Greece, a popular destination - August 14, 2011

The fall of 6.9% of GDP in the second quarter is not for nothing. While the empty streets of Athens with the approach of August 15, the Greeks are reluctant to take a vacation. According to a survey by the Consumers' Association, six out of ten Greeks will not go this year because of the crisis. Specifically, "46% do not go a week, and only 5% will go over two days," Gianna Karatyni analysis of the Consumers' Association. "Morale is not, but the wallet either. Now the Greeks think twice before leaving, especially when the price of ferry tickets, for example to go to Crete for a family of four with a car, is 600 euros, one quarter of household earnings. A luxury, "she says.

Yet the absence of the Greeks is not visible on the beaches of the islands of the Aegean Sea. And for good reason, this summer, tourists from around the world flock by the thousands.Travel agencies estimate that 20% increase in bookings compared to 2010. "The French are fighting the same record," adds Theodore Chartomatsidis, director of the Hellenic Tourism Office in Paris: "Applications abound every day with our services. The numbers prove it. There is, for now, an increase of at least 28% of French tourists in Greece this year, "says he. "That means they could exceed one million visitors, a figure that was the goal for three years. It is therefore encouraging because with few means of promotion, we have shown that there is another Greek than the economic crisis, like the food for example. The French responded immediately, in solidarity, above all, "he adds.

A safer country as Tunisia and Egypt

In the port of Piraeus, boats, coming and going in the islands of the Aegean Sea, are met.Karine, a French tourist, who came with family, preparing to embark for the island of Kalymnos in the Dodecanese. Impressed by the number of travelers, she concluded that ultimately the economy will be beneficial to Greece: "I think people, especially the French, were frightened by the situation in Tunisia or Egypt. Greece remains a safe country, to which is attached without really knowing him. The holidays are enjoyable, even if sometimes small strikes, "said she. Like many tourists, Karine does not hide his desire to acquire a small house overlooking the sea "if prices fall with the crisis," she says. The property prices have not fallen but never mind, for some tourists, there is an incentive to come back next year.

The Greeks do not let themselves down so far.Some invade the beaches near the capital, while others go for short-haul and less expensive way, almost 30% of Greeks went beyond their prejudices to enjoy the beaches and rates of neighboring Albania.

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Adidas innovates in France - August 13, 2011

Coq sportif gradually reinvesting its native lands of the Dawn, capitalizing on its image Franco-French. The sports equipment was reinstalled last year in Romilly-sur-Seine near Troyes – a few miles from Sodimedical, society in turn threatened to relocate – in the industrial cradle he was born there one hundred thirty years.

If production is largely carried out in Portugal, the group is established with the help of the town hall, a center of development of its textile lines in September 2010. "In this economy, every job is important!" Notes Eric Vuillemin, mayor of the town, who was involved up to 700,000 euros for the renovation of the site.Models of the brand are now developed, and to do that, fifteen jobs were created.

Flexibility

Like Rossignol, another French brand of sport with relocated, the move comes as part of the recovery of the group in trouble after its acquisition by Adidas in the 70's. 22 years after leaving France, the new owner of Adidas in 2005, the Swiss investment fund Aires, has chosen to focus its strategy on the high end and quality French.

By refusing to subcontract as the creation of other brands and product development, Adidas claims to have improved in quality and uniqueness guaranteed payday loans. "We control our now in-house research and development, what sets us apart from the competition," it is argued.Like many companies that have relocated, the brand is also pleased to have shortened the production time and thus become more flexible.

Fifteen new jobs created

Two advantages that should further strengthen next year. Because the group now plans to relocate for the first time a production unit in France, always in Romilly-sur-Seine. The new plant, expected to be operational in early 2012, will produce the high quality collections of the brand. Fifteen new jobs will be created.

This repositioning has been paying more. Profitable since 2009, the brand registered in 2010 a turnover of 89.8 million euros, up 8% over the previous year.While Adidas is still a small player in the sports equipment, compared to giants Nike, Adidas and Puma, Airesis stresses that its market share in footwear in France is increasing from 6% to 9% last year .

