This Friday, May 18th is a historic day. For Wall Street, which will host the largest IPO in history. For Facebook, too, who will submit to the test markets, namely the Nasdaq, a history that started in a college dorm. Employees of the startups are celebrating it since Thursday evening by typing lines of code all night.

They were invited to participate in one of these "hackathons" which made the reputation of Facebook for a day or more, developers gather to undo and redo services for the social network. Facebook a must which submits all new recruits to inspire a culture of hackers across the enterprise.

Facebook is an IPO eight years after its creation by Mark Zuckerberg at Harvard, assisted by Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, Andrew McCollum and Chris Hughes. Its value reached $ 104 billion. This is a hundred times the profit made by the social network in 2011. A ratio of crazy, but comparable to Google in its introduction in 2004. Two days before his arrival on the stock exchange, the social network has even offered the luxury of raising the price range of its activities to $ 38 and increase the volume of securities offered for sale. But after the operation, his young owner, 28 years, still retain 55.8% of the voting rights.

Many observers are questioning the possible formation of a new internet bubble payday advance low fees. Their criticisms are reminiscent of the doubts raised during the IPO of Google. The search engine was shaking up the Web with a new advertising model, the purchase of keywords that trigger ads targeted based on research conducted by Internet users. Facebook pushes him, communication. His ambition: "Connect the world." He has already managed to attract 901 million members, one of two user visits the site at least once a month. More than 526 million access it every day.

The beginning of the journey

But the service not only to connect people. It also links them to their musical tastes, their leisure, their interests. From a rogue's gallery online, Facebook has become the digital identity of nearly a billion people, evolving portrait of the social activity of its users. A gold mine of data that Facebook is trying to sell to advertisers.

On the walls of its premises, Facebook reminds its employees that only "1% of the trip was done." The site has yet to conquer China, where access to Facebook is blocked, controlling the mobile world and find revenue sources the most profitable. This is the bet on the future as Facebook will offer the stock market.

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• The facts. Between January 1 and March 31, 2012, it sold 419.1 million mobile phones worldwide, according to figures from research company Gartner reported Wednesday. This is the first time since the second quarter of 2009 as the market retreats.

• Why is it sold less mobile. According to Gartner, the main reason is to be sought in Asia. Demand between January and March, traditionally driven by the Chinese New Year, has slowed, due to deferrals of purchases and a lack of new landmark.

Mobile phone makers have had mixed fortunes, however. So, Nokia has been the most impacted. Its sales have collapsed, from 107 million units last year to 83 million, a global market share of 19.8%. The Finnish group has lost its leading position in mobile, he had held since 1998. Samsung (20.7%), with sales however rose from 68 to 86 million units, an increase of over 25%, is now number one industry.

In fact, manufacturers are well positioned in smartphones that are best left in the quarter. It sold 144.4 million smartphones between January and March, an increase of 44%. Together, Apple and Samsung have concentrated almost half of sales (49.3%), against a little over a third last year. Interestingly, smartphones represent the total sales of Apple and 44% of those from Samsung, against only 16% for Nokia.

• The conservative projections for 2012, despite the iPhone 5. Given this trend, Gartner considers "inevitable" a downward revision of sales forecasts throughout the year. The research institute recognizes that the arrival of new Android smartphones and Windows phone, and the launch of the iPhone 5, will encourage strong growth in Europe and the United States. Similarly, the new BlackBerry, BB10, is expected by the end of the year.

During the first quarter, more than one smartphone sold in two (56.1%) was an Android, against 36.4% a year ago. IOS, the system of the iPhone, is it rose from 16.9 to 22.8% market share. In contrast, all other systems are now fallen below 10%. Smartphones running Microsoft's Windows phone have such great difficulty to penetrate. They represented 1.9% of sales this quarter, or 2.7 million units sold.

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It is wrong to believe that May 1st is "traditionally" non-political in France! Since the first observance of Labor Day in 1891 in the Hexagon – which ended in a shootout by 9 victims in Fourmies (North) -, the protests have always been exploited politically. Including the left, which long ago found a way to fight "big capital". It was in Paris in 1889, at the meeting of the Second Socialist International, as of May 1 was chosen to celebrate Labour Day. The idea came from Raymond Lavigne, an elected socialist Bordeaux. Other collusion, Marshal Pétain decreed in 1941 the statutory holiday of May 1st "Labor Day and national harmony" on a proposal from René Belin, a former leader of the Communist wing of the CGT became Minister of Labour.

For ten years he has not had a chance without the left calls its members to inflate union marches to protest against the political right. In 2003, to oppose the Fillon reform of pensions in 2008 for the first year of Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee, in 2009 against the crisis response

. Between the two towers

Recovery attempts have been such that the union leaders had to restrain the demands of socialist leaders credit score. As in 2010, full pension reform Woerth: Bernard Thibault and François Chérèque had banned members of the staff of PS to march alongside them. A compromise had been reached by organizing a photo during the transition, at a street corner, union leaders. It would have been unrealistic to imagine that in 2012, which falls on 1 May as in every election between the two towers, it could be otherwise. It is only up a notch. The dikes were shattered, and the CGT find nothing wrong with the proposal of Jean-Luc Melenchon to manifest to him. And for good reason.

