Facebook: 8 years, 901 million fans, $ 100 billion

18th May

 

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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Spain wants to protect its banking sector

13th May

 

Wednesday after the nationalization of the first network of savings banks Bankia, the Spanish government on Friday introduced a new banking reform, the second in less than three months. Madrid requires banks an additional provision of $ 30 billion. This will add to the 53 billion that should already be provisioned by the end of the year to cover the risk of real estate the most problematic, representing € 184 billion globally, according to Bank of Spain.

This caution will also be extended to 123 billion of property assets considered non-problematic "for their hypothetical deterioration" in the words of Minister of Economy, Luis de Guindos. In total, Spanish banks will be funded 45% of their total real estate assets by the end of the year. Before the first government reform Rajoy, the rate was only 14%, the minister recalled. Other decision, banks will separate the real estate assets from their balance sheets and place them in specialized agencies, to better assess the right price. "It will be mandatory for all entities," the minister said. In the interests of transparency, and meet there at a request of the Eurogroup, Madrid will carry out audits of accounts. "Two independent evaluators" will be responsible for judging the soundness and credibility of assessments.

Recession in 2013

The question is how banks can finance such levels of provision and how much will be deducted from their own funds bad credit pay day loans. Guindos recalled that during the last injection of public money made by the previous government, the fund Frob had lent 15 billion euros to banks. "The total should be this time significantly lower," he thought, noting that the state would receive an interest rate of 10% on money lent. "The Frob keeps 5 billion in cash. We will see how it will be necessary to supplement, "said Guindos. The Minister further stated that this funding through convertible bonds to five years, would cost "nothing" to the taxpayer.

The exercise of clarity has not convinced the markets: the Madrid Stock Exchange immediately plunged 3%, carried away by banks. The chief minister, Mariano Rajoy, nice hammer that the deficit will not be affected, the target of 5.3% of GDP this year, against 8.5% in December, and above 3% target in 2013 , is very hypothetical. The European Commission, which today released its new forecasts for the euro area, anticipates a deficit of 6.3% of GDP in 2012, even worse, 6.4% in 2013. In less than three months, Brussels has revised up sharply the recession, to 1.8% of GDP, against 1% previously. Next year, the economy would be even the only Iberian euro area to be in red.

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Officials: workforce stabilized

8th May

 

The election of Francois Hollande, Sunday marked the end of one of the major political acts of the quinquennium of Nicolas Sarkozy, the non-replacement of staff on two retiring. A policy that led to the elimination of 150,000 jobs in the State Civil Service from 2008 to 2012.

The socialist president wants to create the contrary, under his five-year, 60,000 positions in 5000 and National Education in the police, gendarmerie and justice. These recruitments will rise gradually in charge. But as from September 2012, Francois Hollande affect 1000 additional teachers in French schools. However, the new president said he would not increase the total number of state officials in the next five years.

In light of new posts in the Education, Interior and Justice, the stabilization of the workforce including the abolition of jobs elsewhere. The entourage of Francois Hollande said that the army has already planned to reduce its workforce by 8,000 jobs per year and that is enough to "find" to delete 5000 jobs per year in other departments. And also to emphasize that there are 60,000 jobs in duplication between state and local governments.

Officials should not expect a boom in terms of pay. Francois Hollande promised to quickly organize a conference with social service unions, but also announced it would not be possible to do everything at once. Encrypted program also provides for a stabilization of the payroll of the state. Officials saw their index point, which is the basis for their compensation, frozen in 2011 and 2012. This is likely to last.  

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Buffett dispelled the concerns of its shareholders

6th May

 

This visit was highly anticipated. A month after announcing he was suffering from prostate cancer, multibillionaire Warren Buffett met this weekend's 40,000 shareholders of his holding company Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha, in the U.S. state of Nebraska, where he lives since 1956. Saying "in shape", he has worked hard to reassure his health. The investor of 81 years and has participated in a competition to launch newspapers in the corridors of CenturyLink Center, before pushing the song with the cheerleaders from the University of Nebraska and an ice cream with gusto low interest rate personal loans. "I have four doctors, several of which are shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway," he has said, in response to a question at the general assembly, whose key exchanges are transcribed on the site of CNBC. He reiterated that his treatment, which induce "not a single day of hospitalization," would not prevent him from working.

