Resumption of hiring on Wall Street

At the spot where the financial crisis began, the recovery is apparent. Wall Street hiring like crazy in anticipation of better days, according to a study published this weekend by the New York Times.

Nearly two years after the fall of Lehman Brothers and plunging into the worst recession the country since the Great Depression, while the U.S. continues to languish with a persistent unemployment rate to 9.5%, the financial heart of New York recovers to beat him.

It has hired 2,000 people since February. A modest number apparently under the rescue plan 700 billion implemented by the government to save the banks, and 28,000 jobs lost on Wall Street since its peak in 2008 when the industry employed 189 000.

If the sector has hit bottom in terms of job five months ago, hiring is divided since.The pace continues to accelerate, and this recovery is even stronger than the one after the stock market crisis of 2001-2003, according to the New York daily.

This improvement reflects the revival of the New York Stock Exchange, which has made 61.4 billion dollars in profits in 2009, a record high. Deutsche Bank has hired 414 people in New York since the beginning of the year, Credit Suisse hired 600 people in the first quarter worldwide, mostly in New York, Goldman Sachs has created 600 jobs in the first quarter in a global the beginning of the year 2000 and JP Morgan.

Return of the lavish bonuses

At the same time, the copious bonus reappear instant credit report. Despite the recent passage of financial reform, Wall Street returned to "business as usual".Richard Stein, president of Sage Global headhunter, says that a dozen golden boys were offered jobs to more than one million dollars annually.

As jobs continue to disappear or progress to sentences in other sectors such as construction (- 22% since June 2008) or manufacturing (- 14%), the reputation of Wall Street is not close to s' improve nationally.

The recovery of the financial New York nevertheless raises some optimism among economists. When Wall Street goes, America goes well. "Wall Street traditionally hired for a takeover, and it was felt that the economy has hit bottom and it is slowly improving," says Rae Rosen cautiously, an economist at the Federal Reserve of New York .

The health of Wall Street is also great news for the city and the state of New York.20% of tax revenues from the state sector, which contributes 12% of the budget of the city. With wages assumed to average 392,000 dollars a year, against 64,000 for the rest of the workforce in New York, the wealth generated on Wall Street will finance a bloated public sector, with hundreds of thousands of employees in administration of the city, in education and in firefighters …

"Casino suits the morale of its customers"

The morale of French households do not seem to favor a clear recovery in consumption. In the first quarter, sales of Casino in France and have fallen 0.9% after falling 2.7% in 2009. Although the strong growth recorded by the distributor Stéphanois abroad (10.2% in the first quarter, after 5% last year) largely offset this decline, the group must respond. Jean-Charles Naouri, its CEO, shares his strategy in an interview with Le Figaro.

LE FIGARO – The morale of your customer shops is it affected by the crisis?

Jean-Charles Naouri – Many signs show that pessimism has worsened. He returned in September 2008, at the peak of the crisis. Because of the crisis of Greek and that of the euro, the fear of job loss has increased and concern about the standard of living reached a record high since 2007.The French prefer the job security of their purchasing power and their careers. This general pessimism is, however disconnected from the real economy, which seems to gradually resume. France is no longer in a situation of danger of deflation, the interest rates are permanently lower a guarantee for the future, and the weak euro is an element of recovery. The figures, including our own business performance, there are better a couple years.

Consumer behavior change it?

We found two relatively recent trends Firstly, in an environment seen as more complex, consumers no longer want it decides for them. They want to regain control over product quality, origin and value for money in particular.Similarly, while far to the client, other consumers were at best indifferent and at worst seen as troublemakers, he now draws more and more choices to their preferences and ratings. This horizontal communication facilitated by the Internet, this new proximity, we must reflect and inspire us to develop relationships with our customers in and outside the store.

How are you adapting?

We have a head start in this area because we have long been close to the heart of our strategy. We could for example indicate, in each point of sale, the preferred products or selling. We already strong commitments on the quality of our products.We reassure our customers, for example about what they buy indicating on the Casino-brand products, in addition to the nutritional use their carbon footprint, or that they are without oil palm and gluten free. We just put in place within the group, a Health Committee attended by several senior experts whose mission is to anticipate health issues and help Casino make good choices on offer. We also test systems dematerialized Innovative allowing customers to share their recommendations.

