May 05 2011

The ECB program its next rate hike

Tag: resources, special, technology, top news, worldadmin @ 4:44 pm

The Governing Council of the European Central Bank moves Thursday in Helsinki, according to a well-established ritual of holding its twice yearly conclave off the walls. A deliberate manner to meet the "true European". If market economists are virtually unanimous in excluding any change in interest rates on Thursday they expect the president of the ECB provides specific guidance, at its monthly press conference on the strategy it intends to .

He speaks of "extreme vigilance" on inflation, "would signal a rate hike in June," Jonathan Loynes believes, the chief economist of Capital Economics. Jean-Claude Trichet had used the term encoded on March 3. The markets had immediately concluded that the ECB would raise the following month's rate remained unchanged at 1% since May 2009.The promise was actually held on April 7, despite the disasters that had struck the meantime Japan.

A new security crackdown in June is not the assumption of the majority of experts. They recall that during the two previous phases of monetary tightening experienced since its inception in January 1999, the ECB waited three months before continuing its march forward. However, there is no doubt that central bankers in Frankfurt will launch a second strike in the summer, probably in July. "If Trichet had expressed its" extreme vigilance "on March 3, he had risen to 2.3% while its inflation projections for 2011. But the consumer price already showing an increase of 2.8% over the last twelve months and now we are heading towards a figure of 3% over the year.The ECB will have no mood to continue the cylce of rising interest rates, analysis Bruno Cavalier, an economist at Oddo Securities.

Besides the issue of interest rates, Jean-Claude Trichet, speaking on behalf of 23 members of the Governing Council will be asked about the pursuit of so-called "unconventional" monetary policy and purchases of securities State set up in pain May 9, 2010. "President Trichet will continue to indicate without any doubt that the program continues. But since there were no purchases during the past four weeks, it is clear that the ECB is increasingly reluctant to maintain such measures in place when it hardens its conventional political " according to Capital Economics.

The ECB president is sure to renew his opposition to any restructuring of the Greek debt, including the ECB holds a substantial share."Of the 75 billion euro government securities bought, more than half of the paper focuses on Greek, whose market price is currently trading at 57% of their face value (of the 10-year bonds), calculates Bruno Cavalier. This shows the potential magnitude of losses to the ECB about these operations, although its purchases have been made at prices already discounted.


Apr 16 2011

Hercules: the case of gold the Mint of Paris

Tag: economic, events, finance, resources, technologyadmin @ 9:52 am

She gave a good month to sell everything. A few hours will suffice. Monnaie de Paris has attracted crowds during the weekend of April 9 to 10, when the sale of two new plays: 10,000 pieces of gold in 1000 euros the effigy of the Greek hero Hercules. A veritable gold rush, which has undoubtedly been very beneficial to the venerable institution. And for good reason: Each piece consisted of 20 grams of gold. What gives them the weight value of 650 euros at current prices, or 32.5 euros per gram.

But knowing that the Monnaie de Paris bought the gold that was used in the manufacture of these parts long before the launch of the operation, and given the fact that this metal has continued to surge in recent months, we can imagine that the profit was considerably higher than EUR 350 per room, well over 3.5 million euros in total! Even thinking about the parts of 100 euro money thrown at the same time: a weight of 50 grams and 50,000 copies drawn, they are only worth 47 euros at the current weight (0.94 euros per gram).

Side of the Paris Mint, its director, Dominique Fine, do not want to say anything about the benefits of the transaction. He recalls that it is "substantially lower" it looks, since we must deduct the cost of manufacture, knowing that "these pieces are quite worked." Still, this type of event takes place at regular intervals.Monnaie de Paris, which posted a net profit of 18 million euros in 2010 (against 16 million last year), in particular launch gold coins to 200 euros by the end of 2011.

The annoyance of numismatists

In contrast, numismatists s'agacent this success saving account pay day loan. Worse, they scoff. "This is undoubtedly a very good deal for the state," quips Michael Prior, director of the Compagnie Generale de la Bourse in Paris, lamenting "a very bad investment." Among the causes of that nervousness: a few days after the sale, the professional has seen a Hercules gold for sale on e-bay at a price of 1200 euros. "After that, if the seller found a buyer, more power to him!" Coward he. According to him, the operation of the Paris Mint would be a scam. And buyers of laymen.

