Cac 40: a first difficult for Safran - September 20, 2011

The least we can say is that Safran has not chosen the best time to join the benchmark index of the Paris. In two and a half months, the CAC 40 has lost a quarter of its value. For its first listing, Safran lost 1.14% to 25.99 euros. However, the boss of aerospace equipment is intended confident. "It is recognition of the work, said Jean-Paul Herteman, in an interview with Echo on Monday. Our visibility will increase. In particular, this could help us recruit the talent we need. "

"I wish all the best at Societe Generale"

As individuals, concerned with the character "short-term approach" taken by the Exchange, turn their backs on stocks, Jean-Paul Herteman thinks otherwise and tries to reassure investors. "The stock market does not prevent us from conducting a long-term strategy," said he guaranteed online personal loans.Market volatility currently registered by the financial markets do not frighten him. "Safran worth three times less than today on the stock market three years ago, says the head of Safran. In such a short time, our fundamentals have not been processed yet so profound. It is sometimes said that the market is always right, but not every day. "

In a difficult environment for banking stocks that continue to be attacked on the stock market because of their exposure to Greece or Italy, Jean-Paul Herteman also address a small message for them. "I wish all the best at Societe Generale and the French banks," said he.

And just about banks, Natixis is that Safran replaced in the CAC 40 in early September, the index came in just a year ago and had lost more than 40% since April.

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 gold buckles, Wales reopen its mines - August 22, 2011

The mining industry in developed countries is not quite dead. Yet the crisis of 2008 had seemed to him a fatal blow, after years of attrition caused by the scarcity and soaring costs of extraction. But today, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada … mines reopened thanks to soaring commodity prices.

Chibougamau camp, north of Montreal, had not survived the collapse of prices and had to close in 2008 after fifty years of activity. But the soaring price of copper (+47% in one year), gold (+40% in one year) and money (113% in one year) has to hope René Galipeau, CEO of Nuinsco: "Hundreds of children left when the production was closed after years of operational and financial problems.But work on only two mines could lead to the reopening of the Chibougamau camp … and the return of minors to accelerate the revival of the region. "

Nuinsco group is not the only one who had this idea. Many investors would like to reopen the largest gold mine Bontddu UK (Wales). It must be said that the price of gold rose from $ 250 per ounce in 1999 to 1850 dollars lately!

Local authorities are sometimes hostile

"When we closed the mine, it had become too expensive to operate but with the rising price of gold, we are considering reopening the Clogau mine," Wales said Ken Jones, manager of marketing Clogau Gold jewelry company which owned the rights to the mine.

Other metals are benefiting from soaring prices.Thus, the largest silver mine in the United States will also open in Texas as well as the Chino Mine (copper) in New Mexico. In Britain, the last tin mine, South Crofty Mine, closed in 1998, remember to return to activity. The metal price has increased fivefold over the period (+51% over the year).

Nevertheless, we are still far from the great return of the mining industry. Two challenges are needed to interested investors: the financing of such a project (Nuinsco believes that it would require 40 to 50 million dollars to revive the Chibougamau camp) and agreement with local authorities, sometimes hostile projects. This is the case in South Crofty in England, where the community wants to build a recreation center on the site.

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Why Eurobonds are gaining ground - August 16, 2011

How to stop the contagion of the crisis of debt in the euro zone? European leaders are working on the subject while, after Greece, Ireland and Portugal, the budgets of Spain and Italy still worried. Among the options considered: Eurobonds. Berlin does not want to hear about it, Paris does not show much enthusiasm either. However, this proposal is increasingly cited as the most credible to stem the crisis.

What Eurobonds?

Eurobonds (in English or eurobonds) are bonds issued by all 17 Member States of the euro area and subscribed in their common name.The rate of these bonds would be an average for the various member countries, now very different depending on the health of national economies: while German interest rates to 10 stood at 2.62%, those of the Greece nearly 15%.

The creation of the Eurobond, which would mark a greater economic integration in the euro zone, would be to pool the debts of member countries.

What are their advantages?

"If there had been the 'Eurobonds', we would not have today's crisis," says the Italian Minister of Economy, Giulio Tremonti. Such titles would indeed to most indebted countries to borrow at rates lower than those applied to them today. And so break the current vicious circle: with interest rates high, they struggle to refinance markets.

Last week, the European Central Bank (ECB) has disbursed a record $ 22 billion of debt to buy Italian and Spanish, allowing a relaxation of bond yields. But for many, these measures are not sufficient and Eurobonds appear as the most credible to stop the contagion of the debt crisis.

Opposing their creation?

