Sarkozy wants to tax the new financial exchanges - November 4, 2011

The G20 summit opened in Cannes on Thursday in an acute crisis. President Nicolas Sarkozy had to leave an extraordinary meeting of the euro area to hold under a rainy sky guests, leaders of 20 leading world economies.

The crisis in the euro area has so encroached on the official program that the French president had to cancel his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Sing. French President Barack Obama had previously met face-to-head and seems to have gained the support of the United States for its proposed financial transactions tax.

The political changes in Athens have also punctuated the start of the summit. Returning to Greece after being scolded by Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel on Wednesday, Prime Minister George Papandreou is facing the sling of his own ministers.

Sony creates a helmet for movies and 3D games - October 23, 2011

The immersion is total. Sony caused a sensation at the Salon of video games Porte de Versailles in Paris, showing for the first time in France, his helmet virtual reality video games and movies in 3D.

By this headset, the viewer looks at the images as if they were in the middle of a movie theater in front "of a screen 19 feet wide and 20 meters away," providing its designers. Perception is indeed surprising. Two small screens (in the technology known as OLED, the most advanced flat panel displays) replace the glass of each pair of glasses. As each screen projects an image of the other complementary to each eye, the viewer has the perception of stereoscopic vision. Refreshing images done in record time (0.01 seconds), giving an impression of fluidity. Immersion increases when the music and the sounds coming out of headphones.Better than a stereo sound quality was improved (as 5.1, for the purists). Suitable for a game console PlayStation 3, Sony headphones, codenamed HMZ-T1, provides a home theater guaranteed approval cash advance loans.

Price from 800 euros

Technology has made progress since the first generation of virtual reality goggles in the late 1990s, designed by the American group including Silicon Graphics.

In the show, to demonstrate the immersion in video games, Sony has coupled his special helmet to the video game Uncharted 3: the illusion of Drake, launched exclusively for the PS3. With a gesture of the hand on the joystick, and the gun is triggered, another movement, the landscape of the game is running.

This revolutionary headset will be sold in mid-November. But technology has a price, very high in this case: 800 euros.What Sony does not expect to sell hundreds of thousands on the occasion of Christmas.

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Moody's attacks British institutions - October 9, 2011

Moody's warned that it was British banks in the crosshairs. So she lowered the notes yesterday of seven small establishments that specialize in mortgages but also five major banks such as Lloyds Banking Group, which comes down a notch to "Aa3" to "A1", and Royal Bank of Scotland , which loses two notches to "A2". She also announced plans to lower the rating for long-term debt of Belgium, currently the second best possible "Aa1." The rating agency said in a statement it would review the country's vulnerability to the crisis of debt in the eurozone, growth prospects and uncertainty surrounding the possible support to the banking system, particularly the establishment Franco-Belgian Dexia.

Moody's, which has deteriorated in the wake of 9 banks in Portugal, is the difference between Portuguese and British situations.If Portugal is the financial institutions that is pointed, this is not the case in the United Kingdom. The decrease is only due to the fact that the government committed to a policy of strict fiscal discipline, is less inclined to support the bankruptcy of its banks, especially smaller ones, "It is more likely that the government is now its most smaller institutions to fail no fax cash loans. The damage does not reflect a deterioration of finances of the banking system or the government. "

Controversy over RBS

So it's the same reason that is invoked only for a few weeks ago degradation of U.S. Citigroup, Bank of America and Wells Fargo on the grounds that the state might be reluctant to help them. Political discourse is to throw doubt on the determination of the support if any one bank.The British finance minister, George Osborne, told the BBC: "People ask me how to prevent the British deposit banks to be in the future? The government is to prepare. As a result, the rating agencies believe that banks will have to prove that they themselves can pay their bills. "

Indeed, the government wants to avoid having to replicate the scheme in 2008. The State had then had to inject billions into troubled institutions, including 22 billion for RBS.

