Merkel tries to calm things down with Francois Hollande

 

Angela Merkel likes the cons-feet. After the victory of Francois Hollande in the presidential election on 6 May, the German Chancellor had said it would host "open arms" the president-elect. Thursday, it proved inflexible in the Bundestag, rejecting any policy of increasing public spending, policy advocated by the Socialists.

And this Saturday, one that supported Nicolas Sarkozy during the presidential campaign, tried to calm things down, three days before his meeting with Francois Hollande, in Berlin. When asked, by withholding his weekly video podcast, a "possible steady partnership with the new French president," Merkel said, "Yes, that's what I think, because we know since the founding of the Republic Germany a good Franco-German relationship is just very important for both countries. "

Angela Merkel isolated within the EU

By his attitude changes, the Chancellor irritate Francois Hollande. Before his colleagues, the president-elect would not hesitate to declare that "this is not a good method" to be so inflexible. In Berlin, the president apparently intends to say to Angela Merkel, "politely but firmly," according to a close this week quoted by Agence France-Presse savings account payday advance.

For now, the latest forecasts from the European Commission for the French economy, published Friday, give reason to Angela Merkel and fall ill for Francois Hollande. According to Brussels, France's public deficit should reach 4.2% against 3% anticipated by the new president. Growth of gross domestic product to 1.3% in 2013, far from 1.7% target by Francois Hollande. For its part, the German economy should continue its momentum. The five major economic research institutes across the Rhine anticipate a 2% increase in 2013 GDP growth of Germany.

But sixteen months of laws, the government of Angela Merkel is in trouble. Having already lost power in Schleswig-Holstein, the Chancellor will test again on Sunday in one of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous regional state of Germany and bastion of the left. Especially, that which formed a duo with austerity in favor of Nicolas Sarkozy, now seems isolated within the EU since the latter has lost the presidential election. And while many European capitals have welcomed the growth pact advocated by Holland.

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Published on 12 May 2012 in economy, international, life, technics, world, by admin

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Strawberry French have been waiting

 

They are praying. The gariguettes, Ciflorette, Clécy or mara des bois gradually come to market with nearly two weeks late. "The production schedule is shifted by two weeks compared to last year because of the cold spell of February, indicates the Agreste, the statistics department of the Ministry of Agriculture, in his final memo on the economy. In May, domestic production is expected to significantly ramp up and reach a peak around May 15. "

France, where people eat an average of 2 kg per year per person, has become a structural deficit in strawberries and even became the first importer. French production should be nearly equivalent to that of last year (1%), with 51,000 tonnes of strawberries this year. She points and sixth in Europe, behind Spain, leading with nearly 300,000 tons mainly in the province of Huelva, and Poland (about 200,000 tons), which mainly produces strawberries for the processing industry.

The "Drosophila susukki" threat

Germany, which allows the employment of seasonal workers from eastern Europe, the hourly cost almost twice lower than in the Hexagon, is third with 157,000 tons. In total, we produce on the Old Continent 1.1 million tonnes of strawberries, or nearly 30% of world production.

Pricewise, as frost damage to vegetation have not been fully assessed and are being expertise, it creates tension on line pay day loans. "Early in the season 2012, the index of producer prices is greater than 7% five-year average," notes the Agreste. By comparison, last year, the average price of the high season between March and June, stood at 5.01 euros per kilo. A price significantly less competitive than the call price charged by major retailers this weekend (two-thirds of the distribution of strawberries) to 1.80 per kilo. But it was strawberries come from the Iberian Peninsula.

In France, according to initial estimates, the surfaces of strawberries should be stable for the 2012 campaign compared to last season. Strawberries produced in the open air should fall by 30% in contrast to the greenhouses which represent two thirds of production. This mode of production should continue to grow (+30%) related to the increase in aboveground surfaces (36%) and burial (25%).  

However, in terms of health, some concerns loom over the threat of Drosophila susukki, a small fly that could cause serious damage. "It is not yet reached us, but vigilance is extreme," says Benedict Lopez, the producer Hautière, La Chapelle-sur-Erdre near Nantes.

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Published on 09 May 2012 in economy, international, money, people, resources, by admin

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 Le Figaro in France Today and The Cross up

 

The campaign for the presidential election held the role of a damper on sales of national newspapers in March, registering a 0.5% decline, according to data released Thursday by the OJD on the basis of returns filed by publishers with the supervisory body of the press. A title, however, now in France, the national edition of Le Parisien, is distinguished by showing an increase of 10.3%.

