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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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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.

European groups headwind against the carbon tax

The European carbon tax causes coughing sector of the European air. Corroborating sources, and six Airbus airlines are head wind against the tax for the European fight against the emission of carbon dioxide, which is theoretically in force since 1 January 2012. This tax, imposed on all companies operating in the EU whatever their nationalities, for a total of nearly 4300 companies, and would cost 705 million euros for 2012 those involved in the air around the world.

The aircraft manufacturer Airbus and the airlines British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Air France, Iberia and Air Berlin have thus associated to "alert" on "economic consequences" of this tax, in letters to the heads of the French government, German, British and Spanish. French equipment Safran and German MTU would also be associated with this outcry.

These groups believe that the application of the tax threatens "inadmissible" for the sector as it could revive a trade war with China, but also with the United States and Russia, the Financial Times. The protagonists also challenge "the unilateral nature of this measure and require" the establishment of a general discussion with all stakeholders within the ICAO, "the Organization of International Civil Aviation, told a familiar with the matter told AFP.

In fact, China has threatened trade retaliation at the expense of Airbus, said Thursday the group EADS, parent of Airbus. Beijing could well cancel orders for 45 Airbus (10 A380 superjumbo and 35 long-haul A330) amounting to several billion dollars. The freeze order would represent a potential shortfall of $ 12 billion for Airbus, according to the catalog prices. More than 2000 jobs would be directly threatened by the Financial Times. But so far, the EU refuses to yield, saying Friday that it stands ready to respond to any discriminatory provision in Beijing.

Banking secrecy: Switzerland transfers

The Swiss Parliament voted yesterday the revision of an agreement allowing the U.S. to get lists of bank customers Helvetian for suspected fraud. This addition to the double taxation agreement of 2009, which may be applied retroactively, goes much further than those signed thus far. The IRS will not need to demand details in the form of 'group applications', confidential information to banks Helvetians.

A major issue

This new cut to the sacrosanct banking secrecy does not delight the Swiss deputies. "Nobody does it with a light heart, but we have no alternative, said Christophe Darbellay, president of the Christian Democratic Party. Play the showdown with the Americans could have serious consequences. "The stakes are high: eleven Swiss banks (Wegelin, Credit Suisse, Julius Baer …) are the subject of a complaint for helping U.S. taxpayers evade taxes. If Bern does not play the game, Washington threatens to withdraw the banking license to establishments Helvetians.

Yesterday, only the Central Democratic Union (UDC) has objected to signing the text. "Banks have done wrong and they should pay the bill, but it's not MPs to bow down," says Guy Parmelin, vice president of the parliamentary group CDU.

According to press Helvetian, the success of the United States in this matter could lead to the European Union, too, have strengthened administrative assistance. An option that the President of the Confederation, Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, refuses to consider. In an interview with Time, it maintains that the priority remains the final withholding tax at source, called the "Rubik" whereby Switzerland would pay a lump sum to partner countries to compensate for the loss of tax revenue.

"Applications bundled"

Despite the optimism of Bern, "Rubik" soon however to be validated by the Germans and did not interest the French authorities. Pierin Vincenz, CEO of Raiffeisen, the third Swiss bank, recently broke a taboo by speaking to the automatic exchange of information. Philippe Kenel, tax lawyer near Lake Geneva, also defended this solution, which in return would allow "the free movement of financial services, that is to say the possibility for Swiss banks to work in European countries."

But the debate is far from over, as Switzerland will have to adjust by the end of the new OECD standards, which should also include 'group applications'. The American victory could turn into an international standard … Meanwhile, the Swiss tax advise their customers in Europe to come to Switzerland to avoid tax evasion charges.

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Germany: senior citizens, a key factor for growth

Faced with an aging population, Germany is mobilizing its seniors. The shortage of labor grows more and more companies to recruit employees in the age group of 50-65 years. According to recent statistics, 7.7 million of them are in jobs covered by social benefits. Seniors are 452,000 more to work than a year ago, while the number of retired decreases proportionally, according to the Federal Employment Agency.

Germany, most countries aging of Europe, has over 20 million pensioners. Newspapers and specialized sites have a section dedicated to seniors. It offers more courses "convert after 50 years" or "mini-jobs": babysitting, babysitting, secretarial services, pet sitting

.

