Carrefour will host its hypermarkets in Virgin - July 30, 2010

A Virgin store in the heart of a Carrefour hypermarket? As of August 25, the sign of cultural goods will fetch the radius culture Crossroads Venissieux, a suburb of Lyon. "It installs a true Virgin of 300 square meters, which is the format of our stores in train stations and airports, says the Figaro Jean-Noel Reinhardt, CEO of Virgin Stores. The furniture is furniture Virgin, SEO will be managed by our own sales force. "

Virgin does not just manage the music department, as revealed in early July challenges.fr. The competitor Fnac will turn all the knobs. Carrefour will be delegated as 100% concession for the management of the entire radius culture (books, music and video) off the video games. Virgin and Carrefour have talked for eight months before signing the partnership. "We give a year, said Jean-Noel Reinhardt.If it works, we can decide with Carrefour to deploy the concept in other supermarkets. "

The approach, which aims to "re-enchant" the hypermarket, will allow Carrefour to boost its sales in non-food, fell 5% last year. Such a partnership will allow Carrefour to unload a radius deemed difficult by assigning responsibility to a specialist.

Discussion with SFR

"It's a win-win solution for Virgin and Carrefour, said Jean-Noel Reinhardt. We bring the legitimacy of our brand that appeals to young people. Carrefour, meanwhile, makes us very important benefit of the flow of its customers. "

Along the same lines, other "stores in the store" could be introduced in Carrefour hypermarkets.According to our information, Carrefour declined to comment, and discussions are well advanced with SFR, which could establish phone shops. Other partnerships could be concluded in the arts of the table, with the leader Arc International, or in video games, with Micromania.

The formula of the concession, in which Carrefour Virgin donate a percentage of its revenues, will allow Carrefour to reduce its costs and thus improve its performance. Incidentally, it will also give him the opportunity to redeploy staff to other departments or even reduce the staffing of the culture, both in stores and at headquarters of the distributor, where hundreds of people working on the offer non-food.For its part, Virgin is a way to revitalize its network (30 megastores and six stores in train stations and airports) by increasing sales at lower cost. "The company has developed a range of creative hobbies more interesting than the Fnac, is Thoumine Lawrence, a consultant at Kurt Salmon. But the initiative of Carrefour is presented more as a response to cultural spaces Leclerc, growing steadily for 10 years and the concept works pretty well, an attack against the Fnac. "

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Managers find it difficult to retrain - July 28, 2010

The retraining is an obstacle course. It essentially said that a study by the Agency for the Use of Frames (APEC) published on Wednesday. If managers are increasingly likely to want to retrain mid-career, the process does not become easier for all. Indeed, beyond the speeches that are encouraging businesses, often plebiscite adaptability and motivation of atypical careers, recruitment always leave the spotlight on "cloning profiles," said the APEC.

"Today it is virtually impossible for a framework to achieve what professionals call the diagonal support: change both business and enterprise," said the APEC. Businesses, especially in times of crisis, most want is to secure their recruitment, and thus become more timid, more reluctant to hire people without experience on the job.Consequence: it is now much easier to convert internally, rather than changing at the same time employer. The mobility is viewed positively as a tool for employee retention, and a way to reduce uncertainty in hiring a person unknown.

A passion for the trades "ethical"

Some trades, however, are more open than others to atypical careers. This is especially true for businesses that engage in general skills, such as managers, consultants, sales representatives or heads of human resources (HR). "For people who do that are more and framed by" the shift is easier because it does not require highly technical skills, says a recruiter. However, positions that require some experience.

However, the desire for conversion especially managers aged 35 to 45 years, more inclined to question their journey. "The desire to change jobs is often associated with a need to reduce the dissonance between everyday work and personal taste," says Apec. "I wanted to take my dismissal to give meaning to my life," reflects his side a frame. As a result, trades are often considered ethical on a roll with these candidates for change.

The content of these trades, however, tends to change. While teaching, journalism and social work were acclaimed a few years ago, today it trades on Sustainable Development and Trade Fair that get the prize for ethics in the eyes of managers.Takers.

