Archive for the ‘opinions’ Category

SFR launches cheaper packages, but no phone

June 6, 2011 - 11:08 pm Comments Off

SFR launched Tuesday its new line of mobile phone plans. With two major innovations. On the one hand, the possibility of a subscription without changing phone. In return, the package price would drop, drop up to 35% or 45%. An operation by which shock SFR is preparing for the arrival of Free, who has promised to halve the bill of a mobile home.

It is also a break with current trends in the mobile consumer, where the majority of subscribers are systematically changing phone – even if they still works – as soon as they leave for a new package of 12 or 24 months. Environmentally unfriendly habit while recycling is cumbersome to organize and costly for operators heavily subsidize the purchase of the phone.

The operators seem determined to break this vicious circle."Until now, subscribers have paid for urban subscribers of fields, those who do not change their mobile paid for those who changed all the time. Today, someone who does not change his mobile will pay less, "said Frank Cadoret, managing director of consumer and professional SFR La Chaîne Techno. Numericable and La Poste, which both come to embark in Mobile, made the telephone subsidy packages without the spearhead of its strategy to offer aggressive pricing packages paperless payday loans.

Bill Lefebvre

One way to take the lead for several months while the regulator (Arcep) wants to clarify the grant of the mobile.And it is also an objective of the Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs, Frédéric Lefebvre, who introduced his bill on consumer protection, on 1 June

The question remains whether consumers will be seduced, while, in turn, device manufacturers continue to offer ever more innovative models, adding 4G, 3D, contactless payment technology and other discovery.

Another new SFR must formalize its agreement with the online music site Spotify announced in Le Figaro (our editions of May 14). Like with Deezer Orange, SFR will offer several packages including mobile phones with unlimited Spotify. One way to consider another major change current practice: the decline of the voice and the booming exchanges of data, whether text messages, emails, web, video or music files.

The Portuguese caught in the spiral of debt

June 3, 2011 - 1:24 am Comments Off

On Thursday morning, Veronica has resigned to go through the door of Deco, the charity for families in debt. "To keep a little dignity and do not lose your head," the young woman slips, looking weary. At age 41, mother of a boy of 7 years, Veronica is unemployed, as her husband who had to close its microenterprise. Riddled with debt, the couple has any income to EUR 400 for unemployment benefits, for 2500 euros in charges refund! They have no less than ten credits on the arms: property, auto, personal, card purchase … not to mention the liability of the company, social security arrears and income tax. Today, Veronica sees no alternative but to initiate insolvency proceedings. "To start over, she hopes.All our goods will be confiscated, it will be under supervision of a director for five years, but then finished the debts, they will be erased. "

A little behind, hidden behind thick glasses, square Pedro feverishly bothers her phone number. If using Deco is an attempt to renegotiate two loans: a consumer loan of 8500 euros contracted with Cofidis and a mortgage of 15,000 euros to the Central Fund deposits that could not pay despite the sale of his house in August 2010."I look forward to rescheduling or pay only the interest, time to recover."

The difficulties for this young professor began after the dismissal of his wife in 2009 and in January he has lost 200 euros from his salary, the first result of government austerity measures, so that today his income does not exceed 1,500 euros, to pay a rent of 650 euros, ongoing expenses and academic studies of her two children. "We can not do it. It has sought help from family, but it's hard for everyone, the quadra confesses. For the first time in my life, I went to the food bank. "

Examples such as Pedro or Veronica, the association received more than twenty per day, not counting the numerous letters bad credit unsecured personal loans.They are between 30 and 45, they are engineers, professors, lawyers, employees … a simple high school education or higher, an average income of 1,500 euros, an average of five credits in their passive but often much more. In 2010, Deco has received 17,372 applications, twice more than in 2008, owing much to job loss.

Cumulative effect

Natalia Nunes, head of the division of debt, also denounced the irresponsibility of financial institutions, which for years have opened the floodgates of credit, facilitated by attractive interest rates, but also households who, " lack of financial education, have left illusions. "The illusion with the entry into the European Union is to have grown to become a rich country. Credit is very recent in Portugal, it dates from 1990.It was a real revolution in a country of culture rather closed, "says Natalia.

