International News

"What's good with tires is that you can not postpone the purchase for more than a year," jokes Frank Schuhardt, CFO Delticom, Europe's number one sales tires on the Internet. If this mode of marketing is still marginal – it represents only 4% of the total market for replacement – it benefits both the general upturn in demand and development of online sales.

Delticom, whose site is 123pneu.fr French, achieved a turnover of 311.3 million euros in 2009, up 20% and net income of 20 million euros (+ 72.4% ). For Delticom will not be "the Ryanair of the tire business. We want to offer a good balance between our selling price, security of payment to our suppliers and good results for our shareholders, "said Frank Schuhardt.A challenge as to the quality of service rendered, Delticom depends largely on its partners.

Midas offensive

Indeed, the site is not directed only to amateur mechanics can change their tires themselves, balancing included. Like most of its competitors, relies on partnerships with independent garages: 28 000 in the world, including 2 800 in France. Specifically, at the command, the user can choose the garage where he will deliver and mount the tires, according to criteria of proximity, price. "The independent garages are doing brisk business. They do not have the same bargaining power with the tire that Delticom. We bring them new customers, "explains Frank Schuhardt, who believes that the tires are 20 to 25% cheaper on average on the site among traditional retailers.Delticom also prides itself in offering one of the largest selections of tires, if not the largest, with no fewer than 25 brands and 000 references in the catalog (virtual). Enough to satisfy the most sophisticated applications.

The arguments for consumers, while networks like Midas, Norauto, Green Light or Speedy regularly offer promotions on the tires. Norauto for its part has announced the launch of its new tire Prevensys 2. As in any distribution, brand equity are also honored in the area of the tire. In turn, Midas – who belongs to the same group that Norauto – announced in early March to want to open 100 additional centers in Europe by 2010, including fifty in France.

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For Nicolas Sarkozy, "nothing would be worse than to change course." Three days after the defeat of the right in regional elections, the Head of State said "understand the impatience of the French", but promised to "continue the reforms."

In a television address after the Council of Ministers, the President detailed the major projects to come. Regarding pension reform, one of the most important issues of his mandate Nicolas Sarkozy has promised "not to go into force" while ensuring that it would be adopted "six months".

Also on the economic front, he expressed his desire to "continue to reduce labor costs and investment" to help France to recover from the crisis.Regarding agriculture, the Head of State expressed its readiness to provoke a "crisis in Europe rather than accept the dismantling of the Common Agricultural Policy.

The president also announced he would launch a "concerted" on the medical outreach. Several unions went on strike March 11 to demand a revaluation of the base rate of consultation, and a new operation is scheduled April 8

A law on the full veil

On social issues, Nicolas Sarkozy was back on the table the issue of the burqa guaranteed payday loans . "The full veil is contrary to the dignity of women. The government will introduce a bill banning "he said, without specifying the timing.

The president also brandished the threat of suspension of allowances for parents of children skipping classes. To the head of state, "the responsibility of parents must be committed." Moreover, "young people who can not attend a normal school will be placed in appropriate facilities where they disrupt the lives of most others and they will receive special support," he said.

The carbon tax postponed sine die

While stressing "the choice of a green tax", Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed on Wednesday that the Executive conditioned the establishment of the carbon tax to a hypothetical European Agreement on the device."I makes the creation of a carbon tax to a tax internal borders that will protect our agriculture and our industries against unfair competition from those who continue to pollute without shame", was it right after the first council government ministers slightly modified, which the Secretary of State for Environment Jouanno Chantal did not participate.

An ad that was not one. The Russians do not enter the race for the tender of 35 billion dollars to supply 179 tanker aircraft to the U.S.. The company export Russian Rosoboronexport arms and aerospace manufacturer United Aircraft Corp (UAC) denied Monday to prepare a proposal.

Friday night, it was about a partnership between UAC and "a U.S. publicly traded" interfering in the list of contenders for the giant contract.At least that's what John had said Kirkland, who appeared as counsel for the future identity.

April Fools before the hour

"We know absolutely nothing of this tender," said Vyacheslav Davidenko, spokesman for the Russian arms exporter, the only Russian company authorized to participate in tenders of foreign military personal loans for people with bad credit .

