Archive for the ‘tidings’ Category

Interim results up sharply for Hermes

August 31, 2011 - 9:25 am Comments Off

Hermes has released the results Wednesday rose sharply in the first half and said that the financial crisis had not affected the attendance of its stores at this time.

The saddle on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, in which LVMH acquired a 21.4%, further confirmed its growth targets for all of 2011, statements in July, the group for an increase in its Sales at constant exchange rates between 12% and 14%.

Hermes also confirms that its annual operating profit "should be close to the historic high reached in 2010."The margin reached a record 27.8% last year, driven by growth also historical (+19% at constant exchange rates).

"We have not seen a drop in attendance in our stores, not even in Japan," said Patrick Thomas, CEO of Hermes, at a conference for the presentation of interim results.

"That does not mean there will not be," he added, however.

"In July and August, growth is not quite in the first half for reasons mainly the presence of products in shops," he also said Patrick Thomas, referring to the very low stocks in the group.

"The trend is still very good but it is lower than the first half (…), It is not at all a problem of declining attendance in the stores. "

"It is our policy to be as moderate as possible in price increases for next year (…), even if we find a strong increase of certain raw materials," also said the manager of Hermes.

THE DECISION 15/09 ON APPEAL OF THE ADAM

The manufacturer of Kelly bags or silk scarves saw operating profit rise by 37.3% to 418.1 million euros, increasing by 3.7 margin points to 28.3% against 32% a year earlier.

Net income rose 49.5% to 290.5 million euros against 271 million expected by analysts according to Thomson Reuters consensus I / B / E / S.

Patrick Thomas said the floating of the group was now "much reduced" and reiterated that Hermes had to purchase its own shares since early June to cover the programs for free shares to its employees.

He emphasized that such purchases had ceased since the course has exceeded 250 euros, the maximum purchase price authorized by its shareholders, suggesting that LVMH could in turn have continued to increase its stake.

Between early June and late August, Hermes acquired for 242 million euros of its own shares.

The Association for the Defence of Minority Shareholders (Adam) is also seeking to block the creation of a holding company by Hermès family control to counter a possible takeover bid by LVMH.

Hermes was granted a derogation from the Financial Markets Authority (AMF) to the obligation to redeem all the minority in the context of the creation of its holding.

Patrick Thomas was of a "serenity" vis-à-vis the decision of the Court of Appeal of Paris on an appeal of Adam against the exemption, expected Sept. 15.

In exchange, where it operates more at the mercy of speculation than on the performance of a group whose float is now below 7%, as Hermes was down 0.75% to 262.95 euros at 11:35, showing a up close to 68% since the beginning of the year for a market capitalization of around 27 billion.

Oil prices gain over 2% at the close in New York

August 29, 2011 - 8:25 pm Comments Off

The price of oil ended up on an increase of over 2% Monday in New York, a macro-economic indicator with better than expected U.S. reassured investors on the economic health of the United States.

On the Nymex, the contract on October U.S. crude (WTI) finished with a gain of $ 1.90, or 2.23% to 87.27 dollars a barrel.Meanwhile, Brent advanced to 0.44%, or $ 0.49, to 111.85 dollars.

Consumer spending of U.S. households rose 0.8% in July while economists surveyed expected an average spending growth of 0.5%.

Black gold has also benefited from the good performance of major stock exchanges worldwide, because of Hurricane Irene has done less damage than expected in the United States and the decline of the dollar.

Spain agreed on a "golden rule" on the deficit

August 27, 2011 - 8:15 am Comments Off

The Spanish Socialist government announced Friday the signing of an agreement with the conservative opposition in the Constitution for the country the principle of limiting the public deficit and debt.

The Constitution will be amended through a law to be adopted before June 30, 2012, the government said in a statement released in the early hours of Friday.

Both sides agreed to secure 0.4% of GDP limit of the overall deficit of the country, that is to say state and regions included.

The law will also include criteria for a gradual reduction of debt pursuant to the Pact of Stability and Growth in the euro area.

The two sides signed the agreement will review the deficit ceiling in 2015 and 2018.

This follows a call to that effect made by France and Germany to countries threatened by the debt crisis in the euro area.

Spain has already announced Tuesday that it would enshrine in the Constitution a public debt ceiling before the legislative elections in November.

Wall Street up to the opening through the global rebound

August 22, 2011 - 4:00 pm Comments Off

Wall Street opened sharply higher Monday, buoyed by the rebound in stock markets around the world on the purchase of defensive stocks.

A few minutes after the start of trading, the Dow Jones gained 1.84% to 11,016.24 points, the Standard & Poor's 500 index 1.91% to 1144.97 points and the Nasdaq Composite 2.15% to 2392.20 points.

The S & P 500 has lost more than 13% since the beginning of the month and some investors think the rate and extent of the losses on Wall Street suggest that the market is oversold.

Investors, however, watch carefully for signs of possible new measures to support the Federal Reserve the U.S. economy, when its central bankers will meet Friday in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

"Just this month there was a question of a lack of confidence and if Bernanke announced new incentives, then it may be that the markets believe that really did something, which should at least mitigate the volatility of the time, "said Tim Speiss (EisnerAmper).

The earnings season draws to a close, with those of Heinz, Applied Materials and Tiffany & Co expected in the week.

In values, Lowe's Companies took 2.17% after announcing it would spend five billion dollars to buy back shares over a period of two to three years.

Norilsk offers to buy back its 15% owned by Rusal

August 20, 2011 - 2:15 am Comments Off

The Russian producer of nickel and palladium, Norilsk Nickel said it had prepared an offer to buy out 15% of its capital owned by the Rusal aluminum companies for about $ 8.75 billion.

