Five years in prison, four of which were required firm Thursday against the former Societe Generale trader Jerome Kerviel, held from June 8 before a court in Paris in early 2008 for causing a historic loss of 4.9 billion euros.
The maximum incurred was five years in prison and 375,000 euro fine for abuse of trust, forgery and using false and fraudulent introduction of data into an automated system.
In their indictment, the two representatives of the Crown have shown they believe that the three offenses were clearly established. For the prosecution, Jerome Kerviel, 33, is "a professional fraud", "overtrained", "cynical", having developed a "system organized, methodical, continuous" for "betraying the trust" of the bank and its employees."Not the criminalization of breach of trust also has to its name," said Jean-Michel Aldebert, head of the financial section of the floor.
"Your court judge for what he is: a manipulative, a cheater and a liar," which caused "global trauma," said Jean-Michel Aldebert, saying that "it is to stop the discredit upon the banks "and that" it is in the public order, economic and financial ".
The bank accuses Kerviel have unwittingly taken for tens of billions of dollars of speculative positions in financial markets, which resulted in a loss of 4.9 billion euros in January 2008.
(With AFP)
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Tuesday, opens in Los Angeles at E3, the world exhibition of video games. After a difficult year 2009, particularly for console games, the market could see a modest growth in 2010, under strongman Activision Blizzard, the first publisher in the world, a subsidiary of Vivendi. From the top of 4.28 billion in sales last year, the group seems untouchable: it attracts 11.5 million subscribers in its network game World of Warcraft. However, the sector remains fragile: "The market fell by 20% in Great Britain," warns Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft. The "decline is about 10% in France for PC gaming," said Philippe Sauze, the head of the subsidiary of Electronic Arts, its chief Olympique Lyonnais. But its economic weight is high.The global market for game software grew over 50% in three years, reaching $ 46.5 billion in 2009, against 30.3 in 2006, says Strategy Analytics.
Le Figaro. – What are your predictions for the sector in 2010?
Bobby Kotick – Companies have disappointing results when they are faced with a lack of creativity and innovation. Last year was a fantastic exercise for Activision Blizzard. Our outlook remains positive for 2010, thanks to our range of products. Our position is different from that of our competitors because more than 50% of our profits come not from the consoles. Overall, I think the video game market should grow slightly this year. But we need that Sony and Microsoft will further reduce the price of their consoles, especially in Europe.It seems clear that the higher the price of consoles is low, more games are selling well and the market grows.
The video game lobby E3 is placed under the sign of new interfaces. Will this upset the way he play?
The new interfaces are important, especially in Natal Microsoft Project and Move System from Sony. These technologies help to renew the interest of players and attract new audiences. Similarly, Nintendo 3DS is innovative and it indicates that everyone seeks to differentiate its products from other consoles. But the key element is the price quick pay day loan.We still have much work to be done to further simplify the use of games and ensure that equipment is simple to use.
What do you expect the Big Three, Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony?
Nintendo will not herald major advances for the Wii. But 3DS, with its screen in relief, is a very attractive product. The Xbox 360 is expected to benefit from innovations in online services Live. Finally, Sony has done a very good job with the PS3 is a console game player and a Blu-ray. I think all three console manufacturers are in better shape than last year. In addition, new ways to play show through the iPhone, iPad and televisions. But as the installed base remains weak, we invest prudently.
Facebook has given birth to publishers of small games, such as Zynga.What are your ambitions in social networking?
Facebook represents enormous opportunities for the future, not immediate. Again, we do not want to be first, but the best. We have the flexibility to develop our own games for new platforms, as we did for the iPhone.
What is your assessment for "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2?
We have already sold over 20 million games. We have extensive plans for Call of Duty for five years. It has become a group activity. We have created four divisions, one for Call of Duty, one for network games like World of Warcraft (WoW), one third for musical games and a fourth for our licenses. The organization of the group is in line with the market.
What are your major projects?
