Breaking News, World, U.S., Entertainment …

Google and Apple do not agree no further time. Already competitors in the mobile and advertising, they prepare to pay back the video on demand (VOD). According to information from the Financial Times, Google "is currently negotiating with major Hollywood studios to launch a video service fee to the card by the end of 2010 the United States. With this enhanced client service, Google would be "neck-and-neck competition with Apple to dominate the digital distribution of films and TV content," the newspaper said.

At Google, renting movies is not entirely new. YouTube has since the beginning of the year. But the catalog is currently comprised mainly of works by independent studios, which attract few users. It should be completed by this time the great successes of the cinema, for rent as they are released on DVD.According to the Financial Times, Hollywood would have been seduced by the arguments of Google, which has a substantial pool of hearing.

Negotiations "in emergency"

These negotiations, which ran for several months, are now conducted "in emergency", as competition increases in the United States. The DVD rental company Netflix has completely redesigned its online service, through a monthly subscription. For its part, Hulu has benefited from the support of its shareholders Disney, News Corp. and NBC Universal to become the number two online video in number of visitors, behind YouTube. The site, which offers since its launch films and series for free, advertising, launched in August a section fee.

Google's main rival in the video rental property remains yet Apple.On Wednesday, Steve Jobs is expected to announce the arrival of television shows on iTunes for rent payday advance. Each episode would be 99 cents suggested by the American press, or the same price as a piece of music, and could be viewed for 24 hours. Until then, Apple proposed that these series as sales, two or three times more expensive. The choice of location, most popular, was reserved for movies.

For both IT groups, the issue is not simply to increase their income with online video, but also to make their devices more attractive to take a position in the salons. The iTunes videos are playable on Mac and PC, iPod, iPhone and iPad. A new version of Apple TV, the box that connects to televisions, is also in preparation.In front, Google is also preparing a range of appliances connected to TVs, with the help of Sony and Logitech.

"It's hard to convince the French suppliers'

According to the Financial Times, the Google service "would probably be launched first in the United States before being extended gradually to other countries. Negotiations abroad take effect in time. Apple has more than two years before proposing, in April, a few thousand movies for sale and rent in France.

Unlike music, Internet rights are often held by television stations and local media. "By outsourcing their content to Apple channels lose the freedom to set their prices and the relationship with their customers.Difficult to convince the French suppliers, "said Frederic Sitterlé, former Director of New Media and founder of the Figaro service VOD MySkreen independent. Conservative channels have preferred to have their VOD services. While discussing the opening of a joint French platform.

Filed under: economic, economics, events, money, people by admin Comments Off

The last day of the week rhyme with caution. The CAC 40, which opened on a drop of 0.42% to 3460.35 points, still yielding 0.29% to 3464.81 points shortly after noon. The German Dax loose just 0.07% to 5908.72 points while the FTSE in London fell by 0.10% to 5150.67 points.

Markets follow the footsteps of Asian stock market this morning, had a very volatile sessions. In fact, dominates the wait before the publication of the second estimate of U.S. GDP in the early afternoon and the index of consumer sentiment across the Atlantic.

Add to this the intervention of the President of the U.S. central bank, Ben Bernanke.In a speech that will be closely watched by global markets, it will review the state of the global economy.

On Wall Street Thursday, the two markets already anticipated bad news, including a possible downward revision of GDP and a speech even more pessimistic than previous ones in terms of bad statistics released in recent weeks. The surprise drop in unemployment registration Weekly announced yesterday was not enough to support the Dow Jones finished below 10,000 points.European shares managed to stay in the green but have erased some of their gains late in the day.

Side currencies this morning, the euro was rising against the dollar (0.17%) to 1.2722 dollars in morning trading but came down a little mid-day at 1.2708 euros.

Publications honored

Essilor (-2.24% to 47.120 euros) issued before market net income group share down 1.3% to 197.5 million euros.The world leader in ophthalmic optics, however, confirms its growth target of 5 to 7% of its turnover this year, and a stable operating margin over the rate of 18.2% achieved last year .

Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhone (APRR: + 0.04%) will release its second quarter results after market close on Friday.

