The government is mobilizing to the development of telework

Working from home one or two days a week: an impossible dream for most of the French, a reality for many Americans or Scandinavians. While telecommuting is over 30% in Finland, Sweden or the United States, it reaches 18% on average in Europe, it lags behind true in France with a rate of 9%.

However, telework is now greatly facilitated by the development of broadband networks and the boom in smartphones. But the benefits are many, for the employee, but also for businesses and the community. For the employee, it reduces stress, travel time, can increase efficiency and to better balance professional and personal life. For the company, it is a source of local savings and productivity gains.It is also an element of flexibility because it can help extend the service to customers, allowing more time slots adapted to their needs. Finally, for the community, promotes telework planning, reduced emissions of greenhouse gas emissions and relieving congestion. Thus, according to estimates, telecommuting one day a week could reduce by 5% carbon emissions.

Main obstacle: the manager

With this in mind, Eric Besson, Minister of Industry, is determined to eliminate the backlog of France. Pragmatic, he launched a study on the practice of telework in large companies. The results of this study will be published later this year.Conducted by the consulting firm Greenworking, this study aims to identify best practices and identify key success factors to foster the spread of teleworking in France. More than a dozen major companies have already agreed to participate in the study.

In the public sector, negotiations on telework in 2011. In the private sector, a dozen agreements were signed last year in large groups in the CAC 40. Based on volunteering, telework arrangements have been set up at Renault, Alcatel-Lucent, Dassault Systems, EDF, France Telecom and Microsoft. Axa, which has 76 telecommuters, the goal is to move to 200 people by the end of 2012.

But the brakes remain. Rather than legal, they are primarily cultural.Some employees are more justification in their work attendance and their results. But it is mainly the managers who are often opposed, fearing the loss of part of their power and status … Even if, ultimately, the overall results of their teams are improved.

Wall Street would open slightly higher

Moody's has pushed the debt of Ireland in the category of investment "hedge" by reducing the country's rating by one notch to "Ba1" with a negative outlook, saying the country might have needed new injections money before returning to the market.

Some officials of the Federal Reserve were willing to further easing in monetary policy if the recovery was too soft to flow back as long as unemployment and inflation is slowing, according to the minutes of the last meeting of the U.S. central bank released last night.The Fed had not so far as clearly suggested that a third series of so-called quantitative easing could be considered after the end of the second round of $ 600 billion at the end of June

Good news this morning, with the growth of China's GDP reached 9.5% in the second quarter, a faster pace than expected, which supported the Asian markets this morning.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro has stabilized at 1.4061 dollars against 1.3974 dollars late Tuesday while oil drops. In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for August delivery lost 41 cents to 97.02 dollars. That of Brent North Sea crude for delivery yielded the same 43 cents to 117.32 dollars.

On the macroeconomic front, investors will also monitor the continued publication of results of companies in the United States.Alcoa opened the ball of the ads on Monday after closing. Its earnings were revealed in below expectations, but its sales exceeded estimates and Alcoa has confirmed its forecast for demand growth in aluminum.

JPMorgan Chase will be the first major U.S. banks to issue, with results expected tomorrow, the same day as Google, which will set the tone for the technology. Investors will know very quickly if the U.S. financial sector has suffered from the decline in trading activities. These results also give a taste of the figures will be announced later by European banks.

According to Thomson Reuters data, the results of listed companies on the S & P 500 should show an average increase of 7.3% compared to second quarter 2010.But this increase could be higher if a majority of companies beat the consensus.

Wave of redemptions

Meanwhile, mergers and acquisitions continue to multiply on Wall Street.

The side of values, Electronic Arts has announced the acquisition of PopCap Games, a provider of video games for $ 1.3 billion including $ 650 million in cash, 100 million and the balance in action in the form of contingent payments by December 2013. In addition, the company should record a first quarter loss per share 0.37 to $ 0.40 against a loss of $ 0.24 per share last year.The turnover should be between 500 and 525 million against 539 million a year earlier.

