International Headlines and Stories

In 2008, Apple became the first distributor of music in the United States, before the giant Wal-Mart and Amazon. The group of Cupertino is preparing to renew the feat in the film industry. According to research firm Screen Digest, Apple became the number one video on demand pay to the United States in 2014, before the two top cable operators in the country, Comcast and Time Warner Cable.

This will be overtaken by Apple at the end of this year. Apple is expected to generate $ 281 million in sales by selling movies online this year against 160 million in revenue for the VOD service from Time Warner Cable. The firm is expected to apple store almost 35 million transactions in 2010 against 30.5 million for the second U.S. cable operator. Still Number One, Comcast will make a turnover of 380 million dollars with 88 million transactions."While the pay-TV players offer to lease the works in DOS, Apple sells movies. The pricing is more beneficial to Apple, "said Dan Cryan, responsible Broadband Media at Screen Digest.

In 2014, the reverse hierarchy: Apple should be leading with 470 million dollars in revenue for 56 million transactions, when Comcast will reach 400 million dollars in sales with 108 million records of tenancy, says Screen Digest. At that time, Apple will control 32% of video market demand pay.

Google TV has a playing card

This leadership position gives Apple the opportunity to influence the price of selling movies for download, as the U.S. group has done in music.Another advantage is the unit sales reported more income to the beneficiaries that the subscription models or lease and therefore the iTunes Store a valuable partner for the studios, which multiply the simultaneous releases in theaters and on video.

If the model for the iTunes Store gives a good lead time to Apple in VOD, it is not certain that the firm with apple foreclosing the movie as it did for digital music. "There was an effect on iPod music because of the integration platform for downloading with the terminal was better, because the iPod allowed to make music where consumers want to have it ie mobility. It is not certain that the iPad plays that role for the film, Dan Cryan analysis. Terminals other than the PC are key to getting consumers to pay for entertainment.But for video, this advantage is less pronounced for the iPad for a TV. This is Google, with its Google TV decoder, which brings Web video into television, has a playing card. "Indeed, the Internet group has not discussed a possible blocking of illegal content which could online access through Google TV. This vagueness could benefit from piracy: "iTunes is selling on average 30 songs per iPod sold, the rest of the music is not purchased it is copied from CD or downloaded illegally. There could have the same effect on Google TV. The party has just begun in the video, "said Dan Cryan.

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The week begins on an auspicious in most markets in Asia. In the wake of the end of last week, particularly on Wall Street Friday evening ended on a net advance of the Nasdaq, investors approach the week with a mind divided between the few signs of easing from the macroeconomic front – fears U.S. employment, may slow in emerging – and persistence of tensions on the monetary front and Budget – austerity plans, national plan for stabilizing the euro area.

While places of Sidney, Shanghai and the Philippines were closed Monday due to holidays, the Nikkei in Tokyo gained approximately 1.6% to 9861 points in less than an hour of closing pushed particularly by Honda s make the award more than 3%.The group would reach an agreement with its Chinese supplier, enabling the Japanese automaker to resume normal work on Monday after a week of strike.

On the other cities in the region, the benchmark Hang Seng Stock Exchange of Hong Kong reverts to the threshold of 20,000 points to 20,047 points (0.88%). Elsewhere, the Seoul Stock Exchange gained 0.9% while in Bombay, the index yielded 0.8%.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro continues to strengthen. He traded this morning at 1.2183 dollars against 1.2077 dollars on Friday in New York. Against the yen, the euro also asserts upward to 111.91 yen against 110.65 Friday.

The strengthening of the euro leads to crude prices upward.In morning trade in Asia, a barrel of light sweet crude for July delivery gained a little over 80 cents to 74.59 dollars while Brent North Sea, with identical maturity, took 54 cents to 74 , $ 89.

For three months, Nestle tries the impossible in France. In a market of bottled water down the last ten years, the world number one is preparing to launch a new brand. And not just any, as this is the introduction in France of Pure Life, world's leading brand of bottled water.