Several groups have also published their results Thursday after market:

Lagardere (-1.43% to 28.86 euros) has raised its target of annual operating profit on the basis of a continued upturn in the advertising market.Arnaud Lagardere also said that Canal + France would be introduced on the stock market probably in early 2011.

Stallergenes (1.69% to 57.13 euros) published interim results up and confirmed it expects for 2010 a growth of over 10% of its business and a "significant increase" in operating margin , which was 16.7% in 2009.

Formageries Bel (3.31%) reported sharply higher results in the first half but warned that the rising price of milk in France contribute to the decline in operating margin in the second half.

Bongrain (-0.04%) announced that has released its interim results were up sharply but warned that second half was not as favorable.

Etam (3.24%) reported Thursday a jump in operating profit in the first half thanks in particular to China, but also an increase in its debt.

La Poste wants to join Vivendi

The Post announced Thursday that entered into exclusive negotiations with SFR, the telecommunications subsidiary of Vivendi (1.67% to 17.655 euros) to launch a mobile telephony offer under its brand.

GDF Suez (-0.08% to 24.32 euros) will find a new site to build a power plant in Chile, a project of approximately 865 million euros questioned because of the proximity of the initial site with a nature reserve.

Atos Origin (-1.05% to 30.245 euros) Thursday announced the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Venture Infotek, a leading company operating in the Indian market for means of payment.

Filed under: business, economics, economy, life, online by admin Comments Off

Essilor International shows a rebound in sales of 15.8% in the first half to 1,926 billion euros. The world of ophthalmic lenses has seen its sales boosted by several acquisitions such as U.S. and Signet FGXI Armolite. In all, Essilor has acquired or increased its stake in thirteen companies in the first half, representing an additional turnover of approximately 80 million euros.

Excluding currency and acquisitions, growth in turnover is 5.9%, "in line with its annual target," the company said in a statement.

The Group's net profit was down slightly from 1.3% to 197.5 million euros. The group is penalized by the provision of 41.5 million euros to pay the fine imposed by the German competition authority (Bundeskartellamt) for formation of cartels.Adjusted for this provision, net income reached 238.8 million euros, an increase of 19.3%.

Essilor confirms its annual targets

"In the second half of 2010, in a context of renewed activity still fragile, Essilor will pursue the strict implementation of its strategy of growth based on new products, geographical expansion, acquisitions and organic conquer the environment range, "the group said.

This confirms target for 2010 sales up 5% to 7%, excluding currency and strategic acquisitions, and margin contribution stable excluding acquisitions and strategic change IFRS. In the first half of 2010, the margin of Essilor has eroded slightly over the same period in 2009, yielding 0.1 percentage points to 18%.

Filed under: Uncategorized, economics, economy, features, life by admin Comments Off

Since Wall Street opened, the CAC 40 was down a little deeper into the red, as was the case adhered just below these sessions. Around 16 hours, the index drops 1.71% to 3431.29 points. It seems that all eyes are turned to the United States, which links the bad economic publications.

After falling sales of existing homes (yesterday), on Wednesday, orders for durable goods rose only 0.3%, against 2.8% expected.The U.S. stock markets have opened in the emblematic red and embarking again finanières European places.

Second bad news dropped to 16 hours in the U.S. yet, sales of new houses have relapsed in July to reach a new record low since 1963 at least, after an unexpected plunge 12.3% from June , according to official figures released Wednesday in Washington.

Tuesday, across the Atlantic, the bad sales figures for housing (the lowest since 1995) had already severely affected exchanges.

On Wednesday morning, the CAC 40 was, however, tried to trace down the tip, reviving briefly in mid-morning, with 3,500 points, after an early morning start in the red (down 0.25% to 3482.53 points) .A rise that coincided with the announcement of a surprise increase barometer Ifo main confidence index in Germany. The latter settled in August to 106.7 points against 106.2 in July (as confirmed), while economists and analysts had expected the decline to 105.7. Their estimates ranged from 103.8 to 107.5.

After returning to equilibrium time, the Dax reassigns 0.77%. The London FTSE follows the same path (-1.05%) after starting in negative territory (-0.10%) followed again by a brief rebound.

Since the beginning of the week, the CAC 40 has yielded no less than 3.3%. And since August 6, the index dropped 9.7%!

