The Lakers star ball changes. After the pumpkin orange basketball, he moved to the little white ball in baseball. Playmaker of the "Dream Team" of the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, but the Los Angeles Lakers is the large-figurehead of a consortium that will spend the equivalent of 1.6 billion euro to regain bankrupt club of Los Angeles Dodgers. This colossal sum excludes the famous "Dodger Stadium" for which the new team of "Magic" Johnson will pay 150 million dollars more. A misery.

The fate of the Dodgers was sealed last summer, when the league baseball has refused to accept the increase in TV rights which would have reached three billion dollars between the Fox and the California Club in Los Angeles. In fact, one of the leaders League Baseball feared that this small fortune to go replenish the accounts of the controversial businessman, Frank McCourt, owner of the Dodgers so far faxless cash advance. The amount proposed by the band Jordan is the highest ever paid for the acquisition of a "franchise".

Specificity of the North American professional sports, a franchise is a team that can be sold and "moved" from one city to another. However Magic Johnson will not be President. This position will be assigned to Stan Kasten, who led the franchise of the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals. The Californian giant known for his business acumen comes again at the right time: the Dodgers show a good record with 16 wins sport for seven defeats. This is not the first time a basketball player is interested in baseball. The great Michael Jordan had tried-sporting – this discipline in a minor league. The star of the Chicago Bulls was also a teammate of Magic Johnson in the "Dream Team" Olympic. The fine line between the two sports.

Photo credits: Azylum

eBizcuss does not intend to disappear without a stir. He accuses Apple of its undoing. The small independent retailer specializing in products for the Apple brand, will declare itself insolvent by early next week. And he fully intends to increase the lawsuits against the U.S. giant. The dealer accuses Apple of failing to honor its deliveries. By the end of 2011, eBizcuss complained of not receiving iPhone and iPad. Quite embarrassing for the shops (8 in France, employing 120 people for a turnover of EUR 78 million) dedicated to the Apple brand. The French also accused the U.S. of diverting customers to do. "Consumers come to us, we explain the products, but we did not, they'll buy an Apple Retail Store," complains a saleswoman. Abuse of dominant position, abuse of economic dependence, unfair competition, parasitic practices … eBizcuss wants to attack on all fronts, complain to the Commercial Court and before the Competition Authority.

No response from Apple

Legal proceedings that will save the company certainly does, but are primarily intended to talk about it.

The spokesman eBizcuss do not hesitate to take the debate on other planes, recalling that Apple does not pay all his taxes in France: the purchases made by a French iTunes are charged via Luxembourg, which allows the firm to Tim Cook not to pay VAT in France. Faithful to its principles, Apple does not respond to these attacks. The group has already said not to be responsible for managing independent dealers.

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This unemployed architect has worked hard. Without work since 2009, Dan Zamora sent over 3000 CVs in the hope of getting a job, tells the Midi Libre. 936 responses to job postings, unsolicited applications in 2078 and 13 requests for training. Who have all ended in failure. "There is more work in my industry and I no longer believe in the possibility of conversion," the candidate is desperate.

The case of Dan Zamora, 59, illustrates the difficulties faced by more than 50 years on the job market deteriorated. But it also emphasizes the importance of targeting its research so that it bears fruit. "With 3000 hp sent, we can assume that not everyone has been addressed with the same relevance," said Frederic Magnen, senior consultant with the firm of recruitment Selescope.  

Applicants whose research patina may be tempted to apply for jobs "for which they are clearly under or overqualified," says Naomi Cicurel, director at recruitment firm of Robert Half. Strategy it deems inefficient: "The risk is to appear desperate and unprofessional, which will limit the chances of success if another position is better suited to his profile, is released later business cards design."

Depletion of applications

Better to be less forthcoming in applications and more personalized. "With the rise of great classifieds sites of employment, people in research began to send many more hp. And there was a depletion of applications, "says Frederic Magnen. The recruiter advises candidates to differentiate themselves by taking the foot against this trend. "Reply to a dozen ads in line with your profile is enough," said he.

For more attention of recruiters, it is important to treat his resume, usually read first. According to a survey by consulting firm HR WIT Associates, nearly 70% of recruiters do not read the letter that if they find interesting cv. "It must be synthetic, and highlight the skills and experience in line with the announcement. There is no point applying indiscriminately, "says Frederic Magnen.

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The call to strike by three unions (CGT, CFDT and UNSA) air traffic controllers will cancel and delay several flights to Orly and some regional airports. At Air France, which opened two new bases Sunday in Toulouse and Nice, it ensures that customers affected by such disruption are informed as and by SMS, email, ur website or via smartphone applications . The company says that there will be no cancellation of flights from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, otherwise some delays. The strike only for domestic flights and will have no effect on the medium and long haul flights, except for some possible delays on takeoff.