A bit bad player, our numismatist? A little. Because as pointed out by Dominique Fine, a demonetization is not valid.And thus, "the piece is protected by face value of 1,000 euros." So if gold were to fall, the buyer may in any case recover its initial investment. Driving the nail, the senior official added that "one must take people for fools." "They learn a minimum, he says. Thousand euros for a room, it is not nothing! "

Furthermore, it indicates that the 100 euro gold coins launched in 2008 by the Paris Mint, and equipped with 3.11 grams of gold, now worth almost as much weight as their face value. However, we must remember that an ounce of gold was used for flambé in times of crisis, and that if the economy improves, "catching up" of Hercules will not be as easy.

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Apr 03 2011

Besson wants to review gas prices and tax oil

Tag: economic, life, money, publications, technologyadmin @ 6:32 pm

The Energy Minister, Eric Besson, who attended Friday at Matignon in a meeting on the theme of soaring energy was delivered this Sunday on Radio J, a change in the calculation of gas prices . Keeps the current formula, partly indexed to oil prices, should indeed lead to a further price increase on 1 July. An increase that could go wrong with consumers who are already undergoing an increase of 5.2% in early April, an inflation of 20% over one year and 60% since 2005.

"The government's objective is very clear: it is, in a context of rising energy prices at the international level to protect the purchasing power of the French," said Eric Besson, who considers "unacceptable" the continued the increase could reach 7.5% under the current formula.The new method of calculation should be offered "in the coming weeks" after the arbitral panel Matignon and the Elysee Palace.

Since early 2010, the energy group GDF Suez, owned 35% by the state, which offers fares. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) then verifies that the prices are consistent with the formula. But the government may "ask" GDF Suez does not apply the increase. The CRE has pronounced itself in recent days to a new formula for calculating rates to better reflect market prices (spot prices) at the expense of long-term price listed in the contract supply that GDF has signed with major suppliers. The spot prices now account for about 10% in the scale used.The regulator calls for increasing this proportion "as the market price continues to be lower than the average import price from the long-term contracts no credit check payday loans."

Curb rising fuel

Eric Besson else said the government was worried about soaring fuel prices. To curb the rates that affect the household budget, he plans to "make use" petroleum distributors.

He said he was "technically very difficult, if not impossible" to establish a "social tariff of gasoline, already ruled out last month by the Economy Minister Christine Lagarde. He believes, however, can mitigate the impact of soaring fuel prices, adding that discussions were under way but without giving further details on the nature of the contribution that would be applied to oil tankers.He also refused to talk to a tax on profits groups. "If we adopt a measure for the poorest households, it is necessary that, in one form or another, contribute to petroleum distributors," he said, referring only arbitration "in the days to come." Prices at the pump have been drawn up in recent weeks by revolts in Libya and the Middle East who have blazed the price of crude oil. In March, the super unleaded 95 had reached a high of 1.5179 euro parlitre.

(With AFP)

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Mar 10 2011

Opacity increased the price of dentures

Tag: features, publications, special, technology, worldadmin @ 7:36 pm

Consumers do not win, but dentists can rejoice. The senators voted Wednesday for the removal of the requirement for practitioners to mention the purchase price of prostheses they provide to their patients. This indication was made mandatory since the implementation of the "hospital, patient, health, territory" (HPST) in March 2010 and aimed to introduce more transparency in the prices charged by dentists.

For the price of hearing varies almost by a factor of two firms, analyzed the organization last February mutuelle.com. Rates that depend on several factors: the quality of the prosthesis, the reputation of the dentist, the neighborhood where he practices, but also the level of medical coverage for the patient."It is almost a rule that the physician inquires about it, so that the topping facto contributes to drive prices up and enjoy in good part to the care provider," noted the Court of Auditors A report published last year.

No effect on import prices

Disparate rates are also particularly high. Citing a 2005 report published in Belgium, the Court of Auditors noted that the price of a prosthesis in France is 2.5 times that of a prosthesis in Germany, itself 25% more expensive that 'in the Netherlands.

Aggravating factor for the French practitioners: the growing share of imported models (about 15% in 2010 according to the French Dental Association) has never passed on the average price charged by dentists.Yet the cost of dentures made in China, Madagascar and North Africa is three times lower (40 euros against 120 euros) than models manufactured in France.

