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Steve Jobs blames Adobe and Flash

The dispute between Apple and Adobe on the Flash format invites himself to the highest level. In a lengthy open letter published Thursday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has explained the reasons which led it to ban videos and animations in Flash on iPhone, iPod touch and the iPad. Although Adobe representatives have repeatedly expressed their incomprehension and criticism bristling barriers around Apple products, Steve Jobs said that the decision was made solely on technical criteria and not commercial.

The co-founder of Apple and provides no fewer than six reasons for this refusal. Widely used on the Internet, Flash is a plugin "100% proprietary" Apple can not improve. However, it would be slow and insecure. It would reduce the autonomy of mobile devices and would not touch some of the gestures.It would not, either, if necessary to take advantage of the Internet, since the videos from YouTube and other sites have already been converted into a format readable by devices from Apple, H.264. Finally, the creation of applications and Flash games, designed to run on multiple platforms, not exploit the best features of the iPhone.

"Flash has been created during the era of PC to PC and mouse," says Steve Jobs, therefore, recommends that Adobe to focus more on the future "instead of criticizing Apple for having drawn a line under the past" . The future, he says, is to open formats on the Internet, including the HTML5. To the chagrin of Adobe, these new tools can include videos on websites without having to install Flash on their computer or mobile payday loans.Already, U.S. media have changed their site to include video in HTML 5, still remember Steve Jobs.

Crisis communication

Nevertheless, the lack of Flash in web browsing is still among the most frequent errors associated with the iPhone and iPad. It also applies to Apple's repeated criticism on the Internet. During April, an employee of Adobe has publicly recommended Apple to "get lost". Its competitors also benefit. Earlier this week, the head of the development of Android, Andy Rubin, has compared the restrictions of Apple's policy of North Korea and announced that future phones will integrate Google Flash. In Silicon Valley, rumors suggest that the case could be brought to justice.

The open letter published Thursday shows that these incidents are taken very seriously at Apple.Steve Jobs had already used the same method to break Apple's other crisis situations. He responded to Greenpeace, which accused the Mac to be too environmentally unfriendly, had determined the end of the locks on music (DRM) and announced his illness and withdrawal. In this battle as technical as media, Steve Jobs, however, avoided relying on an unlikely ally, Microsoft, whose new mobile operating system, Windows 7 Phone will not be compatible with Flash.

Goldman Sachs accused of deceiving customers

From our Washington correspondent

Goldman Sachs has managed to earn 3.7 billion dollars in betting, starting in 2007, the collapse of the mortgage-market. In doing so, the giant Wall Street acted against the interest of some of its customers, which it sold securities that he knew "toxic". This is the conclusion, after months of investigation, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the U.S. Senate.

Tuesday, during public hearings stretched on Capitol Hill, Lloyd Blankfein, the head of the giant Wall Street, has categorically denied these allegations."We do not speculate massively downward in the housing market and we certainly do not bet against our clients," he was forbidden under the spotlight, saying that even on the mortgage-market, Goldman Sachs has lost about $ 1.2 billion in 2007-2008.

"Nobody in the management of Goldman Sachs has never asked me to bet on a decline in the subprime market," added before skeptical senators, Joshua Birnbaum, the former head of structured products of the bank, also on the bench defendants.

Convinced otherwise, armed with emails and internal documents seized in the bank, the debonair Senator Carl Levin, glasses pavement at the end of his nose, led a determined assault Tuesday. But the chairman of the committee was confronted with a wall.He vainly tried to tell the past and present officials of Goldman Sachs called before him (including one French employee), how could they believe in the quality of debt issued by mortgage lenders whose reputation was terrible. Receivables classified as "business of shit" in an email exchange between two bank officials. "How many of these" affairs of shit "did you sell to your customers? asked, exasperated, Senator Levin. You've sold hundreds of millions. "

Bankers Daniel Sparks and Michael Swenson, impassive without being arrogant, but obviously confident of the merits of their point of view, seemed not to understand or what they asked or what they were charged.They also questioned the methods of calculating profits of Goldman Sachs selected by the committee.

