Archive for June, 2011

Wall Street up, but cautious

Auto Date Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Like the Asian and European markets, Wall Street believed a positive vote of the Greek Parliament in favor of the austerity plan imposed on the country, which was confirmed just before the markets open.After closing sharply higher Tuesday, the U.S. stock markets continue to rise: the Dow Jones, Nasdaq and Stantard and Poor's rose 0.37%, respectively, 0.23% and 0.51%.

On the macroeconomic front, two indicators are on the agenda: the promise of home sales in June (16 hours) and the weekly inventory of crude oil (16.30).

Bank of America: 2.77% to 11.12 dollars

The bank will pay U.S. $ 14 billion to settle litigation arising from its subsidiary Countrywide Financial, which was one of the main protagonists of the scandal loans "subprime" behind the 2008 crisis.

Bank of America which also pass for $ 6.4 billion of writedowns in its accounts the second quarter, estimates that its net loss for the three months ending in late June could be up to $ 9.1 billion, according to a statement of the institution

Microsoft: -0.93% to 25.56 dollars

The CEO of software giant Steve Ballmer announced Tuesday the launch of the software suite Office office 365 that can be rented by the month and no longer sold in pack instant credit report.

General Mills: -1.16% to 36.78 dollars

The board of the food group has decided to increase the quarterly dividend to raise it to 30.5 cents per share, an annualized rate of $ 1.22, up 9%.The American group, which operates among others Häagen-Dazs ice cream, the next installment will be paid on the 1st August to shareholders registered on July 11.

Google: -0.10% to 493.14 dollars

The search engine unveiled Tuesday its new strategy in the social web with Google + to take the foot against Facebook.

Dell: -0.44% to 15.94 dollars

The U.S. computer manufacturer on Tuesday announced a share buyback of more than two billion dollars this year.

Yahoo! : -0.60% To 14.86 dollars

The software giant announced that it has formed a new company to accelerate its investments in technology Hadoop and offer deployment services to businesses.

Monsanto: 3.89% to 69.50 dollars

The U.S. agrochemical group on Wednesday net profit up 77% to $ 680 million, displayed as sales exceed expectations, and raised its annual profit forecast.

Unemployment started to rise in May

Auto Date Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

A real cold shower! In May, the number of job seekers registered in Class A job center is strongly increased again, thus ending a beautiful series of four consecutive months of decline. 17,700 more unemployed (0.7%) last month pushed the door of public service employment, bringing to 35,700 the decline started in January. Over one year the increase was 0.3% (or 8800 people over) and carries nearly 2.7 million people unemployed in the reference category.

Worse, by integrating the registration of job seekers in reduced activity (who worked more or less than 78 hours) reported in categories B and C, the number of registered unemployed has even flown to 39,400 (1%) to nearly 4.1 million in France. This is the largest increase since October 2009 in this category.Over one year increased 3.8% and represents 151,000 more unemployed registered in category A, B and C.

Next new roadmap

Xavier Bertrand has taken "note of this increase, which however does not affect the downward trend registered since the beginning of the year." And the Minister of Labour and Employment to encourage "to redouble their efforts to reduce unemployment." It called "the general advice to increase their commitment" to the beneficiaries of the RSA and to increase "their efforts to co-financing assisted contracts" to carry beyond the 100,000 charge for the year to date. The host of the rue de Grenelle finally reminded that a new road map will be soon – probably in September with a new general manager – fixed employment center in order to "significantly improve the guidance of applicants for job. "

It must be said that there is urgency.And, on several fronts at once. The number of under 25 enrolled in May in categories A, B and C is strongly increased again by 1.3%, after falling for four consecutive months. "Rather than do so in the fall, the youth decided to anticipate their registration as unemployed by the summer," says one to the Ministry of Labour. The more than 50 years, poor relations of the decline in unemployment since the beginning of the year (the number has increased by 14.1% year on year), have meanwhile continued their downward spiral with a leap of , 3% in May

Good performance of the temporary employment

As for incrits unemployed for over a year employment center, the plan made by the government to offer them a contract assistance or training has clearly not yet borne fruit, their numbers having increased by 0.8% on a months. Since February 2009, it has declined only once, in January.For an average length of unemployment which now stands at 451 days, 57 more than in September 2009!

