Posts Tagged ‘stories’

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".

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Wall Street should remain febrile

October 21, 2011 - 10:40 pm Comments Off

The future of Standard Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 predict a small increase in opening of U.S. stock markets on Friday. Thursday already, the New York Stock Exchange ended without direction.

U.S. investors, like their counterparts in Europe and Asia, should be particularly attentive to the development of the debt crisis in the eurozone. They should avoid taking risks when to begin a crucial summit on the debt crisis this weekend. Paris and Berlin have announced that Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel would speak well Saturday in Brussels to prepare an "ambitious and comprehensive response" to the crisis. Concrete measures will be considered Sunday to be adopted during a second peak "no later than Wednesday."

Discussions will focus on how to increase the capacity of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), but also on the rescue of Greece.Meanwhile, in Greece, the anti-austerity continues. A new law has been de rigueur in the Greek Parliament voted Thursday.

Summit high risk in Europe

For many observers, however, profound differences remain between France and Germany. "There is no joint proposal" European at the moment, has acknowledged Thursday the German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble. For his part, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso called on Europeans to "compromise" to reach decisions "resolved" and "immediate."

Another failure might further undermine investor confidence in the ability of Europeans to fight effectively against the debt crisis.They would now have a highly sensitive situation at the G20 to be held in early November.

Pressure rating agencies

Rating agencies are increasing the pressure on the euro area. After Moody's, S & P raised doubts about the AAA rating of the long-term debt of France. The agency suggests a probable degradation of notes France, Spain, Italy, Ireland and Portugal according to economic conditions no fax pay day loan.

On the macroeconomic front there is no any major indicator on the agenda of U.S. investors on Monday.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro retreated slightly to 1.3741 dollars against 1.3772 dollars on Thursday night. Oil prices were, themselves, up in the wake of the announcement of the disappearance of the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.The barrel of "light sweet crude" for December delivery gained 71 cents to 86.78 dollars on the New York Mercantile Exchange while in London, a barrel of Brent North Sea crude for December delivery was appreciating eight cents to 109.84 dollars on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE).

Earnings up for Microsoft

The side of values, after the close, Microsoft released the first quarter, revenues of $ 17.4 billion, up 7% year on year. Net income reached 5.74 billion, up 6%, while earnings per share rose 10% to $ 0.68.

Sandisk has reported a turnover in the third quarter of $ 1.4 billion, up 15% year on year.Earnings per share were $ 0.96 against $ 1.34 last year.

Altera has recorded sales of 522.5 million dollars in the third quarter, down 1% year on year and down 2% from the previous quarter.

Capital One Financial has released the third quarter net income of $ 813 million against 803 million last year and 911 million in the second quarter.

Chubb Corp in the third quarter earnings per share of $ 1.04 against $ 1.8 last year.For the full year, the U.S. insurer expects operating earnings per share of 5.1 to 5.2 against the dollar from 5.55 to 5.85 dollars in a previous estimate.

Note also, from Monday, October 24, the company Groupon, which specializes in online distribution of discount coupons for shopping in local markets, should do its IPO on the basis of a valuation from October to December billion. However, it is far from the capitalization of 15 to 20 billion, of which Andrew Mason, founder of the company was still dreaming in June.

Epidemic failure of Chinese SMEs

October 15, 2011 - 10:08 am Comments Off

From our correspondent in Beijing

It became the big hot topic on the Chinese Internet to the desktop as local leaders. The distress of Chinese SMEs in need of cash is in China proportions "hysterical", according to press reports in Hong Kong. To the point that the government has announced a package of measures to help them and calm the unrest.

The crisis of Chinese SMEs is symbolized by the incredible epidemic of bankruptcies in the city of Wenzhou, in the heart of the exporting province of Zhejiang. The Chinese press said Thursday that since the beginning of the year, more than 200 patrons had fled or hid after their coffers have dried up. Others have committed suicide. Some 20% of the 360,000 SMEs in the region have already had to close shop for lack of money.And the situation will get worse in January, when the Chinese New Year, traditionally the time when patrons enjoy a vacation to disappear without paying their employees. According to the New China News Agency, SMEs create around 80% of jobs in the country.

The State Council (Chinese government) has subsequently announced Tuesday a series of measures, financial and tax to help small and medium enterprises. The first is to facilitate access to credit. To do so, against the current of their policy, the authorities will allow the minimum reserve ratios "comparatively low" for local banks lending to SMEs, while this ratio was usually around 21% for large banks. Moreover, these small businesses can more easily borrow by issuing bonds. The other part is to exempt SMEs from a battery of taxes and charges.Banks are also prohibited from charging their services at prices "unreasonable."

