Without reforms in Rome, the ECB could stop its purchases

The European Central Bank (ECB) often discussed the possibility of ending its purchases of sovereign debt in case the Italian Rome would not implement the promised reforms, said Yves Mersch, a member of the Governing Council of the ECB .

"If we find that (effective) our work is undermined by a lack of efforts of national governments, then we must ask us to question the effect (of interventions)," said he in an interview published Sunday by the newspaper La Stampa.

Asked if this meant that the ECB could stop buying Italian bonds, Yves Mersch, head of the Central Bank of Luxembourg, answers:

"If the council of the ECB concluded that the conditions that had led him to make a decision no longer exist, it can change that decision at any time. We talk all the time."

This is partly because the yields of Spanish and Italian sovereign bonds in early August had reached a level considered difficult to sustain over the long term for these countries to more than 6%, the ECB had resumed its buyback program obligations.

Since the last three months, it bought for about 100 billion shares, of which over half were Italian government bonds.

Friday, the yield on Italian 10-year loans reached a new high since the creation of the euro area, 6.43% due to the distrust inspired investors in the country, where a vote of confidence in the House planned Tuesday could bring down the coalition government led by Silvio Berlusconi.

At the G20 summit in Cannes last Thursday and Friday, Silvio Berlusconi, also faces the distrust of his own camp, asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to monitor the implementation of its commitments to reform.

Yves Mersch has also defended the right of the Italian Lorenzon Bini Smaghi to remain on the board of the ECB despite the fact that Italy will now have two members from any and France after leaving the presidency of the ECB Jean-Claude Trichet.

A flaw in Windows related to the spread of the virus Duque

Microsoft announced on Tuesday 1st November, a flaw in its Windows operating system, previously unknown, was used to infect computers with viruses Duque. "We are doing our best to solve this problem and will post an updated security for our customers," said the software giant in a brief statement.

Duque was spotted last month, when the security software company Symantec found a virus containing a source similar to Stuxnet, a virus that had affected the Iranian Bushehr nuclear power plant.

The first information on the mode of contamination by Duque were unveiled Tuesday. According to researchers at Symantec, the virus was sent to the victims targeted by e-mail through an infected Word document as an attachment. Once the recipient has opened the file in question and infected his computer, cyber-criminals can take control, told Reuters Kevin Haley, a researcher at Symantec. They then have plenty of time to spread the virus within a network and to collect data.

RELATIONSHIP WITH Stuxnet

A race against time is committed to solve the mystery of this new virus. Early analysis suggests that it was developed by highly skilled hackers in order to prepare the ground for attacks against critical infrastructure such as power plants, oil refineries and pipelines.

The fact that Stuxnet Duque shares with some of its source code suggests that the designers of Stuxnet have this code is sent to those of Duque, either deliberately left steal this code, or that the same hackers have developed the two viruses, said Kevin Haley. "While the number of infections is still limited by Duque, we see the malware spread in several countries," says Symantec, on his blog. So far, the antivirus has identified eight affected countries, including France.

Sony will end this year in the red

The Japanese company specializing in electronics Sony has notified, Wednesday, November 2, now he expects to finish fiscal year from April 2011 to March 2012 on a large deficit.

Sony thinks finish the year with a net loss of 90 billion yen (820 million) with a turnover that may be less than 700 billion yen to that provided either 6,500 billion yen (59 billion euros) against 7 200 billion previously expected.

Sony, which has been financially affected by the disaster of March 11 in Japan in the first quarter, is certainly able to restore the situation on this component. But it is still strongly affected by the high cost of Japanese currency and lower rates of certain key products such as televisions. He is also concerned about the consequences of floods in Thailand, including delaying the launch of new cameras.

RESULTS lead by the TV industry

Sony also announced on Wednesday, finishing the first half of the year on a net loss of 42.48 billion yen (386 million). The sharp decline in sales revenue is mainly due to the negative impact of the rise of the Japanese currency vis-à-vis the dollar and euro on sales outside Japan.