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A turbulent stock market history for Dexia - October 5, 2011

In recent years, Dexia has moved from an institution offering a regular dividend to a penny stock that ruined its shareholders. The action is worth more than 1.06 euro on Tuesday, down 94% in five years. Until 2010, Dexia was part of the CAC 40 after entering in 1999. We now know the epilogue of a story that could be summed up in three parts: the time of ambitions, a last-minute rescue and collapse.

In 1996, the marriage of Credit Local de France and Credit Communal de Belgique is celebrated with great pomp. It gives birth to a bank player in the financing of local authorities in both France and Belgium. Rather than focus on this specialty, the leaders will demonstrate a burning ambition in the years that follow. The acquisitions will increase. Nothing is too good for executives who leave the checkbook repeatedly.No matter if capital does not follow. Access to liquidity seems unlimited and redemptions can be easily financed. Dexia is the time highly rated by rating agencies.

In 1997, Dexia is a 40% stake in the Italian specialist of financing local authorities. Units held will be brought to 60% in 1998. Especially in 2000, Dexia made two acquisitions that will prove disastrous. The property bought FSA in the United States for 2.7 billion euros. This company called credit enhancer has become over the years one of the insurance behemoth of financial securities. Moreover, again in 2000, Dexia bought Bank Labouchere. A few years later, a scandal will cost several hundred billion euros to Dexia. It turns out that customers of Labouchere bought shares on credit, the establishment of incentive. The crash of 2001-2002 and ruined.

Payment of a dividend is known to be regular and copious

At the time, financial analysts and portfolio managers criticize little Dexia. The bank made steady progress in earnings per share. It pays a dividend is known to be regular and plentiful. Many individual shareholders, entered the capital of Crédit Local in 1991 and have remained loyal to Dexia. No one really makes the fact that the risk profile of the bank has been completely changed.

In 2004-2005, Dexia is the subject of many rumors of marriage. Pierre Richard, the head of the bank, Dexia is that merged with the Italian Sanpaolo. He turned down its directors and officers in Italy. In September 2005, leaders refuse to merge with Dexia Fortis. Rumors of an alliance with Societe Generale also circulating, but nothing concrete emerges from the noise corridor.At the end of 2005, the action is close to 20 euros.

In 2006, is welcomed. It enables Dexia to enter the promising market of the local retail banking. In late April 2007, Dexia's most button above historical 24.51 euros.

Its subsidiary FSA is vulnerable

When the subprime crisis broke, the bank is discreet. She knows that its subsidiary FSA is vulnerable. The leaders tried to reassure but the 2008 financial crisis and the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers will put the institution to its knees. In autumn 2008, the CDC, the State and the Belgian regions implement a capital increase of EUR 6.4 billion. In addition, the Belgian, French and Luxembourg governments were forced to implement security to enable the bank to borrow again.

Despite reduction measures and restructuring the balance sheet, and his teams have not managed to recover the bank.The task was daunting given a totally unbalanced balance sheet. The latest figures, Dexia had 6.9 billion euros of capital to 517 billion euros of assets. Shareholders are ruined and no one said that the action could still have value in the coming months. As for local governments, many of them are dissatisfied because the Dexia led to raise loans in Swiss francs to take advantage of the difference in interest rates. Only the value of the Swiss franc has soared, and the weight of loans proved unbearable for many communities.

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In Marseille, Air France made its "revolution" - October 1, 2011

This Saturday is the big day of the first Air France flight operated since its "base" of Marseille. A double "revolution" for the French company. This, after the creation of Transavia, made a new incursion into the territory of low-cost, with an offer less expensive than its usual rates. Low prices made possible by an innovative organization that plans to base in Marseille to Paris and not personnel and aircraft. The flight time of the first will be more concentrated, and rotating equipment more efficient, allowing the company to realize operational cost savings estimated at 15%. 130 pilots and 250 flight attendants volunteered.

LE FIGARO. – Air France opens its first base on Saturday from province to Marseille will be followed by Nice, Toulouse and Bordeaux.What are your rules for the selection of the fifty new roads you open on the four bases?