"Informal Credit"

Wenzhou has become a symbol for it is the Chinese capital of the "informal credit". Private reserves by banks, which prefer to grant loans to large corporations, small businesses are strangled. They have no recourse but to turn to private security companies that have developed lending. The rates are incredibly high, ranging from 20% to over 100% … Some analysts believe that the share of informal loans may exceed 25% of total credit in the country. Credit Suisse has estimated that black market credit of 456 billion euros, with an increase of 50% per year.

Chief economist at the Development Research Centre of the State Council, Zhang Wenkui believes that the latest measures only bring temporary relief.And nothing will change until the banking sector do not be reformed, by offering different services to different types of customers. He has a vivid picture to describe the current situation: "It's like an irrigation system with water that would go to large trees and ignore all the shrubs." The problem is that in the short Beijing term can not open the floodgates too, failing to challenge its efforts to the credit crunch.

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Debt: the U.S. will "never failing"

August 21, 2011 - 4:32 pm Comments Off

Operation seduction for Joe Biden. The U.S. vice president, who loop a five-day official visit to China, wanted to reassure foreign creditors first in Washington on the economic strength of the United States. Americans "have never been in default and never will be," he said Sunday.

According to Joe Biden, even if the agreement signed last moment three weeks ago by Congress to prevent this disaster has cost the country a deterioration in its S & P notes, "The United States remains the best option to invest."

The message is "clear"

Beijing, which holds nearly 1.17 trillion dollars of U.S. debt, had been very critical of the U.S. government after the historic decision of the rating agency. The country was particularly called on Americans to stop living above their means payday loans.

The visit of U.S. Vice President in China, entirely focused on the issue of U.S. debt and the solidity of the world's largest economy, appears to have reassured. "You have sent a clear message to the Chinese public, that the United States will keep their promises and their commitments to their sovereign debt," has said Premier Wen Jiabao. This will ensure the safety, liquidity and value of good Americans. " The Chinese leader also claims to have "full confidence in the fact that the U.S. will overcome their difficulties and put their economy back on track for healthy growth."

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Zara accused of forced labor in Brazil

August 19, 2011 - 10:40 pm Comments Off

Inditex, one of the largest apparel retailers in the world is in the middle of a scandal in Latin America. The investigation by Brazilian authorities on two of its suppliers workshops clothing brand Zara in Sao Paulo showed 48 irregularities. Sixteen illegal workers from Bolivia and Peru were forced to work at 14 hours a day, said Wednesday a spokesman for the Labour Inspectorate of the State of Sao Paulo. They were paid between 274 and 460 Brazilian reals per month (120 and 200 euros), which is below the minimum wage of 545 reais (238 euros), as required by labor law in Brazil. Among the illegal working in the workshops, there was a girl of 14.

"This is the largest operation since the launch of the eradication of precarious working conditions in Sao Paolo," said in an interview with the NGO Reporter Brasil controller Guiliana Cassiano Orlandi. "The workshops were not inspected at all conform to standards. In addition to dirt, workers, working in rooms filled with tissue, increasing the risk of fire, "said a statement from the NGOs. The survey comes as Brasilia launched a crusade against slavery in the sectors of clothing, coal and industrial sugar cane.

According to the committee of inquiry, the illegal workers in two workshops sewed blouses for spring-summer collection of the brand Zara.These were bought to the owner of the workshop for 7 Real part (about 3 euros), while the same gowns, with labels "Made in Spain" were sold at 139 reais (61 euros) in the store mark west of Sao Paulo.

Suppliers stigmatized

The Ministry of Labour of Brazil said it had already imposed 52 fines on Zara "for various irregularities." Last May the Labour Inspectorate of the same Brazilian state has already discovered in the town of Americana, 130 km from the metropolis an illegal garment factory owned by another subcontractor to Zara. The government investigation, which focused on four garment factories last spring, showed that all the clothes in these workshops were made for the Spanish brand.

According Reporter Brasil investigation pointed the finger at one of the subcontractors of Zara, the company AHA, which would thus manufactured illegally for nearly 46,000 Spanish brand clothing guaranteed approval cash loans. This company would become the largest supplier of tissue of the Brazilian subsidiary of the Spanish group between July 2010 and May of this year. "At the same time, the company has significantly reduced the number of its employees. The number of employees hired legally would have come back from 100 to almost 20, "says the report of the investigation. As for the subsidiary of Zara in Brazil, she issued the authorization to affix the labels of its brand on these products only if "they were consistent with standards," without considering the conditions of manufacture.

Regulation "required"

In a statement, the Inditex Group requires that "the supplier responsible for the unauthorized subcontracting regulates the situation immediately," accusing him of "externalizing the information" which must remain secret in the name of the contract that binds him to Zara . Inditex has also clarified that the Brazilian Ministry of Labour is doing what is necessary to legalize the situation of illegal workers. Brazil has granted visas to some of them until they receive compensation, say some government sources.

