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The long pause between colleagues at lunch time lived. The increased pace of work was right in this traditional division, whose length has been reduced to a trickle in the last twenty years. While employees willingly stopped for over an hour and a half to sustain themselves in the 1990s, they now spend no more than 22 minutes on average to the ritual, according to a study released Tuesday by Malakoff Médéric.

"The lunch break has become the adjustment variable of the workday, says Anne-Sophie Godon, director of prevention within the group of social protection Malakoff Médéric. The content of the day was densified, while the distance between work and home tends to increase. In this context, employees have no choice but to cut back on the lunch break. "Women are more concerned than men, many of them prefer to take the shortest time at noon in hopes of starting earlier work, says Odile Fox, medical officer in Paris.

Employees bring their lunch more

With less time spent at lunch, it is the nature of the meal that has changed. A perceptible change in the last few years yet, the study said. Since 2009, the number of employees who go home for lunch has been declining (29% of respondents in 2011 against 34% in 2009), as well as those who go to a restaurant business (19% instead of 22%). In contrast, the share of those who swallow a sandwich as a meal is still growing by 2 points in 2011 compared to 2009.

Shortening the length of the lunch break is not always synonymous with "junk food" one of the most striking findings is that the share of employees who bring their pittance to work, after having prepared at home is strong growth. Almost a third say they do frequently, women are over-represented again. "The French are trying to eat more balanced, it is a serious sociological trend installment payday loans. Provide meals is a way to control your diet. It's also a way to save money, "says Anne-Sophie Godon. The crisis is over there.

Decreased concentration

Sandwich and dish prepared in advance, reducing the dwell time has nevertheless perverse effects. "When you eat quickly, no time to feel full. Satiety occurs only after a quarter of an hour.And when we eat at his computer, it's worse: it does not even pay attention to what you swallow. Result, we tend to snack in the afternoon, "said Patrick Serog, doctor. In 2011, 39% of employees admit to regularly snacking, two points more than in 2009. "Making a real pause, three-quarters of an hour, is crucial, says Odile as Fox. Without this cut, the stress builds up. "

The health of the employee is not only involved for the company either, the lunch break is not wasted time. An employee who does not stop and does not cut even if it's only twenty minutes with their working environment is an employee who may lose concentration. "Attention has its phases. It can be really careful for forty five minutes or an hour, but rarely more.If we restore his normal work environment at his office, for example, the concentration decreases even faster, and we made mistakes, "warns Patrick Serog. This did not include an office where you eat according to host Monster 400 times more bacteria than the toilet normally maintained.

"Testimonials – And you, do you take time for breakfast? Prepare your meals in advance or do you buy close to your work? Share your experience in comments below or by email at temoin@lefigaro.fr.

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On one stone? Intense negotiations are under way for at least a solution, at least in part, to two simultaneous problems: the failure credit faced by French local authorities, and the fragility of the balance sheet of oversized French-Belgian bank Dexia.

Concordant sources, in fact, Dexia, the Deposit Bank and postal workers, under the watchful eye of the state, to create a new bank, public, local communities. Friday, none of the parties did not wish to make comments.

The new entity will take over long held by Crédit Local de France (CLF), ancestor of Dexia, with mayors, councils and other French regions.Its creation would be an opportunity to ease the minds of elected officials, heated by the explosion of interest on certain loans "toxic", including underwritten by Dexia before 2008. The new state-owned bank could put forward a much more wise.

Above all, his arrival on the market would open the tap of credit to local communities. In a financial crisis, Dexia and its competitors, such as savings banks, Societe Generale and foreign banks have largely abandoned this market in recent months.

The Postal Bank and the Caisse des Depots would hold society together, Dexia that may remain a shareholder.They should also take control of all or part of the loan portfolio of existing communities with Dexia French (70 billion euros) and Dexia Municipal Agency: such operators shall ensure, by means of mortgage bonds, the refinancing of the commitment of Dexia. A new ownership would bring also the financial strength necessary to maintain its "AAA" rating.