The only "good news" on the employment front came from the prism, the employers' federation representing 80% of players in the interim. According to their last score, temporary employment has increased by 17.2% over the first five months of the year compared to the same period a year earlier. All sectors benefit from this increased activity, including the industry jumped 27%. These are – a first – the executives who benefit most, with an increase of almost 25% over four months, closely followed by skilled workers (21.6%). "This is a leading indicator leading indicator of what the interim employment," said Arnaud de la Tour, president of Prism, which has also seen no slowdown in the activity since the beginning of the year. That's something …

Drought, bad for the price of beer

Auto Date Monday, June 27th, 2011

The "minicanicule" announced for the next 48 hours will probably only reinforce the trend: "With the good weather that prevailed in France, beer consumption has registered an increase of 2.7% over the first months of year, "said Pascal Chevremont, managing director of France Brewers, whose 76 members account for three quarters of the beer produced in France. The increase is mixed following market segments: + 0.6% for cafés, hotels, restaurants and up 3.7% in supermarkets.

The warm spring and very dry, however, is not very good news for the sector. He has had a devastating effect on crops of malting barley."With the rain in recent days, there may be good surprises, but overall we expect yields down 55 quintals per hectare or so, a decrease of 10 to 20% compared to Last year, "Christophe fears Grison, president of the network Farre (Forum of farming environmentally friendly), himself a farmer of malting barley in the Oise.

Especially since the quality risk, too, to be less. "The water did not fall at the right time, we expect to see the analysis made after the harvest on the eating quality and protein content of barley, says Pascal Chevremont. Decommissioning of feed barley malting barley should be more important. "

Christmas Beer

The offer should be hexagonal in decline. Yet France is the second largest exporter of barley after Russia.The price of this raw material, essential to the manufacture of beer, will therefore remain at high levels. According to the latest monthly bulletin of economic FranceAgriMer (the body responsible for collecting data on agricultural crops in France), prices have more than doubled in one year, more than 235 euros a tonne. They even reached in early May 320 euros per tonne on the futures market Euronext.

For the moment, "the brewers are working on stocks three months ago," said Michel Portier for his part, Director of Agritel, a company specializing in risk management in the prices of agricultural commodities. So no risk of immediate price increase of the half at the counter.

The first harvest of barley into malt today – it takes between 150 and 200 grams of malt to make a liter of beer – will not be in the glasses before the end of the year, with Christmas beer.

"But ultimately, it will have an impact on the final product increased barley as packaging, another important component of cost, also recorded significant increases," warned Pascal Chevremont. Tariff negotiations ahead sandwiched between the purchasing of large retailers – which sells three-quarters of the beer – and the four major brewers, who control more than half the world market: AB InBev (Leffe), SAB Miller, Heineken and Carlsberg (Kronenbourg).

The tsunami in Japan has cost 147 billion euros

Auto Date Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Three months after the tsunami that devastated Japan, the situation remains very difficult. Some areas are still marked by the damage caused by the earthquake of March 11 that killed 23,500 people. However, deep pockets were made to give a face to the landscapes of the north-east. Shortly after the disaster, the first official estimate of the damage totaled between 130 and 217 billion euros. But on Friday, the Japanese government has refined its estimates: the bill will be close to 17,000 billion yen (147 billion) in direct damage, that is to say, without taking into account the consequences on economic activity in the country nor those of the nuclear accident in Fukushima that followed.A cost that exceeds the one already in the Kobe earthquake of 1995, to 9.6 trillion yen (83 billion euros), which had 6400 dead or missing.

These 147 billion euros (3.5% of Japanese GDP) are the only destruction suffered by homes, businesses and infrastructure in the Tohoku region (northeastern Japan). In detail, the disaster of 11 March destroyed to 10,400 billion yen in homes, offices, shopping centers and industrial sites, 5,200 billion of roads, agricultural land, ports and fishing boats, and 1,300 billion water pipes, gas lines, power lines and communication networks. According to the latest government estimates, the country's reconstruction will it, amount to $ 300 billion (210 billion) over ten years.

