Reduced deposit insurance in Germany - September 23, 2011

Excellent sense of timing for German banks … By the time the security deposit is again a concern for investors, the association of German private banks – which include Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank, and some 170 players bank – announced Thursday to reduce the protections afforded to their clients.

In Germany, the system operates at two levels. First level, all deposits are guaranteed by law up to 100,000 euros, as in France and in Europe parrout, in case of bankruptcy of a bank. This floor does not move then. What changes is the second level: it is the voluntary scheme set up by private banks. So far, they guarantee all deposits up to 30% stake in the troubled bank no faxing payday loan.Example, an investor putting his money into a small bank capitalized at 5 million the minimum guaranteed to see the money of 1.5 million.

By 2025 this will rise to 437,500 euros. "It's always much more than the legal minimum," pleads Mon officer of the association in Berlin. Not sure as long as this reform is very well received in the current tense situation. Knowing that, across the Rhine, and cooperative state banks maintain 100% protection on deposits.

ALSO READ:

"The debt crisis threatens Does your life insurance?

"Livret A: annual record for

Finding the cheapest car insurance quotes can be an activity that requires a huge amount of time given the number of policies available on the market.

3D movies are no longer on the rise - September 21, 2011

A reversal? 3D movies, which have attracted a global craze with the release of Avatar two years ago, no longer win the accession with the French public. This is the conclusion of a survey conducted by the online trade magazine Le Film French, and Allociné UP3D this summer with a sample of 11,867 respondents aged 15 to 64. Against all odds, the audience would have preferred to see 80% 2D 3D movies … because of the price (35%), discomfort glasses (25%), the images are too dark (15%) or the migraine (15%) or simple rejection of the 3D (10%), the study said. Even better, viewers have seen impose regret this format and not being able to only 27% choose to see the film in 2D.

Moreover, only 20% of viewers are satisfied with the quality of 3D against 57% who are not.Finally, the audience was quick to tell the difference between films shot in 3D directly and adjustments made after a shooting in 2D. 40% of respondents are low marks for quality movies converted to 3D in extremis.

Debate raging in the big Hollywood studios

The Médiamétrie, which just made the trade magazine Cinema side a study on the digitization of cinemas, also notes "that public disaffection for 3D and shortness of admissions." But stresses Aurélie Rix, director of the film to Médiamétrie, "operators are still in the 3D and digital opportunity to bounce back by opening their screens with other forms of entertainment and projections such as concerts or sporting events.Enough to return to the class rooms of viewers who had abandoned the big screen. "

Film Studies and French Médiamétrie fall even more steeply that the debate has raged all summer in the big Hollywood studios face the same public resistance which gradually moving away from 3D screens to return to the conventional screen. In its edition of August 12 the very serious Wall Street Journal noted that if 70% of revenues from Alice in Wonderland 3D projections came in 2010, however, 57% of viewers were content to the 2D projection of the last Harry Potter Business Card Holders. There were only 45% choose the 3D much for The Green Lantern and Kung Fu Panda, and 47% for the last Pirate of the Caribbean.In comparison, Avatar, despite the lack of 3D displays of the time, had achieved 75% of its revenue projections through 3D.

Minimize the reversal of consumers

This loss occurs even Hollywood has doubled its number of 3D productions for 2011 compared to the previous year. As many as 16 films planned for this year. Not least because the three main sponsors of the American cinema – Francis Ford Coppola (Twixt), Martin Scorsese (Hugo) and Steven Spielberg (Tintin and the Secret of the Unicorn) – announced rotate in 3D. Not to mention that Ridley Scott is preparing its new Alien, named Prometheus. They try to minimize this reversal of consumers claiming the quality of films.In essence, they recall that a bad movie is always a bad film and even 3D viewers the sanction as such.

Add to this the fact the United States the number of cinema admissions fell by 9% over the first six months of the year and the animated films, privileged territory of the 3D n ' have much more coast than in the past. Rio de la Fox, Paramount and the Rango Hop Universal have jointly made fewer entries than Shrek 3, four years ago, noted the New York Times last May.

