Posts Tagged ‘customers’

November 20, 2011 - 5:24 pm Comments Off

The virtues of rental real estate are well known. This is one of the only investments that can make on credit to build wealth. It is also a good way to prepare additional income for retirement. Finally, it is a way to accommodate her children or send them a valuable asset to start in life. However, the life of landlords is not a bed of roses! Some trace their route on this road winding and sometimes treacherous.

This is the case of Vivian B., 57, teacher. This Lyonnaise conducted between 1991 and 2010, three rental investments in his city. "I spaced each acquisition a decade, the time each time to pay off my credit. I always chose the studios in the IVth arrondissement of Lyon, an area popular.The lease payments used to pay me a portion of the loans, but each time I had to add 100 to 150 euros a month, "she says. Handyman, Viviane never hesitates to restore its apartments, it manages solo. Another "trick" by Viviane: the choice of holiday rental. "This formula provides short leases, or a year. Thus, it is easier to separate from a deadbeat tenant. "

1500 euros of additional income per month

For her, the acquisitions will stop, "because this investment is not worth the shot," given the rise in property prices in particular. "Every studio brings me 6%. But if I bought the same day, the yield would fall to 2.5 or 3%. "Soon to retire, Viviane Heritage is satisfied that it has formed. "My pension should be around 1.300euros month.

Real Estate: Hiccups Guy tries to sell private

November 3, 2011 - 6:36 am Comments Off

Real estate developers – Kaufman & Broad and Celeos Breton – had already tried it. This time, the third network of estate agencies in the Hexagon who try. Guy Hiccups launched an operation on November 1, private sales and offers to acquire a selection of existing homes in 1800 throughout France, with discounts up to 20%, according to Frederic Monsu, general manager of the network fast cash now. The goods concerned have been selected by franchisees and validated by headquarters. These apartments and houses for sale in recent months but have not yet been sold, or property newly entered in the agencies, but whose owners are eager to sell.

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.

Wall Street continues to accelerate

October 7, 2011 - 8:48 am Comments Off

Wall Street earnings increases, on Thursday. After opening slightly higher, U.S. financial markets now earn more than 1%: the Dow is 1.16% to 11,066.34 points, the Nasdaq rose 1.44% to 2496.01 points and the S & P 500 gaining 1.36% to 1159.59 points.

After weeks of dithering, European leaders have taken in hand to avoid a collapse of the banking sector, weakened by the debt crisis, which brought down the French-Belgian group Dexia. The markets were also reassured by the publication of macroeconomic indicators in the U.S. exceeded expectations: job creation in the private sector and the ISM services.

Caution before the employment figures

Investors in Europe and the United States should however be cautious before several major macroeconomic deadlines.On Thursday, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced on Thursday to maintain its 1.50% interest rate, reference the cost of credit in the euro zone, despite the sharp deterioration in the economic and financial crisis.

Investor caution should also be strengthened by the expectation of official figures of employment for the month of September in the United States to be published Friday. Meanwhile, new jobless claims are slightly lift the United States during the last week of September, according to figures released Thursday by the Washington Department of Labor.The Ministry has identified the deposit of 401,000 applications for unemployment benefits in the country from September 25 to October 1, adjusted for seasonal variations, or 1.5% over the previous week, which is consistent with the estimate of analysts.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro reached 1 bad credit pay day loans.3331 dollars. A barrel of crude is trading at 102.38 dollars for Brent North Sea and 79.50 dollars for U.S. crude.The ounce of gold is trading in 1644 dollars.

Investors will have their eyes on Apple and Yahoo

As for values, investors will have their eyes on the technology sector.

• Apple (-0.39% to 376.77 dollars) will remain particularly observed after the announcement of the demise of the group's founder Steve Jobs.

• Yahoo (-4.60% to 15.19 dollars) is the subject of new rumors of a possible bid from U.S. computer giant Microsoft, which had already in 2008 attempted to seize the group's internet America.

• Hewlett-Packard (0.41% to 23.96 dollars) should not make further major acquisitions in the software after the acquisition of Autonomy, according to statement from the group's new boss Meg Whitman cited by Reuters.

• Boeing (0.25% to 60.11 dollars) has received an order for one.$ 1 billion from Ethiopian Airlines for four Boeing 777 freighters.

• Gilead Sciences (-0.03% to 39.14 dollars) has obtained a license agreement Boehringer Ingelheim for the exclusive rights to research, development and commercialization of an anti-integrase for the treatment of HIV.

• Marriott International (2.02% to 28.75 dollars) issued for the third quarter, earnings per share of $ 0.29, up 32% year on year. Turnover was 2.9 billion dollars against 2.6 billion last year. The revenue per available room key indicator in the hotel sector grew by 8.7% on a comparable basis, while prices rose by 5.3%.