Star Craft II: Wings of Liberty and Battle.net are very important.It's the same for Cataclysm, the upcoming expansion of WoW, and new versions of Guitar Hero, DJ Hero. Finally, we develop an online service for Call of Duty. I think we have the best range of games in our history.
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The 2009 winter was mild for the group Club Mediterranee. During this semester, the first of its 2009-2010 fiscal year, the leisure group has indeed returned to profitability, generating a net profit of 3 million euros. Last year at the same time, it showed a loss of 22 million and in 2008, the winter had ended on a loss of 9 million euros.
The Group's turnover decreased by 5.5% during the winter of 2010 compared to the same tourist season in 2009. This decline reflects a market "sluggish" and the impact of the ash cloud generated by the volcanic eruption in Iceland, which paralyzed air traffic in April, the company said in a statement released Friday. This damage has impacted the group's net profit amounting to 5.6 million, including 3.7 million on operating profit (OCR) Activity Village.The ROC Villages is nevertheless clear to 28 million euros in the first half, marking an increase of 16% compared to winter 2009. The ROC Heritage rebounded, but remains negative: operating loss from this activity on a year from 20 million to three million.
The EBITDA margin of villages has increased by 3 points in four years, and now stands at 9.1%. The decrease in revenue per available bed (-5.7%) due to the decline in occupancy rates, which fell by 4.3 point. The average price of the day hôtellerière has indeed maintained: it stood at 146.40 euros, down 20 cents compared to prices recorded during the winter of 2009.
At the end of the half year, Club Med displays a cash balance of 21 million euros, against a borrowing of 18 million last year at the same time.Proceeds from disposals have reported that Club Med 2 million euros, an amount six times less than that received from sales of assets during the first half of 2009. The group's net debt has been pared down over 30% in one year, to $ 218 million.
Accelerating China
Club Med said it will accelerate its development in China this year, reaching 30,000 clients in the country and become "the leader of high quality vacation all inclusive. Chinese customers has grown 40% in winter 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.
Club Med will open its first holiday village in China "in November as scheduled. After this site that must leave land to Yabuli "famous ski resort in the north-east, four holiday villages should be built in China by 2015.At that time, Club Med is 200,000 customers in China. To achieve this goal and "to strengthen its development," the group says it "led discussions on an industrial partnership with a Chinese group."
Club Med is expecting a good summer
The Summer is also favorable for the group. Welcomed the results of winter, Henri Giscard d'Estaing, the CEO of Club Mediterranee, underlines that "the level of bookings was already showing the number of customers higher than last summer due to late booking. Bookings have increased 18% and over the last eight weeks. During the period, bookings have increased by 11.2% in Europe, 40.4% in the Americas and 42% in Asia.
The total volume to date of summer bookings remains "online" (-0.9%) with their level at the same time last year.Europe attracts fewer (-4.4%) while America and Asia recorded an increase in demand, respectively 13.8% and 18.1%.
Club Med says he will continue to move upmarket its holiday villages, so that two thirds of the accommodation capacity of the group are four or five "tridents", synonymous with luxury Club Med.
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Inflation has remained virtually unchanged in May The price index rose 0.1%, after rising 0.3% in April, INSEE reported Friday. Over one year, the labels have increased 1.6%.
In May, the index was pushed up "by the new rising energy prices and the seasonal increase in prices of fresh products and some services, including insurance, says the National Institute of Statistics. In contrast, prices were dragged down by lower seasonal rates for heating and promotions on cars and telecom is INSEE No teletrack payday loans. In clothing, labels do not change, remaining stable on the month.
In detail, oil prices rose by 0.9% (+13.6% yoy), as a result of rising oil prices.In services, the insurance rates also appear to increase: 1.5% for the automotive (+7.6% YoY), 0.8% for health (+5.1% over one year) and +0.4% for residential (+4.2% YoY), details the INSEE. The food prices have also increased by 0.3%.