A 80% turnover of the group comes indeed from abroad, and the rising yen has a huge impact on its accounts. In addition, the group is a victim of competition that brings down the prices of TVs, a business that fails to return, despite severe cost-cutting measures.

Google could offer pay-TV services

The group search engine Google plans to offer pay-TV services, reports the Wall Street Journal on its website (article fee), Thursday, November 3.

Google began looking for "ways to complete a project" already announced high-speed Internet access in Kansas City, in the center of the United States "by adding video services and telephony," the newspaper citing a "person having been informed" of the group's plans.

NO DECISION YET TAKEN

To this end, the California company "has discussed the possibility of distributing large television channels belonging to groups such as Walt Disney, Time Warner and Discovery Services", the newspaper said. However, the article adds, "These discussions were exploratory and no final decision has yet been taken."

In late October, the group announced a new version of its television system connected to the Internet, which is struggling to win. The launch of Google TVen Europe, originally planned this year, was postponed to a later date.

Apple will fix a bug with the iPhone battery

The U.S. company Apple announced Wednesday, November 2, it would update its new operating system, IOS 5. After the release of this system, several users had recently complained about poor performance related to the battery of the iPhone 4S. Discussion forums on Apple's website, there are dozens of testimonials from unhappy customers.

"'We found some bugs that affect the battery, and we'll provide an update in the coming weeks," says a spokeswoman for Apple, told Reuters. The Cupertino company has not stated the problem, or what models were particularly affected.

The iPhone 4S CONCERNED

According to the testimonies of users, the iPhone 4S, presented at the beginning of October by Apple, is affected, as apparently there any older models. To explain these battery problems, the specialized site All Things Digital evokes such disparities of consumption, according to the telephone network used.

Three days after its launch in mid-October, the computer manufacturer Apple announced it had sold over four million copies of its new model phone iPhone 4S.

Groupon managed its IPO

The website specialist deals Groupon flew its first day of trading Friday in New York, despite the doubts inspired by its business model. The stock closed its first day at 26.11 dollars, up 30.55% from the introductory course set Thursday at $ 20, but slightly down from the opening price (28 dollars).

The operation, which enabled the young company from Chicago to recover $ 700 million (710.5 million if the option is purchased on allocation) is the second largest IPO for an Internet company since that of Google in 2004, notes the financial firm Renaissance Capital.

The company was born three years ago in Chicago, which has big marketing costs to win and keep subscribers and clients traders, said the funds raised would enable it to finance the needs of the farm. "Our IPO is a small step in our journey," said the founder and CEO Andrew Mason on the official blog of the group. On the financial channel CNBC, the financial director Jason Child, expressed satisfaction with the extent of the operation, "rather important and good for our business."

Groupon had placed 35 million shares Thursday. These 35 million shares represent only 5% stake in the company, which according to analysts has created a tension between supply and demand in his favor, especially as opportunities to invest in the new economy have been rare since the spring. The IPO of Groupon was one of the most anticipated in the area of ​​high-tech U.S., pending the publisher of games Zynga, whose value is estimated around $ 14 billion but is already beneficiary, and especially the giant Facebook, much bigger, but has not yet filed a case.

But the valuation of Groupon during IPO at $ 12.7 billion, represents only about half of the estimates that were circulating last summer. Several analysts have noted that the fundamentals of the company, which widens its net loss while its growth lags the beginning of a slowdown, were carriers of risk.

Some analysts believe the outbreak of Groupon could be a short term phenomenon. They do not exclude a decrease of the action as it happened to the radio station Pandora Internet Media. Groupon has lost two senior vice presidents for a year and had to revise its accounts twice at the request of the authorities. "They wanted to shine in stock, so they do not put many in the audience," said David Berman, the sector specialist hedge fund Durban Capital. "They created demand by limiting supply. And they took the leap they wanted."