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Baudouin Prot defends the "stress tests" European - July 26, 2010

LE FIGARO. – How do you exercise stress test which is to engage Europe?

Baudouin PROT. – The resistance tests show that European banks are sound and well capitalized. They were conducted using a common methodology and from economic scenarios comparable, if not more stringent than the scenarios used in a similar exercise conducted in spring 2009 by the Americans. These results should put an end to a period of unfounded concern about the health of the European banking system. However, it is essential to economic life that banks trust.

What do you think the score of French banks?

They have passed the test with flying colors.Three reasons: they entered the crisis well capitalized, they have weathered the crisis better than others and have significantly increased their capital by allocating a significant portion of their results for two years. In the end, and in the worst case scenario, the excess equity that French banks compared to the waterline defined by European regulators reached 70 billion euros. This is all the more remarkable that almost all French banks have repaid the government aid, while still 180 billion euros in state support in the European banking system.This is good news for France: our banks are more than ever to finance projects of their clients.

What lessons learned, while the Basel Committee on Banking seems to require more capital?

The French banks have for long argued that, compared to the level reached today, a massive build new capital would be unnecessary and inappropriate. The results of stress tests clearly support this point. Europe needs just as much vigor and rigor, when the economy picks up in many parts of the world. It should not be an excessive overinvestment reduces the ability of all its banks to finance the economy and thus stimulate growth. The decisions to be taken in Basel, the Financial Stability Forum and ultimately to the G20 in November in Seoul, are, for me, a historical significance.Europe must become fully aware of its core strategic interests and defend them.

You leave the presidency of the French Banking Federation at the end of a busy year. What are your reasons for satisfaction?

Both at the heart of the crisis in 2009 that since the beginning of 2010, French banks have never stopped doing their job, providing their customers with the relationship and funding the economy. If the overall image of the banks has suffered, the satisfaction rate of customers vis-à-vis their own bank remained above 80%. This shows the quality of the device relational French banks, through a dense network of trained counselors. Now they have stopped investing in this device even though it is already higher than other European countries cash advance loan.The pace of 30,000 hires per year in IFA has been maintained in 2009 despite the crisis, and will be again in 2010.

A tough job, with advisers attacked by customers …

These difficulties were at their peak a year ago. Since the relational climate has thankfully subsided in the agencies. And with the executive committee of the FBF, we conducted many meetings with regional business leaders in recent weeks: I also note a positive trend in relations. All this is explained by the fact that growth in France in outstanding bank credit to individuals and SMEs is the best in Europe. In late May, outstanding housing loans grew by 5.1%, those SMEs 3.8%, a record in recent times.The latest survey also shows that Oseo the cost of credit, which was an obstacle to investment for 48% of SMEs in November 2008, the remaining 23% only. French SMEs also benefit from a lower cost of credit watch on the European average.

Financial reforms, on both sides of the Atlantic, you feel they fit well?

French banks are convinced that regulatory changes are needed to draw lessons from the financial crisis. That being said, we must make the right decisions. The Anglo-Saxons tend to give undue weight to the ratios, when the quality of supervision is essential. In France, a single supervisor effective – which is still being enhanced – and bank officials have avoided the bad loans that have cost so dear to the American community.The situation is very different.

The paradox is that U.S. banks, causing excesses, emerge from the crisis stronger …

I note that U.S. banks are the only ones to have massively increased their size in their market after the crisis, with the help of taxpayer elsewhere. The crisis resulted in a wave of bank mergers that made JPMorgan, Wells Fargo or Bank of America mastodons much more impressive than before. At the same time, few European banks have grown. Moreover, while all the 13,000 European banks are subject to Basel II since 2008, U.S. banks do not always apply.It is difficult to accept that capital requirements are influenced by demands of countries we are not sure they apply the rules in the same way that European banks.

Added to the tax systems …

The fact that France, the United Kingdom and Germany are the only ones in the world to impose such a tax on banks that can not be cons-productive to the competitiveness of these countries. French banks, in any case, can not afford both to finance the economy, maintain a buffer of high security into equity while financing the budget deficit.