Le Figaro rose 0.7%

"The whole quarter was bearer, with an average increase in sales of 10.5%, says Jean Hornain, CEO of Le Parisien-Aujourd'hui en France (Amaury Group). The political course supported us, but other factors have played in our favor. Unlike most of our competitors in the regional daily press, we have maintained our selling price to 90 cents during the week, making our way one of the most competitive in the retail outlets. We are also less affected by the free press, which makes the very difficult market in Ile-de-France. "Today in Francea also benefited from the judgment of the paper edition of France Soir, last December. Two other daily progress. One year after the launch of a new formula "bimédia" of the cross paid the sales rose 5.7% in March and 1.6% in the first quarter. Over the period, the daily Christian Bayard said to have multiplied by eight the number of subscribers to his website-croix.com, whose traffic has won at the same time 19%.

For its part, Le Figaro, which remains the largest national newspaper with paid circulation of 342,731 on average, increased by 0.7%. Over the quarter, Le Figaro is stable at 0.2%. All other securities are falling. In March, The World down 4.9%, to 288,881 copies, and the sports daily L'Team (Amaury) of 4.3%, to 258,476. Release is stable, slightly down by 0.5%, to 122,444 copies, despite sales at (kiosks and newsagents) at high levels for the daily run by Nicolas Demorand. Echoes lose, for their part, 3.1%, to 121,889 copies.

Rise of digital

"At first glance, on sales in Paris, the impact of the campaign was less than in 2007, says an editor. However, it must wait to see the performance of securities regions for an initial assessment, but we did have an effect on sales numbers. "

Along with paper sales, electronic editions of national newspapers continue to grow at a healthy pace. Le Figaro including more than doubled sales of its digital versions by crossing the course of 6000 readable copies smartphones and tablets. This share digital broadcast reached, according to OJD, 5.6% for Libération, Les Echos, 6.9% and 8.3% for Le Monde.

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Published on 29 Apr 2012 in economy, finance, money, news, top news, by admin

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Controversy in Japan on nuclear revival

 

Critics have not kept waiting to condemn the Japanese government project to restart two nuclear reactors. Since the disaster of Fukushima and security measures that followed, almost all of the park which provided 28% of the electricity of the Archipelago has been shutdown. Today, one unit is still running and should be stopped for maintenance in the coming weeks. So far, Japan has managed this failure by attempting to reduce energy consumption and increasing imports of oil and gas.

However, with the approach of summer and peak demand associated with the use of air conditioners, electric companies, industry and the government becomes more pressing to restart some nuclear sites. Kansai Electric Power Company, now deprived of all its reactors, and says she may suffer from inadequate power of 20% during peak summer.

Obtain an understanding of citizens

Friday, the government Yoshihiko Noda had approved the reactivation plan of units 3 and 4 of the Central Oi (a hundred miles from Kyoto). Ensuring that the reactors in question comply with new security standards, the industry minister, Yukio Edano, nevertheless said: "The revival will be once we have obtained an understanding of citizens, starting with the local population. "

Nothing is less certain for now. Environmental groups are quickly mounted slot, as the Japanese press. "It is difficult to understand why the government so anxious to restart the reactors," wrote an editorial Sunday in the general Japanese daily Mainichi Shimbun, saying that more thorough inspections should be made before any restart. For its part, the daily Asahi Shimbunregrette "inconstancy" Noda government in its nuclear policy. Before taking office, the Prime Minister had indeed promised to continue the denuclearization of the country. "Independent studies show that there will be no shortage of energy," says his side Wakao Hanaoka, an activist of Greenpeace Japan.

While the population does not seem ready to return to nuclear, renewable energy has found a new attraction. Last week was thus launched a solar power plant of 70 megawatts, the largest in the country.

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Published on 16 Apr 2012 in business, economy, finance, online, technics, by admin

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The French retailer is accelerating its expansion Kusmi

 

Champs-Elysees, Fifth Avenue … This is the new playground for Kusmi, the French retailer of tea bobo to conquer the urban working women and 30-50 years. Bought in 2005 by Sylvain Orebi, former dealer in cocoa and coffee, this old brand founded in the nineteenth century Russian wants to move up a gear. "We want to be the first premium tea brand in the world, and we give ourselves the means, the goal being to exceed 100 million by 2015", against 17 million in 2011, said Sylvain Orebi.

Kusmi, which covers over 25 million euros this year, intends to dethrone Mariage Freres, which has emerged as the champion French high-end tea. His credo: to succeed in the tea brands that Illy or Lavazza coffee in the. "There is no comparable success in the tea sector, said Sylvain Orebi, which imposed its colored metal boxes and does his decaffeinated tea Detox a bestseller. We very much rejuvenated the image of tea, with an affordable brand and shops where they can enter easily. "Positioning different from Mariage Freres with its servers in white gloves.

