Archive for the ‘top news’ Category

Banks: Justice disavows the Competition Authority

February 24, 2012 - 5:28 am Comments Off

 

It is a repudiation for the Competition Authority. The institution, which had inflicted 385 million euro fine in September 2010 with the main banks operating in France on their pricing of check processing, has seen its decision questioned by the Court of Appeal of Paris. In a ruling Thursday, the latter took the view that in this case, "the grievances of Understanding (…) can not be accepted" and that the banks concerned "should therefore be exonerated ".

The case dates back to the early 2000s, when banks have embarked on the computerization of processing checks. They are then granted to establish interchange fees, naturally passed on to end customers.

Fines must be repaid to banks

Banks have justified the introduction of these fees, which were abolished in 2007, the cost that they accounted for the modernization effort of check processing. One argument considered to be unfounded by corporate treasurers, who saw the impact fees.

In September 2010, the Competition Authority found in favor of the latter, and denounced an agreement on final prices payday loans in one hour. A vision not shared by the Court of Appeal of Paris, sought by banks complained, BPCE, Post Bank, BNP-Paribas, the National Confederation of Credit Mutuel, Crédit Agricole, Crédit du Nord, CIC, LCL HSBC France, Societe Generale.

In its reasoning, it considers that the commissions were "directly related to the new system paperless exchange of checks, public interest project neutral in terms of competition law …". It also believes that the Bank Agreement does not constitute "an agreement on final prices."

The Competition Authority may lodge an appeal. When asked, a spokesman said the institution consider what action would give the matter. Fines paid to the Treasury must be repaid to the banks.  

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Greece: into an agreement Monday with the Eurogroup

February 19, 2012 - 3:20 am Comments Off

 

White smoke comes not yet held Monday in Brussels, where a decisive meeting of the Eurogroup on Greece. It comes from the Italian Presidency in Rome, and the headquarters of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt.

After a phone conversation with Angela Merkel and Prime Minister of Greece Lucas Papademos, Friday, Mario Monti issued a statement encouraging: "At the end of this conversation, which came in the details and which was conducted in a constructive spirit, three participants were confident that an agreement on Greece can be reached Monday, the Eurogroup. "

So far, mistrust prevailed. Especially since the previous Eurogroup, on Greece, was canceled Wednesday. "This time, an agreement is likely," said Jean Pisani-Ferry, director of the Bruegel think-tank in Brussels. "Otherwise it's too late, there will master more technical details …", he adds.

The challenge of this size Eurogroup is: give Greece its private creditors and the green light to launch the second bailout of Greece, estimated at 130 billion euros, to avoid a default in Greek debt falls from 14.5 billion euros on March 20.

That Greece is committed to the reforms demanded by the troika, beyond the April elections, Germany, Finland and the Netherlands had planned mid-week to split the bailout to not pay, firstly, that the sum needed to rescue private, or 30 billion euros. 

Exchange of debt

But this scenario is complicated, difficult to read for the markets, has been criticized by the IMF and European lawyers, who see it as a source of additional blocking with private creditors, asked to relinquish 70% of the value of their securities. "This option is no longer on the table," said Deputy German Finance Minister, Thomas Steffen. "We are ready to have a solid basis for a decision Monday," says the German Finance Ministry in Berlin.

The European Central Bank has brought his stone to an eventual agreement. Its chairman, Mario Draghi, submitted Thursday night, the vote of the Governors, the exchange of 50 billion euros of Greek bonds, which should allow eventually to redistribute 12 billion euros to Greece, which allocated to debt repayment countries. For its part, the IMF would be willing to contribute to the new rescue plan by a loan of 13 billion euros, reported last night the Wall Street Journal on its website.

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Athens: Germany raises the pressure

February 13, 2012 - 11:35 am Comments Off

 

The streets of Athens rose up against Angela Merkel and "diktat" German, which inflict a further course of rigor drastic to Greece. The criticism comes from all sides against the "iron chancellor" whose bitter potions would compress the growth throughout Europe. But his hand does not tremble. Sunday, hours before the vote of the Greek Parliament, Berlin has again raised the pressure to impose its will.

