Archive for June, 2010

Google wants to change strategy in China

June 30, 2010 - 4:24 pm Comments Off

Google gave in Beijing. Given the refusal of China to see the California company to redirect its users to search the Hong Kong-American group, Google has decided to terminate the transfer, in order not to be censored by Beijing. "In the coming days, we will not fully returning all our Chinese clients to the new page," said David Drummond, Google's vice president, the official blog of the company. He added: "The Chinese government has made clear that this operation was unacceptable.

Without a license, Google will "cut off all contact with China"

David Drummond also explains the decision by the expiration of the license granted to Google to operate in mainland China. "If we continue to redirect users, our license PKI (Internet content provider, Ed) will not be renewed.Without this license PKI, we can not operate as a commercial site Google.cn. So Google would cut all contact with China. "

After the New York Times revealed in late April that the identification system Google has been attacked by hackers from China, relations between the California company and China have deteriorated markedly. In this context, it is not clear that Google sees his license renewed. And to complicate this relationship further, Beijing has promulgated a law that requires every provider of a mapping service to obtain a license to practice in China for fear of seeing his service to close.In other words, that Google Maps may be available in China, Google must obtain a license.

Regulation of European businesses worried

Like U.S. firms, their European counterparts also fear a tightening of laws against them over the next two years, according to a study by the European Chamber of Commerce in China released on Tuesday. 40% of respondents are concerned about a rise in discrimination against the foreign companies. According to the chairman of the House of Jacques Boisséson, in the case of environmental degradation, they may not choose to remain "absolutely." But about 80% of them are optimistic about growth prospects in China.Proof that it is the political aspect is concerned between the two parties.

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The CAC 40 ended the session in style

June 28, 2010 - 11:20 pm Comments Off

Hostile to a widespread tightening, the G20 has accepted this weekend in Toronto fiscal restraint to the map, depending on the country and spread over time, thus reassuring the markets. The countries have agreed to "reduce by at least halving the deficit by 2013, and stabilize or reduce the costs of public debt to GDP by 2016, without setting binding targets to states, leaving more freedom for everyone, to reduce public deficits without jeopardizing the still fragile economic recovery on both sides of the Atlantic.

In Paris while the CAC 40 has lost about 5% in just four sessions of sharp decline – 10.5% after winning nine consecutive sessions of gains – the hesitation gave way late in the session at a beautiful hike .The CAC 40 gained 1.61% at 3576.45 points.

The euro was down, circa 1750, at 1.2337 dollars (-0.40%), while the gold – even likely – is still dealing $ 1,250 (-0.29%).

A well-attended American Statistical

At the European Central Bank, the M3 money supply fell by 0.2% in May, and remains unchanged over the month. Credit to private sector in euro area gained 0.2% in May over one year, after increasing 0.1% the previous month, according to preliminary results announcement on Monday by the European Central Bank

On the macroeconomic front, U.S. consumer spending rose 0.2% after remaining flat in April, according to statistics released Monday by the Commerce Department. Economists and analysts polled by Reuters had forecast an average increase of 0.1%.

The household income has risen in parallel by 0.4% after rising 0.5% a month earlier.Real disposable income has increased it by 0.5% in May after rising 0.6% the previous month.

The savings rate of Americans has reached 4.0% against 3.8% in April, which represents an additional savings of 454.3 billion annual rate, the highest level since September.

The index of consumer prices PCE excluding food and energy, rose 1.3% over the last 12 months, the Commerce Department said, against 1.2% in April.

But the statistic most watched this week will be the number of applicants for overseas jobs, which will be released Friday, which should mark a break in trend, with new positions expected destruction.But a rebound in employment in the private sector is also expected on Friday to reassure the markets, analysts said Aurel Bgc.

The tax credit: disagreements

Priority of Paris and Berlin, the tax credit has received a cold reception in Toronto at the G20. Despite support from Washington and London, the final communique does not mention the tax lip as a legitimate option for banks to charge up the pieces of the crisis.

In contrast, three of Basel, the beginning of compromise seems to be emerging.The reform of financial regulation will be based primarily on strengthening capital standards imposed on banks, not the end of 2012 before.

On Monday just before noon, bank stocks are well oriented, but unequally: BNP Paribas stands out, gaining 2.48%, Societe Generale has assembled no more than 0.70% and 0.02% Credit Agricole.