Competition poor '

Accordingly, it is 10% of the French population is forced to give dental care because of cost, says the Institute for Research and Documentation in Health Economics (Irdes). Generally, dental costs alone constitute more than half of medical benefits to which patients give up that ground.

It is under these facts that the Court of Auditors argued last year that the quotation offered to patients include the purchase price of the prosthesis. "Improving transparency would help to remedy a lack of competition today," thought the institution.

"Intensive lobbying"

The senators, however, have decided otherwise Wednesday. Gilbert Barbier, behind the amendment removing this requirement, explains: "The text was virtually unenforceable. If you want to calculate the cost of a prosthesis, we must delve a lot of ancillary costs, "he explains. Furthermore, why impose this requirement only to dentists, not the garage for example? "He asks. "Dentists have had the feeling of being stigmatized. Let us keep right, "came Wednesday in support of meeting the Minister of Health Xavier Bertrand.

Another argument advanced by Senators: prices of acts called "conservatives" (scaling, treatment of caries, decay …) would be undervalued by social security. "For ten years they have not been adjusted.This explains that dentists sometimes compensate by increasing their margin on prostheses, "suggests Gilbert Barbier. Yet, according to the ECA, some of these rates were revalued by 30% in 2006. Meanwhile, prices of prostheses continued to grow at an annual rate of more than 3% …

For UFC-Que Choisir, the situation is clear. "The intensive lobbying professionals was correct in the interest of patients," said Cedric Musso Thursday, director of institutional relations within the association, in the columns of "Paris-Today in France. "The dentists are not commercial professions. As health professionals, they do not make a profit on hardware sales. "


Jan 23 2011

Ports: The strike will continue until Monday

Tag: economic, economics, news, resources, technologyadmin @ 2:16 pm

For the second consecutive day, the mobilization continued Saturday in the French ports. In Fos, freight traffic was disrupted at the level of 80-90%, according to Serge COUTOUR, head of the CGT Dockers Gulf. In Marseille East, freight traffic was paralyzed at 100% for containers, according to Daniel Manca, general secretary of CGT Dockers port, which advises cruise passengers to "avoid Marseille. At Havre, the second French port, the movement also continued, including blocking container terminals. Finally, Nantes / Saint-Nazaire, 7 boats were stranded at the dock and 12 offshore.

Far from weakening, the movement should be required to continue at least until Monday included, the day new general meetings must be held.The CGT called in any case employees to continue the blockades.

Early departures

The strikers are mobilizing to defend their right to retire early in retirement under the hardship. CGT ports and docks wants to validate an agreement on the recognition of the harshness found in late October with employers' organizations, which would allow retirement four to five years before the legal age for port workers 5-6000 with funding based on the branch but also from public funds payday loans.

For its part, the government calls for a resumption of negotiations "within the framework defined by the Act of November 2010 on pension reform, which would reduce to two years in advance of departures.Thus, fewer people would be affected.

For Jeremy Julian, Deputy Secretary General of the CGT dock in Le Havre, it is "incredible back on virtually everything that was granted." Serge COUTOUR warns: "The mobilization is still to go. We try to drown us in the case of pensions, while our case was completely offline for two years. "

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Jan 20 2011

The South Korea Stock Exchange flew to a record

Tag: business, economic, economy, international, moneyadmin @ 9:00 am

The benchmark index of the stock market in South Korea, the Kospi, wins again at 0.92% 2115.69 points on Wednesday at 7 pm. Allowing it to enter its highest level ever in the history of the stock of the country.

Seoul Stock Exchange had already closed the year 2010 before recording a record at the close. The KOSPI surged 21.88% in 2010 to $ 2051 and points, a level not seen since November 2007. Now, the values of South Korean stock market rebounded from ground lost during the crisis, and they even display historic gains, thanks to sustained domestic demand last year, and their results.

Analysts estimate that the KOSPI could rise to 2400 points this year.South Korea enjoys good prospects for growth: as its Central Bank, GDP should grow by 4.5% in 2011.

Tokyo followed the lead of Wall Street

The Tokyo Stock Exchange ended the session on Wednesday edged up 0.36%, investors are showing more optimism about the financial performance of U.S. firms during the presentation. Yesterday, IBM and Apple have unveiled much better results than expected. Thus at the close, the Nikkei 225 index gained 38.12 points to 10,557.10 points. The broader Topix index of his side took 0.57% to 936.87 points.