Hypermarkets Géant Casino continue to lose market share.Are they so essential for the massification of procurement and management of shopping malls you plan to transfer them not to invest in your most promising formats nearby?

I believe in small and medium format hypermarkets (6 000-8 000 square meters), which constitute the backbone of malls. I believe in the relevance of non-food offer in textiles, leisure and household equipment. Casino no reason to separate from Géant. Our superstores are as profitable as those of our competitors, and we set the target that market share has stabilized Géant Casino this year.Remember, also, that 40% of group turnover from international have a double-digit growth in France and the formats most carriers (Franprix, Monoprix supermarket Casino …) know sustained growth, which boosts the overall growth of revenues of Casino.

How is the recovery of your brand discount Leader Price, whose sales fell sharply last year?

This is another priority group in France in 2010. We are very pleased with the sales growth in stores converted to the new concept and we are accelerating the pace of refurbishment of outlets from week to week.

Could you introduce CDiscount stock exchange to accelerate the deleveraging of the group?

This is not the agenda.A listing imposes many constraints on management whose priority now is to continue double-digit growth in turnover. We are the leader, but in a very competitive environment.

Can you imagine Rueducommerce complementarities with the site, which Rally has just 8% of capital?

It is a very minority participation, without presence on the board of directors.

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The euro resumed after "dropping too fast"

Traders have noted an increase in major currencies this past week. As the euro. This Wednesday, June 16, the single currency rating beyond $ 1.23, stable on the day. In ten days, the European currency, which is then treated $ 1.19, won 3.4%, which is a very strong increase in the foreign exchange market.

Yet, the euro had reason to be heckled. The excuse to sell the currency did not in fact missed this week. Even the degradation of the notes by Moody's on Debt Greek Monday, then on the banks of the country, there is nothing. Not more than bad German Zew index. "This renewed appetite for risk has increased since last Thursday following the reassurances of Jean-Claude Trichet, ECB president, analysts said Saxo Bank.The European Central Bank expects growth in the euro zone between 0.7% and 1.3%, against 0.4% and 1.2% previously. The central bank left rates unchanged, while the acceleration of inflation in the euro area was confirmed at 1.6% in May on a year on Wednesday by Eurostat.

So why the euro has appreciated it as much? "The reason is mainly technical: the euro has fallen too quickly in recent weeks, he was catching his breath," says Pierre-Antoine Dusoulier, CEO of Saxo Bank. Other mechanical reason: the falling dollar, which causes the exchange rate euro / dollar rising. However, the dollar has folded. "Historically, there has always been an inverse relationship between the U.S. equity market and the greenback," said the official. Witness the decline of the dollar against the yen, for example.

This trend "is likely to continue at 72 hours – Friday, June 18 – four witches," that famous day will end simultaneously four different products: stock options, index options, futures and stock futures index. Investors still expect that day to extreme volatility. Hence the distrust of investors, which is directly affected by the gold price, rising again, about 1235 dollars an ounce.

But basically, the trend remains bearish, especially as the economic landscape has not changed.

The British currency toped

The pound was a little cup on Wednesday morning, but the trend was clearly upward this past week. The pound was quoted 1.4821 to the dollar early this morning.Either its levels of early May.

The origin of the slowdown, the publication of unemployment figures in Britain. The rate according to ILO (International Labour Office) is lowered to 7.9% in the three months ended in April, against 8% for the three months ended in March, while economists expected a steady rate.

The index of consumer prices in May stood at 3.4% annual rate, down compared to April (3.7%), seems to confirm the inflation targets in Great Britain the BoE (Bank of England), less than 2% by early 2011, provided that the austerity policies of the new government does not impose a further increase in VAT, according to analysts.