Banques populaires Caisses d'Epargne According to information Wansquare, BPCE Foncia has decided to withdraw the sale. The preparation of a new law on directors and the rout of Urbania Group took account of the sale of the land.

Casino: -0.08% to 62.72 euros Jean-Charles Naouri, CEO of the group, delivered at Figaro's strategy to cope with a sluggish consumption in France, however, offset by continued momentum abroad.The boss has no plans to float Cdiscount and will focus more on small and medium format hypermarkets (6 000-8 000 square meters), rather than the hypermarkets.

Trigano will on Monday publish its turnover for the third quarter of fiscal offset. Shares rise 1.07% to 14.705 euros in mid-day.

Axa treats growth markets

June 26, 2010 - 10:28 pm Comments Off

Axa Thursday completed the sale of part of its UK business group Resolution. A transaction for the equivalent of 3.3 billion euros, reflecting an exceptional depreciation of 1.4 billion euros in the accounts of Axa. The company, however, remain profitable in the first half. Its CEO, Henri de Castries, puts this sale as part of the strategy group.

LE FIGARO. – You transfer some of your activities in Great Britain. Would you withdraw from the country?

Henri de Castries. – No, no way. It is not out of the United Kingdom but we concentrate, as in our other markets, segments on the most strategic and fastest growing.Therefore we give only a part of our life insurance in Britain: the activities of traditional life insurance, as we had also stopped developing in 2002 because they no longer matched the expectations of our customers while being highly capital consuming. However, we maintain a portfolio of more modern products, whose growth prospects seem high and where margins are more consistent with the group average which is between 15% and 20%. Moreover, the operation does not damage insurance, or health.With this transaction for 2.75 billion pounds (3.3 billion euros), we derive the capital that we can redeploy where customer needs are the greatest.

Is this a turning point in your strategy? And should we expect AXA on acquisitions in emerging markets?

The crisis has caused a market decline and a new distribution of growth areas. It has not changed the major principles of our strategy, instead. We'll continue developing our core businesses for damages, life insurance, asset management through organic growth and, opportunistically, through acquisitions. The developed markets still have good growth prospects, even if only from the effect of demographic changes, but we work in parallel on an allocation of our resources to emerging countries in Asia, of course, but not only.There are actually three other major areas of expansion: the Central and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean area and Latin America. In Asia, growth is actually attractive. But the modalities of development of foreign players are still complex, especially in China and India. So do not confine our ambitions to these two major markets.

In Asia, the failure of the attempted takeover by Prudential AIA offers does it generate new opportunities?

Prudential was willing to put a price on the table that seemed very exaggerated. Our priority in Asia today is to conclude the transaction on Axa Asia Pacific. Then we'll see …

In Europe, the prudential rules could push banks to divest their insurance subsidiaries. Axa is he interested?

We observe closely what is happening.But no movement of magnitude is possible – for Axa as with all other major players – as we are not clear about what will be the regulation of the bank and the insurance. Then we will examine the opportunities. But I prefer to say at the outset that we, the insurers will not be easy these suppliers of capital as some might hope. We are ready to balanced partnerships with banks. But the distribution network – in this case banking – should not count on us to collect commissions unreasonable.

What about your thoughts on the construction of a new business plan?

It is actually an ongoing process, but we do actually re-adjustment of our business plan in light of the crisis, which has changed the level of our market and changed their dynamics.The result of our thoughts on our new objectives will be known early next year.

How do you rate prudential reforms as they prepare?

Insurers who had managed to remain faithful to their trades have weathered to the crisis. No European player has needed to raise capital. We agree with the economic approach to Solvency II proposes that risk, but be careful to calibrate as insurers meet an essential mission: they are long term investors, thus stabilizing the natural system. Nobody has an interest in an excess of zeal on the part of the prudential regulator activity handicap players like us. Therefore, the new standards should not result in additional capital needs. More broadly, these reforms raise a fundamental question: Europeans' appetite for risk.This is a new phase of debate on the precautionary principle: there is too much caution can be harmful. In this case, it can cause no growth. It must strike the right balance.

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The World Cup effect boosts consumption

June 25, 2010 - 7:48 am Comments Off

The FIFA World Cup has made its small effect on consumption. With increasing sales of televisions, consumption rebounded in May to 0.7% after falling 1.3% in April, according to figures released Thursday by the INSEE. The category of "durable goods", which owns the TV, jumped 3.6% after falling 4.5% in April.

