Archivio per la categoria 'finance'

Festivals face of declining public subsidies

As every summer festivals in numbers on the territory have not failed to meet a great public success. However, despite attendance that does not deny, the contraction of budgets of local cultural events to make this worthwhile. For the vast majority of them are "small joint ventures", in the words of Emmanuel Negrier, author of "Public Festivals, tapped in large part by public funds.

According to a study by France festivals, grants from these mainly involved local average for 51% of the resources of these events. "The festivals of contemporary music, which developed later than others, however, are less dependent," says Emmanuel Negrier.To give an example of the financial stability of a festival of medium size, the budget of Auvers-sur-Oise is broken down as follows: 44% public funding, 23% from sponsorship or partnerships, and 33% of own revenue, notably from the ticket.

The counties, which face increasing social spending, have generally lowered their subsidies by 10%. This is the case in Rock en Seine, which begins this Friday with the envelope from the general council of Hauts-de-Seine is dropped from 300,000 euros to 265,000 euros on a total budget of 5 million. "The trend is clearly down government subsidies. In addition to the crisis, the reform of local finances led to a narrowing of the capacity of local authorities to act in the field of culture, "says Emmanuel Negrier. A feeling also experienced Lorient Inter-Celtic Festival."Apart from agreements concluded in three years, we enjoy public support dropped from 10% to 20%. In total, they nevertheless represent 35% of our budget, "says there is no fax payday loan.

Increased use of patronage

What, therefore, to overcome this shortfall? There are really only two main levers on which play to increase revenue: the price of tickets and the development of sponsorship. While the increase in ticket prices is a limited instrument which undermines the availability of a diverse public festivals, many events, however, attempt to play the role of patronage. This is for example the case of Inter-Celtic Festival Lorient or that of Annecy.The Crescendo Festival of Annecy has indeed experienced a revival this year thanks to the donation of 500,000 euros a Russian businessman, Andrei Valeriyevich Cheglakov. "The only thing Andrei Valeriyevich Cheglakov wait in return is the recognition by the Mayor of Annecy festival of this size that has an interest in the city," said Pascal Escande, festival director. This case, however, is very exceptional, "he concedes himself.

Especially in times of crisis, it also becomes more difficult to find private funds. While the vast majority of companies have retained last year an almost identical level of funding, "they tend to focus their actions and be more attentive to their consistency," said Beatrice Menanteau, director of Admical , an association that promotes corporate philanthropy.Above all, it is currently unthinkable in France private funds to replace grants: "In Spain, some festivals are completely private. But their benefits are not equivalent to those of French festivals. Neither stimulation of cultural creation, or access to culture to a diverse audience are possible without the help of communities, "argues Emmanuel Negrier.

Hewlett Packard and Dell in the struggle on the high-tech

The cloud computing continues to attract IT companies. A week after Dell announced it planned to buy the company for data storage, 3PAR, his rival, Hewlett-Packard (HP), outbid on Monday on supply Dell. HP has made an offer of 1.6 billion dollars (1.2 billion euros), against 1.15 billion dollars (894 million euros) for Dell. The proposed transaction represented by Dell when it announces a 87% premium over the closing price of 3PAR. An advertisement that has boosted the share 3PAR over 40% to 25.35 dollars in a market up 0.27%.And while, to 3:35 p.m., Hewlett-Packard lost 0.13% to 39.80 dollars.

Transaction close by the end of the year

HP recently rocked by the resignation of its CEO Mark Hurd in early August, said that the board had approved the transaction faxless payday advance. The closure of the transaction is expected before the end of the year, the company said.

This acquisition would allow the IT group to extend its range of storage products for the cloud computing (cloud computing) and to support its service activities, like other industry heavyweights like IBM, they which tend to generate higher gross margins than sales of computers.

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Wall Street has suffered some profit-taking

Always worried about the pace of recovery in the United States, and after six trading sessions in the green, the U.S. stock markets fell on Thursday.

