Taxation, standards: business leaders calling for stability

 

"The change is now!" The slogan is that of Francois Hollande, business leaders have clearly in mind. For good reason: the change, it is not their cup of tea. Standards changed according to the news, a tax system that grows with the economy, laws that impose new overnight … "If Francois Hollande is elected, tell us once and for all that it will do to businesses but especially then he takes it for five years, 'says almost begging a boss in the industrial sector. "From small to large group of local CAC 40, the stability is claimed hue and cry for years," says an official of Bercy.

Take five years the same policy is still not easy. Nicolas Sarkozy has learned to its cost, which had to come back, as and as Europe plunged into crisis, and unemployment and deteriorating public finances, on key measures of the beginning of his mandate: tax shield, tax credit on real estate loan interest, windfall tax on bank bonuses …

Windfall

Meanwhile the second round of presidential elections, so businesses take their troubles patiently. Is wait-business show – "they have especially put aside their investments," the economists note. Delay the initiation of social plans, according to unions. Wonder about their future boss, their compensation strategy or dividends, when they state as shareholder. And express their concerns about topics that they feel the winds, without really feeling the direction cheap business cards. The research tax credit (CIR) is one of them.

If Francois Hollande said he does not challenge this device "because it is necessary to support research" in France, the employers have understood that his team was working on a shift. "There is a windfall for big business, where we will end so that the CIR has more to SMEs", explained last week Alain Rousset, in charge of the "pact productive" in the PS candidate's campaign, speaking to redirect up … one billion euros. Enough to significantly modify the decisions of entrepreneurs!

Large and small companies also expect to know how they will be affected by "modulation" of the scheduled corporate tax that must be done "for the benefit of SMEs and companies that reinvest their profits."

Banks, they, stomp whether the Socialist candidate will carry out its threat to introduce what he calls his bill consolidation of banking which provides for "the separation of deposit and speculative activities." They should be fixed quickly, the project is provided, if any, for next summer.

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Sarkozy met the boss of PSA

 

Not a word has filtered out of the conversation between Nicolas Sarkozy and PSA boss Philippe Varin. For nearly an hour, the two men met at the Elysee about the factory in Aulnay-sous-Bois in Seine Saint-Denis. The future of this plant, which employs over 3,300 people, would be threatened, unions fear. The presidency as the automotive group has declined to comment on leaving the meeting.

Nicolas Sarkozy wanted to convince Philippe Varin to organize a roundtable discussion with unions and industry minister, Eric Besson, "next week" to discuss the future of the site. A request of the unions, the president-candidate met Thursday at his campaign headquarters.

"All done" to save the plant

Nicolas Sarkozy said on Friday, on the antenna of i-TV: he will "do anything to save this plant." For him, it must "ease the burden on the wages of employees and the contributions of the company." He recalled that the business tax that has weighed deleted "250 euro per car manufactured in France." "It's fine to say that the cars must be manufactured in France, but if you put on in France making more taxes than elsewhere, there is a relocation," he concluded.

The unions said they were somewhat reassured after their head to head with Nicolas Sarkozy. "The words we hear a lot, but the words fly away, we want it written guarantees, said Jean-Pierre Mercier, the CGT. We play our skin. "And not just employees of PSA 9000 with direct and indirect jobs, PSA Aulnay is one of the largest employers in Seine-Saint-Denis, according to the General Council.

The record of the Aulnay plant is back on center stage last weekend. The unions had then expressed their disappointment after a meeting between employee representatives and management organized by the prefect of Seine Saint-Denis. But the concern of unions as of June 2011 and the disclosure of internal working documents of the automaker speculating a closure of Aulnay. Unions fear that the decline in production will continue and lead eventually to a cessation of activity on this site.

"We want to continue working"

In recent months the government has stepped up operations in the industrial thorny issues. Latest success, the recovery of the carrier Sernam by Geodis. In the case of Peugeot, the unions are skeptical, as expressed by Jean-Pierre Mercier Thursday: "We all know that the management of Peugeot expects the presidential and legislative elections to officially announce the closure of this factory, we are unwilling not die, we want to continue working. "

Studying human resources abroad

 

"I appreciate the relationship with teachers, who consider our opinions and treat us as equals," said Alexia online payday loan lenders.