Note side values, the group of electrical, electronic and computer Japan's Mitsubishi Electric said Wednesday that Japan build a new factory parts for automotive steering, looking to increase its annual production of about 70%.Mitsubishi Electric, which presents itself as a pioneer systems electric power steering, will invest 10 billion yen (90 million euros) for this new factory with an area of 38,000 square meters, which must be put into operation in August 2012.

China U.S.

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived here Tuesday in the U.S. for a four-day visit, after a year marked by strong tensions between the two powers, with China being the subject of multiple reviews. Hu Jintao heads a country pointed to the issues of human rights and money, impossible to ignore given its economic weight and, increasingly, military and géopolitique.La undervalued the Chinese currency will be at heart talks between Barack Obama and Hu Jintao on Wednesday in Washington.Beijing to revalue its currency at its own pace, while dreaming of one yuan as important as the dollar.

The Chinese are lining up at the station in Shanghai Photo Credits: Alexander F. Yuan / AP


Dec 16 2010

Paris launches major project Autolib 'with Bolloré

Tag: economic, features, people, special, top newsadmin @ 11:20 am

• The project developed for the Paris end of 2011 • INTERVIEW – "A system of transport still unknown" • The example of Antibes, a pioneer in self-service car • Share a car, the concept does not seem at all preposterous • Popular: carpool

On Thursday, the Paris city council has confirmed the voice of Annick Lepetit, deputy PS responsible for transport and chairman of the joint association Autolib ', what Le Figaro had earlier announced on its website: this is indeed Bolloré won the leasing market electric vehicles in the capital. The group, with its cars BlueCar, Veolia Transport has lost the consortium and urban Fourcity (RATP, SNCF, Vinci and Notices). Over the past fortnight, the City of Paris was negotiating with the group of Vincent Bollore. Experts have even traveled to Britain in the factory that manufactures batteries. The stakes are high.By the end of 2011, 3000 cars will be self-service in the capital as well as 27 town and stations available in 1000, including 700 in Paris. With or without subscription, the motorist can pull a car and go to a station of his choice. A project that promises to be a challenge for the operator who will win the market. Two cities, La Rochelle and Antibes, have already launched in the rental of electric vehicles, each with 50 and 10 models on their territory. But the project of Paris – Autolib '- is an entirely different dimension.

A new area

This ambitious transportation program would almost forget another, launched in the South. In March, Greater Manchester will develop 51 electric cars and 17 stations. Stated goal: 210 models and 70 stations by the end of 2012.With these two initiatives, carsharing-c 'is the name of this system, launched in France since 1999, will switch to a new area: that of ecology. We know the electric car emits less CO2. But it is also more expensive than the car heat. In its recent report on the travel mode of last November, research firm Xerfi also questioned the profitability of the Paris. "In the case of the model Autolib 'profitability even seems inaccessible, it is written, even if financial support by the city and region are provided bad credit personal loan lenders. At La Rochelle, a pioneer city where carsharing own practice for ten years, it was confirmed that it is expensive. The car costs 11,000 euros thermal cons 30,000 for the electric, "says Denis Leroy, in charge of transport to the town of La Rochelle.With fifty cars and seven stations in the city, the operating cost is 300,000 euros while revenue of 130,000 euros. Soon the city will increase to 13 stations, 70 cars and will renew the fleet: a new lease that would allow the case has been run for four years by Veolia Transport, to move towards financial balance.

Decline in traffic in town

Though costly, this choice is satisfactory. For the city, first. "In ten years, 20 tonnes of CO2 have not been rejected," says Denis Leroy. Then, the traffic in the city down. A European study, a shared vehicle replaces four to eight private cars. User-side, the car self-service appeals to all profiles, installed in city professionals such as students or mothers.Generating a monthly expenditure of between 35 and 150 euros, it also allows sacred economies.

Possession of a particular vehicle is a monthly budget of 500 euros. Car sharing thus gradually diversified its offer. Hitherto, indeed, the combustion vehicles were well represented. To date, this service is implemented in 24 cities including Montpellier, Marseille and Strasbourg. According Xerfi, he gathered 28,000 subscribers cons 6000 just three years ago. Still confidential, it is, however, "a promising market of up to 140,000 subscribers by 2015," says the study adds, "The structure and industrialization of the sector have significantly accelerated with successive entries from giants urban transport (Veolia Transport, Transdev, Keolis). "Carsharing weaves his web so gradually. But it is far from 76,000 users in Switzerland.The obstacles to its development are numerous. Among them, the difficult economic viability and visceral attachment to the French car.