Bruno Matheu. – On each base, some of the routes we operate already own and through our regional subsidiaries will see capacity increase as in Marseille and Lille. Due to lower our costs, we can offer a very innovative pricing. In addition, there will be many new destinations: 13 from Marseille. We chose these routes according to their traffic potential, but also their competitive position.We have deliberately avoided the roads on which two low-cost competition or are already in those to the hubs of our main European competitors.

In the current state of reservations, are there any lines that work better than others, especially when they compete with an offer of low-cost companies like Ryanair?

Among the destinations that start strong include new routes to the Middle East (Beirut, Istanbul). We offer "all inclusive", which is not the same as that of a low-cost, has found its place.The many services that are and will remain free: registration, a snack on board, the daily press … make the trip easier and more enjoyable credit score.

What do these bases to Air France?

In addition to new roads, with the creation of databases province is a small revolution that is underway within the company towards more decentralization, towards more accountability. Each base will function like a small company with the Regional Director will be the "boss". Commercial agent of call, hostess, steward or pilot, everyone has a responsibility to Marseille. The objective is to improve responsiveness while being firmly rooted in local life.The strong motivation of our teams will enable us to do.

Lyon Why does it not in your list of bases?

In Lyon, our current operation in place for many years, follows a different logic: the planes converge to Lyon early in the morning to feed a first range of correspondence, while on the bases they make their first step at the start of the base. In addition, our policy is much more focused on business passengers. However, discussions are ongoing and we do not exclude changes in our model Lyon.

Are there mass transport from province to province?

The cross-linking major regional cities without passing through Paris undoubtedly represent a real potential for Air France and its regional subsidiaries. Today the car is our main competitor in this type of lines.To us to convince potential customers of the benefits of air transport. The basics of province should be involved.

Why the market capitalization of major airlines is so low?

Air transport is a cyclical business and sensitive to the economic development because the traffic is directly related to growth. Uncertain times we penalize strongly, especially where oil, which accounts for 30% of our costs, is at levels as high. But our current market capitalization does not reflect the value of our business portfolio or that of our assets.

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Employees of Lafarge in hunger strike - September 28, 2011

To save their jobs, twelve employees of the Lafarge plant in Frangey, in the Yonne, have chosen the weapon of hunger. They begin on Tuesday the eighth consecutive day without food. Their camp of five tents in which they placed cots, is placed just under the windows of the direction of the cement business of the group at Saint-Cloud in Hauts-de-Seine.

With this strong action, these employees, joined by the mayor of the commune of the Yonne, hoping to push Lafarge to reverse its decision, announced in late May to close their factory. Frangey site, dating back over 80 years and employs 74 employees, should gradually close its doors next year to a permanent closure in April 2013.Lafarge justify its decision with "a local market that is reduced by 40% over-capacity and an inability of the site to produce cement that meets new environmental standards."

The CGT, the majority union in the factory, these sweeping arguments. "The business is viable and profitable. And if the activity of the furnaces is low, it is because the traditional customers come from other sites such as Le Havre. And when asked why they prefer to Lafarge as trucks do 500 km to deliver, they can not be explained, "protested Sylvain Moreno, union leader, who understands that this is part of" the strategy of large ". False, answer a spokesman for the cement, "There was never any agreement between Lafarge and its competitors."

"A pool damaged"

As the situation escalates, Lafarge insists that the closure will be without pay.The group "has provided 100% of reclassification with a job on a site of Lafarge Cement in France," said a spokesman. Other support measures include a support for moving expenses, payment of the new rent for 15 years, or the accompanying spouse in finding a new job. "We want a smooth transition because we understand the emotion and anxiety of employees," said she. "If the goal of Lafarge, CAC 40 company, is close to reclassify, industrial activity in France has fallen very low," said Sylvain Moreno for his part.