Halal industry to meet Le Pen

 

Saturday accused by Marine Le Pen to slaughter according to halal "all meat" distributed in the Ile-de-France, industrialists defend themselves. President of the National Association of interprofessional Livestock and Meat (Interbev), interviewed by France Info, the judge charged the president of the National Front "absolutely false".

"In the Ile-de-France, a vast majority of meat is not slaughtered according to halal or kosher," which involves killing animals without stunning, ensures Dominique Langlois. "It may be that parts or pieces of meat from carcasses are slaughtered according to these rites, but that does not change the quality of meat and it does not change at all the qualities of the product," adds Will it.

For professionals in the meat, the charge of Marine Le Pen "is meant strictly political and did not match the reality of things." "It's a debate that can only be detrimental to both the meat industry to French and French production that does not need it," warned the president of Interbev.

The animal rights groups mobilized

This debate is not new. Last year, six associations have denounced the increasing proportion of animals slaughtered according to Jewish or Muslim rites. According to the Foundation Brigitte Bardot, who had made an investigation in slaughterhouses, more than 60% of sheep and goats, 28% of adult cattle and 43% of calves were then killed without stunning, but that consumers are warned.

In France, however, requires the slaughter, since a decree of 1964, the stunning of animals before killing, thereby mitigating their suffering. But European legislation provides an exemption, "when stunning is not compatible with the ritual prescriptions under the free exercise of religion same day payday loans."

Approval before waive stunning

Two bills were filed in late 2010, the Senate to the Assembly, without success, to obtain a specific labeling of meat slaughtered without stunning. "The consumer has the right to know what he eats. He has the right not to eat meat slaughtered in a ritual which does not believe him, "argued the UMP deputy Nicolas Dhuicq. A new amendment, introduced in September 2011, was also rejected.

On 29 December, a decree was published in the Official Journal, however, requiring 275 French slaughterhouses to obtain, on or after 1 July 2012, before an official authorization from the rule of stunning. "It does [may] be granted only to slaughterhouses in favor [...] of a registration system to verify that it is used to slaughter without stunning as a result of justifying the commercial orders, "said the Ministry of Culture.

Marine Le Pen wants to complain

The animal rights groups have expressed quite satisfied with this text. "Being able to justify a ritual slaughter is a specific order is important because, currently, most of the meat of this kind of slaughter is found in conventional circuits without any indication to consumers," recalled Christophe Marie, spokeswoman Brigitte Bardot Foundation.

Marine Le Pen was not in favor waiting for the entry into force of the decree. On the sidelines of the convention of his party, being held this weekend in Lille, it announced its intention to attack "a few major retail supermarkets in Ile-de-France for misrepresentation of the product." She said wanting to file a complaint with a civil order for a judge to be seized, which could lead to an investigation of several months.

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These patients are going to doctors, lack of resources

 

Crisis requires, the French are tightening their belts. And budget decisions affect more and more health spending. Some are also willing to do without doctors when sick. Today, one third of French people use the Internet to seek health or medical information, both for themselves and for their families, according to a survey ViaVoice for Group Mutual Pasteur published last week. "Supervision fee may cause some patients to delay seeking and waiting to see if symptoms persist," said Dr. Bruno Gaudeau, President Pasteur Mutual Group, insurance group insurance healthcare professionals.

Involved, mainly: rates of complementary health. Since October 1, the tax on these insurance products increased from 3.5% to 7%. Higher than the mutual claim to be forced to pass on to policyholders. They argued that the additional health premiums expected to go higher than 4.7% on average in 2012. The delisting of many medicines also weighs on the budget of the French. Even the generic – these drugs cheaper than the leading brand products – have suffered in 2011: 614 million boxes were sold, against 630 million in 2010, according to the Gem, the union of generic manufacturers.