The investor of 81 years aparticipé a contest to launch newspapers in the corridors of CenturyLink Center.

As companies struggle to recruit

22nd April

 

A textile company, for lack of sewers it needs for its plant in Quimper, creates a pathway of learning to train its future recruits? The SME Armor Lux, well known for its white wine, made the headlines this week, at a time when all candidates for president are the re-industrialization of the country one of their campaign themes.

This situation is not isolated and number of industrial jobs – welders, boilermakers, milling … – are pulling their hair to find candidates and encourage vocations. "There is a real paradox between a high level of unemployment in France and companies who are not candidates for positions in recruitment, whether welders, millers, coppersmiths, payroll technicians, seamstresses …. In total we estimate that roughly fifty so-called shortage occupations. In our business we miss about 30% of requests from our customers because we do not have the resources and this situation has been deteriorating for a decade, notes François Beharel, group president of Randstad and staffing agencies. Concretely, this means that our group could generate 30% of turnover and more. "

For him, the problem is essentially related to the collective image What these professions in public opinion. "We imagine that in the textile industry and is like 50 years ago, while the environment has changed, that wages were revised upwards and that career paths are possible." "We have to get into people's heads, and young people in particular, that the industry is clean and not necessarily noisy. In this regard, the construction was successful for several years to reverse its bad image, "says Anne-Marie Bjornson, Director of Transitions AFPA.

Develop learning

A UIMM, Joel Mendez, Director Employment and Training, said that one communicates primarily on job losses. Yet in all sectors of metallurgy, the recruitment needs estimated over the period 2007-2015 are always evaluated. Between 60,000 and 80,000 jobs per year, including 30 to 40% reserved for graduates, according to a study by the study-which will be updated in early 2012 over a 2013 to 2020 -. "There is a big educational effort and support to achieve with the companies to become more involved in processes of looking management of jobs and skills (GPEC) and assessing their future needs" says he.

According to Anne-Marie Bjornson Afpa transitions, there are ways to mount training particularly in the context of operational readiness to employment (job center) or as part of training contracts. "We are also working on the issue of transferable skills, which allow for example to a textile worker to work in the weld or a working precision to go in the car." But anticipating needs is a prerequisite and essential step, she insists.

For Joel Mendez, it is also essential to adapt the training devices to the needs, both in initial training in continuing education. And take the example of learning where the numbers in the branch of metallurgy grew 6% in 2011 (with a total of 26 000 apprentices). "At the last school year, nearly a thousand offers of learning could not be met and at the same time, the same volume of young people did not find any company. This shows that learning can be further developed and the various mechanisms put in place recently should help solve these problems. "

A situation that in any case, Francis led Beharel hammering: "stop sending generations of young people in jobs without opportunities. Spend money to know that jobs are to be filled with real careers, especially if the areas are not attractive. "

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Deficit: France off the mark in 2013, says IMF

18th April

 

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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Urban renewal: what results?

9th April

 

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

Paris: buyers picked by hand

31st March

 

After the price surge of recent years, the Paris property market finds reason. The first stages of court or 5ES without lift no longer sold at the same price as the beautiful well-appointed apartments Haussmann. The buyers picked by hand. They take the time to compare and negotiate prices, with declines of up to 10% of the price of goods with defects. "It takes 50 days to sell a good average. Twice a year ago, "says Sebastien de Lafond, President Meilleursagents. com. Buyers are also much less likely. "There are 30% fewer buyers, but also 20% less in property for sale. The market is not blocked, "he says. The family apartments, the most expensive, more difficulty finding takers. However, small areas are more resistant. It's the same for the central districts most popular, including fourth, sixth and seventh, where the changes are smooth. Falling prices could instead be more pronounced in the south of the twelfth, thirteenth and fifteenth districts and north of the seventeenth and in the nineteenth and twentieth districts.