Result, in 2009, according to the Bank of Portugal, the rate of household debt amounted to more than 130% of their disposable income. And for Natalia, for sure, the problem will intensify in the coming months with the recession and the restrictive measures imposed by the IMF-EU agreement. "There will be a cumulative effect between the abolition of tax relief, cuts in welfare, freezes wages and pensions, rising prices and interest rates," explains the manager. Ironically, this makes the success of collection companies. "It would create a weekly basis. They are there to exert psychological pressure, they even go to the neighbors, "denounces Natalia. On the mode of cobrador do fraque (collector habit), a local tradition in which the collector, dressed in black coat, says his victim …

Guéant to divide by two professional immigration

June 1, 2011 - 9:32 am Comments Off

It is the purpose and method to achieve this. Tuesday, meeting in camera the prefects of all departments, the Interior Minister, Claude Gueant, set the level to which must be reduced legal immigration in France. "We must collectively work towards halving the cards of employees," he said, adding that "the government's objective is to reduce over the coming year, the flow of legal immigration to 20,000 titles. The minister, in the wake, sent a circular to his prefects that Le Figaro was able to procure. Co-written with Xavier Bertrand, Minister of Labour, the paper on "immigration control work" provides a new interpretative framework for granting or denying a permit to reside outside its national territory under the status of worker.

"Given the impact on employment in one of the most severe economic crises in history," write the ministers must now focus on "a qualitative approach and selective." "Priority must be given to the employability of job seekers here today, whether French or foreign nationality residing legally in France, they take care to specify.

Vigilance

Follows a catalog of requirements for being awarded a work permit, draconian, especially if the applicant is not qualified. "These guidelines are intended in particular to protect migrants against all forms of exploitation," hasten to state ministers.

Thus, the systematic refusal to be the employer who will on behalf of an employee apply for work authorization when that employer will not show "the necessary guarantees to attract and accommodate" a foreign worker. Even negative outcome if the employer has failed once labor laws. The warden will also check the "real existence" of the corporate employer. It will be denied his requests for the least fault. Especially if it has not conducted a "search effective" in its "employment pool" before resorting to foreign labor news. "This research is mandatory," the ministers insist that invite prefects to be vigilant when a student asks to go abroad as professional status.Too many frauds have been identified for overqualified candidates relating to the job.

Tuesday, Claude Gueant assured before his prefects: "Our economy is not a vital need for labor migration in all areas." And he cited the example of the masons. He said "Last year, 730 foreign builders have entered the territory, yet he says, when employment center broadcasts 20 jobs from builders, there are 100 applicants who apply these in France. We can make the same argument for many other businesses, including sectors like IT. "Under these circumstances, the minister concluded" the common sense to give priority to job-seekers already present in France, whether French or foreign nationality.And justice recommends to ensure their working conditions and pay. "

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The Cac 40 without great enthusiasm

May 30, 2011 - 3:04 pm Comments Off

The Paris Bourse started the week with no major trend. After an opening down slightly from 0.29% to the image of Asian stock markets this Monday morning, the Cac back in the green but very moderately. At mid-session, he won 0.10% to 3954.86 points. Today, the London hotel market is closed while Wall Street will not open either and will celebrate Memorial Day (as every last Monday in May). The Cac 40, which had ended the week on a nice increase of 0.86%, managed to climb to 3950 points on Friday night.

This Monday, we will particularly impact that will follow the announcement by Germany to close its last nuclear reactors by 2022. The country became the first industrial power to abandon atomic energy.Already in China, the values ​​related to coal soared when he appears as the best vehicle for investment, better than solar or wind power in the future.

European side, the news is charged. The Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou said was confident Sunday in the payment of the next tranche of EU-IMF loan to avoid bankruptcy for rejecting an article of the German weekly Der Spiegelmettant doubt this release. Note that the Athenians flocked in their thousands on Sunday night in the central square of the capital, before the parliament, the fifth day of a successful mobilization against austerity, modeled on the Spanish "Indignant".

Ireland, she may have to request a new loan to the European Union and the International Monetary Fund if it fails to return on the bond market to raise funds next year, said Minister of Transportation the columns of The Sunday Times.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro retreated slightly against the dollar Monday in a quiet market due to the closing of financial centers in the United States and England. Around 0900 GMT (1100 Paris), the single European currency was worth 1.4291 dollars against 1.4317 dollars on Friday night.