"The promises of Greece are no longer sufficient for us," warned Wolfgang Schäuble, Minister of Finance, pillar of the German government, in an interview with Welt am Sonntag. "It's important to say that it can be a bottomless pit. That is why the Greeks will finally have to clog the well. Then we can put something. At least people are now beginning to realize that it will not work with a bottomless pit. "Like many of his partner, Judge Berlin that the commitments of Athens are too often gone unheeded and demanded the immediate implementation of new austerity measures.

Stir in the coalition

Deemed the most pro-European member of the Government of the Rhine, Schäuble judge the rescue of Greece even more difficult than the reunification of Germany … The cost of the upgrading of the former GDR is estimated at 1,000 billion euros. Citing polls, he stressed that the Germans are largely in favor of an international aid to Greece. "We are pleased to offer our assistance, but we should not give others the impression that they have not done enough. Each state is responsible for itself, "he says. "Greece must do its homework to become competitive, it requires a new rescue plan or some other way that we do not want to take."

The German finance minister and openly discusses the assumption of an outflow of Greece in the euro area. "Everything is in the hands of the Greeks themselves. But even in that event, on which no table, they remain an integral part of Europe ", said Schäuble. The warning from the Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, is even blunter: "If Athens lays groundwork for sustainable, then Greece can count on our help. But only in this way. Only actions count. "

The Greek crisis causes a stir in the center-right coalition of Angela Merkel. Chancellor, who had raised that possibility in December 2011, now excludes any output of Greece in the euro area. According to his spokesman, there is no alternative to restoring the solvency of Greece. And an output of the eurozone countries would not be in the interest of Germany. According to German media, Merkel would have been convinced by the French president that such a scenario would expose the entire euro area markets virulent attacks. And it opposes several of his ministers on this issue.

However, a new aid plan for Greece, which contribute Berlin, will be voted on by the Bundestag on 27 February. If Athens does not concede quantifiable efforts by then, a new political showdown looms on the lower house of German parliament. Because, for Germany, solidarity also commits those who promise to respect the common rules of operation.

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Rolls-Royce will equip the future A320 and B737

November 29, 2011 - 1:48 am Comments Off

From our special correspondent in Dahlewitz (Germany)

Aircraft on the planet, the battle between commercial Airbus Boeing often obscures another fight just as fiercely, that of the engine, without which the new aircraft more fuel efficient and quieter, could not have been launched.

This is the case of Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 NEO MAX remotorisées versions of the two best-selling Europe and America, or the Chinese Comac C 919 and Bombardier CSeries of Canada on medium-haul market.

Rolls-Royce, the world of civilian reactors, did not take the train re-engined aircraft that are selling like hotcakes, however due to their promise to make gains in fuel consumption by 15% on average.

October 30, 2011 - 1:04 am Comments Off

In the first five days of strike by cabin crew of Air France, the company is organized to provide as announced 80% of its flights. The company has temporarily restricted on Saturday morning to 100 passengers the ability of its medium-haul flights Orly. Consequence: passengers can wait a little and minor delays can be saved.

This management method was chosen to avoid having to put down passengers for lack of a sufficient number of hostesses and stewards. "It blocks the flights a minimum. Is completed according to the presentation of the crews as and when. But we have managed so far to complete the flight and make them go as planned, "says the director of Air France at Orly, George Daher. A strategy that annoys some customers. "We were placed on a waiting list by explaining that there was not enough staff.A rip-off in communication because all flights are available at this time, "said one man who was to fly to Toulouse.

About the airport Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, the traffic was in line with forecasts of Air France, which does not exclude any last minute cancellations. It struck ten long-haul flights planned Saturday morning, including flights to New York, Montreal, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi, Douala. But passengers were warned on Friday. Maisselon Europe 1, delays begin to accumulate.

