Posts Tagged ‘resources’

Finance departments vulnerable

July 13, 2010 - 2:04 pm Comments Off

All local authorities are not equally affected by economic difficulties: this is the finding of the last report of the Observatory of local finance. The communes and intercommunal are spared the game as the departments and regions, they have no right to have an operating budget deficit. In 2009, they have done better: the excess of income over expenditure increased by 8.5%. It must be said that the mayors have taken advantage of early mandate to raise taxes. One way to form a mattress care.

The general and regional councils also have used the gun tax. But it was not enough, especially for departments. For the latter, the surplus between income and expenditure has shrunk by 17.8% in 2009. For social spending soared 5.3%.The crisis has pushed the bill of RSA and the aging of the population that of personal autonomy allowance (APA). The elected county expect a similar drift in 2010, "For some departments, the budget balance is very fragile," concludes the report.

Reduced investment

However, in 2011, the constraints will become even stronger. The funds that the departments, but also municipalities and regions, receiving state, which represent nearly 30% of their income, will no longer increase. This was decided by the government. Moreover, the reform of business tax will reshuffle the cards in local taxation. The communes and intercommunal retain a large basket of tax which they may determine the rate.The departments themselves, will not play on the property tax and regions on the gray card No fax cash advances. A situation that worries the county and regional elected and pushes them to invest less.

In 2010, capital spending will drop the first 2.2% and 3.4% of the latter, according to the report. Spared, the mayors expect an increase of 4.5%. "But eventually, the municipalities will be affected because they receive subsidies from the regions and departments," warns Philip Lawrence, in right-wing President of the Finance Committee of the Association of Mayors of France (AMF).

What are the solutions? The local financial professionals, such as UMP or Marc Gilles Carrez Laffineur propose to increase the redistribution between rich and poor communities.Another avenue: better management of intercommunal. For staff costs have mostly slipped to this level (they will grow 8% in 2010). The groups of municipalities have produced savings but duplicates! The government, he promised a reform of the APA to relieve the departments and the establishment of ad hoc aid. "But for now, we are expectant. If nothing happens, we will introduce a bill that will force the state to finally make up our social spending, "said Claudy Lebreton, President PS Assembly departments of France. Meanwhile, between votes and budgets insincere appeal to the courts, the climate remains tense between elected officials and county government.

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Brussels limits the traders' bonuses

July 7, 2010 - 5:08 pm Comments Off

Bonuses for traders and bankers in Europe, accused of encouraging rampant speculation during the crisis, will be capped for the first time from next year, following the final adoption of a text with meaning Wednesday.

Two years after the outbreak of the financial crisis of 2008-2009, part of the United States with the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, the European Parliament in Strasbourg approved the text, which was the subject of a June 30 Agreement between the elected and the states of the EU.

In 2011, the bonus must not be disproportionate to the fixed salary and cash bonuses will be capped at 30% of the total premium, or 20% on premiums particularly important.

End outlandish bonuses

Much of the bonus will be paid immediately and will not be after a period of at least three years to allow the employer to recover some cases where investment does not function as expected.

Finally, at least 50% of a total bonus will be paid as contingent capital, which can be recalled in case of banking difficulties, so that taxpayers do not end up in the front line when a bank gets into difficulties.

In the case of banks that receive public subsidies, the text also provides that "no variable compensation should be paid the officers of the institution unless it is justified."

"Europe gets the rules of coaching salaries of bankers and traders with the most aggressive in the world," said a French Green MEP, Canfin Pascal, who negotiated the text free credit reports. "By limiting the proportion of variable pay in total compensation, this text will finally put an end to extravagant bonuses synonymous with extravagant risks," he added.

A text to the liking of the banking sector

"Two years after the outbreak of the global financial crisis, these tough new rules on bonuses will transform the culture of bonuses and incentives to end the excessive risk-taking", claimed that his side the Socialist Arlene McCarthy, parliamentary rapporteur on file at the agreement in principle on June 30

The text is however not to the liking of the banking sector."We believe that the agreement goes too far, because at the international level, there are already some principles" in the form of recommendations that were made including the Financial Stability Board (FSB), had informed the AFP secretary general of the European Banking Federation, Guido Ravoet after the tentative agreement. "We believe that this is not the public authorities to make amounts, percentages," he added, saying that this responsibility should be left to banks.

