Posts Tagged ‘power’

DreamWorks will launch a production studio in China

February 18, 2012 - 8:55 am Comments Off

DreamWorks Animation announced Friday its intention to launch a production studio in Shanghai with major Chinese groups.

The Californian studio creator of "Kung Fu Panda" and "Shrek" will create a joint venture with China Media Capital, Shanghai Media Group and Shanghai Alliance Investment.

This project was announced during the visit of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping in Los Angeles.

Oriental Dreamworks develop and produce animated films for distribution in China and around the world, said in a statement Dreamworks.

His first film is scheduled for 2016.

Why the Greeks are tired

February 13, 2012 - 4:20 pm Comments Off

In two years, no fewer than 7 austerity plans that were announced to the Greeks who start in 2012 begin their fourth year of recession. L'Expansion. Com provides an inventory full of sacrifices imposed. One protestor anti-austerity on Syntagma Square February 12, 2012.

Vandalism, violence, destruction … The Greeks are tired. And for good reason: it's the seventh time since January 2010 that their government is announcing a new austerity plan! In this mess of unpopular measures, even the most sophisticated economists are struggling to navigate. According to OECD calculations, fiscal discipline have already cost 3.5 percentage points of growth in 2010 and 2.5 points in 2011. But these figures are probably underestimated, experts admit. A third of the population was already on the verge of poverty or exclusion in late 2010. A review of the sacrifices demanded of the Greeks for two years.  

January 2010:

Three months after the dramatic revaluation of the Greek public deficit, the government puts an end to measures of raises (1.3% of GDP). On the revenue side, it provides – without too much detail – to remove tax exemptions, increase taxes on tobacco, alcohol, etc.. The program also announced a reduction in compensation of employees, a hiring freeze in public sector in 2010 and the replacement of one out of five retired.

February 2010

The government says the measures announced last month and adds others. On the menu: wage freeze for civil servants in 2010, down 10% premium and 30% decrease in overtime in the public service. Moreover, the government announced an increase in taxes on petroleum products, down two years the average age of retirement (at age 63 by 2015), the 40% tax on incomes above 60,000 euros (instead of 75,000 euros) and establishing a system of objective evaluation of external signs of wealth to fight against tax fraud.

March 2010

The increase in VAT makes its appearance (two points to 21%). The public is again affected by rigor: the government announces, under pressure from Brussels, a 30% reduction of the 13th month salary and 60% of the 14th month's salary. Finally, pensions are frozen, for both officials and private sector employees. Some commodities become unaffordable tax increase of 20% alcohol, and cigarette prices jumped 63%.

May 2010

Rigor is even worse. The 13th and 14th month's salary for civil servants are finally deleted. (A deletion, however compensated by an annual premium of 1,000 euros for salaries of less than 3,000 euros gross). The VAT rate increases by a further two points, from 21% to 23% Government back again the legal age of retirement, and lengthens the contributions (40 against 37 annual installments). The government announced a series of new taxes, including taxes "green" on gambling and corporate profits. The plan also includes measures to enhance labor market flexibility, facilitate dismissals and certain professions open to competition.

June 2010

The black series continues. The new austerity program is even more drastic than the previous one, which has yet lasting impression. It includes the overhaul of the salary scale of civil servants, lowering the tax threshold in 8000 instead of $ 12,000, a privatization program of EUR 50 billion, cuts on pensions, unemployment benefits in and new taxes. Of these, an increase in VAT in catering, the flowers or theater tickets (23% versus 13%) and a tax known as Solidarity.

October 2011

The new salary in the public service is accurate. It should lead to a salary reduction of 25% on average according to the calculations of economists, following cuts of 20% operated in 2010. The government announced a freeze on collective agreements in the business for at least two years, and the lowering of the ceiling on the tax income of EUR 5,000 per year instead of 8000. In the public sector, it is intended to introduce the layoffs in public enterprises and parastatals!

February 2012

Despite revolts in rehearsals and the suffocation of its economy (the country enters its fourth year of negative growth), Greece is sinking deeper into rigor. The new plan provides a 22% decrease in the minimum wage. For those under 25 years, the decline would be even 32%. The goal: to reduce labor costs by 15% by 2015.

Greece is doing an overdose of austerity, says Christian SchulzSenior Economist at Berenberg. The risk of leaving the euro is very high, he adds. In turn, markets do not care. For them, Greece has a capacity for harm is much lower than Spain or Italy.

Areva defends Atmea in its agreement with EDF reactors

February 11, 2012 - 10:55 am Comments Off

Areva wants his new reactor Atmea serve as a reference as part of the agreement that the group has signed with EDF to build nuclear reactors of 1,000 megawatts (MW) third generation with China, said Friday an official from the public group.

A model that is not based on the Atmea, designed by Areva and Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, could compete with the new reactor for both partners.

"The fact that we have worked with MHI and that has made a major step in designing this new model is an asset Atmea a very important," said during a conference call Claude Jaouen, director of business services and reactors from Areva. 

"We consider it would be a shame to have two reactors of 1,000 MW on the market at the moment players can relatively easily get to agree on one alone," he added.

"Rather than having a competitor that is Atmea another reactor developed elsewhere, the aim is that both converge to a single term, as far as possible, and that the market is the same, that is to say whether a change in Atmea, "he said activity director reactors and services Areva. 

