Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graphics.
The successful launch of the iPad has sparked a fierce price war among manufacturers of digital tablets. For fifteen days, one after the other, manufacturers revise their prices downwards to counter the shock wave of the iPad. Most recently, Sony announced on Wednesday reduced prices of its readers to 20-50 dollars depending on the model. Its entry-level player, the Pocket Edition is now available at $ 149 U.S. instead of $ 169. Last week, the online bookstore Amazon was the first to respond, bringing the price of its Kindle reader digital format (DX) to 379 dollars, down from $ 110 …! At the same time, Amazon increased the comfort of reading his DX improving its display."With improved contrast of 50% and a darker font, it will be easier than ever to read anywhere, outside in the sun or the low light of the show, welcomed Steve Kessel, an official of Amazon. A few days earlier, the retailer had already created a stir by lowering the $ 60 price of its best-selling player, the average size at $ 189 … The same day, his rival, the American bookseller Barnes & Noble brought the price reader's Nook of 259-199 dollars, and announced a more affordable version yet, to 149 dollars, but connectable only by wireless Internet (Wi-Fi).
Run size
These manufacturers have little choice. Faced with the shock of the trade-iPad more than 3 million copies sold-June 22, they must adjust their rates to stay in the race.Unable to keep the same price range as the iPad (500 euros) which, aside from reading, surfing the Internet, listening to music, watch movies or videos, etc.. From a color touch screen . Faced with the branding of Apple Premium, the price argument remains the only real leverage at their disposal, apart from adding some features (touchscreen, color, play MP3 music files, etc..) . "In the race for size, market share, the price factor is one that can make the difference as shown by the positioning of Dell with its multimedia tablet Streak marketed in late July and announced at least 100 euros" Sylvain Duranton remark, associate director at Boston Consulting Group.
Price also depends on the conversion market niche in the mass market."As long as prices do not fall sufficiently, widespread adoption of such devices will be difficult," says the expert. A psychological threshold must be reached. "Based on our studies, if 66% of French people are ready to go nuclear, they will not do at any price: not more than 150-200 euros for a multi-shelf as iPad and more than 100 euros for a single-function tablet, reserved for reading, as the Kindle. "
ALSO READ:
"For Steve Jobs, the tablets will replace the PC
Four to eight million tablets sold in 2010
"Google and Verizon want to compete with the Apple iPad
"The Tablet, a new Eldorado high-tech
This is a first since early 2010. In the month of May, the French have spent more money on their livert A investor.
According to the Deposit and Consignment Office (CDC), withdrawals exceed deposits were $ 310 million. Net inflows (deposits less withdrawals) remains positive on the first five months of the year of 2.49 billion. In late May, are deposited on the Livret A, held by 50 million French people, amounted to 187.4 billion euros.
For its part, the booklet Sustainable Development (LDD) has seen its assets (deposits) to fall by 460 million euros in May
The rate of the Livret A, which is the same as LDD, is blocked since 1 August 2009 to 1.25%, the lowest level since its inception in 1818. However, it should be increased to 1.5% or 1.75% on 1 August, as announced by the Minister of Budget Baroin.
Even increased, the rate will remain below the 4% achieved two years ago.
ALSO READ:
The Livret A rate will be raised in August
Back to basics for Lakshmi Mittal. The Chairman of ArcelorMittal, the fifth World Fortune has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of a steel plant in India, Karnataka State, south of the country. A mammoth project with an annual capacity of six million tonnes which would require more than 5 billion euros of investment. In the crosshairs, the Indian market: "India needs more steel and we must take part in this growth," said Lakshmi Mittal.
It was a long ArcelorMittal looking to implement a major project in India. A similar agreement was thus created in 2006 to develop a huge site.The state of Orissa, north-east, had been chosen, but since the group steelmaker hardly be allocated land by local authorities.