Switzerland should remain at a rate of 0.25%

The meeting tomorrow Thursday the Swiss National Bank – Central Bank – should not bring surprises. This should keep its benchmark rate to 0.25%."The SNB could still announce some measures to address liquidity drying up against a risk of inflation induced by its interventions to support the euro, these interventions flooding the market with CHF," says Realtime Forex.

The Swiss franc reached record on record since the end of 2009. Then he had another 1.5 Swiss francs per euro in December, the exchange rate reached 1.3920 désoramis, with a low 1.38 in early June

Advertisements in China and Russia

In Russia, the Central Bank announced its intention to diversify its reserves by including the Australian dollar and Canadian dollar.

Regarding China, the Middle Kingdom has signed contracts for a thirteen billion euros of Greek companies, when Athens strives to attract foreign capital. Turkey and Arab countries have also seen in Greece.

BP urges advisers to avoid bankruptcy or a hostile takeover

BP is doing no more alone. To manage the most serious environmental disaster and to silence rumors about a possible bankruptcy, the tanker has hired advisers. BP to help meet the financial pressures, more and more strong.

The recent plunge in BP, which has further declined by nearly 10% Monday as London qu'ç New York and whose market value has been reduced by over 45% since the beginning of the accident, certifies that the hypothesis of a bankruptcy is not completely ruled out by investors. Thus, counselors will work to optimize the management of the crisis and to prevent compensation claims do not leak the multinational or make vulnerable, thus creating a hostile takeover. The trio of investors and put together a strategy to enable the group to meet claims over the next five years.

But for now, BP does not confirm this information. A spokesman for the group merely stated: "This is not true, we do not appeal to banks to defend ourselves," adding "we urge banks year round for different reasons.

Senators call 20000000000

The information is then revealed, however, that the U.S. government is more determined than ever to pay the oil company. of compensation for victims of oil pollution and environmental damage and business. It looks particularly dire consequences for fisheries and tourism in the Gulf of Mexico, in a letter to the director of BP in the United States.

International Help

A little more reassuring to the disaster called the "ecological / 11" by Barack Obama, Washington can count on the solidarity internationale.pour cope with the spill. Countries like France, the United Kingdom, Mexico, but also the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam have offered assistance in the form of equipment and expertise.

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PSA negotiating with Mitsubishi a future low-cost small car

The failure of a reconciliation capital does not PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi's Japanese counterpart to continue their talks on industrial projects. The Tribune reported in its Friday edition that the two groups are actively negotiating on "a future model for small low cost. A decision could even be announced very soon.

Peugeot looks to the platform "Global Small" from Mitsubishi. The latter has developed a specific platform on which a model should first be launched in 2011 in Japan and in 2012 out of the archipelago. The Japanese group would consider producing cars in Thailand.

The French are more interested he has not developed a low cost platform for small entry-level vehicles.

No comment could be obtained immediately from PSA Peugeot Citroen.

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Schneider is growing again

Beginning of year good for Schneider. The world's number one low-voltage electrical equipment and number three for medium voltage carried on the first three months of the year a turnover of 3.91 billion euros, up 2.3% at the both structure and exchange data current and organic. It's better than expected by analysts polled by Reuters had expected a slight decline in activity (-1.2% to 3.78 billion).

This is the first quarter of growth for the group since the third quarter of 2008, the beginning of the economic crisis for the sectors to which its activity. "As expected, we see significant recovery in industrial activity – a sharp contraction after last year – and the rebound in investment in energy secure," said Chief Executive Jean-Pascal Tricoire in a statement.

2010 targets confirmed

Schneider is being strengthened in emerging countries like China, its second largest market behind the United States and ahead of France and on the segment to higher value-added solutions for energy management. "Energy efficiency and renewable energy, particularly in Europe, remain a relay of growth through new orders supported," said Schneider.

In contrast, "the market for commercial property in the mature economies should not restart the short term and probably still weigh on the work of Schneider for several months," said Emmanuel Babeau, CFO of the group, even if it considers that low point could be reached at the end of the second quarter.

The focus group confirmed a moderate growth this year to a number of his sales at constant exchange rates and consolidation scope, after falling nearly 16% throughout 2009.

