Archive for the 'features' Category
After considering the price of flour in supermarkets and those of certain financial products, the European Commission is vigilant in fine watchmaking. The competition regulator on Friday launched an investigation into the agreements and dominant positions among manufacturers of luxury watches, trying to see if they have agreed to refuse to supply spare parts to independent repairers.
"The Commission informed the parties concerned and the competition authorities of the Member States of the opening of the proceedings in this case," said the European Commission in a statement.
The investigation follows a complaint filed in 2004 by the European Confederation of Associations of watch repairers (CEAHR) for alleged violation of competition rules of the European Union.Multi-brand repairers had indeed used to make many of the repairs of luxury watches payday loan online. But from 2002, according to CEAHR, manufacturers of luxury watches began to refuse to supply spare parts to multi-brand repairers who were not part of their repair networks. The CEAHR therefore seeks the condemnation of the practice, saying it could force independent repairers to put the key under the door.
The European competition regulator rejected its complaint in 2008 for lack of Community interest. Then the decision was overturned by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in December 2010. This does not prevent the European Commission to be cautious about this.She stresses that the opening of an investigation does not mean it already has evidence about the existence of an offense. And yet, no manufacturer of luxury watches is specifically under investigation.
The U.S. stock markets move sharply lower on Monday. The Dow Jones lost 0.84% to 12,551.25 points, the Nasdaq 1.02% to 2830.66 loose points and the S & P 500 drops 1.08% to 1329.34 points. On Friday, the New York Stock Exchange ended down, undermined by employment figures disappointing compared with analysts' expectations.
Hiring remained stalled for the second straight month the U.S. in June, with only 18,000 net new jobs and the unemployment rate rose to 9.2% of the workforce.
Alcoa opens the ball in quarterly results
The trend, however, should be fragile before the beginning of the season half-year results. As usual it is Alcoa (-2.32% to $ 16) which will open the show of quarterly, as soon after the close of Wall Street Monday.JPMorgan Chase will be the first major U.S. banks to issue, with results expected Thursday, the same day as Google, which will set the tone for the technology. Investors will know very quickly if the U.S. financial sector has suffered from the decline in trading activities. These results also give a taste of the figures will be announced later by European banks.
According to Thomson Reuters data, the results of listed companies on the S & P 500 should show an average increase of 7.3% compared to second quarter 2010. But this increase could be higher if a majority of companies beat the consensus.
The euro dropped to $ 1.40
On the foreign exchange market, the euro was digging its losses against the greenback on Monday.Mid-afternoon in Paris, the single European currency was worth 1.4050 dollars against 1.4258 dollars on Friday night, falling to levels seen for two weeks.
On the macroeconomic front, the United States, negotiations between Democrats and Republicans over raising the debt ceiling is again blocked, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Republican John Boehner, who announced that he would not find a comprehensive agreement with the White House.
In the process, the U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner gave assurances that the U.S. would not default on their financial commitments, while Barack Obama announced he would hold a press conference Monday at the White House.
Always on the side of values, Sanofi (2.49% to 80.35 dollars) today announced positive results in a phase III study for Lemtrada, a drug for the treatment of multiple sclerosis developed by Genzyme's new subsidiary. Sanofi put his hand in April on U.S. biotech Genzyme for more than 20 billion. In addition, Sanofi said on Monday the sale of its Canadian dermatology Dermik to Valeant for $ 425 million (300 million) in cash, in order to focus on priority activities in the United States and Canada.
In the same area, the Swiss company Lonza, specializing in life sciences, announced Monday the acquisition of the U.S. Arch Chemicals (11.24% to 46.91 dollars), a company active in biocides.The cash offer to 47.20 dollars per share values the company at $ 1.4 billion, which represents a premium of 36.7% over the share price on the last thirty days.
In addition, the U.S. aerospace equipment Precision Castparts Corporation (0.79% to 164.07 dollars) will strengthen the sector by buying aero Primus International Society for $ 900 million in cash.
Also note, the Financial Times, the fund Blackstone (-3.12% to 16.48 dollars) sold its shares in the Chinese Dili Group, while the group would not be able to freely adjust its prices .