Always on the side of values, UDR announced the acquisition of three housing estates for community $ 687 million and four development projects for $ 375 million.

Validus Holdings Ltd submitted a proposal for redemption Transatlantic Holdings (TRH) at a price of 55.95 dollars per share.

In addition, the Icelandic company that collects money for the site Wikileaks has sent a complaint to the European Commission against the credit card giants Visa and MasterCard for blocking since the end of 2010 donations to the site, his lawyer said Wednesday.

Also note, the U.S. court on Tuesday approved an initial payment of $ 272 million to victims of the scam of the old American financier Bernard Madoff by the liquidator of the fund, Irving Picard.

Cerutti: Cerutti, "A magazine for families in the study with TF1"

July 9, Vincent Cerutti present the second issue of "Sosie Sosie or not" in prime time on TF1. A vote of confidence granted by the private channel to its new host, after a first edition earlier this year. Readily compared to "Surprise of making" the show had launched Marcel Béliveau in 1989 in France, "Sosie Sosie or not" brought 5.2 million viewers on 1 January (23.8% audience share ). "This proves that the concept pleases, said Vincent Cerutti. The difference with "taking on Surprise" is that it is no longer the stars who get trapped, but the stars who, in a role against type, trap and anonymous. " Three programs are planned this summer, 9, 16 and July 23 in prime time, with about twenty guests in total.Whether TF1 wants to make a recurring issue, "it depends figures and viewers," concedes the presenter, who denies receiving any pressure or targets to hearing from the chain. Maybe TF1 wants to install a new brand with this program, at least we'll try, "says he.

Earlier this year, who made his debut on TNT channel local TV Le Mans (LM TV), was screened at the presentation of the new program flow TF1, "Dancing with the Stars" alongside Sandrine Quétier. A strategic project for the chain after the end of "Star Academy". Despite a change in leadership programs, "the second season will take place in a few months, said Vincent Cerutti, although I can not tell you when and with what celebrities."

No production projects

Within six months, the young leader would be poised to confirm that, in its search for new faces, TF1 made him the right choice. Also not impossible that we find in other programs. "A magazine of entertainment is also being studied or for the prime-time, or to a second part of the evening. It would be a show about family life, and a pilot has been shot, "he says.

At a time when most television hosts are also producers, Vincent Cerutti has no plans for now to give in to these sirens. "Producing? Maybe one day, but it is not relevant. My priority is simple: lead and present programs as can Jean-Pierre Foucault. "In 2006, the leader had created his company, Press'Agrum Productions (which no longer exists as such), who has produced "You had your fill! "For SM TV. "It allowed me to present for four years a 90-minute talk show, where I received the guests as diverse as Marc Levy, Michèle Cotta or Jean d'Ormesson." The new host of advanced TF1 also the importance of this type of experience and regional media. "The local DTT channels are like the radio in the 1980s. These are laboratories that allow leaders and journalists of tomorrow to form. It is important to try to keep them even if they suffer a lot economically. "

This summer, Vincent Cerutti will also be broadcast on RTL, for the second consecutive summer. He replaces Vincent Perrot at the helm of "Stop or" every weekend, from 9:30 to 11:30.As in 2010, it will also be with Jean-Sébastien Petitdemange, this time for "Journey of a spoiled listener" on Saturday from 13:30 to 15:00, starting July 16. For those who started on the radio, should be seen as a harbinger of any lasting return on the air? Why not. "I speak with my manager Gerard Louvin," concedes the moderator.

La Bourse de Paris brings out the 3800 points

Rain of bad news and stock prices in free fall: markets reconnect with painful memories. Investors reacted badly because the new rescue plan for Greece: after being disturbed by an incident technique over an hour, the Cac 40 closed the session on a drop of 0.63% to 3799.66 points .

Featuring Dax index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange was down 0.19% to 7150.21 points in closing. For its part, the London Stock Exchange lost 0.38% to 5693.39 points.

