Archive for the ‘management’ Category

French produce, a theme that goes

February 2, 2012 - 9:35 pm Comments Off

Sign that the subject is growing, studying the Assembly on Thursday a resolution to develop the "Made in France". Almost all candidates are trying to ride the wave of re-industrialization and the premium Franco-French. Decryption. The show of the Patrouille de France at the 24 Hours of Le Mans June 11, 2011.

The "Produce French" was on a roll. Not with consumers who are now unable to say whether the product they buy is French. But with the presidential candidates, who feel that the niche is a carrier in France suffering from deindustrialization and offshoring. In April the presidential campaign will be "made in France" or will not … as evidenced by programs across the political spectrum.  

"Label France" to François Bayrou, "social VAT" which does not say his name to Nicolas Sarkozy, or "green tax" European borders for Francis Holland, no shortage of ideas to revive the power of the large French industry. Sign that the subject is back, the National Assembly must still vote on Thursday a resolution of the UMP group to develop the made in France. "We can not accept a plate made in China with a French grip is marked Made in France", said Christian Estrosi, the former minister of industry, which requires that only products with more than 55% French-made can be labeled lights

To observers, the subject is particularly appropriate at this time of crisis. "The produce in France reflects a strong concern in France," said Brice Teinturier including Ipsos. Marine Le Pen has understood, she makes out of Europe and the imposition of border taxes, one of the central axes of the program.

According to the Ipsos polling institute, the thrust of François Bayrou in the polls would also be put on the account of his industrial chauvinism. "In the collective imagination, very hard on this issue, a great nation is a developed country, the rank of France in the world is partly linked to this," said Jerome Fourquet of the FIFG, author of a note on the French and deindustrialization.

The evidence in recent weeks with business Seafrance, Lejaby and Petroplus, who met an important echo in public opinion. And immediately rushed to the bedside of candidates employed in trouble … In late January, during his televised speech, Nicolas Sarkozy assured that it "would not drop the" factory of Lejaby Yssingeaux. Mission accomplished on Wednesday, with the guarantee of a Franco-French buyer, supplier of LVMH. In December Francois Hollande was going to visit the factory Eolane coming to repatriate the production of digital tablets of Taiwan in France. Examples of many that reveal a certain state of mind. When France finally announced this week that it had "almost" sold its Rafale to India is the patriotism of all the French that seemed to vibrate at the same time.

Now the candidates are fighting over who introduced the theme in the campaign. François Bayrou claims to be the first to have spoken, but the UMP to dispute the paternity of the concept in 2009, Yves Jégo was commissioned by Nicolas Sarkozy to write a report on the "Brand France". However all are cautious to ride the wave red white blue. They probably fear of being accused of being anti-European and playing the withdrawal. Recently, Pascal Lamy, the WTO chief warned states against the return of protectionism in times of crisis. And each G20 member states undertake to protect no matter what free trade.

Remains how far will the candidates in their promotion of "industrial patriotism" as described Francois Hollande. "Stay there be in the scoop and the incantatory speech or do we put the hands dirty?", Says Jérôme Fourquet. "The risk is that these ideas are only recovered by the political extremes, and they definitely go out of public debate," laments Stamberger Benjamin Masse, co-author of "Inevitable protectionism," and journalist for L'Express.

Ultimately, everything may depend of the evolution of the candidates in the polls. If Jean-Luc Mélenchon with his "European protectionism" were to make a breakthrough surprise, this could change all that …

November 24, 2011 - 6:55 am Comments Off

Suzuki Motors calls for international arbitration to settle its dispute with Volkswagen, the latter refused to surrender its stake by nearly 20% stake in Japanese automaker.

Suzuki, a specialist in small cars for emerging markets, announced Thursday it had seized the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, an organization based in London.

"We see no major financial impact based on the share price, given that VW has already established a reserve of 263 million euros in the third quarter of 2011 to reflect the reclassification of its stake in Suzuki in its balance sheet , "writes Michael Punzet, an analyst at DZ Bank in a note.

Suzuki accuses VW of not having provided a hybrid technology that would have promised to share.If the current leadership of Suzuki does not work with us, then maybe the next generation will, "he said.

A spokesman for the German automaker has confirmed that the company would not yield to the demands of Suzuki.