Disrupted traffic until Wednesday

Without an agreement this week with management on working conditions for cabin crew, six of seven unions called the stewards and stewardesses 15,000 to go on strike for the weekend of All Saints, usually very busy. Traffic should be disturbed until Wednesday, November 2 included.The company also points out that the tickets can be changed or exchanged free of charge.

The negotiations broke down this week on two issues relating to working conditions for cabin crew. The number of stewards or stewardesses present on each flight, that management would reduce, and the method of evaluation of these same individuals. Air France would they be judged by their purser, rather than by instructors as it is now. For the UNSA and SNPNC-FO, both reforms increase the workload of staff, and thus put at risk the safety of passengers.

The Minister of Transport, Thierry Mariani, has however said "shocked" by the strike call, which he considered "suicidal".

Wall Street expected to rise before the EU summit

October 26, 2011 - 7:12 pm Comments Off

The trust is expected to dominate the opening of Wall Street on Wednesday. After closing in the red yesterday, the Dow Jones dropping 1.74% to 11,913.62 points, Wall Street is expected to rebound Wednesday. Future contracts are indeed higher state of around 0.50% on the main index at the opening. Once again, U.S. investors have their eyes on the Old Continent, where an EU summit must deliver in the evening a plan to end the debt crisis in the euro area. With four objectives: helping Greece to boost the capacity of the EFSF, recapitalize banks and improve governance.

This battery is able to prevent contagion of the crisis, while fears now focus on Italy.And even if the prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, seems to have succeeded in extremis to persuade its ally the Northern League to accept a pension reform demanded by its European partners in exchange for their solidarity. Thus, the Heads of State and Government of the euro area may call Wednesday the European Central Bank (ECB) to continue its purchases of bonds to support Italy and Spain, according to a draft of their summit conclusions which Germany said, however, disagree for now.

Oil prices down

In fact, German Chancellor Angela Merkel for now ensures that no scenario involving the European Central Bank (ECB) to strengthen the rescue mechanism, the European Stability is the agenda of the summit Payday advance.

On the macroeconomic front, the durable goods orders will be published early in the afternoon.Follow the new home sales in September and weekly crude oil stocks.

As for commodities, oil prices are falling: a barrel of "light sweet crude" for December delivery ceded 0.61% to 92.60 dollars. For its part, the euro appears to balance against the U.S. dollar, rising 0.08% to 1.3921 dollars.

Values ​​to follow:

• Lockheed Martin has seen its profits grow by 25% in the third quarter to $ 700 million. The group also raised its targets for 2011.

• Ford: U.S. carmaker Ford on Wednesday released a profit for the third quarter down 2% but slightly above expectations, together with a turnover up 14%. The Group posted a profit of $ 1.65 billion.Based on the number of shares and excluding exceptional items, it amounted to 46 cents a share, where analysts had forecast 45 cents.

• Boeing released on Wednesday a net profit up 31% to $ 1.1 billion for the third quarter, exceeding expectations, but it has revised down its forecast for commercial deliveries for the year.

• ConocoPhillips is required to publish at the beginning of the afternoon's results for the third quarter.

Business creation Advice for Success

October 13, 2011 - 8:00 pm Comments Off

Alain Belais: "To have an idea as good as it is, is not enough."

Is it more important to choose the first legal and tax status of its business or build a business plan? Candidates for the creation of enterprises facing multiple issues. Alain Belais, Executive Director of the Agency for start-ups (PACE), recommends that they follow a very rational.

1. The person who starts for the first time in the adventure of creation must first go to the website of the Agency for start-ups. She will find all the essential tips and steps to follow. She can tap into the toolbox that is available to him, then he will look to support networks.

2.If it is much easier to start a business in France, the new contractor must make a lot of work ahead of the creation of his company to put the odds on his side. Have an idea as good as it is, is not enough. Make sure that the company is a specific market, it has customers. It is essential to consider the viability of the project in detail. Plus the contractor spends thinking about his project, the more it gives the chance to see his company grow in harmony.

3. Do not focus on minor issues. The legal and tax status of the company is not the first topic to address. There is always a formula tailored to their needs when we understand its goals and needs.