In Milan, the stock market fall of 2.01% at 19,692 points after the warning from the rating agency Moody's on Friday night. The agency said Friday it planned to lower the debt rating of Italy, currently set at "Aa2."The agency said the risks to growth, financial markets and the government's ability to reduce the deficit.

The plan does not relieve the Greek market

Despite a new rescue plan for Greece launched last night by finance ministers in Europe, markets remain worried and disappointed: "Investors continue to demand a quick solution is not the working time of European political authorities. The difficulties in finding compromises will continue to maintain the highest concern, "warns one at CM-CIC. After the reassuring words of French and German leaders who have displayed a welcome unity Friday, the firm tone adopted by the ministers said that the issue will be very long to resolve.The central bankers in the eurozone have defined the conditions of payment of a further tranche of loans in July, but the finance ministers of the euro area indicate that the release of the loan must be accompanied by the vote of a new plan of austerity and privatization by the Greek Parliament. Banks and other private creditors and participate in this new plan. However the contours of that plan remains to be defined.

In an interview with The Tri bune, the Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders compare failure of Greece to the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers. He said the risk of contagion is real."If Greece was the first to default, then the looks would turn to other countries such as Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Belgium can be but also France."

On the currency side, the euro rises gently sloping against the dollar: the time of closing in Paris, the single European currency was worth 1.4315 dollars against 1.4301 dollars on Friday night. In addition, oil continues to fall sharply, quoting under $ 92 in New York.

The banking sector still suffering

The banking sector suffered the brunt of the growing concerns over the Greek debt and the risk of contagion to other countries in the euro area.Natixis lost 1.52% to 3.50 euros, Axa loose 1.32% to 15 euros, Crédit Agricole drops 0.99% to 10 euros, BNP Paribas was down 0.86% to 51.75 euros, Societe Generale de 0.83% to 38.76 euros, excluding CAC 40, Dexia yield 2.24% to 2.22 euros.

All eyes are turned to the Paris Air Show, which opens Monday. Bad news for Airbus (parent company: EADS: -0.84% ​​to 21.26 euros) last night, an incident of a private Airbus A380 giant aircraft flight, the aircraft had struck the wing a building while it was towed to the taxiway of the airport. But a Korean company has agreed to lend one of its A380 for the demonstration. Boeing, he launches the new version of its popular 747 jetliner, highly anticipated. Both manufacturers have launched the traditional race for orders.

In addition, the CEO of EADS, Louis Welsh, said the sale of 22.5% stake held by French and German states could be done without exposing the group to a hostile takeover, note leFinancial Times. Louis Welsh evokes an existing structure "extremely hard" for the development of the company.

NYSE Euronext (0.11% to 23.28 euros) announced Monday in a statement the actual launch on July 11 of the first platform for bond trading companies in Europe, the project has given the go Green of the Financial Markets Authority (AMF).

Areva (-3.91% to 25.53 euros) / EDF (-0.84% ​​to 25.96 euros). According to reports in The Tribune, Nicolas Sarkozy has warned a week ago the CEO of EDFHenri Proglio the departure of Anne Lauvergeon.He finds himself in a strong position.

Saint-Gobain (-0.77% to 41.42 euros) received a volume of orders representing 90% of the shares Verallia proposed under the IPO of its subsidiary in glass packaging, said Monday two Sources close to the operation. Saint-Gobain has set an indicative price between 29.50 and 36 euros per share for the IPO, and hopes to draw 958 million euros from the sale of 40% Verallia.

Sanofi (-0.71%, to 52 euros) An investigation into a corruption case involving employees of the pharmaceutical group in Germany was opened, said Sunday a spokesman for prosecutors in Verden. "Sanofi confirms that there is an ongoing investigation and that he will cooperate with the authorities related to this investigation," said his side a spokesman for the group.