Brazilian products represent just 1% of world production of Zara. Much of clothing is provided by Spain, where the company owns its own factories, and Portugal. According to the estimation of the group, by "illegal" production represents only 0.03% segment in Brazil."Brazil is the third largest American market after the United States and Mexico," says Spanish producer, which owned 30 stores in 2010 ennviron in the country. "We plan to open more stores in Brazil in the future."

This is not the first time, the Inditex group is accused of mistreating its employees in emerging countries. Earlier this year, one hundred workers of a textile factory in Cambodia have vanished because of difficult working conditions, exposure to chemicals and stifling heat in the premises. The plant manufactured garments for major global retailers, including H & M, Marks & Spencer and Inditex. According to the International Labor Organization, at least 12.3 million people are victims of forced labor in the world.

Triple expansion plan to calm markets

July 23, 2011 - 10:04 pm Comments Off

EU leaders Thursday night put on the table a series of measures to help Greece, but also to convince that there is solidarity in the euro area.

Save Greece

Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank on Thursday. Photo credits: Georges Gobet / AFP

Caravelle lost its CEO in an aircraft accident

July 19, 2011 - 12:40 pm Comments Off

The announcement was confirmed Monday afternoon by the company itself. The CEO of Caravelle, Pierre-André Martel, died Sunday evening with his daughter 20 years following the crash of a light aircraft near Lyon. Aged 57, Pierre-André Martel was known to have founded in 1995 Caravelle, the group specializes in the recovery and rehabilitation of companies, it still ran. Polytechnique, the man was also recently ranked by Fortune magazine Challenges 134th in France, with a wealth estimated at 350 million euros. He held still, with his family, 95% stake in his company.Caravelle, which announced the end of 2010, over 400 million euros in consolidated shareholders' equity and cash more than 200 million, operates in various sectors ranging from heavy equipment (Benalu, Marrel, EDBRO, Lamberet) to the self-medication (Cooper) through transport (Ducros Express, Girard).

"The provisions of Martel in this event are implemented and ensure the continuation of the group Caravelle," assured the company in a statement. When contacted, the company has not yet given details on the identity of the future (e) governing the group employs about 5000 employees worldwide, and manages 375 million euros in net business bad credit payday advance.

The board has not yet expressed

One obvious thing for the moment the most pressing issues: the future leader (or the acting team), will manage the back of the motor carrier Mory. Partially placed in receivership, it had attracted the interest of Caravelle, which confirmed the strategic importance of the resumption of mail Mory, "in order to bring its subsidiary Ducros Express." Candidates for the recovery should occur before July 31, but the direction of Caravelle had already filed early in July a written offer. Unlikely, however, that the tragic death of Sunday calling into question the strategic choice.

Meanwhile, the Board of Directors of Caravelle did not logically expressed on the scenarios considered in the coming weeks leading figure on the future of the group.The question of the succession of Pierre-André Martel remains in effect for the moment difficult to address, just hours after the formalization of that disappearance. Especially companies that, like the family, the imprint of a founding CEO of the group will need time to adapt substantial teams.

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Gloomy outlook on French growth

July 9, 2011 - 10:32 am Comments Off

Sudden brake on the French economy. The second quarter growth should be two times less than anticipated previously Banque de France (BDF), the institution announced Friday. It reduced its growth forecast to 0.2% for the period April to June, against 0.4% previously and 0.5% in its first estimate. The government expects growth of 2% over the year.

This revision severe downward is motivated by recent activity indicators published by the monetary institution. She recorded a decline in June industrial output (4 points to 99 points) and a slower growth in services (-1 points 99 points). The activity, however, should be stabilizing, according to forecasts from the BoF.

Reduced consumption

"The growth in the second quarter will be much less impressive than the first, reflecting the end of the phenomenon of stock recovery in business and the decline in consumer spending due to inflation and the decision of the premium the case, "said Mathilde Lemoine chief economist at HSBC France. It is also banking on 0.2% growth over the period.

These figures confirm the slowdown in recent months in France, after a very dynamic first quarter. The leading index of activity came out in late June PMI fell sharply, reaching a lowest level in eight months, to 55.4 points. "Industry as services are affected by a drop in new orders, which does not bode well for future growth," Analysis Ken Wattret, chief euro zone economist at BNP Paribas.

French exports did not spark either in recent months (0.9% from March to May), particularly because of slower sales in Asia. However, the French manufacturers seem to keep their spirits up. The INSEE index posted in June were up 3 points to 109 points. A level above its long-term average.

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Procter & Gamble seeks five billion customers

July 4, 2011 - 11:56 am Comments Off

The world's leading consumer is again in top form. The annual accounts ended June should show an increase in turnover of 5% over last year, when sales reached 78.9 billion dollars. Bob McDonald, who took over the group in the middle of the crisis in July 2009, was last week in France for his first visit since taking office. This former military academy at West Point, who spent five years in the U.S. Army before joining Procter in 1980, his book Figaro battle plan to win every year 200 million new consumers.

