The manufacturer Gemalto smart cards issued Thursday its results for the year in france 2009. The turnover declined by 1.5%, reaching 1.654 billion euros. The net lost 3.27% on a year to 148 million euros. For the first time in its history, the company will pay its first dividend, to 25 cents per share.

The group's operating income amounted to 171 million euros (1.18%), although it is cut by 11 million euros. Indeed Gemalto had to make provision for this sum to settle a malfunction on smart cards in Germany.

During Gemalto has accelerated its growth in external spending 74 million euros for six acquisitions, including a company specializing in mobile electronic signature cashadvance . Google the title should also react.

DuPont has announced a profit of $ 441 million in the fourth quarter against a loss of 629 million a year later.Brought back in action, this equates to earnings of $ 0.48, well above the $ 0.41 expected by the market.

Verizon Communications has announced a net loss of $ 653 million in the fourth quarter against a profit of 1.24 billion a year earlier. The group affected by the cost to attract new customers, however, having seduced announces 2.2 million mobile wireless customers in the quarter, a figure that exceeds the expectations of Wall Street.

Travelers reported, before market, with net earnings up sharply from 60% to 1.285 billion in the fourth quarter. Brought back in action, this is equivalent to 2.12 dollars, above the $ 1.49 expected by analysts.The turnover reached 5.188 billion dollars over the period, down 4% yoy.

Delta Airlines, world's largest airline, announced on Tuesday a net loss of $ 25 million in the fourth quarter, down sharply compared to the 1.438 billion recorded a year earlier. Revenues rose 1% to 6.805 billion dollars, but less than the 6.86 billion expected by analysts.

Texas Instruments has released Exchange Monday after a profit of $ 655 million in the fourth quarter, better than expected by analysts. Side prediction, said the group receiving a high demand on all markets.STMicroelectronics, which publishes its results after the stock market should react in the fuolée.

Johnson & Johnson has announced a net profit in the fourth quarter above expectations at 2.2 billion dollars.

Amgen reported late Monday as forecasts in line with expectations for 2010 earnings per share excluding exceptional items, of $ 1.05 per track while analysts had forecast $ 1.12 on average.

VMware has announced that its 2010 revenues could increase by 21% to 26% after an increase of 8% in 2009 and reported quarterly earnings well above expectations.

All the big names in the electronics world is found in Las Vegas. All except Apple, which looks January 27 to make a revolutionary new listing, which may take competitors by surprise.

Since late 2009, it seems clear that the firm will make an apple Internet Tablet to be called islation. The announcement will take place in late January, because Apple has rented a conference room in San Francisco. But the date of its Internet Tablet, which would have a multi-touch screen 25 to 28 centimeters diagonally, is only scheduled for the second quarter of 2010. Indeed, one of the subcontractors Taiwanese Apple said establishing a production of screens and aluminum chassis which should start next month. "It will not take long to assemble the different elements.But output in the second quarter is what we envision, "said an anonymous source to Reuters.

It seems that islation, including a video circulated on the Internet is the answer to Apple's digital media books. It is the first color. This could lead to the creation of a new department of sales on the iTunes website.

Competitors eclipsed

But it would be difficult to know now than to give this one new activity. The new product Apple should allow you to download applications, listening to music, watching movies, into a true entertainment product while traveling. It would be more appropriate than the iPod touch and iPhone, whose screen is too small (9 cm) to qualify for comfortable vision. Islation with the Cupertino company remains true to its business model winner.It sells very expensive and a revolutionary product takes the services market (music, video, books …) that are downloaded on this product. Exits to sell these services at very low prices. Consequently, when Apple makes money, the service providers do not share the crumbs.

This ad may overshadow those of its competitors have made in Las Vegas. Last week, new Internet Tablet, which is a kind of PC without a keyboard but with a multi-touch screen, were presented by almost all PC makers. Among them, the Chinese Lenovo freed from Intel and Microsoft opted for the chips Qualcomm U.S., of Britain's ARM and a Linux operating system. But these are, after all, only computers that are trying to rise from their ashes. Five years ago, a first wave of Tablet PCs had appeared before dying for lack of customers.

The concern of markets and European authorities in Greece grew by the hour. Following the surveillance of the negative note of the Greek sovereign debt by the rating agency Standard & Poor's, Fitch is contributing, on Tuesday to increase pressure. The agency lowered the rating it assigns to the country to bring it back to "BBB +" with a negative outlook. "This deterioration reflects our concerns about the medium-term public finances given the low credibility of fiscal institutions and the Greek political context," says the agency is said also very worried as the economic outlook ahead.

