Archive for January, 2011

Agribusiness: SMEs 'in danger'

Auto Date Monday, January 31st, 2011

Three weeks before the deadline, trade negotiations are still stalled. That is the finding that Jean-René Buisson, head of Ania, the association that brings together companies in the food industry, on Monday. "At the end of January, at least half of the agreements are normally curly between manufacturers and retailers, said Jean-René Buisson. This year, we have not started! ". Known for his spot, the former Danone took the opportunity to point the finger at two retailers, Carrefour and Leclerc, who maintain a state of "absolute block".

Main bone of contention is the price increases sought by the industrial sector distributors. The agribusiness giants such as SMEs hope to offset soaring commodity prices (wheat, canola, cocoa, etc..), Most of which have doubled in six months that has pushed up their cost paydayloans.Without these price increases of between 2% and 10% across sectors, the consequences could be very serious in employment, according to ANIA. "Small and medium enterprises are in danger!" Laments Jean-René Buisson.

The boss of ANIA appealed last week to President asking him to enforce the provisions of the law to modernize the economy (LME), taking the opportunity to denounce the "repeated violations" of distributors. "The food independence of this country could eventually be undermined," he wrote to Nicolas Sarkozy.

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Note degraded Japan pushes Asia Market

Auto Date Saturday, January 29th, 2011

Weekend difficult markets of Asia. This Friday, the main financial centers of the region evolve into negative territory. The fence still hesitant on Wall Street Thursday and the wait before the publication of the first estimate of U.S. GDP in the fourth quarter today partly explain the downturn.

Standard & Poor's demoralized Japanese markets

The atmosphere is in fact largely weighed down by the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Nikkei started the session on a drop of 0.19% but kept increasing its losses during the day. It ended down 1.13% at 10,360.34 points. The broader Topix index of all titles of the first table has in turn yielded 1.07% to 919.69 points.

Investors react to the announcement Thursday after market, the degradation of long-term debt of Japan by Standard & Poor's.The rating agency puts it to AA-from AA because it believes that the financial situation of the country heavily in debt, was worse. The Prime Minister Naoto Kan has tried to reassure markets by explaining that "the most important thing is to maintain fiscal discipline. I am fully aware of the importance of public finance and government bonds since I served as finance minister during the debt crisis in Greece, "he added.

The announcement from Standard & Poor's macroeconomic occult publications of the day fast cash without a hassle.If sales details show a yearly decline of 2% in December and that consumption declined by 3.3% over the same period, the government tried in vain to attract attention to the drop to 4, 9% unemployment rate in December (against 5.1% in November) and the decline in consumer prices by 0.4% year on year in December.

The rest of the region in the red

In China, markets progressing piecemeal. The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong lost 0.40% while that of Shanghai rises of 0.63%. Moreover, the bright red dominates the image of Australian S & P losing 0.65% and Sensex Indian who drops 1.10%.

In South Korea, diplomatic tensions seem to subside with the northern neighbor. The country, which meant that North Korea apologizes for the two attacks committed last year before any resumption of talks on nuclear disarmament, has waived this requirement, reported local media on Friday.The South Korean stock is displayed in green: the KOSDAQ gained 0.15% to 1490 points.

Oil down

Crude prices were also down in electronic trading in Asia. In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for March delivery yielded 49 cents to 85.15 dollars. One of Brent North Sea to let go of identical maturity 2 cents to 97.37 dollars.

Airbus is launching a new generation of business jet

Auto Date Friday, January 28th, 2011

As the market for airliners, business aircraft that is showing signs of recovery. As evidenced by the annual review, Airbus. In 2010, Boeing has signed 8 new contracts, bringing to 180 the number of orders harvested since the entry of Airbus on this market segment. 2010 marked a best for 2009 which ended on "a handful of orders."