Values ​​on the forehead, that Monday is the day of commencement of trading of shares of Areva. The beginning of the session is particularly volatile for the action that keeps change from red to green and almost abandoned from 3.47% to 29.20 euros.

The group's president, Anne Lauvergeon, also believes that the nuclear reactor projects under consideration will be delayed by about 6 to 9 months because of the review of data on plant safety, said Monday its president .

Renault leaves% to 0.18% 38.99 euros while known to be the name of the successor of Patrick Pelata to senior management. Portuguese Carlos Tavares, 53, an avid sports car and head for the Americas of the Japanese Nissan, Renault's affiliate, should be named the number two automaker French.

Dexia advance of 2.03% to 2.467 euros. The Belgian-French group will pay no dividend for 2011 due to the cost of asset sales announced Friday, said its chairman Jean-Luc Dehaene, Belgian daily L'Echo.

EADS gained 0.29%.Its executive chairman Louis Welsh said that he supported the introduction of a veto in the defense sector to prevent hostile takeovers, in an interview with Focus magazine. "It's not about bags and luxury goods, we are in an area of ​​national interest," he said.

Technip advance of 0.12% while the group was selected by Samsung for its Floating Shell gas extraction.

Total (-0.04%) acquired 25% of an exploration license offshore Qatar for an offshore field that extends over 5,600 square kilometers.

Petroleum.The Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said Sunday that the government could impose on oil to reduce fuel prices at the pump if they do not justify the price drops enough found so far by the administration.

Hermes pressure

Hermes was down 1.17% to 177.2 euros while the group holds a very important meeting on Monday. Saddler said the appeal: the voice of Hermes family shareholders, Bertrand Puech denounces "attempts to destabilize" the company by LVMH. The Adam, she filed a lawsuit that the family can not merge into a holding company.

L'Oreal (0.43%).Daughter of Liliane Bettencourt, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, June 6 to ask the investigating chamber of the Court of Appeal of Bordeaux to cancel all records Bettencourt, citing a procedural issue attributable to the prosecution Nanterre.

Trading in Meetic is suspended while his American counterpart Match.com Announces Intention to bid for all outstanding shares of the French site. Internet dating site offers 15 euros per share in cash offer for its competitor.Its parent company said already hold 27% stake in Meetic.

Medica (-0.63%) announced Monday it had signed an amendment to the credit agreement that was signed in June 2010, taking advantage of favorable conditions in the debt market to increase its financial capacity.

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Italy prepared an austerity plan of 40 billion

May 24, 2011 - 12:32 pm Comments Off

Rome will soon respond to the warning of the rating agency Standard & Poor's. After that it has threatened Friday night to degrade the note from the Italian debt, the government hinted Monday that he would introduce an austerity plan 35 to 40 billion euros in June, the agency Reuters quoted a government source. If you believe the latter, the date of submission of the measure was advanced to make "a signal to markets", namely that Italy holds the cords securely in its budget.

The Berlusconi government, weakened by recent electoral setbacks, has sought to defy Standard & Poor's. The latter said Friday that, "according to [his] point of view, the current growth prospects for Italy are low, and political commitment to reforms improving productivity seems faulty."Accordingly, the agency changed its outlook on the rating of Italy from stable to negative. There is one chance in three that this warning is followed by a deterioration in the Italian note, currently located at "A +", the 5th best possible. Italy is still far notches -6-category called "speculative".

Low growth

In response, the cost of insuring against a default of the Italian debt, very sensitive thermometer of the market sentiment has surged 15 points Monday, to 176 basis points. "Italy is in the viewfinder of the rating because its growth was disappointing," says Jean-Francois Robin, strategist at Natixis. In the first quarter, the economy has virtually stalled, its gross domestic product (GDP) grew by only 0.1% against 0.8% in Greece, or +1% in France.Italian growth was the lowest in the euro area between 2001 and 2010, also said Monday the National Institute of Statistics of Italy, Istat.

So far, Italy has escaped the wrath of the markets. Its deficit was limited to 4.5% in 2010, one of the lowest in the euro area. "The Italian deficit is supplied mainly by the debt service, which reaches 119% of its GDP," said Jean-Francois Robin. "This level can not satisfy the government, it must still reduce its deficit." Rome wants to reduce the gap between revenue and expenditure to 3% of GDP in 2012 and reach equilibrium in 2014.