Stress testing: the markets set the tone -

On Monday, the opening of stock markets in Europe, banking stocks will be the center of attention. While Friday night, 18 o'clock – evening after the close of stock markets in Europe – results of stress tests reported only seven failures out of 91. That is to say that 92% of the banks examined have managed to maintain a solvency ratio of at least 6% by simulating economic conditions deteriorated.

But among them, banks posted September 10 called Tier One ratios between 6% and 7%. It's like having a BA of 10-11 overall average. Deutsche Postbank, Piraeus Bank, Allied Irish Banks, Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Banca UBI, Bankinter and eight small Spanish settlements are on the list, which will be closely monitored by investors.The four French banks surveyed, BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, Credit Agricole and BPCE have all scored honorable.

On Monday, central bank governors and heads of Supervisors will meet in Switzerland to discuss the reform proposals on the strengthening of bank capital.

But after their success in tests of strength, European banks may find it difficult to argue that they can not apply a stricter financial regulation.

"Banks are ready to begin implementing the new rules are needed to strengthen the capital reserves and liquidity management of banks," also provided Vitor Constancio, Vice-President of the ECB. Basel III could thus move at a good pace.

Anne-Marie Couderc will take the reins of Presstalis - July 23, 2010

Anne-Marie Couderc, the current deputy director with the CEO of Lagardere Active, will be the candidate for the succession of Remy Plflimlin to head Presstalis (ex NMPP). After several days of hesitation and consideration, Anne-Marie Couderc will be the candidate of "consensus" by the Lagardere Group, operator of the largest distributor of media with 49% of its capital, to vote on the board of managers under 28 July. Its mandate should however not be limited to one year despite the change, expected by next June, the governance of Presstalis with the withdrawal of Lagardère.

His appointment is hardly surprising payday advance. Broken to the press, Anne-Marie Couderc has the ideal profile.A lawyer by training, she is vice-president of the Supreme Council Courier Press and knows exactly how it works Presstalis.

A time mentioned, the appointment of former senior official Bruno Mettling, rapporteur of the draft revision of the distributor that is the basis of work today, raised a legal issue. Immediately raised by the addition of competitor Presstalis, the Courier Lyons Press (MLP), which threatened a lawsuit in the event its name to Lagardère.

Anne Marie Couderc, asked the Buzz Media Orange-Le Figaro.

GM would require more employees to Strasbourg - July 21, 2010

The efforts already made by the employees of General Motors in Strasbourg will be sufficient? Apparently not. Because if the employees agreed Monday to a 70% reduction in their production cost in exchange for the resumption of their site, the management of General Motors Company (a company from the ashes of the former General Motors bankruptcy), now requires more.

Monday, employees had accepted a referendum to give up one third of their RTT, the incentive pay (an amount of 500 € per year), and any wage increases for two years. This is to be closer at the request of management, the costs of the Mexican plant that General Motors Company may entrust the production of its transmissions, instead of the factory in Strasbourg.Between the two plants, General Motors Company is expected to choose the next month, and then seal the future of employees Alsace.

But on Wednesday, after the plebiscite of employees for the purchase of the plant, General Motors Company extension with the unions and the list of "if". The first American manufacturer to add those conditions for resuming the annualization of working time and the normalization of weekends. In plain language this means that employees may be forced to work sometimes less, sometimes more, depending on orders from GM, without compensation to pay for overtime.

An uphill battle

Two requirements that unions say they have discovered Tuesday at a special council of business, and two days of the planned signing Thursday of the takeover agreement."They take us for idiots," growls the CFDT delegate, which supports the agreement Tuesday to recovery. "The conditions of management are becoming increasingly stringent, and one wonders if she really wants to keep the site active, concerned about its side delegate Thierry Stachel CFTC.

However, the management denied today that it amended its terms of recovery, and ensures that the unions were previously aware of every step. "The annualization was well known to the staff representatives and employees as it was under discussion for several weeks. This is one of the measures which have negotiated to give to others who could generate less revenue, "says management.