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Nicolas Sarkozy is accelerating its cost-cutting plan - August 11, 2011

A return express. Nicolas Sarkozy called Wednesday morning at the Elysee a "working meeting" surprise, to "take stock" (and know) market in crisis, amid concern for the euro area. Since the worsening financial situation, the head of state was managing the crisis from its resort on the Var coast, so you do not send alarming signals to markets. "There, it was easier to gather everyone in Paris, says it at the Elysee. But the sine qua non, there was not too brutal market drop, that morning. Otherwise, the meeting would have made things worse. "

The secret had been carefully guarded.And the Elysee waited for the reopening of markets on Wednesday morning to publish (at 9:22) the press release announcing the meeting, held in the green room, in the presence of Prime Minister François Fillon – back to Tuscany, he left in the aftermath – and the Governor of the Banque de France, Christian Noyer. Ministers Baroin (Economics), Valerie Pécresse (Budget), Alain Juppe (Foreign Affairs) and John Leonetti (European Affairs) had been asked the day before returning to Paris for the occasion.

Anxious to reassure the markets in a context of "excitement," Nicolas Sarkozy wanted to remember with great fanfare that France was determined to achieve its goals in reducing deficits (5.7% of GDP in 2011, 4.6% l Next year, 3% in 2013).Trajectory necessary to preserve the precious "AAA" rating (see below).

Unpopular decisions

In a statement, the Elysee reiterated Wednesday that those commitments are "bound regardless of changing economic conditions." Sarkozy asked Baroin Pécresse and make proposals for further savings, as part of preparing the draft budget law for 2012. The budget minister said that the Figaro tax loopholes – but not those in the service of employment – will be far removed. "The employment protection is a barrier," nuance Pécresse, who wants loop "a budget of fiscal justice" with "effort shared by all."Sarkozy and Fillon will be August 17 to prepare the trade-offs which will be made Aug. 24 before being endorsed by the Cabinet next week.

The head of state wants to take advantage of the worsening situation to prepare public opinion for unpopular decisions fast cash. But he also wants to show the French that the policy since 2007 (non-replacement of a staff of two, pension reform, etc.). Is one of the reasons why France would keep its credibility on the market. "Current developments validate the economic strategy led by the government," insists the Elysée in a statement. During yesterday's meeting, which lasted over two hours, Sarkozy further held that the measures taken by France and its partners since the beginning of the crisis had begun to bear fruit."There was a relaxation on the market for sovereign debt, we must keep a cool head," said Baroin to the output, hours before a new European stock markets dive. Reportedly, Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the coming days. The date has not been set.

The head of state also discussed Wednesday the famous "golden rule", he wishes to include in the Constitution. "He called everyone's responsibility, beyond the partisan divide." Again, Sarkozy wants to use the crisis to push its advantage, and put the opposition – who refuses to vote – to the wall. The president spoke at length on the telephone Tuesday with Jean-Pierre Chevenement about it.Reportedly, François Fillon could end of August to stage a number of meetings with opposition figures had proved "constructive" on the subject, as Jean-Pierre Chevenement, Manuel Valls, François Dominique de Villepin or Bayrou. Interviews that aimed to isolate a little PS. "We can not build with those who want to destroy," says a close associate of President.

After the meeting, held in an Elysium in full work, the walls completely covered in scaffolding, Sarkozy thanked the ministers for their presence: "You can return your vacation spots," Has he said. "Oh? We have the right to say the word now? It is no longer taboo? "Ministers had fun. For Baroin and Pécresse, "the work continues."The two "musketeers" of the right must be found this weekend with the Minister of Economy in the Creuse, to work on measures they present earlier this week to the president. As for the head of state, he took over the road from Cape Negro on Wednesday, late afternoon.

MTV, transgressive for 30 years - August 9, 2011

Thirty years and not a wrinkle. MTV has reached a venerable age but decided not to grow old with those who, on 1 August 1981, discovered amazed the first television channel dedicated to music. A pioneer, she said that day, not only by imposing as a signature image of an astronaut planting a flag alum and weapons of MTV but also by spreading the first music video in the history of television, Video Killed the Radio Star of Bugglers. Created by Warner and American Express, American chain invented at the time, "the first form of synchronization between picture and sound," but also popularized "the phenomenon of DJs who will push to the extreme contextualization of the music. "In short, MTV is a string subversive.