Action Suzuki closed up 0.92% to 1,533 yen in Tokyo Stock Exchange, while Volkswagen took up 2.90% to 115 euros at 9:35 GMT on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

November 10, 2011 - 8:55 am Comments Off

The main European stock markets have returned to equilibrium in mid-session, while Milan and Athens rose more sharply and a rally promises to Wall Street, in the hope that Italy and Greece are quickly new governments and implement the necessary reforms.

The CAC 40 index yielded 0.08% at 3072.60 points around 24:15, after having started losing more than 2%, while the Euro Stoxx 50 took 0.19% and Milan fell by 0.48%.

As part of its Treasury bill auction, Italy has sold five billion euros in vouchers to 12 months, with a yield of 6.09%, its highest level since September 1997, against 3.57% in its previous auction which took place October 11.

November 7, 2011 - 9:55 am Comments Off

Faurecia announced Monday new medium-term financial goals with a turnover of 20 billion euros in 2015, growth should be driven by the dynamism of Asia and the demand for technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The automotive world leader in exhaust systems owned 57.4% by the manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroen, said the new goal was a 25% growth on sales estimated in 2011.

In late October, said the group had anticipated for the current year revenues from 15.7 to 15.9 billion euros.

"Faurecia is now (to) outperform three to four points growth in global automotive production," he said in a statement.

In his previous plan unveiled in June 2010, the equipment was a turnover of 16 billion euros in 2014 and an operating margin of 5-6% at the same horizon.

Icade displays a turnover up 11% over 9 months

October 24, 2011 - 8:20 am Comments Off

Icade published Monday sales up 11% in the first nine months of 2011, thanks in particular to the full-year effect of the acquisition of Compagnie la Lucette.

The real estate company, a subsidiary of Caisse des Depots, recorded sales of 1,065.8 million at September 30, also boosted by lettings made in 2010 of its commercial property division and for the development division, by the progress of projects of operations signed last year.

Also for its development division, the group notes that "in an uncertain market environment and reduction of tax incentives", bookings were down 11% in value compared to the first 9 months of 2010.

Icade, whose action on Friday completed a course of 65.00 euros, provides no indication of its prospects.

Denmark introduced a tax on fat

October 2, 2011 - 6:05 am Comments Off

Denmark became the first Saturday in the world to introduce a tax on fat. It is 2.15 euros per kilogram of saturated fats. Denmark became the first Saturday in October the first country to introduce a tax on fat.

Denmark became the first country to introduce a tax on fats, the first Saturday in October, after a week in which to save money consumers have supplies of butter, pizza, meat or milk. The new tax, intended as a measure to fight against the consumption of fat, provides 16 kroner (2.15 euros) per kilogram of saturated fats.It will apply to all products containing saturated fats, including pre-cooked dishes.

"I doubt this will have a positive impact on health, it's just a tax" Extra, told AFP a spokesman for the Confederation of Danish Industries (DI), Gitte Hestehave. "As far as we know, Denmark is the first country to introduce a tax on fat," she said. In the week before the entry into force of this tax, the Danes have robbed the stores.

The Danes were full of fats

"We had to stock tons of butter and margarine to be able to serve our customers," he told AFP an official with the group Arla Dairy Distribution, Soeren Joergensen. "The week was rather chaotic, with lots of empty shelves.People filled their freezers, "confirmed an official of an independent supermarket in Copenhagen, Christian Jensen." Actually, I do not think this will change anything: people who want to buy a cake will buy it. Simply by doing now they are saving, "he added.

For DI, the new tax is an "administrative nightmare". The products are imported or Danish manufacturing, it will ask for statements to producers on the amount of saturated fat in the product but also used in its preparation. Updating of computer systems has also required many hours of overtime for producers and retailers. All this has a cost that will be passed on to consumers, warned Ms. Hestehave.

Moreover, lawyers point out that the tax induces a risk to the competitiveness of Danish products.The imported products subject to tax only the fat they contain are actually cheaper than the Danish products also taxed at the producer level of fat used in making "such as for frying," said the lawyer in Jeppe Rosenmejer Jyllands-Posten.

PSA could remove up to 10% of its workforce in France

September 24, 2011 - 7:55 am Comments Off

PSA Peugeot Citroën could remove up to 10% of its workforce in France against the expected slowdown of the European car market, write Friday Les Echos and La Tribune, citing union sources.

Initially, 115 jobs will be lost on a voluntary basis and 300 temporary contracts not renewed in Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis), an assembly plant in the Citroen C3, whose future after 2014 and threatened, and 180 positions will disappear in Melun-Sénart (Seine-et-Marne), according to Les Echos.