What lead to the skepticism of financial markets, the Wall Street Journal, the stock market would have penalized companies specializing in 3D technology, such as RealD. All indicators that are forcing studios to rethink their strategy for production and slow down.Bad news for manufacturers of 3D TV, 3D content eager to boost their sales to come.

ALSO READ:

"3D: The boundaries of a technological revolution

Concern about banks penalize the Paris Bourse - September 5, 2011

The CAC 40 plunges into the red Monday. The benchmark index of the Paris Stock Exchange, which closed Friday on the day of a severe fall of 3.6%, falling 3.64% to 3037.72 points in mid-session after opening down 2.41% to 3072.51 points. The movement is the same in the rest of Europe in London, the FTSE-100 index lost 1.90%, in Frankfurt the Dax was down 2.96%. Madrid and Milan unleash respectively 3.09% and 3.04%.

The health of European banks up to the center of attention. The President of the French Banking Federation (FBF), François Perol, recognizes this Monday, in an interview with Les Echos, that if "bank liquidity in euro is not a problem," "the dollar is more refinancing tense. "Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, in turn repeats, in an interview published Monday in Germany, criticized the request of a European bank recapitalization. "We think in general it is necessary to recapitalize European banks so that they are strong enough to withstand the risks associated with the debt crisis and low growth," she told the weekly Der Spiegel.

The chief executive of Deutsche Bank, Josef Ackermann, in turn, poured oil on the fire by saying that some European banks would not survive if they were to reassess the sovereign debt of their accounts at market price.Recapitalization forced the European banking sector could in turn send the wrong signal to markets, in this case the loss of faith on the part of authorities in the ability of measures to succeed, however, said Josef Ackermann .

Societe Generale lost 7.96% to 20.40 euros (largest decrease in the ACC). The bank is also penalized by the U.S. federal agency oversight of mortgage that has filed a complaint Friday against 17 major international financial institutions which include the French bank, for a total loss of $ 41 billion in bonds linked to subprime .

In its wake, BNP Paribas lost 7.33% to 30.97 euros, Crédit Agricole 6.22% to 5.80 euros and 4.85% at Axa 10.01 euros. Natixis lost 5.05% to 2.57 euros.The aerospace equipment Safran (-2.78% to 26.25 euros) will make its entry into the CAC 40 index, while the bank Natixis is about to leave, said Friday the Scientific Council of the indices of NYSE Euronext. The changes take effect Sept. 19.

Bad signals on growth

In addition to banking problems, the first global economy has fueled fears of a global slowdown by announcing Friday it had no jobs created in August. Following this announcement, Wall Street closed on a sharp drop of more than 2%. U.S. markets will do on Monday with European stock any procedure they will remain closed for Labor Day (Labor Day observed every first Monday of September)."Wall Street remains closed doors, it seems unlikely that operators take the slightest risk," said Chris Weston, an analyst at IG Markets.

In China, HSBC index of purchasing managers in the Chinese sector services slowed to an unprecedented low in August. Seasonally adjusted and calculated by the Institute Markit, it fell to 50.6 after 53.5 in July

No other indicator may move the indices are expected on Monday. One highlight of the week will be the release of the Beige Book Fed on Wednesday night, which will be the summary of economic conditions in regions in the United States no fax payday advance.

No recession expected in Europe

The side of the euro area, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, has tried to reassure investors.Traveling in Australia, he said that the European economy would experience in the coming months a "moderate growth" without going into recession. "We do not anticipate a recession in Europe. The latest forecasts from the European Commission show that the growth will be at the meeting, although this growth will be moderate, it is true, "he said in Sydney.

Markit, the company that carries out the PMI, however, said on Monday that growth in private activity in the euro area slowed more than expected in August, falling to its lowest level in two years, reinforcing fears of a return to recession by the end of 2011. The composite index, which summarizes the activity in the service sector and manufacturing fell to 50.7 points against 51.1 points in July, according to a second estimate.

For his part, Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank said it is "imperative" to implement the decisions taken by Heads of State and Government of the euro zone in July to resolve the debt crisis.