Schneider also still expects an improvement in EBITA margin of approximately 14% before restructuring costs and impact of integration Areva Distribution, against 12.9% in 2009 and 16% in 2008, thanks to cost savings conducted under the Strategic Program One.

The gas bill increase by 10%

The recall should not rejoice homes. As announced a week ago, the gas bill will swell from this Thursday. The rate-regulated natural gas will increase by about 10%. A decision had already been endorsed by the Regulatory Commission of Energy (CRE) on the proposal of GDF Suez.

Specifically, for households using gas for cooking, the bill will increase by an average of 12 euros every year (including VAT). Those who use them also for their hot water will have a note saltier than 25 euros on average per annum inclusive. Finally, the largest increase, from 85 euros in the year, will be felt for consumers who use gas for cooking, hot water and heating.

First increase in two years

This rate increase is the first since August 2008 online payday loans.It is also the highest since November 2005. Hence the fierce opposition of consumer groups, trade unions and the opposition, which have increased sharply denounced as "outrageous" and "unjustified" in times of crisis.

"This announcement seems so surreal that you might expect to a joke," joked the Consumers' Association CLCV, for whom the increase "seriously undermines the purchasing power of consumers."

In turn, GDF Suez said that natural gas "remains the most competitive energy for heating.

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"China underestimated its trade surplus

Lefigaro.fr / jdf.com Do you think China can show a trade deficit in March, as Beijing has warned?

Antoine Brunet regard to China, everything is possible! There are thus two sources to monitor developments in foreign trade of China: Beijing publishes official figures very soon, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released later the algebraic sum of trade between China and each of its trading partners. In general, the external surplus established by the IMF is almost twice higher than that displayed by Beijing.

China over time, underestimate the reality of its surplus. For example, the government does not include exports of Chinese subsidiaries of foreign groups, which is not justified economically. This largely explains the discrepancy with the IMF data.

Why China would try to hide it a part of its trade surpluses?

This strategy is an integral part of Chinese diplomacy to delay the possible revaluation of the yuan. Plus his "score" is impressive, the more the world takes umbrage, and China shows a healthy insolent foreign trade, the more she exposes herself to scolding of its trading partners. Countries suffering from sluggish growth, combined with a deficit due to China, very legitimately claim a revaluation of the yuan.

Do you, as some analysts that Beijing let the yuan rise by around 4 to 8% in the coming months?

Recent Chinese statements are not encouraging and should be completed in arm wrestling. The Chinese government has the support of the people and businesses.They know that the prosperity of China is largely due to the undervaluation of the yuan.

Beijing also likes to test the true responsiveness of Westerners. China will probably go to the balance of power. How will this happen? It will withstand international pressure calling for a higher yuan. Only if the U.S. put in place tariffs of around 40% on Chinese goods that China will negotiate an appreciation of the yuan.

China Has no interest in lowering the yuan?

Some Western commentators are their wishful thinking and believe that Beijing revalue the yuan to fight against inflation and speculative bubbles. But China did not need this tool.To reduce inflation it suffered through the commodity denominated in dollars, China supports the current rise in the price of the greenback against the euro. It pretty much control the evolution of the Shanghai Composite Index through exchange controls that isolates the Chinese market from the rest of the world. Finally, it relies on direct supervision of mortgage lending to limit the rise in house prices.

USA: Banks in full uncertainty

Following the proposals made by Barack Obama in order to limit both the size of banks and their risk-taking, the banking and financial markets have reacted badly. In exchange, the bank shares continued to tumble yesterday began to regard the U.S. markets. Do not panic however, as the project of U.S. President does not imply that the industry feared most: a dismantling of the largest U.S. banks. However, fear of an escalation, particularly during the passage of these proposals to Congress was clear Friday.

Eager to appear aggressive towards large banks unpopular elected officials of both parties could, for example, insist on a return to the previous rules in 1999, prohibiting commercial banks from entering the market trades.This would lead to force a breakdown of major banking groups like Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase.