"If the international level, it does not follow Europe, European banks have a competitive disadvantage," says Guido Ravoet, who believes that "financial centers like New York, Singapore and Hong Kong will benefit."

The CAC 40 ended the session in style

June 28, 2010 - 11:20 pm Comments Off

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

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

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

A well-attended American Statistical

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

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

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

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

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

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

The tax credit: disagreements

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

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

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

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

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

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

Obama committed to pay BP

June 15, 2010 - 12:24 am Comments Off

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

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

Discussions in BP

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

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

Largest drop in the FTSE

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

The EU is considering a fund to defend the euro

May 9, 2010 - 6:56 am Comments Off

Meeting in Brussels, the Heads of States of the euro area have finally approved the activation of the financial assistance plan 110 billion euros to Greece three years. According to several government sources, the leaders have also discussed the establishment of a fund to help countries threatened to defend the euro. The European Commission could contribute in the form of loans to the tune of 70 billion euros. The European Central Bank (ECB) will also participate.

"Attack of the market is now against the euro and individualized assistance to any country may give an insufficient response of Europe, the priority is a unified response, firm and fast," said one in particular these sources on condition of anonymity.

If agreement seems to have been found on Friday on the need to establish a sustainable mechanism for defending the single currency, the heads of states still fail to agree on every detail. "The discussion focuses particularly on the role of the ECB," said a source close to the talks

Pressure on ECB

All eyes are turned to the ECB effect. The other track would be mentioned that the latter buys bonds issued by states of the euro area, to provide them in exchange for cash. According to these same diplomatic sources, the European Commission would currently pressuring the ECB to make sense in a concrete proposal to support the euro area.

On Monday, the ECB announced it would accept the Greek debt as collateral for its loans, regardless of their credit ratings.Extending this unprecedented step for all countries in the euro area "would be a strong signal to markets" would have said the president of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso. But on Thursday, the ECB said it had not considered.

At the meeting this Friday, the president of the European Central Bank Jean-Claude Trichet, have estimated that the eurozone faced a "systemic crisis" easy payday loans.

Tighten fiscal discipline

The euro zone leaders agree at least on the need to tighten fiscal discipline. A commitment to ensure that "Greece is not only to reduce its deficits, but that we work so that all the Stability and Growth speedy again respected," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Brussels.

Leaders also stressed the need for better coordination of economic policies in the euro area. Finally the sixteen Heads of State and Government reiterated their determination to "move quickly on the regulation and supervision of financial markets. They also insist on the creation of "a European rating agency.

Barack Obama supports the EU

Moreover, since the White House is that Barack Obama supported the European heads of state on Friday. "I made it clear that the United States supports these efforts and will continue to cooperate with EU authorities and the IMF during this critical period," he said, after talks with Angela Merkel.

American concerns grew at the same time as the market stress.Wednesday, Charles Plosser, a leader of the U.S. central bank (Fed) has assured that "the economic recovery of the U.S. could be delayed by a further turmoil in financial markets. Recent events in Greece are one of the factors likely to influence the evolution of the U.S. economy. "

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Further decrease expected in the Paris Bourse

April 29, 2010 - 7:56 pm Comments Off

Greece, Portugal and Spain. Southern Europe continues to frighten the markets. The Spanish saw its debt rating one notch worse, with a negative outlook.

Between degradation rate and retention Note

During a joint press conference yesterday, Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank, and Dominique Strauss-Kahn, director of the International Monetary Fund, have called on Germany to take an expeditious decision on aid Greece. Both men say they are confident. German Chancellor Angela Merkel seems he heard the message, since it has declared its intention to activate "as quickly as possible" aid plan.

Fortunately, a decision from the United States has been somewhat reassure financial markets. The Fed has indeed confirmed keep interest rates low for a "prolonged period".And this, despite a rapid recovery of the economy.

In this context, it will be interesting to see how values are changing bank, after they have been two sessions in the red. Above Credit Agricole said Wednesday night that its exposure to sovereign risk in Greece amounted to 850 million euros.

Quarterly Results: Sanofi-Aventis, and Technip for ArcelorMittal

Among the values that have posted Wednesday, PPR has returned to growth in the first quarter after five consecutive quarters of downturn, and said Tuesday anticipate a further acceleration in sales during the year.