Washington wants to reduce public expenditure
Barack Obama on Tuesday gave members of his Cabinet until Sept. 13 so they identify reductions of 5% of funds in their agencies and departments. That extra effort the White House to reduce spending in response to American concerns before the expected surge in debt to Uncle Sam more than 100% of GDP in 2012. However, the actual impact of this initiative looks marginal. It will only result in recommendations to Congress may be accepted for fiscal year 2012, not before. In addition, over 60% of federal spending by definition beyond these potential restrictions. These expenses called "automatic" which include debt service, expenses of the pension plan and those of public health systems.
In February, Bush has already requested a freeze for three years (after inflation) of many public spending "not automatic". But the categories have been added untouchable military spending, those relating to civilian security and international aid. But the Pentagon budget alone is $ 700 billion, or half of total discretionary spending. Moreover, the Congress, including Republicans, routinely refuses the few savings proposed by the White House in weapons programs. In point lead Barack Obama now threatening to veto the budget law drafted for the Pentagon by Congress.
Moscow is 20% of staff within
The ad has a taste for rigor, but it is not formally rigorous.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday ordered his administration to make proposals to reduce by 20% the number of officials in the country. "It is obviously, a far too severe, which can not be made mechanically or on the basis of purely financial criteria. We are talking about the fate of people, "said the head of the Kremlin, which gave no further details. Already last week, during a cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin had discussed such a proposal would lead to the elimination of 120,000 jobs and would save 43 billion rubles (1.13 billion ' euros). In contrast, half of this allocation would serve to increase the salaries of other cadres of the public.Despite the beginnings of the European crisis that could hit Russia, the government continues to boast its program of social spending that benefits particularly to retirees. In the past, such cost-saving measures have already been proposed, without being acted upon.
Germany on the wagon
Monday is a detailed history of savings – 80 billion euros by 2014 – announced by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In order of priority expenditures of the federal government. Number of allocations will be scaled down and almost 15,000 jobs disappear in the civil service by 2014.The removal of 40,000 soldiers in the Bundeswehr is also under consideration.
New sections in Hungary
After his rescue in late 2008 by the IMF, the World Bank and the European Union, Hungary had announced an initial dose of austerity with a wage freeze for two years in the public and the removal of the 13th month for pensioners. Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday a detailed budget which provides, in addition to creating a financial tax, further cuts in public spending to the tune of 425 million euros. The revenue cap leaders and the public is considered a strict examination of spending to purchase a car or phone service.
Elsewhere in Europe
It is not good to be official now in Europe.Down 5-15% of wages in Ireland, abolition of 13th and 14th month and down 7% in Greece pensions, freeze wages and non-replacement of a staff of two in Portugal, wage freeze in Italy, Spain, hiring freeze in Great Britain … Besides the cuts in operating expenses that are spreading.
For its centennial, the fund invests Strategic Investment (ISP), launched there just eighteen months, has chosen to support CGG Veritas. This intervention takes place through the acquisition of the group's shares listed in Paris and New York, up from just over 170 million euros, or 6% of capital. The fund, which became the largest shareholder of the company, ask an administrator to the council table. "This is a significant commitment of ISPs, says Gilles Michel, Director General of public funds. One of our three missions is to strengthen the capital of companies listed on major technological potential. Upon entering the capital of CGG Veritas, we conduct our sixth investment of this type. "
This, incidentally, the third stake in an oil company, after Vallourec and Technip.With a market capitalization of 2.7 billion euros, CGG Veritas is smaller than the other two groups supported by the funds, but the company employed 7,500 strong positions in its areas of specialty. It is a world leader in providing services in imaging for identifying hydrocarbon reserves, both onshore and offshore, it is also the world leader in seismic equipment.
"We are proud to be regarded as a business with great potential by the ISP, and it does not mark a turning point for the company, but it will allow us to further develop the technology to improve the image of the basement" , commented the President of CGG Veritas, Robert Brunck.
Long-term shareholder
The entry of ISPs also aims to secure a capital highly fragmented.IFP (French Petroleum Institute), long the largest shareholder, holds only 4.2%. And the company has 700 funds in its capital.
