give pledges to liberal FDP and temper their opposition to an enlargement of the European financial stabilization (FESF). Now, Merkel may be forced to be even more intransigent on the issue of deficits to satisfy his allies in the FDP."This is a severe blow to Angela Merkel and a disavowal with respect to its European policy, has accused the leader of the opposition Social Democrats in the Bundestag, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Merkel now finds itself extremely impoverished. "Germany has little money makers with the right profile" to take the reins of the ECB, the daily economic Handelsblat t. The name of Klaus Regling, president of FESF, is often cited, but he has no experience of central banking. He's chief economist Juergen Stark also the ECB, but his candidacy would raise legal problems because he is a member of the Executive Board of the ECB.Friday, at the end of the economic council, Schäuble said that Berlin had never insisted that there be a German candidate for the presidency of the ECB …

Berlin could be forced to support the president of the Central Bank of Luxembourg, Yves Mersch, or the Bank of Finland, Erkki Liikanen, to bar the way to the Italian, Mario Draghi, a former Goldman Sachs. For his part, Weber saw that the media already succeeding Joseph Ackermann, the head of Deutsche Bank, could be forced to review its ambitions. The tenors of the CDU and FDP "advise" the biggest German private bank hiring Weber, considered "unstable."For its part, the opposition called for a "waiting period" of three years before the former president of the central bank can take the direction of a private bank that was responsible for overseeing.

ALSO READ:

"A multitude of candidates to become guardian of the euro

Speed astern for U.S. equity markets. The indices are clearly stalled after the TV overseas, including financial, broadcast live images of demonstrations in Egypt. "This aversion to risk due to escalation in Egypt, and fears that the situation could spread to other countries in the region," said Peter Cardillo, Avalon Partners.

Around 18:30, the Dow Jones lost 1.18% to 11,848.60 points, the S & P 500 1280.84 1.44% to loose points and the Nasdaq dropped 2.35% to 26,890.61 points.

As a result, oil prices leapt more than 4% in New York at 89.25 dollars

USA: disappointing growth, consumer sentiment up

On the macroeconomic front, investors first learned of the first estimate of U.S. GDP in the fourth quarter.The U.S. economy grew by 3.2% in the fourth quarter, much lower than expected, but this increase was sufficient to allow the U.S. GDP of 2.9% gain in 2010 and thus fill its losses the crisis, according to official figures published Friday.

And yet the U.S. consumer morale has improved end of January compared to the beginning of the month, hopes for improvement in terms of growth and employment eclipsing concerns about rising costs of food and gasoline, according to the confidence index released Friday by Reuters / University of Michigan. The index finally settled at 74.2 for the month of January, against an initial estimate 72.7 and 74.5 in December.Economists were expecting a index to 73.2.

On the currency side, the dollar regained ground against the euro by mid-afternoon in Paris, the single currency was trading at 1.3688 dollar.

Ford stock drops

Corporate side, the ball of results announcements of fourth quarter continues, including Chevron Corp. and Ford Motor Co and Honeywell.

Ford: -9.45% to 17.01 dollars

Ford just announced a 2010 profit more than doubled to 6.6 billion. But earnings per share fourth quarter was $ 0.05 against 0.25 a year ago due to a charge of $ 960 million related to the completion of a conversion of debt. The turnover of the 4th quarter reached $ 32.5 billion.The consensus was $ 0.48 for earnings per share and 30.39 billion dollars.

Honeywell International, 0.23% to 56.05 dollars

Honeywell International announced, meanwhile, increased its profits for the fourth quarter of 2010 and raised its forecast for 2011 due to higher demand for products produced by all its units. The industrial group posted a net profit of 369 million over the period, or $ 0 free 3-in-1 credit report.47 per share, against 150 million ($ 0.20 per share) a year ago. Honeywell raised its forecast of 10 cents earnings per share for 2011, now seen in the range 3.60 to $ 3.80.

Chevron: -0.90% to 93.90 dollars

As for Chevron, the group recorded a 81% increase in earnings in 2010 to 19.1 billion.