Groupon will raise $ 700 million for its IPO

The group buying site Groupon announced Thursday, Nov. 3, he plans to raise $ 700 million (507 million) for its IPO. The company does not 30 but 35 million shares at a price of 20 dollars (14.5 euros), exceeding the range of from 16 to 18 dollars (11.6 and 13 euros) announced last month. The transaction values ​​the company at 12.66 billion dollars (9.17 billion euros). However, it is half the estimates were still advanced last summer.

For the financial company Renaissance Capital, which specializes in IPOs, "given that the actions offered for sale only 5% of the capitalization, the action could rise in early trade (on Friday on the Nasdaq), with a momentum of supply and demand. "

The IPO of Groupon is one of the most anticipated in the area of ​​high-tech U.S., pending the publisher of games Zynga, whose value is estimated around $ 14 billion (10.1 billion) but is already qualified, and especially Facebook, which has not yet filed a case. Groupon had refused a year ago to be acquired by Google for $ 6 billion (4.3 billion).

Groupon site, with 142.9 million subscribers in 145 countries, with nearly 79,000 merchants using its services, working with more than 10,000 employees. Their role is to contact dealers and users to offer promotions on certain goods or services, provided only a minimum number of consumers to subscribe.

UNCERTAINTIES OF ECONOMIC MODEL

Despite this fundraiser, the website, launched in November 2008 in Chicago, leaving uncertainty about its business model. Groupon is still a net loss of $ 308 million (223 million) for the first nine months of the year, against $ 77.7 million (56.3 million) during the same period 2010. The site also boasts a turnover of 1.1 billion dollars (797 million) in the first nine months of the year, against $ 140.7 million (102 million) there is a year.

But Renaissance Capital noted a slowdown in the expansion: "The turnover of the third quarter to $ 430 million, only a 10% increase over the previous quarter, against a sequential growth of 33% in the second quarter, "the company noted in a footnote. The trading patterns of customers also raise doubts. In the third quarter, the average purchase per customer declined by 15%, to 3.30 dollars (2.40 euros).

The group purchasing industry is increasingly competitive. LivingSocial, backed by Amazon, had also come into stock. Currently present in 21 countries, the company has 38 million subscribers worldwide and more than 2000 employees. Google is also positioned in this market with its service "Offers", first experienced in some U.S. cities. Facebook, for his part renounced purchasing. Competition also comes from Asia. Chinese Lashou last week filed a request for IPO to the tune of $ 100 million (73 million).

Olympus delaying publication of its results

Olympus will not disclose its quarterly results on November 8 as expected, the group that said they needed more time after the establishment of an external commission to investigate the scandal related to its acquisitions.

The manufacturer of cameras and precision optical instruments now intends to publish its results for the period July to September in the second half of November, without necessarily waiting for the commission makes its findings.

"The decision to postpone (the publication) is in no way due to a problem raised by external parties," said the spokesman of Olympus. "We just think it would be too difficult to organize a conference results in the present circumstances."

Olympus has introduced Tuesday a six-member commission to investigate alleged irregularities during mergers and acquisitions, including the revelation has halved the market capitalization of the group.

The survey will include commissions of a record $ 687 million (484 million) paid in the acquisition of UK medical equipment Gyrus in 2008.

The commission has not set a deadline for the submission of its findings.

Listed companies in Japan must publish their quarterly results within 45 days after the end of the quarter, otherwise they risk losing their stock market listing.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange will normally schedule the November 14 deadline for the quarter from July to September and any late publication must be approved by the government, said a spokesman for the Japanese place.

The action Olympus finished down 6.8% to 1,118 yen, after falling by 12% immediately after the announcement of the postponement.

The group lost about 60% of its stock value since the abrupt dismissal in October of its Director General, Britain's Michael Woodford, who says he was ousted for having examined too closely to past acquisitions of the group.

Nikon lowered its forecast because of Thailand and the yen

Nikon said it had revised down its forecast of 22% of annual operating income due to both the consequences of floods in Thailand on its production and the strong yen.