The crisis was more severe for business aircraft and for aircraft. Sales in this very exclusive segment where customers are billionaires, corporations and government had collapsed. The image of the business jet was tarnished. In crisis, difficult to justify the purchase of VIP aircraft with list prices range from $ 65 million for an Airbus A318 Elite with its VIP cabin with well over 375 million for an A380, controlled by Saudi Prince billionaire Al Walid."The price on our widebody VIP – A330, A350 and A380 – depends on the equipment and decoration of the cabin," said an Airbus spokesman.

If the situation becomes clear at the front of orders for Airbus, they still remain at a modest level compared to the peak in 2007 with 37 contracts and a happy new year 2008 with its 25 orders. As for deliveries, however, Airbus has beaten all records with 15 aircraft delivered to customers with a catalog value of $ 1.5 billion. These shipments are great but the controls harvested in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Ten aircraft in the Middle East and Asia as

According to Airbus, the market for business aircraft is a large ten aircraft per year in the Middle East and all Asia. The Airbus is 50% of both markets.In the rest of the world, the estimates are more difficult because "it is very variable from year to year," says the manufacturer.

To take leadership in this market where it is competing not only with Boeing but with Gulfstream and Bombardier, Airbus will soon catalog A319 ACJ and A320 Prestige version of NEO (re-engined). "If demand is emerging for the A318 Elite, it could also be a version of Neo," added the spokesman. It also relies on the strengths of its range in terms of space, "an Airbus A 320 family is externally similar to a Gulfstream 550 or a Bombardier Global Express but the diameter of the double cab, which can offer more space and freedom of movement ", says the manufacturer. It also highlights the wide range of its A319 ACJ and A320 Prestige more than 11,000 km, but in version 8 passengers with extra fuel tanks in the hold!

Obama wants to lower the corporate tax

Auto Date Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

Unlike countries in the eurozone, the U.S. does not have a policy of strict fiscal discipline. In fact, Tuesday night in his speech policy called his State of the Union, Bush called on Congress to exercise fiscal innovation without abandoning efforts to reduce the deficit.

Barack Obama has called "the Democrats and Republicans to simplify the system. Remove the tax loopholes. Standardize the rules and use the savings to lower the rate of corporation tax for the first time in 25 years, without increasing our deficit. "

End tax giveaways to oil companies

The Head of State wishes to include the abolition of tax breaks granted to oil companies. "I ask Congress to eliminate the billions of dollars in gifts that we do to the oil companies," he said."I do not know if you noticed but they fared well on their own. So rather than subsidizing the energy of the past, investing in the future payday loan lenders. " The tenant of the White House hopes that the resulting savings funded technical innovation, particularly "clean energy".

Concessions to Republicans

Barack Obama also focuses on reducing the deficit "without going to the massive budget cuts demanded by the opposing camp, Obama stepped to the Republicans by proposing a five-year freeze on federal spending that will reduce the budget deficit of $ 400 billion in ten years. These cost reductions will save significant budget outlays Islands, however, such as social security, welfare and defense.The plan submitted by the President could save 26 BILLION dollars over five years, according to the budget proposal the White House.

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The French spent $ 31 billion online in 2010

Auto Date Monday, January 24th, 2011

The enthusiasm of the French for online purchases can not be denied. According to figures released Monday by the Federation of e-commerce and distance selling (Fevad), Internet commerce grew 24% in 2010 to reach 31 billion euros.A dynamism that reflects both the increasing number of merchant sites (17 800 new sites in 2010, a total of 81,900 active sites) and the conversion of Internet e-commerce.

"This increase, higher than in 2009, is part of an overall context of renewed growth for retail trade (+2.2% in 2010, after falling 1.4% in 2009)," says Fevad.

Among the 40 largest sites is the index measured the 40 ICE Médiamétrie is the area of e-tourism has experienced strong growth pluf (+ 20%) followed by sites dedicated to professionals (+ 15%), technology products (+10%) and fashion (+8%) no fax payday loan.