Amazon.com: -7.25% to 171.07 dollars

The e-commerce giant Amazon.com for its part should be very guarded on Friday, after posting yesterday after market close, the results showing strong sales but margins disappointing. All indicators are green on the year-end sales on the Internet and the action of the group posted an increase of 50% yoy and 4% on the previous day, before the publication of results that the have reduced by 9.4% in electronic trading after closing. The group announced a profit of $ 416 million, or 91 cents per share against 384 million last year. Sales are up 36% to 12.95 billion dollars. That's their strongest growth since 2000.

Microsoft: -2.39% to 28.18 dollars

Microsoft surprised everyone involved on Thursday night, unveiling its results 15 minutes before the close of Wall Street.Results marked by the success of Office 2010 and KINECTS, but disappointing sales of Windows 7. This gives the arrival of mixed results. Profits are down 5% to 6.63 billion, or 77 cents per share against 68 cents expected. Turnover was up 5% at $ 19.95 billion against $ 19.2 billion expected by analysts.

Sara Lee: -1.02% to 17.46 dollars

On the other hand, the American group of FMCG Sara Leevi clarify this Friday's market strategy, after having rejected, according to press reports, two tender offers. Sara Lee has invited investors and journalists to participate in a conference call at 15:00 Paris time.Inform the direction of its "strategic initiatives" and its outlook for the year end.

In addition, LinkedIn, the social network for professionals, announced Thursday his intention to go public in 2011, an operation that should measure the appetite of investors for a possible listing on Facebook. This is the first social network to enter the stock market and on Wall Street. But the market is expected to mainly derive an omen for Facebook, the world leader in the industry, whose value is estimated at 50 billion dollars (36.5 billion euros), and other websites may make their entry offering, or as Zynga Groupon.

Congress has cooled the financial markets in the afternoon and the U.S. central bank disappointed them in the evening. At the close, the Dow Jones earns only 0.07% to 11,985.40, the S & P 500 rose 0.42% à1296, 63 points and the Nasdaq ahead by 0.74% to 2739.50 points.

The side indicators, crude oil inventories rose 4.84 million barrels to 340.57 million. Economists on average had expected a rise of 1.2 million barrels.

Sales of new homes fell 14% in 2010 to their lowest level since 1963 at least, with 321,000 transactions, according to official figures released Wednesday in Washington.The ministry said that sales of new homes jumped 17.5% in December compared to November (when adjusted for seasonal variations).

After the close of Wall Street, the U.S. central bank reiterated its caution about the U.S. recovery and thereby its share repurchase program of state assets.

New burst results

On the foreign exchange market, the euro was changing close to balance, on Wednesday afternoon. In the evening, the euro bought 1.3695 dollars against 1.3682 dollars late Tuesday, after the dollar rose to 1.3722 in the morning, a new high since November 22.

The side of values, Wall Street investors were expecting a new burst of results. United Technologies (-0.37% to 81.43 dollars), Xerox (-7.63% to 10.53 dollars), Boeing (-3.07% to 70.02 dollars), ConocoPhillips (2.62% to 69.25 dollars) were in the program.Also note, the Macworld San Francisco grand annual gathering of fans of the U paydayloans.S. computer group Apple to open its doors today and will run until January 29.

Yahoo!: -2.79% to 15.57 dollars

Always on the side of values, the U.S. internet group Yahoo! posted Tuesday a net profit doubled for both the year and for the fourth quarter, but with a turnover of patina, displayed down 2% for 2010 and still looks disappointing the first quarter. The annual net profit appears to 1.231 billion, while quarterly earnings totaled $ 312 million.The turnover 2010 was, however, slipped 2% to 6.324 billion dollars, with a particularly sharp fall in late: -12% to 1.525 billion dollars.

Boeing: -3.07% to 70.02 dollars

For its part, Airbus said Tuesday that the final report of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on U.S. aid to Boeing will demonstrate that its competitor has received substantial aid illegal and said that Europe could claiming $ 45 billion in compensation.

Juniper Networks: 6.41% to 37.05 dollars

The telecom equipment maker Juniper Networks has announced a profit of $ 190.2 million, slightly below expectations. The group's turnover is 1.19 billion dollars against 1.13 billion dollars expected by consensus.The operating margin was 24.5% against 24.1% in the third quarter.