Germany refuses to discuss it. Berlin has in fact particularly low interest rates and would be the big loser of the pooling of European debts. She also fears that the Eurobond release the pressure on states to réquilibrer their finances. Germany wants a greater economic cooperation among member countries of the euro area and the creation of a European institution that would oversee the fiscal policy of each.

Hence the warning before the meeting between Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel on Tuesday afternoon: "We will not cover Eurobonds on our own because it is not, in our opinion, a way desirable or practicable" , said the spokesman of Chancellor allemande payday advance.La France also spoke against the Eurobonds.

"We have a common monetary policy and fiscal policy in each country individually," which results in different interest rates, and "as is the case, Eurobonds are not an option"

Has revived the debate?

The creation of Eurobonds is promoted by long-time supporters of federalism in Europe, including Jean-Claude Juncker.States who suffer from debt interest rates are higher, of course, too, this solution in a positive light.

But even in Germany, the idea seems to be gaining ground: the president of the association of German exporters (BGA), Anton Boerner, has taken a stand for the creation of European bonds, "We need it, and we needed quickly, "he said, calling for the introduction of" golden rules "budget to support their creation.The German daily Die Welt also reported this weekend that the German government began to consider the Eurobonds.

Britain, which has not adopted the euro, has also come out in favor of Eurobonds by the voice of his finance minister, George Osborne: it asked "institutions in the euro area to all that is necessary to maintain stability ", describing the disintegration of the euro as" economic disaster including the UK "." Solutions such as Eurobonds and other forms of security must now be considered seriously, "he added.

Other voices were heard recently in favor of it "Europe needs Eurobonds," said the investor George Soros in an article published Monday by the Financial Times: "Germany and Other countries have AAA in one way or another to create a system of Eurobonds. Otherwise, the euro will collapse. "

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How Facebook imposes its currency - July 8, 2011

Click the preview to enlarge the graphic.

This will be the next revolution Facebook. With nearly 750 million members, the social network is already in the shade to the e-mail to photo sharing sites like Flickr and Google. Today, Facebook is opening a new front, which could result in a "blitzkrieg" on the virtual economy. His weapon: a virtual currency, the Facebook Credits, poised to become the electronic purse of any user.

Launched quietly a year ago and a half, Facebook Credits are required on the site since July 1. Now any game publisher or service on Facebook to provide the currency of the site, in addition to its own virtual currency, like the FarmCash well known to fans of the game Farmville.Credits can be bought on the Facebook site with a card, a Paypal account, payment systems such as mobile Zong, even – as in the U.S. – via physical gift cards sold in supermarkets.

Major industrial

Facebook Credits against such exchange of virtual goods in games like Farmville, PyramidZ and Empires & Allies, or, as suggested by the film studio Warner, against VOD movies. In the U.S., fans of télécrochets as "X-Factor" and "American Idol" can be used to vote for their preferred candidates, replacing the virtual currency of Facebook to Premium SMS.Eventually, all things virtual – an mp3 download, buy a newspaper article online, a coupon obtained by locating in a shop with his mobile telephone minutes of … on Skype – could Facebook Credits currencies.

"The use of Facebook Credits is required, but not exclusive," nuance Codorniou Julien, director of partnerships Facebook France. "This includes the game, but the media as Warner Bros, music, video, box office. This will ensure the liquidity of the currency on all services, "explains Julien Codorniou.Specifically, "consumers will increasingly lead the Facebook FarmCash Credits and less" analysis Michaël Amar, CEO and cofounder of Ifeelgoods, a U.S. company that provides e-merchants to offer Facebook in place of Credits vouchers to their customers.

For Facebook, the Credits are an industrial issue. In fact, each editor service that offers its users to pay Facebook Credits reverse 30% of the value of the transaction of the social network. For example, on a rented movie for 30 Credits Facebook, or 3 dollars, by a user, Warner will donate 90 cents to Facebook. These commissions will quickly become an important part of revenue from Facebook. "We want to go as soon as possible and as widely as possible to diversify our revenue," said Julien Codorniou.Already, sales are "significant" for Facebook, which still generates most of its revenue through advertising. To get an idea, just look at the business volume of Zynga, a major partner of Facebook and subject, like others, to pay the 30% commission, the publisher has made 850 million euros sales in 2010. Its revenues are expected to reach $ 1.5 billion in 2011.

Social games

It's not for nothing that Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and cofounder of Facebook, has made the article social game publishers during his visit to Paris in late May for the e-G8: "The game publishers have found that people preferred to play where their friends are Zynga and imported the social dimension in the game Why gaming is gone first? Because it is a very social experience at first.I think that other media will follow as music, newspapers, books, "he said.

