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The sum is still small, but she will have to grow strongly in coming years. In 2011, e-commerce subsidiary of the SNCF has made 88 million euros in business volume, that is the sum of all transactions in Europe via its website tgv-europe . com.
It is still only a drop of water, compared to 3.2 billion euros in business volume generated by all of Voyages-sncf.com last year. To achieve this, the company sold 60 million tickets in 2011, against 54 million in 2010. The site selling online has passed 30% of all tickets sold by its parent.
Yves Tyrode, the CEO of Voyages-sncf.com, however, appreciate "the dynamism of European sales, which rose 24% between 2010 and 2011." And he expects to win market share in Europe. He especially appreciates the fact that success in Europe "can bring foreigners in France, and increase the number of nights."
In June, applications for the iPhone will be launched in Germany, Spain, Belgium and Switzerland. This is a real driver for growth: last year, 20% of connections on the site in France came from a mobile phone, even if the transaction rate is lower, only 4% easy to get unsecured personal loans.
Investment in a search engine
The success of the destination France also explains the restoration of the branch "travel agency" of society. "After four years of downturn, we stabilized the volume of business of the travel agency at 224 million euros," said Yves Tyrode. The success was important to offer camping (53%) and package deals (15%).
"The role of France as a destination should be confirmed in 2012, said Yves Tyrode yet. This is one factor that allows us to target new growth of our business this year. "
Travel sncf.com do not hesitate to invest elsewhere on this theme. In March, the company took a 45% stake in Hexatourisme, a search engine designed to promote France as a tourist destination worldwide. On this project, the subsidiary of SNCF is alongside the Deposit (which owns 45% stake) and Maison de la France (10%), the public agency for tourism development of France. "We are still in a phase of investment, even if the site is already being tested," said Yves Tyrode.
Louis Welsh, CEO of aerospace group EADS, Airbus' parent company, for another few months, had assured him a few weeks ago the BBC: "We will continue and we will resist external interference." The confirmation of the German Ministry of Economics of a possible rise of Berlin the capital of the group could make the mission more difficult. The German government has indeed made a provision that could be used to repurchase additional shares of EADS.
Last November, Berlin had confirmed the recovery of half of the shares of the automaker Daimler, or 7.5%. The aim of the German government was not to lose ground against the French government retaining these shares in the lap of Germany.
But Berlin could therefore go beyond. The government has made a provision so that the public bank KF – who had already intervened in the case Daimler – can optionally be able to take additional units, the ministry said. In Focus, 4.5% stake now held by a group of private investors, shareholders also 60% of a consortium named Dedalus. This last group of public and private investors, includes, alongside great names of German finance Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank and Allianz, regional states in which EADS operates in Germany (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hamburg and Bremen ). Dedalus has a total of 7.5% of the aerospace group.
Power relations
By the end of the year, the consortium Dedalus might decide to sell 4.5% stake. If he offers to the German State, it will be obliged to redeem them, the ministry said. Deutsche Bank and Allianz, who took 10% of each Dedalus at the time of formation of the structure in 2007, did not comment. According to the Financial Times Deutschland, the provision of government reach 1.6 billion euros. The new acquisition would amount to 12% of Berlin's participation in the capital of EADS. According to Les Echos, it could reach 13% if we add the 1% held by the public bank KfW in Dedalus. In front, France has 15% stake, and Lagardère 7.5%.
The balance of power at EADS are a sensitive subject. Recently, the German government has expressed its fears of excessive weight of France in his eyes in the division of roles and assignment of key posts, including the changeover from the center of gravity of EADS in Toulouse. Thomas Enders, Airbus President and current successor of Louis Galois, had proposed to his headquarters in Toulouse.
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Guided by prudence and using a firm fingering, Angela Merkel hopes to finally bring his talents to HRD. German Chancellor, nothing could contribute as much to instill the "culture of stability Germanic" within the European Union that the appointment of his finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, at the head of the Eurogroup. The Financial Times Deutschland, Berlin is active behind the scenes in Brussels to impose this appointment.
The current head of the Eurogroup, Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker, whose term expires in June, said he would not re-enlist. Refusing to comment on the rumors surrounding Schäuble, Berlin, however, refrained from any lie. Schäuble "is an excellent Minister of Finance and plays an important role" in the Eurogroup, was content to meet the Chancellor. "A series of appointments ahead" in Europe, she said simply.
Ratage ECB
According to an agreement within the EU, appointments to the head of the Eurogroup, the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB), as Chief of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Director of the European bailout fund (SS) must be negotiated in a block. If Merkel gets the nomination of his finance minister at the head of the Eurogroup, she will forfeit seek the leadership of the MES for the German Klaus Regling, current director of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) fast payday loan.
Angela Merkel, who missed one after the appointment of a German head of the ECB, then the position of chief economist of the institution, actively probe its partners.