Battle of Senate proceedings

According to Senator Levin, the investment bank has yet actually decided in late 2006 to a major cleanup of its accumulated risk on securities backed by the real estate markets whose collapse loomed. By discipline, to limit its risks and if possible in the hope of profiting from the trend, the bank had sold to investors and deliberately chosen for their credulity his titles too "toxic"."We have not been systematically and significantly" net short position "on derivatives of residential mortgages in 2007 and 2008," replied Lloyd Blankfein.

Meanwhile in the Senate floor, Democratic leaders and Republicans arguing over procedural votes before engaging in substantive debate on the reform of Wall Street. The Conservatives want by all means restrict the scope of Democrat Bill before it is submitted to a plenary debate in the room. A compromise is always likely, because both parties want to correct the excesses that precipitated the financial crisis.But the Republican minority wants to take his time, while Democrats want to take this case Goldman Sachs to prohibit such banks with access to the discount window the Fed to speculate on their own account.

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MEDEF Laurence Parisot is only competing

Laurence Parisot is now the only candidate to succeed himself at the head of MEDEF. Her rival, Sophie de Menthon, president of the employers' movement Ethic officially confirmed on Monday morning on BFM radio that throws in the towel, not wanting to go to court to assert his candidacy. The opponent has indeed encountered a stumbling block in his plan to run for President of the MEDEF: it accuses of late payment of contributions to Medef, and therefore can not seek the presidency as announced in Le Figaro April 13 last.

"I brought a check to pay my dues Medef late, said Sophie Menthon on BFM. They told me that before I can file my application, a preliminary investigation was necessary, and that the MEDEF could not decide on my application before JuneI will not lead employers in a legal battle. "

She believes however that the Board of Medef could meet quickly to endorse its regulation, and allow it to occur. It therefore deplored the reluctance of the employers' organization to focus on his record, leaving the way open for Laurence Parisot Guaranteed unsecured personal loan.

"It's a huge strategic mistake, says Sophie Menthon. Fear has won. There was no reason not to campaign.There's more dirty linen to wash the MEDEF. "She promises to give its program and its positions by means other than a campaign.

Thibault Lanxade "will not go"

Lanxade Thibault, head of the SME Aqoba, who had called for a "primary challengers last fall, has also withdrawn from the race for President of the MEDEF.

"I will not," he said on BFM Monday. Its share was "convinced" by Laurence Parisot as the debate that he dearly wanted to be actually carried out in case of re-election of outgoing President, and he should remain internal to the MEDEF.A rally that he claims to have made "without any pressure," believing that "the unit of employers is more than ever necessary" because of the crisis.

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New charges against Goldman Sachs

The clouds are gathering over Goldman Sachs. After the announcement of a complaint by shareholders against the directors, the Wall Street Journal revealed on Saturday that five of them sold their shares after the bank had been informed that an investigation by the SEC, the U.S. stock Constable , was the establishment. They have sold their shares at a purchase price of $ 65.4 million (48.9 million euros).

The Wall Street Journal, officials have sold the shares in question are an attorney, two vice-presidents, a chief accountant and a member of the board of directors.

The sales took place between October 2009 and February 2010, the Wall Street Journal reported on its website, citing the company InsiderScore.com, which presents itself as an observatory of insider stock transactions.A few months ago, in July 2009, the SEC had informed the bank that it was considering legal action against them.

On April 16, the day the SEC announced it had filed a complaint for fraud against Goldman Sachs in the civil courts, as the Goldman Sachs lost 13% of its value on the NYSE. The fall had continued throughout the week.

To prove his good faith

The announcement comes as Goldman Sachs is preparing his hearing Tuesday before the Parliament. According to a document of 11 pages that she purchased the Washington Post, executives at Goldman Sachs who will testify alongside Fabrice Tourre want to demonstrate their good faith in this matter.