This ad has tended to lead to further tension on the bond markets. The loan to ten years of the Greek State has reached the level of 5.33%, the highest since mid-JuneIt operates at 200 basis points above the German debt to ten years. The Athens Stock Exchange has, meanwhile, fell sharply, dropping more than 6.07%. The situation will remain tense today. After the close of markets, Fitch has indeed released a new press release announcing that it degraded to a clan note of the four major financial banks in the country: National Bank of Greece (NBG), Alpha Bank (Alpha) EFG Eurobank Ergasias (Eurobank) and Piraeus Bank (Piraeus). It also lowered to 'BBB -' rating of the Agricultural Bank Of Greece, majority owned by the state. This bank is now in the category known as speculative. "The ability (Greek government) to help banks has been reduced" because of the deterioration of the country's finances, Fitch wrote."Greek banks could eventually be a problem to refinance with the European Central Bank," warns Laurence Boone at Barclays. "If the note of Greece continues to fall, the ECB will no longer accept in exchange for taking securities on deposit bank."

Rare occurrence, this new series has led the European Commissioner for Economic Affairs to publish a statement in the evening. "A difficult situation for a member of the eurozone is a worrying factor for the whole area and it is clear that Greece is facing very big challenges on the economic and fiscal," said Joaquin Almunia. "The Commission stands ready to assist the Greek government in implementing its program of reform and fiscal consolidation." Technical assistance and policy then, but not financial.Last February, when Greece already raised the concern, the German finance minister at the time, Peer Steinbrueck had said explicitly that it was impossible for Germany to leave a member of the eurozone s 'collapse. But since then the situation has changed. Peer Steinbrück has been replaced by a Liberal cabinet minister and the situation of Greek public finances deteriorated sharply. Hence the renewed concern among investors. Especially since the country's social situation, explosive, does not promote major reforms.

Even countries rated frighten markets

"Greece is sure to find a savior who will avoid bankruptcy

Last year, a 16-acre property in Greenwich, Connecticut, containing a Jacobean manor house of 2034 square meters with 14 rooms was sold for 125 million dollars (82.8 million). It was the second most expensive home for sale in the world by its price. Today, it is proposed to only 60 million dollars.

In one year, all owners wishing to sell have decided to reduce their prices by 20% or more. But this phenomenon is changing now as it affects owners of property valued at several tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. Last year, the investor Marty Zweig has withdrawn from the market the Pierre Hotel penthouse sale for $ 70 million four years ago. The financier Leonard Ross, who demanded 165 million dollars to the Hearst Mansion in Beverly Hills, Calif., has withdrawn from the market in September 2008.A few months later, Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia has withdrawn his ski chalet in Aspen, which he wanted 135 million dollars.

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Wait vendors

This year, another victim of the housing market rout is "Hillendale" in Stamford, Connecticut. This property was sold for 95 million dollars. It is not for sale. Others, like the owners of a manor of 85 million dollars created by Wallace Neff, have decided to rent their properties until the market recovers.

These reactions, said Jonathan Miller, CEO of real estate appraisal firm Miller Samuel, are normal. "The market went wild, and has increased the prices of these goods to astronomical levels," said he. "These reductions are less dramatic reflection of the market collapse than the reality. "

While the number of buyers willing to invest in a property worth tens or hundreds of millions of dollars has always been low, the lack of availability of financing for mega-loans is a little more decimated their ranks . Finally, some buyers who have the necessary funds are waiting to see if the housing market will regain its stability. And they could take some time.

The market for "ultra-luxury" also suffers

"It's low-end market has suffered in the first," says Mike Simonsen, CEO of Altos Research, a provider of real estate statistics. "Then, the luxury market began to suffer there are only 12 months and is very recently that the market for ultra-luxury was hit. It will take years, many years before the market does recover. At the top, it will take longer for the luxury market as a whole. To attract buyers, owners and their agents use strategies often reserved for sellers in more traditional markets.

This was decided to owners Bootjack Ranch in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. During the year, they reduced their prices by $ 88 million to 68 million.The broker of this property, Bill Fandel of Sotheby's International Realty, hoped that this reduction would generate some interest. He says that it is the foreign billionaires who seem interested.

"Those who can afford to buy a property like this," says he, "want to know they are a wise purchase and they get a lot for these huge price. "Herald Grant, who also works for Sotheby's, has withdrawn from the market a property in Southampton proposed $ 80 million. "When the buyers were willing to spend, prices were emotional," says he, "but now the sellers are more reserved. "

The Villa Leopolda in France

But the general slump has not stopped some to sell their luxury properties.In March, Candy Spelling, wife of the late producer Aaron Spelling, has sold their manor of 150 million dollars in Holmby Hills. Called "The Manor, the residence of 100 rooms topped our list this year. Despite the widespread collapse of property prices, its price is higher than the number 1 last year, "Fleur De Lys", also in Holmby Hills for sale for $ 125 million. This property is inspired by the palace of Louis XIV at Versailles, with an area of nearly 4200 square meters.

Albemarle House, 100 million, an area of Charlottesville, Virginia. At the heart of a park of 120 acres adjacent to Monticello and Ash Lawn-Highland, this Georgian house of eight rooms was designed by architect and designer David Easton.