Kusmi now accelerating the creation of its network, focusing on the development of its own boutiques, alongside corners in department stores (BHV, Galeries Lafayette …) and selling fine foods and Monoprix. It has thus, according to our information, to rob the beard of his main competitor's future location on the Champs Elysees to open in July. Located at No. 71, between Nike and Ladurée, it will bring international visibility.  

Drinking tea

Her store of 250 m2 will include a tasting area called "tea bar" with pies, cakes and cookies made on site. "This will be the flagship for Kusmi foreshadowing what could be our shops in the future," said Sylvain Orebi. A concept that will also declined in the new shop on Avenue de l'Opera, which will open this summer.

His ambitions do not stop at uptown Paris. Kusmi also landed in malls, Saint-Lazare in Confluence (opening today) through Beaugrenelle, inaugurated next year. After Bordeaux, Toulouse and Strasbourg, it also provides a twenty openings in the province by 2013. Finally, he put on the outside the home to establish its reputation. It has just been chosen by the Barrière group to appear in the map of his breakfast. The international not currently represents only 30% of its turnover. But Kusmi goes fast. It could open this year in London and Milan. After New York, where he will open a second store this summer at the Plaza, it targets California.

The crisis has not dried up its funding sources. Sylvain Orebi, whose company has been profitable since two years, has raised € 7 million over three years via Audacia, the investment fund chaired by Charles Beigbeder, who owns 31% of Kusmi. After taking a 50% Laura Todd cookies via Orientis, the holding company co-owned with his brother, he wants to continue investing. He is looking for acquisitions in the fields of sweet delicacies, ice cream or cakes.

Published on 05 Apr 2012 in economic, economy, events, life, opinions, by admin

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Eurozone: agreement to a firewall 800 billion

 

The seventeen countries of the euro reached an agreement Friday to raise 500 to 800 billion euros their "firewall" against financial crisis. Germany has dropped the ballast, but the compromise is far from meeting the expectations of the European Commission, IMF and OECD.

The envelope, which represents a theoretical capacity of loans, includes three components: 500 000 000 000 ahead for the European Stability Mechanism (SPM) which will be launched in July, 200 billion already committed by the temporary fund established in 2010 (EFSF) and 100 billion in loans already spent or pledged various EU.

This elaborate structure – and perhaps questionable because it mixes future and past – allows everyone to say it held its position. For Germany, it was essential to avoid having to raise the ceiling of the MES to avoid another vote in the Bundestag payday loan. Wolfgang Schäuble, the favorite in the race for the presidency of the Eurogroup, but agreed to keep alive a year for the EFSF, which temporarily inflate the pot.

In contrast, those that grew as the French Baroin a figure of around 1 trillion, did not get satisfaction. Discussed in Copenhagen, the project of an additional tranche of 240 billion to be used "in exceptional circumstances", has disappeared from the final declaration of the Eurogroup. Here too, Berlin has been successful. But the question remains the strength of the new firewall in the event of a major financial accident, involving, for example Spain or Italy.

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Published on 30 Mar 2012 in economics, economy, publications, special, world, by admin

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Jack Daniel's looking for acquisitions

 

The owner of Jack Daniel's is in better shape than ever. Not only are sales of Tennessee whiskey, the fifth alcohol brand in the world after Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Bacardi and Absolut, are distributed in the U.S., but exports and accelerate the sales of other brands of Brown-Forman, whose Finlandia premium vodka and tequila El Jimador, is still growing as fast.

In total, the U.S. group Brown-Forman is getting ready to buckle on April 30 its 2011-2012 fiscal year with sales up 4% on a comparable basis compared to last year, when they reached 3.4 billion dollars. Operating profit is expected to jump by 8% (855 million last year). "In this sector, where the top ten players realize only 25% of the world, the race for size is not necessarily the best strategy, says Le Figaro Paul Varga, his boss. With margins generated by the sale of spirits, medium-sized groups can succeed. "Listed on Wall Street, the group founded in 1870, whose heirs hold 175 two-thirds of the voting rights, is somehow anti -Pernod Ricard. The French, whose objective is to steal the place of Diageo spirits market, multiplies decade mega-acquisitions: Seagram, Allied Domecq, Absolut. He expects to have reduced its debt to pursue the quest for external growth.