The euro fell to 1.4127 dollars, its lowest level in three weeks. For their part, oil prices were down in electronic trading in Asia, depressed by the poor figures on employment in the United States. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October lost 59 cents to 85.86 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery 74 cents to 111.59 dollars.Saft takes off

EDF: -2.77% to 20.37 euros

The Italian Minister of Industry, Paolo Romani, said Sunday he would meet Monday Proglio about the power company Edison.

ArcelorMittal: -4.67% to 13.46 euros

Peabody Energy and ArcelorMittal announced Monday it had extended until September 27, the period during which the short bid for $ 5 billion (3.53 billion euros) on the Australian Macarthur Coal.

Zodiac: -1.94% to 54.05 euros

The group said it had completed the acquisition of the American Heath Tecna and have reached an agreement with its banks to raise 300 million euros the amount of an existing credit line.

Schneider Electric: -6.01% to 41.35 euros

The French government intervened with the company to freeze a plan for the removal of one.000 temporary positions, the daily Liberation in its Monday edition, but the group has firmly denied to AFP such a plan.

Saft: 4.81% to 22.87 euros (largest increase in the SBF 120)

The American automotive supplier Johnson Controls will pay $ 145 million (102 million euros) to the French specialist in batteries as part of an amicable agreement ending their joint venture in the automotive industry, announced Friday the two groups in a joint statement.

Alstom: -5.16% to 29.21 euros

The group signed a 66 million euros with Iraq to build a power plant in the province of Nineveh in the north, said the Iraqi Minister of Electricity.

France Telecom: -1.67% to 12.36 euros

TPSA its Polish subsidiary has announced to contest the fine of 128 million euros that inflicted the European Commission.

After market, environment and Dried Assystem unveil their first-half results.

Subprime: The United States continues Societe Generale - September 4, 2011

Time to pay the bill has come. The Federal Housing Finance (FHFA) has filed Friday in New York a complaint for fraud against the banks it considers responsible for the subprime crisis. In the end, it is not twelve, as originally announced by the New York Times, but seventeen institutions (ten U.S. and seven foreign) that are affected by this complaint. Among them, the French bank Societe Generale.

Nearly $ 200 billion of securities

The FHFA criticizes all of these institutions have sold financial products backed by mortgages on the two parastatals of mortgages Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, between 2005 and 2008. At the time, the banks had facilitated access to loans of U.S. households to recruit new customers and sell homes often too expensive betting on rising prices.The system had finally collapsed during the summer of 2008, taking with it Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac.

The FHFA estimate that the seventeen banks have concealed certain characteristics of the securities they sold, including lying about reality checks on the creditworthiness of borrowers households. "The complaints allege violations of federal law governing financial assets and rights (common law) in the sale of securities backed by residential mortgages designed by these institutions," said the FHFA.

All the losses by the two organizations, which then 40% of the outstanding loans granted to the United States is estimated at 30 billion.Placed under public guardianship, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have so far cost $ 170 billion to American taxpayers.

The FHFA was assessed for each of the banks in the dollar amount of securities sold to two giants of credit (see box). In total, nearly $ 200 billion of securities that were sold. Most involved, the JPMorgan U.S. (United States) would have sold itself for more than $ 33 billion of securities. Societe Generale for its part would have yielded $ 1.3 billion.

"Fannie and Freddie knew"

The complaint of the Federal Agency is expected to lead to negotiations and a financial agreement to avoid a trial. In all cases, the procedure could be very expensive institutions in question, particularly in the largest U.S. bank by assets, Bank of America.The group should in fact not only defend his own actions, not the worst according to the FHFA, but also the mortgage lender Countrywide and investment bank Merrill Lynch, bought in 2008 payday advance. Last June, the U.S. bank said it had agreed to pay $ 8.5 billion to end the prosecution of several investors and intended to spend an additional provision of $ 5.5 billion to clear the situation with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The Wall Street Journal fell when it was the agreement to compensate the largest ever signed. The group also announced on the night of Friday to Saturday it plans to reduce its workforce by 10%, equivalent to the elimination of 30,000 positions.

The defensive line of Bank of America today is that Fannie and Freddie knew very well what they were doing."They said they understand the risks" and "now seek to hold other market operators to be responsible for their losses," the group said in a statement.