Tuesday, July 12 at 20:45, Stéphane Rotenberg will kick off a "Dinner almost perfect: the best team in France." "This is a series of bonuses for daily works so well, says the leader. We combine the two best candidates to represent their city. This sometimes creates dissension or complementarities. They are fans so it's very far from "Top Chef", but represent his city, this is not the same issue as to represent himself. "
Usually released in late afternoon, the program is available in the evening for the third consecutive year. In 2010, the "Battle of the regions" had attracted an average 2.9 million viewers and 13.2% audience share With the second part of the evening between the candidates for known chefs, who rise up to 40 % market share. "The goal is to repeat the same … if you can!" Smiled the host.In a TV landscape shaken by the appearance of TNT, the erosion of audience is indeed the common lot of most programs. And "Beijing Express", the sixth season ended on July 6 M6 and also presents Stéphane Rotenberg, is no exception to the rule. On average, 2.7 million of the faithful have watched the program this year, 12.7% audience share. "Only 3% of the point of hearing in less than two years ago," Beijing Express "is one of the programs that have best resisted, supports the presenter of the program launched in 2005. With three million members and 14% market share for the final, it is also not very far from our scores there are two or three years, when there were six major channels. And at the candidates, the enthusiasm is still there, since we have already received 20,000 applications for next season. "What convinced the chain of command a new season, and allow the facilitator to reflect on the development of the program. "But we do not revolutionize the program, he says. The challenge is to be creative to surprise, while reducing the budget. "
Starting Agathe LeCaron Top Chef
The show, produced by Studio 89, sometimes receives support from Red Mountain, the production company that Stéphane Rotenberg created in 2006. This example has co-produced the second part of the evening of the show ("Peking Express, The Adventure Continues"). "I know the fragility of the trade facilitator," concedes one that started as a journalist, "so I always wanted to have a second business, behind the camera yesterday and today as a producer." Red Mountain has also produced for the TNT (NRJ12, W9).Thirty-six issues of "Fast Club" were commissioned by the subsidiary of M6 for next season and new episodes of "Convoys to the extreme." With 5% audience share on average and regular spikes in excess of one million viewers, the show imported from England is among the highest ratings of the channel, and TNT. This year, Stéphane Rotenberg has also produced a dozen documentaries for 80 minutes NRJ 12, and is confident about new collaborations. "Working for TNT is not exceptionally profitable, says the producer. What is certain is that the host earns a living as best production company. " Then he nuance: "In the past, producing for TNT was the limit of volunteering. Today, these channels give more and more money because they have more public. They are more ambitious. "
A third season of the program of culinary competition "Top Chef" is on track, despite a question mark on it to replace LeCaron Agathe, the co-presenter of the show which will leave for France 5 in September. "That destabilizes a large chain programs, but we'll find. Moreover, even if there is real competition with "Masterchef" on TF1, I think it is now regarded more as a leader in this field. "
The European Central Bank has pointed out as planned today its main interest rate from 1.25% to 1.5%, at meeting of its governing council in Frankfurt. The financial markets were convinced that since Jean-Claude Trichet, its president, expressed his "great vigilance", vis-à-vis inflation, June 30, before the European Parliament. It reached 2.7% year over year, according to Eurostat.
This will be the second time this year that the ECB interest rates rises and the eleventh increase since Jean-Claude Trichet took charge of the institution in 2003.
Not since the single currency is "European economic growth has been uneven," noted economists, however, Societe Generale. Industrial production rose 9.6% year on year in Germany (2.6% in France), whereas it fell by 10.9% in Greece.Jean-Claude Trichet is expected to speak on the role of rating agencies include difficulty many observers that the ECB does not it stands out more openly to their own decisions refinancing of banks.
The debt crisis has blackballed two governments in Ireland and Portugal, and the list is certainly not closed. The damage is more severe on public opinion because they take a nationalist turn. In Germany, almost one in two voters, according to a recent survey, calls for the release of Greece to the euro area. Last month, the Bundestag voted by a majority of only ten members agreed to a new aid plan in Athens. Chancellor Angela Merkel has obtained such authorization on the express condition to require private investors to make "a fair contribution" to the bailout.
Unexpectedly, the debate on financial solidarity in Europe tends to resurface interregional strife. And paradoxically it is in federal countries like Germany or Belgium, the tensions appear more vivid.The euro zone should not lead to "a union transfer," insists there be beyond the Rhine. "Greater integration will not remove economic imbalances. No one knows this better than the Germans who had a similar experience there are almost twenty years during the realization of monetary union between the two Germanys, "says the weekly Der Spiegel in its edition of June 20 The Germans continue to pay until 2019, a special tax called the "Soli" (Solidarität), which has already cost 187 billion euros.