Beyond the financial aspects, this new project is a highly symbolic Lakshmi Mittal. He might be born in Rajasthan, have raised and educated in Calcutta, the wire was broken long ago with his country of origin. If he cut his teeth in the small mill of his father, the tycoon starts very early in the assault on lucrative opportunities abroad. In Indonesia, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico and Kazakhstan that makes the group a family empire of steel.
Other projects in northern India
The gap is widening even further in 1994 with the partition of the group.Lakshmi, his father and his two brothers did not agree and the company is split into two faxless pay day loans. In Lakshmi operations abroad to the rest of the family, the Indian Affairs. Since, like Anil and Mukesh Ambani, the richest two brothers of the world settle their disputes before the courts, Mittal have all the trouble in the world to reconcile. Incommensurate with the billions earned by Lakshmi, his two younger brothers were still able to grow and it is not uncommon for the two groups are fighting the same markets. Africa was the setting for these quarrels, in 2004 or 2008 in Liberia and Nigeria.
Gradually, Lakshmi was thus cut off from India. Yet holds an Indian passport, he could never win in his homeland.Stamped "NRI", acronym of Indians living outside their borders, it has long been criticized for its lack of involvement in Indian affairs. Ask in the streets of Bombay Indian captains of industry, the name of Mittal will systematically swept under the carpet, at the expense of the brothers Ambani, Ratan Tata or India's Richard Branson, Vijay Mallya.
With this comeback, Lakshmi Mittal India regilds therefore its image. Especially since the Indian adventure should not stop there way. In addition to this mill, ArcelorMittal plans to inject more than $ 20 billion in other sites in northern India.
ALSO READ:
Aditya, the "child prodigy" of the empire Mittal
Put under pressure by Guy Wyser-Pratte complains strategy, Arnaud Lagard?re, general partner of the Lagard?re group, has defended his record at the general meeting of shareholders held this morning at the Palais des Congr?s Paris. He said he was "optimistic" about prospects for his group in 2010. "In 2009, the cash flow was very well kept, with 650 million euros. And that's a powerful symbol of a sound and applied to the cash, "said Arnaud Lagardere. He added: "All family groups are extremely sensitive to this criterion one, which is the most vital criterion for a company in the long term."
Lagard?re: -18% and 10% in less than a year
In 2009, Lagard?re has 4 divided by its net profit to 137 million euros and issued a revenue down 4% to 7.9 billion euros.Lagardere will publish its turnover in the first quarter 2010 on May 11 next.
It is interesting to note that since the offensive led by Guy Wyser-Pratte cons strategy Arnaud Lagard?re, General Partner of Lagard?re, March 25 last, the stock has gained around 10% (figure at 10:30 AM, Ed) . And, while the price lost almost 18% since October 2009. He took the opportunity to slip a few tackles to Guy Wyser-Pratte: "The dictatorship of the immediate is probably the most destructive of shareholder value. We will never get into the music, the display and large terrestrial TV and pay, "said Arnaud Lagardere.
The Autorit? des march?s financiers (AMF) by its president Jean-Pierre Jouyet, has confirmed that the Lagard?re was put under surveillance for several weeks."As in such situations, we monitored closely the evolution of the title and the statements of each other in the preparation of this meeting," he said Monday at Canal + Guaranteed high risk Personal loans.
The MFA does not investigate
Last Friday, a spokesman for the AMF had confirmed receiving a letter of Lagard?re."We look at which patterns of the market as we look at the title and transaction information is transmitted," she said, adding that a supervision order does not imply any launch an investigation.
In late March, the American financier Guy Wyser-Pratte, who holds 0.53% stake in the group Lagard?re has submitted two resolutions: one to make his entrance to the supervisory board and the other to call into question the Staff Partnership Group for Lagardere to develop it into a corporation. Two resolutions that Arnaud Lagardere has always opposed.