"It all starts to make money," commented Dr. Bruno Gaudeau, which expects that this mode of "self diagnosis" is accelerating in the coming years. Sites accessible to the public health are increasing and the doctors themselves invest the net. To guide them in this universe, the National Council of the Medical Association (CNOM) has published a white paper in late January. However, according to President Pasteur Mutual Group, users see mostly forums, such as those sites or the Doctissimo Féminin.com, where they can exchange with other Internet users.

Crisis of confidence in the world of health

Another source of information trusted by the French, pharmacists are increasingly in demand. "The medical excess fees are expensive, prompting patients to seek alternatives to conventional treatment pathway," says does one within the National Order of Pharmacists. But the economic crisis does not explain everything. "The French are more and more information from diverse and varied media and need to sort out. That is why they seek advice from their pharmacists. "Finally, the health world is going through a serious" crisis of confidence "in the wake of the scandals of the Mediator or PIP breast implants. "Consumers need to be reassured," says the National Order of Pharmacists. However, a recent study Ifop, 94% of French people say they "strongly" or "somewhat" confident in their pharmacist.

The GP is not great, with a confidence level of 97%. That is why Dr. Bruno Gaudeau looks to the future of the medical consultation with optimism. "If the search for medical information over the Internet has become a common practice, 90% of internet users who use them do so in addition to a consultation with a health professional."

YOUR TESTIMONY – Can you do without the advice of a doctor? Community websites related to health are you useful? Do you trust these platforms? Tell us about your experience in comments below or email temoin@lefigaro.fr.

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Meg Whitman, 55, led the auction site eBay from 1998 to 2008. In 2010, she was defeated candidate for governor of California. Since September 22, she took the head of Hewlett-Packard (HP) then in turmoil. Billionaire, a graduate of Princeton and Harvard, Meg Whitman was chosen to revive the world's largest information technology. HP is less profitable than Apple and IBM, but its biggest revenue (127.2 billion dollars). His predecessor, Leo Apotheker, had planned this summer, the sale of the PC, which controls 20% of the world, with more than $ 40 billion in sales. These decisions have plunged by a third the price of the stock HP. On the contrary, Meg Whitman has decided to revive HP PCs and tablets.

LE FIGARO. – Apple is expected to become world number one personal computer in 2012, according to Canalys.Finally, the HP brand is indisputably linked to our PC.

Why start the Slate 2, your second tablet, sold off after the TouchPad?

We will return on the market shelves. The Slate 2 sign our return. We stopped using the products that our operating system WebOS. We will return in 2012. We will have an Internet Tablet that will use Windows 8 Microsoft.

A tablet is it comparable to a PC?

Not at this time. Internet tablets are mainly used to consume media and e-mails. If you want to use productivity software such as Microsoft, you can not do. Our studies show that this is an additional purchase that does not encroach on the PC market.

We can no longer count

The G20, which takes care of everything but no matter what, is interested. At their summit on 15 October in Paris, the central bankers of major economies in the world have endorsed the charter "consumer products and financial services." This text prepared by the OECD focuses "on the effort of education and awareness of financial issues," the general public.

The debate rages in the United States since the mortgage crisis "subprime" that erupted in 2007, putting the straw millions of Americans. Already 7.6 million families were divested of their homes, unable to meet their deadlines bank, and additional 7.4 million expected to be dislodged by 2016, the consultant provides Housing Predictor.This disaster certainly responsible for financial institutions that have dangled their customers become unbearable when mortgage interest rates began to climb. But as a last resort should we not blame the naivete and ignorance of borrowers unable to understand what they were doing?

President Obama has made it a priority that "Americans have the skills to effectively manage their disposable income and guard against deceptive practices and predatory." It is in these terms that the White House, with a "Council for Financial literacy" (financial literacy), decreed that April is "National Financial Literacy Month." One way to educate the public each spring operational introduction to finance more and more overseas.Even the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) devotes part of its website with practical advice for a wide popular audience.

There is much to do. According to a survey conducted by FINRA (Investor Education Foundation), 68% of households have no personal events to finance as predictable as retirement or education for their children. And only 49% of households have "sufficient funds to cover the expenses of three months in case of illness, unemployment."

Carelessness or incompetence? "Most Americans lack the basic numeracy skills and knowledge of basic economic principles, such as the mechanisms of inflation, risk diversification, and the relationship between interest rates and financial asset prices "said Annamaria Lusardi economist, the George Washington School of Business.He has just published a series of studies on the subject.