Standard & Poor's is the only agency to express reservations about the trajectory of Italian public finances.Her colleague Fitch said Monday morning that Rome had been better than expected its 2010 goals and the country is on track to achieve those he has set for 2011. Moody's has for its part, reiterated that it has no plans to lower the Italian touch.

The Paris Bourse ends in green

May 19, 2011 - 5:16 am Comments Off

The Paris Bourse has hoisted the green flag on Wednesday, spurred by bargain hunting and foresight of a debt rescheduling Greek. At the close, the CAC 40 advances 0.92% at 3978 points. On Tuesday, the Paris stock exchange had closed sharply down by 1.21%. Only on the last four sessions, the Cac 40 lost nearly 3%.

Other major European stock markets followed the same trend: the Footsie-100 from the London Stock Exchange gained 1.07% to 5923.49 points and the DAX 30 Frankfurt Stock Exchange rose 0.65% to 7303.53 points .

Europe envisages a 'soft' restructuring of Greece

The option of a debt rescheduling Greek owned gaining ground in Europe. If Greece is making efforts, "we will see if it is possible to have a smooth restructuring of the Greek debt, said Tuesday the leader of the finance ministers of the eurozone, Jean-Claude Juncker.For Jurgen Stark, a member of the Board of Directors of the European Central Bank, a Greek debt restructuring would be a "recipe for disaster." Greece should "accelerate structural reforms" in particular to reduce the public sector, said his side on Wednesday the head of the IMF mission in Greece, Poul Thomsen.

In an interview with figaro.fr last September, the director of the Institute of High Finance, Philippe Dessertine, had said that if Greek debt rescheduling, "banks could again face a liquidity crisis . Therefore, they could no longer fund the financial markets.New tensions are therefore likely to appear on bank stocks. "

For now, investors seeking to reassure banks and bounce: Natixis gaining 0.93% to 3.80 euros, BNP Paribas takes 1.08% to 53.40 euros and Societe Generale advance of 0.41% to 41.92 euros.

On the macroeconomic front, the number of start-ups in April fell 18.3% to 42,984 compared to March, according to figures from INSEE.

United States, markets await the release of Fed minutes to 20 hours.

Oil bounces

On the foreign exchange market, the euro has stabilized at 1.4256 dollars at the close of trading in Europe, against 1.4234 dollars late Tuesday.

For their part, oil prices rose. On the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), a barrel of light sweet crude for June delivery traded at 98.05 dollars, up $ 1.14 compared to the previous day.U.S. inventories of crude oil fell against all odds last week, said Wednesday the U.S. Agency for Energy Information (EIA). Crude inventories were down 15,000 barrels to 370.31 million. Economists on average had expected an increase of one million barrels. Gasoline inventories rose much less than expected, rising by 119,000 barrels to 205.94 million, against an estimate of an increase of 800,000.Total is 1.05% to 40.76 euros.

Telecoms weakened by the crisis of sovereign debt

Thales: +0.36% to 29.34 euros

On the occasion of the general meeting of the group, Lee CEO of Thales, Luc Vigneron, showed caution Wednesday to its shareholders as to the outcome of the discussions of asset exchanges in the defense with Saffron, who recently taken over a year after being interrupted for lack of agreement on their terms.

France Telecom: + 0.64% to 15.63 euros

France Telecom expects further consolidation operations or cooperation in selected markets in telecoms, driven by growing investment needs, "said Director of the French group's mobile activities.

In addition, Moody's has estimated that Telecom are very sensitive to macroeconomic conditions and notes some operators in European countries hit by the debt crisis (Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland) could be affected. Bouygues advance of 0.37% to 32.56 euros, Vivendi (SFR) is gaining 0.44% to 19.19 euros and Iliad (Free) is 1.54% to 86.97 euros

Unibail-Rodamco: 1.92% to 151.05 euros, the biggest increase CAC 40

Unibail-Rodamco has announced that the Chamber of Commerce of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal had ruled on the purchase price of 660,562 Rodamco Europe NV shares still held by minority shareholders. It has priced shares in Rodamco Europe 87.66 euros per share.Unibail-Rodamco will own 100% of Rodamco Europe following the decision.