Budget 2012: what changes for businesses and individuals

September 28, 2011 - 6:04 pm Comments Off

• Individuals involved to the tune of 5.6 billion euros

– Removal of exemptions for allowances holding period on capital gains property, excluding exempt principal residence (2200000000)

– Increase of 12.3% to 13.5% payroll taxes on capital income (1.3 billion)

– Removal or reduction of exemptions from the CSG (800,000,000)

– Increase in tobacco prices by 6% (600,000,000)

– Increase the tax and social taxes on liquor (300,000,000)

– Introduction of an outstanding contribution of 3% on very high incomes, above 500,000 euros.Some 10,000 homes were affected (200,000,000)

– Creation of a tax on sugary drinks (100 million)

– Device Scellier: decrease of 22% to 14% rate of tax reduction for investors buying new low-energy housing for rental (about 100 million euros)

– Introduction of a progressive tax (from 10 to 40%) for owners of "good rooms" applying the rents to be too expensive (over 40 euros/m2), mainly in Paris (1 million)

– Decrease of 18% to 12% rate of tax reduction for purchases in retirement homes, tourist and student (nearly 10 million)

• The companies affected to the tune of 4.8 billion euros

– Reduction of deferred losses for a harmonization of corporate taxation with Germany.- Revision of scale of the tax on company cars (100 million)

– Creation of a 2% tax on hotel stays at or above 200 euros (90 million)

– Creation of an exceptional tax next year on sales of large industrial duty subject to quotas of CO2 (200 million)

– The draft budget provides for operators to bear the costs of a possible interference of DTT with the new 4G mobile radio frequencies that will be awarded in early 2012.

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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.

Fall of the SocGen: crazy ride of a rumor

August 11, 2011 - 8:00 pm Comments Off

It all starts in late July in the French newspaper Le Monde. In a lively pen, "Philae" tells, in twelve parts, how a role play between two traders who are bored leads to rumors of a plot against Angela Merkel and the euro, all on the eve of elections French law of May 2012 ….

In this series of summer, we follow the wanderings of a young journalist from the Wall Street Journal sent to Frankfurt, headquarters of the European Central Bank and the financial hub of Germany. The names of the characters in the story are well known: Bruno Le Maire, portrays in Germanophile finance minister, Mario Draghi, Governor of the BCE, to the old speculator George Soros. On the agenda of the masters of the economy, threats to Societe Generale, next target of a takeover bid, and the Italian bank UniCredit.Their exposure to Greek debt fueling concerns.

Although it is amazed by the accuracy of the descriptions and the likelihood of situations, the informed reader understands that this is a fiction. In August 2011, Bruno Le Maire is not finance minister, but of Agriculture, and Italy's Mario Draghi has not made the head of the ECB, which is still headed by Jean-Claude Trichet.

On a rumor of a fall fiction real

It seems, however, whether this summer series that has inspired the fictional journalists Mail on Sunday, the Sunday edition of the Daily Mail for a story published Sunday catastrophic. In this paper, Simon Watkins and Dan Atkins have Societe Generale "at the brink of bankruptcy after terrible losses from its exposure to the Greek debt" and UniCredit "could collapse so similar" to the French bank.

The journalists added that "David Cameron has interrupted his vacation last night [Saturday, ed] to discuss the situation with Nicolas Sarkozy", a fact that has not been confirmed but exists also in the series of daily French.

Listed on online sites such as CNN mentioned on many forums, Twitter by many users, copied on blogs, the article from Monday, August 8 heat the rumor machine. Many elements accrediting effect the veracity of the article in the Mail on Sunday: Societe Generale is very exposed to the Greek crisis. August 3, his boss Frédéric Oudéa announced quarterly earnings down after a depreciation of 395 million euros for the shares of Greek states.

Wednesday morning the rumor that the company would be general in a situation so serious that the French government should intervene to save her is growing the market payday advance. The surprise announcement of a meeting at the Elysee Palace on the financial situation in the morning is a bombshell, and credibility to the words of the Mail on Sunday. The lack of communication officers of the Societe Generale does not help.

Meanwhile, as the stock market collapsed and with it the other financial stocks. At the heart of a black session, rumors succeed: France could lose its triple AAA, the government must save the banking system …

Only the evening that the management of Societe Generale denounces rumors and application to the financial markets opened an investigation into the launch of these sounds.But the damage is done: the bank saw its stock melted from 14.7% in one trading session.

A series of unexplained errors

Several questions remain: how an article in the Sunday edition of a tabloid, usually specializing in photographic study of cellulite British starlets, he could be taken seriously and set fire to the stock market ? How is it also possible that the two journalists of the text may have been confused, which to be inspired by what has been a fiction?

The text of Philae is, indeed, confusing realism. Hidden under the pseudonym, a journalist from the Tribune, Brussels correspondent of the daily economic, and whose employment by the evening paper did cringe at the writing of the World.A French bank would also indignant at the tone of the newspaper that gave off the soap truth, so much so that the newspaper added from 1 August 1 line warning: "Le Monde reminds its readers that situations, facts and figures reported in this fiction is imaginary and should not be taken as an expression of reality. "

There are no quotes in the article by Watkins and Atkins, which are directly drawn from the World Series, but the charges against SocGen and UniCredit, and the words of the intervention of Nicolas Sarkozy to be found in both documents. The Daily Mail has deleted Article guilty of its online site and apologized, acknowledging that the paper was based on "false information". Thursday noon, the Cac 40 fell below the symbolic threshold of 3,000 points, while Societe Generale fell by 7.26%.