As for currencies, the euro has stabilized against the dollar payday loans online.The euro traded 1.2662 dollar.

Edenred unscrews

In terms of values, many trucks will publish their results quarterly and half in this weekend.

Lagardere takes the lead, up from 3.94% to 29.045 euros. The title is supported by Exane noted that his opinion of "Underperform" from "Outperform." The target price has been raised from 35% to 35 euros

Edenred, the old branch of prepaid services group Accor became autonomous, has reported an operating income of 155 million euros in the first six months of the year, down 7.1% . Turnover rose 3.8% to 461 million. But the group is very conservative forecasts, the growth in issuance volume yet to be affected by rising unemployment in Europe.The securities were down 0.22% to 13.78 euros.

L'Oreal (0.90%) and Sperian (+0.09) will publish its first half results after market close.

The Polish government has shortlisted five offers to buy the 51% stake in state power company Enea on Tuesday said the Treasury Department, without specifying the identity of candidates. EDF (-0.44% to 31.63 euros) and GDF Suez (-0.80% to 24.32 euros) would be in the running according to media reports. Only EDF confirmed it had made a preliminary offer.

Scor (1.91% to 16.285 euros) has been a change of recommendation by Fitch. The broker has raised its outlook on Tuesday its debt rating of reinsurance group to "positive" cons "stable" and kept at "A" rating from its long-term debt of the group.Fitch said the decision including the prudent investment policy conducted by SCOR and the diversification of its risks.

Filed under: events, news, online, opinions, world by admin Comments Off

While the European equity markets are struggling. But the values related to the construction sector underperforming the broad market on Tuesday. In case, a warning from the Irish group CRH: the largest producer of asphalt in the United States said it expected eventually to a 10% drop in profits for the year 2010 due to the fragility of the U.S. economic recovery.

Obviously, the penalty was not built until the stock market: shares tumble 16% HRA on the square in Dublin. And in its wake, Saint-Gobain and Lafarge, respectively dropping 5.43% and 4.94% and position themselves behind the curve on the CAC 40. Bouygues sold him, 3.65%. In Switzerland, Holcim loose 2.3%, while the pan-European Stoxx 600 index sector yield 4.2%.

Tough competition

Myles Lee, the CEO of HRA, said that the performance of the U.S. economy are "not good", but anticipate relapse into recession. "The economic news from the United States are disappointing and below expectations. It now seems clear that the economic recovery there, even if it occurs, will not be as strong than expected, "he said on Irish TV channel RTE.

Its chief financial officer, Albert Manifold, said his side as the weakness of the commercial construction activity and delayed investments of state and local governments in the United States had generated sales below expectations July and August, usually two months porters.

In addition, pressure on margins is increasing, so that several competitors are trying to reduce their prices, "said HRC.

Commodity prices and budgetary discipline

Harry Sebag, an analyst at Saxo Bank, explains that "businesses have impacted their margins and cut prices to gain market share." Already weakened, companies are also facing the weaker euro and higher commodity prices, driven by demand from emerging countries, which darken the outlook for the sector. Fiscal rectitude who moved to Europe and hence lower investment in construction, does shoved a bit more nail.

For the construction specialist in Europe, Euroconstruct, the sector should not resume until 2012.Particularly affected by the gloomy atmosphere, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal.

In France, since the beginning of the year, Lafarge has won over 37% in stock, Saint-Gobain, 24%, French Cement declined 19%, Vinci, Bouygues 14% and 12%.

A monitor, tomorrow, Wednesday, sales of new homes in the United States, which fall in the afternoon. On Tuesday, the bad news on the front sales of existing homes of great concern.

ALSO READ:

"The recovery in the construction ran out of steam

"The austerity weakens the construction sector

"No recovery in construction before 2012

Filed under: Uncategorized, business, features, people, technology by admin Comments Off

The French are always prone to develop an ecologically minded when it can bring them money. Regarding photovoltaics, however, investment should soon be as attractive.