Guy Wyser-Pratte can count on the support of Riskmetrics, a consulting firm specializing in governance and whose advice is well attended by institutional investors, representing over 78% of the capital of Lagard?re.For its part, Arnaud Lagardere has received support from the Association of Small Holders assets (Appac) holding 3.5% stake in Arcelor.
After one of the few values to evolve in the green at the Paris Bourse, the Lagard?re shows a sharp decline towards 12.15: -0.71% to 31.41 euros in a market down by 1.46% .
ALSO READ:
"Lagard?re: a general assembly under high voltage
"Arnaud Lagardere cons-attack
"Lagard?re: Wyser-Pratte won significant support
"Lagard?re rejects proposals Wyser-Pratte
Thirteenth day strike at the SNCF. The consequences are severe for the group, since the freight station will show a loss "dramatic at least 30 million euros," according to Pierre Blayau, the chief delegate to Geodis station, interviewed by Les Echos on Monday, which "is a cry of alarm".
But the situation is also difficult for its customers. For nearly two weeks, "only 50% of normal traffic of freight is secured," says the official. And the activity falls to 25% for combined transport."We try stopgap, concentrating our efforts primarily industrial ur hardest hit, as chemists, cereal, Danone, etc. quick pay day loan., "said Pierre Blayau.
He described the demand of the strikers to hold round tables "astonishing", although such meetings "already exist," he added, citing a few names of cities where he held shortly.
ALSO READ:
"SNCF: Borloo calls for end to strike
"Greve SNCF wants to better inform users
"SNCF: the vagaries of guaranteed service
"The SNCF state meet its responsibilities
Oil climbs again
Insensitive to calls for a "perfect price" of $ 80 a barrel, launched by OPEC, oil prices clung all week at the helm of $ 86. A barrel of light crude Texas (WTI) for May delivery has exceeded the 87 dollars for the first time since October 2008 last week.
The markets were quickly erased their losses Wednesday and Thursday, with a barrel qutour income of $ 85. Investors were then cooled by a rebound in the dollar and especially by a surprise increase in weekly unemployment registration. During the week of April 3, the latter amounted to 460,000 against 442,000 the previous week, according to the Department of Labor.An indicator that put the brakes on optimism the speed of recovery and hence the increase in oil demand.
On Friday, during fro above $ 86 a barrel in New York, enjoying a rebound in equity markets and a slight weakening of the dollar. A barrel of Brent North Sea crude for delivery in May stood at 85.74 dollars on the InterContinental Exchange (ICE) in London. "We needed a correction, we have had, then one starts to rise," noted Tom Bentz of BNP Paribas. "It's always the same story, it has small downturns, and buyers are returning. Buyers have been constantly rewarded when they took advantage of these folds and so it continues, "he noted.
According to analysts, "the courts seem to have found a floor around $ 85 a barrel.A sustained movement under $ 70 now seems much less likely that progress towards 90 dollars.
Copper, a leading base metals
After profit taking Thursday, the base metals markets are generally started to increase.
Copper shows a striking health, reaching its highest since August 2008 Tuesday to 8010 dollars per ton. Friday's trading at 7,794.50 dollars per tonne on the London Metal Exchange (LME). Since January first, the increase is 6.12% and 81.10% over one year. China is largely the cause of this infatuation. The country engulfed 40% of global demand. The World Copper Conference, held Wednesday and Thursday, has made it the starting point for discussions. According to participants, China should boost demand by 5.4% in 2010. Growth to 12% in the first quarter bodes well for the future.
Nickel also benefits from China's growth through the increase of the steel in the country. The production of stainless steel (two-thirds of nickel consumption) explodes in the country. After crossing the 25,000 dollars per tonne on April 1 (highest level since June 2008 on the LME) prices were around the 24,435 dollars Friday.
In their wake, aluminum climbed to 2,397 dollars per tonne on the LME, its highest level since October 2008. An upward, according to observers, would that point.