Areva: + 3.27% to 30.16 euros

Areva and the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA) announced the successful takeover offer simplified investment certificates (IC) cons of Areva shares. This will help convert the entire ordinary share capital. The listing of CI will be suspended from May 24

Peugeot: -0.22% to 29.75 euros

PSA Peugeot-Citroen on Wednesday the foundation stone laying of its third factory in China, according to La Tribune. Like the other two located in Wuhan, central China, the new plant should be able to start in 2013.Initially the plant will produce 150,000 vehicles and 300,000 from 2015.

Technip: 1.28% to 70.30 euros

Technip won a contract from BASF under the Partnership and engineering services for projects of chemistry and petrochemistry.

Atari: + 5.63% to 3 euros

Atari has announced its decision to sell Cryptic Studios, the development studio acquired videogames there is barely two and half years.

The Tanner: + 23.61% to 6.44 euros

Qatar Luxury Group has repurchased nearly 53% of the leather goods Tanner to 6.51 euros per share and will file a tender offer to purchase the rest at the same price in the days to come, said Tuesday the two entities.

After market, Soitec was to publish its annual results.

The CAC 40 saves 4000 points

May 6, 2011 - 5:44 am Comments Off

The mood is sullen at the Paris stock exchange after the sharp declines seen the day before (the CAC 40 fell 1.31% and fell below 4050 points). On Thursday, the benchmark index of the Paris Bourse lost 0.95% to 4004.87 points at closing and narrowly saves the technical threshold of 4000 points.

Same trend elsewhere in Europe. London's FTSE was down 1.07% at 5919.98 points and the Dax was down 0.04% to 7376.96 points. Both indices had suffered the heaviest losses the Cac yesterday.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro lost ground after the ECB, which met in Helsinki, has decided to keep interest rates unchanged at 1.25%. The single currency traded at 1.4599 euros (-1.54%) after again exceeded $ 1.49 during the meeting Wednesday.Furthermore, oil inventories surged against all odds, which gave the lead in using oil, which fell below $ 110 in New York yesterday, which always move in the fall on Thursday.

Bad news on the employment front U.S.

Statistical side to follow on Thursday: orders to German manufacturers have accused their first decline in March of this year, falling by 4% over the month as analysts awaited a stagnation, according to figures released Thursday by the Ministry of Economy.

In the U.S., nonfarm productivity rose more than expected in the first quarter, while unit labor costs has rebounded more strongly than expected, according to preliminary data released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor.Productivity, which measures hourly output per employee grew at an annual rate of 1.6% over the period January-March after rising 2.9% (revised from 2.6%) in the previous quarter. Over the period, the unit cost of labor has on his side rebounded 1.0% after having fallen by 1.0% (revised from -0.6%) over the last three months of 2010. Analysts had forecast an increase of 0.8% in the first quarter.

In addition, new jobless claims in the United States rose dramatically during the last week of April. The employment figures that will fall tomorrow, Friday, are eagerly awaited.Yesterday, investors learned that ADP figures have reported a creation 179,000 jobs in April, less than expected.

Societe Generale falling, Carrefour sentence

Side values, a publication of rain is still falling on Thursday including the quarterly results disappointing Societe Generale, driving down the stock price of 4.98% to 43.25 euros, lead the CAC.

After the excellent figures given yesterday by BNP Paribas (-0.13% to 53.98 euros), the first bank in Europe, SocGen announced a net profit of 916 million euros in the first quarter, down from 13, 8% over the same period of 2010 attributed to an accounting effect related to the revaluation of its own debt.

Also at sentencing, the retail group Carrefour (-1.93% to 31 euros), which announced Thursday the departure of its Executive Director James McCann France and the postponement of a controversial quotation of its real estate subsidiary, but maintained its draft rate 100% subsidiary of Dia and its financial targets for 2011.

Lafarge (-0.95% to 45.24) reveals a net loss of 29 million euros in the first three months of the year for a turnover up 9% to 3.55 billion euros .

Legrand (-2.51% to 29.69 euros) in the first quarter increased 13.7% in sales and 41.2% of its net profit, thanks to emerging markets and new market segments which the group has made a priority, which has confirmed its annual targets.

Bureau Veritas (-0.10% to 58.25 euros) confirmed anticipate strong growth in its turnover and adjusted operating profit this year after an increase of 23.2% of its activity in the first quarter .