The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Bercy warned on Monday evening Regulatory Commission of Energy (CRE) and the Higher Council of the energy of their intention to decline by 12% the purchase price by EDF of the photovoltaic electricity. The professional plans and large facilities will be affected by this adjustment of tariffs, not small household below 30 square meters. An order to this effect will be applicable on 1 September. In taking this decision, France follows the footsteps of Germany and Spain, who have already made adjustments."Today, France is far ahead of the implementation of the objectives of the Grenelle Environment. The rates remain favorable, but the cursor is repositioned slightly to avoid the deadweight speculative, "said the entourage of the Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde.

Recall the situation. To encourage the development of environmentally friendly energy sources within the framework of the commitments of the Grenelle -23% renewable energy by 2020 – and to encourage installation of photovoltaic panels, the state has allowed those who invested able to sell to EDF electricity and produced on the basis of a regulated rate for the amortization of attractive features.This incentive involved both individuals who were installing equipment homemade-like solar panels on the roof of a house, the professionals that integrate PV in buildings, on roofs of car parks or supermarkets.

Only here: end of 2009, anticipating a decline rates announced, the French rushed to ask EDF to buy their electricity photovoltaics. The total power demand on the year was 50 times higher than in 2008. This has caused both a queue and a financial risk. Forcing the government to take early as January 2010 emergency measures, as well as adjustments of rates of transitional arrangements to handle the influx of applications.In the wake of last March, Bercy had asked the Inspectorate General of Finance (IGF) to identify problems so that such a bottleneck does not happen again. Today, 60,000 applications are pending, mostly for small installations.

60 euros per year

The decision to reduce tariffs by 12% based on the findings of the report that IGF is to deliver to Bercy Le Figaro was purchased. It stresses that "the cost of the photovoltaic sector has become very attractive with lower production costs of signs (development of production capacity in Asia) and a collapse in prices linked to the Spanish crisis.Above all, the document points out that "the difference between the purchase rate (between 414 and 580 euros per megawatt hour) and the market price (56 euros per MWheure) is funded by electricity consumers via the contribution to electricity utility (CSPE). Its authors have amounted to about 60 euros per year for a household heating to electricity loads more can be passed on to consumers 'bills (1.5 billion euros per year from 2012), if nothing' was done. "It's a question of purchasing power," insists the entourage of Christine Lagarde.

"This tariff change is the first step in a necessary adaptation of the control system of feed-in tariffs, this development, which should afford the industry outlook solid and sustainable development until 2020, will be prepared in the fall consultation with all stakeholders, "concludes it at Bercy.

ALSO READ:

"Solar energy: How to make the right choice

"Solar energy: the state puts an end to speculation

"Solar power has doubled in France in 2009

Filed under: economic, international, life, opinions, top news by admin Comments Off

LG Electronics has just been invented the first mobile phone with touchscreen, the LG Prada, launched before the popular iPhone, the "chaebol" in South Korea suffered severely in smartphones. The reverse is so severe that the heart of summer, Chang Ma, Vice President Marketing of LG mobile phones, announces the method to return the game "At the end of the year to compete with our rivals, we launch ten smartphones, "said the official, the Wall Street Journal. These smart mobile phones will be launched under the brand Optimus, already used for several months, which will benefit from a dusting. The first aircraft, which will work with the Android OS from Google, will be offered in September. Called Optimus One, it should be distributed by 120 operators worldwide.This will be a smartphone that will allow customers to traditional mobile phones to get into the deep end of the mobile Internet, the official said. With these new products, LG hopes to sell 5 million of its smartphones by the end of the year in the United States.

The major challenge is the world's number three mobile phones that had succeeded, in 2009, establishing itself as the second mark on the U.S. market. In the second quarter of 2010, the dynamic segment of smartphones, which increased 50% to 61.6 million units, its market share was only 1.2% of the second quarter, according to research firm Gartner.

Above all, not a wide enough range, "the average revenue per mobile phone from LG has declined 27.8%," said Carolina Milanesi, analyst at Gartner. The group of Seoul has sought to gain market share at the expense of margins.This strategy has not worked. The division in mobile phones from LG has posted its biggest loss in eight years, in the second quarter, which has plunged to third profits of the chaebol.

