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In 2009, net income of Amazon rose 40% to $ 902 million or $ 2.04 per share. The U.S. Internet provider has presented these figures Thursday after the close of Wall Street, at the same time it announced its net profit for the fourth quarter, which soared 71% over the same period a year earlier, and rising to $ 384 million, or $ 0.85 per share.

During the last three months of 2009, marked by the holiday shopping season, Amazon's sales jumped 42%. Its turnover in the fourth quarter then reached $ 9.52 billion, which is better than expected. Due to a favorable currency effect, sales in the fourth quarter rose more rapidly in international markets (ie markets UK, French, German, Japanese and Chinese, which together grew by 49%) on the northern markets American (36%).But the two geographical areas show a growth rate similar sales since the currency effect is offset, and equivalent volumes.

This dynamic sales at year-end allows Amazon to total $ 24.51 billion worth of sales throughout the year, or 28% more than in 2008 low fee payday loans .

The group attributes this performance to the success of its electronic book reader, the Kindle, released in a hundred countries. "Millions of people now have the Kindle, and those who have a Kindle read a lot. When we have two editions (print and digital), six editions we sell Kindle books for 10 paper, "said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.

On its forecast for first quarter 2010, Amazon is planning a sales growth of about 32 to 43%.Its quarterly revenue could be up to 7 billion dollars. Over the period, operating profit could rise by 13% to 50%, Amazon said.

The group finally warned that its Board of Directors has endorsed a program of share repurchases by the group, amounting to 2 billion dollars.

"IPad: strengths and weaknesses of the Apple tablet

Who will succeed? That is the question to 150 billion dollars – the value of its holding – that everyone asks about Warren Buffett, the guru of American finance, 79 years old, second wealthiest world. This week his company Berkshire Hathaway was appointed Member of the Board Stephen Burke, the number two U.S. cable operator Comcast, which just bought NBC Universal.

At 51, Burke will be part of the young guard of that noble assembly of twelve people, half of which has more than 70 years and four members over 80. It will sit alongside Bill Gates (54), a former head of Coca-Cola (whose capital is the largest shareholder), Donald Keough (83), Charles Munger (85), right arm Buffett and Howard Buffett, eldest son of the "Oracle of Omaha". The latter, who just turned 55, is a philanthropist, photographer and farmer in his spare time.It has been designated as future president of the board, which does not mean he would succeed his father as head of investment holding.

Found this gem is also the main task, according to Warren Buffett, the board of directors. "Nothing is more important: nobody can say where I'll be the day", he justified in an interview in March. At the general meeting of the company in May, he had been pressed by shareholders to disclose the name of a successor.

Stephen Burke, the newcomer, a veteran of Disney, "is an expert in the business, mindful of the interests of shareholders and very interested in Berkshire," Buffett said. He could follow his professional development has long been the father of Stephen, Daniel Burke, had been head of Capital Cities / ABC, a major investment success of Berkshire Hathaway in the 1990s."It's how to do everything Buffett family," said Jeff Matthews, author of a book on finance.

Year tormented

Still active, Warren Buffett has once again assign a block of shares in the credit rating agency Moody's, whose reputation has been tainted by the financial crisis, cutting its stake from 34% since June In early November, he was surprised by launching a takeover bid to $ 26 billion on rail freight company Brulington Northern Santa Fe has also recently invested in ExxonMobil, Nestlé and doubled its stake in Wal-Mart.

Investors scrutinize any decision papy finance to learn about the crisis. However, his company completed one years tormented.If it posted earnings much better than expected in the third quarter of $ 3.2 billion, three times more than the year before, she had begun the year in the red. Affected by the financial crisis, the group had experienced a loss of 1.5 billion dollars in the first quarter, came close a grim series of six quarters of decline. Over the year, the action Berkshire Hathaway has grown by only 2%.

The consumption of manufactured goods rose more households in November. After a 1% increase in October, the index has shown quasi-stable -0, 1%, according to figures from INSEE.

This figure was supported, as in previous months, by buying cars in significant increase of 4.2% in line with the trend observed since August. "The household benefit last months of premium breaks down before his scheduled first next January, said Insee.

In contrast, spending on equipment housing slows markedly, to 0.2%, against 2.1% in October. "If they keep their spending in electrical and electronic households have reduced their spending on furniture," said INSEE.

The week's floating balances authorized in November did not save the textiles and leather. Purchases fell 1.8% in November, two months after dynamic (+2.4% in October and 3% in September).

In 2009, INSEE expects a limited increase in consumption of 0.7%, after 0.9% in 2008. Consumption is the traditional engine of French growth and growing at a rate of 2 to 2.5% until 2007.

After hesitating, the CAC 40 fell in early afternoon after falling from the perspective of the debt of Spain. The flagship index of the Paris Stock Exchange closed down 0.74% at 3757 points, erasing some of its losses in the wake of Wall Street, which came in the green for a surprise cut stocks U.S. crude oil.