The Japanese maker of digital cameras indicated that the activity of its factory in Thailand could not resume until January and had to wait until March for a return to normal.

Thailand is affected by the floods, the worst in 50 years, the weather that has already killed more than 420 dead.

Nikon, which had anticipated annual sales record before the disaster, said it would cut its results by 25 billion yen (232 million) despite projects to transfer production to other sites to meet the demand for year-end.

The group, whose main competitors are Canon and Sony now expects an operating profit of 67 billion yen for the year 2011-2012, ending in late March.

Analysts on average expected 81 billion yen, according to the consensus Thomson Reuters I / B / E / S.

Alcatel warns severely punished the stock market

The telecoms equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent has issued a warning Friday on its profitability for 2011, considered the stock market as a serious missed when the group enters the final stretch of its three-year plan for recovery.

A few months before the deadline he had set to become a business "normal" - growing, profitable and generating cash - the Franco-American group said suffer from economic downturn and the reluctance of European telecom operators to invest in their networks.

"Alcatel moves further away from what might be called a business 'normal'," said Thomas Langer of WestLB, while many analysts say they expect changes in estimates following the release, which should influence the consensus for 2011 and 2012.

At 2:10 p.m., the action Alcatel-Lucent accused the largest decrease in the CAC 40 index, falling 15.3% to euro 1.7 03 and recording session in his most well-Week Low. The title gives 22% since the beginning of the year.

After a quarter considered low, in which the group has once again engulfed a portion of its cash, Alcatel has revised its target operating margin adjusted to about 4% for 2011 and pledged additional measures to reduce costs in 2012.

"Given the uncertain economic climate, we will take more drastic action," said the CEO, Ben Verwaayen, who expects 500 million euros in additional savings. "You will see us take further action on costs and on cash."

THE CASH, "MAIN PRIORITY"

The telecoms equipment resulting from the merger in 2006 between Alcatel and Lucent has postponed by one year its ambition to achieve a positive cash flow, content now to build 2011 on "a level similar to that of last year or slightly better "

Groupon flames on his debut on the Stock Exchange

The action Groupon blazed Friday for his debut on the stock exchange in heated exchanges, investor enthusiasm is accentuated by the low part of the capital negotiable.

The action has reached a high of 31.14 dollars, representing a gain of 55.7% over the IPO price of $ 20 or capitalization of nearly $ 20 billion, and then limit its up to 37% to about 27.36 dollars.

The specialist promotional offers through bulk purchases had placed 35 million shares Thursday. These 35 million shares represent only 5% stake in the company.

According to the specialist Ipreo is the second lowest free float on the stock market put the United States over the past decade.

A $ 20 per share, Groupon has raised $ 700 million, which represents the largest public offerings of an Internet company since Google's in 2004. The search engine had raised $ 1.7 billion at the time.

The beginning fanfare Groupon fellows may be able to encourage other known names such Internet Angie's List, Zynga or Facebook to get into the arena market.

Scores of companies were planning to go public this year have temporarily abandoned their project with the fall in equity markets in August.

The Director General of Groupon, Andrew Mason and its president Eric Lefkofsky fell into the arms of each other in Times Square after ringing the bell to open Nasdaq.

Some analysts believe the outbreak of Groupon could be a short term phenomenon. They do not exclude a decrease of the action as it happened to the radio station Pandora Internet Media.

The EU survey on patents for Apple and Samsung

The European Commission said Friday it opened an investigation into whether Apple and Samsung had infringed competition law on patents acting as standards in the field of mobile telephony.

The EC states that the request for information from the two companies is a standard procedure in any investigation relating to competition.

"We received a request for information from the European Commission and are cooperating fully," reported the South Korean group.

Apple and Samsung tear interposed by the courts, each accusing the other of violating intellectual property law.

"This investigation has big implications for the dispute between Apple and Samsung but beyond these two companies and is the type of licensing regime which is based on the entire sector," said Florian Mueller, expert of the law of intellectual property.