Owners of homes outside the United States also seem to hope that the unique features of their homes attract buyers. Updown Court, the area of 117 million dollars that they say bigger than Buckingham Palace and Hampton Court, is still on the market. Like'exceptionnelle Villa Leopolda, with its 2700 square meters and 11 rooms, located on the Riviera, which had been proclaimed the most expensive home in the world, and is now offered to 68 million euros . If owners are concerned, they could perhaps see Joel Horowitz, co-founder of Tommy Hilfiger and owner of "Tranquility" at Lake Tahoe. This area of 85 hectares for sale since 2006 at a price of 100 million dollars.

The National Association for Business Economics released its monthly survey on Monday on the state of the U.S. economy in 2010. The real GDP growth should reach them by 2.9% next year, compared with the 2.6% suggested in the previous survey.

"The real GDP growth should be sufficient to rebuild the lost ground during the recession and ensure that the production reaches a record high by the end of 2010," NABE said in a statement.

For the year, the group of economists expects a decline of 2.4% of GDP (against 2.5% previously) and an unemployment rate expected to remain above the 10 threshold % between the fourth quarter 2009 and second quarter 2010.

Since December 2007 and the beginning of the recession that the United States came out, the economy has destroyed 7.3 million jobs, the unemployment rate rising above the symbolic 10% (10.2% precisely) of the workforce in October, the highest since 26 years and a half.

"United States: economic indicators continue to improve

Not that Renault suffering in Russia. The French retailer Carrefour, the world, announced Thursday its intention to sell its activities in Russia "in the absence of sufficient growth prospects." Carrefour is present in Russia since 2008 and operates two supermarkets in Moscow and Krasnodar, the statement said.

Carrefour had last week denied press reports that he was considering "the sale of its business in growth markets," noting that Brazil and China in particular remained a priority.The daily Le Monde had said that "the sale of implantations in Latin America" was "seriously considered a track" and the "bulk sale of emerging countries," the newspaper had mentioned initially, was "dismissed".

This will leave the Russian market comes as Carrefour announced disappointing sales in the third quarter. Lars Olofsson had not hidden earlier this week that the situation was difficult in a Interveiw The Wall Street Journal.

Indeed, the turnover of the group is down, but the group was "on track to achieve the 2009 targets."Operating profit before non-recurring items would still be in the lower range of 2.7 to 2.8 billion euros announced June 30

In the third quarter, the group recorded a turnover of 24.018 billion euros, down 3.8% in comparable stores, slightly less than expected by analysts (24.29 billion euros average).

Gain market share

In a statement, Lars Olofsson, the CEO of Carrefour, said that "in an environment that remains challenging, particularly in our markets of Western Europe, (the group) continues to gain market share in France, reflecting the success of Carrefour Market, which compensates for the disappointing performance of hypermarkets in the third quarter.

Carrefour reiterated its priorities for 2009 to invest 600 million euros to support sales and market share and reach at least 500 million of savings in operational costs.

In France, sales between June and September were down 4.2% in comparable stores to 10.400 billion euros (10.398 million consensus) with 5.292 billion euros in hypermarkets a decrease of 8% in comparable stores. Supermarket sales rose 1% to 2.292 million. In the hard discount they show a decrease of 7% on a comparable basis to 641 million.

Moreover, the group plans to change the pattern of its hypermarkets. According to the site of Les Echos, William Vicar will replace Alain Souillard, less than two years after his appointment as head of the 200 stores of the French number two worldwide distribution.

Internationally, Carrefour has achieved in Western Europe a turnover of 6.346 billion (-6.5%) while they increased in Latin America by 5% in the third quarter same-store sales at 3.368 billion. In Brazil, they rose by 14.2% at constant exchange rates, of which 3.9% in comparable stores. In Asia the turnover has however declined by 6.4% to 1.787 million in the third quarter.

Google introduced late Thursday its quarterly results counted for the period July-August-September. The profit comes up 27% to 1.638 billion dollars (1.097 billion), or earnings per share of 5.89 dollars, against 5.42 dollars expected by analysts. The turnover is also above market expectations which was banking on 4.24 billion dollars and which finally reached 5.944 billion dollars.

"Google had a good quarter (…) we saw a 7% growth in turnover over one year despite difficult economic conditions," said Schmidt, the CEO of the group. "We are now very optimistic about the future," he added.

Towards a recovery of investment

The U.S. giant said he was ready, through its director general, to "invest heavily" now that "the worst of the recession is past."There are 12 months (..) we decided to sail cautiously" facing the worst crisis in a generation, he said. "Now it is important to return to what we do well, innovate and invest."

For over ten years, the company specializes in the detection of small companies considered promising and may be enhanced by synergies with its operations. Among its most massive acquisitions, we find the redemption of the Youtube video platform in October 2006 for 1.65 billion dollars.

The group based in California, which had already indicated last month it was considering acquisitions, with 22 billion dollars in cash at 30 September, enough to finance several acquisitions.

In electronic trading after the close of business action gained 2.90% after the announcement of its results.