PSA Peugeot Citroën (0.10% to 29.03 euros).The mayor of Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis), Gerard Segura, announced Friday it had requested an appointment at Industry Minister Eric Besson for clarification on the future site of PSA Peugeot Citroën.

Publicis (0.01% to 38.29 euros). The French group bought the Chinese Genedigi, specializing in public relations, events and digital marketing, with about 400 employees, for an undisclosed amount, he said Monday.

"CONTEST: Estimate the Cac 40 in late June

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Meat: The Mayor wants to renegotiate the price

Facing the worst drought since 1976, farmers have to contend with a rare forage whose cost increases, and meat prices down sharply. An equation that puts some farms in particularly difficult financial situation.

In order to relieve the profession, the Minister of Agriculture Bruno Le Maire today called the various stakeholders in the sector – farmers, manufacturers and distributors – to get around the table to renegotiate the price of meat on the rise, by the end of June FNSEA had claimed last week to hold such negotiations, under an agreement signed in early May under the auspices of the Minister. This agreement, however non-binding plans to open discussions when production costs increase beyond a certain threshold, as is the case today because of rising feed prices business card."Farmers, particularly small meat producers are in a terrible situation. [...] They are tired of seeing prices fall. They need to have a price signal, "held Friday Bruno Le Maire.

Some slaughterhouses have to refuse applications

The red curve represents the evolution of prices in 2011, the blue 2010 prices, the prices in black in 2009, and the dotted black 2008 prices of adult bovine animals at the entrance to the slaughterhouse.

Lagarde defended in Europe to replace DSK IMF

Europeans, eager to retain the IMF's management after the departure of "DSK", begin to discuss openly the candidature of French, but the list of contenders is growing and emerging countries also want to have their say.

Sign of the Times, the New York Times did on Thursday the French Minister of Economy "the favorite" for the succession of "his friend and colleague, Dominique Strauss-Kahn to head the International Monetary Fund (IMF), never again led by a woman.

To succeed the CEO of International Monetary Fund who resigned after being arrested in New York on charges of sexual assault, "Ms Lagarde is one of the obvious candidates," said Swedish Finance Minister Anders Borg.He praised Thursday the "influence and experience" of his French counterpart.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also support a bid from the French Minister of Finance reported Thursday leHandelsblatt citing sources close to the ruling coalition in Berlin.

In France, too, are many voices to highlight the qualities of Christine Lagarde. It would be a very, very good candidate, "and think the French State Secretary for Transport, Thierry Mariani. But "it will be difficult" because "it's not just France, alas, that dream of having the direction of the IMF," he admits.

A very solid reputation in Europe and beyond

According to a European source, "Lagarde has a very good profile, a very solid reputation in Europe and beyond."At 55, Christine Lagarde can highlight his impeccable English, his American experience crowned by the Presidency of the law firm Baker & Mckenzie business, and especially his driving smoothly at Bercy for the financial and economic crisis and French presidency of the G20. His supporters also emphasize his longevity in a department that has been for nearly four years and had seen a parade before her seven ministers in as many years. He praised the international stature of the regular at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Being a woman is an advantage, given the underrepresentation of women in international forums.

But after the case involving Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who prevented his third successive boss to finish his term, the IMF can he risk that the future occupant of the position of having to turn legal troubles? A French prosecutor Christine Lagarde recently threatened an investigation in a case linked to former businessman Bernard Tapie payday advance online. "We try to get dirty" she had said in an interview with Le Figaro. But the satirical weekly Le Canard chained fueled the controversy this week saying it had ignored several times in this matter the opinion of counsel of his ministry.

So far, the main interest will not tell if she is tempted by the post."Any application whatsoever, must come from the Europeans, who come together, all together," she was still merely said Thursday.

Now the governor of the Dutch Central Bank, Nout Wellink, sees "a great candidate" in another French: the president of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, who completes his term in late October.

Asia not united enough to push one of its representatives

In Germany, the press has mentioned several names, but the government did not knighted. It would indeed be conducive to Christine Lagarde, according to some newspapers. As for the Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders, he painted a portrait of the ideal candidate …like him furiously.