After an opening in the green, the gains were quickly erased by investors who took their bénéfcies. Thus, at the close, the Dow Jones down 0.30% to 10,446.85 points.

Yet on Thursday, enrollment weekly unemployment fell slightly more than expected in the United States during the week to July 24, at 457 000 468 000 cons (revised) the previous week, said Thursday the Labor Department.

But the Fed Beige Book released Wednesday evening has reported a recovery in global economy.But two of the twelve regional branches of the Fed said the pace of activity has slowed recently, Chicago and Atlanta, and two others have found a stable economic situation in Cleveland and Kansas City.

The primary appointment of the week is expected Friday with the first estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) which will attract the attention of investors.

Symantec picks

On the side of values, Visa (-4.32% to 71.93 U.S. dollars) yesterday issued a profit after the close of U.S. $ 716 million, or 96 cents per share, against 93 cents expected by analysts. The group's turnover is up 23% to $ 2 billion against $ 1.97 billion expected by analysts.

The publisher of Symantec Antivirus (-11.18% to 13.03 dollars) has announced an increase in its profit to 161 million dollars against 74 million last year.But the disappointment comes from the software storage management data that represent 36% of sales. The activity is down 5%. For the current quarter, the group revised downward its revenue were planning.

U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil (1% to 60.3 U.S. dollars) on Thursday posted a net profit nearly doubled on a year in the second quarter to 7.560 billion dollars, thanks to improved refining margins and higher prices hydrocarbons. Net income group share stood at 7.560 billion dollars against 3.950 billion a year earlier (+91%).

In contrast, Kellogg is sanctioned: -6.89% to 47.98 dollars. The U.S. food group said on Thursday doing worse than expected for the second quarter of 2010 due to the weakness of the grain market and declining sales of its Eggo brand.The Group's net profit fell 15% to 302 million dollars. Net sales declined 5% to 3.1 billion dollars.

Also severely punished: Colgate Palmolive (-6.74% to 78.12 dollars) with worldwide sales rose 2% to 3.81 billion dollars. Prices rose 0.5% globally, with a negative effect of exchange rate fluctuations, the company said in a statement. Its net profit grew 7% in the second quarter of 2010, to 603 million.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (-5.77% to 11.26 dollars) reported better than expected quarterly results Thursday in favor of growing its revenue and earnings generated by its business in North America , thus raising its stock exchange.The leading U.S. manufacturer of tires reported a second quarter net income of $ 28 million (21 million euros), or 11 cents per share, against a net loss of $ 221 million a year ago ( 92 cents per share).

For its part, the selling group in U.S. online Amazon (-0.23%% to 116.86 dollars) has launched two new models of its Kindle reading shelf.

Always on the side of values, the car rental company Avis (7.22% to 11.88 dollars) amounted Wednesday its bid for rival Dollar Thrifty, with 13.4% more than Hertz, 1.33 billion in cash and stock, hoping to cut short the agreement between Hertz and Dollar in April.

Also note, Chris Viehbacher boss Sanofi Aventis (-0.54% to 29.31 dollars) has confirmed that group continued to explore possible "small or medium-sized" acquisitions.He declined to comment on rumors about the interests of U.S. biotech group Genzyme. Earlier in the morning, sources cited by Reuters said that the laboratory intends to make a formal offer on Genzyme after the failure of his informal approach on U.S. biotech specializing in the treatment of orphan diseases.

According to Bloomberg, the board of Sanofi has authorized management to offer up to $ 70 per share, an offer that values Genzyme $ 18.7 billion.

The Paris Bourse wait

The CAC 40 is a little break after a meeting at which bounce saw the benchmark index of Paris close to over 3%. On Friday, the markets begin the session on a slight decline from 0.13% to 3595.66 points. The waiting game surrounding the publication of results of stress tests of European banks is felt. Already, the euro back a bit against the dollar at 1.2889 dollars around 9:00.