"There is a French project that builds on the success of Nestle Pure Life," said Le Figaro Hubert Genieys, communications director of Nestlé Waters. The group is "by the summer" to make a decision. The weather also seal the fate of Aquarel spring water to Nestle family launched in 2000 with sales in France have not taken off.And that could eventually be replaced by the French version of Pure Life Pure Life.

Nestle Pure Life is tested in twenty supermarkets size of Le Mans and Angers, the two largest test markets in Europe, as announced last month our colleague Ray beverage. The test should be completed in the coming days, once the remaining stocks sold. "The book starts slowly," says Jean-Marc Renaudin, head of the radius drinks Leclerc Angers. "It's a grain of sand against a mountain!" He adds, referring to sales of Cristaline: the market leader – sold € 1.02 pack of six 1.5 liter bottles – sells 25 30 pallets per week (2800-3360 packs), while Pure Life, which costs twice as much, capped at half a pallet (32 packs) … In times of promotions (- 50%), however, sales may go up to four half-pallets in a weekend.In Intermarché of Le Mans, the permanent discount on Pure Life (1.02 euro) cut the lead in sales (which reads from one to ten) with Cristaline.

The linear congested

"It is completely below the cost price, these prices will not last long!" Fumed Peter Papillaud majority shareholder group Alma (Cristaline Vichy Celestine, St Yorre, etc..), Which gives the winning Figaro 0.33 euro per bottle, without promotion or communication, through reduced shipping costs to a minimum. Since he has seen at Le Mans last month, the posters of Pure Life, Peter Papillaud still furious. He campaigned against Nestlé with its distributor customers.Until patterns of signs to which he recalls that they allowed, with Cristaline, "not to lose money on the waters first prize."

The placement price of one Pure Life is strangely reminiscent of Aquarel (2.95 euros per pack of 6), a time sponsor of the Tour de France, with which Nestlé wanted to become a leader in Europe. Number two in Spain, and number three in Hungary, Aquarel never exceeded 1.5% market share in France. In several large areas of Le Mans and Angers, it has already disappeared from the shelves for almost a year. "In France, in a particularly unfavorable brand now boasts good performances, however, below our expectations," said Hubert Genieys."Aquarel suffered a mid-range position, caught between an actor unbeatable pricing and what Cristaline mineral water like Evian, Volvic and Vittel that provide reinsurance, analysis Bernard Malik, a partner the firm Roland Berger.

This does not Nestle to think big. He hopes to replicate the success story in France Pure Life number one in the United States, Egypt and Jordan, number three in Turkey and Shanghai. His recipe: low price, strong networking planning and adaptability to local consumption patterns. Launched in 1998 in Pakistan, the water present in 28 countries is natural in France, addressed to the U.S., desalinated in the Middle East, remineralized in some countries. For five years, she has an annual growth of 24%, but its presence in northern Europe is limited to Great Britain and Germany.Nestle's dream to find a recipe for anti-crisis on the French market.

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With sales were down 16% to 1.32 billion euros, an EBIT of 139.2 million (-9.6%) and a net profit of 95.9 million euros ( -3.2%), the first quarter of Technip is declining, but these figures are higher than analysts' expectations.

Despite competition "intense in all regions," Thierry Pilenko, CEO of the company has entered the CAC40 almost a year ago, noted "signs of recovery."

The evidence, the backlog has reached the end of March 2010, 8.13 billion euros, compared to 8.02 billion euros at end December 2009 and 6.93 billion euros at end-March 2009."Estimates of the group, envrion 47% of the backlog should take the next nine months of 2010."

In addition, the giant engineering and construction sector of the black gold is pleased to have recorded a total of 1.34 billion euros in new orders in the first quarter of 2010, against 1.15 billion euros a year ago.

Annual target unchanged

Thus, the direction of the oil services specialist confirmed Thursday morning his goals for the current year.Annual revenues are expected in a band between 5.9 and 6.1 billion euros (between -5.5% and -9.5% in one year) and operating margin is still seen stable.

Remember however that annual sales had been revised downward in February, while Technip had published annual results in freefall – net income fell 62% year on year – and the speech concerning the outlook remains worrying .

