Archivio per la categoria 'money'

Few women on boards of directors

 

Only one company, Publicis, shows a perfect parity between men and women. "The Lady-boom run out of steam already?" Asks Caroline to Marnierre, president of Capitalcom by identifying the number of women who will be entering this year in these boards. A total of 17 women will be appointed at general meetings of shareholders, which is twice less than in 2011 (33 women), according Capitalcom. "The 2012 vintage is characterized by a marked weakening of the dynamics observed in 2011," the study said. "Increasing diversity is mainly due to the increased number of women holding more money."

Slow progress

The law provides that Cope-Zimmerman boards must include 20% women by 2014 and 40% in 2017. She timidly begins to bear fruit: the board will count 23.4% women on average this year, against 20.8% in 2011 and only 8.5% in 2007! And 27 major groups on the French side have already fulfilled their obligations for 2014.

In a quarter of them, the rate of mixing is even greater than 30% (BNP Paribas, Bouygues, Credit Agricole, Publicis, PPR, Safran, Societe Generale, Total, Vallourec and Vivendi). Although still scarce, women are increasingly involved in the boards, the study notes, which is "evolution in the number of women who chair a committee (33%)."

Who are they? They averaged 55 years and are mostly French (63.64%). The CAC 40 also account for 7.3% and 6.4% American administrators of the British.

Despite little progress this year, the mix of boards should gain ground in the future. Especially since the European Commission intends to introduce quotas for women on boards of directors and supervisory boards.

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Expected 307,000 additional unemployed within two years

 

A cold shower. Francois Hollande and Jean-Marc Ayrault, the new duo at the head of the executive, could not begin their terms with worse prospects on the employment front. According to the Bureau of Unedic, the unemployment insurance system – that can not be accused of anti-hollandisme since it is composed, for half, representatives of trade unions – the number of registered unemployed in Class A (no activity) should swell to 178,500 in 2012 and then to 128,300 next year. A total of 306,800 additional people in two years, an increase of 10.6% over current levels.

This would be a disaster for the head of state who is committed during the campaign to reverse the unemployment curve, within one year after his election. To revise its forecast of 2012 and first establish financial and employment projections for 2013, services Unedic have incorporated into their models – reliable, in general – the new growth assumptions adopted by the consensus of economists (+ 0 , 3% and +1% of GDP for the current year and the next).

Scenario B more positive

If you look at job seekers who exercised reduced activity (categories B and C), increasing the total number of unemployed in the Hexagon will be even higher than 110,200, representing an increase of 9.7% in two years. Main explanation: the employment should fall further to 91,300 units in two years, bringing to nearly 300,000 the number of jobs destroyed in the Hexagon on the equivalent of a seven-year term. These poor forecasts, if realized, would further aggravate a little hole Unedic whose accumulated deficit frôlerait 18.2 billion euros end 2013. A record.

The new president and his prime minister, however, will find two tiny glimmers of hope in the fifteen pages of notes prediction Unedic. First, the deficit expected in late 2012 was revised downwards (from 1.3 billion euros) compared to recent estimates, established mid-January because of poor advance of revenues and expenditures. Second, the unemployment insurance system has also established a scenario B if growth would be higher in 2012 and 2013 – the bet made by Francois Hollande with the policies he wants to implement.  

If the GDP grew by 0.7% this year and 1.4% in 2013, the rising number of unemployed in Class A would be reduced to 169,200 over two years (half that in the central hypothesis) and the economy would begin to create jobs in 2013, with a positive balance of about 53,300 jobs by the end of next year.

The impact on the finances of Unedic would be immediate: the debt would be reduced to 17.2 billion at end 2013, one billion less than the central scenario. A completely different horizon.

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Greece: EU calls for "accountability"

 

Greece goes into its paradox. Historic cradle of democracy, she is passionate as always in politics, as evidenced by the good turnout in the general election on May 6 (65% of registered voters turned out to vote). But this passion produces no power capable of meeting the challenges of the country.

Alexis Tsipras, the local Mélenchon, which has tripled its electoral score compared to 2009, refused to support a national unity government with Evangelos Venizelos, the leader of PASOK (Socialist), respecting the commitments signed fiscal discipline there are three months. The country has not always of prime minister, while the urgency has never been greater.  