Yesterday, U.S. markets have done a great meeting Thursday at which time the Dow has gained almost 2%. U.S. markets relatively insensitive to the announcement of a surprise increase in weekly unemployment registrations have been worn by the overall business results above consensus.

In terms of macroeconomic statistics, the session looks very calm.No major indicator is expected in the United States.

In France, the French household consumption of manufactured goods fell 1.4% in June after the previous month was supported by purchases of televisions before the World Cup, according to figures published by INSEE before the opening markets. Throughout the second quarter, it shows a decrease of 0.9% after falling 1.9% on the first three months of the year. Analysts on average expected a rise of 0.2% in June

The Germans will unveil their Ifo business climate.

TF1 reviewing its objectives to increase

The stress test, however, occupy the banking sector.BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, Credit Agricole, Natixis (BPCE) or Dexia should respond.

Moreover, the markets will again this session to analyze several quarterly publications:

TF1 announced before market sales ad up 11% in the first semester for a total turnover of 1.28 billion euros, above the consensus. Net income group share was 74 million euros over the period. The objectives are significantly revised upward with a turnover in 2010 rose by 7% instead of 4%.

STMicroelectronics reported Thursday a profit above expectations at 18 cents per share with a turnover up 27% to 2.53 billion. Analysts on average expected a profit of 14 cents per share and a turnover of 2.513 billion dollars.

Pernod Ricard noted Thursday its annual forecast for operating profit thanks to the improved economic environment and its position in emerging markets. Its turnover in 2009-2010 emerged, up 2% on a comparable basis.

Ubisoft has released a turnover up 94% in the first quarter of 2010-2011, to 161 million euros and confirmed its objective of a provisional turnover of 160 million for the remainder of the year.

BioAlliance Pharma has announced a record turnover of 15.2 million euros in the second quarter against 1.5 million a year earlier, after recording in April in the United States Loramyc, light treatment of fungal infections of the mouth patients with cancer or AIDS.

As for ads, Alstom said it had won contracts valued at about 450 million euros for the construction of two units for a combined cycle power plant India.

Legrand announced Thursday a takeover offer for Indo Asian Switchgear India, where he produced nearly 4% of its annual turnover after the acquisition. Indo Asian Switchgea aims for 2010 sales of more than 35 million euros.

Maurel and Prom announced Thursday it had increased to approximately 70 million euros the amount of its issuance of Oceanes five years following the year's total allotment option.

Attractiveness: France wants to get rid of misconceptions

On the ground of appeal as that of growth, France is doing "less bad" than its main competitors. It is the belief of the French Agency for International Investment (AFII), which on Monday published its panel's attractiveness in 2010, in collaboration with the Center for Strategic Analysis (CAS), Treasury and Datar. While foreign direct investment last year saw a decline of 41% in developed countries, they have fallen "only" 35% in France.

The Hexagon's interest to maintain this advantage: the French subsidiaries of foreign groups provide more than 2.5 million jobs, 20% of R & D and almost 40% of these exports are linked to foreign establishments.And since 2007, when the crisis was suffering its effects, new investment decisions by foreign companies will be permitted to "maintain or create approximately 30,000 jobs" each year.

"Beware the gap between what the economic data and leave out the perception of foreign investors," said Monday David Appia, president of the AFII. This paper attempts to twist the particular blow to conventional wisdom: that France would not fiscally attractive to businesses. "People often think that taxation in France is a weak point but in reality the situation is more complex," said Director General of CAS, Vincent Chriqui No fax payday advance.It must be determined "globally", argue the AFII and CAS.

"Strong signals"

The tax can not be reduced to the corporate tax (IS). "The effective tax burden on enterprises in France is much lower than the nominal rate of the SI would suggest," says the report. It must also consider the tax base and exemptions. Ultimately, if we look at the revenue of the IS reported to EBITDA, "France is in a better position, with a tax rate of approximately 17% of profits." Dietary improvements reserved for impatriate removing the ceiling of the research tax credit – now "the strongest incentive to Europe" – and the removal of business tax on productive investments also "sent a strong signal towards investors foreigners.