A further meeting will take place on Wednesday, during which the unions insist that management is satisfied with the measures adopted by referendum.A battle even more difficult than General Motors seems to be the only buyer in contention, and that the deadline for agreement is Friday.

ISF under the yoke of the Constitutional Council - July 19, 2010

The wealth tax (ISF), unconstitutional in the state? The Sages, seized last July 9 of this issue by the Taxpayers Association Associates, will decide by September or October. And the stakes are high. For if the Constitutional Council was to declare certain provisions of the ISF unconstitutional, we would have the wealth tax as we know it. MPs would then be obligated to substantially alter the content in a specified time. "The legislature would have no choice but to significantly modify the rules for calculating the ISF, or delete part of a general revision of property tax," says Ms. Subra.

The firm Delsol, depositary of the question of constitutionality to the association, is based on several arguments challenging the constitutionality of the tax on capital.One of them echoed the often-repeated complaints by some subject to the ISF, including the famous land owners in the Isle de Re. Insofar as the base of the ISF include all household goods tax, even those who do not produce income, wealth tax does not respect the principle that everyone participates to tax under its ability to pay. To take the example of the fishermen of the Ile-de-Re, one can own a heritage of great value, without benefit of an income therefore savings account payday loans. And then be in a difficult position to pay the ISF.

Reform symbolically embarrassing

If the Constitutional Council was to justify the Taxpayers Association Associates, it would be a first.And a decision that should give grist to the parliamentarians who are already campaigning for the abolition of this tax. The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Jean Arthuis, including calls in exchange for the abolition of wealth tax for an increase to 45% (currently 40%) rate the highest tax bracket on the income, an elimination of tax shield and an increase in taxation of capital gains and real estate. But if this reform has the support of tax, although it may be symbolically very embarrassing for the government and parliamentarians.Difficult to explain, when the time is budgetary contractions, which can revoke or amend a tax that taxes "the rich" …

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Europe suspended the medical reports of its banks -

There is a little over a year, the United States 19 U.S. banks subjected to stringent medical examinations. The release of the stress tests were then allowed to restore confidence in the U.S. banking system. Europe, undermined by the suspicion surrounding its banks, hoping to achieve the same success this week. Friday evening, 91 European financial institutions, including 27 Spanish, 14 German and four French, will unveil the results of "stress tests" concocted by the Committee of European Banking Supervisors. This measure of bank capital in the light of deteriorating economic environment. "We will see that all major European banks are in fact strong enough to withstand any earthquake either," Dominique Strauss-Kahn predicts.The director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) does not, however, that the tests reveal "by here and there, small financial institutions in trouble." Black spots are expected in the German Landesbanken, the cajas Spanish or Greek banks.

Operation Truth

Already, the fact that Europe agrees to engage in this exercise in transparency has alleviated some pressure on the markets in recent weeks. Especially after a shaky start, the finance ministers meeting in Brussels last week, promised to act "in a coordinated manner and with greater transparency that is, by Belgian Didier Reynders No fax cash advances .

Just stay to confirm. For this, two opposite pitfalls are avoided. The first is that everybody is received.These days, voices were raised across Europe to ensure that Irish banks here in Portuguese, there, or even the Belgian KBC and Dexia, had passed their entrance exam. If all European banks triumphed over the obstacles set by supervisors, this would destroy any credibility to the operation truth. At this stage, the discounts applied in testing the debt of peripheral countries like Greece or Portugal, have not been disclosed. Their severity will be watched closely.

Second risk, in contrast, the health bulletin proves very alarming. Analysts at Credit Suisse, amounting to 90 billion euros for recapitalization requirements, a level below the capacity of public funding available in Germany or Spain.In the end, "stress tests" are designed to prove that European banks hold the shock but rather that governments, even the new European support fund, are capable of supporting them. First answer Friday.

iPhone 4: Apple must be explained - July 16, 2010

Apple wants to improve his reputation. While its flagship product, the iPhone 4 has problems receiving the signal, the group of the Apple brand has announced its decision to hold a press conference Friday on the subject. A first for the group trying to minimize the present case. It must be said that the criticism of Apple's latest increase, since the U.S. consumer magazine Consumer Reports has recommended the purchase of the smartphone, so he had hitherto always been to bare devices from Apple.