For now, Facebook provides not want to conquer the physical properties of electronic commerce with its virtual currency. In shops in Facebook, the social network rather "Facebook experience on third party sites." "In the coming months will spread features such as" Shop with friends "(buy with friends), Julien Codorniou details. This is not to create shops on Facebook, but to bring its online store friends of the people. "These purchases on the site of a merchant with his Facebook identity will feed the basis of information available to the social network members, and facilitate its advertising sales.

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Overheating warning of emerging countries Coface - June 30, 2011

The emerging markets are facing a "problem-rich" fight against the overheating of their economies – from 6 to 7% last year – when developed countries are seeking to boost their low growth. "Their macroeconomic management faces a dilemma: keep inflation that accompanies this growth through restrictive monetary and fiscal policies, knowing that increases in interest rates contribute to the massive influx of capital," says chief economist of Coface, Yves Zlotowski. Some countries are better equipped, such as Brazil, the driving force of the South American continent and one of the first to respond, noting early on interest rates and imposing taxes on capital inflows.

Dilma Rousseff, Lula's successor as president, also began to impose fiscal restraint.If the funds continue to flow, growth has slowed down somewhat in the first quarter to 4.2% against 7.5% previously. "Brazil is a highly diversified economy in its exports, with an internal market dynamics. Above all, the country has lead the last ten years important structural reforms, "adds the analyst.

"Institutional delay"

Conversely, the credit insurer is more concerned about the neighbor Argentina, faced with high inflation of 23%, where the industry is operating at full capacity, supported by consumption and fiscal and monetary policy very accommodative personal loans for people with bad credit. Overheating is very important in part masked by a current account surplus driven by exports of soybeans in China. But the landing is likely to be brutal crash.

In Asia, the weakest link is located in Vietnam, with a very open economy model of development with Chinese characteristics, based on the investment, mainly Asian. Iran is benefiting from rising costs in China, resulting in even relocation. This generated a huge credit bubble, whose share in GDP increased in ten years from 30 to 120%. The difference is that it does not have the same cash reserves that China and he is obliged to regularly devalue its currency, the dong. "There is a real institutional delay, the risk is, in a skid, discourage investment, which finance the huge current account deficit," Yves Zlotowski analysis.

However, the restrictions put in place gradually in the large emerging economies – China, India, Turkey, Brazil – should provide a soft landing.The challenge is to develop real consumer markets that go through a reduction in inequalities and a growing middle class and to provide for future growth in developed countries.

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No enlargement of the ISF to works of art - June 8, 2011

The deputies followed the government's view: Tuesday night later, they rejected the amendment, which taxed the works of art to the wealth tax (ISF). Works of art are therefore exempt, as they have since 1982. And, a priori, the Senate, which will examine the end of June the reform of the taxation of wealth, should not return to this point.

The vote closes days of debate that divided the majority. Because the amendment taxing works of art came from the UMP Marc Le Fur. Since its adoption in Finance Committee on Wednesday, the government objected small personal loans. But it is Nicolas Sarkozy himself is mounted to the plate Tuesday, qualifying in front of ministers and leaders of the majority, "triple stupidity" the idea of ​​taxing works of art.

Tuesday's meeting, Marc Le Fur finally withdrew his amendment, which the coup was introduced by the socialist president of the Finance Committee Jerome Cahuzac. But the UMP did so by raising another issue, that of taxation works of art at their sales. Amendments within these charges will be discussed today.

What look like large fortunes of the world? - May 27, 2011

The latest Forbes had clearly left the show: there are more billionaires in emerging markets. Only the United States harbored far more than 100 large fortunes, we must now add China (115) and Russia (101). The crisis has clearly benefited the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) to the detriment of developed countries whose economies have shrunk.

As a result, the profile of billionaires in the world has changed significantly: younger, they are more autonomous and therefore did not inherit their wealth, according to a study published by Forbes Insights collaboration with Societe Generale Private Banking. "The great fortunes of emerging markets often come to settle so that their activity and global influence will continue for probably a decade or two longer," said Christiaan Rizy, director of Forbes Insights.They are also more involved in their companies than their European counterparts, the more eager to sell their companies once they have succeeded.

Capital Protection

Nevertheless, these billionaires, whether young or older, European, American or Asian, have all been affected by the crisis. And it feels like on investment strategy. "They are prudent in managing their assets but seek to boost their performance with" pockets "(parts of the portfolio of securities, Ed) as the most dynamic emerging markets. They position themselves more in order to protect their capital to take real risks with their personal wealth, "said Patrick Folléa, director of SG Private Banking France.