Pirouette history

For Dexia, the operation could be an opportunity to significantly reduce its balance sheet totaling more than 500 billion euros guaranteed online personal loans. It has already been reduced by 15% year on year, thanks to the divestment of assets made in the first half. But despite this recent treatment, the group remains fragile, especially in the current distrust of markets against financial groups in Europe.

"The idea is on the table.Its terms are far from being arrested, "said a source familiar with the matter. The role of Dexia, the volume of the transferred assets, their quality – particularly with regard to loans that are the subject of disputes with communities who have subscribed – all of which are still on the table. Many criteria which depend then the financial terms of the transaction.

The reactive pattern of lines of inquiry explored from 2008-2009. Even then, the idea of ​​the deposits of La Banque Postale deal with Dexia loans (assets of French local authorities are placed in the Treasury) was considered. The arrival of the CDC in the capital of La Banque Postale has facilitated the project. The project has also the flavor of a sacred spin the story to the Fund: Crédit Local de France was born of a branch of the Caisse des Depots, which then end up twenty years after a historic activity.But for the CDC, the issue is complex: it has (with the NOC) 20% of Dexia, it has recapitalized with the Belgian shareholders in 2008 to see the action rolled back in recent months. Perform an operation which finally reduces the bank's balance sheet and liquidity requirements would constitute a significant step forward. This is what its proponents would argue with the board, including representatives from Belgium, possibly as early as next Tuesday.

MEDEF regrets "the unbalanced distribution of efforts between state, local and Social Security on the one hand, and households and businesses on the other." Moreover, "a number of steps leading to increases in production costs adverse to competitiveness," the main concern French employers' organization. Medef cites the increasing social package, a levy paid by the employer under the employee savings plan (participation, sharing …), which will "penalize the share of added value in the company and lead gradually to confuse the profit-sharing with the wages. "

The union claims toufefois "welcome the clear commitment to compliance with the fiscal path."

The National Association of Food Industries for its part believes that the creation of a tax on soft drinks is "unacceptable.""It is a policy identical to that which was conducted for alcohol and tobacco, and we do not want food to undergo this type of approach," said Jean-René Buisson, president of the Association National Food Industries (ANIA). "We are aware of the need to participate in collective efforts but we do not want this action is taken based on the nutritional aspects of the product."

Manufacturers of cigarettes and tobacco shops demanded government action against smuggling to protect their industry, they are threatened after the announcement Wednesday by the government of a new tax increase. "Before 2003, the parallel market was estimated at 2-3%. Today we talk about 20% in 2012, the term 25%? "Pascal Montredon concerned, the President of the Confederation of tobacconists.Several studies have smoked a cigarette in five in France comes from the parallel market, purchased abroad, online or imported through criminal networks

In the construction sector, Ridoret Didier, president of the French Building Federation denounced "a heavy blow to SMEs in the building" with "The change in the calculation of the relief on low salaries and reintegration, in this calculation, the overtime. " "The SME sector will be particularly affected as they are mostly remained at 39 hours," says he told AFP.

Liébus Patrick, president of the Confederation of Crafts and Small construction companies, is pleased to share the "message about the importance of maintaining the 5.5% VAT for maintenance and restoration [ d] been understood as the government realized that we were a growth industry. "It regrets, however, the additional movement of the plane on the "scellier" and equipment for sustainable development: "This will impact on activity and employment," he added.

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One more! Taiwan's HTC has come to swell the list of phone manufacturers in lawsuits against Apple for patent infringement by filing a complaint on Tuesday night. He joined Motorola and Samsung in this. And all three are pursued by Apple are accused of having copied its phones and tablets. To believe that the trial is a way like another to manage a patent portfolio of brands. The complaints became so numerous that more and more industry observers blame the mobile phone companies to spend more in legal fees only to pay engineers. At the expense of innovation.

A drift that Apple, as a party plaintiff or defendant in a number of ongoing trials, is no stranger. The firm seeks to protect its technologies as well as its distinctive (packaging, product development, wiring).Apple targets are far from accidental. As for Samsung, HTC and Motorola, it indirectly addresses its main competitor in the mobile phone: Google's Android, which equips the devices of the three brands offending and weighs 43% of this market.