4. The initial investment can be small or large.What matters is that the funds are available in relation to the needs of the project.

5. It should not be stubborn. We must not go too fast. Take the time to evaluate, test. If an idea does not find its market, you have to stop the project and give up. This advice may seem paradoxical because an entrepreneur is a man who can shake up the barriers and must be certain. But it must also be able to understand when it's wrong. However, a board shall not conceal another, perseverance, tenacity are the powerful engines of the contractor. Do not get discouraged and overcome obstacles one by one.

6. The new contractor must not remain alone in his corner. It should not be isolated. It must be accompanied. It is sometimes necessary to protect his idea, but he must also learn to trust, to reflect with others.Whether friends or professionals. Many networks are able to advise him, to help solve a problem, to build a case for funding or to face a difficult period. Qualify for free business advice, financial, legal, tax experienced entrepreneurs is an asset. There is indeed a surprising solidarity among entrepreneurs. Many of them are happy to know-how available to those who need it. The advice and support networks for sales professionals and law are very effective to support the project leaders.

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SNCF, RATP: Insights on the disturbances

October 12, 2011 - 4:16 am Comments Off

Traffic in the transport is disrupted Tuesday, following the call for mobilization of CGT-CFDT, UNSA, FSU-Solidarity, who report an austerity program "inadmissible" the government and require "a different distribution of wealth. "

With the exception of SUD-RATP, who filed a notice of indefinite strike on July 31, no organization has called to stop work in transport.However federations CGT filed a notice with the RATP and SNCF, as well as SUD-Rail, to enable staff who wish to go forward.

Here are the latest traffic forecasts:

• At the SNCF

Tuesday, more than 4 of 5 TGV move on departure or arrival in Paris, except for the Atlantic TGV trains close to 3 to 5, and more than 2 runs a train on the TGV on average province-province.

For Transilien, traffic during rush hour is on average close to 2 trains of 3, and the TER, the traffic is close to 2 of 3 services at the national level. Locally, the traffic is 4 trains of 10 to a near-normal movement between regions.

For Intercités day (including Teoz), traffic is on average a train 2.

No Lunea (national traffic at night) will flow, however the nights of Tuesday to Wednesday.On international routes to night, no disturbance is expected to Germany and Italy. Traffic will also be normal day on the Eurostar (England) and Thalys (Belgium, Germany) and near normal on Lyria (Switzerland).

The other lines of Paris and Paris-Nord-Est have a service close to two out of three trains, and those of Paris-Saint Lazare, Paris-Montparnasse and Paris-Lyon train in two.

• In the RER RATP zone

Traffic is normal on the line A and the interconnection is maintained at Nanterre Prefecture. A train runs on two rush hour on the line B, and a train of four off-peak payday advance lender. Interconnection is suspended from Gare du Nord, but maintained at Nanterre Prefecture.

For portions of RER managed by SNCF, the traffic is normal on the line A (from Nanterre Prefecture in Cergy and Poissy) and Line E.There is a train of two outstanding on lines B and C of the RER, without interconnection to Paris Nord. On line D, it takes two to three trains with an average interconnection between Paris-Lyon and Paris Nord.

• In the metro and bus in Paris

In the metro, the traffic is normal on all lines except line 5, where it takes with two trains of 3.

Traffic is normal on lines 2 and 3 of the tramway. For T1, a train of 2 is outstanding.

• In the province

Strike notices were filed in 39 urban transit systems, including Lille, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Strasbourg.Such notice having been filed in most cases by a single union, the traffic should be only slightly affected.

The notice concerning the networks of the following cities: Amiens, Angers, Angouleme, Belfort, Besançon, Bordeaux, Bourges, Caen, Cannes, Chambery, Dijon, Douai, Lille, Limoges, Lorient (strike 55 minutes), Lyon, Le Mans, Marseille (strike 3:30), Maubeuge, Metz, Montluçon, Montpellier, Moulins Mulhouse, Nantes, Nice (strike from 9 to 12), Nîmes (strike 9:30 to 10:30), Pau, Poitiers, Reims, Rennes, La Rochelle, Rouen, Royan, Saint-Nazaire (strike from 10:30 to 14h), Strasbourg, Toulouse, Tours, Vichy.