More generally, France is ranked fifth in the world for business location costs (employment, installation, transportation, taxes, equipment and energy) and one in Europe, the document stresses the AFII, which compiles data and existing rankings, making comparisons between France and eleven other neighboring countries.

Apple has a patch on his iPhone 4

… No need to tape to deal with the default antenna of the iPhone 4. Apple has another solution. His boss, Steve Jobs, under fire from critics, spoke Friday night from Cupertino, California to restore the credibility of the company. To begin, he conceded that his group was "not perfect". He then unveiled the solution to solve the problem of signal loss when the hand covers the bottom left of the iPhone. The solution? A simple plastic case and rubber will be offered to owners of Apple's new smartphone. Better, this case, which costs $ 29 in trade, will be refunded to those that have already bought one. And if all this were not enough for dissatisfied customers, they could also make their free iPhone 4 in stores.

If customers are reassured, investors too. The Apple stock has returned to the green.For financiers feared that Apple chooses instead to conduct a recall of 3,000,000 iPhones already sold since the launch on June 24 It must be said that such an option would cost around 1.5 billion dollars to the firm at the apple instead of 45 million cases for the "magic".

Verdict reassuring

The American magazine Consumer Product tested the case in question this week in the laboratory and concluded that this solution was acceptable. The "bible" of consumers who had inflicted the fatal blow to Apple last Monday discouraging consumers to buy the iPhone 4, returned a verdict for Apple reassuring."When we gave the case and put our finger on the rubber part where it covers the gap (problem), resulting in a significant loss of reception, so small as to have no effect on the receipt, "says the magazine.

The New York Times suggests that it is not a simple problem of antenna and metal frame, but communication software. Citing an unnamed source familiar with the matter, the newspaper said that the iPhone has four public discovers a defect inherent in all of its predecessors."The problems occurred in the complex interplay between communications software and antenna," the source said, adding that it could be solved with a software update and that Steve Jobs was not aware of this problem before the launch of the device in late June.

Reputation tarnished

This failure has nothing to do with the error display signal reception originally put forward by Apple as the cause of the problem of the antenna and set this week.

Still, the reputation of Apple and its founder is seriously tarnished by this affair. Especially since Steve Jobs, who initially denied the failure of his latest "toy" had long been aware of the situation but have decided to ignore the recommendations of its engineers, as he liked the new design, according to Bloomberg . What the person denies.Sin of pride? Consumers expecting at least Friday a little humility on his part.

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The Deposit and the state trying to find a prize at the Position

"This is our operation this year." Michel Bouvard, MP (UMP) who chairs the supervisory board of Caisse des Depots et Consignations (CDC), sets the tone: the entry of public institution with a capital of La Poste is in itself that the Fund invests typically one year. The frame is fixed by law: The Post will benefit from a capital increase of 2.7 billion euros, 1.2 billion provided by the state, and 1.5 billion from the Fund. Must still agree on the value of the Post Office to determine what will be the level of participation of the CDC in its capital.

Twice a week since the beginning of the month, teams from the Fund – backed by Lazard and Morgan Stanley, helping Gimar Finance Supervisory Commission – and those of the Agency for State Holdings (advised by HSBC), compare analysis.Condemned, by law, to agree, the two pockets of the state does not want to go to war. No way to dwell on a range of recovery – a "fork" as an actor in the negotiations – which, however, reveals a gap of one to five.

The Post valued at 1.8 billion euros

Reportedly, in fact, the "buyer" – CDC – valued at this stage, the post office to 1.8 billion euros, including debt, when the "seller", the State, shows 9.5 billion. The discussion, in fact, is to converge to a value of The Post to be that of its own funds (4.1 billion euros at end 2009).The work involved with the management of La Poste – CEO Jean-Paul Bailly plate before the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fund on June 23 – and the EPA have already been able to fill a (small) part of gap.