The game is risky for Apple, which is far from winning all its trials. After graduating last week a ban on the marketing of the Galaxy Tab Samsung in Europe, Apple has finally seen its competitor be allowed to sell the tablet in Europe, except Germany. Apple is also regularly attacked by some "small" sector, like Creative, to whom he had to pay $ 73 million, accused of using its expertise in digital music player for his iPod payday loans guaranteed no fax. But these repeated attacks are proof of the incredible ability of Apple to seize the zeitgeist and often improve the copy.Which in terms of "victims" is no excuse. Especially as unwilling to compromise, Steve Jobs, the CEO prefers to go to trial, even if it means losing. Another failure in the face of Nokia. Apple was ordered to pay a lump sum and use rights, which amounts have not been made public, some patents.

A dangerous game

A similar logic to that which led Microsoft to claim $ 15 a smartphone sold to Samsung. The U.S. already collects $ 5 from HTC. For its part, Oracle accuses Google of violating some of its patents to develop its operating system for smartphones Android, and is seeking $ 6 billion.

"Apple has it gone to the dark side of the Force?" The question made the rounds of blogs devoted to the subject, concerned about the prosecution of the brand.We are far from "nice" Apple label won in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as opposed to "bad" giant Microsoft, which dominated the world. Apple, so concerned with his image of "challenger" and an alternative to the dominant model, probably not only take the risk to see it tarnished nor disappoint his fans.

All weekend, they multiplied the meetings and news: the political leaders of industrialized countries have mobilized to show that they had taken stock of efforts to engage to address concerns about the state of their finances. What to try to reassure markets, worried after the announcement Friday after the close of a deterioration in the rating of sovereign debt of the United States by Standard & Poor's, but also disturbed by the difficulties faced by countries the euro area to implement the solutions to the crisis in Greece. With always in sight the risk of contagion of debt to other countries.

In the wake of the Asian stock markets, down sharply this morning, the benchmark index in Paris has started his week on a further decline (-0.74%), but avoid the dreaded crash in the markets.After a brief stint in the green, he never stopped to dig its losses since mid-day. Around 16:30, while Wall Street sinks into the red, the Cac 40 falling 4.14% to 3142.99 points, its lowest level since July 2009. The nervousness and volatility are the watchwords of the meeting. It has traded more than 4.2 billion euros on the CAC to 16.30.

Even renewed concern elsewhere in Europe. In Frankfurt, the Dax and retreated more than 4%. Less for London where the FTSE 100 lost more than 3%. The Swiss stock exchange plunges 3.19% to 5007.18 points. The Milan Stock Exchange falling more than 2.5% in the wake of Wall Street

Relaxation rates in Spain and Italy

Yesterday, Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy reiterated their determination to ensure that the bailout of Greece on 21 July be adopted before the end of September.They also praised the efforts of Spain and especially those of Italy, two weak links in the euro area at present. Indeed, Rome has advanced by one year (from 2014 to 2013) the goal of return to balance its accounts. In addition, the European Central Bank (ECB) said it would implement "active" its buyback program obligations. This measure, taken and announced last week by Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the institution, had absolutely convinced investors. On the contrary … But this morning, the Italian and Spanish bond yields relaxed, investors are more confident in an intervention by the ECB on the secondary bond market in both countries. Rates in ten years Spanish and Italian are ironed on Monday under 6%.Relaxation is expected to continue, while the French Minister of Economy and Finance Baroin confirmed on Europe 1 that the ECB was ready to buy the Spanish and European debt, if investors withdrew.

American borrowing rates have, in turn, not move, indicating that the debt of the world's largest economy remains an attractive investment, against the loss of the triple A of the United States.

Next on the list?

However, uncertainty should remain in force on the European markets at the beginning of the week. The decision of Standard & Poor's in the United States continues to claim haunt the minds of the markets, despite a weekend to "digest" the news.Now that the world's largest economy, long considered one of the most reliable borrowers, is not as well marked, which could consider itself safe from degradation? In France, this concern should be limited, however, the chief economist for Europe, Standard & Poor's Jean-Michel Six, who said Saturday that the agency maintained the "AAA" of France, in a stable outlook.