Who will represent Greece at meetings of the Eurogroup and Ecofin Monday, May 14 and Tuesday, May 15? He would need a strong personality to defend with the granting of European partners in June of a $ 8 billion of loans. Who sit behind the flag to cross and blue stripes at the NATO summit in Chicago on May 20? An eloquent negotiator would be welcome if Greece wants to avoid that Westerners endorse the requirement of the Skopje government to appoint his country "Macedonia", to which the Greeks are opposed to historical reasons.

Patronage system

"I am very concerned (…) I appeal to the sense of national responsibility of all political leaders to reach agreement respecting the commitments of the country," said Friday the EU president, Herman Van Rompuy. But, late afternoon, the Greek political class had still not given a name.

Lucas Papademos, the technocrat in charge of the country for three months, went to see the President Karolos Papoulias to ask him to speed up the process of appointing a new prime minister. The former vice president of the European Central Bank is very concerned about the possibility of excluding Greece from the euro area, corroborated by the statements in the press of German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble.

Oddly enough, the Greek population, which according to all polls are still mostly gained against the euro, does not include the requirements of its creditors, or their impatience at the slow pace of structural reforms opaque. "I did not vote for PASOK, this time launching Michalis, independent taxi driver, because it does nothing for my daughter when she has an engineering degree!" ….. …

In the patronage system prevailing since the arrival of the Socialists to power in 1981, there was a right of activists to put their children in the administration. PASOK has fallen from 43% to 13% of the vote between elections of October 2009 and May 6.

"In a country where youth unemployment exceeds 50%, the little people have no sense or do not vote more rationally! Says a Greek financier. The Greeks have lost confidence. Only the Chinese are constantly telling us they believe in long-term potential of the country! "

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Many poor children are in Paca

 

Paca, Ile-de-France and Rhône-Alpes. It is in these three regions experienced more than one third of poor children in France, according to a study by the regional social observation device (Dros). The rate of children living in families with low income was 29.1% in PACA, 21.5% among Parisians and 20% in the Lyon region. Paca, the rate rises to 44 and even 45% in Marseille and Avignon.

This study, conducted primarily using data from the family allowance funds (CAF), shows that parents have very low incomes, about 671 euros per month or 300 euros less than the low income threshold. All depend very heavily on aid from CAF (71% of cases Paca, 66% in the Ile-de-France and 65% in the Rhone-Alpes). Another trend revealed by this survey: the majority of poor children live in single parent families. Paca, 52% live with one parent against 45% in the Rhone-Alpes and 21% in the Ile-de-France.

Difficult living conditions

The study shows that for these children and their families, housing conditions are often extremely difficult, marked by overcrowding, poor heating and insulation, unsafe fast payday loan no faxing. Interviews with these children cite the example Paul, 10, who says his older brother sleeps in the closet "because it is high, he wants to have his privacy." Remarkably, less than half of poor children live in social housing. Paca, they are only 39% to live there because of the weakness of the regional park, with only 56 social housing units per 1000 inhabitants.

Researchers believe these children from poor families "like all other children, before being marked by poverty." They seem unaware of their situation they see as "normal" and not unfair. With age, however, things are changing. These children, who regard their parents with "respect and admiration," are very fatalistic, the researchers said. "The more they get older, more reality imposed upon them," says the study.

(With agencies)

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IMF doubles lending to help the euro area

 

The International Monetary Fund will have an additional $ 430 billion, that he will agree about forty of its 188 member countries. Christine Lagarde did not hide his satisfaction at the conclusion of meetings this weekend in Washington, first at the G20 then the policy committee IMF policy.

"This almost doubles the Fund's lending capacity. This really shows the determination of the international community have the tools to resist and defend against the attacks, "said the CEO, relieved to have obtained a strengthening of the" firewall "of the IMF it deemed absolutely necessary.

In addition to the States in the euro area, which had announced in December 2011 their stake to 150 billion euros (nearly $ 200 billion), other countries of the European Union bring their mite, including the United Kingdom (15 billion). Japan (60 billion) will be the largest individual contributor, while Saudi Arabia and South Korea will contribute 15 billion each. In total, $ 340 billion that was pledged by name. What to add 90 billion from a number of emerging countries, including China, Russia, India and Brazil. But they prefer to "talk first to their publics the number of their contribution," said Christine Lagarde.

From this list, the United States and Canada are conspicuous by their absence. Washington had previously stated that he was not opposed to a process of strengthening the IMF on a voluntary basis, but he would not participate. As for the Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has said aloud what many feel a whisper: "We believe that the Fund has adequate resources to meet immediate needs. The reality is that European countries are relatively rich … They must take the bull by the horns and solve this problem with their own resources, "he said at a news conference.