Meanwhile in Saint-Cloud, Lafarge claims to be in contact "permanent" with the striking employees who received a "medical assistance, psychological and technical" from the group instant payday loan. Lafarge, which does not want this movement drags on, wants to "find an expeditious solution."But the ground is hard to find since the cement does not reverse its decision so that the strikers call for maintaining a pure and simple activity on the site. "I do not know how long this can last, says Sylvain Moreno. But I know that employees are determined to stay the course. We are ready for us to launch legal proceedings against the group to prove a lack of economic reasons, "said trade unionist.

"What is annoying is that it's 74 fewer jobs in the basin of Tonnerre is already quite damaged. Since 2003, 1,100 jobs have already been lost here, "says Maurice Godard, representative of the local union CGT de Tonnerre (Yonne).

Political turn

An extraordinary central committee (CEC), during which the situation will be discussed Frangey, is expected on Thursday. "There will be others.We want to continue the dialogue process, "says one at Lafarge. "There is no social dialogue, slice Sylvain Moreno, who says that management plans to relocate the appointment for he did not take place in Saint-Cloud," which will result in throwing fuel to the fire, "he warns.

Meanwhile, the movement takes a turn more and more political. Yesterday, Manuel Valls, a candidate for the primary PS, passing the camp, said that "Lafarge is able to maintain this site. This is the direction to move because you have to maintain this site. " Before him, the President of the Republic Standing, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, came to see these "employees thrown like dogs" on the basis of arguments that "does not hold water."

The movement seems however not have the desired resonance within the company.A call to stop work was issued Monday on other sites but there has been little follow-up, pushing the CGT to regret "what little humanity" by other employees of the group.

Player Figaro BFM

ISF: how to fulfill its reporting - September 17, 2011

Reform of the ISF, Act I. Passed last spring, the overhaul of the tax on capital is available in two years, 2011 and 2012. Because of these changes, the deadline for the declaration and payment of ISF is also exceptionally attached to September 30 this year.

From 2011, households with between 800,000 and 1,310,000 euros of assets are exempt from wealth tax. These homes are thus 300 000 received no tax declaration form. However, some tax advice to households close to the threshold of 1.3 million to make a statement (see interview below). In addition, taxpayers with between 1.3 and 3 million of assets this year have a simplification of formalities in their statement.

In 2011, the old scale of the ISF continues to apply. This is a scale that works in phases, with six tax rates.The first tranche that between 800,000 and 1.3 million euros of assets, is still active for those households that remain subject to the ISF is to say that over 1.3 million property. Thus, a taxpayer with a wealth of 3 million will pay a wealth tax of 16,555 euros (0.55% share of its assets from 0.8 to 1.31 million, 0.75% between 1.31 and 2 , 57% between 1 million and 3 million and 2.57).

The reform of the TFR is consistent with the removal of the tax shield. However, because the mechanism of the shield, which is shifted in time, taxpayers will still be entitled to a shield in 2011 and 2012 respectively on their overpaid tax in 2011 and 2010. The shield does not really disappear in 2013.

But some practical rules are changing.Until September 30, recipients of the shield can either request a refund check to the treasury, or less money on ISF, local taxes or payroll taxes on the amount of shield.

New scale in 2012

As of September 30, one lane remains: the allocation of the shield on the bill of ISF. One way to avoid the controversy of previous years on the checks sent to taxpayers' net worth …

Finally, indebted to the ISF will be eligible for the last time this year the cap of the ISF (wealth tax, social security contributions and income tax can not exceed 85% of revenues). In 2012, the cap will no longer exist.

It is also that next year will apply the new scale of ISF. The assets of between 1.3 and 3 million will be taxed at 0.25% and beyond 3 million at 0.5%. But the tax will no longer increments.

2 million households with wealth pay 5000 euros to ISF (2,000,000 multiplied by 0.25%) and with 4 million euros of assets 20 000 EWB (4,000,000 multiplied by 0.5%). Next year, households with between 1.3 and 3 million of assets no longer meet reporting ISF: they will show their heritage in a special box on their tax return. Only taxpayers with more than 3 million of goods will continue to make their declaration of wealth tax, to make the June 15, 2012.