The announcement of the ECB on repurchase of bonds was initially supported the euro against the dollar. At 7 o'clock this morning, the euro was worth 1.4321 dollars, against 1.4281 dollars on Friday night, after the dollar rose to 1.4370 on Sunday night.The European currency is, however, decreasing again around noon to 1.4268 dollar.

But above all concerns macroeconomic benefit to gold, which recorded a new record Monday on the market in Hong Kong, dying for the first time the maximum 1700 dollars an ounce, and benefiting fully from his safe haven status.

The sharp drop in oil

Instead, the side of the oil, oil prices continued to tumble on Monday. Result of numerous concerns about a possible global recession, prices show a sharp decline. To 13 hours, a barrel of "light sweet crude 'lost 3.64% to 83.67 dollars.

Finally, the political mobilization should remain in force throughout the day, and guide the trend in European markets as U.S.. For the side of the macroeconomic data, the news will remain low in the first day of the week.Unlike last week, no statistics across the Atlantic will not give further details Monday about the health of the U.S. economy or the risk of a possible recession in the country. In France alone were expected business surveys of the Banque de France, unveiled on Monday its growth forecast for the third quarter. For the period, the institution expects an increase of 0.2% of French GDP, the same pace as in the previous quarter.

As for values ​​to follow, business publications are scarce this week.

Battered last week after interim results affected by exposure in Greece, banking stocks were offered a nice rally this morning before falling unevenly mid-term.BNP Paribas wins again in mid-session, 1.01%, to 41.025 euros, but Credit Agricole (- 0.27% to 7.14 euros) and Societe Generale (-2.95% to 26.625 euros ) drop out. For its part, Axa sells 1.13% to 11.425 euros. The insurer CNP Assurances is however still 3.02%, to 12.265 euros, the head of the SBF 120 index increases by mid-day.

Peugeot (-7.45% to 20.745 euros) and Renault (-6.95% to 29.125 euros) recorded both the largest declines the CAC 40. The two automakers are penalized by the broker Morgan Stanley lowered its price target on the two values. Alcatel-Lucent also drop 6.66% to 2.298 euros. Technip meanwhile lost 5.97% to 58.71 euros.

The manufacturer Archos tablet that will detail its annual accounts after market, accounts 4.77% to 8.35 euros this morning before falling heavily to 6.78% to 7.43 euros.

Carmat (5.56% to 98.70 euros).The total artificial heart specialist said on Sunday evening the success of its capital increase launched from July 13 to 29. The former subsidiary of EADS has raised 29.3 million euros, which will fund the first clinical trials on humans.

GDF Suez (0.73% to 20.56 euros). The group of energy and services has sealed, according to Les Echos, a strategic Partenaris with the Chinese sovereign wealth fund CIC, which would lead to an acquisition of a 30% interest in the exploration and production arm of French.

Specialist catering Sodexo (-1.84% to 49.075 euros) announced that it has won a contract worth 766 million dollars (535 million) to provide the basics of feeding twenty Marines, the United States.

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The French plébiscitent increasing the "Made in France" and it has not escaped the business. A craze that falls well: rising transportation costs and wage inflation from 15% to 20% in some Chinese factories coastal converge today to encourage the repatriation of some production lines to France and Europe. But if some companies are beginning to consider such a policy change, few are still those who skip it.

"There is clearly more interesting now than to relocate whole or in part," says Jean-Luc Fonteneau, a partner in the consulting firm Diagma logistics. "But do not mistake: these factors on their own are not sufficient to stimulate a significant movement of relocations. For now, our customers are content to talk about it.The cost differential is still largely in favor of Asia, "said he.

Geneviève Lethu, Rossignol, Decathlon or Meccano, who chose to relocate all or part of their production in recent years, rather then make an exception. Geneviève Lethu for example, production costs remain two to three times higher in France than in Southeast Asia, says Edmond Kassapian, its CEO. The company has nevertheless chosen to relocation, mainly to improve the quality of its products.