A group without debts

The U.S., he does not caress such dreams of grandeur, seeming satisfied with his seventh place in the world rankings, just ahead of the Italian Campari. Its leaders and family shareholders are vigilant, however. They not only take care not to fall prey, but they remain on the lookout for acquisition opportunities all medium.

This is the group's strategy since Prohibition. From 1920 to 1933, Brown-Forman was one of four U.S. companies authorized to produce alcohol for medical use. He took the opportunity to redeem distilleries … Virtually no debt, it now has a debt capacity estimated at 4 billion. "We will add more vodka brands to expand our portfolio, especially in entry and mid-range," said Paul Varga. The skipper, who wishes to expand in Central and Eastern Europe in this segment precludes a "no comment" to questions about his possible interest in Sobieski vodka for sale by the Franco-Polish Belvedere ( Marie Brizard, William Peel cash advance loan…).

France, emerging country

Brown-Forman, confident in the potential of the worldwide whiskey category, is also interested in acquisitions of brands of scotch whiskey and irish, based on barley, while Kentucky bourbons and Tennessee whiskeys are composed of 51% corn.

He finally target acquisitions enabling it to accelerate the internationalization of its flagship brand Jack Daniel's. Redemptions of Finlandia (2000) and El Jimador (2007) enabled him to acquire distributors in Central and South America. The group now has distribution subsidiaries in ten countries. What less dependent on its partnerships with competitors where it does not have the critical size. In most cases, as in France, he confided to the marketing of its Bacardi bottles. Then he realized in 2001 over three quarters of its sales in the U.S., this market last year represented only 45% of its turnover.

Outside the U.S., Brown-Forman does not fight on the same land as Diageo and Pernod Ricard. "Our emerging markets are different from those of our European competitors, says Mark McCallum, commercial director of the group. We continue to build on the country they regard as mature, with the aim to gain market share in France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine. "However, China and Brazil, the group sets objectives in the medium and long term. "To impose on the Chinese market today is expensive. And the risk of counterfeiting is high. As Diageo and Pernod Ricard are not fighting, we prefer to go elsewhere, "said Paul Varga, who nevertheless seeks to buy a brand of Baiju, the more alcohol sold in the country

.

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Published on 27 Mar 2012 in Uncategorized, economy, money, online, opinions, by admin

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Japanese whiskey is attracting more and more

 

If there are four or five years, Japanese whiskeys fell almost an anecdote, it is clear that the Japanese distilleries were located largely in the market for Liquor Stores. Of the four best whiskeys in the world, two are once more for the Japanese edition of the 2012 World Whiskies Awards, organized by Whisky Magazine. The setting was won in the categories best blended whiskey in the world by Taketsuru 17 years old Nikka from home, and in the category best single malt whiskey in the world with the Yamazaki 25 year old house Suntory.

The Japanese group Suntory is the origin of Japanese whiskeys, in the 1920s. It has two distilleries (Yamazaki and Hakushu) located in northern Japan, which develop blended and single malt whiskeys. The diversified industrial group also owns three Scottish distilleries. Its direct competitor, Nikka, a subsidiary of another giant, Asahi, came a little later (1952) in this segment. And also owns a distillery in Scotland. By themselves, these two houses share almost the entire market of Japanese whiskey world.

If the brand is more Nikka located on the French and European market, notably through the House of Whiskies, which has exclusive, Suntory is positioned more on the U.S. market. Thierry Benitah, CEO of the House of Whiskies, said: "The entry level and mid-range is slightly more expensive for Japanese whiskey over Scotch whiskey, but for more upscale products, including oldest, Japanese whiskey is cheaper, same quality. " It takes only 30 euros for a Japanese whiskey entry level (in comparison, one of the brands of Scotch whiskey sold in the world, Label 5, costs 12 euros). In amount in the range, Japanese whiskeys are between 150 and 650 euros, the price may even go up to 10,000 euros a bottle for a 50 years old.

France, the second consumer of Japanese whiskey

In 2010, according to the International Wine and Spirit Research (IWSR), it is consumed in the world 81 million liters of whiskey Japanese, representing 3 payday advance.2% market share of all whiskeys. Global consumption of whiskey, all confused, totaled nearly 2.7 billion liters. The United States are the largest importers of Japanese whiskey, with a volume of 5.2 million liters. France comes second with just under 3 million liters (2.9 million).

In 50 years, the French have adopted the whiskey. They are the biggest consumers of single malt Scotch whiskey, with 135 million bottles per year, or more than two bottles per person. In comparison, Americans consume 125 million bottles annually, depending on the portal Planetoscope.