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The luxury cars are unaware of the crisis - September 16, 2011

Car manufacturers ultra-luxurious living on another planet. The downside risks, of concern to general groups, do not seem to disturb them. Concessions in the Ferrari, "consumers are not worried about a recession. The last I saw did not look desperate, "said Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Fiat, at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Prancing Horse brand also provides for a new record this year by selling 7,000 cars, against 6,570 last year. Ferrari is also counting on a profit before tax "significant", following an increase of 23% in 2010 to 302 million euros. "I'm not worried because we have quality, exclusivity, a strong brand and innovative technology," said its president, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo.

It is the only one to be extremely confident.Rolls-Royce (BMW Group), whose boss, Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, said he was "optimistic" about prospects for its niche, also wants to exceed its historical performance of last year (2711 cars). The luxury brand will invest 11.4 million euros to expand its plant in Goodwood English and plans to increase its network from 85 to 100 outlets.

Buyers richer

Sales of the major European luxury brands (Maserati, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin) are expected to jump 19% this year to 28,100 vehicles, and increase by 13% in 2012, according to a study by IHS Automotive. "The rich are becoming richer, and the number of millionaires in emerging and growing. It is a very positive trend "for specialists in this niche, says Erich Hauser, an analyst at Credit Suisse agency quoted Bloomberg.For him, "should things go really bad" for the champions of this market find themselves in difficulty.

The ultra-premium segment should be able to pass through an economic downturn better than in the previous crisis, which saw sales of certain brands to collapse, says the CEO of Rolls-Royce. "This market has been growing steadily since its low point in 2009" but "we are aware that there are risks," acknowledges, however, Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini's boss. But for now, the Italian brand of the Volkswagen group does not seem to fear a decline in the purchasing power of its wealthy clients. It will produce 20 Sesto Elemento for early 2013. Their price: 1.6 million euro.

The Air Force says its network to Alcatel - September 1, 2011

State budget pressure forces, the army is also looking for sources of savings. For example, by outsourcing certain activities through public-private partnerships (PPP), as authorized by an order of 2004. This solution, released Thursday, used by the Directorate General of armemement (DGA) for the renovation and operation of computer networks of the Air Force. It is the latter's second PPP, but the first in computer networks and communications. This task was assigned to a pool of companies, led by Alcatel-Lucent.One hundred sites will be to equip several hundred buildings and 36,000 wired "access points" (to connect a computer or system) in very high speed to install with the latest generation of optical fiber.

This contract runs on sixteen for a value of 350 million euros, the amount of the fee to be paid by the Air Force. The economy of the State is estimated at "tens of millions of euros" through the pooling of engineering resources with other projects that also piloting Alcatel-Lucent. The gain is not only economic: the rapid deployment of networks "will allow the bases of the Air Force to have the most advanced technologies." In addition, the provider has made commitments in terms of availability and reliability of networks, together with a penalty system.The contract also includes an obligation to "up-date" mid-life, so that the networks have the latest technology payday lenders.

The most basic to confidential defense

The project will begin in the coming weeks and deployment of the network will be completed in three years. The first "job" however the network will be operational by late 2012. In total 50,000 people are affected by the implementation of these networks that manage the flow of general computer air force, operational information – including monitoring the French airspace – as well as data for preparing missions and conduct operations. This, with a level and a degree of protection from the most basic information to the "secret NATO" or "confidential defense".In this regard, the staff of the state will retain control over the management of cryptographic hardware.

This is the second PPP signed by the Air Force. In 2008, the School of Dax, which trains helicopter pilots of the French Army, jumped on it. She chose the company as DCI external service provider, by entrusting its helicopter fleet, maintenance, and flight hours. All in under a current contract on twenty-two years to 400 million euros, 600 million less than if the school had continued to manage everything herself.

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The Paris Bourse rebounded with Total and banks - August 22, 2011

The Paris Bourse was hesitant at first. On Monday, the CAC 40 index opened down 0.85% below 3000 points. But the trend was quickly reversed. The benchmark index in Paris and flew from 1.46% to 3061.08 points in mid-session. 3000 points will retain the objective of the day. This threshold, which had escaped during the meeting with investors last week, was saved at Friday. This did not prevent the CAC 40 to close the day on a sharp drop of 1.92% and losing in five days almost 7%.