Automakers

However, side businesses, economic activity goes away.The first automaker Toyota launches and hiring 3-4000 workers on temporary contracts from July to catch up production caused by the earthquake, which slowed the supply of spare parts. These workers are employed in the production of spare parts or vehicle assembly.The supply of spare parts has since resumed and the manufacturer's assembly lines turned in June to about 90% capacity in Japan and 70% to 100% abroad, according to Toyota, which provides a return to normal of its production from November.

The group, which expects financially in a difficult first half, expects these disruptions will reduce its production by 450,000 vehicles during the fiscal year of April 2011 to March 2012, slashing its operating profit of 360 billion yen (3 high quality business cards.1 billion euros, the exchange rate used by Toyota on average for the entire year).

The two main Japanese competitors in the group also announced the commitment of workers to Japan under fixed-term contract to catch up: Honda will soon recruit 1,000 people and Nissan, which expects a net profit down 15.4% to 270 billion yen (2.35 billion) for 2011/2012, 200 workers want.

The side of the electronics sector, which has particularly suffered from power cuts, shortages of components and raw materials. So Sony has revised its estimates of net income (also sealed by the recent piracy issues) for the year 2010/2011à 80 billion yen (690 million), and estimated at 150 billion yen the impact of earthquake and its consequences on the 2011-2012 accounts at the operational level.

"The only economy that will restart quickly '

"Uncertainty remains in Europe, China, India and the United States.Japan is the only economy certain to restart in the near future, "said Kenichi Hirano, manager at Tachibana Securities brokerage. Industrial conglomerates and they already benefit from this perspective. Example on Friday Boursede Tokyo, Toshiba has earned 4.87% at 409 yen and 1.53% at Hitachi 465 yen.

Even the manager of the rugged Central Fukushima, Tokyo Electric Power, took over the feathers, ie 5.12% to 308 yen, pulling up another electric company, Kansai Electric Power, responsible for power west-central Japan (2.68% to 1,495 yen).A third company, Chubu Electric Power (central Japan), was up 1.86% to 1,474 yen: the government decided to lend 100 billion yen (870 million) to help overcome the stop the Hamaoka plant called by Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

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Jeff Bezos: "You can sell just about anything on Amazon"

Auto Date Friday, June 24th, 2011

LE FIGARO. – How do you explain that Amazon is growing so fast?

Jeff Bezos. – This is the result of what we started many years ago. Over time, we managed to increase the number of products offered for sale, to lower our prices and reduce delivery times. With this combination, it is quite logical that our sales are growing strongly. All this requires discipline and constant efforts. An example: lower prices, it's easy. On the other hand, can afford to lower prices sustainable, is another matter, because you have to be effective.

Amazon can continue to grow so fast?

We have no business growth objectives. Amazon sets goals to reduce costs, improve delivery times, to extend the offer. I do not know whether we will grow faster.However, with such a strategy, it is likely that in the long term interest of our customers and our shareholders that are converging.

What is the difference between Amazon and other sites in e-commerce?

To be honest, we spend some time looking at our competitors. Our obsession is our customers. Amazon has the temperament of a pioneer, which is characterized by a very strong capacity for innovation. On the Internet, where fashions change rapidly, it is better to be a pioneer rather than a follower.

Are you satisfied with your service of Amazon fresh product sales charges launched in the Seattle area in 2007?

For now, this is only a test. Customers are satisfied but we have not yet found a way to make it economically viable.I do not know if we will.

Is it very important to succeed in selling very fresh for the development of Amazon?

No, but it would open opportunities for development. However, this is by no means a necessity. I am convinced that companies that try to have many experiences and growth opportunities do not end up trapped in their development. Kindle and Amazon Web Services perfectly illustrate this strategy.

About Kindle, when will you launch the electronic reading light in France?