This decision is based on a strict set of five test questions contained in the survey FINRA and here are the results. Thus only 65% ​​of respondents answered correctly that "a capital of $ 100, paid 2% per year, worth over 102 dollars in five years overnight pay day loans." Similarly 64% understand that "if inflation is 2% and the returns on their savings by 1%, their capital will be worth less in a year." Only 21% know that the price of a bond decreases mechanically when interest rates rise in the market. This is the question most cotton test: the Financial Times noted for its readership "high end" has to explain every time the mechanism in its reporting of the market.In contrast, 70% of Americans know that "a fifteen-year loan requires monthly payments higher than a loan of thirty years, but that all interest paid over the life of the loan will be lower." They are, however, that 52% believed that the purchase of a share of one company is necessarily more risky than the subscription of shares of mutual funds in shares. In total "less than 10% of Americans are able to correctly answer all five questions," said Annamaria Lusardi.

The French should not make fun of poor performance. The Institute for Financial Literacy public (IEFP), established in 2006 at the initiative of the Financial Markets Authority (AMF), is about to publish a similar survey conducted in the Hexagon. However the results appear even worse, can we prevent the IEFP.

The issue is probably lower in France.The balance of PAYG pensions and group health insurance does not appeal to individual decisions. Besides the French are much less indebted than their cousins ​​across the Atlantic.

Weaknesses in the calculation are the best thing in the world shared. Luc Chatel, Minister of Education and Xavier Darcos, his predecessor, did they not been trapped on television to have a mistake in a rule of three? This rule of proportionality, it is nevertheless essential to know the place to convert into euros the amounts in dollars! While it is fashionable to "be angry with the figures," while no one admits not knowing how to read. "Everyone complains of his memory, and no one complains of his trial," said La Rochefoucauld.Failing to properly count unfortunately causes the tragic misjudgment we know, both for households and for states. Hence the saying advisors financial products, worthy of the name: "It must be understood before taking."

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Greece:

In the aftermath of yet another meeting "for nothing" between the finance ministers of the euro area, said Baroin continue to trust in Greece. And, while 68% of the French disapprove of the increase in French contribution to the rescue of Greece, according to a poll Ifop. "Greece knows what she has to us, insists Baroin, invited the Grand Rendez-vous Europe 1-i> Tele-Le Parisien. We have said it, she has commitments, duties vis-à-vis its creditors, it has the requirement to provide answers. "

While Europe still can not agree to release the 158 billion pledged to Greece on July 21, Baroin announced that the European Stability Fund would be active in mid-October . "The agreement of July 21, expands the interventions of European fund, says he. It enables him to act in advance.This tool is good, just it is not yet implemented. We need the European Parliaments vote, and all Parliaments have given a date. " For him, this fund is not intended to please the Greeks but to save the euro.

Banks:

Former colleagues in government Fillon and Christine Lagarde Baroin do not seem to take the same position on the banks, now that the former Minister of Economy and Finance has been leading the International Monetary Fund. Three weeks ago, Christine Lagarde, sounded the alarm and called for "urgent recapitalization" of banks.

Europe 1, Baroin, sought reassurance, noting that "central banks assured liquidity to ensure any problems.This means that the question 'Are there any cash flow problems?', The answer is no and the question 'Is there a solvency problem?', The answer is no. We are not worried. " And to the question: 'Should we recapitalize European banks? "The finance minister said," They already recapitalize since 2008. They increased their capital by 50 billion euros, "said he.

Growth:

While the European Commission Thursday lowered its forecast for French growth to 1.6% in 2011, Baroin assured that the growth target of 1.75% this year was achievable. "We were on a line at 2%. It was fixed at 1.75% and we have reasonable grounds for regarding it's achievable. There will not exceed one euro in terms of deficit compared to what we have taken as a commitment. "

Budget 2012:

"Demanding".That's how Baroin defined the 2012 budget to be presented Sept. 28. While the opposition calls for a recovery plan, the finance minister was adamant. "I am convinced that a recovery would have an adverse effect in the current financial situation. In a long-term strategy, which should take us in 2013 to 3% deficit, we can not afford us the luxury to satisfy such demand, such as department or lobby, "he said.