Expanded powers

The euro zone's balance of payments surplus is globally vis-à-vis the outside world should not in fact need to be rescued by the IMF, confirmed privately one of his top officials. But Europeans are reluctant to help each other themselves as necessary, and they need the funds as a policeman to impose unpopular reforms programs, as is the case for Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

Vice Minister of Finance of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who chairs the committee that guidance of the Fund, did not mince his words nor his vis-à-vis the Europeans: "The firewall is necessary, but far from enough. The real solution lies in the fiscal and structural reforms to address the real causes of the crisis. "

Emerging countries, by the voice of the Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega again requested an extension of their power within the IMF, and they got satisfaction. The G20 communiqué pledges to "a comprehensive review of quotas by January 2013." Moreover, the central bankers of the G8 countries, who gathered in Washington specifically too, were willing to facilitate "access to capital markets' five state" Arab Spring ".

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800 000 000 000

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Burger King renewed the offensive

 

Burger King goes on the offensive to win back customers less and less convinced. Director North America of fast food chain, Steve Wiborg, detailed this weekend at USA Today's battle plan. It comes in three areas: promoting healthier recipes to the menu (chicken, fruit smoothies …), new decoration of restaurants and extensive advertising campaign. 2500 U.S. restaurants and should be renovated in the next three years, while celebrities such as footballer David Beckham will be mobilized for the campaign.

Miami-based chain, bought in 2010 for $ 3.9 billion by the fund 3G Capital, had to react. Last year, it lost its traditional position as the second largest seller of hamburgers in the U.S., restaurant owners and franchisees alike. According to research firm Technomic, Wendy's has topped the pole with $ 8.5 billion hamburgers sold, 100 million more than Burger King, but still far behind the 34.2 billion King McDonald's.

The growing strength of Wendy's has been attributed to its new range of sandwiches more upscale and upgrade its stores, operated in 2011.

The snub did not extend to the international market, where Burger King is an undisputed number two easy payday loans. The chain is present in 81 countries through 12,500 of which only 1,300 are restaurants owned.

By expanding the franchise

Both franchises expected to widen again over its international expansion. In late 2011, Burger King realized indeed still two thirds of its revenue – $ 2.3 billion versus 2.5 billion for fiscal year 2010-2011 – North America.

The new shareholder intends to continue its growth in emerging countries and Europe, where Germany, Spain and Great Britain predominate. An upcoming opening in France, which would pass through a franchise with Autogrill's partner Burger King in Italy, is expected.

The choice of an expansion franchise by offering the chain, heavily in debt since it was bought by leveraged capital 3G, greater financial flexibility. Negative, it restricts its ability to control the implementation of its campaigns, often very expensive renovation in restaurants. In the U.S., the owner of a fast food must put on the table between $ 300,000 and $ 1.5 million, as merely a lick of paint or he rebuilt his building for s adapt to new standards group.

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The gasoline prices have hit new records

 

In these times of crisis, fuel prices at the pump are endlessly to climb. New records were achieved in France last week. Diesel, which represents about 80% of fuel sales in France rose to 1.4584 euro per liter, according to weekly surveys posted by the Ministry of Sustainable Development. It has surpassed for the first time his previous record dating from 2008 to 1.4541 euro.

As for gasoline, a liter of unleaded 95 (approximately 15% of French consumption of motor fuels) euro jumped to 1.6451 and that of unleaded 98 (5%) to 1.6883 euro, beating and both of their records dating back to the previous week, respectively 1.6211 and 1.6610 euro euro.

These sales prices at the pump are national averages calculated by the Directorate General for Energy and Climate (DGEC) from data provided by service stations. But they largely already exceed these levels in some places. Thus, the price per liter of MS 95 has already surpassed last week the symbolic threshold of two euros at the pump of a Parisian park payday advance online.

Since late 2011, gasoline prices beat record after record in France, powered by a dual effect of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that keep crude oil prices at very high levels, and weakening of the euro against the dollar, which boosts the cost of black gold once its converted value in the single currency.

The surge in fuel prices, motorists hitting the portfolio, has elicited numerous comments and proposals from the candidates in the presidential election. The socialist Francois Hollande wants to block temporarily the price of gasoline, as an incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy has described as "populism" and "demagoguery."

(With agencies)

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Japan has succeeded in limiting the recession in 2011

 

2011, bad year for the Japanese economy. But less bad than expected. The gross domestic product (GDP) of Japan fell 0.2% in the fourth quarter of last year, bringing the decline in growth throughout the year to -0.7%. The Japanese government initially expected a decline of 0.6% between October and December, which would have increased to 0.9% GDP growth over the twelve months.