We are working on, but I've yet to date pay day loans. We have just launched in Germany, just after the United Kingdom.

Do you think the e-book will replace the paper book?

I am totally amazed. Everything went faster than I anticipated. In the U.S., we sell more ebooks than paper books.This change was made in just three and a half years. The startup is also fast in Britain. It is clear that the e-book is a handy tool. When you can download a book in sixty seconds, look for the definition, change the font size with an appearance similar to a sheet of paper, readers adopt it quickly.

You still buy paper books?

In most cases, I download on my Kindle. I always have on me, it's light. When we became familiar with the Kindle, it's difficult to take a book. We find it heavy, it does not want it closes as soon as we abandon … The book is one of the most extraordinary inventions of man. For 500 years it remained the same. Today, technology, whatever its name, is in the process of change.That's incredible.

Can we just sell on Amazon?

Yes, just about everything, even if difficult to sell products in e-commerce. This is the case of very large objects whose price is low. Shipping is so complex and expensive.

That changing social networks to Amazon?

We observe by asking ourselves a question: are there things that could improve the quality of service our customers on Amazon? We do not know yet. We try a few experiments.

How do you imagine Amazon in ten years?

The outline will be the same. For us, it is to meet customer needs. And in ten years, he will always want the low prices, fastest deliveries possible and the widest choice possible. What will change, what are the technologies that we use to serve our customers.Very important developments will come from smart phones and tablets, all these things wireless. We need innovation to make the most of these items for our customers.

The Syrian economy threatened to "collapse"

Auto Date Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

On Monday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has sounded the alarm and called for support to the country's economy, threatened to "collapse" because hit hard by the political and diplomatic crisis facing the unprecedented countries. Witnessed the degradation of the Syrian economy, the Damascus Stock Exchange, very young – it has just over two years – and very fragile until this year, its healthy development curve upward, But since January, while the revolution, to oust Tunisian allowed in a few days – President Ben Ali, and urged the contagion of protests in Arab countries, the main index of the Damascus Stock Exchange, the DSE, flows back as the aggressiveness of the Syrian opposition to a regime that denies the repression continues and intensifies throughout the country.Last Friday, at the close, the DSE fell to 117.32 points, its lowest level ever recorded, and were down 35% since the beginning of the year.

DSE index is mainly composed of banks like Arab Bank-Syria, Bank Audi Syria, Syria Gulf Bank, and insurance companies such as National Insurance Company.

Zemmour Naulleau and approached to join Paris Première

Auto Date Saturday, June 18th, 2011

Both Eric should continue to appear on the screen together. Probably on Paris Première. After being thanked by France 2, the two polemicists join at the start of the private channel, according Lepoint.fr. Eric Naulleau already familiar with Paris Première. He hosts a show, "That balance à Paris". Its tandem with Eric Zemmour take shape in another show whose concept "is to refine," says the magazine's website.

Writers on the show by Laurent Ruquier "We're not lying," the two Eric will not be renewed in September, had been learned in late May. "It's an issue that has reached 25% of audience share and tends to crumble since January," was then explained to Le Figaro in France two sources poor credit personal loans. "We want to preserve its dynamism and its formula can prevent aging.The idea is to drag more than smile, humor, relaxation and surprise. "

Eric Zemmour had created controversy in 2010 on Canal +, saying that "most traffickers are black and Arabs, it is a fact." About which the journalist had been prosecuted and acquitted. He was however fined 1000 euros suspended for "unlawful discriminatory practice justified by presenting it as lawful" on France Ô.

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The brand new Airbus NEO points

Auto Date Thursday, June 16th, 2011

More orders are piling up, plus the decision to launch the Airbus A 320 NEO (remotorized) seems relevant. Six months after the start of its commercialization, the NEO family crosses the 400 controls with two contracts announced by two low-cost airlines in Asia: Philippine Cebu Pacific and Indian GoAir. The first has ordered 30 A321s and 7 NEO A 320 Classic valued at $ 3.8 billion (at list price), the second 72 A 320 NEO with a value of 6.1 billion. "These are all firm orders and deliveries will begin in 2015. We could take up to 15 aircraft per year, "said Jeh Wadia, managing director of GoAir.