• To monitor traffic

Hotlines are available to travelers by SNCF: 0805.90.36.35 for the Outline, TER, Téoz and Intercity, and 0805.70.08.05 for Transilien.

For traffic forecasts, two websites are available: www.sncf.com and www.infolignes.com for all traffic forecasts.

For the RATP, the number is 0800.15.11.11.

Shale Gas: Total wants explanation

October 4, 2011 - 5:24 pm Comments Off

The hatchet between opponents of the exploitation of shale gas and industry is far from buried. Following the withdrawal of operating licenses for three shale announced yesterday by the Government, José Bové, leader of the anti-shale has expressed its "satisfaction". Overall, however, said he was "very surprised by this decision." The group has indeed been canceled the license of Montelimar in the Drome and is seeking clarification from the government "to understand what legal grounds" takes place this cancellation. Two other permits, assigned to the U.S. Schuepbach, were also removed, one in the Ardèche and the other in the Larzac.

And if the state backed down on these permits is due to law of 13 July.After a major mobilization led by José Bové and the Greens, elected officials voted this summer a law banning the use of controversial mining technique called hydraulic fracturing. The government had thus given two months to holders of operating licenses for shale gas to specify what operating techniques they planned to use.

In both reports, Schuepbach had clearly stated its intention to use hydraulic fracturing, however, prohibited, said Minister of Ecology. In the report of Total, "it was not the case but I made the point that the report was not credible," said Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet. According to the minister, "Total announces to continue to search for shale gas with techniques that are not hydraulic fracturing, or we now know that these techniques are not operational no fax cash loans."

Decision on 13 octobreTotal not digest these ads. "We are very surprised to learn through the press that the government has decided to revoke the exploration permit without Montelimar Total whom the license was awarded in itself has been informed." The State must publish the full effect of those decisions and those on other 61 operating permit on October 13 in the Official Gazette. Thus remains to be seen what will be the decision of the State concerning the 61 other permits still in progress for which the industry had mentioned the use of a hydraulic fracturing technique. If the majority of these licenses relate to the operation of conventional hydrocarbons, twelve are for non-conventional hydrocarbons and potentially gas from coal or oil shale, especially in the Paris basin.

José Bové is awaiting the decision of the state.Already, the Green MEP which combined movement against the gas and oil shale warns that "continued engagement on the ground and before administrative tribunals" in case of maintenance allowed the industrial explicit mention of an appeal to the technique of hydraulic fracturing or operation of these products shale.

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Divisive to the ECB depress the CAC 40

September 11, 2011 - 3:44 pm Comments Off

After two sessions of gains, the Paris Stock Exchange is divided into negative territory on Friday. At the close, the CAC 40 lost no less than 3.60%, and returned to below 3000 points to 2974.59 points. All index values ​​have completed the session in the red. In its wake, London and Frankfurt show respective losses of 2.36% and 4.13%. Milan, meanwhile, lost no less than 4.93%.

Once again, the banking sector has suffered the wrath of investors. He has stepped up its losses when that Jürgen Stark, member of the Executive Board of the ECB, announced his resignation for "personal reasons" according to the statement of the ECB.The chief economist of the institution has repeatedly expressed his opposition in recent weeks to buyback of government bonds led the ECB to ease the most fragile countries in the euro area.

In addition, the statements of Christine Lagarde, under which a liquidity crisis was not to dismiss as some banks needed additional capital, also weighed on the trend. "This is the effect Lagarde. These statements primarily affect banks that are considered the least well placed in terms of capital ratios, "said one trader.

Result: Société Générale, signing by far the largest decline of the day, tumbling from 10.58% to 17.44 euros.Behind her, Crédit Agricole loose 7.77% to 5.40% euro Natixis 7.60% to 2.40 euros, BNP Paribas 7.54% to 29.80 euros and Axa 7.59% to 9.39 euros .