The offer proposes to return the securities at a price of 306 dollars, or 20% above their average price over the last six months.

It is still subject to approval by the Board of Directors of Norilsk, which will meet Aug. 24.It will then be valid until September 5, the company said.

This proposed acquisition represents a further attempt to Norilsk to end the standoff delivered by the principal shareholder of Rusal, the oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

The aluminum companies said it would consider the offer.

"Rusal considers its investment in Norilsk Nickel is strategic, and as a public company we are discussing all offers submitted to us in accordance with our internal management procedures," he reacts in a statement.

Vegetable producers go on strike charges

August 12, 2011 - 11:25 pm Comments Off

Farmers have stopped paying their mutual employer contributions to protest against the crisis in their industry and competition from Spain. Competition from imported products and the consequences of the epidemic of E. Coli have depressed prices for some vegetables.

Vegetable growers, who are unable to sell their products at remunerative prices, announced Friday that they now refuse to pay their expenses. "The vegetable growers all over France have decided to put insolvent employer contributions to the MSA [the Agricultural Social Mutual], deadlines and other bank charges", said the union "Vegetables in France" affiliated with the FNSEA, the National Federation of Farmers' Unions."We must preserve what little cash we have left to pay our employees and our local suppliers," says the organization, according to which farms are losing "20% to 40% of their turnover for several weeks ".

Producers want to denounce the "unfair competition" imported products "that do not meet the same health regulations, environmental and social" and that sell at a lower price on the French market. They demonstrated Thursday in the Bouches-du-Rhône to protest the arrival of products from Spain, which do not respect the calibration standards or hygiene. Farmers also attack cargo crossing the border without the recipient and without price, looking for a buyer, even if it cut prices and lead the market in the fall.

But this practice illegal, not only because of the Spaniards.The French also use this process. The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) recently conducted several controls, including the balance sheet is not yet known.

Bruno Le Maire, responded by asking a "rapid assessment" Operations Fraud. The Minister of Agriculture recognizes that the "crisis is real" to producers who fail to cover their production costs. He will meet "soon" with its sister Spanish, Rosa Aguilar. Meanwhile, the minister called for "respect for European and national rules" in the fruit and vegetables.

A meeting scheduled on August 17 between producers, shippers and distributors is meant to validate a plan to boost consumption of fruits and vegetables before the end of the campaign.In recent months, producers have also suffered severe contamination with E. Coli, which led to a plunge in the price of cucumbers, tomatoes and salads.

Pursuit of debt buybacks Italian and Spanish

August 8, 2011 - 2:45 pm Comments Off

European central banks have conducted in the afternoon to buy back bonds in Italy and Spain, told Reuters on Monday several traders.

These movements occur after the ECB decision to repurchase debt Italy and Spain to try to stem the fiscal crisis that has shaken the euro area.

"I saw the central banks – the Bank of Italy and others – again active in the market," reported one trader.

According to professionals, the ECB had done in the morning to buy back debt on the Italian and Spanish market tickets for 20 to 25 million euros. It should be acquired for several billion euros in late afternoon.

French morale remains low

July 26, 2011 - 2:15 pm Comments Off

The morale of French households is somewhat back in July but remains below its long-term average.

The morale of French households is somewhat back in July after months of stability, with a gain of 3 points in the index that measures at 86 points, according to data released Tuesday by INSEE. This level remains low compared to the long-term average (100 points), especially since the French expect increasingly to a new rise in unemployment, is the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies .

Households are more satisfied with their personal situation before last (three points) and are more optimistic about the future (two points). The French are also higher than in June to be considered appropriate to make major purchases (4 points). They believe, moreover, that their ability to save is more important, although they consider the least favorable time to do it.

Cons: The households are much more numerous in July to expect a rise in unemployment (10 points), while their predictions were improving in this area since the beginning of the year. However, their views on the general standard of living improved slightly in France, and households less than previously feared a price hike to come.

Nexans confirms its objectives despite the risk of fines

July 19, 2011 - 12:15 pm Comments Off

The CEO of Nexans confirmed Tuesday the objectives of the group in 2011 while the European survey in progress on an alleged cartel in the cable is always a financial risk for the company.

The giant electric cable fell from first to second in the world since the Italian Prysmian bought Dutch Draka, received earlier this month, as eleven other cable-laying, a "statement of objections" from the European Commission.

"I can not say anything else at this stage, if not repeat (…) This poses a significant risk of adverse financial condition of the company, "said the CEO of Nexans, Frédéric Vincent, in an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of a patronage operation at Versailles.

Nexans has meet in Brussels in the second half. "The Commission then takes the time it deems necessary (…) So that means if there is punishment, it will be in 2012," he added.

Frédéric Vincent nevertheless confirmed the Group's financial targets for the full year, up about 5% of revenues and an operating margin of around 5.5%. Nexans will publish its first half results on July 27.

The first quarter growth revised down

June 29, 2011 - 10:15 pm Comments Off

Household consumption was weaker estimated in the first place. INSEE revised growth earlier this year to 0.9% as against 1% previously. Liner France

Growth in the first quarter in France has reached 0.9%, Insee said Wednesday, revising slightly downwards its previous estimate of growth during this period, set at 1.0% in mid-May.

The National Institute of Statistics does not emphasize less the "clear acceleration" of growth in the first quarter of 2011. INSEE also states that the rising purchasing power of households slowed to 0.2% after 0.4% last quarter.

The revised estimate of first quarter results from one of several indicators including the production and consumption as well as the integration of information obtained since the previous publication, INSEE said.