Struck by an earthquake and tsunami March 11, 2011 which were 19,000 deaths, Japan saw its number of damaged plants and encountered severe disturbances on its electricity production. At this natural disaster were added the slowdown in global demand, a stronger yen and floods in Thailand where many Japanese companies are based, in particular the automobile cash advance to savings account.

Today, the Japanese economy remains fragile. The government and the central bank of Japan (BoJ) hope however dig us out of slump with a series of measures introduced to boost consumer spending, business spending on support by providing funding solutions, and contain the surge of the Japanese currency.

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The Pentagon buys combat clothing in Toulouse

 

In the Pink City, the label high-tech is not confined to aviation. The textile industry may also be asserted. The Department of Defense – the Pentagon – just choose an SME Toulouse, Paul Boye Technologies, to provide the required protection in nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC).

The contract of 96 million euros over four years concluded after months of effort sounds like a win for that reference SME of 201 people.

"Winning the bid to the Pentagon will help us win other international contracts," Boye hope Jacques, president of the family business, which carries 62% of its sales (63 million euros in total year past) in the area of ​​defense and security.

To succeed overseas, it created a subsidiary in the United States and has partnered with local partners, Tennessee Apparel Corp. and Creative Apparel Associates. "It was mandatory to win the decision in a market sensitive," says Jacques Boye. The contractor does not want to indicate whether a part of the production of combat clothing with high added value or not will be produced in one of his four French factories.

This firm, which already dressed firefighters and some French soldiers, won the famous contract masks to protect from flu "H1N1". This investment of 3 million had allowed a turnover of 70 million. "We managed to be better than the Chinese," recalls Jacques Boye who participated in the conquest of America and coveted markets on other continents.

Al Jazeera delights the Europa League for Canal +

 

Olivia Derreumaux

Yesterday, Al Jazeera Sports has won another round in its development strategy in French football. The future French declension with the Qatari called to emerge by June, has indeed been assigned by the UEFA some of the TV rights for the Europa League, together with M6. This was announced yesterday that European football's governing body on its website, thus satisfying one of the objectives of management for future pay-sports channel.

DeuxPour rights multiplied by 16 million euros according to the Team, will share the two channels thus the spread of the second largest European club competition, over the period 2012-2015. Jackpot for UEFA, who sees and double the previous revenue received from Canal + and M6 for this competition (8 million). But bad news for the encrypted string, which is seen again reduce its offer football, in a leak of its journalists to Qatar chain (see below).

For football fans, this new distribution rights for the Europa League should not cause major upheaval. The best match of each day will be broadcast on free DTT subsidiary of M6: W9, and summaries after each match night. In the presence of French clubs, "the meetings of the semifinals and final will be broadcast on M6" said UEFA. For its part, the future chain headed by Charles Bietry obtains the rights to all games, "including the final." The latter, still officially called Al Jazeera Sport but that could take the "Be In Sports," will broadcast at least two live games, as well as summaries highlight each evening meeting.  

Construct the grid programmesPar this new blow, and Charles Bietry continues building the program schedule of Al Jazeera Sport, which will have not one but two stations, broadcast 24h/24 fast cash online. The acquisition of sports rights is a priority to fill the boxes of these new entrants in the audiovisual paying, created ex nihilo. Management has also not hidden his determination to focus also on other sports. In this war to sports rights in football, Canal +, however, can claim to have kept, with 13 choices of the Champions League and the top two of each day in the French league (L1), posters the most attractive.

Faced with the Champions League, bringing together the best European teams of clubs, the Europa League is indeed a second best competition at European level. Until the launch channels that will validate or not this quantitative strategy, the Qatari channel may soon increase his offer with obtaining rights much more attractive to the Euro 2012 football and 2016, which have not been assigned by UEFA.

The ranks are swelling of Canal + Al JeziraComme those rights for TVs, the battle intensifies between Al Jazeera Sport, Canal + on the front of journalists. In this game, Charles Bietry has a head start. Yesterday was Darren Tullett, the specialist in the Premier League (English Premiership), who announced his departure from the encrypted channel to join the Qatari. A third departure, after the journalist Christophe Josse, formalized the previous day and that of Julian Brown, also a specialist in English football. Of new hires reflect the interest of Charles Bietry for the English league. And thus a form of warning for the pay channel, which has made British football a strategic pillar of its offer.