Before the Senate subcommittee investigation on the financial crisis, they will indicate that they do not know if housing prices would increase or decrease when the product under investigation, the Abacus, was sold. The document describes the debate that animated the leaders of investment banking in 2006 and 2007. As proof, the bank will provide the e-mails on the subject by the leaders.

Nuisance emails

Their testimony should however be undermined by embarrassing e-mails released by a Senate committee on Saturday. According to the messages exchanged, the bank would have otherwise benefited from the mortgage risk to pocket tens of millions of dollars.

In one of these messages, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein, wrote: "We obviously have not escaped the bedlam of subprime mortgage.We lost money and then we have won more than we lost through our short position. In another mail, managers assess the consequences of failing grades assigned by rating agencies, subprime, "like we're going to make much money," wrote one of them. "Yes, we are well positioned," replies his colleague.

"Investment banks like Goldman Sachs did not just brokers, they were interested developers of risky and complex financial products that led to the outbreak of the crisis," says Carl Levin, chairman of the Sub-Commission Senate Permanent Investigation, which will face the leaders of the bank Tuesday.

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Good indicators are tipping the CAC 40 rising

The Paris Bourse continued down this Thursday, but timidly, after a sharp decline (-1.22%) the previous day amid concerns related to government debt.

The Greek interest rates to ten years has exceeded 8% in the day Wednesday. Investors wonder if Greece will well repay the debt, with growth stifled by a plan of unprecedented stringency.

Finally, the CAC 40 lost 0.12% first to 3972.8 points at the opening, then the index has returned to equilibrium in the early exchanges, to go back into the green to 9:20.

Investors seem to pay more attention to the good economic indicators fell again Thursday.

Rain clues to look closely

This session will be loaded in major economic indicators.In France, growth accelerated in April in the French private sector, with a strong burst of activity in services, according to the PMI survey published Thursday by Markit Economics. The composite index rose to 58.4, its highest level in four months, against 55.8 in March.

The morale of French companies has jumped four points in April compared to March to reach 97 points, despite backlogs still scanty, according to Insee.

Moreover, the French manufacturing industry has confirmed its recovery in April from the previous month, according to the business survey released Thursday by the INSEE.The synthetic indicator of business climate index rose four points to 97, while remaining below its long term average.

Side euro area, 11 hours, will update the balance of payments for the fourth quarter of 2009, and the government deficit and debt for the past year

Finally across the Atlantic, at 14:30, monitor producer prices in March and the traditional weekly claims for unemployment benefits. At 16 hours, followed home resales for the month of March.

Schneider, Vallourec and L'Oreal to take on the ACC

Schneider Electric on Wednesday confirmed its 2010 target of a moderate increase in its turnover in organic figures.The shares were down 1.91%, to 86.4 euros.

Vallourec (+0.13%, to 149.7 euros) has announced the acquisition for 150 million euros Serimax, a company specializing in soufage pipes offshore.

The group Areva (0.52%, to 383 euros), yet prey to big delays on another local project, the favorites to meet the tender of the Finnish government, which wants to build two new reactors.

Always on the CAC 40, L'Oreal (-0.65%, to 80.5 euros) said it signed an agreement to acquire the U.S. Essie Cosmetics, make-up brand nail polish, whose turnover business amounted to $ 28 million (about 21 million euros) over the last twelve months.

The Competition Commission has prohibited the merger between Orange, a subsidiary of telecom operator France Telecom (-0.15% to 17.14 euros), and Sunrise.The company resulting from the merger would have created, together with Swisscom, a collective dominant position on the market for mobile telephony.

Guy Wyser-Pratte does not increase its stake from 0.53% in Lagard?re group with which it engaged in an arm-wrestling to be appointed to its supervisory board and change its governance.Lagardere shares were down 0.17%, to 31.84 euros.

Publications animate Exchange

Later publications, they have been good for Sodexo (5.65%, to 46.75 euros), Remy Cointreau (4.05%, to 45 euros) and Carbone Lorraine (3.59%, to 28 euros ), the three largest increases in the SBF 120.