The number of online buyers rose 12% to $ 27.3 million by the end 2010, and the average amount of the transaction, which was 91 euros, has regained its pre-crisis level.

This authentic boom should continue.According Fevad, online purchases are expected to amount to 37.8 billion euros in 2011 and 45.4 billion in 2012. The increase in the number of shoppers in particular should continue to support demand.

The strike at the ports will continue until Monday

Auto Date Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

For the second consecutive day, the mobilization continued Saturday in the French ports. In Fos, freight traffic was disrupted at the level of 80-90%, according to Serge COUTOUR, head of the CGT Dockers Gulf. In Marseille East, freight traffic was paralyzed at 100% for containers, according to Daniel Manca, general secretary of CGT Dockers port, which advises cruise passengers to "avoid Marseille. At Havre, the second French port, the movement also continued, including blocking container terminals. Finally, Nantes / Saint-Nazaire, 7 boats were stranded at the dock and 12 offshore.

Far from weakening, the movement should be required to continue at least until Monday included, the day new general meetings must be held.The CGT called in any case employees to continue the blockades.

Early departures

The strikers are mobilizing to defend their right to retire early in retirement under the hardship. CGT ports and docks wants to validate an agreement on the recognition of the harshness found in late October with employers' organizations, which would allow retirement four to five years before the legal age for port workers 5-6000 with funding based on the branch but also from public funds fast cash online.

For its part, the government calls for a resumption of negotiations "within the framework defined by the Act of November 2010 on pension reform, which would reduce to two years in advance of departures.Thus, fewer people would be affected.

For Jeremy Julian, Deputy Secretary General of the CGT dock in Le Havre, it is "incredible back on virtually everything that was granted." Serge COUTOUR warns: "The mobilization is still to go. We try to drown us in the case of pensions, while our case was completely offline for two years. "

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Vivendi verdict on the fate of Messier expected

Auto Date Friday, January 21st, 2011

The case takes us back to the 2000s, when Jean-Marie Messier reigned supreme on the Vivendi Universal empire. The French court is to decide Friday on the fate of the businessman, spent two years at the helm of a group, Generale des Eaux, which he transformed into a giant media and led to the near-bankruptcy in 2002. The verdict falls well after eight years of investigation and trial bankruptcies on one of the hottest and most publicized in recent years in France.

Facing more charges. The first is the "dissemination of false or misleading" about the financial health of Vivendi. In fact, Jean-Marie Messier, Vivendi Universal said that was perfectly healthy even though the group was awash in debt, nearly $ 20 billion in 2002.The former officer is also suspected "abuse of social good" in connection with a golden parachute negotiated $ 20.5 million, but not touched. Finally, he is alleged to have manipulated prices by buying securities in order to do so artificially.

Messier admits mistakes but no offense

The latter acknowledges having made mistakes, but no crime. The former boss, 54, concedes, the Wall Street Journal: "I was young, I've said too much and I became a symbol." Whatever the Horns of Canal + J6M nicknamed (for Jean Marie Messier, Myself Master of the World) even regretted his "arrogance" at the time. But beyond its mismanagement, Jean-Marie Messier also challenges a softer environment.He recalled that the bursting of the dotcom bubble and September 11 were particularly devastating for the values of the new economy traded.

He especially insists he did not deliberately sought to mislead analysts and shareholders. "Some of my decisions in the management proved wrong, but a fraud? Never, Never, never! "He says. And he points out the flaws in the file. The indictment for abuse of social good based on a negotiated golden parachute … but never touched. As for price manipulation, it acknowledges the massive purchase of Vivendi shares after the attacks of Sept. 11, but in order to protect the business speculators.

Relax expected

And his defense seems to have already convinced: the prosecution has demanded his release, he believes did not deliberately sought to mislead analysts and shareholders.