At Orly, "it is about 20% of preventive flight cancellations, according to what had been announced. There are no delays or queues, "says one at the airport. "There may be additional disturbances, but not until the mid-morning." For its part, easyJet has already canceled 16 flights today from or arriving at Orly airport and advises all passengers to "check the status of their flights regularly." In all, the airlines have so far deleted about one flight in five between today and tomorrow, departing or arriving at Orly short term personal loans.

Eighteen flights have already been canceled at Lyon Saint-Exupery. These flights come from or go to Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Pau and Metz. At the airport of Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne "disturbances" were announced, which result in the removal of some flights. It is recommended that travelers contact their airline for more information. resulting in the cancellation of a particular movement in the Basque Country this day of presidential candidate Eva Joly.

The unions called the strike to oppose a plan to restructure air traffic control services in the provinces, which would imply a decline in numbers. Air traffic controllers, agents of the public service, have an obligation to provide minimum services. However, if the strike notice is required, the strikers did not have to declare individually 48 hours in advance, as is the case for railway or recently for pilots and stewards.

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The National Society Corse Méditerranée (SNCM) lost Friday the benefit of much of the subsidies it enjoyed. The Corsican Assembly voted Friday because the new methods of shipping services to the island. As expected, the recommendations of the Executive were followed. The new public service delegation (PSD) – the former was denounced by the Administrative Court of Appeal of Marseilles in November – no longer subsidize the transport 410,000 passengers a year against more than one million currently, and in 1600 linear meters of cargo, with rotations of 23 weekly frequencies between Marseille and the five Corsican ports. A reduction of 60% compared to the old contract. An endowment called "complementary service" financing maritime connections during peak periods, especially with the summer influx of tourists, will also be more funded Territorial Community of Corsica (CTC).

To justify its decision, the CTC relies on the argument used by the judges that the DSP can step in to fill gaps in the competitive sector, and therefore should not subsidize the boats during peak periods, especially in summer when no shortage of passengers. A so-called "welfare", denounced as a form of disguised subsidy to reduce the ticket prices, has finally been removed. The CTC also rejected the principle of territorial continuity Toulon harbor, stronghold of the private company Corsica Ferries, whose vessels fly the Italian flag and holds the key market share in passenger traffic, but where SNCM, has since recovered several months of rotations to develop its business in the transport of goods.

A study commission

These decisions may seal the fate of the shipping company. The company will have to separate at least two car ferries (which carried 540,000 passengers last year) and 800 employees in 2000, warned Marc Dufour, chief executive. Above all, he feared not being able to compete with its competitor. He says the Journal du Dimanche, as Corsica Ferries employs half as many employees it pays three to four times cheaper because it hires mostly foreign sailors in CSD.

Given the risk of new social plan, 400 jobs have already been abolished in 2008, unions are mobilizing. The CGT has filed a strike notice from Tuesday, March 27. Its manager, Frederic Alpozzo, called competitors to comply with the rules of labor rights and the French owners of SNCM, the Transdev group Veolia (66%) and state (25%) was bailing the company. If the state remains silent, Veolia, which began its withdrawal from the transport sector, has already proposed to the community of Corsica to regain its majority stake in the company privatized in 2005 for a symbolic euro. A proposal described as grotesque by the Transportation Agency of Corsica. Veolia representatives must meet the elected this week. CTC in turn did not close all doors. Creating a study commission to create a regional shipping company has also been adopted by the Assembly on Friday.

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Sell, not sell? The sale of Flammarion stirred microcosm of the French edition, while officially opens the 32nd Book Fair. That same Friday, the board of the Italian Rizzoli Corriere della Sera (RCS), owner of the prestigious, will meet in Milan to validate and formalize its 2011 accounts – or not – the sale of its publishing subsidiary , which weighs more than a third of its business books and two-thirds of operating profit of the division. A nugget with Italian giant RCS Mediagroup, which owns the daily Corriere della Sera and El Mundo, could sell to reduce debt.

Currently, only Gallimard and Editions Albin Michel have formally submitted applications. However, Editis-Media Holdings, Europe's leading BD (Dargaud, Dupuis, Le Lombard …), the British HarperCollins (NewsCorp) and investment funds may be interested. The case is also closely monitored by the Strategic Investment Fund (ISF), which plans to support other investors. For the latter, the idea would be to find a French solution, which advocates or Albin Michel Gallimard, and dismisses a priori Editis, which belongs to the Spanish Planeta. "Gallimard can go alone," says a banker. The ties that bind the current patron of Flammarion, Teresa CREMISI, Antoine Gallimard, she was the editorial director from 1989 to 2005, could weigh in the decision. But the two groups each have a distribution tool. Albin Michel, who does not seem more complementary Flammarion.