In this context, the rise in commodity prices and wage inflation in recent months weigh little. "In textiles, for example, transportation is only 5% to 10% of the production cost of an item.As for wage increases, even if the percentages are impressive, they represent less than 3% of payroll French, "Jean-Luc Fonteneau calculated. Some companies also try to compensate by shifting their production to Vietnam …, the consultant observed.

Automation

The figures confirm this analysis. According to a recent study by two economists at the University of Poitiers, Liliane Bonnal Olivier Bouba-Olga and the relocations to France remain marginal effect cash advance today. Based on data reported by the Centre for Investment in 2008 and 2009, economists have identified all the operations of investment and divestment activity in France. Relocations represent only 0.3% of these operations, 24 cases in two years.In total, they recorded a relocation to six relocations, and a job created for 30 jobs lost because of offshoring. "Only 500 jobs were created in two years because of relocations," says Olivier Bouba-Olga.

Because they "do not result in any case not by major job creation," said El Mouhoub Mouhoud, an economist at Paris Dauphine University and author of "Globalization and offshoring of business" by Editions la Découverte. In most cases, they are indeed driven by companies that have chosen to automate their production. "So that the jobs lost in Southeast Asia and elsewhere are almost never compensated in France," the judge economist.

The marginal nature of the relocation is also reflected in the lack of excitement generated by government schemes to encourage them."The tax credit for relocating business established in 2007 has hardly ever been used," says El Mouhoub Mouhoud. As for the relocation bonus, with a budget of 200 million euros and announced with great fanfare in the aftermath of the States General of Industry, it is simply more. "The premium has been recast in within a broader, that of using the re-industrialization," says one to the Ministry of Industry. The latter has only 20 million euros. If "the world's factory" that is China is losing some ground, France did for the moment that gets a few scraps.

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After his sister Moody's, the rating agency Standard & Poor's sanctions Greece. It announced on Wednesday the downgrade of the country to "CC" with a negative outlook. Athens is found in two notches of default. The aid plan presented last Thursday by the European leaders will put Greece in a de facto situation of "selective default", argues the agency.

The plan, which provides a 20% loss to investors holding voluntary debt Greek, "is not investor friendly," said Standard & Poor's (S & P). "Although no date was given for the launch of this plan, we understand that it will not take place until September at the earliest. When it announced a deterioration in the notes to the rank of "selective default" (SD) should occur, "warns S & P.

In addition, Standard & Poor's believes that if the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) acquires large-scale debt securities on the market at prices planed, the country will also be in default selective. Note of Greece will be raised when the buybacks and debt restructuring will be completed.

But S & P remains cautious. After this first failure, the risk that the country face new fault "remains high". The head of the country rating agency launched statements in that Tuesday morning. "We plan to grant Greece a low rating in the speculative grade", that is to say high risk, he warns. The debt would still represent more than 130% of GDP at the end of 2011 and growth prospects, S & P notes, remain uncertain.

The President of the European Central Bank took the defense of Greece, shortly before the announcement of S & P. Speculate on a failure of Greece, he said, "would be the surest way to lose money after the decision last Thursday," giving new aid to the country.

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If its economic potential is enormous, India as a country is decidedly difficult to grasp. The leaders of Renault and Nissan just to experience it. Friday morning, they learned by reading the Wall Street Journal as Bajaj, the Indian partner with whom they work since 2007 on the launch vehicle "ultra-low-cost," had decided to suspend the project. "We do not intend to get into the niche of low-margin cars," said Rajiv Bajaj to the director of Bajaj Auto. The announcement surprised Renault, which evoked a statement "uncoordinated". And for good reason: in the afternoon, Bajaj stated, in a statement that "the project Bajaj-Renault-Nissan was continuing and that the new platform would be presented to Renault-Nissan in January 2012."

Officially the project is not stopped.Communication amazing Indians necessarily leads to questions. The target market for these vehicles at very low cost, that is to say less than 3000 dollars, however, is huge. The goal is to put millions of Indians who use two-and three-wheeled rickshaws that the famous Bajaj is one of the leaders in the car.