"Music has long been a huge factor for personalization and identification of the artists," says Thierry Camas, president of MTV Networks France. "We got dressed, and adopted the lifestyle of our stars." With MTV, fans no longer confined to the glossy magazines but follow the escapades and the hits of their heroes on TV and live … historical moments. And Michael Jackson invented the moonwalk, virtually live on the chain-y launched its exclusive clip Thriller. A real event that had nothing to envy to the cinema with his unique format of 14 minutes.This video has forever changed the art of music video and assured the heyday of the chain.

Sensor trend and unparalleled observer of the youth which is the heart of business, MTV is probably the first to feel the mid-1990s that music is becoming commonplace in the extreme. Developed in 2010, the words "Music Television" logo. "The accessibility of music on all platforms, sharing it via social networks has introduced a twist that few industries have known," said Thierry Camas.

Teen in all its formats

The chain is reinventing its original format and media proclaims generational and transgressive. In those years, the musical chain accounts for only 50% of the grid. But to counteract this movement, the group creates variations 100% music.MTV puts adolescents at the center of its innovative all-out in terms of formats. It in the headlines by inventing the first two reality shows with "The Real World" in 1992 and later, the controversial "Jackass." The chain has also exported its "Pimp My Ride," the reality show with crazy cars. Bought in 1986 by Viacom, MTV is developing an international and binding on all distribution platforms. It now operates in 160 countries and has 170 variations. For the group, only one word: "preserve the value of content" on all modes of broadcasting, including video on demand.

"We're agnostic in terms of distribution provided that we are paying," insists Thierry Camas.Today, the group derives its income to 60% of the royalties from operators and 40% advertising.

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Asian stock markets in turmoil - August 8, 2011

The damage is limited. After the first weekend after the degradation of the sovereign rating of the United States by Standard's and Poor's, the world was afraid to wake up on Monday on a stock market crash. Certainly, Asian stock markets, first to start the week and give the trend, showing all this morning a marked decline of more than 2%. But the risk of a crash seems for the moment excluded.

In Tokyo, after opening down 1.40%, the Nikkei 225 for blue chips ended down 2.18% to 9097.56 points.La statement last night, the Japanese Minister of Finance Yoshihiko Noda, who has maintained confidence in the U.S. Treasury, was not enough to allay the concerns of investors. The Minister emphasized the mobilization of the European central bankers, a sign of awareness on the efforts to be undertaken.

More than 48 hours after the announcement that shook the world's largest economy, Asian investors have been partially sensitive to the political mobilization of the weekend, both of European leaders, who called for the adoption by the end of September the bailout of Greece on 21 July. But also that of the ECB, on Sunday night discussed a possible acquisition of Italian and Spanish debt, and the White House, which yesterday called for unity among Democrats and Republicans.

The yen is rebounding

Still, if the announcement of the degradation of the United States was somewhat expected in Asia, the timing chosen by Standard & Poor's has caught the markets, even after a weekend of reflection, continuing their descent into hell.In this context of concern about the state of European and American finance, the yen has tended to take some strength vis-à-vis the dollar and euro saving account payday loan. Around 4 o'clock, Paris time, the dollar was worth around 78.05 yen and the euro hovered on the other hand around 111.90 yen, the two displayed small decline vis-à-vis the Japanese currency. A phenomenon still unfavorable export values.

Other major Asian markets show a stronger decline in Tokyo. China, which was very critical this weekend against the failure of U.S. lawmakers to find a long-term solution to their debt problems, the tooth was also harder on the markets: the Hang Seng Hong Kong picks up 4.12% on Monday morning at 20,082.80 points while the Chinese CSI 300 lost 3.51% to 2795.64 points.Beijing is by far the largest holder of U.S. debt in the world with 1.16 trillion dollars of U.S. Treasury bills in the drawers.

Elsewhere in Asia, all places show a sharp decline. The KRX South Korean loose 3.45% to 7581.86 points, while the S & P / ASX 200 Australian loses 2.14% to 4017.60 points. A Bonbay, the BSE Sensex was down 2.60% to 16,855.60 points. Finally in Singapore, the FTSE Straits shows the largest decline (-4.14%) to 2870.92 points.