Euroscepticism in the richest regions in Europe
In Belgium, a country Europhile if any, the antagonism between Flanders and Wallonia reaches new levels. The two communities are unable to agree to form a government, the Prime Minister, Yves Leterme, is reduced to administer the routine business since April 2010.Experts struggle with blows of figures to assess the transfers flowing North Flemish Francophone south. They represent an annual 11 billion euros, according to the Flemish Institute of economy and society (Vives). False, answer the French, with this basic argument: Belgium charges taxpayers in their homes and not where they work, as recommended by the international law. If this standard was followed, Brussels, attached to the French-speaking area, recover 4 billion euros of income tax.
Euroscepticism would it be more marked in the richest regions in Europe? This is clearly the case in Italy: Northern League campaigned for the prosperous regions of the Po Valley found a form of independence political-administrative and fiscal, while maintaining the strongest prejudices vis-à-vis the euro no fax pay day loan.
Not so in contrast to France.Regional differences are however not lower than in the rest of the continent but they are resolved in a more gentle. And the Ile-de-France, and its ten million inhabitants, it is by far the most productive region of the hexagon: it polarizes alone 29% of GDP, gross domestic product of the country, but represents only 22% of the income of the French (according to figures from INSEE). The explanation for this defect is simple: on one side, 7% of payroll companies Ile-de-France are paid to employees who live outside and conversely only 14.5% French pensioners living in the Paris region.The latter is losing both ways: a significant portion of its revenues from production escapes and receives limited resources from the inactive, who prefer other lands.
Centralism French or German federalism
He welcomed such an "invisible circulation of wealth" between the territories of the Republic, in the words of happy economic geography Davezies Laurent. The Limousin and Corsica can be very productive while enjoying relative prosperity, thanks to the mobility of the French who will spend their vacation or retirement. These contributions and income of private individuals play a more fundamental transfers of public money themselves. "Similarly, the savings is in the province and bank credits in the Ile-de-France, but these movements do not create real problems protest across regions.This is probably due to mixing of populations: from birth to retirement, through studies and work, the French used to change the place throughout their lives, "noted Jean-Luc Biacabe, Director of Foresight to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris.
Often criticized for its lack of centralization and autonomy of its regions, France is she a model of harmony for its neighbors? The Germans, because of their culture of federal government, are much more aware that the French fiscal federalism in the euro area is currently in practice be established. The Bundestag is alarmed by the German contribution to the European guarantees of financial stability, to 123 billion euros. The National Assembly does not seem moved by our share, yet the same magnitude because of the weight savings (three quarters).In Germany, it continues to quote the formula of Ernest Renan, 1862, "A customs union is not a nation." In Paris, the euro is considered the homeland.
Monaco is a territory of its own. Wedged between the mountains and the sea, the principality with its 32,000 inhabitants occupies only 2 square kilometers facing the Mediterranean. But this territory, where luxury cars are competing, and traveling in the roaring Formula 1 Grand Prix during the spring pulls its weight in gold.
According to a recent study by Knight Frank is in Monaco that the average price per square meter is the highest in the world for real estate: it takes an average of 66,500 dollars per square meter (about 46,000 euros per meter square) to find a luxury good. It rises to 100,000 euros per square meter for an apartment on Avenue Princess Grace by the sea The same study gives a figure of 28,000 euros per square meter for real estate in Paris.Prices of course reserved for apartments and houses except that this little something extra that seek privileged.
These are likely to have adopted Monegasque resident status which allows in particular not to be taxed on capital gains or estate inheritance (for the French recently become residents, the tax status, however, is more favorable). Havre many sports, home to thirty different nationalities ultrasécurisée, the principality's also rents apartments for the price of gold even though rents have fallen 25% since 2010 in some neighborhoods.During the Grand Prix, a terrace well placed can always find a buyer at 20,000 euros for three days! And in the district of Larvotto close to beaches, where the square meter is between 30,000 and 50,000 euros and where transactions are rare, a large two-room 80 m2 with terrace in a building built in the 1960s by the family shows a Pastor rent of around 3500 euros fast payday loan no faxing. To enable Monaco to stay in their cherished Rock, however, to the principality their rental properties to softer prices.
It was around the palace, found the oldest property in most Italian charm. "Not far from the palace, a house of 600 m2 is for example to sell 40 million euros," it says in John Taylor.