Applications for employment offered to retirees target various sectors. Thus, the industrial bakery K + U offers training in two years, to turn in senior commercial. This original idea has emerged out of necessity. "This is our response to the shortage of labor, says Corinna-Krefft Ebner, head of vocational training in K + U. We have more and more difficult to hire over. We would have 150 apprentices per year. We find 100 painfully. "

OECD calls on countries to respond

The problem is particularly acute in small family businesses that do not have, in addition, the attractiveness of German industrial groups to attract the most motivated graduates. In its report on Germany, published Tuesday, the OECD calls the country to respond "to strengthen growth potential, particularly given the rapidly aging population." The OECD estimates that this has already cost 0.2 percentage point growth in Germany in 2011 and that the figure will rise to 0.9 points in 2025.

Large family SMEs have taken the lead. Two-thirds of them, the 55-65 years represent more than 5% of payroll. For 15% of these companies, this age represents 20% of the workforce. "But it would have to work longer worth the time. Pension contributions should be totally eliminated for those over the age limit for retirement, "says Lutz Goebel, president of the federation of family businesses. Under a law passed in 2007, the retirement age will rise gradually to 67 years by 2031. Currently, the vast majority of assets not working up to 65 years required: this is 63 ½ years on average than the Germans drop out. It is possible to retire from age 63, after having contributed for 35 years at a discount price.

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Management-finance salaries in hiring on the rise

Many of vacancies, but demanding industry on skills and candidates who sought are upping the ante: all the ingredients were there in 2011 to boost wages for employment.

Indeed, according to the latest study by Robert Half, executive compensation in finance and accounting have increased 5 to 10% compared to 2010 on trades in vogue as management control, financial control and audit internal. A management controller with three to five years of experience and could expect between 40,000 and 63,000 euros gross per year. Accountants, whatever their level, have also benefited from the situation. Now, the gross annual salary of a single accounting with five years experience ranges from 30,000 to 34,000 euros gross. That of an accountant suppliers or customers is between 22,500 and 27,500 euros, depending on experience.

Offer prospects for premium

According to the annual survey of salaries Expectra 2011, the highest salary increases related to the management controller (+10.8%), the administrative and financial (+9.3%) and the Financial Analyst (6 + , 5%).

All companies have not yet joined the trend. At risk for more cautious, to see quality candidates decline their offer. No doubt they will be more flexible on wages to convince the best. Even suggest the prospect of premium for not going out of the pay scale. But in these trades, the variable portion rarely exceeds 10 to 15% of fixed salary.

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The Council of State suspended the execution of the decree of September 29 on the sale prices of natural gas, the institution announced on Monday. Gas prices are definitely a real headache for the government. Enact increases in the order of 4 or 5% per quarter is difficult to six months of a presidential election, particularly in times of crisis. So the government there decided by a ministerial decree of 29 September, to freeze the rates for individuals instant credit report. This price stability followed that decided on July 1.

"The Minister of Energy is preparing a new tariff order to be consistent with the decision of the State Council," responded late Monday afternoon, the firm Eric Besson said in a statement.For their part, competitors (Poweo, Direct Energy, Altergaz, Gaz de Paris) grouped in the association had also applied to the anode highest administrative court, in proceedings for interim relief.

Large deviation from the European Central Bank. Mario Draghi, warned on Friday that a central bank "may quickly lose credibility" and that "it would have a huge economic and social costs." It refers to market demand and France, reject, would be for the ECB buys massive state debt to halt the rise in interest rates in the euro zone and end to the crisis. A policy that the institution refuses to take on behalf of his economic principles.

"Our credibility implies the success of our monetary policy to anchor inflation expectations in the medium and long term (…) to sustain growth, job creation and financial stability. And we make this contribution in full independence, "insisted Mario Draghi.You must not wait any longer. "

Mario Draghi anticipates a decline in inflation

In his statements on Friday, the President of the ECB also said it expects a weakening "in most advanced economies." Specifically, "in the euro area, downside risks to the outlook have increased, and activity weakened moderate the pressure on prices," he added. One way, perhaps, pave the way for a new lower interest rate in December. In early November, the ECB has declined by 25 basis points (or 0.25%) to 1.25%.

