Cemented over the Internet and social networks, legends are built today at full speed. Especially in the "global village" of finance. Demonstrated experience in recent days by crossing Iksil Bruno, senior trader but anonymous until last Friday the bank JP Morgan in London.

The man remains discreet, understandably. Within days, he became the "whale of London", or "the Thames", or "white" – we do not know too much – or Voldemort, the terrible witch of the Harry Potter … The number of nicknames given to it becomes suspect. The story is told that then took a dramatic turn when it was revealed that the banker in question was French, a fact which would be enough to make a "trader crazy," Kerviel in a power nap.

This trader is part of the Chief Investment Office of JP Morgan in London. Mission: to cover the global credit risk of the bank. A bank, remember, which is one of the first in the world with some 2.3 trillion dollars in assets, including nearly 1 trillion of bank loans or bond companies.

Cover such a balance, that is to say smooth risk, entails putting a lot of money in the balance. And that's what the CIO of JP Morgan in London: its positions would reach $ 350 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. A figure which should not be misunderstood. Within this volume, the positions that bet on the rise of a particular index are largely offset by positions that bet on a decline, leaving the final few tens of millions of dollars, still in danger Loss … or possibility of gain.

An aberration of market

Why the activity of this team of JP Morgan is she suddenly appeared in full light? Bruno Iksil would take very large positions on a particular index, a derivative that replicates the behavior of CDS (credit default swaps) of some 121 companies. Such large positions that its movements can only move the value of this product, regardless of the price of 121 CDSs that compose it. A market aberration which obviously was not without consequences on some hedge funds, put in losses by the orders of the influential CIO JP Morgan. It is in this context it seems that some seem to have wanted to settle accounts in the press intermediary.

Behind "the matter of the whale in London," we therefore call one of those pretty poker games including financial traders have the secret. JP Morgan, who has not the reputation of being a bank-casino chooses to treat it with discretion. She is content to know that the activities of its London office are intended to cover its loan portfolio, and that the positions taken are knowingly.

The story may therefore be short-lived. Even if it raises real questions about the functioning of finance today. The first key of course the lack of market transparency of derivatives products, and in particular credit derivatives, whose gross volume reached tens of billions of dollars worldwide. The second, current, examines the nature of transactions. When these volumes are involved, is it still just hedging strategy or can we not think that JP Morgan also plays some of his capital? Soon, this question is no longer just theoretical: under Volcker rule that will apply to U.S. banks that collect deposits, such as JP Morgan, will no longer have the right to make the proprietary trading .

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This is the first interview with Jean-Bernard Levy, CEO of Vivendi, since he took over the reins of live SFR, after the departure of Frank Esser end of March. Jean-Bernard Levy happening every day at Defence Headquarters SFR. Including Saturday. Then he joined the headquarters of Vivendi, avenue de Friedland, near the Arc de Triomphe.

At 57, this X-Telecom – who began his career at France Telecom and Matra, before being chief of staff of Gerard Longuet, Minister of Industry under Balladur – knows that his time is short. It should give fresh impetus to the second largest French mobile, thrown by the arrival of Free Mobile and convince the supervisory board of Vivendi to preserve its trust. Some accuse him of having bought at full price – € 8 billion – the 44% stake held by Vodafone SFR yet, just a year before the arrival of Free Mobile does not strongly affect the margins of SFR.

21 million mobile customers

Today, Jean-Bernard Levy must reinvent SFR, which weighs 12 billion in revenue and has almost one in two French among its customers: 21 million mobile customers and 5 million subscribers to Internet broadband no fax payday loans. Faced with the loss of 200,000 customers in six weeks, the operator has responded by lowering prices of its offerings classic "Square" and its low-cost offerings sold online "Red". An adjustment that will weigh on margins in 2012 but in 2013, gradually as current customers under contract will reach the end of engagement. The margin of EBITDA (EBITDA) and should decrease by 12% to 15% in 2012, representing a shortfall of around 500 million euros.

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For the second consecutive year, the price of the car of the year was awarded by a jury of European journalists in an electric car: the Chevrolet Volt, after the Nissan Leaf in 2011. The least we can say is that these awards recognize technology more than economic success. In the U.S., General Motors will suspend production for five weeks of its Volt. The U.S. has not elapsed in 7700 as last year, missing its target of 10,000 sales. Furthermore prohibitively expensive ($ 41,000 less $ 7,500 of assistance), the application has been hampered by a government investigation, while fires were reported several weeks after collisions. For its part, Nissan, whose activity has, indeed, was disrupted by the Japanese disaster, has sold only 22,000 Leaf in 2011 (including 2,000 in Europe). Figures he intends to double this year.

A drop of water compared to a global production

With tens of thousands of copies last year, this solution is a drop compared with a world production of 80 million cars. In France, only 2,630 electric cars were registered to individuals last year, representing 0.12% of the market.