"Added to the fact the World was going" all digital "in Brittany and Pays de la Loire, which induces additional purchases of new TVs and Freeview decoders," said INSEE. On the other hand, auto sales have plunged, stabilizing in May (-0.1% against -9.6% in April).

Economists have ironed Tray

June 23, 2010 - 4:20 pm Comments Off

"After showing that the insertion in international trade can promote development, you will present the limits of this relationship." This has been the subject of the paper proposed ES tray on Tuesday morning. Here are the responses of specialists.

The Korean Experience, by Alexander Delaigue, economist and blogger Econoclaste

Protectionism? Good questions but wrong answers, by Nicolas Bouzou, economist at Asteris

Bilateral trade is threatening the dominance of developed countries, by Cyril LACHEVRE, editor of Le Figaro Economie

The fixed-type, by Sebastian Lamache, professor of economics and social Alencon

Korean Experience

Delaigue by Alexander, an economist and blogger Econoclaste

Hedge funds fall into line

June 22, 2010 - 1:20 pm Comments Off

In July? At the back? After much discussion, the regulation of hedge funds in Europe will soon be passed, and establish conditions to the funds placed in havens can be marketed on the Continent. But managers have taken the lead: many already abandoning the Cayman Islands and repatriate their funds in the European Union, Ireland and Luxembourg. Or even in France, as a dream to do Boussard & Gavaudan, which manages a large European hedge fund.

Many hedge funds were originally installed in the Cayman because it was one of the few countries to allow the managers the freedom of action they need. "But since then other countries like Ireland and Luxembourg have changed their laws and created vehicles that hedge funds can use.All hedge funds that we have been created recently in Luxembourg, "said Laurent Dupeyron, CEO of Olympia.

Many managers even go further and create ordinary mutual funds, subject to the same European regulations (UCIT III) than any ordinary fund. Management is a hedge fund, but not the status. This boosted some professionals. "In these funds, subscribers must be able to leave their money every fortnight. If the markets undergo a new liquidity crisis, it would be very difficult to achieve for managers, "says Emmanuel Boussard Boussard & Gavaudan president. But hedge funds have no choice. Investors are jostling as they used to invest their capital home."Today, especially in private banks, customers are interested in hedge fund performance, but want liquid funds and regulated," says one Axa IM. And as for hedge funds, the customer is king.

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Wall Street ended with a small increase

June 18, 2010 - 7:04 am Comments Off

Narrowly. Wall Street reaches the very end of the session to retrieve the ground lost during the day. Result: the Dow Jones closing on a slight increase from 0.24% to 10,434 points, the Nasdaq is 0.05% at 2307 points while the S & P gained 0.13% to 1116 points.

The markets have literally beaten to a few minutes left to return to the green. Before that, the entire session was marked by a gradual decline of the indices, itself caused by the publication of a round of disappointing macroeconomic indicators:

– Entries weekly unemployment rose in the United States during the week to June 12, at 472 000 460 000 against the previous week, according to the Department of Labor. Economists had expected jobless claims averaged 450,000. The entries of the week to June 5 were also revised up from an initial estimate of 456,000.

– Consumer prices in May have suffered their biggest drop since a year and a half under the ambit of the sharp drop in energy costs. The index of consumer prices adjusted for seasonal variations show a decline of 0.2%, the biggest drop since December 2008. Economists and analysts were predicting a similar decline after a decline of 0.1% in April.

– The current account deficit widened in the first quarter to 109 billion dollars, or 3% of GDP, compared to fourth quarter 2009. This is his third consecutive quarterly increase since the low of $ 84.4 billion in the second quarter of 2009, when the international commercial exchange had significantly contracted due to recession.

– The index of industrial activity in terms of the Federal Reserve of Philadelphia has emerged significantly weaker than expected in June and called for a fragile economic recovery in the United States. The index came in at 8 in June as against 20.9 expected and 21.4 in May The employment component falling in the negative, at -1.5 against 3.2 in May, the lowest since November 2009.

– The index of U.S. leading indicators registered a record high in May, according to the Conference Board, suggesting that the recovery of the U.S. economy will continue. The index rose 0.4% to 109.9, after having stagnated in April. Economists projected an increase of 0.5%.The index should continue to increase but more modestly in the coming months due to an unemployment rate still important.