FAILURE OF NEGOTIATIONS IS NOT EXCLUDED

"I do not exclude concrete that can not be agreed at the end but anyway it's not the way in which Areva is committed and it is absolutely not the spirit in which we began these studies with EDF and (Chinese) CGNPC. "

The design of medium power reactors, for both China and other markets, addresses the need for nuclear power franç ; comfortable to broaden its range now reduced mainly to the high power EPR reactor. 

"The current definition of specifications (the new reactor) should be completed by summer 2012 and, in parallel, there will be the determination of different ferent agreements necessary before embarking on further steps, particularly on issues of intellectual property and industrial and commercial scheme, "said Claude Jaouen.

The Elysee Palace announced in February 2011 that the development of a medium capacity reactor proposed by EDF with the Chinese would CGNPC through a comprehensive partnership with Beijing, which all actors in the French nuclear industry would be involved. 

Areva and EDF, after signing an agreement in July technical and commercial marking the warming of relations between the two groups, finalized Wednesday a contract to supply uranium to the public electrician .

Airbus starts the year with 91 orders in January

February 6, 2012 - 6:15 pm Comments Off

Airbus has received orders for aircraft Jan. 91, again dominated by the single-aisle A320 family which are largely due to sales performance record of the European aircraft manufacturer in 2011.

The EADS subsidiary, which recorded no cancellation last month, has garnered particular orders for 52 A320s and 32 A319, according to the monthly statement issued Monday.

The U.S. company Spirit Airlines confirmed last Wednesday an order for 75 A320s, valued at seven billion dollars (5.3 billion) at list prices, including 45 units of A320neo, improved version of the single-aisle Airbus flagship, which had already been recorded in 2011.

Airbus also recorded in January an order for 51 single-aisle aircraft from the Colombian company AviancaTaca. 

The company UAE Etihad Airways has on his side past the end of January a firm order for two A330-200F freighters.

Airbus has sold almost twice as many planes as Boeing in 2011, after winning his bet with a more fuel efficient version of its A320. European and delivered more planes than its U.S. rival for the ninth consecutive year, recognizing that it would have trouble keeping the commercial advantage in in 2012.

Airbus, which is 600 to 650 orders this year after a net total over 1,400 units in 2011, suggested that Boeing would win the race this year for the first time since 2006.

Airbus expects to deliver approximately 570 aircraft in 2012, of which 37 have already been delivered to customers in January.

December 1, 2011 - 3:35 pm Comments Off

The President of Finmeccanica Pier Francesco Guarguaglini resigned, while the Italian advocacy group is the center of a corruption scandal, said on Thursday a source familiar with the matter.

The information was confirmed by the group a few minutes later.

The Board has appointed the current Chief Executive Officer Giuseppe Orsi Group to replace him, the source added which states that it will combine the two functions.

The group is weakened by an investigation into suspicions of corruption that affects some of its most senior officials.

The Italian government is a shareholder of the group of aerospace and defense to the tune of 32% and this scandal is the first figure of political test for the new government led by Mario Monti.

November 11, 2011 - 9:45 pm Comments Off

In particular, Allianz gained 5.6% after posting a quarterly operating results better than expected and have claimed to be able to face difficult market conditions.

Earlier this afternoon, the Italian Senate approved the law of financial stability, a set of austerity measures demanded by the European Union to help the country cope with the debt crisis. Council President Silvio Berlusconi has promised to resign and make way for an emergency government once the text approved by the lower house of parliament, which is scheduled Saturday.

"The Italian rates were down significantly today.

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.

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.

The Assembly vote of the French state guarantees for Dexia

October 17, 2011 - 5:55 pm Comments Off

French deputies adopted Monday by 49 votes to 25 against the bill authorizing the state to provide guarantees to the restructuring of the Franco-Belgian bank Dexia to facilitate its dismantling.

The UMP, which holds an absolute majority in the Assembly, and the group of the New Centre (NC) voted this draft supplementary budget ("collective") for 2011, reviewed by expedited review in the Senate turn Wednesday night.

The leftist opposition voted against. "We vote against it because what we present is completely blurred. The minister did not believe," said Christian Eckert (PS).

The left is now a majority in the upper house, the text may be released Wednesday.It will then be made a new reading in the Assembly who constitutionally has the final say.

"The adoption of this supplementary budget is an issue of responsibility. Dexia's customers like the creditors must have confidence that states have kept their word.Our communities in turn can rely on this feature to continue to invest for the benefit of the economy, "said Baroin, the Minister of Economy.

This restructuring plan, arrested Oct. 10 by the board of directors of the group and approved by the Belgian, French and Luxembourg, Dexia provides for the dismantling.

The bank, founded in 1996 with the merger of Crédit local de France and Crédit Communal de Belgique, had already received a bailout in 2008.

The decommissioning plan provides that Dexia France, Belgium and Luxembourg will provide 90 billion euros in guarantees for its financing needs with 60.5% for Belgium, 36.5% for France and 3% Luxembourg.

The new supplementary budget offers a double guarantee.First, the funding will enable Dexia to borrow on the markets with the guarantee of France, Belgium and Luxembourg, the maximum total outstanding amount of 90 billion euros for a period of ten years maximum.

The second guarantee, up to 10 billion euros, is for a fraction of the portfolio of loans to local authorities of Dexia that the new structure controlled by the Deposit (CDSC) and the Post Bank will acquire.

The Belgian part of the rescue of Dexia was temporarily authorized Monday by the European Commission, however, that announces the opening of an investigation to ensure that the operation does not violate the rules on state aid and application Belgium to submit within six months a new restructuring plan of the bank.

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.