Axa (+0.20% to 15.02 euros) expressed confidence in improving its profitability despite a drop of 2% of its turnover in the first quarter to 27.92 billion euros.

Maurel & Prom, Arkema and Capgemini climb

The independent oil company Maurel & Prom announced Thursday want to split and rate of its independent subsidiary in Nigeria, whose shares will be distributed to the shareholders in proportion to their participation in the group. The action takes off from 4.41% to 14.68 euros this morning.

Arkema (7.02% to 73.49 euros).The net profit quadrupled to 151 million euros and EBITDA (EBITDA) reached 17% of sales through an increase much higher than the market.This puts us among the best chemists.

The French group Capgemini consulting and information services (+0.19% at 40.58 euros) saw sales increase by 14.5% in first quarter 2011 to 2.3 billion euros and confirmed its objectives of achieving a growth in turnover of between 9 and 10% for the year.

The producer of wines and spirits, Pernod Ricard (1.94% to 68.28 euros) Thursday announced an increase in its turnover in the third quarter and confirmed its targets for its entire fiscal year (July 2010 – June 2011).

Air Liquide (0.56% to 97.58 euros) wants equity for the premium

Its CEO said he was open to the principle of paying a bonus to employees in case of dividend increase, provided to maintain the equity in a group with more than three-quarters of the members are outside France.

Alstom: -0.90% to 42.24 euros Moody's raised its outlook on the Baa1 rating on the group stable, negative cons.

Total: -1.41% to 41.17 euros, GDF Suez: -0.77% to 26.48 euros a parliamentary commission on Wednesday passed a bill to ban UMP in France in the exploration and exploitation of unconventional oil, gas and oil shale.

Michelin (-0.69% to 66.05 euros) announced an increase in the price of its truck tires, civil engineering, public works, agricultural and handling in Europe to meet the continually rising cost of raw materials.

TF1 (-2.01% to 12.41 euros), which has suffered several setbacks during the hearing last month, decided to appoint a new program director, Jean-François Lancelier, which takes the place of Laurent Storch .

The French chemicals group Rhodia (+0.37% at 31.59 euros) on Thursday posted a net profit of 151 million euros in the first quarter more than doubled over one year and raised its profitability target for 2011 , to become a recurring gross operating profit of "more than 1 billion euros."

Veolia Environnement (+0.52% at 22.26 euros) on Thursday posted a turnover up 11.3% in the first quarter thanks in particular to the resumption of its activities in the waste.

Mr. Bricolage (-0.57% to 13.97 euros) confirmed its targets for 2011 after publishing a stable turnover in the first quarter to 135.2 million euros.

Gifi (2.43% to 76.20 euros) registered a growth of 5.2% of its turnover for the first half of its fiscal year 2010-2011, to 351.3 million euros.The turnover of the group's second fiscal quarter ended March 31 rose 7.5% to 139.1 million euros.

Cegedim (+0.35% at 42.50 euros) has reported a sales increase of 2.9% as reported to 211.5 million euros, but down 1.4% comparable data available, and maintained its target of 4% growth in turnover for 2011.

The food group Bonduelle (0.72% to 68.60 euros), specializing in vegetables, posted a rise in its turnover for the third quarter from 14.6% to 421.6 million euros thanks to an improvement in consumption, particularly in eastern Europe, according to a statement.

Bin Laden, a fortune in the service of terrorism fuzzy

May 3, 2011 - 12:48 pm Comments Off

Difficult to assess the fortunes of Osama bin Laden, as the opacity of its funding sources has always prevailed. Before the attacks of September 11, 2001, the financial empire's founder and leader of al-Qaida announced until his death last night, was estimated between 30 and … $ 300 million. Only certainty, the first pillar of the wealth of terrorism based on the legacy of his father.

Mohammed bin Laden, Osama's father, made his fortune in construction and public works. At the latter's death in 1967, the leader of al-Qaeda share the inheritance with her 54 brothers and sisters. In all, Osama Bin Laden "received between 12 and 15 million dollars" between 1974 and 1994, according to Yeslam bin Laden, one of his half-brothers.

Present in 35 countries

Some of the funding received has been reinvested in other companies in Saudi Arabia or Sudan, thereby making a profit.Osama bin Laden had created a parent company, Wadi al Aqiz, head of a network of numerous legal societies and implanted in nearly thirty-five countries.