Regarding the French bank Societe Generale, no figures were given, but the injury is considered "important" by the Federal Housing Finance.

Amount of securities sold by banks

1. JPMorgan (USA): more than $ 33 billion

2. Royal Bank of Scotland (UK): more than 30.4 billion

3. Countrywide (United States, Bank of America): about 26.6 billion

4. Merrill Lynch (United States, Bank of America): more than 24.9 billion

5. Deutsche Bank (Germany): more than 14.2 billion

6. Credit Suisse (Switzerland): over 14.1 billion

7. Goldman Sachs (USA): more than 11.1 billion

8.Morgan Stanley (USA): more than 10.6 billion

9. HSBC (UK): more than 6.2 billion

10. Ally (USA, formerly GMAC): over 6 billion

10. Bank of America (USA): over 6 billion

12. Barclays (UK): about 4.9 billion

13. Citigroup (USA): over 3.5 billion

14. Nomura (Japan): more than 2 billion

15. Societe Generale (France): nearly 1.3 billion

16. First Horizon (USA): 900 million

17. General Electric (USA, parent company of GE Capital): 550 million

ALSO READ:

"Washington wants to pay the housing crisis on banks

"Bank of America pays the subprime crisis at a high price

"Buffett invests $ 5 billion in Bank of America

"The subprime continue to be expensive

"Fannie Mae also requires an extension in Washington

Kodak's patents inflame lust - August 18, 2011

Many observers believe that Kodak missed the turn of the digital. The giant of photography at the age of 130 years, could now take his revenge with his key weapon: a portfolio of 1100 patents for digital imaging. These inflame the lusts of the giants of the computing and telephony, Apple to Microsoft via Research in Motion (RIM) – Blackberry's parent company – and Google, which multiply purchases in this sector to enhance the functionality their phones.

The phenomenon was illustrated recently by the acquisition for $ 12.5 billion, Motorola's Mobility by Google. An operation that allows the Internet giant to hand over a lucrative portfolio of nearly 17,000 patents telephone.In early July, a consortium led by Apple and Microsoft spent $ 4.5 billion to acquire the patents of the Canadian telecom equipment supplier Nortel for bankruptcy.

"Clearly, the ability to take pictures and send them to mobile devices is critical for manufacturers of smartphones, and Kodak may hold the key technologies that provide these services," said Paul Ausick, the financial website 24 / 7 Wall Street.

Kodak ready to sell

More operations and acquisitions are increasing the portfolio of Kodak takes the value. The financial firm MDB Capital, in an interview with the Bloomberg financial agency, has said the group's 1100 patents were worth, in today, nearly three billion dollars. All of Kodak's intellectual property would be five times the value of the company itself.The news panicked investors rushed to the title at the New York Stock Exchange yesterday. The action Eastman Kodak jumped 25.70% to 2.69 dollars.

Kodak, no question of missing the boat. According to the Wall Street Journal, the manufacturer of cameras "began promoting its portfolio this week, contacting companies that might be interested." Kodak said currently "explore strategic alternatives" for its patents.

When it is launched, the battle for the acquisition of these technologies will be tough. Kodak could play the card by removing the grudge he accuses Apple and RIM already violating its patents on technology for viewing photos on their iPhone and BlackBerry.

ALSO READ:

"Apple combines the trial with its competitors

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.

SNCF advantage of the good tourist season in France - July 29, 2011

The political crisis of the Maghreb countries, boosting the number of tourists to France this summer, benefits the station. "We see a strong recovery in passenger traffic in France since mid-May," said David Azema, deputy director general strategy and corporate finance. After a difficult start to the year, hit by ongoing work on the network, the TGV of domestic activity recovered in the second quarter, with sales up 4.5% at end June The trend was more spread earlier this year. Throughout the first half, the station achieved a sales increase of 9.5% (6.1% at constant perimeter and constant exchange rates), to 16.3 billion euros. Firmly committed to a recovery plan of its accounts by 2015, it increased its operating margin to 8.4% (against 6.8% at end-June 2010). For the record, she has set a minimum of 10% in 2015."The accounts of the first half showed that we are on track, says David Azema. We do what we said, with the obsession of a return to a satisfactory level of profitability to cover investment needs essential to the quality of service and development. "

In one year, SNCF has stabilized its level of debt (8.7 billion euros) and increased its net profit group share of 478 million euros to 558 million, mainly due to the improvement in profit Financial.