Foo Yun Chee, Wilfrid Exbrayat for the French service, edited by Catherine Monin

Wall Street expected to grow with the crisis in Europe

Wall Street has responded lately, like most international exchanges, advances and setbacks in the resolution of the protracted debt crisis in the euro area and it may still well be the case next week.

While the worst seems so far avoided the vote of confidence from Parliament obtained Friday by the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, which removes the specter of early elections in the country that is the source of the crisis.

But the situation in Athens is not clarified so far as each day of delay in the implementation of the bailout of Greece delayed the possibility of an end to the crisis.

Greek political parties on Sunday bitterly negotiated a coalition agreement may prove to other countries in the euro zone as Greece is determined to continue on the path of austerity to avoid bankruptcy.

But beyond Greece, the debt crisis may worsen at any time due to difficulties in other countries in the euro area, Italy in mind.

"(The vote of confidence obtained by the Greek Prime Minister) removes the risk of a referendum or a renegotiation of new terms (the bailout)," said Thomas Roth, executive director responsible for the trading of bonds State U.S. at Mitsubishi UFJ Securities.

"But this vote he can really trigger a bullish development? There are still many risks such as Italy. It is not clear

The reserves of the Bundesbank will not fund the EFSF

The German government Saturday denied press reports saying that the reserves of the Bundesbank would be used to replenish the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), the emergency fund in the euro area.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung reported that the reserves of the German central bank - made ​​of gold and foreign exchange - will be used to increase the contribution of Germany to EFSF over 15 billion euros.

The Welt am Sonntag said the same thing in its columns.

"The foreign exchange reserves and gold in Germany, managed by the Bundesbank, have never been in discussions at the G20 summit in Cannes," said the spokesman of the German government.

G20 leaders met Thursday and Friday in Cannes discussed the idea of ​​the European System of Central Banks gather their foreign exchange reserves totaling 50 to 60 billion to a kind of EFSF funds in the form of special drawing rights (SDR) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"We know this plan and we reject it," said a spokesman for the Bundesbank.

Groupon, the souffle will he fall?

The CEO and founder of Groupon, Andrew Mason, succeeded her little effect. Despite the skepticism about its business model, despite the communication errors on its books, despite the tensions in financial markets, the site of Internet business has made a sensational debut on the stock market. In early trade on Wall Street, Friday, Nov. 4, the value has jumped nearly 50%, introduced 20 dollars, the title was trading at more than $ 29, less than an hour later.

We had not seen such volatility on the stock market since the rating is downgraded the sovereign debt of the United States in August by Standard & Poor's. The "VIX", the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index, panicked earlier this week, climbing 42% a few days before the IPO of the most anticipated of the year.

Yet all the uncertainties have not flown one stroke of one. But the banks that led the transaction, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse had put everything on their side to turn the challenge into success. The low number of shares that were offered for sale has obviously created a scarcity effect, which contributed to the soaring title.

The bubble burst there as quickly as it rose? From the time the $ 700 million public offering raised Friday only 5% of total capitalization, difficult to draw definitive conclusions of the fireworks that has seen Wall Street. A number of investors bought a ticket to board the train, not sure they want to go to the end.

When asked these questions, the IPO of Groupon, beyond the inevitable excesses that surrounds values ​​Internet, has, nevertheless, some virtues: First, the model is fairly cash intensive. This new money is likely to consolidate. Second, market pressure will help structure this model, the push towards greater maturity.

Finally, he devotes an idea whose time has come: that which is to converge physical and Internet commerce. The both have had in recent years in the fear of cannibalizing each other. But more and more players now realize that the future of distribution lies in a balanced mix between the two. Groupon has perhaps not yet found the magic formula. The idea, remember, is to negotiate discounts with physical stores. They expect then to federate Groupon enough buyers to justify a discount. The products are then removed in shops with vouchers distributed by the site. This system undoubtedly has its flaws and is certainly enhanced, but the leading role, played by Groupon is certainly a value. To evaluate the scholarship in the coming months, when the peace will be a little income.