The neighborhood developed by:

• First, Second, Third, Fourth

• fifth, sixth, seventh

• eighth, sixteenth and seventeenth

• Ninth and Tenth

• eleventh and twelfth

• thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth

• eighteenth, nineteenth, twentieth

First, Second, Third, Fourth. Few offers, but more selective buyers

At the heart of the capital, the supply remains limited as always. This does not prevent the consumer to distinguish more and more good from the bad. "We continue to have an average of four buyers for a seller, says Nathalie Naccache, at the head of four Fortis Realty Century 21 agencies spread over the first three arrondissements. But when any property was posted to 10,000 € / m² is over. "For her, the year started better than expected, thanks to the proper maintenance of credit at attractive rates. More than ever, investors are there, despite the new tax, and they flock to small areas well placed. A charming studio of 22 sqm on the 5th floor without elevator, in the Palais Royal, went very quickly for € 240,000, after three visits and three offers at list price, while in Montorgueil, a comparable property is left for € 230,000 bad credit payday advance. However, if the work, maldistribution or lack of light, sales stall if a rebate of 5 to 10% is not consentie.Des more affordable prices are found on the side of the trail, the Halles or neighborhood Arts and Crafts. In the latter area, a 2 bedroom 45 sqm 1st floor but work has sold € 390,000 (€ 8,660 / m²). For its part, the shop real estate, including a network located in the Second and Fourth districts, recorded a net return to calm after an exceptional 2011. "Up to € 300,000, demand remains strong and the products go, the director notes, Thibaut Ponnat. In addition, the time of visit and sales have more than doubled compared to last year. "Among his recent sales: a 2 rooms of 28 m² with a dip in the trail, negotiated € 252 000. In the Marais, French buyers as foreigners are always present. "Simply, the French are negotiating harder, says Fabienne Zouari, director of the agency Orpi the third. There is no real price declines, but the estate with defects are selling more slowly and with a discount of 5%. "Proof of the enduring popularity, it just sold for € 260,000 a studio of 23 m² Rue de Turenne, 3rd floor without elevator, busy with a low rent and needs some work! As for the Ile Saint-Louis, she also knows that limited changes. "Our customers are 60 to 70% foreign, recognizes Eric Jacquet, real estate consultant at Nexity (formerly Lamy). Prices are lightly packed and buyers are more fussy about the quality of the property before the plunge. "This does not prevent transactions to be finalized at very high levels: 13 800 € / m² for a studio 22 sqm on the 1st floor, Quai de Bethune, and nearly 14 500 € / m² for a 62 m² rue Saint-Louis en l'Ile, 4th floor.

Fifth, sixth, seventh. The very large surface stall

Censier Street, the demand is there, but buyers believe prices are too high. Photo credits: Gilles Leimdorfer / LE FIGARO MAGAZINE / Le Figaro Magazine

The euro area concerned new markets

30th March

 

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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LD Lines under control of a Danish group

28th March

 

The giant Danish DFDS and the French Louis Dreyfus (LDA), owner of LD Lines, have finally announced the birth of their joint venture that will operate five ferry routes between France and England (Dover-Dunkerque Dover- Calais, Portsmouth to Le Havre, Dieppe, New Haven) and between France and Tunisia (Tunis-Marseille). LD Lines line between Saint-Nazaire and Gijon, Spain will not belong to the joint venture.

Last year, the two partners were involved in a bid to take over Sea France, the SNCF subsidiary whose termination of service was delivered in January. But the offer was violently rejected by the unions.

1160 employees in 2013

Since LD Lines, in partnership with the Danish DFDS, has two ships on the Dover-Calais line, previously operated by Sea France no teletrack payday loan. This is a new step, predictable, but that was difficult or impossible to implement at the time of the attempted rescue of Sea France.

The joint venture will be owned by DFDS 82% and 18% by LDA. Officially launched on July 1, she will manage nine ships. DFDS those under the British flag and those of LD Lines under the French flag. "It is not intended eventually to operate under a single flag, says Christophe Santoni, the CEO of LD Lines. For reasons of social or commercial, we retain the two pavilions. "In 2013, the ferry company expects to achieve a turnover of 276 million euros. It will employ 1160 people in total.