The weight of the AAA
Experienced, respected and influential, Wolfgang Schäuble, 69, "has the best cards" to chair this group which brings together the finance ministers of the euro area, ensures the Financial Times Deutschland. Italian Prime Minister, Mario Monti, busy with his duties, and Finland's Jyrki Katainen have both declined the direction of the Eurogroup. Early in the week, Wolfgang Schäuble had implicitly placed in the race, ruling that the countries receiving AAA "are more likely to nominate a candidate" at the head of the Eurogroup.
However, the French president has not given its assent to the appointment of Schäuble. "Nicolas Sarkozy fears that Germany's position becomes too strong," writes the FTD. The paper added that the secretary general of the Elysee, Xavier Muscat, covets the leadership of SS.
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The hands of talented British singer and songwriter Eric Clapton, nicknamed "God" (God), she plays alone, the ultimate sound of blues and rock'n'roll. Renowned for its crystal clear sound, the American brand of Fender guitars now also shine on the market scene on Wall Street.
Founded in 1946 by Leo Fender, the legendary American manufacturer of electric guitars, acoustic amplifiers and a record filed Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to enter "as soon as possible" on the Nasdaq. The date of the introduction, the number of shares offered and their prices have not yet been disclosed.
The company, which will appear on the Stock Exchange under the symbol "FNDR", hopes to raise up to $ 200 million. The inventor of the Stratocaster, the icon of the electric guitar and one of the most popular models in the world, with "use about $ 100 million of revenue raised through this IPO" to repay a portion of its debts, whose amount is close $ 250 million. "In 2011 we were number one in terms of market share in the U.S. in the field of electric guitars, acoustic, and bass amplifiers and electric guitars and basses," the company said.
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, owned by the Weston Presidio investment fund, has made 700.6 million dollars in sales in 2011 to a net profit of 19 million. Some 45% of its sales generated outside the U.S., mainly on the European market.
Also Eric Clapton, Fender has among its faithful ambassadors Keith Richards, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Bruce Springsteen or Jimi Hendrix in 1967 who sacrificed his Stratocaster on stage in setting them on fire before smashing against the ground.
The inventor of the Stratocaster and Telecaster, Leo Fender, a creative force unmatched, gave his company to CBS in 1965. Fender grew considerably in the years that followed, before passing through an air hole associated with a lower quality instruments. In the 1980s, CBS will sell all its non-media related. A group of employees and investors led by William Schultz and his family and buy Fender to CBS in 1985.
Started from scratch
The new company had to start from scratch, including the sale or factory or machine. The emblem of the American guitar succeeds, however, his recovery, extending its grip on trademarks Guild, Gretsch, Jackson and Charvel excluding professional sound equipment. In 2008, Fender acquired Kaman Music Corporation (KMC), the largest U.S. independent distributor of musical instruments.
Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, with a production facility in Corona, California, Fender has continued to cross swords with Gibson, another giant of the electric guitar that Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, is one of the greatest followers. His fetish model, the Les Paul, was designed in the early 1950s. At its heavier and fatter than her rival Stratocaster, the Gibson Les Paul ignites always also rock the world stage.
2011, bad year for the Japanese economy. But less bad than expected. The gross domestic product (GDP) of Japan fell 0.2% in the fourth quarter of last year, bringing the decline in growth throughout the year to -0.7%. The Japanese government initially expected a decline of 0.6% between October and December, which would have increased to 0.9% GDP growth over the twelve months.
Struck by an earthquake and tsunami March 11, 2011 which were 19,000 deaths, Japan saw its number of damaged plants and encountered severe disturbances on its electricity production. At this natural disaster were added the slowdown in global demand, a stronger yen and floods in Thailand where many Japanese companies are based, in particular the automobile.
Today, the Japanese economy remains fragile. The government and the central bank of Japan (BoJ) hope however dig us out of slump with a series of measures introduced to boost consumer spending, business spending on support by providing funding solutions, and contain the surge of the Japanese currency.
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Monitoring greenhouse tomatoes by computer processing of GPS fields, sales of wheat on the futures market … French farmers have nothing to do with their ancestors. Now they are showing their attachment to the land of a sudden high-tech.Plus question, for example, to sow the fly in vegetable and grain farms. The embedded software on tractors is more effective. Sebastien Objois, wheat producer in Evry, came to be convinced to stand agricultural equipment of the Exhibition of Agriculture. He witnessed a demonstration of interest Farmstar, which uses data from satellites SPOT 4 and SPOT 5. With this system, a digital pad and connected to the preprogrammed drill or spray can, depending on the characteristics of the field, sow more or less dense or spread more or less treatment.
"With board computerized equipment in the tractor plugged Spot 4 and Spot 5, you can sow your field with an accuracy of 2 centimeters," says Michel Fuga, who came to promote the Farmstar Porte de Versailles. Advantage for growers: Pesticide use is reduced by 5-15%. This saving can be amortized over three years the cost of equipment (about 15,000 euros).
More free time
Technological advances also benefit dairy farmers. With milking robots, the constraints of the morning and evening disappear. The cows go by themselves to trafficking. "The monitoring of the herd is behind the screen using a special software," says Eric Swartvagher, administrator ANEFA, National Association for the employment and training in agriculture.