After the electric Kangoo and Fluence, especially designed for professional fleets, Renault is launching his Twizy quadricycle, and fall, the Zoe, the spearhead of its range. The French put on the price of this car to democratize power: it will be offered at 15,700 euros (including the government bonus of 5,000 euros), which will be added monthly rental of the battery for 79 euros. 150,000 copies per year will be manufactured at Flins.

The group, which provides a market share of 10% for electricity in 2020, appears now more cautious about starting on a difficult European market. "We'll have to show persistence, even quiet. We do not know if the request will happen as quickly as desired. One thing is certain, the price of gasoline will continue to rise and, at a time, each billboard service station will become an advertisement for the electric vehicle, "predicted Carlos Tavares, head of Renault operational flexcheck cash advance.

Meanwhile, Zoe will reassure consumers that they are not likely to fail. For if this car has a range of 210 km certified, in real driving, it comes down to the summer and 150 km to 100 km in winter, with heating. This is why Renault is targeting commuters or provincial equipped with a garage, making every day from 40 to 50 km. The group considers that from 12,000 km per year over three years, it is more advantageous financially to own a Clio diesel Zoe.

Low self

Another obstacle, "in France, there is only one thousand charging points around, as he ought to have ten times more," said Thierry Koskas, director of Renault's electric cars.

Moreover, the Volt arrives this year in Europe as the Opel Ampera. "It will be interesting to see whether demand will be greater in Europe. But make no mistake, this is the first generation of the vehicle, we will need a second generation to continue to reduce its cost, "said Steve Girsky, vice president of General Motors.

Most other manufacturers are skeptical about the power. Toyota continues to focus on the hybrid, expanding its offering. "In 2011, we achieved 10% of our European volumes with hybrid versions. We expect this share to rise 14% this year, "said Didier Leroy, who started a small hybrid Yaris.

For its part, PSA Peugeot Citroën has invested on the hybrid diesel engine to power 3008, 508, DS5 and RXH. Only problem: these vehicles cost an average of 2500 euros more than the diesel version, including bonus of 2000 euros.

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Rarely have there been a fear of unemployment too high (one third of the French fear of being unemployed in the coming months) coincide with proposals also limited in terms of job candidates in the presidential election.

Apart from generation contracts (with uncertain effects) of Francois Hollande, antidélocalisation VAT (which will particularly benefit the jobs are not exposed to international competition) by Nicolas Sarkozy, or the prohibition of redundancies (fantastic in a global economy ) by Jean-Luc Melenchon, the impétrants at the Elysee do not shine with the inventiveness of their proposals. Everything happens as if in fact the only social issue of this campaign was beginning to worry about the plight of factory workers in difficulty: Lejaby, Petroplus, Photowatt, ArcelorMittal? to name only those "lucky" to one of the 20 hours. So much so that outgoing President announced that a buyer or a command Unexpected unexpected, the Socialist candidate responds by passing a law requiring an industrial facility to the closing yield. Syndrome Jospin, powerless anger of employees in 2002 by Lu who accused him of doing nothing to save them, has been there?

These employees are far from being the most deprived. From large groups who fulfill their obligations reclassification or revitalization (and often sign large checks start), they are part of the iceberg. Registration for employment center after a redundancy no longer represent each month that 2.9% of input patterns. Contrary to popular belief, their numbers fell 3.4% in 2011 to 14,000 per month. All also receive a contract security professional (CSP), ensuring a strengthened support and 100% of their net salary for a year.

This double "deluxe treatment" (media and procedural) for the CSD and interim would like to also benefit. First variable adjustment of the workforce in the companies they represent one third of entries each month at employment center (or 150,000 people) and are not entitled to a CSP in 15 experimental and employment areas. And, in an envelope limited to less than 20,000 contracts this year. 5 times less than for retrenched when they are 10 times more each month to bear the brunt of the crisis. In factories or elsewhere?

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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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The agency believes that financial services' growth prospects are uncertain "because of" increasing risks "facing the economy. The agency referred in particular to "the incomplete reform of the labor market will continue to hinder economic recovery." In the view of S & P, Spain could fall into recession next year, with GDP expected down 0 guaranteed pay day loans.5%.

The fragility of the financial system is also the Achilles heel of the fourth largest economy in the eurozone.S & P is concerned and "a probable further deterioration of asset quality of the Spanish financial system."

The agency also questioned the budgetary targets of the Zapatero government. The Spanish public deficit forecast at 6.2% of GDP for 2011 could be exceeded. As for reducing the deficit to 4.4% of GDP in 2012, it will not be possible without "additional measures".