Nuclear power is likely to grow

July 26, 2011 - 4:32 pm Comments Off

Nuclear power still has a bright future ahead. Yukiya Amano, head of the Agency for International Energy Agency (IAEA), is convinced. This is also in Japan, Fukushima, the scene of the worst nuclear catastrophe since Chernobyl, he recalled. "It is certain that the number of nuclear reactors will continue to rise, although the pace will not be as fast as before," he said.

After the catastrophe of Fukushima, Germany and several European countries, including Italy, Austria, Belgium or Switzerland, opened a debate on whether to continue or not to develop nuclear power, some of them have even set dates for the cessation of construction of new plants. But across the world, the challenge of nuclear power is not dominant.According Yukiya Amano in fact, "many others think they need nuclear power reactors, including the fight against the emission of greenhouse gases and global warming." Remarks which echo those of the French Minister of Economy, Eric Besson, who said in late May that "our world can not do without nuclear energy in the XXI century". And list: "Barack Obama has reaffirmed that there will be no suspension of nuclear power in the United States. China and India are launching major programs to meet their energy needs. And Europe, Great Britain, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria are continuing their efforts. "

Banking on security

If the development of this energy must continue, it will not happen without conditions, however, said Yukiya Amano."It is important above all to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities," he insists.

In Japan, nearly 36 of the 54 reactors that account Archipelago are currently halted because of the destruction caused by natural disasters or because they have not been reactivated after a routine maintenance, as a precaution. Favor a gradual reduction of nuclear, Prime Minister Naoto Kan has imposed tests of resistance to natural disasters and other risks before any recovery paydayloans. "I think it is wise that the country satisfies the safety of its nuclear plants after the accident at Fukushima Daiichi," acknowledged Yukiya Amano.

In Fukushima, "the prospects are good"

The head of the IAEA, wearing protective clothing against radiation, had also made Monday at the site of Fukushima for the first time since March 11, the day the plant was heavily damaged by the earthquake and tsunami. "Looking at the site, work is progressing in a very regular basis," he was glad. "So many people work with passion that I feel that the prospects are good," he added.

The Japanese authorities said last week be on track to regain control of the plant heavily damaged. However, they warned that full remediation of the site would take more than a decade. The operator of the plant rugged, Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), already expects to achieve cool the reactors and fuel to keep the temperature below 100 degrees Celsius by January."I told the Prime Minister that the IAEA can help Japan because we have the knowledge and experience required for decontamination and management of nuclear fuel melted or worn out," said the head of the agency.

Last June, the IAEA has criticized Japan's reaction after the accident, especially not for having implemented the agreement to give assistance provided by the agency in case of nuclear accident. It provides for cooperation between States and the IAEA to organize aid, safety and communication as appropriate.

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The largest group of nursing homes will close

July 11, 2011 - 11:44 pm Comments Off

From our correspondent in London

Despite a series of desperate measures taken last month to try to save the company, Southern Cross, the largest group of nursing homes in Britain, will have to end its activities. The company is in a position of near bankruptcy and will have to transfer all of the 752 homes it had to other management structures. Agreements are already being negotiated for a third of them. The listing of the group Southern Cross was suspended Monday for the London Stock Exchange.

An announcement has angered unions and associations for the protection of older people, worried about the future of 31,000 residents and 43,000 employees of the group.The bankruptcy of a private operator managed by investment funds of the City is also very bad news for the government to David Cameron, the reform of public health plans to provide a much greater role to the private sector.

Southern Cross tried last month to set up a restructuring plan which included the sale of hundreds of homes and the deferred payment of a quarter of rents for 752 homes, but these efforts have not been sufficient.

The magnitude of the crisis had forced the Prime Minister to take a stand last month. David Cameron was first started by saying that the state did not intervene in a private matter, but ended promise that he would do everything to ensure the situation of pensioners affected.A spokesman for Downing Street said Monday that no retiree "does homeless" because "there are currently about 50,000 places in the country" in nursing homes.

Reduced spending

The fate of Southern Cross also challenges the rapid privatization of the medical sector and assistance for the elderly in Britain for twenty years, a trend initiated by the Conservatives but pursued by Tony Blair. More than two thirds of homes in the country, many of which provide a public service, are now managed by private companies. The quality of their service is also criticism since private retirement residence with seven scored "poor" or "inadequate" in the inspections, said the Financial Times.

The cause of the collapse of Southern Cross is quite simple.The group had signed leases with annual increases of 2.5% guarantees but finds himself in is at odds because its major customers, municipalities and communities, reduce average spending of welfare benefits by 10% year, due to the combined effects of losses due to bad investments during the financial crisis and the massive budget reduction plan launched by the government Cameron.

This is the unfortunate consequence of a strategy set up by Blackstone, the investment fund that took control of the group in 2004. The fund wanted to increase the financial profitability of the group by selling its stock of homes, at a time when the UK property market was in a bubble.