In the longer term, nearly 10,000 temporary positions, or nearly 10% of the workforce in France, would be threatened by the first French car manufacturer, said La Tribune.

"It's far too early to tell," said a spokesman for PSA that number of temporary positions.

At the end of the Central Committee (IAC) held Thursday, the agreement on the management of jobs and skills signed in April 2010 with the unions, which ended September 30, 2011, been extended to December 31, 2012.

The group's management has identified 980 jobs to disappear, said the spokesman, adding that the downsizing of the site of Aulnay came within this framework and that the site of Melun had not been discussed at the CEC Thursday.

Last week, at the motor show in Frankfurt, the CEO of PSA, Philippe Varin, announced an acceleration of cost savings through workforce adjustments among temporary workers and contractors to address the context economic uncertainty in Europe.

Eric Besson, Minister of Industry said that we should not rush to draw conclusions on possible job cuts coming at PSA.

"Do not cry wolf when there is no wolf," he said on Canal +.

"Let them wonder about the consequences of the crisis on their future and take steps to remain competitive, surprising and shocking."

Concerns about the lack Greek are plunging stock markets

September 19, 2011 - 8:25 pm Comments Off

The lack of unity of Europeans at the top in Poland worried the markets. The IMF refers to the default of Athens.

Divisions within the euro area and the lack of concrete progress on the issue have plunged Greece into turmoil Monday and world stock markets, maddened by the scenario of a default of Athens. A "delay" of continuing the privatization program in Greece can lead the country to "default" on its debt, warned Monday the Permanent Representative International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Greece, Bob Traa. And the meeting of European finance ministers on Friday and Saturday in Poland ended in failure.Divided, they postponed any decision on October the payment of a further tranche of 8 billion euros to Greece, which desperately needs the money to avoid bankruptcy.

"Once again, hopes for new policy initiatives to resolve the debt crisis in the eurozone were violently showered," lamented Jane Foley, analyst at Rabobank. Now, "the market is betting on a 98% default of Greece," said Phil Flynn, of PFG Best Research. The reaction of the stock exchanges Monday was unequivocal. At the close, Paris fell 3.00%, 3.17% of Milan, Frankfurt 2.83%, 2.03% in London.

European indices, once again, been sealed by the banks that would be the first victims of failing Greek. The Deutsche Bank dropped 4.54% and 4.11% Italian Intesa Sanpaolo. In France, Societe Generale won 6.70% and 5.48% of BNP Paribas.In New York, the Dow Jones lost 1.57% to 1600 GMT. The announcement by U.S. President Barack Obama plan to further reduce the deficit of 3.000 billion, financed half by an increase in taxes for the rich, did not produce any relief.

Teleconference postponed

Very worried, the markets awaited the outcome of a conference between the Greek government and the Troika representing the country's creditors, namely the European Commisson, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the IMF. First scheduled for mid-day, the conference was delayed about 16h, after the close of European stock. "The quarterly audit of the troika is decisive. If the IMF decides to exit the process, the risk of default of the country will be very large," said Cyril Regnat, an analyst at Natixis.

A default of Greece "is not a working hypothesis" in the euro area, however, assured the French minister of Finance Baroin. Greece must at all costs to demonstrate that it meets its budget commitments, the only way to obtain payment of the next round of international loans. "This is not a working hypothesis, it is not our strategy," he said on the sidelines of a meeting with his counterparts from the African franc zone in Paris. "Our strategy (…) is to operationalize the agreement of July 21" adopted by the euro area to come again in aid to Greece and strengthen the European bailout fund, he added. The Permanent Representative of IMF in Athens, Mr. Traa said Monday morning that additional budgetary savings will be "necessary".

"Privatization has been delayed from the program because politicians can not agree on how to proceed," he said in reference to the privatization program of 50 billion euros by 2015 that Greece is committed. "If you wait (…) the country will go to default," he warned.

"Conditions uncontrollable and painful"

Taking the worst estimates of Athens, he returned the country's return to growth in 2013, anticipating a recession of -5.5% in 2011, and -2.5% in 2012. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said that the week opened "is a very difficult week for the country, for the euro area and for me."Athens announced on Sunday that it would conduct new cost-cutting measures in 2012 to reduce the public sector.