A contract "major" in Brazil

Yesterday, Wednesday, Technip said it had won a contract by Petrobras for the flexible pipe system driver Tupi field. He refers to the agreement a "major", with "key challenges" at the technical level.This field is situated at 2,200 meters depth of water in reservoirs pr?salif?res Santos Basin, about 300 km off the Brazilian coast.

The transaction amount was not specified. But with this new contract, Technip strengthens its leading position in Brazil, especially in the promising market tanks pr?salif?res.

In Stock

In just two sessions, the Technip shares have lost nearly 8%. Wednesday night, they quoted at under 60 euros to 58.27 euros exactly.

On Thursday morning, the shares resumed colors: they rise from 1.22% to 59.08 euros by 9:30. This is the second best performance of the benchmark index of the Paris market.

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The U.S. stock market opened on a note undecided on Friday, after aligning Thursday for a sixth straight session of gains, led by the industry.

The Dow Jones opens up 0.19% at 11,145 points after six consecutive sessions of progression and a new peak not reached in a year and a half.

The Nasdaq resumed its souflle: it fell by 0.41% in early trade to 2506 points, but preserves the 2,500 points. And the S & P 500 lost 0.3%, ?1.208 points. The milestone of 1200 points is preserved. Yesterday, the Nasdaq finished at the highest level since June 5, 2008, the S & P 500 since September 26 of that year.

Consolidation is expected.The motion correction has been faster because of Dox Jones, who went into the red, a few minutes after the gong: he lost to 15H35, 0.12%, to 11,132 points.

New homes expected

On the foreign exchange market, the euro continued its decline against the dollar, penalized by renewed concerns about the ability of Greece to cope with its budget crisis and when Athens began to initiate procedures to activate the Plan aid from Europe and the IMF. In the morning, the European currency was worth 1.3527 dollars against 1.3574 dollars the previous day.

Today on Wall Street, investors will monitor the numbers of starts of new housing in March and the index of consumer sentiment in the United States.

A new series of major publication is also expected on the side of U.S. companies.Bank of America (-1%) and Mattel will unveil figures of their first quarter, while General Electric will issue its second quarter of those displaced.

Google view

Google announced Thursday after the close of U.S. markets have performed over the first three months of the year a net profit of 1.96 billion dollars, 6.06 dollars per share, against $ 1.42 billion (U.S. $ 4.49 per share) over the same period last year. In the first three months of the year its sales climbed 23%. The titles, however, slip 4.7% to 567.39 dollars.

In addition, the Financial Times, real estate investment fund Whitehall Street International managed by U.S. bank Goldman Sachs has lost almost all its value, or 1.8 billion dollars (1.3 billion euros) .On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal revealed that another major U.S. bank Morgan Stanley had lost 5.4 billion dollars (3.95 billion euros) in investment properties, including the headquarters of the European Central Bank Germany.

Always on the side of values, yesterday, UPS, considered a good barometer of economic activity in the United States, announced a sharp rise in profits.

After eight consecutive sessions of gains, U.S. investors have decided to take a breath. The week ends so in the red on Wall Street on profit taking. The Dow Jones a coward for closing 0.35% at 10,741.98 points. The Nasdaq lost 0.71% to 2374.41 points and the S & P 500 drops 0.51% to 1159.90 points.

The week was marked by the rise of the Dow Jones on Thursday at its highest for a year and a half (0.42% to 10,733.37 points). For the week, the flagship index of New York has gained 1.01%. Since the beginning of the year, it earned 3.01%.

"After a series of fairly impressive gains, we approach the weekend with many uncertainties: what will happen with the reform of American health care system, what will happen with Greece," observed Craig Peckham, the brokerage firm Jefferies. "It gives a reason to take profits," he added.According to analysts, the lack of activity of the market could continue next week due to lack of key indicators.