With UAC, the news was taken with humor: "I think someone is preparing to advance an April Fool," said spokesman UAC, which said not even know "the lawyer "he read the name" first Friday "on the Internet and in newspapers.

Boeing still alone

For example, Boeing is still single track. But EADS could seep again.The European manufacturer has applied for a period of 90 days for the closing of the tender to submit a new proposal. At the Pentagon to decide. The installment is currently scheduled for May 10.

EADS had been ejected from the race in February, while its U.S. partner Northrop Grumman had withdrawn from a competition judged biased.

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Investors began to doubt when the morale of U.S. households showed slightly degraded. Americans are less optimistic about employment prospects. The index of consumer sentiment fell to 72.5 in March against 73.6 in February.

The effect on U.S. markets was immediate. While in the early exchanges, they open up, already after three consecutive sessions in green, Dow Jones, Nasdaq and S & P 500 are passed into the red.

Around 16:30, they retreat respectively of 0.06%, 0.34% and 0.19%.

This Friday at 14:30, retail sales in the United States have resisted to the bad weather in February.Against all odds, they rose by 0.3% compared to January (in data seasonally adjusted) while analysts felt they had declined by 0.2%.

This supports other new ad, released Thursday, which was rather reassuring, even if they still underscore the difficulties overseas cheapest one. Like the U.S. trade deficit fell to 37.29 billion dollars from 39.9 billion in January. For specialists Barclays Exchange, "it is a pleasant surprise to the extent that economists were expecting a deficit of 41 billion dollars."Other good news side of the labor market "listings weekly unemployment fell to 462,000 from 469,000 the previous week.

Oil prices rose Friday in the opening exchanges in New York on a more optimistic market demand after the new forecast of the International Atomic Energy. The barrel of light sweet crude for April delivery was trading at the opening at 82.97 dollars, up 86 cents from the previous day.

On Wall Street will be sitting under the sign consumer with the publication of sales information for the month of February and the preliminary estimate of consumer confidence.Business inventories for the month of January will be published in late afternoon.

Citigroup rose 20% in 4 sessions

On the side of values, the CEO of Citigroup has pledged a return to profitability of the bank. The state could get rid of all of its shares within twelve months. The title of Citigroup rose 30% since the beginning of the month and by 20% since the stock market Monday. Friday, the shares resumed their breath, down from 0.7% to $ 4.15.

For several sessions throughout the banking sector enjoys a renewed interest from investors. On Thursday, he was also concerned by the failure of talks in the U.S. Senate to reform the financial system.After several months of effort, Senator Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, failed to reach an agreement between Republicans and Democrats on this bill to reform the banking system.

In the energy sector, Devon Energy (0.51%, to 72.41 dollars), the specialist production of oil will sell at BP Plc for seven billion dollars of assets located in Brazil, Azerbaijan and Gulf of Mexico.

Note also the manufacturer of semiconductor National Semiconductor announced after the close of the NYSE, a profit of 53.2 million, or 22 cents a share against 18 cents expected by analysts' consensus. Turnover was 361.9 million against 348.6 million expected by analysts. Titles rise of 0.63%, to 14.44 dollars.

The beginnings were, however arduous. Just arrived at Bercy in 2005, Foreign Trade Christine Lagarde addresses a French taboo: the Labor Code. "Complicated, heavy, rather inflexible. Emotion, call to order the Matignon. After the election of Nicolas Sarkozy and his rise in rank to the Economy, the Minister referred to a "austerity plan" against the state of public finances. Whirlpool, public disavowal of the Elysee. A little later, faced with soaring oil prices, it advises the French to put the bike …. By Christine Lagarde, the French may have first caught his gaffes and his unwavering optimism about the economy. Two and a half years after his appointment to the Ministry of Economy, the most sacred here, however, European finance ministers … Meanwhile, the economic crisis has been there. And made the French minister "a star in the world of finance. Nothing less.And this is not his entourage, who devotes a sincere admiration, who says it. No, it's very Anglo-Saxon Financial Times, publishing its annual list Tuesday of Ministers of the euro area. "No other minister of Finance of a major economy in the world is reached through this years test in such a form" and did so involved "at the international level regarding the regulation and the future banking sector, "said the influential FT.

The longevity record