Offering more than iPad

And for all mobile phones, LG has shown a decline in sales volume (from 30.5 to 29.4 million units) and market share (10.7% to 9%). The group has suffered, in addition, poor strategic bet. LG had, in fact, intend to become the leading partner of Microsoft. But LG has played the wrong horse: Google has more than RIM and Apple in the United States.

In addition, the market share of Windows Mobile has been halved over one year, falling to 5% of smartphones, say the experts.The weight of Microsoft could again later in the year with the launch of a next version.

Meanwhile, like HTC, Samsung, Motorola and SonyEricsson, LG focuses on Google's Android. The software group in Mountain View will also be used for its next internet tablet, promised for the end of the year. It will have "new functions" compared to the iPad, including "video editing and content creation," the official said the Wall Street Journal.

For now, KT, the largest operator in South Korea announced Friday that it will market in the coming days Enspert Internet tablet developed by a South Korean company specialized in September and that of Samsung. The Apple iPad should be proposed before the end of the year, such as LG.Most manufacturers are penalized by the late arrival of Microsoft in operating systems for low cost internet tablets.

Filed under: business, economics, finance, special, technology by admin Comments Off

In one country, Japan, where exports boost growth since late 2009, the sharp rise of the yen in recent weeks is shocking. Nissan, the third largest Nippon, said he was "very worried" the peak of the national currency against the dollar. The yen traded at a record 85.43 yen to the dollar. What start the competitiveness of the archipelago.

For three months, the dollar has lost 9.48% against the yen. A worrying trend: according to calculations by the OECD, a 10% appreciation of the yen would cut growth by 0.2 points in year one and 0.4 the second and third year. "The impact is not significant when the forecast is 2-3% growth per annum over the next two years," relativized in a note Takuji Okubo, senior economist at Societe Generale IPC.

Especially since the rise of the yen should not continue, says Raymond Van der Putten, Japan specialist at BNP Paribas: "The yen's appreciation is mainly due to poor growth expectations in the United States." Growth probably disappointing euro zone in 2010 and its own weaknesses in the Japanese economy should lead to a stronger dollar in the coming months, says the economist.

The Japanese economy has certainly been a thunderous start to the year thanks to booming exports to China and the rest of Asia. This was a very strong growth which acquired should enable the archipelago exceed the 3% growth in 2010.

The recovery falters

But recent statistics are rather alarming. Industrial production dropped 1.5% in June, after remaining flat in MayUnemployment is up slightly but steadily since January, rising to 5.3% in June And household consumption fell 2.4% in the second quarter.

"The Japanese recovery has entered a critical phase," said in a note Caroline Newhouse-Cohen, an economist at BNP Paribas. "The recovery plan and recovery of companies coming to an end." Finally, the resurgence of inflation after a long period of stagnation in prices could trim the margins of companies that will struggle to pass increases in material first on consumers.

In this context, the pressures on the government to become more insistent that extends the existing measures of recovery. No decision has yet been taken on this issue, "said Minister of Economy Satoshi Arai last week.

See also:

"The stronger yen last fifteen years

Filed under: economics, economy, news, opinions, top news by admin Comments Off

LE FIGARO. – How do you improve your sales and your profits in the first half?

Benoît Potier. – It's an interesting semester. It marks both a recovery in volumes directly linked to the global economy and an upturn in industrial projects. The industry again expressed his interest in the preparation of the future.

We found the pre-crisis levels in virtually all market segments. Only construction accuses six to twelve months behind schedule. Offset restart cycles. Overall, growth in volumes that logically resulted in 10% of our turnover, which grows in all businesses and geographies. However, Air Liquide is one of the industries that were more resistant, with a decline of only 5% in 2009. Moreover, our turnover is 4% higher than the first half of 2008.In this period of euphoria that some groups show up to 30% growth, it is important to see what is the basis for comparison. Our results were up 12% over the same period in 2008.

You can find levels of profitability higher than pre-crisis. Your business has changed significantly in two years?

There is a real disconnect between emerging and mature economies. Our sales increased by 6% in mature economies and 30% in emerging which represent 20% "only" the activity of the group, or two thirds of our growth. In twelve months, the distribution of our investments has changed structurally. It went from 50/50 between emerging and mature to 80/20.However, be careful not to bury the mature markets, growth of 6% is good, there are many industries that satisfied with them.