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Suppression of PTZ + in the former.

Real estate agents who regularly praised the virtue of PTZ + (interest-free loan +) for a first house purchase new or old are particularly concerned about the impact of its removal. Now, this loan will be confined to new housing, generally more expensive .. "This offered the most fragile families a path to home ownership, says Jean-François Buet, general secretary of the Fnaim. Its end is a bad signal, we move away from France owners desired by the President. " Many professionals would rather see the PTZ + subject to means test rather than disappear.

"Of the 750,000 transactions this year, 300,000 were funded with a PTZ + in the former and 230,000 are for goods that are not primary residences, says Jean-François Buet.The new data on so three quarters of the transactions. " According to calculations by the federation of real estate, sales volume may decline by 200,000 acquisitions.

For his part, Michel Mouillart economist estimates that the measure "the crisis will be more extensive than in 2008 and will have a negative impact on the volume of mortgage loans."

And on the price? In addition to budget savings, the measures are supposed to help regulate prices. "They do not go down that much, said Sebastien de Lafond, president of the network MeilleursAgents.com. For the suppression of PTZ + will lower an already weak demand, but at the same time the tax on capital gains holding back the offer. "

Cloud computing brings new giants

Everyone uses without necessarily knowing it, cloud computing, cloud computing, provided mostly by U.S. companies. Facebook, Hotmail (Microsoft) and Gmail (Google), the new Apple icloud are cloud services for the general public. The user accesses the service from anywhere in the world from a mobile or a PC, provided you have an Internet connection. The information is provided on request.

The same goes for companies. With the crisis, they turn to cloud computing. Instead of investing in their own equipment, they buy at the request of their storage needs, software and calculations.The cloud is "a fresh approach to IT services," says Nathaniel Martinez, analyst research firm IDC.

To make these services available all the time and safely, most of the groups IT and telecoms involved in this transformation. Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Rackspace, IBM and HP are some of those actors who provide services or equipment.

"We're always interested in personal computers, smartphones and tablets. But we want to provide end to end solutions for businesses. The global market for information technology is 3000 billion per year and no company in the world carries 10% of this total, "said Michael Dell, CEO of the eponymous company.

With more PC, Dell follows a strategy similar to that of IBM.The group is building data centers and specialized solutions, including one opened in France for the distribution sector.

No company shall, alone, all the elements of the chain terminals, telecommunications network, operating systems, applications, servers, storage equipment and security software. They come together and buy the skills they lack.

Monday, Oracle acquired RightNow, $ 1.43 billion to complete its offering in the cloud applications. In storage, a battle was between market Dell to HP to purchase 3Par, won by HP. Dell fell back on Compellent. In this area, IBM, HP and Dell that are facing specialists EMC, NetApp and Hitachi Data Systems no fax payday loans.

VMware ally of Orange

For its part, the U.S. has become a giant VMware. Its market capitalization reached $ 40 billion.Size gained through solutions that optimize business costs. Its software is used to reduce the number of servers to a client company and deploy multiple applications running on the same computer. "Partner Orange to sell its solutions to French companies, the alliance is a competitor of that formed by SFR and HP," said the expert, IDC. His opponents are Citrix, IBM, Microsoft and Oracle.

In specific applications for cloud computing, Salesforce thrives on its software paperless which is a kind of Facebook for business teams. Its potential is considerable. Its market capitalization reached 17 billion dollars, almost ten times its revenues.It confronts, in this niche, Sugar CRM, Oracle, Microsoft and SAP.

Faced with the immense amount of data created and stored, ordering specialized publishers and analyze the flow of information. IBM, MicroStrategy and SAS Institute, for example, allow a better understanding of user profiles and to predict their behavior. Amazon, Facebook, Google and Microsoft can then better target their marketing campaigns.

"The problem with cloud computing is not as data security, but the protection of privacy," said Vivek Kundra, the former CIO of the federal government of the United States Obama Administration.

However, the software security to the cloud adjust such Symantec, McAfee or Kaspersky. Finally, the major telecom equipment manufacturers such as Cisco and Huawei, want their share.In short, the entire landscape of information technology is transformed.

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