This will be a year on Tuesday that its leader has taken the field against the reelection of the head of state. On 1 May 2011, on the set of "Grand Jury RTL-Le Figaro-LCI," Bernard Thibault had first confessed that he would not, personally, that Nicolas Sarkozy makes a second term. A statement that had surprised on the day of Labor Day, supposedly, "by tradition" apolitical.

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The government deficit in France in 2013 is forecast at 3.9% of gross domestic product (GDP), far from the 3% target set by the government, according to forecasts biannual International Monetary Fund (IMF) published today.

This year, the deficit would reach 4.6%, says the IMF, against 4.4% in commitment from France to its European partners.

In its "Monitor of public finances", the IMF predicts that France approaches the symbolic threshold of 3% in 2014, with a year behind the official schedule. These projections mean that the next president, whoever he is, will soon adopt a new fiscal tightening after the election of May 6 Indeed, the president-candidate Nicolas Sarkozy and his Socialist rival Francois Hollande, the poll favorite, have both pledged to cut the deficit to 3% in 2013.

For its part, the public debt of France is expected to increase next year the symbolic threshold of 90% of GDP to 90.8%, while all candidates hope to contain it to below this threshold. It would commence thereafter a slow reflux.

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The merger between Universal Music and EMI, respectively number one and four global music publishing operation is not like the others, beat independent labels, headwind against it announced last November. And this acquisition which is the subject, since late March, a thorough review by the European competition authorities, gives rise to unusual trading.

In addition to the traditional arguments about the consequences that such a merger might have on prices, the protagonists struggle, indeed, the future of design in Europe. With unexpected postures. If the American Universal Music – directed from Santa Monica by the British Lucian Grainge and detained by the French Vivendi – poses as guarantor of European culture, his compatriot Warner Music – owned by Russian-born U.S. billionaire Len Blavatnik – shall guard on the "negative consequences for the identity and heritage of Europe, access to culture, creativity and innovation", in a note circulated to the Commission that Le Figaro is procured.

The strength of Hollywood

Warner – unsuccessful candidate for redemption of EMI – displays the same objective as the independent grouped in Impala: torpedo rapprochement with Brussels Universal-EMI but also the resumption of catalogs of the British recorded music (number 2), ranging from Norah Jones Sting, by a consortium led by Sony (No. 4). Both operations should lead to the birth in each of these careers in music of a domineering leader, strong market share of nearly 40% in Europe.

"A music company will seek to reduce risk by influencing the production of records or by focusing its marketing firepower on a few tracks that are most likely to travel abroad – usually in the Anglo-American repertoire," warns the Warner notes, which sounded the alarm: "In the European context with its very specific markets, record companies are essential to sustain production in local languages ​​and cultures. Leave a dominant player in deciding the viability of investments in local cultural carries a high risk. "

And prevent, "A local company is less competitive when a dominant player can absorb the bad years with a thick catalog of rights. This control of the catalog explains, in large part, Hollywood domination of the European Film Market. "

All subjects, Warner insists that should preoccupy European countries signed the UNESCO Convention encouraged to "adopt measures and policies to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions within their territory." A goal also highlighted in the European treaties, the U.S. recalled. Brussels must rule on the Universal-EMI merger by August 8. Universal as well as Sony have proposed sale of catalogs to reduce their scope. Recorded music side, if the Commission is not satisfied by the remedies of Sony, the European anti-trust will also open an investigation.

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A water sports center has replaced five towers in the district of Val Fourré in Mantes-la-Jolie. Photo credits: ANRU

500, 700 or 1 trillion? The euro area has an appointment this Friday in Copenhagen for the latest additions to its financial firewall and anti-crisis to its arsenal, while the political fatigue sets in Europe against austerity.

The divisions that have come to light between Paris, Berlin and Brussels on the future size of the bailout fund serious concern to markets, while in bad times, according to the OECD. Thursday, the Milan Stock Exchange fell 3.30%, that of Paris lost 1.43% and the euro retreated to $ 1.32.  

After months of negotiations, the seventeen ministers of finance of the common currency must agree on how the European Stability Mechanism (MES), the permanent emergency fund that will begin to relay the temporary established in 2010 .

The lending capacity of the firewall, initially set at 500 billion, will undoubtedly raised to 700 billion or more through a tardy concession of Germany, the main funder. For their part, the European Commission, IMF, OECD and France, through the voice of Baroin, grow to a figure of around 1 trillion.

Haggling

But setting this ceiling, watched by the markets, is largely theoretical. The ultimate capacity of loans depends on the leverage chosen, from a capital contribution set at 80 billion, for all seventeen countries. It also depends on the timing of national inputs, the speed of repayment of loans and additional committed instant payday loan lenders. In practice, the total actually available would increase from 250 today to 500 billion in the summer of 2014, according to internal documents.