Although probably lower this year than in 2010, growth rates of emerging countries should remain higher than those of Europe and the United States in 2011. "And the difference in volatility between emerging and developed countries seem to fade," says Kim March, economist at Societe Generale Private Banking. It now remains that these billionaires will also better manage the increasing levels of inflation in China, India, Russia and Brazil.

The Cac 40 ended the week below 4000 points - May 21, 2011

The CAC 40, which is ironed Thursday to above 4000 points, failed to show a third straight session of gains. At the close, the CAC 40 index shows a sharp decline of 0.92% to 3990, 85 points. aaccentué market downturn after his decision known to the rating agency Fitch lowered the rating by three notches from Greece.

For the week, the CAC declined slightly by 0.70%.

Ala London Stock Exchange, the FTSE-100 ended with a slight decline of 0.14%, while the Stock Exchange Frankfurt, the Dax 30 shrank more sharply by 1.26%.

On the macroeconomic front, the deficit of the balance of current accounts in the euro zone rose to 4.7 billion euros in March, against 6.5 billion euros in February, according to preliminary figures released Friday Bank European Central Bank (ECB).

The euro continues to rise

This fragile economic environment in the United States enjoys the euro continues to rise, albeit less strongly in mid-session, against the dollar. In one week, the single currency rose to 1.4272 dollars from 1.41 dollars.

In midday trading, a barrel of oil, light sweet crude for June delivery gained 0.65% to 99.57 dollars.

Siemens will pay 648 million euros Areva

Sanofi-Aventis: -1.28% to 54.04 euros

The anti-arrhythmic Multaq group Sanofi, marketed in France since October 2010 and currently reimbursed at 65%, is threatened with delisting, but the final decision remains subject to such a hearing of the laboratory, according to La Tribune.

Areva: 1.59% to 30.63 euros

Areva must be "within fifteen days" a check for 648 million euros from Siemens, according to an arbitration Thursday by the International Chamber of Commerce bad credit payday advance. The group with the Executive Board is chaired by Anne Lauvergeon accused the German group for its commitment with the Russian Rosatom even before he uttered his divorce with the joint venture Areva NP.

GDF Suez: -1.19% to 26.09 euros

On the corporate side, an employee of GDF Suez made a suicide attempt on May 14, immolation by fire.The framework of management information systems from Lyon is currently in critical condition.

Vallourec: -1.13% to 86.91 euros

Bollore sold two thirds of its stake (3.5%) in Vallourec for 275 million, pocketing a profit of 141 million euros.

PPR: +0.25% to 121.85 euros

PPR "take the time necessary" to make acquisitions and divestitures, "said CEO Francois-Henri Pinault, during the group's general assembly yesterday.He added that the luxury group still holds 42% stake in CAM after its IPO in late 2009.

Suez Environment: -0.32% to 15.37 euros

Suez Environment has confirmed its objectives for 2011, an increase of more than 5% of turnover and over 10% of gross operating income.

Biomerieux: 2.33% to 77.38 euros

Biomerieux will acquire the control specialist microbiological industry AES Laboratoire for 183 million euros. Under the strategic plan 2015, BioMerieux is an annual organic growth in sales of 7 to 9% on average.

Pierre & Vacances: 1.55% to 54.36 euros

Pierre & Vacances buys 50% of managers of tourist residences Citéa a subsidiary of Nexity. The transaction amount was not disclosed should be finalized in late June

Strauss-Kahn is no longer head of the IMF - May 20, 2011

After calls to replace Dominique Strauss-Kahn to head the International Monetary Fund, the firm announced his resignation Thursday morning. "Dominique Strauss-Kahn today informed the board of the IMF of its intention to resign from his position as CEO with immediate effect," said Institution of Washington said in a statement.

"It is with great sadness that I feel compelled today to present to the board my resignation from my post as IMF managing director, said in a letter DSK. "I deny with the strongest possible all allegations towards me.I want to protect this institution I have served with honor and dedication, and in particular I want to devote all my strength, all my time, and any energy to prove my innocence. "

Thus, legally, the IMF chief's resignation appeared the simplest solution to facilitate the smooth functioning of the institution. About this unprecedented situation, the lawyer Dominique Strauss-Kahn, William Taylor and had simply said Wednesday: "I think that ultimately this will be resolved", but refused to specify when and how.The head of British diplomacy was William Hague, he stressed that Dominique Strauss-Kahn, "obviously in a very, very difficult," should "take a decision on his future."

For his part, and after a meeting as "informal" board of directors Monday, the IMF gave no indication on how it intends to manage the fate of its CEO. The institution said to work "normally".

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