The day of Thursday will be rich in quarterly publications: ArcelorMittal, France Telecom, Suez Environment, Sanofi-Aventis, Pernod-Ricard, Vivendi, AXA, Bouygues, Areva or Michelin publish.

Renault has announced that the equity between the group, its Japanese partner Nissan and Germany's Daimler had been made Wednesday. The three groups have formalized their alliance in early April for three to share technologies and reduce costs.

The U.S. unemployment statistics in the heart of the day

On the macroeconomic front, the day will, however, less responsible.On the program, the weekly claims for unemployment benefit, which will be published at approximately 14.30 U.S., unemployment for the month of April in Germany and in April business confidence in the euro area.

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The niches are the most popular expensive

April 10, 2010 - 11:16 am Comments Off

A colossal sum greater than the budget of the National Education (61 billion). Highly concentrated: 16 niches alone capturing half the cost for public finances.

However, it is often those most economically useful. So goes there for the two most expensive devices: reduced VAT for maintenance in housing, which supports the construction sector and limit the black, and the research tax credit, which helps innovation.

Even finding the side of households, half the cost of tax loopholes is on tax cuts on income. It includes the premium for employment, the benefits of life insurance or the tax cut for working as employees at home. Suffice to say that these niches are very popular among the French! What makes the issue politically sensitive.In addition, certain devices have become political symbols untouchable, like reduced VAT in restaurants, promised by Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy obtained payday loans online. Finally address the benefits of retirees is not straightforward.

To avoid the worst abuses – some taxpayers paying more tax because of all these devices – Parliament has capped the niche end of 2008. He then reduced that limit last year. A taxpayer can not reduce income taxes by using loopholes in the tax in excess of an amount equal to 20 000 plus 8% of its taxable income. And almost all devices are now individually capped. Including niches overseas.

But reducing the niche 2 billion per year is a task far more difficult. Two competing options.Gilles Carrez, the UMP rapporteur of the Finance Committee in Parliament, hopes all planing devices 5% to 10%. The rate of tax reduction for use of an employee at home happen for example 50% to 45%. Bercy wishes to address the niches with the least sense. Elysee Matignon and have not yet decided.

Wall Street awaited the green

March 29, 2010 - 10:57 pm Comments Off

The index futures are predicting a slightly higher opening of U.S. markets. Shortly before the opening of Wall Street, futures on indices Standard & Poor's 500 and 10.8501961,50 points.

The U.S. markets have ended on a stable note Friday. The Dow Jones gained 0.08% to 10850, 36 and the Nasdaq 100 0.18% to 1952.63. The values of consumer durables and clothing and basic materials have gained ground. Conversely, those software and services and facilities and health services have been abused.

For U.S. investors await today in early afternoon revenues and expenditures of households for the month of February.

But the main highlight of the week on the macroeconomic level is expected Friday with the release of monthly statistics of unemployment in the United States.But U.S. markets will be closed as usual April 2 for the Friday that precedes Easter. Investors can therefore respond to the employment figures as the following week. They should focus their attention until the "Leading indicators of employment 'perception of the labor market by households, with the Conference Board survey from Tuesday, then the number of ADP private practice Wednesday. According to the makers of "Aurel BGC, the consensus of economists expect a sharp rebound in job creation."But, "this movement is partly technical, related to the reintegration of people who temporarily lost their jobs because of weather conditions in February …" add the specialists Aurel BGC.

Other key indicators of the week will be Tuesday house prices and an estimate of consumer confidence, Wednesday the index of activity in the Chicago area and the numbers of orders in February. Thursday last week's meeting, the market will focus on the ISM index of manufacturing activity and construction spending in March.

On the currency markets, the euro continued to recover against the greenback after the announcement last Thursday of an agreement between the countries of the eurozone to help Greece with the participation of the IMF.The euro was trading above $ 1.34 in the morning.

The values listed, Chinese, Geely signed Sunday an agreement with Ford on the acquisition of Volvo cars. The sale had been expected for several weeks, the Geely group wishing to build a Volvo plant in Beijing for its domestic market. Ford said the transaction was $ 1.8 billion and would be finalized during the third quarter.By selling Volvo, bought 6.45 billion dollars in 1999, and Ford sells the latest brand of upscale pole he had wanted to be and which also included Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover.