This is not the will of the White House. But Republican John McCain and his Democratic colleague Maria Cantwell nevertheless, for several days, submitted a proposal to that effect. "It seems that many proposals of President Obama going in the right direction," said former Republican candidate for the presidency. "Let's try to solve problems," commented his hand to his Republican colleague from Arizona, Jon Kyl."Do not seek a scapegoat that diverts attention from the mistakes of this administration," stated the curator.

New Principles

The Democratic chairman of the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives, Barney Frank is aware of the danger of an escalation to develop free business cards . While he endorses the new principles set by Barack Obama, seven months after the introduction of the reform project finance. But he said he is not totally prohibit the "own-account trading 'of the banks.

While banks such as JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs would be proposed by the White House forced to get rid of some of their activities in the capital and to abandon some of their own trading account.But Barney Frank said, "it would be wrong to demand that banks are withdrawing quickly from all hedge funds and private equity funds involved." The influential Democrat feared the consequences of massive sales made in an emergency.

Tim Geithner, Treasury Secretary, has lost influence in the White House in this case. He was dismissed in June, the approach taken today by Barack Obama to reform Wall Street. He feared that it unnecessarily complicates the debate. Before a group of bankers, closed Thursday night, he confirmed his reservations. Geithner seems to feel that the activities listed are not those who most leaden banks.

The immediate fate of the reform is in the Senate. Other more fundamental questions remain to be resolved.Within both parties, Senators remain divided, for example, on the same principle to let the Fed any role in banking regulation.

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The Accor Group will split into two

Nothing will ever be. Directors of Accor approved on Tuesday a proposed split of the group that plans to separate one side hotel, other services (including Ticket Restaurant). The decision was taken unanimously with a vote, the Strategic Investment Fund (ISF). Accor's second largest shareholder with 7.4% of capital, "sovereign wealth fund to the French" had opposed the project, or at least its timing. In our columns, Gilles Michel, CEO of FSI, had deemed "risky". However, it has joined any of the six independent directors on the board (of twelve). A setback for the fledgling fund in the battle that played out behind the scenes.

Accor cut in half, it was the wish expressed long ago by the fund Colony and the investment company Eurazeo, bound by a pact and initial shareholders with about 30% of capital.They say the best way to value the group ending the discount for holding that penalizes the share price. Gilles Pelisson, Accor's CEO, agreed with their opinion in recent months. He will lead the hotel industry (Accor Hospitality). The new entity combining the services will be headed by Jacques Stern. The deputy director general in charge of piloting the project finance division to completion.

"The split does isno job cuts'

An extraordinary general meeting will be convened no earlier than late June to endorse the project to be implemented before the end of 2010. "I said before the group walked on two legs better, but I always said that the subject was not taboo and it would look on a regular basis, was justified Gilles Pelisson, explaining that two looms Accor had profoundly transformed in recent years.He believes that now is in their interest that they become "pure players". "The central scenario, with the final terms will be decided in the coming months, is a split with two listed companies, a detailed Gilles Pelisson. Accor to action today, you have an action Accor Hospitality and action Accor Services. "

On the job – a concern of the unions – he assured that "the division does not create job cuts as there are no synergies between the two professions.

Eurazeo and Colony Capital have agreed to extend to shares of two companies that will arise from the splitting of the provisions of shareholders agreement between them since May 2008 until May 4, 2013. They also extend within the pact until 1 January 2012 the commitment to retain their shares in Accor and entity services.Conversely, the ISP finds his freedom of action vis-?-vis participation inherited from the Deposit.

Studies conducted by management have shown a separation of two Accor would enable it to "accelerate" the development of both trades. Emphasizing the lack of synergy between hospitality and services that evolve "in environments increasingly different," the work of the board have concluded that once separated these two businesses, "with their own business model, attract a greater number of investors. " According to Sebastien Valentin, an analyst at Societe Generale, services should represent 14% of sales this year of Accor, but two-thirds of operating profit."This poses a problem of balance, because culturally Accor remains primarily a hotel company," says he.

Without the hotel, receive services at 100% of the cash they emerge to finance their development. As for the hotel, without the cushion of safety that brought him the services it should expedite the sale of walls.

For the ISP, a division of Accor is too risky