Precious metals: palladium in great shape
As for precious metals, gold has had a week of small but can increase to a rise of 2.68% over the last 5 days. Friday, for the first time since January 12, gold has taken the helm of 1150 dollars.After the first auction in London, per ounce in late morning trading at in 1156 dollars (863.009 euros) against 1148 dollars.
For its part, palladium continues upward, reaching its highest level since 2008. Strong growth still driven by the fear of insufficient supply while the automotive market (primary market) leaves. Palladium rating still around $ 500 an ounce.
In the aftermath, platinum is about 1.29% in one week in 1722 dollars an ounce Friday.
Agricultural raw materials: grains fall
Prices of wheat, corn and soybeans continued to fall this week. As expected, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has left its forecast production virtually unchanged in its report released Friday.Thus, world production of wheat for the 2009/2010 marketing year amounted to 678.42 million tonnes (Mt) against 678.01 million tonnes expected this month. Global consumption is raised by 1 Mt to 647.83 Mt, the final inventory at the end of the 2009/10 campaign back to 195.82 million tonnes against 196.77 million tonnes estimated a month ago.
Friday, wheat dropped to 470.75 dollars in Chicago. A bushel of soybeans was $ 9.48 dollars while corn was trading at $ 3.49 a bushel.
After Paris, Transavia settled in Nantes and Lyon. The low cost airline, owned 60% of Air France and 40% of Transavia Holland, continues its expansion in France, with a very particular economic model: it divides into effect between direct selling and selling lots of tickets Included in the package tour operators. Thus, 55% of seats are sold online, mostly on its website, and 45% by tour operators.
Investors reacted to the record deficit released yesterday. The U.S. federal government announced after the close of Wall Street have posted a record budget deficit of 220.909 billion dollars in February, its seventeenth consecutive month in the red, according to figures released Wednesday by the Treasury Department in Washington. At the opening, the Nasdaq 100 and S & P 500 retreat respectively of 0.31% at 2,350 points from 0.24% to 1 143 points. The Dow Jones folds himself from 0.09% at 10,542 points.
The day before the stock markets had closed rather green, but no clear trend.On Wednesday, crude oil inventories rose last week in the U.S., but slightly below estimates, while those of gasoline and distillate products fell sharply, said Wednesday the U.S. Department of Energy ( DoE).
Inflation worries also Chinese
The downward trend is also due on Thursday by the Chinese inflation, which rose sharply. The index of consumer prices in China rose 2.7% yoy in February, bringing its rise since the beginning of the year at 2.1%. But to avoid a runaway, Beijing has already begun to tighten credit flowing.
Earlier this week, the employment numbers came out less bad than expected but the labor market remains very weak low fee payday loans . The unemployment rate remained steady at 9.7%, consistent with him, forecasts.
The rest of the week market in the United States will be under the sign consumer with the publication tomorrow of the sales details for the month of February and the preliminary estimate of consumer confidence.
General Motors will pay $ 8 billion
The values listed, General Motors will pay about $ 8 billion in the United States and Canada by June, ahead of schedule. The group observed a recovery in profitability faster than expected according to its director general.
Google (+0.34%) 578.4 dollars) still enjoys the presentation by Cisco (-0.36% to 25.8 U.S. dollars) in its new router, it will provide increased flows to households A key element for the activity distribution of video on the web from Google.
McDonald's has confirmed again and again his leadership.The giant U.S. fast food announced earlier this week that its worldwide sales rose 4.8% in February with a jump of 10.5% in Asia. The titles are perfectly balanced in the first exchanges.
Patrick Devedjian is satisfied. The Minister responsible for the Renewal announced Tuesday in a statement that the device scrapping bonus launched by the government in a period of turbulence in the automotive sector, has affected 600,000 new vehicles purchased in 2009, one quarter of 2.268 million cars sold in the year. In November last year already, Patrick Devedjian had advanced this figure, convinced that 220,000 premium originally budgeted by the government would be largely exceeded.