According to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, Verizon Communications, the second mobile operator in the United States, is in talks to merge with Vodafone.

Companies are also starting to communicate on the cost of health reform. AT & T announced a provision of 1 billion, Caterpillar announced a 100 million dollars and Deere & Co, an extraordinary expense of 150 million. The impact of this legislation on corporate performance is difficult to estimate the short term. The new law eliminates many tax deductions that companies used to reduce health costs for retirees.

Time Warner would offer $ 1.5 billion for MGM

March 23, 2010 - 2:25 pm Comments Off

The studio, based in New York could provide between 1.2 billion and 1.5 billion dollars for the recovery of the mythical MetroGoldwynMayer (MGM), as disclosed by the British newspaper Financial Times.

MGM has put up for sale last year, following its inability to pay its bills. She had received several proposals, three were still in contention at the end of last week. The company, which had initially hoped to sell two billion dollars, must be examined this week, not totally exclude the possibility of remaining independent fast cash loans .

The Hollywood studio has contracted a debt of 3.7 billion dollars five years ago, and he suffered falling DVD sales that affects the entire industry.His library of 4,100 films is yet to dream all his competitors.

MGM owns the rights to include the James Bond series, including those who are running. Time Warner owns the news channel CNN and Time Magazine.

Sony launches PS3 in the assault on the Wii

March 12, 2010 - 4:14 am Comments Off

Response. In San Francisco the night of Wednesday to Thursday, Sony has provided details on its controller wireless control for its home console PlayStation 3 (PS3), at a conference for designers of video games. Using this kind of remote topped by a white sphere that changes color depending on the phases of the game, the Tokyo group hopes to outdo the Wii from Nintendo. It is possible to reproduce on-screen hand movements and body of the player. "Our controller PlayStation Move Motion Controller, with a camera placed above the screen and game will be sold at least $ 100 in the fall," says one Sony in France, without specifying the European price.

New public

With its controller "Wii Remote" Satoru Iwata, CEO of Nintendo, has attracted a new audience of young women and people reluctant to play.The controller of the Wii helped make it easy to use video games. A little more than three years after its launch, the figures speak for themselves: the console, Nintendo has sold nearly 70 million units worldwide, as many as the combined sales of PlayStation 3 added to those of Xbox 360 Microsoft.

For nearly a year, Sony and Microsoft are developing projects to retort to the Wii, the graphics less advanced.

From June 2, 2009, Sony announced its response. "Our power controller is more precise than all other existing systems, which is essential for games in high definition. For the master controller has an accelerometer and a gyroscope. Depth is also determined with precision, with the camera placed above the screen, then told the Figaro, Kaz Hirai, head of the gaming division of Sony.At that time, the firm Nippon would propose his joystick in the spring. It took a little longer, especially to incorporate the side of the camera (which recalls his playing "Eye Toy" for PS2) a sound recording instant payday loans . "Experiments in Augmented Reality" are thus promised to the players for PS3. Thirty-six studios and game publishers, including Activision, Disney, Sega, THQ, Ubisoft and Warner, will offer programs for this controller. The studios Sony, meanwhile, will launch 20 games by 31 March 2011.

The offensive of Sony, with the supplement to "augmented reality", is decisive in the fight which is tied with Microsoft. For the holiday season to season, which begins in November in the U.S., the Xbox 360 is expected to enrich the "project Natal.Microsoft wants to happen and joystick control games and propose a system composed of an infrared camera and a system of speech recognition. "The joystick is you," stated Don Mattrick, head of the gaming division of Microsoft, with last year's project to mark the spirits. In June, in Los Angeles in the next world fair of video games, the software giant must provide details on price, launch date and games for the Natal project.

Revenge of the 3D

However, Sony will release a new card to boost sales of PS3: 3D. Indeed, its console will be enriched in the second half, two programs for relief – which may be retrieved on the Internet for holders of current consoles."Thanks to the reader on Blu-ray built into the PS3, the console will offer games in relief, then a second software enables you to watch movies in 3D," said a spokesman for Sony in France. It is an advantage, including the Xbox 360. Because Microsoft has bet on HD-DVD finally abandoned, for its home console that incorporates a simple DVD player. The PS3 might as well take his revenge and become, according to Strategy Analytics, in the end, the next-generation console's best selling world.