Sodexo has recorded an operating profit better than expected in the first half, and now expects a range between 770 and 790 million euros for the full year.

Carbone Lorraine on Wednesday released a stable turnover in the first quarter at constant perimeter and exchange rates and confirmed its targets for 2010.

The wine and spirits group Remy Cointreau announced Thursday an increase in its annual turnover (April 2009-March 2010) of 13.1% to 807.8 million euros.

Vranken-Pommery has also published a large turnover of 39.4 million euros, up 38.1% (+11.4% at constant scope, excluding integration Listel), thanks to the recovery its activity champagne. The company expects a sales growth of over 20% "medium term". The shares are 2.63%

In addition, Publicis made a surprise Thursday by posting organic growth of 3.1% of its income in the first quarter, two times higher than that of Havas.Its shares rise 1.52%, to 33.7 euros.

Plastic Omnium (1.58%, to 34 euros) has announced an increase of over 43% of its activity in the first quarter, benefiting from a favorable base effect with the automotive market crisis a year ago.

Surprises

Side decreases, Nexans has the highest drop in the Paris stock exchange: -7%, to 60.4 euros. The leader in the cable industry has registered a turnover of 1.35 billion euros, up 8.4% yoy while in the course of constant non-ferrous metals, it reached 971 million of euros, down 11.1%.

Just behind Technilocolor – formerly Thomson – fell by 3.9% to 1.04 euros. The company posted a turnover of 691 million euros for the first quarter, down 24.4%.

IMF: the euro area lags behind the global recovery

The weather global economic summarized in three figures: production (GDP) will grow 10% this year in China, 3.1% in the U.S. and 1% in the euro area countries. For the whole world, growth is expected in 2010 to 4.2% and 4.3% in 2011. With a clear dividing line between the advanced countries, whose growth prospects are around 2.3%, while savings "emerging or developing" a galloping pace of 6.3%.

These new "World Economic Outlook," IMF showed that "the recovery unfolds better than expected. But new challenges have emerged and exceptional "cautioned Olivier Blanchard, chief economist of the Fund. He calls a "warm" restart in the advanced countries, which are still found a lower level of production of 7% it would have without the crisis.In the eurozone, the IMF also revised downwards by 0.1 percentage point to 1% its forecast for growth in 2010, although France, among others, has fared rather better with a forecast of 1.5% instead of 1.4%.

Dependence credit

For Europeans to wonder why their economies pull themselves together much more slowly than America, Olivier Blanchard gives two main explanations. Europe is "more dependent on bank credit as the U.S. market where finance plays a greater role for business and they have restarted the fittest." Furthermore "the policy responses have been later and less strong in Europe," he adds.

This means that the IMF does not disavow the fiscal stimulus plans, including Dominique Strauss-Kahn, their boss, was one of the strongest supporters, from January 2008.But "it is urgent to develop strategies for fiscal consolidation in the medium term" now stress the same experts. They note that the budget deficits in advanced countries have now reached 9% of GDP on average and that "the debt / GDP ratio should exceed 100% by 2014 if nothing is done.

Rebalancing Economic Policy

The situation is more delicate than a too abrupt adjustment of public finances could hinder growth already shaky. Hence the advice to double trigger "to fully implement fiscal stimulus measures planned for 2010, except in countries which already have a strong increase in their risk premium and must begin to rebalance their budgets now," as Greece. But the most advanced countries should undertake a substantial fiscal consolidation in 2011.

Emerging economies are the reverse face "to an influx of capital, a good thing in itself, but can become excessive," warns Olivier Blanchard. He recovered one of his favorite anthems "the currencies of a number of emerging markets remain undervalued in considerable proportions regarding the yuan." It calls for a revaluation of the currency, both in relation to the dollar than the euro, the only way to give oxygen to Western exports and ease the risk of overheating in Asia. This rebalancing of economic policies will be central to discussions of the G20, whose finance ministers meet Friday in Washington.