The other unknown in Copenhagen is the estate of Jean-Claude Juncker, for seven years as head of the Eurogroup. The German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, appears as a favorite difficult to unseat. But several factors could delay his consecration. Other seats are vacant at the European Central Bank (ECB), the EBRD (European Bank of Development) and the MES, and the capitals hear bargain their support. In France and Greece, the decisive elections also prohibit release too fast or too openly extra power in Berlin.

Among all these bargains is a reluctance on course to be risks that creep. Except Germans, Europeans impatient with an austerity too severe. Spain is a general strike and Portugal still struggling to finance its debt, despite EU support. Ireland hopes to win the support of the ECB to deal with an immediate deadline. The Netherlands, once model of rigor, in turn sink into an endless government crisis against a backdrop of budget cuts emergency.

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After the Millers last week, it was the turn of the manufacturers of dry dog ​​and cat to be sanctioned by the Competition Authority. In a country of 8 million dogs and 10 million cats, groups Nestle (Purina), March (Royal Canin) and Colgate-Palmolive (Hill's Pet Nutrition) were sentenced to pay 35.3 million euros for cartel with their wholesalers.

According to the sages of the Rue de l'Echelle, Nestle and Mars agreed for five years (2004-2008) with their wholesalers, who then sold their stores croquettes (BHV Jardiland, Leroy Merlin, Truffaut …).

The two market leaders have imposed their resale prices, exclusive territorial or customer, thus limiting competition between them. Royal Canin had already been convicted in 2005 by Constable competition.

As for the subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive, she has arranged with its veterinary wholesalers to ban the export of its products outside the Hexagon.

If Nestlé and Mars are the most heavily penalized (19 and 11.6 million fine), they nevertheless benefited from reductions of approximately 20% penalty for not contesting the facts. They also set up compliance programs to competition rules. Finally, they reorganized their distribution system and p

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The end of the franc is big to the Treasury. The latest * franc notes were redeemable at branches of the Bank of France until February 17 at midnight. Ten days after the end of the countdown, the institution is taking stock. A total of 1.5 million tickets have been reported for a total value of 378 million francs (57.6 million), from 1 September 2011 and the deadline of February 17. According to the Bank of France, there is 55 million franc banknotes in circulation, hidden under the mattress, forgotten in old bags or kept by collectors nostalgic. A nest egg estimated at 526 million euros.

And this balance, called "base emission" will be donated to the State. Indeed, the notes and coins in circulation are considered a debt, on the liability side of the central bank. "To annulerla debt, the value of the tickets not presented for exchange is repaid to the State," said the Bank of France in a newsletter. All these francs lost, forgotten or become so jealously preserved revenue to the exchequer.

The countryside of the Banque de France will not have been very successful, despite his repeated reminders to the holders of francs in recent months and the creation of a dedicated website (www.jechangemesfrancs.com). The franc banknotes still in circulation became indeed a treasure of 602 million euros in late 2010. Yet the French had thrown at the offices of the institution's approach to the deadline. "Just under 200,000 cuts were exchanged in December 2011, but nearly 367,000 in January 2012 and 733,000 cuts on the first 17 days of February," says the Bank of France. A record was set on February 17, with 91,000 tickets reported.  

The large denomination reported mass

For latecomers or those who have not managed to get hold of these small economies too well hidden, they have "no choice but to keep their tickets as a souvenir or sell to coin collectors," warns we at the Bank of France. But beware, all tickets will not take the value. "Better to have kept the cuts of 20 francs or 50 francs Debussy Saint-Exupery," said Michel Prieur, specialist of currencies within the Compagnie Générale de Bourse (CGB.fr). Now demonetized, only small values ​​will make a "margin buxom." A lesson that apprentices numismatists have understood. "Two thirds of the reported cuts are notes of 200 francs and 500 francs," says the Bank of France, which states that "the average volume of trade amounted to 15 tickets per transaction, for an average value of 3627 francs (553 euros). "

* The range of notes that can be exchanged against euro: CHF 20 bills bearing the image of Debussy, equivalent to 3.05 euros, the "Saint-Exupery" 50 francs (7.62 euros) , the "Cezanne" of 100 francs (15.24 euros), "Gustave Eiffel" of 200 francs (30.49 euros) and the "Pierre et Marie Curie" of 500 francs (76.22 euros).

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The possible appointment of Jean-Louis Borloo at the head of Veolia react keenly the opposition. Monday, politicians railed against a possible intervention of Nicolas Sarkozy in this case, as reported by Libération and Les Echos.

The Socialist Party, through the voice of Pierre Moscovici, denounced "little arrangements in Fouquet's friends no faxing payday loans." Canal +, the campaign manager Francois Hollande evoked "the game of musical chairs comfortable to oust a man of political centrists and avoid certain temptations."

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