Wal-Mart: 0.10% to 57.32 dollars

China has sentenced several distribution groups, including Wal-Mart fined for having lied about the price of their papers, said Wednesday the instance of economic planning.

The solar industry is in turmoil. On December 9, professionals taking short, the government declared a three-month moratorium on photovoltaic systems. In other words, all projects – other than small panels for individuals – are frozen. The measure follows the successive falls of subsidized tariff and tax incentives designed to burst the "bubble".

"The Prime Minister wanted to develop new rules of the game to progress without inflation," said Eric Besson, Minister of Industry, responsible for energy. For his part, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, Minister of Ecology, co-pilot consultation exercise with industry. The new framework was announced in mid-February.

At Bercy, actors, SMEs and energy giants, are involved in consultation meetings, with more or less good grace as their respective interests."Everything is played or nearly so, the services of the department have already prepared the ground well. We are moving towards a minimum service, including a further reduction in tariffs, "said one participant.

Daniel Bour, president of Sunnco GC, messages from the administration are daunting: "To suggest as the basis for the future a maximum of 500 megawatts (MW) connected annually in France, while in 2010 almost 700 MW were connected, is amazing. In Germany, more than 7000 MW have been connected by 2010, a ratio of 1 to 10. "

The solar sector ahead in unity. More than eighty companies, grouped under the banner of the association without borders ecology, chose confrontation judiciary.The State Council must consider today an application for annulment which is to suspend the effects of the decree, said Mr. Alexander Faro, lawyer of Ecology without borders. Particularly affected, the retroactive nature of the text that sometimes froze the projects undertaken over the past two years payday loan lenders.

Whatever the legal consequences of this episode, many in the industry does not seek to discuss the phenomenon of overheating. "The industry has experienced abuses, sometimes wacky projects driven by the only hunting for grants. This wave will stop, says Stanley Nahon, director in the consulting firm Booz & Company. Meanwhile, smaller players, the weakest will disappear.Large, declaring that they accommodate themselves to lower subsidies of 10% to 15%, already anticipating this concentration. "Some SMEs are pointing the finger EDF New Energies whose dominance could, they fear, allow remain the only survivor.

Electricity bill

Ed despite the difficulties, the industry will at least enjoy the dialogue to halt attacks considered systematic. Beginning with the rise in electricity prices that would be due to the growth of photovoltaics: "At most, the entire cost of solar energy production in late 2010 represents less than 1% of the electricity bill paid by consumers, "says Daniel Bour.About the argument for the invasion of Chinese solar panels, the boss of SunncoGC argues that "the development of power plants in France has actually started two years ago." In other words, it takes a minimum of time, volume and visibility to develop this industrial sector.

"Right now, solar is viable in any country in the world: everyone should have this in mind, says Stanley Nahon. But unlike others, France has been slow to react to market overcapacity, marked both by falling prices of panels and the high amount of subsidies. "

ALSO READ:

"The photovoltaic-attack against the Council of State

The government suspends aid to photovoltaics

"Dialogue on photovoltaics

Covered with snow after the storm that hit on Sunday evening on the northeast coast of the United States, Wall Street, should open slightly lower on Monday, while the new rate hike Chinese, reached this weekend end, invites investors to a certain caution. Shortly before the opening of U.S. stock markets, index futures strandard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 respectively and retreated 0.25% to 1249.9 points and 0.06% at 2229.25 points. The Dow Jones was approached for its share declined from 0.22% to 11,497 points.

No statistics on the agenda macroeconomic Monday, which should encourage investors to focus on the surprise hike in interest rates in China and, therefore, to mope. In fact, in principle, the operators do not respond well to a rise in interest rates.A reaction of defiance that could also be temporarily increased, during this holiday season digs. Indeed, low volume and volatility room can promote excessive reactions. Difficult to know whether, in this context, the few active investors will pay attention to news companies. Remains that 2010 has been a great year bone pourWall Street.