Little comfort in Brussels

The markets were also attentive to the summit of European leaders in Brussels today. Following discussions, the French president Nicolas Sarkozy has sought to reassure markets about the financial health of Spain. Thus, any rescue plan would be the agenda, contrary to rumors markets.

European shares closed higher on a small, grim. The euro, however, is ironed for the first time since late May over the threshold of $ 1.24, to 1.2413 dollar to 18 hours.

AOL supervised

On the side of values, according to several American media, the internet group AOL (1.66% to 22.65 dollars) is about to give the social network Bebo to an investment fund, Criterion Capital Partners, a small fraction of the price he had paid to take it two years ago.

Always on the side of values, FedEx (-0.05% to 78.11 dollars) Wednesday reported a quarterly profit slightly above expectations.

Also note Apple (1.73% to 271.87 U.S. dollars) which said it had registered more than 600,000 bookings for the new version of the iPhone during the first day of marketing.

JM Smucker (6.58% to 61.55 dollars), a group specializing in food, has reported a turnover of 1.07 billion dollars for its fourth fiscal quarter and a Earnings per share (EPS) of $ 1.07 before exceptional items.

Pier 1 Imports (2.62% to 8.23 dollars) a manufacturer of furniture, for its part, reported an unexpected profit adjusted under its first fiscal quarter in favor of improving its sales business on a comparable basis and its margins.

The statutory retirement age raised to 62

June 16, 2010 - 4:56 pm Comments Off

"Aging can not around, we must assume," said Labour Minister Eric Woerth merced this morning, in the introduction to the presentation of its pension reform. A reform that the Minister of Labour wanted "responsible and fair", repeating the statements of the President of the Republic on Tuesday night. To restore the financial balance of PAYG pension scheme in 2018, the government provides multiple measures, including increasing the statutory age of retirement is the main. It should contribute to new revenue generated by 50%. In total, Bercy believes that the pension reform should help reduce the government deficit of 0.5 percentage points of GDP by 2013.

• The legal age of retirement is raised to 62 years: "It is the heart of our reform," said Eric Woerth Wednesday morning.Between 62 and 63 years, Nicolas Sarkozy has finally opted for the less radical change. But the pace of transition to the statutory retirement age will, however, at a pace faster than initially expected: four months per year from 1 July 2011, not three. In practice, people born in 1950 will be the last to be able to retire at age 60. Those born in 1951 will work up to 60 years and four months, those born in 1952 to 60 years and eight months, and so on until the generation born in 1956, for which the statutory retirement age to retirement will be set at 62 years. This implies that the reform will be implemented for everyone in 2018, not 2020. Meanwhile, the age of retirement which can reach a full pension will be increased from 65 to 67 years.A position that is both "reasonable and effective" given the increased life expectancy, argued Eric Woerth. Despite the reform, are on average three years longer to be passed in retirement because of life expectancy, he said. "If the contribution period should remain the only leverage new revenue, it would have to grow up to 47 years to get the same result.

• The contribution period will increase to 41 years and a quarter in 2013 and 41.5 years in 2020.

• The high income and capital income into play: as promised in mid-May by Nicolas Sarkozy, the easier will help shore up the unfunded pension system.

The tax households located in the top of the scale of tax on income will be taxed at 41% instead of 40%, in the name of a "solidarity contribution pension.342,000 tax households, or 1% of the population reporting more than 69,783 euros per share will be affected by this measure, which will not be included in the tax shield.

The capital income will be affected, in the form of a one point increase levies on sales and real estate. The tax credit on dividends received by shareholders should be deleted. The employer contribution will go on stock options on its side of 10-14%, saving 70 million euros, and the employee contribution from 2.5% to 8% payday loan online.

The beneficiaries of pensions hats will also implement a social contribution of 14%, which should bring 110 million euros.

In total, these measures will generate 3.7 billion in revenue.

• The hardship is taken into account: "The reform opens a new right," assured Eric Woerth. "60 years of age will retire worn by employees working." People whose health was damaged because of their working conditions (undergoing disability equal to or greater than 20% of the rent bénécifiant rofessional disease) may indeed leave at 60 with a retreat rate full, whatever their number of quarters. This year 10,000 people are expected to benefit from this new law.