Already in January 2010 as part of a class action lawsuits (class action), a U.S. court did not accept the accusations of lies about the group's accounts. However Vivendi had been convicted. This time, Jean-Marie Messier in theory liable to five years imprisonment and heavy fines.

And small shareholders of Vivendi who cheated were the spearhead of the French criminal investigation, hoping to get their side of the damages and see recognized the responsibility of the former management team in the failure group.After eight years of waiting, the last hours might seem like an eternity!

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A nuclear submarine project in

Auto Date Thursday, January 20th, 2011

Jules Verne could have imagined. Installed on the seabed of nuclear power plants to supply electricity to coastal cities. It is the idea that germinated in the minds of engineers DCNS, Europe's leading naval military. "After three months of study, we launch the validation of the concept, called FLEX BLUE, with our partners: Areva, EDF and the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)," said Patrick Boissier, president of DCNS .

In 2013, the decision will be taken to build a prototype in the context of a formal service around 2017. EDF could be the first customer. In the meantime, a joint team of 150 engineers working on the project's second phase, which will require "tens of millions of euros of investment."

The central submarine is in the form of a cylinder of 12 to 15 meters in diameter with a nuclear steam 50 to 250 megawatts (MW) of power and a power plant. If the project succeeds, it will be submerged by 100 meters to a few kilometers offshore, remote-controlled from the ground and connected to shore by submarine cable. It will feed electricity to areas involving between 100,000 and 1 million inhabitants.

Built in Cherbourg, it will be transported on site aboard special ships. "The central FLEX BLUE is the result of proven technologies, including the design of 18 submarines and aircraft carriers with nuclear propulsion in our yards," said Patrick Boissier.Designed to complement the French nuclear catalog and "to strengthen its global leadership," the central low and medium power FLEX BLUE mark the emergence of a low cost in civilian nuclear power.

Safety Standards

"The investment of several hundred million euros is progressive. There is no need to invest in spare capacity. There is no civil works. We built cheaper and faster, in two years on average. The price per kWh should be competitive, "develops the president of DCNS.

The potential market would be 200 plants underwater less than 300 MW in the next twenty years. Some 68 countries have expressed an interest in nuclear energy. This plant will specifically target emerging markets.

To scholars, the project is still at a stage "highly prospective".Especially that beyond the technical challenge the issue of safety and environmental impact is raised. It will be certified by the reactor of the future of nuclear safety authorities accustomed to work on terrestrial plants. FLEX BLUE meet the safety standards of the central third generation (EPR). The heart of the reactor will be confined to isolate the fuel from the water. Water is a natural cooling source and infinite. Such a plant is safe from natural disasters such as lightning, falling aircraft or meteors, earthquakes or tsunamis, "said DCNS. The plant will be equipped with a sort of "mesh side" of protection. All assets, according to DCNS, facing the Russian project of floating plants.

Given the risk of a nuclear accident in this fragile environment, DCNS ensures that water is a natural barrier to radiation, there is "sufficient to drown the reactor."Not sure that all the experts show the same optimism about the risk of a nuclear submarine disaster.

The euro area is working on a rise in bailout funds

Auto Date Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

For once sheltered from market pressures, the euro area wants to give time for reflection. Monday in Brussels, the Finance Ministers of the seventeen have been working on various scenarios to enhance the credibility of bailout funds. With the ambition to achieve by March to a wider agreement, where the use of funds would go hand in hand with greater budgetary efforts.

"We will begin today to discuss a palpable response to the crisis lasts," said the chairman of the Eurogroup Jean-Claude Juncker before the start of the meeting. Anticipating the status quo, the markets pushed down the euro, which fell Monday below $ 1.33.Yet investors are largely convinced that the euro zone will be decided sooner or later to increase the size of his parachute.