Viacom sells Harmonix and action is supported by Cisco Barron's

Despite the snow, wind and cold stores that had reopened Sunday after the closure of Christmas never empty, to the delight of retailers. However, cancellations of flights and trains, especially from Europe, have multiplied over the weekend. Many flights of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, canceled Sunday were rescheduled for Monday no credit check payday loans.Air Canada for its part warned that many flights might be canceled or delayed in the Atlantic regions of the country.

Viacom should also be enclosed. Indeed, the media giant sold the U.S. studio Harmonix, creator of the licenses of music video games Guitar Hero and Rock Band, Columbus Nova, an investment company. The third quarter of 2010, Harmonix has recorded losses of about $ 300 million against a modest profit over the same period last year. Viacom bought Harmonix in 2006 to 175 million dollars. Harmonix takes note of this decision and looks forward to once again become independent.

As for Cisco Systems, barometer of the technology sector, its action would be undervalued and should increase by at least one-third from current levels, according to Barron's.In its Saturday edition, the U.S. financial weekly said that if Cisco is approaching its long-term growth in sales, and the stock should rise at least at its peak in 2007, $ 27 . Barron's said that investors had factored into the course "too much skepticism about the prospects for Cisco. Action Cisco closed last Thursday to 19.69 dollars.

Finally, the U.S. bank Goldman Sachs has decided to link the payment of his bonus to long term performance "of its executives. Salaries and bonuses could reach a record level on Wall Street for 2010.

A system where the employer hires employees based on their needs. All very normal in the business world. This is also what is trying to establish the government in the high administration, removing the classification output of the ENA. The project is as simple as it seems and arouses strong resistance – for evidence, it was launched by Nicolas Sarkozy three years ago! But a further step was taken with a Senate vote on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.

So far, students from the Ecole nationale d'administration choose their assignment at the end of their schooling, according to their scores. The bodies of remunerative and prestigious as the Inspectorate of Finance, the Audit Office or the State Council, are favored by ENA graduates out into the "boot", that is to say in the lead."A competition spent 25 years directing a professional life," lamented the head of state in early 2008.

The former ministers Eric Woerth and Andre Santini launched the file. A decree establishing a new procedure has been drafted. But in examining the State Council said that the law provided an explicit allocation based on the classification output of the ENA for … the young magistrates of the State Council. An order may violate a law, while the site was blocked. The bill Warsmann simplification of the law under consideration in the Senate, gave an opportunity to remove this obstacle. That's what the senators come to … more than a year after members! And the process is not complete since it takes a second reading.

"A committee of transparency"

The future allocation system, the government now to see applied in 2012, "is in all our reforms on the careers of officials: Replacement of the notation for the assessment interviews, validating experience, removing age limits cash advance no fax… "said Secretary of State for Public Service, Georges Tron. Young énarques indicate the positions that interest them. Governments express their preferences on the candidates after reviewing CVs and interviews conducted anonymous collegially. Given these factors, a "transparency commission" – by Jean-Pierre Jouyet, technocrat, Inspector of Finance and Chairman of the Financial Markets Authority, which devised this procedure – decide assignments.Everything is supposed to allow a match between the skills and desires of candidates and the needs of the state.

This complex system must address the concerns of nepotism, "pistonage" or political patronage. Ranking is indeed perceived by its supporters as the guarantor of equal opportunities, ensuring that merit alone leads to better jobs. "Yes, it is a system incongruous, but it is an incongruity that we have 150 to build!, Pleads Arnaud Teyssier, president of the Alumni Association of the ENA. Governments are not businesses, because they are subject to policies. Their boss, the minister. The risk is that the most prestigious body n'accueillent the brightest but most Parisians, the most militant, who have the best address book. "Proponents of reform will see these concerns as" corporatism "of great body.

Hermes left his reserve Sunday night. Following the surprise announcement of an equity investment of 14 to 17% of its capital by the world leader in luxury, LVMH, the maker of the famous Kelly bags and silk scarves announced that its family shareholders is, with nearly three-quarters of the capital, a large majority and is "perfectly united."

As a reminder, 72% stake in Hermes is owned by 60 heirs of the founder's family. The management states that its status as a partnership limited by shares permitted to guarantee its independence and ensures that "no plan to sell significant capital" is considered.