Debt crisis in the euro zone requires the Europeans want to retain the IMF's management, they are the main financial contributors and provides valuable support at this time in Greece, Ireland and Portugal. The European Commission has yet claimed Thursday a European candidate "strong and competent."

Since 1946, the IMF has been headed by a European, the Americans in exchange for getting the World Bank. An arrangement criticized in the world. "The time is gone when this important post was reserved for a European citizen," warned Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega.

"The new emerging markets and developing countries must be represented at the IMF management, also said the spokesman of Chinese Foreign Ministry, Jiang Yu Asia does not seem united enough to push one of its representatives.At a recent meeting of the Asian Development Bank in Hanoi, many are even ministers expressed support for Christine Lagarde, Julius Caesar by Parens, an expert from the Institute for Monetary Affairs in Tokyo.

The Commonwealth of Independent States (former USSR minus the Baltics and Georgia) has decided to propose the head of the Central Bank of Kazakhstan Grigory Marchenko.

And many observers are betting on former Turkish finance minister Kemal Dervis, who has not yet declared.

(With AFP)

Japan: the disaster would cost 235 billion

The Washington-based institution publishes a report on Monday, in which it assesses the costs of the earthquake and tsunami at $ 235 billion or 4% of national production of the Archipelago. An amount exceeding the $ 127 billion fund that the government will release to support the recovery and beyond the $ 100 billion disbursed during the Kobe earthquake in 1995.

The World Bank points out, however, that reconstruction efforts should contribute to the rebound of the economy in the longer term."If it is based on past experience, the real GDP growth will be negatively affected by mid-2011," said the institution, adding that growth should resume in the following quarters, "when reconstruction efforts, which could last five years, accelerating ".

The reconstruction will also be longer than in the Kobe earthquake as "the disruption of production networks, particularly in the automotive and electronics industries, could continue to pose a problem" after a year, noted the Bank guaranteed pay day loans. Large groups such as auto giants Toyota and Sony Electronics have suspended production at many sites.

But manufacturers are mobilizing to resume production as soon as possible: Nissan plans to reopen its plants this week. In a few days, it should be Sony's turn to boost his string of rechargeable batteries.Honda and Toyota, in turn, raise the level of production in their plants to compensate for shortages of spare parts, felt by the entire automotive industry.

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Carrefour is betting on a rise in sales this year

Carrefour opts for optimism. Battered markets since the announcement of the proposed demerger of its Dia hard discount chain and a portion of its real estate subsidiary Carrefour Property, the number two worldwide distribution makes every effort to regain investor confidence. On Thursday, he promised for 2011 increased its revenues and its operating income.

To achieve this dual objective, Crossroads put on an "acceleration of store openings in 2011 with 800 stores, especially in growth markets" and a "strong development of Carrefour-branded products and the continued deployment of our winning concepts under banners Carrefour.

The distributor said, anticipating 480 million euros of cost savings this year and 225 million gain on purchases, and reduced inventories of two days.

More information to follow ….

"Saint-Gobain off again on the offensive"

Saint-Gobain issued yesterday its results for 2010. CEO discusses the year 2011 with confidence, to be particularly marked by the IPO, from the second quarter of a minority stake in Verallia, its center of glass packaging.

LE FIGARO – The crisis has ended for Saint-Gobain?

Pierre-Andre de Chalendar – Saint-Gobain is out of the crisis. Last year, our environment was still recovering, but our turnover grew by 6.2%. While we did not find the activity level before the crisis. But the evolution was positive in 2010, including year-end despite the harsh climate in Europe. Especially, our operating income increased more than expected, 41%, to 3.1 billion euros. These good results, we have two elements. On the one hand, we managed to raise our prices by 0.8% on average.On the other hand, we saved 600 million euros, bringing the efforts of 2.1 billion euros over three years. In addition, Saint-Gobain was again reduced debt – 1.4 billion euros. Following this crisis, the group became agile maneuvering.