Goldman Sachs sued for fraud related to subprime

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. stock market watchdog, said it had initiated proceedings for fraud against Goldman Sachs. The U.S. bank would have hid crucial facts about financial products affected by the subprime crisis. Fraud concerns the structuring of CDOs ("collateralized debt obligations) linked to subprime subprime.

Goldman Sachs action was immediately heavily impacted by this lawsuit.Around 17h35, the title fell by almost 14% to 160.3 dollars, bringing in its wake many financial stocks and the major world indices no fax pay day loans.

The SEC accused the bank and one of its vice-presidents, Fabrice Tourre to have misled investors by concealing important facts about the financial product concerned, while the U.S. housing market began to deteriorate.

At 15h GMT, Goldman Sachs yielded 9.7%. The KBW index of U.S. banking sector shrank at the same time 3.5% and the Stoxx European sector gave up 1.8%.

Wall Street widened its losses, the Standard & Poor's 500 yielding 1%.

Shy increase the Tokyo Stock Exchange

After a fence in red on Tuesday, the Asian stock markets end in almost all the green on Wednesday. The Nikkei 225 rose 0.21% to 11,184 points, ahead of Taiwan Index from 0.43% to 8064 points, the Seoul Stock Exchange finished up 0.97% to 3639 points and climbs Sydney 0.67 to 4985 points. In contrast, Hong Kong was down 0.07% to 22,088 points.

On the macroeconomic front, the Singapore authorities said Wednesday that the country's economic growth could be between 7% and 9% this year, against previous forecasts of 4.5% to 6.5%. It could even reach the first quarter of this year 13.1% and 32.1% a year over the fourth quarter of 2009.Consequence: Stock Exchange of Singapore, the Straits Times Index closed up 1.05%.

Barrels of oil increase

Following a meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his U.S. counterpart, Barack Obama, under the Nuclear Summit in Washington, Bush reiterated his desire to see China revalue the yuan no teletrack payday loans.

Crude prices are trending upward in Asia Wednesday, the market reacts to forecasts of rising demand for crude announced by the International Energy Agency (IEA).In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for May delivery took 34 cents to 84.39 dollars, while Brent North Sea with identical maturity, gained 18 cents to 84.90 dollars.

In its monthly report, the IEA has reviewed again slightly upward, from 30,000 barrels per day its forecast for global oil demand in 2010. Consumption is expected to rise this year to 86.6 million barrels per day on average, 2% more than last year.

Toyota has advised its Canadian and American dealers to suspend sales of its Lexus model, the GX 460, following criticism from a consumer magazine, Consumer Reports. At the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the title won 0.13% to 3710 yuan.

The Dow Jones closed at 11,000 points beyond

Wall Street started the week in near balance, then moved into the green early interactions. An increase, however fragile, while the budget deficit emerged in sharp decline in March, to 65.4 billion. A decrease of 65% yoy. Analysts were expecting a lower deficit.

At the close, the Dow Jones climbed 0.09%, the Nasdaq is 0.16% and the S & P 500 of 0.18%.

This slight increase still leaves the Dow Jones crossed the symbolic threshold of 11,000 points. The index reached 22 hours, 11,006 points. A first since September 2008. And the S & P reach almost 1200 points to 1197 points exactly.

The U.S. stock markets have recently experienced six consecutive weeks of increases, an unprecedented series from the lowest 12 years and a half touchdowns in March 2009.On the foreign exchange market, the euro is rising against the dollar after the announcement yesterday by the countries of the eurozone plan the details of aid to Greece.

Oil prices fell for the fourth consecutive session, still affected by an abundant supply and low demand in the United States.On the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), a barrel of light sweet crude for May delivery finished at 84.34 dollars, down 58 cents from the previous day.

Indicators to follow this week

On the macroeconomic front, the week will be marked by several important indicators such as the index of consumer prices, retail sales for the month of March, industrial production, housing starts and the first estimate of the index Reuters confidence-Michigan.

The markets will also follow the hearing of Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, the Congressional Joint Economic Committee on Wednesday and will monitor closely developments in the case of the Greek debt.