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Moody's in turn should decide by the end of October on a possible downgrade Spanish now "Aa2" (the third best possible)."With significant funding needs" of the Spanish State, to cover its budget expenditures and net external debt is "one of the highest in the world" (91% of GDP), said Fitch, "the more volatile strong a negative effect on financing conditions in the market of Spain. "

But there are also internal factors in the country "risks to fiscal consolidation as a result of performance parts." The same agency Fitch has lowered Wednesday including the long-term rating of the Basque Country, one of the richest region in which it criticizes the "weak fiscal performance." Growth forecasts have been revised downwards. Wednesday, the Bank of Spain announced that the country's growth expected to slow in the third quarter, to reach an economic activity 'lackluster'.The Spanish government has also recognized that the economic growth targets it had set for 2011 and subsequent years would be "hard to reach" because of the risk of recession in the world.

Italian governance into question

Fitch also lowered the rating one notch to Italy, "A +" against "AA-" and does not see her again in the fall if the country would miss its targets for reducing the budget deficit. Fitch was the last of three major international rating agencies have not downgraded from Italy since the beginning of the debt crisis in the eurozone no fax cash advances. She explained that the high level of public debt and budgetary financing needs, combined with the low level of potential growth (the country), made in Italy especially vulnerable.The Agency is challenging the country's governance and stressed that the differences in the Parliament and the escapades of the prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, help to weaken the ruling coalition.

Belgium heckled by Dexia

Belgium is also in sight. The agenceMoody's said it was considering lowering its rating, currently at "Aa1", the second best possible. The agency cited three reasons: the crisis in the euro area, concerns for economic growth and the possibility of additional support to the banking system, particularly in establishing Franco-Belgian Dexia.

Another European country in turmoil, Portugal, has been confirmed its rating of "BBB-" (the last before falling into the category of "speculative") by Fitch, which continued on negative watch at least until the end of the year.Standard & Poor's, confirmed Tuesday the rating "BBB-" from Portugal, while maintaining it as a negative outlook. Portugal, the third country in the eurozone after Greece and Ireland to receive international financial assistance, is facing new economic challenges that undermine his efforts to clean up its public accounts. Progress in implementing the program of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and its budget for 2012 will be crucial.

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Two days before his last conference as president of the ECB, Jean-Claude Trichet is pessimistic for the euro area. "We believe that the euro area will be very moderate in the second half," said one who will be replaced by Mario Draghi on November 1. As for inflation, he said that the rate should remain "above 2% in the coming months. Next year, it should fall below. " These are all signs that suggest that interest rates should remain unchanged Thursday.

As for the United States, the head of the central bank, Ben Bernanke is more optimistic."Recent indicators, including those of new jobless claims show that it is likely that the sluggish growth in employment continues in the coming period," he warned. Before the Joint Economic Committee of Congress, the Fed chairman has urged politicians to "avoid taking fiscal measures may impede the ongoing economic recovery."

"We can not just replace the government"

Sluggish growth, employment at half-mast, high unemployment, the United States and Europe are the worst of an economic plan. And while a slowdown is being felt in China. Most economists expect further aid from the central banks against the inaction of governments, but Ben Bernanke and Jean-Claude Trichet reminded of a common voice that States to revive the global economy."The measures to promote healthy growth of the economy and employment are the shared responsibility of all politicians, in close cooperation with the private sector," he argued. And the President of the ECB concluded: "It is their responsibility to deal with the worst crisis in the postwar period. We can not substitute for governments under any circumstances. "

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This company, founded ten years ago by the former secretary general of the CFDT, Nicole Notat, analyzed the performance of 539 European companies listed on non-discrimination in employment.She also compared how these 363 companies had managed the restructuring that had taken during the crisis.

In both cases, France takes the lead of countries that best meet the basic standards set by the International Labour Organization (ILO) concerning freedom of association, prohibition of forced labor and child employment seniors … "This does not mean that French companies have no way to go, but just that they behave better than others," Nicole Notat nuance.

Danone number one

To note the management of corporate restructuring and practice of non-discrimination, the bloodhounds of Vigeo analyzed their managerial systems based on three items: the relevance of political behavior, the consistency of their deployment and effective results.Finally, French firms are better informed and consulted, where social, employee representatives "before and during the restructuring process."

No fewer than four of them are in the top 10 most responsible companies: Danone (ranking first), PSA Peugeot Citroën, Bonduelle and Total. French companies are also those who have best implemented "effective measures to prevent and limit layoffs" and made "steps to mitigate the negative effects of layoffs on employees, including measures to return to work" . Better than their German or Dutch, who monopolize the second and third places on the podium, and Austrian firms, Irish and Greek … that close to the bench.

Issue non-discrimination (access and job retention of the most vulnerable, improving working conditions, training, career …), French companies are doing just as well with no fewer than four of them also in the top 10: PSA Peugeot Citroën again, Rhodia, EDF and TF1. By country, France is ahead of Belgium and the Netherlands, far ahead of Ireland, the UK and Denmark … that appear at the end of ranking. "We knew that the behavior of firms are influenced by national legislation and sectoral affiliations, note Benseddik Fouad, director of Vigeo methods. But this study shows that social responsibility is the leadership position and ability to dialogue that make the difference. "In short, the involvement of the entrepreneur.