Furthermore, volatility is also important. In London, the FTSE-100 index, which started on a decline of 0.82%, now earns a 1.35%. Same movement for the Dax in Frankfurt bouncing 0.10% mid-term after losing more than 1% in the morning.

These policy changes reflect the concerns of investors about the state of the global economy.The United States also focused all fears with the publication of indicators increasingly mixed. This weekend, President Barack Obama admitted that his country was experiencing "a difficult, frightening recession." This should not reassure. He also accused the Congress to halt the reforms he wants to put in place to revive the economy. For his part, Vice President Joe Biden tried to reassure global stock markets and especially the Chinese, the first creditor of Americans saying the country would "never" by default.

Side the euro area, the problems of sovereign debt persist. As the political stalemate. Sunday, the German government has stepped up interventions in the media to reaffirm its opposition to European obligations, yet solution desired by the markets."The Eurobonds are quite the wrong response to the crisis of the moment. They would lead us to a union of debt and not a union of stability, "said Chancellor Angela Merkel who judges the cost of this mechanism is too high for the economy of his country.

Libya move

As in Asia this morning, so caution prevails, especially since no major indicator is in the program. Germany has lowered its forecast of budget deficit to 1.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2011, in a monthly report of the Ministry of Finance released Monday.

Growth is slowing for the fourth consecutive quarter in rich countries, that appears to + 0.2% from April to June compared to the previous three months, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)."The gross domestic product (GDP) in the OECD area slowed to 0.2% in the second quarter of 2011, against 0.3% last quarter," said the organization in a statement Monday.

But investors expect a battery of statistics in the rest of the week including the manufacturing PMI for the euro area (Tuesday), the German IFO index (Wednesday), the weekly jobless claims in the U.S. (Thursday). Wednesday will be marked in France by the presentation of new conservation measures for the country to retain investor confidence and the "triple A".

Friday will be the busiest day with the second reading of U.S. GDP in the second quarter and the index of consumer sentiment.Another highlight of the week: the president's speech to the U.S. Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke, scheduled for Friday.

As for currencies, the euro rose slightly against the greenback. The single currency is worth 1.4419 dollars this morning. Oil markets, traders are watching to Libya where the rebels have entered in Tripoli. If pro-Gaddafi still resisting in the capital, rebel fighters have reached the Green Square, symbol of the regime. The fate of Colonel Gaddafi and therefore the oil-producing country seems uncertain. Seif al-Islam, presented in the past as the future successor of his father, was arrested.In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in September gained 0.84% ​​to 82.95 dollars while that of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery of the territory ceded.

Values ​​to follow

Banking

The AMF may decide Friday, after the close of European stock exchanges, to renew its ban on short selling on financial stocks, but this time for three months. The sector also bounced unevenly on Monday after sharp declines last week, Credit Agricole gained 2.76% this morning before falling back slightly in mid-session (-0.29% to 6.10 euros).BNP Paribas gained 0.95% to 33.06 euros, however Natixis crumbles from 0.76% to 2.86 euros, and Axa, from 0.34% to 10.24 euros.

For his part, Frédéric Oudéa, CEO of Societe Generale (1.34% to 21.15 euros), said Sunday that the nervousness that penalizes banks Scholarships could last "at least until early November."

Paris airport: + 0.73% to 54.17 euros

ADP has registered a record passenger traffic in July, with 8.9 million passengers, an increase of 4.6% over the same period in 2010.

France Telecom (1.04% to 12.68 euros), Vivendi (0.69% to 15.39 euros), Bouygues (0.97% to 21.92 euros) Iliad (1.39% to 80.70 euros)

Some operators are preparing for the end of unlimited Internet access in homes for some clients.

Total: + 3.36% to 33.065 euros

Leading the CAC40, the title has hopes of a quick change of regime in Libya that would allow a reopening of the country's oil installations.