The opening of the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors of leading industrialized countries, on Friday afternoon in Marseille to find answers to the crisis, will not have enough to reassure the markets.

Obama's plan is not reassuring

Investors also received without enthusiasm details of the plan unveiled by the Employment Barack Obama in the night. U.S. President presented a draft law on the release of 447 billion for the Americans out of unemployment."This plan will give an electric shock to an economy that has stalled, will give confidence to businesses on the fact that if they invest and hire, there will be customers for their products and services," assured the U.S. president to members of Congress .

Clearly, the operators seem to doubt the implementation of this plan. Its funding is already generating questions from Republican opponents could block a vote. Barack Obama urged them to adopt "immediately". The U.S. president also announced that it will issue on September 19 "a deficit reduction plan more ambitious."

Similarly, investors have also not appreciated the remarks of the President of the Federal Reserve on growth and employment on Thursday night.The Fed "will do everything it can to participate in the return of growth and employment rates," said its chairman Ben Bernanke, minimizing inflation fears. This speech, however, feeds the assumption of a new effort of quantitative easing, which could be announced at the next meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Fed, scheduled for September 20 and 21.

Inflation slows in China

Also on the macroeconomic front, Japan has this morning reported a decline of 2.1% of GDP in the second quarter 2011 annualized. This is more than the 1.3% decline initially estimated. The main factor weighing on GDP has been the decline in exports (-4.9% from January to March).

In China, rising consumer prices, the main barometer of inflation, which had accelerated in recent months, slowed slightly to 6.2% in August.Industrial production is she up 13.5% in August.

In France, industrial production rebounded 1.5% in July after a decline of similar magnitude in June, show statistics released Friday by INSEE. The budget deficit of the French government fell in late July to 86.6 billion euros, against 93.1 billion euros a year earlier, thanks to lower costs, said Friday the Department of Budget .

United States, wholesale inventories reached a record high in July, rising 0.8% to 462.4 billion dollars, an unprecedented amount, in accordance with market expectations.

As for currencies, the euro Friday pressed below the $ 1.37 for the first time since late February, weighed down by concerns about increasing the economic health of the euro area and the global economic recovery.At the close, the European currency fell to 1.348 dollar (-1.70%), its lowest level since Feb. 23. For its part, the oil appears also down, despite a surprise drop in U.S. inventories. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for October delivery trading at 86.65 dollars, down 2.70%.

Values ​​to follow

• TF1 (-7.20% to 9.54 euros), M6 (-6.51% to 13.29 euros) Bolloré (3.37% to 161 euros), Vivendi (-0.25% at 16 , 05 euros); NextRadioTV (-0.39% to 10.10 euros)

Chains react in a disorganized to take control of Direct 8 Direct and Star, two DTT channels free of the Bolloré Group, Canal +. The subsidiary of Vivendi will have three DTT frequencies. Be as much as TF1 and M6 more than the group which, in addition to the namesake chain, has only W9.For this operation, fully financed by shares, a stake Bolloré group Vivendi.

• Total (-2.47% to 32.83 euros)

The Anglo-Dutch oil group Shell said Friday that oil was discovered off the coast of French Guiana, during exploratory drilling at about 150 km off the coast.

• Sopra (0.69% to 45 euros)

The group announced the takeover of Delta, specialized in banking software.The transaction is expected to close in early October 2011, will be financed from existing credit lines of business consulting, IT services and software.

• Pierre & Vacances (-4.71% to 37.19 euros)

The group, which operates much of the accommodation ski resorts, opened 369 new tourist residences furnished this winter.

• ArcelorMittal (-7.49% to 13.02 euros)

The group will close as of October 3 for an indefinite period and the second blast furnace at its site in Florange (Moselle), according to a union source quoted by AFP.

• EADS (-1.34% to 21.35 euros)

The group said on Thursday not want to use all of its $ 16 billion (11.45 billion euros) in cash for acquisitions.