The land shortage
What is rare is expensive and Monaco has to deal with a small area. There is hardly any free land.In the 1970s, a whole district, that of Fontvieille, had been reclaimed from the sea is now a new port, shops, homes, this is the beating heart of the industrial and economic principality and that is the stadium of AS Monaco.
Prince Rainier had toyed with the idea of winning a territory of 5 hectares of the sea and to build some 300,000 m2, but the project was abandoned following the 2008 crisis.The subject he returns to the agenda in the medium term? It could be a way for Prince Albert of its mark in the history of Monaco and to give new impetus to the principality.
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Monitor prices and margins on agricultural products launched in September 2010 will make its findings on Monday. According quotidienLes Echos, the 250-page report, commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with INSEE and Agrimer, the responsibility of leading retail chains in maintaining the sales price to consumers despite lower commodity prices.
Cherries five times more expensive
The experts, headed by Philippe Chalmin, an economics professor at the University of Paris Dauphine, studied agricultural production subject to the most serious crises in the last ten years such as milk, beef and pork, and fruits and vegetables. According to their findings the distribution has made such an important and constant gross margin of red meat even though the farmers of this category recorded the lowest incomes.
The situation is similar with regard to pork. In ten years from the final price going to farmers has increased from 45% in 2000 to 36% in 2010. At the same time, one devoted to retailers jumped 39% to 55%. The long-life milk, gross margin was doubled when the signs that producers declined. Distributors also apply high margins on fruits and vegetables. Cherry cherry has been charged five times more expensive to consumers that it was paid by the distributor. Only segment where margins have been reduced signs: the yoghurt.The report provides no explanation but Les Echos believe that the power companies such as Danone, which reach more to negotiate prices is one reason.
Annual Report
The report, which should help parliamentarians better navigate the debate between producers, manufacturers and distributors for years, however, said it is difficult to track the price of a product from production to exposure in the linear. Investigators also complain that the distributors did not provide all the necessary elements to determine the composition of the margins.Information they hope to meet next year, the Observatory should indeed provide an overview of the situation every year.
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The record turns Greek puzzles. In Brussels on Tuesday, finance ministers of the Eurogroup have once again gathered to discuss a new rescue plan, with the stumbling block of how to involve private creditors.
The coming days ahead crucial step after the meeting convened in emergency Tuesday night. The future plan for assistance must be discussed Monday during a Eurogroup long planned – this one – in the context of the EU summit on 23 and 24 JuneMeanwhile, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel should also mention the issue in Berlin on Friday.
Crushed by the weight of a huge debt of 350 billion euros, Athens has already obtained a loan of 110 billion last year, and creditors are preparing to give a hand to the pocket extension could be around 90 billion euros, according to figures frequently mentioned.
Reactions conservative banks
"The German government is ready to take additional measures," said Tuesday the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, while holding that "of course" private sector participation was "an element" of any additional program.His Dutch counterpart, Jan Kees de Jager, for his part felt that the private sector should shoulder more than 30% of a new assistance plan.
But the European Commission, the ECB and France in particular, warn against any commitments forced march of banks and other pension funds, which could have a destabilizing effect on markets. "We are against the involvement other than a voluntary private creditors," was repeated before MEPs Mario Draghi, who should succeed Jean-Claude Trichet in November.
For its part, the Commissioner of Economic Affairs, Olli Rehn, has talked about the preparation of an "Agreement on the basis of the Vienna initiative, under which banks extend the term of their loans and do so voluntarily."For the Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders, "all sorts of authoritarian measures likely would include a risk for Portugal or Ireland, a risk for the euro area."
Several options are on the table. Berlin calls for an exchange of bonds, which would lengthen the debt maturity of seven years. The other track to the study is a continuation of voluntary debt maturities (rollover).
The ground is shifting, investors can quickly interpret a conscription as a step toward bankruptcy. As a warning, the rating agency Standard & Poor's downgraded three notches Monday note of Greece, to "CCC".
From the banking side, the reactions are currently cautious.The German Banking Federation Saturday approved the principle of private sector participation, without specifying the terms, while the governor of the Bank of France showed its confidence in the financial system driver (see below). French and German institutions are most at risk from international creditors.