But to give you an example, our sales in China in the first half of 2010 rose 65% and they had also increased last year. China is catching up with the level of industrialized countries in streamlining its industry. There is no excess production capacity. Typically, we have seen closure of four sites steelmakers, grouped into a larger one. The latter now invests in technology and modern capabilities. All the industrial world benefit.

Chemistry, property and equipment, how do you explain that the whole industry registered a sharp improvement in its growth and profitability?

The crisis has hit so hard that companies do not have any choice.They had to rest fundamental questions about their structures, their capacity, so their exposure to market, their management parameters. I think all industries are now much stronger than before the crisis. Faced with problems of liquidity and access to financing, companies have strengthened their balance sheets. Their debts are either stable – for those who invest and continue to grow, it is the case of Air Liquide – is declining.

What do you recommend to stop the loss of competitiveness of French industry?

It is a vast subject. The ideal solutions for the industry have not yet been found in Europe and in different countries. Whether as a planned or coordinated, it seems that Europe has not sufficiently defined what strategies or industrial sectors in which it wants to occupy a leadership position.It means rather the leaders speak on a national solution, which is logical, but we do not have European body for industrial communication, unlike the U.S., China and Japan which are three countries integrated and better than us in the definition of industrial strategy. We are losing a major card: The strength in unity. In addition it must maintain a production base in Europe, since that's where ideas materialize. Without production, we have more innovation, but only for research.

European standards they penalize the industry?

Europe does not want to be a hindrance, but it seems to suffer from the narrowness of the missions that have been determined in different organs. The European Central Bank is there to control inflation while the Fed has a wider role.The European Commission organizes the market, ensures fluidity but has no mandate to make Europe competitive beyond its borders. It does not take sufficient account of the external markets. The European institutions can improve.

What makes you confident for the end of the year and may be beyond?

The resumption of growth projects. Signing of contracts shows that the client is ready to commit and so are we. Every time we sign a contract, we bring a stone to the growth of 2012-2013, or even 2015.

You do not fear a relapse of the economy?

The answer is clear: no. We have seen nothing that points in the first half as a direct risk. Since the crisis, we follow the weekly volume of gas consumed by our customers.In case of "double deep", it would stop producing customers, making maintenance. This is not the case. The situation is normal. It must occur because the world consumes. We are almost out of the zone of turbulence to go toward growth, even if the signal "attached belt" remains lit.

ALSO READ:

"Air Liquide is still growth in 2010

Filed under: business, economy, online, opinions, world by admin Comments Off

A history of gold? The fund Bridgepoint entered into Friday night to Saturday two agreements to buy the first two channels simultaneously French jeweler midrange, Histoire d'Or and Marc Orian.

If successful, a priori, in October, the transaction remains subject to the advice of two councils and the approval of competition authorities, would bring the delicious result of two brands created by successive Sylvain Krief in the 1980s, and whose networks are geographically complementary.

Histoire d'Or, owned since 2006 to fund Silverfleet Capital, has 200 stores, almost all located in shopping malls on the outskirts of cities. The company is dynamic. Its turnover amounted to 220 million euros in 2009, up 1.1%. In France, its network of stores has almost doubled in size in four years.Elsewhere in Europe, the brand has established in Belgium and Italy. History Gold was also launched in 2007 teaches J'M (six stores), on the same niche, but more likely.

Good mid-range resistance

Located also in the malls, Marc Orian Group operates its side a network of more than 250 stores under the Marc Orian and Treasury, and annual sales of around 130 million euros. The company is owned since 2006 by QUALIUM (formerly CDC Capital Investissement) who bought from Crédit Agricole Private Equity.

The combination of these signs would create a network of over 450 shops for a turnover of around 450 million euros. It has been several years that the funds eyeing the jewelry chains midrange.The sector has grown steadily against the current of a market down 2% last year, mainly at the expense of traditional jewelry stores downtown.

Bridgepoint could benefit from his position of arch-leader to refine the positioning of its various networks, optimize purchasing and address the heart of market towns by launching a new concept.

ALSO READ:

"The French prefer silver jewelry, cheaper

Filed under: economic, economics, life, resources, top news by admin Comments Off