Japanese whiskeys, more subtle and sweet

How to explain this craze for Japanese whiskey? Keinta Minari, head of the division of Suntory whiskey for France, gives some keys to this success: "One explanation lies in the style of Japanese whiskey, which is subtle and complex, where Scotch whiskey will be more strong and sturdy. "A view shared by Thierry Benitah of the House of Whiskies" Japanese whiskey is more accessible than the scotch in terms of taste. Unlike Scotch whiskeys, which have a slight bitterness on the finish, Japanese whiskeys receive a final grade soft, chewy and sweet "

According to Pierre Tissandier, head of the cellar Whisky Lodge in Lyon, and previously head of Diageo whiskeys, this development is surprising, "the Japanese whiskey differs from Scotch whiskeys including a search of the exotic, but also by a marketing and a highly developed packaging. " The Scottish distilleries would suffer a certain archaism, where Japanese whiskeys are more modern and stylish.

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Published on 25 Mar 2012 in economy, life, opinions, resources, top news, by admin

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World Bank: Obama wants Dr. Jim Kim

 

This choice is a surprise. A native of Korea, physician training, graduate of Harvard and Brown, Jim Yong Kim is not known in international financial circles. However it is in the world of health and development, particularly for his efforts against AIDS and tuberculosis. He specifically directed the Department to Fight against AIDS of the World Health Organization.

The management of the development institution is traditionally an American, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has always been attributed to a European. The odds of Jim Yong Kim selection by the board of directors of the bank amounted to the extent that the United States, the largest shareholder of the World Bank, has the support of European countries, Japan and many countries emerging.

Hours before the announcement by President Obama, South Africa had formally proposed that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigerian Finance Minister, and former World Bank director, succeeds Robert Zoellick, whose term as U payday lenders.S. President the bank comes to an end in late June. As at the choice of Christine Lagarde last June to head the IMF, rich countries have promised an emerging open and transparent process of selection that results in the designation of the most qualified candidate. Despite this commitment, developing countries find that their chances to win one of them are tiny. Their inability to agree on a single candidate is indeed an enormous handicap.

Jim Yong Kim is expected in the coming days begin a journey in the great capitals of the world to present his candidacy and convince shareholders of the World Bank of the correctness of its strategy to fight poverty and underdevelopment.

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Published on 24 Mar 2012 in economics, economy, finance, opinions, world, by admin

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HP leverages its printers to revive his PC

 

This is the first major policy decision announced by Meg Whitman, CEO of HP since September. PC and printer divisions of the group will be merged, as the company said Wednesday.

Since arriving at the head of the company, Meg Whitman will finally been consistently good the consequences of the announcement in August by his predecessor, Leo Apotheker. The latter had then referred to the release or surrender of HP's PC division. Which cost him his job and has had a disastrous impact on group sales. During the last quarter of HP – ended Jan. 31 – Sales of the division plunged 18% in volume and its revenues fell 15%. At the same time, the printer division saw sales fall by 7%. Combined, the two product divisions of the group will represent half of total HP revenue (127 billion). The other portion going mainly to dynamic two divisions: services and servers.

Since September, the world's number one PC had to swallow a few snakes. In particular, see Apple proclaim everywhere the last quarter, he had sold "more PCs that HP iPad". Although the difference is played with one digit after the comma, the comparison is no less painful for HP, which more conspicuous by its absence in the segment of tablets. Worse, Chinese Lenovo continues to gain market share and HP could double by the end of the year payday loan no faxing.

Reduce costs

In the last quarter of 2011, the worldwide market share from HP in the PC fell to 16%, while Lenovo has risen to second place with 14% market share. In one year, the gap between the two groups was reduced by 6 points. But the U.S. does not intend to cede its global leadership without a fight.

Todd Bradley, appointed to head the new entity, will have the burden to reinvigorate PC sales and reverse in printers. HP also aims to achieve further cost reductions through this merger. Savings could indeed be generated in the supply and marketing of equipment. While the line between professional and individual equipment fades, it becomes increasingly important to industry players to establish their brand. This allows to charge prices a bit higher, as does Apple. A point particularly important that the owner of HP has already said a return of the group on the market shelves were not excluded.

The announcement of the reorganization was moderately popular with Wall Street. At the opening, the title has sold 2.23%. Todd Bradley, former head of Palm, is known to cause the redemption of Palm in 2010 by HP for $ 1.2 billion. Instead, Vyomesh Joshi, head out of the printer division, was reputed to have doubled the operating margin for this division.

Published on 22 Mar 2012 in economic, economy, international, online, world, by admin

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