With the strategic fund, about 10% of the capital are now in the hands of public shareholders and long term. "The presence of ISPs in the capital makes CGG Veritas attractive for other long term investors," said Gilles Michel. For him, securing the capital enables these dynamic companies to focus on growth rather than spending time managing financial issues.
Problem even more crucial that CGG Veritas is an average actor in a sector parapetrolic won by a movement of concentration. Schlumberger has made two acquisitions in quick succession.The industry giant has launched at the end of winter a bid of 11 billion dollars on Smith International, before you spend a few weeks later, one billion euros to afford the French Geoservices. Many observers consider that competitors, including Halliburton, would replicate …
Its cost justifies his epithet "superniche. Since 2007, companies no longer pay tax on gains on the sale of their subsidiaries, provided that they have held at least two years. However, this exemption – also known as "niche Cope" according to the budget minister at the time – has generated a shortfall for the state $ 3.4 billion in 2007, 12.5 billion in 2008 and 6.1 billion in 2009, according to figures from Bercy. And it is only the crisis that has lowered the rating last year, companies unwilling to yield to loss of equity.
"With this measure, the state subsidizes big businesses that do not need. 22 billion in three years, it's insane! "Protests Jerome Cahuzac, President of PS Financial Committee of the Assembly took up arms launched by his predecessor, Didier Migaud cons niche Cope.In fact, as revealed by the magazine Marianne, Danone has saved in 2008 500 million corporate tax (IS) on disposal of Danone Biscuit conducted in 2007 (IS being paid one-year lag) . For Suez, the time still married to GDF, the rebate was $ 800 million. Other big winners: LBO funds (leveraged management buy-out), companies that buy and resell a few years later.
Still, this reasoning boosted Philippe Marini, the UMP rapporteur of the Finance Committee of the Senate and growing end of 2004, the amendment creating the niche Cope: "The debate on the shortfall is nonsense. If capital gains were taxed in France, transfer operations would be from Belgium or the Netherlands, through holding companies located there.Or even sales would not do at all! The French State would recover nothing in taxes. "An argument given in Bercy where it does not reach this niche. In fact, in the OECD, 21 out of 29 countries practice the exemption of capital gains payday loan. "And it is very easy for a French company to create a holding company elsewhere in Europe," the entourage of Christine Lagarde, Minister of Economy.
That's exactly what happened in the early 2000s, when France was one of the few countries to tax the capital gains. "Many French companies have established overseas holding companies which carried the titles of their various subsidiaries. Thus, they could sell securities without paying taxes, "said Jean-Yves Mercier, partner at law firm CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre.And two reports, one from the Council tax burden (CPO, an offshoot of the Court of Accounts), had sounded the alarm. "A holding company relocated, the risk of losing ultimately a decision center," says Philippe Marini.
More holdings in France
The final report of the 2009 OAC welcomes the end of the French exception. And Bercy unsheathed his statistics: since the gains are exempt, believes the number of holdings in France (1 112 in 2007, 1 276 in 2009). On the side of the MEDEF, it was noted that while the economic fabric wins. "Today, companies must adapt, evolve their business heart, which can pass through acquisitions or disposals of subsidiaries.Fortunately, the French companies may, like their European counterparts, do not brake tax, "explained Marie-Christine Coisne Roquette, Chairman of the Committee on Taxation Medef and CEO of Sonepar.
Finally, the cost itself of the niche is overvalued. Because, by convention methodology, it is calculated by pretending that capital gains were taxed at 33.3% standard rate of tax. However, they were only 19%. The loss caused by the exemption rather turn around 12 billion over three years.
The index futures are predicting an opening up U.S. markets. The Nasdaq 100 index futures and Standard & Poor's 500 index advancing 0.14% respectively at 1 994.55 points and 0.11% to 1 193.90 points. The Tokyo Stock Exchange also closed up 0.42% at 11251.90 points on Monday, supported by positive indicators published this weekend in the United States and by higher metal prices that has benefited the trading companies.