Those who started working before age 18 may also retire between 58 and 60, in the condition that the statutory period of assessment over two years. In total, "over 60,000 people per year will not be affected by a departure at age 62, an unprecedented effort in Europe," argued Eric Woerth.

• The pension scheme of officials close to that of private, for estimated revenue of 4.4 billion. Officials will not be saved by postponing the statutory retirement age. The active groups (police, military …), which currently start at 50 or 55 years, will gradually raised the limit of two years. In contrast, employees of the special arrangements will be concerned that from 1 January 2017.The pension contribution rate on wages of employees, currently 7.85%, will also also gradually increased to match the term of private fixed at 10.55%. The calculation of pensions will instead retain the last six months, unlike the private sector.

• Promote the employment of older workers: "From 60 years, the participation rate of French is the lowest in Europe," lamented Eric Woerth. "The postponement of the age will increase the rate of mechanical activity." In order, however, the influx of seniors in the labor market does not result in an influx of additional unemployed, the Minister of Labour announced on Wednesday "an employment subsidy a year for the unemployed over 55.The development of mentoring remains another lever that the government wishes to promote.

• Improving women's pensions, farmers and unemployed: For maternity leave does further lower the mothers' pensions, the daily allowance paid during maternity leave will now be included in the earnings base for calculating pension. For farmers, the rules of the minimum pension will be reviewed, so that those who have contributed little to the minimum pension of 709 euros. As for the unemployed not receiving benefits, the number of terms validated by solidarity in order to prepare for retirement will now 4 to 6.

"Look at the presentation of the reform by Eric Woerth:

Obama committed to pay BP

June 15, 2010 - 12:24 am Comments Off

The White House is ready to do battle with BP. Pace in London who tries to minimize the diplomatic chill cast by the ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, Barack Obama is stepping up its action against the British group. The U.S. president, criticized for his handling of the spill will travel again on the coast, meeting with leaders of BP, and deliver a formal speech to the nation. Such a device intervention is rare. It reflects not only the seriousness of the situation but also the new turn of the screw that the U.S. government wants to give his handling of the disaster.

Thus, the Obama administration requires that the oil put under receivership on payment of its dividend. The goal is to create a fund to pay the damages claimed by the victims of the disaster.On Sunday, White House adviser David Axelrod said "BP has the resources to cover the damage and we will make sure they will do well." He said an independent management of the fund would ensure that the money will be paid on time.

Discussions in BP

The oil group did not show opposition to the creation of such a fund. The board will discuss on Monday at its weekly meeting. It will also define the issue of ownership policy group that should be announced July 27. According to the British press, the English major is preparing to announce a postponement of payment of dividend payable for the second quarter.

In addition, BP could lose control of its oil and natural gas in the U.S. and be allowed to have business with the federal government as a penalty.But that does not stop there. BP could also pay a fine of up to $ 8.6 billion under Oil Pollution Act.

Largest drop in the FTSE

This greater commitment of the Obama administration to want to pay BP is poorly perceived by investors. The track folds nearly 2.5% in morning London Stock Exchange and sign the biggest drop in the FTSE, which advances it by 0.5%. After sessions particularly volatile oil of the title had already sold nearly 10% last week. Since the beginning of the accident, the market value of BP was reduced by almost 44%.

London is helping BP

June 12, 2010 - 8:40 pm Comments Off

The United Kingdom is helping to champion its oil. British Prime Minister David Cameron and his finance minister George Osborne reiterated the importance of BP for English and American economies Friday. The group is under fire from critics across the Atlantic for his management of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

According to a spokesman for the Prime Minister, David Cameron, "said he was in everyone's interest that BP remains a financially strong and stable". Nearly 40% of shareholders are British-including 25% of pension funds, and 40% are also Americans. The support of London has boosted the share price BP, whose market capitalization has lost several billion dollars since the explosion of the platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The title BP ended the session Friday up 7.2% in London, and 3.63% in New York.

Less good news for shareholders, BP has decided to suspend the payment of dividends, the Times of London. "The board of directors met Monday to approve the temporary deferral of payment of dividends," writes the British daily. BP has not confirmed the information, but the Chief Executive, Tony Hayward, told the Wall Street Journal that he was considering not paying dividends.

David Cameron is to hold talks on the phone with Barack Obama on Saturday 17h. The exchange promises to be tense: the two leaders must stand firm against their public opinion. The first to defend a large national group, the second to refute accusations of inaction.

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