The company is now able to self-finance 92% of its investment. During the first six months, it has invested 1.3 billion euros ($ 1.1 billion from its own funds). A 80%, this is the purchase of equipment (43 TER trains, 20 trains Francilien, 4 TGV trains, 26 locomotives …).

Strike threat dismissed by Air France - July 23, 2011

Much bagaille should be avoided. While seven union stewards and hostesses of Air France had filed a strike notice for the next weekend (July 29 to August 1), the airline has come this Saturday morning to sign the minutes of end of conflict with union representatives. What not to many flight cancellations in the great cross-driven summer from July to August, and escape the nightmare scenario met in mid-July by the customers of Air Algeria. The Algerian company was also affected by a strike of its crews, resulting in the virtual paralysis of European flights to the country.

Whereas yesterday, the agreement has been finally found Saturday afternoon between the airline and the Inter (CGT, CFDT, CFTC, Unac, NPNC and UNSA), resulting in the lifting of the strike notice filed Monday.Only Southern Air has so far not given its approval. The seven organizations representing the commercial crews (PNC) called for the opening of negotiations on the organization of work, especially in the bases in the provinces, but also the medium-haul and long haul. This is now done, the group of Pierre-Henri Gourgeon has agreed to reopen discussions on the new rules of work (rest, compensation) provided to counter competition from low cost carriers.

Reopen negotiations next week

On this point, the flight attendants are opposed to such requirements in the new provincial bases (Marseille and Nice, Toulouse and Bordeaux) and denounce the proposed removal of a sailing aboard the Airbus A319 payday advance.They are supported in their claims by two minority unions of pilots (SPAF and Alter) who in turn refused to lift their notice for the next weekend. "The company has agreed to supply four A319 in the PNC until September 15," said Philippe Sport at UNSA. If it is impossible to have this number, the flight attendants should receive compensation (rest or premium). For its part, Air France said that the continuation of strike notice SPAF and Alter would have no significant impact on traffic. The reopening of negotiations with the flight crew should take place in the course of next week.

Still, the difficulties are not entirely discarded the French company, far from it. Management must also deal with Algeria-leAir SNPL resumption of talks, the union super majority in pilots.While the SNPL signed to 54% the proposed new work organization. But this time, the battle moves to the front of pensions. The powerful union remains opposed to the proposed reform of the pension fund additional pilots. Where a notice of strike filed this time from August 5 to 8, another busy weekend on the front of air traffic and going on holiday.

ALSO READ:

"Algeria-Air passengers compensated?

"Air-Algeria resumption of talks

Bourget: the battle begins commands - June 21, 2011

First day of opening of the Paris Air Show and business already struggling for their full long-awaited appointment of professionals. Before an audience of professionals in the aerospace, Nicolas Sarkozy called the area "to meet the challenges of globalization." "If we're not competitive, there is more than aviation industry, he said. There is only one possible strategy, the challenge of globalization by being more innovative, more creative and more competitive. "

The state has "a role" in the strategic industrial sectors, also recalled the president, referring to the "decades of public investment" in aeronautics and the level of credit facilities granted to the defense "despite the crisis ".So it is "no way" to abandon the research tax credit, assured Nicolas Sarkozy, adding that allocations of "20 billion euros of expenses" provided in the large loan will be confirmed "in a few days ".

• Boeing signed the first major order

Qatar Airways opened the show Monday orders. The airline, growing, has ordered six Boeing 777-300 long-haul aircraft ER for a list price of $ 1.7 billion. It already has 25 Boeing, including 15 Boeing 777. "The Boeing 777 continues to play a key role in our development strategy," said the CEO of the national airline of Qatar, Akbar Al Baker.
President Nicolas Sarkozy and Valerie Pécresse, Minister of Higher Education and Research, met the head of EADS, Louis Welsh.