The U.S. stock markets have recently experienced six consecutive weeks of increases, an unprecedented series from the lowest 12 years and a half touchdowns in March 2009. On Friday, the Dow briefly crossed into the symbolic meeting of 11 000 points to finish at a cable that level at precisely 10 997.35 points. For its part, the Standard & Poor's 500 took 0.67% to 1 194.37 points and the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 0.71% to 2454.05 points.Since its low point of March 9, 2009, the S & P 500 has now increased by 75%.
On the foreign exchange market, the euro is rising against the dollar this morning after the announcement yesterday by the countries of the eurozone plan the details of aid to Greece. The European currency was trading at just below $ 1.37.
The week will be decisive for the U.S. markets. Investors will receive the first quarterly results of major public companies faxless pay day loans. As usual, the aluminum giant Alcoa will kick off the season of publications, on Monday after the close of Wall Street.The coming week will also be driven by quarterly results from Intel, Google, General Electric and JPMorgan Chase & Co. banks among others.
On the macroeconomic front, the week will be marked by several important indicators, as the index of consumer prices, retail sales for the month of March, industrial production, housing starts and the first estimate of the confidence index Reuters / Michigan.
The markets will also follow the hearing of Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, the Congressional Joint Economic Committee on Wednesday and will monitor closely developments in the case of the Greek debt.
On the side of values, the oil sector should also facilitate the session. Chevron Friday, without giving a figure, has announced an increase its refining margins in the first quarter.The band thrives on rising oil prices and a possible improvement in its refining margins. The major U.S. must publish its accounts on April 30.
According to the press, the merger between United Airlines and U.S. Airways should be performed exclusively by exchange of shares.
"It's not good at the right time, and for good reason." Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler, welcomed its strategic agreement with Renault-Nissan, during a press conference held Wednesday in Brussels, attended by Carlos Ghosn, CEO of the French group. "The benefits of this alliance are immediate and lasting. Renault and Nissan, synergies with Daimler net present value of at least 2 billion euros in terms of cost reduction and sales opportunities over the next five years, "said Carlos Ghosn. Synergies will be equal between Renault and Nissan.His German counterpart expects earnings "of the same magnitude as that listed for both Renault and Nissan," 2 billion euros.
The two leaders, who returned in detail on the industrial structure already known of this cooperation, reiterated the importance of this type of alliance in a competitive environment tense. "This partnership will enable us to expand our product portfolio, reduce costs and increase capacity," noted Dieter Zetsche. "We must take advantage of such cooperation to create added value for customers and a sustainable future. This is the key in the car market today, "said Carlos Ghosn.
No increase in participation
Both groups confirmed a mutual stake of up to 3.1%. Renault and Nissan will respectively 1.55% stake in Daimler. The latter take 3.1% in both groups.According to the leaders, this exchange of shares is purely "symbolic" and reflects "a fundamental reflection on cooperation. Alongside the conference, the Ministry of Economy renewed its "satisfaction" for this partnership by announcing its intention to take 0.55% stake in Renault Nissan, to maintain its participation at 15.01%, which gives the status of shareholder.
For now, any increase in participation between the two protagonists is excluded. "We needed a number that has a symbolic value, hence the 3%. We do not have much cash to inject into this type of structure. We therefore have no idea of extending the cross-shareholdings. Our goal is first to identify concrete results, "said Carlos Ghosn.No merger is also in the agenda.
Extend Cooperation
The two CEOs have confirmed that this partnership was a starting point. The two companies intend to "explore opportunities ahead" by expanding their strategic cooperation in the years to come. An exchange of modules and components between the Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz is expected, as well as an expansion of regional cooperation in the U.S. and in emerging countries, "which play an important role with great potential." China is particularly in the viewfinder of the two groups."It must be everywhere," said Carlos Ghosn.
In the long term, Daimler as Renault-Nissan expect a positive impact on employment, thanks to "better use of industrial capacity in France and Germany.
In this video, shot by Renault, Carlos Ghosn talks about the overall benefits of signing such a partnership:
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