Economic project of the Socialist Party:

Finally, the finance minister has been very critical of the socialist project. "The project of the Socialist Party fell.They need to throw in the trash, they must forget their plan to create jobs and increase public more than 50 billion taxes, "he said, saying the government side," It is not about one second of a general increase in taxes. "

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The wait dominates the Paris Bourse

The Paris Bourse pauses on Thursday, after a session that saw the CAC 40 jumped more than 3.5% beyond 3000 points. The benchmark index of the Paris Stock Exchange began the day on a stable note, down from 0.08% to 3070.58 points. On other European exchanges, the movement is the same. London lost 0.08% while Frankfurt climbed 0.08%. As in Asia this morning, traders expect the set of indicators of days before taking a position. Unlike previous days, the agenda will be very busy in the U.S. and Europe.

In the euro area, the eyes will be on the ECB. Earlier this afternoon, President Jean-Claude Trichet, will make an announcement on rates. Unsurprisingly, they should remain at current levels, at 1.5%. But markets are waiting above him to book his views on the problems of sovereign debt.For now, it's time for calm on that front. Yesterday, the German Constitutional Court was reassurance by confirming plans to aid in the euro area. In France, the deputies approved the second bailout of Greece arrested on July 21. They are the first to start this procedure. The Italian Senate last night gave a green light to the first austerity plan of over 52 billion euros from the Berlusconi government, while Spain adopted its fiscal rule of thumb, as desired by Paris and Berlin.

The U.S. employment under the microscope

United States, several indicators of the health of the economy will fall during the session. Among them, the trade balance, weekly jobless claims and oil stocks.The consumer credit will be available after market in Europe.

Two discourses are also highly expected on Thursday, those of Ben Bernanke and Barack Obama. The Fed chief will speak at around 19 am, French time, the Economic Club of Minnesota. Investors await details about how the Fed intends to support the economy. This intervention will follow the publication yesterday of its Beige Book, which again reported a moderate growth. For his part, Bush will speak on Congress to 1 am, French time, on employment and growth. It should detail a plan for employment that would reach $ 300 billion, raised yesterday by the U.S. media.

In France, growth in employment has slowed

In France, INSEE announced that the dealer paid employment decelerated in the second quarter.Principally market sectors have created a total of 33,300 jobs over the period April to June, from 78,300 in the first three months of the year, an increase of 0.2% against 0.5% the previous quarter.

The trade deficit widened further in July, reaching 6.46 billion euros in seasonally adjusted data, weighed down by a rebound in imports, Customs officials said Thursday.

On the currency side, the euro fell again to 1.4063 dollar.Oil, he, rising as a result of the prolonged interruption of production in the Gulf of Mexico due to tropical storm: a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October gained 41 cents to 89.75 dollars a barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery takes 18 cents to 115.98 dollars in morning trading.

Values ​​to follow on Thursday

• Banking

Stress tests imposed on European banks have made "transparency and clarity" on the strength of their balance sheets, said Wednesday night a Treasury official in the United States free credit report and score.

Banks react well. Among the largest increases are CAC, Societe Generale (2.01% to 19.77 euros), BNP Paribas (1.94% to 32.25 euros), Credit Agricole (0.97 to 5%, 80 euros), Axa (0.80% to 10.10 euros) and Natixis (0.55% to 2.55 euros).

• EADS (-0.85% to 21.69 euros)

The group is ready to dip deep into a war chest of $ 16 billion (11.3 billion euros) to finance its expansion in the U.S. and is in preliminary discussions with several potential targets, said Wednesday its chief executive for North America.In addition, the European missile manufacturer MBDA, in part by EADS, would be forced to reduce its workforce by 400 jobs by 2015, according to La Tribune.

Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS, is also considering a third increase its production capacity in one of its scenarios for 2018 to meet demand, the success of the A320 Neo scarce slots delivery before 2020, The Tribune reported Thursday.