Oil continues to tumble

Moreover, in this context very uncertain about the strength of economic recovery, oil prices continued their steep decline on Monday morning in electronic trading in Asia. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery lost 2.59 dollars to 84.29 dollars.That of Brent North Sea crude for September delivery fell by 2.48 dollars to 106.89 dollars.

At the same time, gold has gone through the roof of 1700 dollars to 1704 dollars an ounce on the market in Hong Kong.

WTO: "Made in the World" launched - August 7, 2011

The globalization of the industry makes it still relevant national trade statistics? The World Trade Organization (WTO) has been working since October on this issue. "If the needs of the changing social and economic policy, statistics must adapt," said Pascal Lamy, Director General of the WTO.

This thinking has led, in June, the launch of Made in the World Initiative, said MiWi. This project – Made in the world – aims to complement the traditional statistics by providing a new angle of approach to globalization.

The WTO is an example of the manufacture of a Boeing 787 Dragline.Admittedly, this is an American plane produced by Boeing, but the list of international suppliers of parts and components is long: the wings and forward fuselage from Japan, the center fuselage from Italy, the engines of the United Kingdom, brakes, electrical equipment and tools in France.

Boeing included in the export statistics of the United States can also be included in part those of other supplier countries Same day payday loans. Also making a hard drive in Thailand, an input to the composition of the computers, involves components and parts from more than a dozen Asian and American.

Additional data

"It is necessary to better understand the global value chains to better understand the nature of trade and production process.As such it would be useful to have more detailed data on trade in services, "said Jean Arthuis, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

The initiative of the WTO is "for the moment, more an aid to understanding a negotiation support," says Christophe flung, one of the project within the organization. The aim is to popularize the measurement of international trade to produce, over time, additional data on foreign trade. If it is completed, MiWi promote a measure of international trade more adapted to reality and offer a new angle of approach flow valuation.

Lagardère: Guy Wyser-Pratte took the AMF - August 5, 2011

American financier Guy Wyser-Pratte does not disarm in the folder Lagardère. Almost eighteen months after the general meeting of 27 April 2010 during which the two resolutions he had proposed were rejected at 76% and 78%, Guy Wyser-Pratte against attack. Wednesday, August 3, he sent a letter to the Financial Markets Authority (AMF), in which he contested the vote count at the meeting of shareholders of the group.

The American activist took some time to gather evidence to support its contention. Today, it provides the AMF documents showing that the ten funds managed by AllianceBernstein (a subsidiary of AXA Group), a leading shareholder group Lagardere with 10% of the shares, would have voted for he had presented two resolutions.

For investigation

A resolution was to appoint him to the Supervisory Board of Lagardère.Resolution B was to amend the prerogatives of-stock by requesting that the general partners do not vote more consistently before the sponsors. Guy Wyser-Pratte also produces documents from two firms specializing in proxy voting investors (ISS and Broadridge). They would have gathered the voices of various U.S. institutional investors in favor of two resolutions A and B. Finally, he instructed the firm McKenzie to a total of U.S. investors vote in favor.

"In total, we can demonstrate that counting only the votes of shareholders represented by American myself, AllianceBernstein, Broadbridge and ISS, my application to the supervisory board received 44% of the vote of the quorum present at the meeting. In addition, it is likely that other European shareholders have also voted in my favor.I therefore request the AMF to conduct an investigation to understand the origin of the discrepancy between the results of the AG and the counting done by us, "said Guy Wyser-Pratte no faxing 1 hour payday loans. In 2010, the AMF had already audited BNP Paribas, which had been in charge of counting votes at the annual meeting of shareholders.

Returning to the issue today, Guy Wyser-Pratte hopes remobilize American and European shareholders for the next general meeting of 2012.

In March 2010, Guy Wyser-Pratte had burst into the capital of Lagardère by buying up 0.53% of the shares. He then publicly criticized the governance of the group protesting against the existence of a partnership limited by shares and had criticized the lack of strategy of management.The tone was mounted and Philippe Camus, a member of the sponsorship of the Lagardère group, the AMF had seized a few days before the general meeting, marveling at the distortion between saber rattling by Guy Wyser-Pratte and the reality of the impact of the two draft resolutions.