The Ladin International Company, an import and export, Taba Investment and Hijra Construction Company, specializing in construction are among the largest subsidiaries of the businessman terrorist. But these companies also served as cover for militants of al-Qaida. They fund training camps or buying weapons and receive "gifts" from Islamic banks branched through accounts and offshore tax havens.

From multinationals to SMEs

With the end of the first Gulf War in 1991, and the installation of U.S. bases on Saudi soil, Bin Laden decided to conduct a holy war against the United States. Replica of Washington and its alies: its funds are now tracked.Bin Laden fled to Sudan from 1994 to 1996. He bought land, invested in small business. Like the international financial network created in the 1980s, these companies often have two facets. Peanut farm houses a terrorist training site.

Managed well, business does not rotate at best. Bin Laden is forced to lower wages and to sell certain subsidiaries. No matter: "Terrorism is a low cost business," writes the Wall Street Journal in September 2001. The attack against the World Trade Center in 1993, would cost only $ 10,000.

Expelled from Sudan in 1996 under pressure from the Americans, bin Laden returned to Afghanistan. This second exile seems to coincide with increased financial difficulties on the ground. The branch of al-Qaida in London would have experienced problems paying their phone bills.For many decades, "Bin Laden has engaged in activities that eat money, but do not create," says the Saudi dissident Muhammad al-Massari, quoted by the Wall Street Journal.

Still, bin Laden also benefits from the charity to Muslims around the world, but that they know so far that their donations would be used to finance terrorism. Moreover, according to a diplomatic report from 2009 revealed by Wikileaks, the Americans suspect of private foundations in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar to finance terrorism without limit. The villa in which Bin Laden has spent his last days, near Islamabad, is estimated at nearly one million dollars.

A patron of the Cac 40 gained 24% more on average

April 26, 2011 - 10:00 am Comments Off

The ousted leader of the Michelin and Danone takes top spot in 2011 salaries of bosses Cac 40 prepared by Les Echos. Michel Rollier has received compensation of 4.5 million euros for 2010. Frank Riboud, head of Danone, he pocketed 4.4 million euros last year and takes the second spot on the podium, followed by the CEO of LVMH, Bernard Arnault, who won 3.9 million euros in total compensation. In total, the Cac 40 bosses have affected more than 98.3 million euros in compensation. The average CEO salaries Cac 40 amounted to 2.46 million per officer, up 24% compared to 2009.

The first of the three managers sponsored by Michelin also holds the record for pay increases: salary soared 505%.This increase is directly related to the rise of the findings of Michel Rollier as not receiving a fixed salary but only secured a bonus based on the results of the giant tires.

This peculiarity makes his annual compensation very volatile from one year to another, as in the previous ranking, published in 2010 and based on total compensation patterns in 2009, the envelope of Michel Rollier displayed in downturn 303% compared to the one he had seen in 2008. He then pocketed 743,000 euros, which was then the lowest pay of executives within the Cac 40. This end up filing returns this year to the CEO of STMicroelectronics, Carlo Bozotti, with 903,000 euros.Penultimate winners of 2011, the CEO of Renault shows a total compensation of 1.2 million, unchanged from last year: Carlos Ghosn has in fact waived his variable compensation following the fiasco caused by the false case of espionage.

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Google will also have its recommendation system

March 31, 2011 - 6:36 pm Comments Off

Better late than never. Google announced Wednesday the launch of a button "+ 1" which will allow users to "recommend simply content directly from the page of search results." It draws directly from the button "Like" launched by Facebook a year ago. Like the latter, and the button "tweet" for Twitter launched in summer 2010, Google also hopes to have his button "+ 1" on third party sites, eventually.

This button will allow users with accounts to appear in Google search results online links that were approved by members of their entourage who are on Gmail, iGoogle, Orkut and others. It will be deployed initially on the English content.

"We expect that these annotations personalized help sites stand out by showing users which search results are relevant to them personally payday loans for self employed.Therefore, the '+ 1' will increase both the quantity and quality of traffic to sites that matter to users, "Google said on its official blog.

By distilling and a layer of human recommendation in its search engine, Google hopes to be back in the race against social networking sites like Facebook who scored points in both uses of the users that the advertising market. But his previous experiences in the Social Web – Google Wave Buzz, Orkut – have not been conclusive.

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