Raw materials have saddled the atmosphere

Place New York was also taken by surprise by a rate hike the central bank in India, one of the engines of world economic growth. The decision raised fears of slowing growth in the country, weighing on the sectors most sensitive to economic conditions (industry and technology), on commodity prices, and therefore the energy and mining sectors. The aluminum producer Alcoa (-0.28% to 14.26 dollars) or the oil company ExxonMobil (-0.52% to 57.04%) have evolved into the red during the entire session.

The dollar has also strengthened. Under pressure for several weeks, the euro has been penalized by the Greek uncertainties. The euro has lost 0.55% to 1.3535.

Palm collapses

The action of the mobile phone manufacturer Palm fell heavily on Friday. It tumbles down 28.50% to 4.04 dollars. Investors punish new quarterly losses and forecast a very pessimistic bad credit personal loan lenders . Over the period from December to January, the manufacturer of Pre lost 22 million dollars, twice the previous quarter and more than expected by analysts. The revenue (almost $ 350 million) is better than expected, but because of poor consumer sales of its devices by the operators, it is expected to "less than" 150 million dollars, twice less previously anticipated.

The largest bookseller in the United States, Barnes & Noble (+0.26% to 22.96 dollars) has announced that it would change the CEO.This is the current president of the group's website, William Lynch, who will replace Steve Riggio at the head of the company. The future leader has helped launch the electronic bookstore Barnes & Noble and he oversaw the launch of an electronic book reader called the Nook, a product designed to compete with the readers of e-books competitors, such as the Kindle or the 'iPad.

FedEx (-1.75% to 91.05 dollars) posted net earnings of $ 239 million, up 146% in the third quarter. Based on the number of shares, the result stood at 76 cents. The logistics group has exceeded its own targets, which ranged from 50 to 70 cents, and estimates of analysts, who on average expected a figure of 72 cents. The operating profit jumped 129% to 416 million dollars for an operating margin of 4.8% against 2.2% a year ago.

Aetna argues the document.The life insurer believes that its earnings per share in the first quarter will exceed the consensus Wall Street (66 cents) to 2.55 dollars, or $ 2.65. The action ended up 3.58% to 34.43 dollars.

The U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing has announced that it would expedite the production of its 777 aircraft and 747 to meet the growing demand from customers. Sign that the aerospace market is recovering. The securities are 0.30% to end at 71.08 dollars, after opening up over 2%.

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After four quarters of decline (-9.3% a year since the second quarter 2008), the slight upward trend is confirmed by figures from INSEE based on those of Notaries from promises of sale signed in Q2 year. While some professional networks, which Laforet Immobilier Wednesday, talk of a recovery, the increase in prices is to be interpreted with great caution.

Indeed, over the past twelve months, property prices remain former fallen sharply, from about 8%, and the number of transactions continues to fall. From September 2008 to September 2009, 550,000 housing transactions have been recorded in metropolitan France, down 25% compared to transactions a year earlier.

Increase of 0.7% in Ile-de-France

During the third quarter of 2009, prices of existing homes rose by 0.7% in Ile-de-France, driven by rising house prices (+1.9%). In one year, the decline is 8.3%: -7.5% for apartments and -9.5% for houses. In Paris, apartment prices rose 1.4% (-7.2% yoy) and those houses by 5.8% (-8.7% yoy). In the provinces, INSEE noted an increase in the third quarter versus the second quarter, 0.1% (+0.6% for the apartment and -0.3% for houses). In one year, the price of existing homes in the province decreased by 7.9% (-6.9% for apartments and -8.5% for houses).

A slow recovery

Improving conditions of loans to individuals for several months have been felt in the housing market. For the economist Michael Mouillart, the market is overtaking its lowest point."The worst is behind us, but the recovery will be slow. The rise in unemployment will slow the pace of recovery, but will not compromise, "analysis" he added that during the year 2010, sales volume should reach the former levels of about 500,000 to 525,000, and prices rise by about 2% to 3%. Mathilde Lemoine, Director of Economic Studies of the HSBC bank, however, is more reserved, "in 2010, stagnant wages due to rising unemployment, rising prices rose in nine and stabilization loan rates should influence the solvency of households and hence on home sales. "

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The numbers of network Laforet Immobilier