The group gave no further guidance on the ads that must be made during this impromptu conference. But analysts formulate hypotheses. Some believe that the group could recall its latest model. The cost of the operation is estimated at 1.5 billion dollars by the Los Angeles Times.Just about the only first three days following the release of the phone, nearly 1.7 million units were sold.

Expected solution

While experts find it unlikely that the group undertake a comprehensive reminder of the smartphone, according to them, "the image and potentially Apple iPhone sales could be penalized by a lack of explanation and proposed solutions by the group. "

One of the approaches discussed by the specialists was that the group provides free cases, the use of which seems to solve the problem. The cost of this operation is estimated at 45 million dollars. An amount more than thirty times lower than that of a possible massive recall.

Sarkozy says his firm on pensions - July 14, 2010

"This is not my five-year reform, but reform is essential," says President of the Republic, during a television interview aired on France 2 Monday night. He has shown determination to stand firm on its positions to the point he claimed that the events planned in September "will not affect pension reform."

An overview of various issues discussed with the President of the Republic.

• Pensions: "Our system is a system breakdown. By definition, all the French are concerned, "said Nicolas Sarkozy in the introduction to his remarks on France 2 and retreats on the eve of the presentation of the bill put together by Eric Woerth in the Council of Ministers.

"I tell the 15 million retirees that will not affect their pension," he said beforehand.The Head of State said that 'those who started work before age 18 will retire at 60 "and defends its reform:" I try to be someone just is not easy " .

Nicolas Sarkozy also states that "any person who has a disability working at least 20% will leave at 60. And he concluded: "The 62 years we would not disturb the alignment of pension contributions public / private either. Of the rest, we will listen.

"L'Oreal does not move to another country"

• Tax Shield: Nicolas Sarkozy has again defended the tax shield system, which allows a taxpayer to pay not more than 50% of his earnings in taxes. "The tax shield is not an idea that I was like that when I woke up one morning. Our main competitor, customer and neighbor is Germany. I admire the German economic model.The shield has existed for over twenty years in Germany. I will do the same thing in France. "

He has claimed that Liliane Bettencourt "do not start in another country." According to the website Mediapart, the tax has paid 30 million euros to the billionaire Liliane Bettencourt in March 2008 under the tax shield.

Nicolas Sarkozy has also repeated that he would not abolish the wealth tax (ISF). "I believe that when you have money, it's okay to pay taxes," he said, recalling that "every country in the world, France is the most taxing the wealthy " free credit report and score.

Sarkozy refuses rigor and prefers "to be tough"

• Economic Policy: "We must restore the competitiveness of France.For this, we must work harder and catch up on investment, "said President of the Republic.

Asked about the rigorous measures taken by France to reduce the deficit, the President of the Republic has yet shown ambiguous. "The word is strictly neutral. That means lower wages and higher taxes. I will not do. However, I prefer to be tough for France to return to equilibrium.

• Deficit: The government has set targets to reduce the budget deficit in 2011 to 6% and 3% in 2013. "We'll get there," says Nicolas Sarkozy. "We have eliminated 100,000 employees in three years and remove additional 34,000 in 2011. I urge the community to do likewise. I call them to accountability.It is not normal that while the state made efforts in this area, they increase the number of their 34,000 employees.

While some economists believe that to achieve these objectives, a tax increase is necessary, the President of the Republic confirmed and signed. "I refuse to raise taxes because that would mean less investment by companies and less consumption by individuals," says the president.

• G20: The town of Evian (Haute-Savoie) will receive the next G20 Finance to be held in February 2011. "I have three goals. First, establish a new international monetary order. Businesses must compete on equal terms. Secondly, regulate the commodities market and especially in agriculture. And thirdly, change in global governance.Africa and Latin America should have a permanent seat on the Security Council of the UN. "

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