More than 500 orders for NEO

Three days before the opening of the Paris Air Show, Airbus has promised to cross the threshold of 500 orders of NEOs by the end of June, is ahead of schedule with 432 NEO portfolios.Other contracts NEO with 50 copies for Qatar Airways – should be made public during the show.

Orders are accelerating as companies are keen to book delivery slots to be delivered quickly and to bring an aircraft in their fleet more competitive no fax payday loans. The NEO has new engines – Leap of tandem Safran-GE or the Pure Power Pratt & Whitney – promises a fuel economy of 15% from the A 320 Classic.

2% less kerosene

This latest success puts a little pressure Boeing. "We have two options: either we remotorisons our B 737 NG that involve a modification of the wings in particular, whether we develop a new generation of aircraft around 2019-2020 when disruptive technologies become available. This last option has our preference, "responded Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing for Boeing Commercial Aircraft (BCA).

No question in any case yield to pressure: "We take the time needed to evaluate the two options, check out what our customers want, make sure the technology is ready," he said of the Paris offices of Boeing . The manufacturer said it has continuously improved the performance of its B 737. Starting next year, it should again improve its energy efficiency by burning 2% less kerosene.

The state wants to impose at Air France Airbus

Auto Date Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

Pressure mounts on the management of Air France-KLM. 144 MPs of all persuasions have signed the petition launched by Bernard Carayon, UMP deputy from the Tarn, to induce Air France Airbus in favor of a mégacommande long-haul aircraft. Monday, Pierre Lellouche, the Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, has announced its intention to meet with Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, the CEO of Air France-KLM to seek "clarification" on its intentions. The meeting should take place this afternoon.

For the government, bad foreign trade figures – which widened to over 7 billion euros in April – have sounded like a severe reprimand. Particularly for companies whose shareholder is the State. Air France-KLM, it holds that "15%" of capital.But Pierre Lellouche believes that the company can "pass the buck" in a state that has "greatly helped" the group "when he had problems with Brussels." A similar approach to reprimand respondent last week to PSA Peugeot Citroen, after the revelation of its possible plans to close two factories in France. PSA is not a public company, but it has benefited from state funds during the crisis.

Strategic choice

The political pressure put on Air France is the extent of the challenge: a mégacommande – the first made jointly by Air France and KLM – a hundred long-haul aircraft. The project is described as historic by the leaders of Air France-KLM themselves: it should be in the tens of billions of dollars. The verdict of the direction the company should have to fall shortly after the general meeting in early July personal business card.Now, executives of Air France-KLM believe that the announcement will probably be delayed for several weeks, "the time that the discussions become less passionate."

Internally, the political turn taken by the back hurts. Bernard Pedamon, the pilot representative on the board of directors of Air France said he was "surprised and discontented." "These are the strategic choices that can be for an airline. It is a commitment for another twenty years to respond to economic considerations, he says. Currently, we are witnessing the return of our old demons. The days when you could bring in managers office at the head of the company or impose choices of planes is a bygone era. "

Currently, the weight of the two aircraft manufacturers in the fleet of the company tricolor is not identical.On all its long-haul aircraft, Air France totals 63 Boeing against Airbus 35. The company has indeed bought many Boeing 777-300 at a time when Airbus had no exact equivalent. However, all of its medium-haul (or 153 units) are Airbus.

The controversy of recent days is all the more surprising that for several months, officials of the fleet of Air France have expressed their intention to mix Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. "The case studied by our teams for the purchase of these devices are not made on a corner table," says an executive of the company. "We are studying a number of criteria: the choice of engines, the maintenance cost, the impact on our maintenance activity …" considerations rather distant from the campaign themes.

Sixth year in the U.S. housing crisis

Auto Date Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

It's been five years since the U.S. housing bubble deflates, after swelling for fourteen years. The consequences of this reversal are still stopping the economy and financial system of the United States bad credit unsecured personal loans.

Click on image to enlarge.