• TF1 (0.87% to 10.43 euros) and EuropaCorp (stable at 3.29 euros)

The two groups announced Wednesday the signing of a Framework Agreement for development to produce the series in English for television.

• Ipsos: -1.36% to 27.13 euros

The group has launched a capital increase in cash of approximately 200 million euros to finance the purchase of Synovate.

• GDF Suez: -0.22% to 20.44 euros

The group will transfer to the Italian ENI participation of 10.4% in gas fields in the North Sea to pay off debt, reported Thursday Les Echos.

• Technip: 2.06% to 67.25 euros

In consortium with National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC), the group won a contract worth about $ 500 million for engineering, procurement and construction of the project Satah Full Field Development, a field located 200 km northwest of Abu Dhabi (UAE).

• Sanofi: 0.54% to 50.19 euros

Genzyme, the biotechnology laboratory of the U.S. bought by the French group, was unable to deliver its drug Fabrazyme in August, although it promised to doctors and patients to meet this deadline. U.S. regulators have made public Wednesday letters from Genzyme dated August 26 and 25 where the laboratory apologizes to its customers and for people with Fabry disease, a rare genetic disease, for "any confusion and disturbance "caused by the delay.

• France Telecom: 0.37% to 12.19 euros, Vivendi: -1.06% to 15.89 euros

The new tax passed by the government as part of the new austerity plan should give priority, penalize these two groups, according to Les Echos. France Telecom should be paid to these measures between 300 and 500 million.Vivendi would see him, his taxes increased from 250 to 400 million.

Next recommendation goes to Credit Suisse under-performance against neutral Ipsen (-0.41% to 22.85 euros). Societe Generale goes with the purchase of Biomerieux (2.09% to 71.40 euros).

Retailers expect good wine fairs

Pens, binders and notebooks just sold, the aisles are already crowded with bottles of wine. Casino at the wine fair began yesterday, Carrefour, Monoprix and Leaderprice follow today. The stakes are high for retailers: the event is about 10% of their annual sales within that radius.

While retailers feared a drop in consumption, the 2011 is again under the sign of exclusive regional, but especially low price. "More than six out of ten bottles will be offered to less than 6 euros," explains Stéphane Cathelain, head of wine fairs in the Casino Group stores (excluding Leaderprice, Franprix and Monoprix). The distributor, which doubles the operation of a fair whiskey, playing more than any other card of its private label wines with a score of "Club des Sommeliers Grand Reserve" a total of 450 brands, from 2 euros.

At Carrefour, the entry level is the same at 1.25 euros as the company has chosen to focus on the prize "this year". In hypermarkets, where 680 wines will be offered, "30% of the selection is less than 5 euros and 45% to less than 7 euros," explains the group. In supermarkets Carrefour Market, "the average bottle price is 6 euros." This argument should convince men-client type of the Wine Fair, to fill their baskets for 55 euros on average, at Carrefour.

"Two bottles purchased, offered a"

Leclerc also offers many affordable bottles from its 3000 references. The company, which invented the event in 1973, has seen its turnover grow Wine Fair from 8% last year to 80 million euros (12% of sales over the year).

Auchan, there are many "quality of the vintage 2009 to incite customers to buy," anticipates Olivier Mouchet, Group Head wines. Two-thirds of the offer (1200 references, up to 800 per store) will consist of wine this year. "For three years we have strengthened the promotions of the type bought two bottles, one offered. This offer is valid this year about a bottle of five, "said the official, adding that" the choice is our main argument. "

Last year, Auchan has achieved a turnover of 54 million euros, up 7%, representing 15% of sales over the year. This is double the grouping of the Musketeers, for which the event (45 million in sales) accounted for 8% of annual sales in 2010.

"Systeme U is" over-seller "of wine during the fairs, more than its share of food market over the period," said Emmanuel Podevin, the head of the national product of the wine brand. Rather than the lowest price, Système U emphasis this year on the value. The bottle sold in U at the Wine Fair is about twice as that sold during the year: 7 euros for the first, against about 3 euros for the second. The strategy has proven itself in 5 years, the turnover of the event has doubled in U system, reaching 36 million euros last year.

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