Computers are also present in vegetable greenhouses. "Eating tomatoes above ground is now available from a computer, which controls the amount of water and air," says Angelique Delahaye, president of France and producer of vegetables in Touraine.
It is not enough to produce, we also sell the goods. The use of futures market or delayed deliveries, and a deadline for a given price, is becoming more common. "I practiced for several months to sell my pigs and to buy my food. But it took me to form, "says Philippe Upstream, pig farmer in Brittany.
"These new techniques not only meet the objective of increasing yields, and therefore income, but also a willingness of farmers to benefit from free time and family life close to those of society," said Christophe Malvezin, Agricultural Counselor, Embassy of France in Washington and former agricultural adviser of Nicolas Sarkozy.
Despite these advances, the French agriculture still has a wide margin for improvement. "While the United States, 80% of crops are produced by biotechnology, in France it is delayed, concludes Guy Vasseur, president of the Permanent Assembly of Chambers of Agriculture (APCA). France can not be a spectator in this area of what is happening in the world. "
680,000 visitors to the agricultural show this year
Vintage 2012 International Exhibition of Agriculture (SIA) is very good. "We record 680,000 visitors, slightly more than last year," says Jean-Luc Poulain, president of SIA. This figure could be revised upwards as a computer bug has disrupted the counting inputs. "Merchants have never worked so hard that Wednesday, we recorded one of the lowest attendance days, with 55,000 entries," says Jean-Luc Poulain. The Friday night has been successful in statistics, with nearly 107,000 visitors for the biggest day of the show. Again this year, the SIA will remain the largest agricultural fair in the world with this feature: together in one place all the farm animals.
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The 2011 results of Areva, released Thursday evening, were sealed by its activity "mines". The nuclear giant has indeed devalued its uranium mines over 1, 45 billion euros. This loss comes from the assets of the company Uramin, acquired in 2007.
Areva does not yet puts into question its interest in the mining activity. Luke Oursel, CEO of Areva, has even said on Friday that "there is no scheduled opening of the capital of the mine." This scenario was discussed for several months, and a decree issued in late 2011 had approved the hiving Areva Mines, conducted in the wake.
World number one
The persistent interest of Areva is due: it is the world's largest uranium mines, alongside the Canadian Cameco. Moreover, this branch shows a strong margin. In 2011, EBITDA was 450 million euros to 1.29 billion revenue. The margin was nearly 35%. For the whole of society, the EBITDA exceeded 1 billion euros for 8.87 billion euros in turnover, representing a margin of 12%.
The difficulties Uramin however, show that this activity is risky. To reduce these risks, does not exclude Areva to partner on specific fields, as was done with EDF on February 10 for the Imouraren mine in Niger. "We always open the possibility of associating partners, mainly utility customers, contributing to project funding and in return remove the corresponding uranium production," confirmed Luke Oursel.
The desire not to enter a minority shareholder at the central level does not prevent the group, looking for cash, to carry out arbitrage in its holdings. He signed Friday an agreement with Cameco for the sale of the participation of 27.94% stake in Areva mining project Canadian Millennium for 150 million Canadian dollars (about 112 million euros). And the sale of the stake in Eramet seems a matter of days.
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Large deviation from the European Central Bank. Mario Draghi, warned on Friday that a central bank "may quickly lose credibility" and that "it would have a huge economic and social costs." It refers to market demand and France, reject, would be for the ECB buys massive state debt to halt the rise in interest rates in the euro zone and end to the crisis. A policy that the institution refuses to take on behalf of his economic principles.
"Our credibility implies the success of our monetary policy to anchor inflation expectations in the medium and long term (…) to sustain growth, job creation and financial stability. And we make this contribution in full independence, "insisted Mario Draghi.
Ceiling of 20 billion euros
So much so that they would even be subject to a weekly maximum of 20 billion euros, reports the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. This limit, which apparently exists since the beginning of these operations, in 2010, was set recently in this new threshold, the newspaper said.
The ECB acts only waiting for the States to establish their own anti-crisis mechanism, the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), Mario Draghi repeated on Friday. Four weeks ago, European leaders decided to increase the powers so he could buy the debt of state. But these reforms are still not operational. "Where are we in the implementation of these decisions? questioned the President of the ECB.
Papandreou prepared to withdraw his referendum and the new president of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, lowering interest rates in his first press conference in this position. Is good news that financial markets did not fail to acknowledge yesterday. And should continue to welcome Friday.
The Greek government plays its survival tonight in Parliament in a vote of confidence but the fate of Prime Minister George Papandreou seemed sealed after the failure of the referendum proposal. According to government sources, the leader of the socialist government has concluded an agreement Thursday with his ministers in which he agrees to resign and make way for a coalition government if they help him win the vote of confidence.In the first nine months of the year, net income rose 21.8% to 388.9 million euros and sales of 9.6% to 3.15 billion euros.
Sales of Hermès saddle-jumped over 18% in the third quarter to 683.2 million euros, the leading luxury group to raise its forecast for annual sales. The group also now expects an operating margin in 2011 "slightly above the historical level" reached last year.