After degradation, yesterday, by the Fitch rating of the debt of Greece, the rating agency Standard and Poor's said Wednesday it lowered the outlook for Spain to "negative" cons "stable "Now his notes from" AA + ". S & P expects "GDP growth significantly lower fiscal deficits and persistent" for Spain.For 2010, the Spanish government expects the public deficit represented 8.1% of GDP.

The sharp downward revision of Japan's growth in the third quarter (+1.2% to +0.3%) also urges caution.

In the United States, the U.S. Treasury announced the extension until October 2010 bailout of banks (TARP), a budget line of $ 700 billion, passed in October 2008, which was also used to bail out the auto industry .

Summary of values

On the Cac 40, only five values are displayed in green. Unibail rose 0.99%, 0.30% EDF, Bouygues of 0.18%, Air Liquide of 0.10% and Suez Environment of 0.03%.EDF announced on Wednesday that it will participate in a tender for the construction of several nuclear reactors in Abu Dhabi, via a consortium with GDF Suez (+0.55%) which held the reins.

Alcatel-Lucent, Lagardere, Vallourec and Peugeot yield more than 2%. Axa closes walking and cowardly 3.98%. The meeting is also painful for ADP, down 3%. In a statement released Wednesday, ADP has lowered its performance outlook for 2010, now expecting to achieve an EBITDA of between 850 and 880 million euros, while the previously anticipated between 900 and 960 million .

EADS yields 1.02%. According to Les Echos, the group may be removed from the Galileo project for the benefit of HBO. This has indeed been selected for a first batch of 8 satellites in the 22 remaining building. For other lots, the European group will agree to make sacrifices.

Areva lost 4.44%.Its president, Yves Martin, will be at 11.30, a hearing on the international strategy of the nuclear group to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.

Mercialys fell by 2.73%. The group will enjoy the next change of SBF. The company created by casino will integrate the SBF 120 index after the close of the meeting of December 18.

Derichebourg gaining 3%. The group noted, under the 2008-2009 fiscal year with a current operating loss of 5.4 million. The second half ended September 30, earnings reached 25.2 million for a turnover down 43% to 2.4 billion euros.

Compagnie des Alpes (-0.66%) said Wednesday it had acquired 90% of the company operating the ski resort of Les Deux Alpes.46 million euros have been disbursed for this operation, conducted by a consortium of Compagnie des Alpes has 60%, Caisse des Depots 19%, the Banque Populaire des Alpes 12.6%, and Caisse d'Epargne Rhône Alpes 8.4%.

Restructure its debt and enter the stock market with a dual listing in Hong Kong and Paris. This was the program of Russian Rusal, the world's largest producer of aluminum this year. The first step has been completed on time.

Prior to renegotiation, the group's debt amounted to 16.8 billion dollars (for a 2008 turnover of 15.7 billion dollars). It was reduced to 14.9 billion dollars. The group has completed one of its primary goals: reduce cost.

In detail, the 7.4 billion driven by international creditors (including large French banks) will be settled in two stages. The first four years, Rusal make principal repayments on the basis of its available cash. Interest will be paid partly in cash and the balance will be funded.

Then, the remaining debt will be refinanced for an additional period of three years. A similar agreement was reached with the creditors of the Russian group, which are 2.1 billion of debt, the new rate of 8-9%.

A value of 30 billion dollars

RUSAL also signed an agreement with Onexim – a leading Russian investment fund – the creditor group to the tune of 2.7 billion. The fund has agreed to convert $ 1.82 billion in a 6% shareholding in Rusal. This therefore values the company at 30.3 billion dollars.

Finally, net debt, estimated at 5 billion by counting the future interest will be subject to periodic payments by the fourth quarter 2013. The group has already indicated that some funds raised on financial markets would be used to repay debt.About 5 billion would be spent.

Oleg Deripaska, Rusal CEO and principal shareholder, welcomed "a project of such size and complexity without precedent." It remains now to get the stock exchange's business under pain of seeing nationalized. And even the Russian state does not acquire a significant share of its capital.

However, the IPO of Rusal is far from being a plain sailing. The group plans to make its debut on the coast of Hong Kong before the end of the year. A calendar that may be difficult to hold. In 2007, Rusal was considered a listing in London before giving it up.

Air France would seek to lower its costs, including the medium-haul. According to The Tribune on Tuesday, the company would increase 15 to 20% the productivity of its flight personnel (pilots, flight attendants) to counter the stiff competition from airlines Low-cost flights and the TGV.

The newspaper said the number of flight hours performed by the pilots could spend an average of 565 per year to 650. They totaled 700 at Easyjet, Ryanair 900 and 850 hours at Transavia, low-cost subsidiary of Air France. The group would however have to review the collective agreements which run until 2011 for pilots and 2013 cabin crew.

The newspaper said that these figures were announced Friday by the Director General Bruno Matheu marketing at an internal meeting between the leadership and cadres of the group.However, management told AFP today that she "had never advanced figure Friday. However, "reform on the short and medium haul should be prior consultation with the aircrew," she added.