"A transportation system is still too little known"

INTERVIEW – Jean-Baptiste Schmider is the director of France Carsharing, bringing together eleven companies free service.


Dec 15 2010

The CSA chain chooses Cfoot

Tag: business, events, money, opinions, worldadmin @ 2:04 am

The High Audiovisual Council has not waited 24 hours to assign the first frequency of pay DTT project of the League of Professional Football. The latter defended Monday his proposed general channel 100% football. This choice was made at the expense of Digital TV and its hybrid project Select TV Channel + and especially defending Canal + Family, a channel targeting young children and the family expected to pay DTT more attractive. But for the CSA, football on television is the most unifying and the most attractive products. The nine sages have therefore voted unanimously with one vote for this project. Only Michèle Reiser would have voted against it.

The CSA will probably also sensitive to the need to stem the omnipotence of Canal Plus pay television and its hegemony over football.However, it is unclear whether this choice favors in the future dynamism of Canal + to distribute the pay DTT. This is all that Canal + has more than a million subscribers on TNT while the operator has 3.5 million subscribers for its other offerings, including satellite.

This decision could sour relations between Canal + and The Football League who become competitors rather than just business partners. This choice will then require APF Canal + to decide a little blind to the nature of the compensatory channel: free?

Finally, the LFP has to learn a new profession, that of editor of pay channel.

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Nov 16 2010

Failed compromise on EU budget

Tag: economy, life, money, opinions, specialadmin @ 12:48 pm

In Brussels

The Twenty-Seven and the European Parliament have failed to agree Monday night at the finish negotiations on the EU budget for 2011, expires at midnight before a final deadline. The EU may find itself on the straw from 1 January. This failure, amid power struggle in Brussels forced the Barroso Commission to submit a new draft budget. Given the time of procedure and voting, the EU may find itself without resources at the beginning of next year. She should live from month to month, under pressure from the provisional twelfths. The External Action Service, the new financial supervisory authorities and the experimental reactor ITER would be left penniless.

The standoff, which began in the summer on the credit restrictions imposed by national treasuries, moved in recent days about the power of future control MEPs.All colors combined, the Parliament finally agreed to limit expenditure growth to 2.91%. But it demands in return for having a say in deciding on the following exercises for resources as for expenses.

Political Declaration annexed to the budget

Separately, then in a final attempt at conciliation, the two powers of the EU should decide on a compromise plan: a political declaration annexed to the 2011 budget. The text, pushed by the Commission, faced the supporters of rigor as the advocates of a minimal interpretation of the influence of Parliament. Any agreement supposed unanimity of Twenty-September By early evening, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Denmark were still missing the call.

This group led by the United Kingdom will have been due to the consensus that was ready to emerge."I regret that a small number of member states have closed the door to an agreement on the 2011 budget," said President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, on the expiry of the deadline for negotiations. First failure of this kind for the EU since 1988, this setback leads to the stability of EU spending next year.

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Nov 05 2010

More than 20 billion dollars in contracts with China

Tag: business, life, news, online, peopleadmin @ 7:56 am

The waltz of contracts with China begins. The telecoms equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent will sign three contracts with operators China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom worth a total of 1.1 billion dollars on Friday on the occasion of the visit to France by Chinese President Hu Jintao , which begins Thursday and ends Saturday.

These three framework agreements will allow the OEM to provide networking solutions and application, and integration services and maintenance to the three Chinese operators, Alcatel-Lucent said in a statement.

Moreover, the oil giant Total is set to join the ICC Chinese energy group to build a coal gasification plant in China, reported the daily La Tribune on Tuesday. A contract valued between two and three billion euros.Again, it is during the Chinese president's visit to France that Total has signed a letter of intent with ICC in order to build together a petrochemical production site, according to the business paper. The Chinese head of state should also sign major contracts, including Airbus and Areva.

Total is a minority shareholder in the project and provide a method for manufacturing plastic components from methanol, from himself gasified coal, a technology that aims to produce plastics with coal, natural gas or biomass instead of oil.

Nicolas Sarkozy speaks on the importance of these contracts and the duty to compromise:


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