The movement will continue there in 2011?

I am convinced that the return to growth, yet very contrasting last year, will continue this year. The activity will remain very strong in Asia and Latin America. And in the major Western countries, there should be a restart, including France, Germany and Poland. In these markets, the green growth is already a reality. In France, under the effect of standards in favor of greater energy efficiency, sales of glass wool insulation or glazing "low emissivity" is very much in progress.In this context, Saint-Gobain renewed the offensive on all fronts. We will invest 500 million euros more in 2011, both in emerging and in our new businesses. We will now take double the capacity of our factory glass wool Chemillé, Maine-et-Loire, opened in 2010.

Will you also make acquisitions?

Yes, we will certainly be more acquisitions this year.Three targets we want: our business in emerging markets, companies specialize in energy efficiency and those in the distribution of building materials in Europe in countries where we already have a strong presence.

How do you cope with the rising cost of raw materials?

Last year, the increase – from iron, asphalt, energy … – accounted for an additional cost us 200 to 250 million euros that we have more than offset by higher prices. That will remain our priority in 2011, knowing that the increases we face are greater than in 2010.

During the revolts in Arab countries do not they call into question your interest in emerging markets?

Absolutely not.Our goal is to achieve within five years 25% of our sales in emerging countries as against 19% today, remains valid. But these moves reinforce my belief in the need for a group like Saint-Gobain to spread risks. This was true for China. This also applies to the Middle East, which represents 0.5% of our turnover. In Egypt, even at the height of the crisis, our glass factory inaugurated in November 2010 continued to run. And we are not present in other countries (Libya, Yemen, Tunisia …).

You've done a line of solar development. What do you think of the provisions concerning the photovoltaic sector in France?

To develop an activity, the industry needs stability.However, in France, the rules that we are given for final change every six months! Then it is necessary to subsidize the technology startup, you must register in a process where, ultimately, subsidies disappear.

Wendel has been sanctioned for failing to comply with the rules when it enters your capital in 2007-2008. This changes does your relationship with your largest shareholder?

No.

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The Bank of Japan urged the state to reduce its debt

The Central Bank of Japan (BoJ) is stepping up its pressure on the Japanese government to reduce that debt. "The Finance of Japan are in very poor condition. Any country or can not be forever in deficit, "said Monday the governor of the central bank.

A fortnight ago, the Minister of Finance, Yoshihiko Noda, already promised he would do everything to improve fiscal discipline in Japan. But Tokyo is struggling to convince and, in late January, the Standard & Poor's has lowered by one notch long-term rating of the country, bringing it just above Italy.

However, even with a debt of more than 200% of gross domestic product (GDP), the archipelago is more secure investment than France, said Tomoya Masanao, Japanese portfolio manager at Pacific Investment Management, which calculates the cost covers failures (credit default swap) is lower in Japan by 11 basis points compared to that of France.

Moody's, moreover, failed to follow Standard & Poor's, judging Tomoya Masanao as there is no risk of bankruptcy of the country. Its location, in fact, is not comparable to Lagreca, Ireland, or Portugal since 95% of Treasury bonds held by Japanese investors themselves.

Tax Reform

Now the Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, intends to focus its efforts on large-scale tax reform he promised and which could include a tax increase on consumption, limited to 5% in Japan. He could benefit from some recent signs of improvement in the economy to make it happen. And industrial production rose Did more than expected in December, up 3.1%, while housing starts rebounded in real estate 7.5% benefiting from government actions in favor of more housing energy efficient.

Another pleasant surprise, the big companies start to publish their results on a calendar year show profits higher than what was expected. Profits at the cost of large reductions in margins, sacrifice and subsidiaries, some of plant closures.But despite that unemployment falls below the threshold nominal 5% of the workforce (4.9%) in December.

Still, the flexibility of Naoto Kan is close to the main challenge facing it will sooner or later be addressed: the aging of the population.

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