Alcoa opens the ball Publications

Palm jumped 17.05%.The group was mandated to advise the banks to sell its business or other opportunities, according to news agencies.

On the side of values, the oil industry runs the meeting. Friday Chevron (1.22%, to 80.43 dollars), without giving a figure, has announced an increase its refining margins in the first quarter. The group takes advantage of the rising oil prices and a possible improvement in its refining margins.The major U.S. must publish its accounts on April 30.

According to the press, the merger between United Airlines and U.S. Airways (2.73%, to 7.52 dollars) should be performed exclusively by exchange of shares.

The Department of Treasury of the United States announced plans to sell at auction in six weeks, before the end of May, the warrants of Wells Fargo shares were granted during the salvage of the bank in the fall 2008.

Microsoft has unveiled a new phone especially for the youth market of social networking fans, called KIN, developed with Verizon Wireless and Vodafone and manufacturer Sharp.

ConocoPhillips has announced the sale of its Chinese Sinopec stake in Canadian oil sands project Syncrude for $ 4.65 billion dollars.

Just after the close, investors have taken note of the first quarterly results of major public companies. As usual, the aluminum giant Alcoa, which gave the start of the season publications. Analysts expected a return to profit, its first since a year.

Meanwhile, Alcoa shares have been 1.39%, to 14.59 dollars.

The coming week will also be driven by quarterly results from Intel, Google, General Electric and JPMorgan Chase & Co. banks among others.

"Caution should be clear," says Aurel, who says that "the discourse of business remain positive on the merits but there are risks of disappointment on margins or unit on a possible downturn in order books in the coming months." The industry, raw materials, financials and semiconductors are the sectors most at risk.However, the agri-food sector, distribution or energy values could pleasantly surprise.

Green remains at the Paris Bourse

The green still dominates the Paris Bourse. Comforted by the end of the Japanese Nikkei up on Monday, the CAC 40 continues its momentum on Friday with an opening up of 0.69% to 4078.38 points. Last week, Paris had the key index closed up almost 2%, surpassing the 4000 points to 4050 points.

Investors are reassured by the Parisian rescue plan with Greek details, as expected, were finally unveiled this weekend. The European system, operational since Sunday, includes up to 30 billion euros in loan agreements with joint assistance from the IMF. The news caused at least boosted the euro. In morning trading, the euro is worth 1.3675 dollars, up 0.12% against the greenback.

Elsewhere in Europe, same atmosphere. The London Stock Exchange opened up 0.50% to 5799.95 points.For its part, the DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange opened up 0.54% to 6283.81 points.

On the face of macroeconomic indicators, no news likely to react to the markets is expected. Important data such as current accounts or French industrial production in the euro area, will in the coming days.

However, the quarterly publications begin Monday in France and the United States. Intel, Google, Bank of America, or General Electric are expected across the Atlantic this week. The monitor Alcoa France or Atos Origin cash advance.

The bank form

The reaction of the banking sector support plan in Greek has not made wait. The bank had suffered last week, suffering from the fears of too much involvement in the problems of sovereign debt in Europe.Credit Agricole, Societe Generale and BNP Paribas were down. On Monday, they found the strength with respective increases of 1.05% (13.43 euros), 1.59% (46.62 euros) and 1.57% (57.64 euros).

In an interview with the Journal du Dimanche, the chief executive of Publicis (-0.05% to 31.38 euros) said this weekend that the advertising investment is not expected to regain its 2008 levels by 2012.The latter also expressed readiness to re-evaluate its offer for the advertising of France Televisions, if the advertising was finally upheld.

France Telecom (stable at 17.56 euros) is being difficult in Egypt, where a court on Saturday confirmed its decision to block the bid from France Telecom on the minority of ECMS, the first mobile operator in terms of number subscribers.

According to sources close to the deal, EADS (+0.20% at 14.93 euros) will announce its position on a possible bid for the tender for the supply of tanker aircraft to the army of U.S. Air.

Alcoa (who finished the session at -3.23% on Friday) published the figures in its first quarter after market close in New York.