Statements that are consistent with those of LVMH.The industry leader, which owns brands such as Vuitton, Givenchy and Kenzo, said Saturday, upon the announcement of his entry into the capital of Hermes, not wanting to take control of famous saddler but wanting to be a " long-term shareholder "and" help preserve the family character and French, which is behind the worldwide success of this iconic brand. "

The operation is now the largest shareholder of LVMH individual Hermes. This operation comes as the market questioned the group's future, especially since the death in May of his former charismatic leader Jean-Louis Dumas.

The action Hermes jumped nearly 90% since January, and treated Friday night at closing 176.20 euros, valuing the company the sum of staggering 18.6 billion euros, or 46 times earnings expected this year, against 21 on average in the luxury sector and 11 companies lambda.

ALSO READ:

"Hermes sales jump in the first half of 2010

The luxury fully overheating

The results of Hermes fly in the first half

Crisis, recovery, recession? Car manufacturers have decided not to ask. Not at the Paris Motor Show 2010 in all cases. "You have seen this change? revels an OEM. The stands are bigger, more beautiful, even the ceiling to the air above. And yes, manufacturers have shied away from anything. If, in speeches, the spotlight is made for electric vehicles on the trays, it is mostly sports coupes and SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicle or RV) flashes that attract photographers from around the tent, however entier.Citroën combine the two with her on Volt concept car sports a 100% electric.

The cars appeal to as much as hostesses.If there has been two years, brands have modestly decided to dress the mannequins, the girls are back east, "especially among Italians," said a colleague also obviously very aware of the issue. Alfa Romeo pulled out the big game: fast cars and beautiful women. Fiat is decorated with a playful, just to recall that its cars are primarily urban, but they can ride in the country … and hostesses attract visitors, more than two robots stand assemblers Ford. Their ballet probably much interest children in the early days the general public – from Saturday – it captivates photographers.

At Renault, Carlos Ghosn we had more discreet, revives his stage entrances so "rock star", loud music and big screens for the press conference, broadcast on a giant screen in front of a Japanese press again enamored.Music question, BMW and Mini have completely installed rock bands on their stands. And since the celebration. And many marshals its forces to press the big parties tonight. After one very noticeable Jaguar last night, they say, the competition is launched.

Born in Germany, graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Knight of the French Legion of Honor … and now the new CEO of U.S. computer group Hewlett-Packard. Leo Apotheker is not there by chance. Human networks, speaking five languages, he sits on the board of Schneider Electric and the NGO PlaNet Finance.

But above his twenty years of experience in the German software maker SAP, which earned him across the Atlantic and take the head of Hewlett-Packard (HP). "Leo is a strategic thinker with a passion for technology, extensive international experience and proven operational discipline, what we look for in a CEO," said Robert Ryan, chief executive of the independent board of directors of the group said in a statement.Leo Apotheker "advance the transformation of our industry and enjoys a unique position to help us accelerate the implementation of the strategy for HP," he added.

A surprise appointment

After the resignation, two months ago, Mark Hurd accused of harassment, HP does not take long to find its new CEO. But the announcement of the arrival of Leo Apotheker, who succeeded against internal candidates, has surprised investors and analysts.

They questioned its ability to handle the giant, even though his performance as CEO of SAP, which he occupied from April 2008 to February 2010, were not evidence free business cards.

In 2009, the turnover of SAP fell by 9% to $ 3.2 billion, while its main competitor, Oracle announced a growth in its market share.In January 2009, under the direction of Leo Apotheker, the German publisher of software has also fired 3,000 (6% of workforce). But analyst Peter Golmacher Cowen and Co, responsibilities are shared. "He has a bad reputation because he was given the helm of the Titanic five minutes after it hit the iceberg," he quips. But his departure in February 2010 does not only penalizes its performance. His communication within the group played a large part in his ouster.

Apart from its management, its an experience of 57 year old man who is called into question. "SAP is a very different company from HP, which is what concerns me," said Kim Caughey, analyst at Fort Pitt Capital. What does he know about computers? That is the question. "

The Stock Exchange, it has already responded.The stock has dropped more than 3% before finishing the shoot down 1.08% while the Dow Jones closing down by 0.44%.