Difficulties for the Nano

But the economic model is not easy to find, as shown by the difficulties encountered by the Tata Nano, the pioneer of its kind launched in 2008. Tata has indeed had to increase the price of the Nano several times since its launch. Today it is sold at a price of about $ 4,000 against $ 2,500 at the presentation of the project. In addition, the model has undergone a number of technical problems, which has dented its image among consumers. Result: sales prove disappointing.At June 30, less than 22,000 had been passed Nano on the previous twelve months. Far from the target of 250,000 vehicles in stride.

To compete with the Nano is that Renault and Nissan sign an agreement with Bajaj in 2007. Bajaj should design the vehicle, which will be sold by Renault and Nissan. The first date given for such marketing is in 2010. It then slides to 2011 and 2012. Yet this is a purely theoretical date, since the decision to launch this vehicle has never been officially made. And nothing says it will be taken, especially after the delay yesterday. It would not be the first disappointment for Renault in India. In April 2010, the group had in fact ended a joint venture with Mahindra & Mahindra, which produced, with little success, Logan. These difficulties do not however call into question the ambitions of Renault in India.The Diamond brand has even made one of its three priority countries in development. It has a factory in Chennai, which already manufactures the Nissan Micra. And introduced an aggressive new product launches. For a month, the Fluence sedan is marketed. The Koleos 4 × 4 will follow in September. And announcements are expected for the new salon in New Delhi, to be held next January.

"Air France has to make choices according to their needs." This is the answer unequivocally given by the president of EADS hundred members who pushed Air France, earlier this month, Airbus to prefer its U.S. rival Boeing. June 12, a petition launched by the UMP Bernard Carayon called the French airline (15.7% owned by the French government) to show European patriotism, when placing the next order giant had long haul. Expected this summer, the contract of tens of billions of dollars would move more towards a hundred Boeing 787 "Dreamliner."

For Louis Welsh MPs that pressure is unnecessary. "I remind you that 95% of aircraft we are producing for export," says the director in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche.From the first days of the Paris Air Show, which closes its doors Sunday night, the European aircraft manufacturer has announced an almost unexpected rain control, supported by contracts negotiated with the giant companies in emerging countries. Wednesday and Thursday, the group recorded two commands including records, first with the Indian carrier IndiGo, on 180A350, 150 Neo, then with Air Asia, with 200 A320 Neo, is the largest order in the history of civil aviation. "These emerging markets provide the" A "and represent over two-thirds of the global market. Our 730 orders and commitments demonstrate that our products meet the expectations of these new customers, "supports Louis Welsh, referring to the plebiscite met by Neo A320 aircraft during the rally.

Hunt on the lands of Boeing

Overall, therefore, the European group put on emerging countries to take advantage of an aerospace market returned to a "dynamic," says Louis Welsh. If political disagreements today Stems certain contracts, the group can always rely on its broad technological superiority to convince companies of those countries developing their flights to Europe and the United States. And ambitions of the European aircraft manufacturer does not stop there, the group wishes to continue to hunt on the lands of his rival always, Boeing.Referring to the age or obsolescence, of much of the fleet of U.S. airlines, the leader discount surf the success garnered at Le Bourget and "large needs to renew its fleet" (U.S. companies ) to increase its influence across the Atlantic.

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Intel takes a step back to get a place in the market of smartphones and touch pads. Wednesday night, the U.S. group announced the launch of a new generation of processors manufactured in three dimensions, which must make greater performance without increasing power consumption. "We have once again reinvented the transistor, welcomed Paul Otellini, CEO of Intel.

Transistors are like switches. They were so far consist of a stack of layers in two dimensions. The upper part acts as a "gate", which passes or blocks the flow between two components of the lower layers, the source and drain. But as the size of transistors has been reduced to a few nanometers, the conductive material between these elements are also refined, increasing the risk of current leakage.To remedy this, it needed to increase consumption.

The development cost under control

Faced with this challenge, Intel has changed its manufacturing process by embedding a thin part of the lower layer in the "gate" located above (see chart below). Thus, the current control can be done in three tranches of the fin, instead of one. "This allows the transmission of as much current as possible when the transistor is in active mode (in order of performance) and as close to zero as possible when it is in off mode (to reduce power consumption)," says Intel .

With this new architecture, the current control is performed on three slices (yellow).