Concordant sources, Bercy proposes to extend the revenue projections and results of the public company beyond 2015, the end of the current strategic plan, focusing on the extension of subsidies for the distribution of the press, Accessibility bank or land use. This involves taking a very long-term bet, even though projections for five years been based on optimistic assumptions, as stated by the Court of Auditors paydayloans.

For example, the public company anticipates a replacement for four retirements, two times less than in 2009.It sits on a decrease of 30% "only" the volume of business mail by 2015, when erosion caused by traditional Internet this activity has accelerated with the crisis.

"Prudent investor"

The financial trajectory, finally, projects a growth of 5 to 6% of revenues the Postal Bank in the period, based on a scenario of "macro" rather rosy, particularly in terms of changes in interest rates. She bet – she is not alone – a tightening of prudential regulations on international (Basel 3) which would cost only 500 million of equity to its subsidiary … These are all the more crucial that La Banque Postale represents alone worth more than 8 billion euros.On it depends on price which its parent.

To justify the target value, the arguments must be strong: the CDC should behave "prudent investor, in strict compliance with its property interests." Especially, the recapitalization not be considered state aid by Brussels. During the presentation of the report of the supervisory committee, Michel Bouvard reiterated the goal: the investment must provide a perspective of profitability similar to the average of the other assets of CDC. "We want to secure our investment in case of degraded scenario," he says.

The Fund negotiates as a shareholder pact that would endorse the joint control with the State on the public company, it takes 25 or 35% of the capital. "The state is more favorable to have the CDC in a strong position as shareholder," says one close to the matter.The Fund would have four directors, an involvement in appointing the CEO, and a veto not only on large investments, but also the most common big decisions, like budget.

SNCF rethinks its strategy

New casualty of the crisis: the key feature of the station. Arrived at the head of the national railway company in March 2008 Guillaume Pepy had quickly announced his intention of transforming the rail group. But the crisis forced the officer to review his copy.

The original plan announced by the boss "Destination 2012", targeted a turnover of 36 bn euros in this horizon, an increase of 50% compared to 2007, and a recurring operating profit doubled between 2007 and 2012, 2 billion euros. But now the target may be difficult to achieve, especially operating profit, which reached 150 million euros in 2009. The officer was therefore resolved to rethink its strategy, reports Les Echos.

The group plans to develop a new strategic plan by 2015. The SNCF would nevertheless not completely turn his project in 2008.The goal to transform the railway into a group of transport and mobility services remains a major international priority. This ambition should see a significant milestone this year, says the business daily, due to income from railway agent, for the first time, less than half the total group.

Elysee and the RFF involved

And the state shareholder following these developments closely. The Elysee has stepped in and plans to hold a meeting on the subject as early as July, it said. In particular, discussions with the government and the RFF (Reseau Ferre de France, which owns the network) should help establish new directions for the business lines. The partners will also agree on the reform of railway planning activity nearby.

Another difficulty officer: reassure railway. In this regard, Guillaume Pepy envisages a tour of France regions, reports Les Echos.

A higher Kerviel: "He played the comedy"

Like The Prisoner, the hierarchs of the Societe Generale will designate them by numbers, which creates a particularly warm climate. In the case of Jerome Kerviel, we have, in order of increasing responsibility, N +1, N +2, etc.. Until the Director General, N 7. Hence the paradoxical equation that seeks to resolve the criminal court of Paris against a chain of command if expanded and a financial disaster without precedent: (N +1) + (N 2) … + (N +7) =- 4.9 billion euros in January 2008.