The minister welcomed a device that he says has helped make 2009 the best year since 1990 "in terms of number of new registrations, the latter have actually jumped from 10.7% a year.To the Minister of Recovery, that premium has to save between 24,000 and 33,000 jobs in the automotive industry.
The French builders big winners
The scrapping bonus has mainly benefited the smaller vehicles that consume less fuel than the others. What are the French manufacturers, entrenched in this segment are the big winners of the device. They account for nearly 60% of premiums distributed.
Citro?n and 122,618 vehicles passed through the scrap bonus, closely followed by Renault (115 business card .311) And Peugeot (101,516). Dacia Group Renault (32,344) and Ford (30,908) lagged far behind, according to figures provided by the department.
Manage post premium
"The scrapping bonus has achieved all its objectives in 2009, welcomed the minister. But it said that the hardest part is yet to come.He will now have to "deal effectively" lower the amount of the premium, which began in 2010. Since 1 January, the premium case is indeed back 1,000 euros to 700 euros. It should gradually decline in the rest of the year to 500 euros on 1 July.
But manufacturers are not yet ready to release the magnet to customers. To mitigate the cuts, nearly all manufacturers provided discounts. Renault has announced it will add 300 euros compensation until the end of February. Citro?n offers 700 euro for cars over 10 years and 1,500 euros for those aged 8 to 10 years.Peugeot offers even in the context of his "very, very nice business, doubling the amount of the premium for the current increase to 1,400 euros.
ALSO READ:
"Auto: Brussels for car scrapping green
The scrapping bonus dope Car Market
The case of the possible relocation of the future of Renault Clio in Turkey is still rising a notch. Nicolas Sarkozy has expressed Wednesday his irritation with his vows to parliamentarians at the Elysee, "We do not put so much money to support our manufacturers to ensure that all plants go outside." And this message the head of state has to pass directly to Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault, he will receive Saturday at the Elysee.
Wednesday Christian Estrosi, Minister of Industry, has shown the same firmness after a meeting with Patrick Pelata Bercy, the CEO of Renault. The Minister has shelled the long list of grants awarded since the beginning of 2009. Three billion loan was granted to Renault (all PSA).Flins received aid from 100 million euros for the production of Zoe, electric cars Renault (launch scheduled in 2012) and 150 million euros from the ISP for its project to produce batteries. In addition, there are 600 million euros bonus for breaking, which allowed the sale of 600 000 additional cars and the abolition of the tax.
"The government has enough evidence to say an industrial strategy," says the minister said that the state holds a 15% shareholding in Renault and two posts. It is also possible that the state seeks more seats on the board.But the number of directors is proportional to the percentage of equity held by an Act of October 30, 1935.
Wednesday, Patrick Pelata played the card of appeasement, saying that "no decision has yet been taken regarding the future production of Clio in 2013. Several scenarios are possible. The production will be maintained at Clio Flins, "as Zoe does not saturate the capacity of the site, which would be a fantastic scenario," said the skipper of the brand. However he also said that "production in France is good for vehicles with high added value. It is difficult in the low range. A shade as the government seems unwilling to consider.
A Clio for France
He asked three requirements to Renault, which has only a few days to find answers.Firstly, the group must incorporate as possible suppliers and subcontractors French to its industrial. More components must be manufactured in France.
Then, Christian Estrosi does not decrease production or declining enrollment in Flins, which currently produces 150 000 Clio. Finally, the Government intends to maintain the territory the production of Clio, regardless of the success of Zoe. Renault will have to determine what other sites the French Clio IV could be fabricated. No way to transfer the production in Bursa in Turkey, which are currently produced 180 000 Clio.Christian Estrosi does not want the share Flins parte in Bursa, but remains in France.
ALSO READ:
"The difficult reorganization Renault
"Estrosi want a Clio French IV
"Renault: the state has six seats on the Board of Directors
"The State against the relocation of the Clio in Turkey
Comments Off