Strategy of focusing

Arnaud Lagardère had benefited from the rostrum of the General Assembly to address the critical Guy Wyser-Pratte. Some time after the general meeting, it had sold substantially all of its shares, pocketing a nice way to gain. Today, he is left only about 100,000 titles.

The tension had fallen, but after this episode heated, the Lagardère Group has implemented a strategy of refocusing on its core businesses – publishing, distribution, media and sport – and the country where he holds a position leadership.Suddenly, the group undertook to sell all of its minority, especially in Canal + France, the Amaury group and the group Marie-Claire. For now, these sales have stalled. However, Lagardère Active has led to the charge of selling most of its international press center to the American group Hearst, to 654 million euros. This represents a hundred titles in a dozen countries.

Facebook debauchery of the old Apple - August 3, 2011

Facebook announced Tuesday the acquisition of Push Pop Press, a publisher of books, multimedia touch pads co-founded by two former Apple Kimon Tsiteris and Mike Matas. Little known to the general public, the two men worked on the interface and software key on the iPhone and iPad.

Apple, Mike Matas has participated in the design of several interface elements of the iPhone, as the camera, the display of the battery and phone settings. Tsiteris with Kimon, he also worked on the mapping software for iPad."Mike Matas is responsible or has had responsibility for most of the best and most exuberant designs in recent times" at Apple, said the blogger John Gruber, familiar with the company.

Team Press Push Pop account other well-respected engineers in its ranks, as Austin Sarner, who worked for Sofa, publisher of software for Mac already bought in June by Facebook. On Twitter, the former head of the development of the implementation of Facebook for iPhone, Joe Hewitt, said he hoped "that the acquisitions of Pop Push Press and sofa style mean that Facebook is more like that of Apple that of Microsoft. "

An application for iPad

Facebook confirmed that some engineers Pop Push Press join its ranks, without specifying their assignment.Pop Push Press, who had noted earlier this year by publishing a book multimedia Al Gore for the iPad, will cease operations. "Facebook does not begin to publish electronic books, but the ideas and technology that are behind Push Pop Press will be integrated with Facebook," commented Mike Matas and Kimon Tsinteris. For example, to better present the interactive content, suggests the New York Times.

The future of Facebook application iPad was published in error last week.

That markets expect the agreement after the United States - August 1, 2011

On the night of Sunday to Monday, an agreement was reached between Republicans and Democrats to raise the U.S. debt ceiling. A favorable outcome that immediately reassured the markets: when Barack Obama announced the compromise to 2:45 Paris time, Asian stock markets – open to this hour – surged after learning that the failure to pay the United States was avoided. The Nikkei in Tokyo rose 1.7% immediately before finishing up 1.34%. Later, in Europe, major indices also showed the green, like the Cac 40 in Paris, which opened up 1.35%, and the ragagnant 3700 points, the Footsie Londoner, who took 1.07 % and the Dax in Frankfurt (+1.5%).

Safe haven, gold subside sees the outbreak of the course, which showed great concern on the part of investors.The yellow metal, which was still worth almost 1630 dollars per ounce on Friday, and is around 1615 dollars fell on Monday.

Immediate response as the currency market, the dollar has suddenly taken against major world currencies, particularly against the yen (the dollar rose from 77.3 to 78 yen per hour), just after the announcement.

Reassured the markets for a while

But around noon on Monday, the dollar back down a little already, one euro was trading against 1.4437 dollars (0.23%). Same against the Swiss franc, another safe haven, which goes back to full speed against the dollar and finds its historical levels of force, to 0.78 Swiss francs to the dollar.

Thus, if the news is welcome, the markets are not won by the euphoria. They are waiting because the confirmation of the plan by a vote, or some Republicans have expressed strong opposition to the agreement.Already on the European stock markets, the increases are bunched together in mid-day. And on Wall Street indices predicted a future increase in the Dow Jones 1.3%. Not enough to make up for the fall of 4.4% registered in the past week.

Markets are also wary because the details of the agreement remain unclear. In addition, the debt ceiling would require a new vote in early 2013, after the presidential elections. Now remains to be seen how the rating agencies will react to reductions in planned expenditure, less important than they hoped. However, they have warned: even if the United States are not lacking, this would not prevent the AAA rating of the country may be degraded.In this case, markets may again sink into depression.

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