Here, at the helm, N +1. A tall, friendly, very thin uniform N + (gray suit, blue tie), polytechnician ruffled the soft look. In real life, he called Eric Cordelle, 38, married, two children. Societe Generale was dismissed in April 2008 and is currently "looking for a job."What is immediately striking is that it does not seem really for the post of Chief of Jerome Kerviel and seven other traders that he agreed in April 2007: expert financial engineering, back from Japan He knows neither the language nor the tricks of trading – exactly the opposite profile of its predecessor. Hence the hypothesis raised by the prosecution, that Mr. Kerviel would have easily eaten secretly by investing 50 billion euros.

What is striking then, is how little energy spent by N +1 to the detection of internal fraud. But N 2, we hear just now, as N 7 and N 6, previously interviewed, was no more ardent. It even comes to say that SocGen was on this point, less vigilant than the first quarter came drugstore. Its controls? A Maginot Line which Kerviel was played, and that his motive remains indecipherable is a poor excuse."A trader can not leave with the cash, 'explains Mr. Cordelle. Let. But why did we not informed, inviting him to greater scrutiny, the 2005 incident, which saw the apprentice trader Kerviel win 500 payday loan lenders.000 euros speculating as Allianz, then he did not have the right? Why does no one consults he never or almost Eliot software, which records all transactions (actual or fictitious) of his subordinate? Why is not the intended recipient of two letters from Eurex, the end of 2007, in which the German derivatives market to demand explanations on SocGen excessive operations implemented by Jerome Kerviel?

True, Mr.Cordelle gives the impression of having been "thrown into the lion's den," with Jerome Kerviel who has "been acting" with a real talent since "every time he explained something, it was credible . We want to believe it was lost in the maquis computer "- the formula is the president Pauthe – in which Mr. Kerviel, he, played as a fish in water.

"To find, we must seek"

But still, the Ecole Polytechnique has an easy to hide behind the situation – activity increase exponentially, inadequate staffing, etc … The fact is that it does not, in particular, read all the emails or bookkeeping, Perhaps it would put a flea in his ear. To him as to his superiors. Therefore the bank as a system, a system so sure of himself that he did not think to detect a free electron, which methodically undermined its own foundations."To find, we must look," says Mr. Cordelle, but this truism leaves the court on his hunger. For if one man could commit 50 billion euros without anyone noticing, jeopardizing a financial institution, its shareholders and its 150,000 employees, What were the controls? Why so many "N"?

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The European countries want to tax the banks

Barely buried by the G20 already risen by the European Union? The leaders of the 27 would have agreed on the principle of a tax on banks, according to AFP. Agence France-Presse has procured the draft final agreement from the summit of Heads of State of the EU on June 17.

The text states that "the European Council agrees that a tax on financial institutions to be introduced to ensure that they contribute to pay the price crisis." The implementation would occur in "October 2010", according to the document approved by the ambassadors of member countries in Brussels.

The EU, supported by the Franco-German agreement on the subject, then move only hear about this proposed tax. The G20 had indeed rejected the draft on June 5 last, at the request of Japan, Canada and emerging economies, including Brazil.The topic will be placed on the mat during the next World Summit in Toronto in late June, at the initiative of the Europeans.

"The debate is over"

If the 27 Member States seem to agree on the principle of bank charges, how applications are still a problem. Finance ministers should floor on the issue to ensure "equal treatment" between banks to prevent the European institutions are not penalized compared to their foreign competitors.

EU leaders also wonder on what basis will apply the tax, ie the profits or assets of banks, for example. The biggest uncertainty also use it will be made of revenues generated. "The debate is really over," admitted one European diplomat.

The European Commission wants a fund of insurance of the financial sector, and giving assistance to banks in case of major difficulties. Paris and Berlin for their part, prefer that the money collected feed budgets. "Of what use to mobilize billions of euros in an insurance fund for money to sleep?" Asks a diplomat.

Finally, a country like Luxembourg, a leading financial center, particularly for investment funds, would prefer to introduce a tax on financial transactions in the most speculative.

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The G20 has rejected the tax credit