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Bank stocks have saddled the Paris Bourse

June 15, 2011 - 11:36 am Comments Off

The Paris Bourse plunges on Wednesday. In early trade, the CAC 40 lost 0.43% to 3851.23 points, affected by renewed concerns about Greece and the decision by Moody's considering downgrades of three major French banks because of their exposure to Greece, which Moody's has downgraded the beginning of June.

In the viewfinder of the rating agency: BNP Paribas (-1.62% to 51.76 euros, the biggest drop CAC 40), Credit Agricole (-1.48% to 10.05 euros) and Company General (-1.43% to 39.22 euros). Moody's also points out that the review it conducts since late March on the note of the Franco-Belgian bank Dexia (-1.20% to 2.30 euros), also may be lowered, take into account its exposure to Greece.Carried away by the decline sectoral Natixis loose as 1.33% to 3.48 euros.

In the wake of Paris, the DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange opened down 0.37% at 7178.05 points and the London Stock Exchange began declining from 0.24% to 5789.4 points.

Already this morning, Asian markets have sent mixed signals, some following the positive trend on Wall Street and others focusing on new measures taken by monetary tightening to counter China's runaway inflation.

Inflation has stabilized in France

Caution is all the greater a significant number of macroeconomic indicators is expected today. In France, consumer prices rose 0.1% in May from the previous month and one-year inflation has decelerated slightly to 2.0%, according to statistics released Wednesday by the INSEE.

The euro area will unveil its industrial production.United States, the day will be busy: there will be firstly the Empire state index of the activity of the New York Fed, follow the index and consumer price figures from the Fed industrial production and capacity utilization of production. Wells Fargo index of the property market is also planned, as are the weekly crude inventories.

Just oil on the forehead, it was time for caution in morning trading in Asia. A barrel of light sweet crude for July delivery lost 25 cents to 99.12 dollars while that of Brent North Sea crude for delivery rose 49 cents identical to $ 120.65. As for currencies, the euro fell slightly against the greenback at 1.4421 dollar.Finance ministers of the euro area have not reached an agreement Tuesday for a new plan for financial assistance to Greece.

PSA supervision

To be continued outside the banking sector:

Technip: -0.12% to 72.98 euros

The French oil engineering group won, via its subsidiary, Duco, a contract worth around 15 million euros from the British company BP Exploration Operating Development of Lan Do field offshore Vietnam business card templates.

Total: -0.22% to 38.24 euros

The tanker is confident in its ability to meet its production targets despite the political unrest in North Africa and the Middle East, said Tuesday strategy director of the French company, Jean-Jacques Mosconi.

Carrefour: -0.63% to 29.39 euros

The police court of Evry Tuesday condemned the teaching of retailing at 3.66 million in fines for non-compliance with minimum wage of about 1,200 employees in France, officials said a judicial source.

PSA Peugeot Citroën: 0.63% to 28.81 euros

A central works council will be held June 23 to discuss the strategy of the manufacturer, which maintains that the closure of its site of Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis), discussed in internal documents, is not on the agenda.

Renault: 0.99% to 37.06 euros

The manufacturer has postponed to 2014 or 2015 its plan to implement Flins (Yvelines) a plant for production of batteries for electric vehicles, originally planned for 2012, wrote Wednesday Le Figaro and La Tribune, citing the CGT and the management of Renault, which in turn explains the delay by "technical reasons".

EADS: +0.84% ​​to 21.58 euros, Air France-KLM: 0.33% to 10.67 euros

Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Pierre Lellouche, will in the coming days the CEO of Air France-KLM, said on Tuesday from his office. The company is under pressure to support Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS, to the detriment of Boeing's next aircraft order.

Lagardère: -0.11% to 26.79 euros

The group announced Tuesday the appointment of Alain Lemarchand and Seamus O'Brien for the posts of deputy general managers of Lagardère Unlimited, its sports and entertainment division recently affected by a series of departures.

Rhodia: 0.24% to 31.34 euros Solvay: 0.14% to 106.80 euros

Solvay ofiiciellement Tuesday launched its takeover bid for Rhodia at a price of 31.60 euros per share. The offer should be between 15 and 20 July, according to the timetable.Solvay also offer 52.30 euros per Equator.

Areva: -0.02% to 24.35 euros

In an interview with Voices, the group's president, Anne Lauvergeon, admits that nuclear power should "rebuild confidence" after the accident at the Japanese central Fukushima, but it emphasizes the importance of the sector: "Imagine our trade deficit without nuclear power! ".

Note that BioMerieux holds its general meeting today and Faiveley Transport will publish its annual results after market close.