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With his candidacy in the general direction of the IMF, announced Saturday at the last minute, after those of Christine Lagarde and Mexican Agustin Carstens, head of the Central Bank of Israel will test the sincerity of the countries facing the board IMF. They have been saying for weeks that "the competence and not nationality" should prevail in the choice of successor, Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
Now Stanley Fischer, highly appreciated by the staff of the Fund where it is still nicknamed "Stan" is one of the best economists in the world. He has unparalleled experience in managing crises. Graduated from the London School of Economics and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he worked with Nobel Prize winner Paul Samuelson and Robert Solow. He directed the thesis of Ben Bernanke, the Fed chief. He is the author of economics textbooks for reference.IMF number two in the 1990s, alongside the French director Michel Camdessus, he played a key role in managing crises that shook Mexico, Asia and Russia – its remedies are also not allowed only good memories to the countries concerned. But Fischer is a pragmatist. He has learned the lessons from the mistakes of the IMF in the 1990s ", provides a framework for the institution. At the head of the Central Bank of Israel, it also helped that the country would emerge from the economic crisis in good shape and enjoys a high popularity.
Dual Nationality
However, Stanley Fischer knows better than anyone that has little chance of being elected. The first drawback of this modest man, sparkling in the light of intelligence, is his age personal loan for poor credit. The IMF Articles of Agreement stipulate that the candidate for the superintendent must be under 65 years. Now it has 67.It should therefore be that the board make an exception for his particular case.
Second handicap in practice even more problematic: his nationality. Or rather "its" nationalities. Born in Rhodesia (now Zambia), relatives of Jewish immigrants from Latvia and Lithuania, trained in London, Stanley Fischer has an Israeli passport and a U.S. passport. The first could play against him in some emerging countries, which are among the states in the Middle East conflict with Israel or supporting them. The second might also interfere. It is time that an American was proposed by Bill Clinton as number two in the IMF in 1994. However, in the traditional allocation of posts – that's just emerging challenge – is the World Bank which amounts to an American (Robert Zoellick), while the IMF is the preserve of Europeans.Even though they deny it, they do not intend to cede this seat, especially during a storm on the euro area.
Unless the matter is suddenly deemed unacceptable Tapie, Christine Lagarde remains the overwhelming favorite. The French Minister of Economy has received this weekend the support of Indonesia, and Egypt, during a trip to Cairo. His campaign trail is also passed through Jeddah, where his counterpart has expressed support for Saudi Arabia to his candidacy. She remained silent on the emergence of this new Israeli competitor.
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Lunch with Warren Buffett this year will cost 2.63 million dollars to the winner of the traditional auction held once per year to a charity. Only two bidders this time participated in the sale held on the eBay website, but the low number of candidates did not prevent the sums involved to reach a record level. The winner has indeed paid 111 euros extra to beat the 2010. The latter, who wishes to remain anonymous, then share the meal with one of the richest men in the world between June 27 and July 11 next, in the famous New York restaurant Smith & Wollensky. It may be accompanied by seven friends of his choice.
Fortune ranked third worldwide after the Mexican magnate Carlos Slim Helu and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, aged 80, is head of investment company Berkshire Hathaway Inc.The idea to donate the money raised at auction for a lunch came to the investor in 2000 when his wife, Susan, now deceased, presented him with the Glide Foundation and its founder, the Rev. Cecil Williams. As in previous years, funds raised for this twelfth luncheon will be donated to benefit the charity, which helps disadvantaged residents of San Francisco. Through these annual lunches, Buffett has managed to raise over $ 9 million.
50% of fortune to charity
Spurred by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, several American millionaires have pledged to donate over 50% of their fortune to charity easy payday loans.This initiative, called "Giving Pledge" ("Pledge") was launched in June 2010 and already has 69 signatories, including director George Lucas, CNN founder Ted Turner, or the co-founder and CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg. "We see tremendous progress in just one year", says Warren Buffett in a statement. "I am delighted that so many people who have done well in America publicly commit and participate in philanthropy."
But despite the enthusiasm of the creators of the association "Giving pledge," they are struggling to find recruits abroad. Hoping to make a successful campaign in the Middle Kingdom, which houses a quarter of large fortunes in Asia, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett went to Beijing in September 2010 for a charity dinner party, after which a very small number of guests would have answered the call.The list of philanthropists also contains no French name, despite the presence of four large fortunes (Bernard Arnault (LVMH), Liliane Bettencourt (L'Oréal), Francois Pinault (PPR) and Serge Dassault (Dassault Aviation) in the Top 100 Forbes.
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