"We must now take historical decisions, otherwise we will have to take soon in uncontrollable and painful conditions," he said, referring to the threat of insolvency of the country. The minister made it a priority "respect for the objective for 2011," involving corrective action of 1.8 billion euros, to enable the country to continue to meet its commitments, including "a primary budget surplus in 2012" . Mr. Venizelos nevertheless felt that Athens should not be used as "scapegoats" facing the "lack of competence in managing the debt crisis" in the eurozone.

As a result of concerns around Greece, the euro Monday accentuated its decline against the dollar: towards 1600 GMT, the euro bought 1.3633 dollars against 1.3797 dollars on Friday night. The price of an ounce of gold fell 3%, investors withdrawing from the yellow metal to cover losses in other markets.

Why is the deficit of France explodes

September 16, 2011 - 12:35 am Comments Off

The French trade deficit will break all records this year to 75 billion euros. The increase in the energy bill is not the only cause. Lack of competitiveness, weak SME export … The handicaps of France are numerous. View of the Port of Marseille

75 billion euros: this amount should be – unusually high – the French deficit this year. The calculation is not hard to do. During the first half, the difference between our imports and exports amounted to 37.5 billion. So just multiply by two.

Usually, this kind of calculation is dangerous: economics, trends can vary greatly from one semester to the next. However, the deficit seems to have found a new anchor monthly, around 6 billion euros, experts note.Over the last twelve months, the French trade deficit reached a staggering 67.21 billion euros, a record.

To explain this collapse, some are bound to mention the cost of the oil bill. However, the reality is different, say economists Assya financial company. The root cause of our deficit is the lack of competitiveness. Our industry specialization is too focused on capital goods (22% of our exports, against 50% across the Rhine).This area is yet one who benefits most from the recovery phase.

Domestic production does not meet the needs of the French

Other handicaps: our largest trading partner remains the euro area, which has the lowest global growth for ten years, the costs of production, regulatory and tax burdens encourage French companies to produce abroad, while imports French are too strong, particularly because there are too many products that are no longer manufactured in the Hexagon. In other words, domestic production meets less consumption needs of the French.

Not throw away the cup is full. Well, not quite: France also has a problem with SMEs.While large French companies such as Airbus, Alstom or Areva, signed major contracts abroad, which shows that the French technology is extremely competitive, SMEs, they have difficulty, confirms Bertrand Macabeo, Managing Director of Kompass International. Yet they represent 90% of French companies and 80% of employees!

In this area, the comparison with Germany hurts. Our neighbor has 300,000 exporting companies, representing three times the French strike force, estimated at 90 000 companies! Another figure hard to take: France, has approximately 30 000 exporters "accidental", that is to say companies that for one reason or another, fail to make sustainable export strategy. These problems go well beyond the surge in energy costs.And they are expensive: weighed down by the external deficit, growth is likely to become slightly negative in the third quarter.

Growth confirmed at 0.2% in the second quarter in Spain

August 27, 2011 - 10:35 am Comments Off

The Spanish economy has slowed in second quarter, rekindling fears of a relapse into recession if the country's economy, much worse, in the eurozone were to deteriorate.

Gross domestic product (GDP) in Spain rose 0.2% in the second quarter, as announced in the first estimate, following 0.4% (revised up) in the first quarter, according to figures released Friday by the National Institute of Statistics.

GDP growth stood at 0.7% per year, as markets awaited, and after 0.9% in the first quarter.

The government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero expects growth of 1.3% per year for 2011, but the consensus of economists appears rather around 0.8%, suggesting that Spain could face more difficulties than expected in the pursuing its objectives of reducing the deficit.

The bursting of the housing bubble and a prolonged liquidity crisis weighed heavily since 2008 on the construction industry, long a pillar of the Spanish growth, but exports and strong domestic consumption have so far allowed the country avoid falling back into recession.

While the unemployment rate approaches 21% and that disposable income declines, some economists, consumption relatively strong in the second quarter could indicate that households are cutting back on their savings.

"Again, this probably reflects the fact that households draw on their savings or save less, and this is obviously not a long term solution," said Ben May, economist at Capital Economics.

"Overall we continue to believe that Spain will at best grow very low on the next two quarters, and it could fall into recession," he adds.

Secretary of State for the Economy José Manuel Campa also said that the goal of a 1.3% growth in 2011 was possible but it could be threatened if the economic slowdown abroad.

"It is possible, but it will be difficult due to external factors," he said.