Increase guarantees

This is guaranteed up to 440 billion euros, but he can not lift that 250 billion, the rest being set aside to be able to borrow at the lowest possible cost. The preferred scenario for the moment is to meet these guarantees to increase capacity in the wake of actual loan, because Germany tick the idea of getting his hands to the wallet. It is also the question of authorizing funds to buy debt on the secondary market. Or ask a financial effort to priority countries rated AAA, the others falling in contention in second appeal.Logically, this would mean a solidarity drive to both speeds, would first line of France and especially Germany.

Hence the idea of getting counterparties in exchange for financial support. "It is inconceivable that only France and Germany are increasing their security also requires that countries solve their debt problems," said German Minister Wolfgang Schäuble. "The money alone will not be a solution, we need fiscal consolidation," said his Dutch colleague Jan Kees de Jager. Christine Lagarde, "we need a global solution, we can not have a small increase here, a little flexibility here, a strengthening of the discipline: it takes a complete package."

The process may take some time.Despite urgent appeals from the Commission to decide by February, Paris and Berlin refer any decision to the European Council scheduled for late March. "We agree on broad principles, it is in the details. I hope that in March we will be able to give a final draft near the Heads of State and Government, "said Christine Lagarde on Monday on Europe 1.

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Tunisia: French tourists returning on Monday

Auto Date Monday, January 17th, 2011

The return of French tourists stranded in Tunisia began Saturday and will pick up Sunday with the chartering of twelve additional aircraft by tour operators to repatriate most of the vacationers who want the end of the weekend. "Much effort has been made by tour operators with twelve additional flights" in addition to regularly scheduled rotations, told AFP Rene-Marc Chikli, president of the association of tour operators Ceto.

Saturday morning, Rene-Marc Chikli believed that these early returns would spill over the weekend several days, considering the logistical problems faced by tour operators, between keeping the curfew in Tunisia and difficulties to find aircraft, crews and slots flights. Finally, the situation has released over the hours, especially in the afternoon."Basically, 100% of customers will be back Sunday night for most major tour operators, subject to external events," he said Saturday evening. "Substantially all" of French tourists stranded in Tunisia will be returned Monday, said Sunday the National Union of Travel Agents (SNAV).

Travel agencies have thus repatriate by Sunday evening the two-thirds of their 8,000 clients present Friday in Tunisia, according to figures from the State Secretariat of Tourism. For those who want to stay, said Rene-Marc Chikli, "we did sign a waiver."

Departures remain suspended

Repatriate as much guests simultaneously request to establish a well-oiled logistics, routing passengers from their hotel on arrival in France. "We do not start with an airplane like a car.It is not enough to go to the garage and put the key in the ignition, "says Jean-Pierre Mas, co-president of the network of travel agencies" AS Travel (Afat and Selectour), which has 1,500 customers in Tunisia instant payday loans.

Thomas Cook France (700 customers), Fram (1,600 customers), New Frontiers (200), Marmara (790 customers) have confirmed their aim was to repatriate passengers Sunday night unless unexpected. "If flights do not land in France in the airport of departure we will organize post-delivery" by bus or train, said Marmara. Club Med, which has only one village open right now, has finally found airline seats for its 130 customers and 35 "GO" Europe of 91 that the operator has decided to repatriate. "For the French, who bought a flight, travel agents are mobilized to locate them …which is not easy with the difficulties of mobile telephony in Tunisia, "says Jean-Pierre Mas.

All departures from vacationers to Tunisia remain suspended until Monday inclusive. The tour will then decide depending on the situation in the country to extend or not the freeze starts. Friday night, the Quai d'Orsay has indeed advised all non-emergency travel to Tunisia. For customers who are not parties, proposals to postpone travel, without charge, at a later date on Tunisia or wherever made.The events in Tunisia under the case of "force majeure", professionals find themselves "freed from their traditional obligations to people traveling or refund if there is a change," told AFP Emmanuelle Llop, Lawyer specialized.

"They do not offer refunds spontaneously because they do not always this possibility, including travel agents who have more funds," she says.

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(With AFP)