The house founded in 1876 by Ernest Flammarion is one of the champions of the French edition, behind Hachette Livre, Editis, Media-Participations and La Martiniere-Le Seuil, but at Gallimard free 3-in-1 credit report. In 2010, the group Flammarion, publisher of the Prix Goncourt Michel Houellebecq and sells 36 million pounds per year, achieved a turnover of 278 million euros (219 million excluding distribution), against 241 million for the Gallimard Group (Denoël, Mercure de France …). He has nice assets, as Casterman (Tintin), and displays a nice profit, with an EBITDA of approximately € 30 million.

Numerical uncertainty

Everything to play. The sale could take months, hoping RCS Mediagroup remove between 220 and 300 million euros of the operation entrusted to the Italian bank Mediobanca, which itself owns nearly 14% of RCS. In 2000, the Italian group had taken control of Flammarion by paying about $ 160 million. The difficulty is to develop an activity whose visibility is parasitized by the development of digital books. While the share of sales of e-books is still marginal, in the order of 2 to 3% of market value, according to Livres Hebdo. But sales of reading lights, which took off in late 2011, shook the area. The book publisher Harlequin romance of France, 50% owned subsidiary of Hachette Livre and a lot of direct sales, and expects to achieve 15% of its business in the digital within two years. 3000 of its securities should be downloadable in late 2012.

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Although they are about to multiply the launch of new models at Geneva Motor Show, most manufacturers are concerned about a deterioration in their situation in Europe, where they lost money last year.

Weakened by the threat of recession, the European market is expected to decline for the fifth consecutive year, 3 to 5%, according to Euler Hermes. France is particularly affected, with a decline of 20% on the first two months of the year. Result, the price war with fierce brands to maintain their market share should continue. And the problem of excess production capacity, estimated at 20% in Europe, become more acute than ever. "These challenging conditions will persist in 2012, causing continued pressure on revenue and profitability for manufacturers," according to Fitch

Particularly pessimistic about market developments, the U.S. Ford expects to lose between 500 and 600 million this year in Europe, after recording a deficit of $ 190 million last quarter.

Faced with this crisis, all parties are seeking ways to reduce costs. Two of the weakest manufacturers in Europe, PSA Peugeot Citroen and General Motors have announced a strategic alliance, sealed by a stake of 7% of the American stake in French. The two groups hope to save 1.5 billion euros each year from 2016, sharing purchases, but also components, modules and vehicle platforms.

French is particularly desperate. Its automotive division, whose sales depend to 58% of Europe, has lost 500 million euros in the second half of 2011 and the group has burned 1.6 billion euros in cash in 2011. As for GM, whose European operations are supported by the German brand Opel, its losses totaled $ 600 million in the fourth quarter. A result that American "unacceptable."

Capacity reduction

In the short term, this alliance does not however solve the problems of both groups, particularly the low utilization of their production. General Motors, which has already closed the site of Opel Antwerp, suggested that capacity reductions were planned for "adjust to demand." Until 2014, the management is committed not to close the factory. But both sites are threatened, according to U.S. media, that of Bochum in Germany and Ellesmere Port in Britain. For its part, PSA casts doubt on the survival of the French site of Aulnay-sous-Bois after 2014. For now, the French multiplies the week of partial unemployment in France to reduce inventory and increase to the four-day week in May in its Czech plant of small cars.

In general, "continued weakness" in demand in Europe may lead other "draconian reactions" that PSA-GM alliance, as comparisons between manufacturers, restructuring or closing plants, said Fitch. Side partnership, Renault uses its alliance with Nissan and its strategic relationship with Mercedes to reduce development costs. As for Italy's Fiat, he put on his marriage with Chrysler to produce also economies of scale.

To limit the damage, however, builders rely on new products exhibited in Geneva. Ford will present his B-Max minivan, and its Fiat 500 L, a larger version of the famous city. PSA Peugeot will launch its 208 on which he plays big. For its part, Renault expects much of its low cost Lodgy minivan, sold in April from 10,000 euros. The French will also unveil its electric car Zoe, scheduled for October. It is nevertheless true that growth in car sales, which could reach 4% worldwide this year, will come again in emerging countries.

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On 13 February the share price of the Apple brand has surpassed for the first time the symbolic $ 500. Fifteen days later, its market capitalization crossed the threshold of $ 500 billion. Apple is now the most expensive company in the world. In ten years, the firm value has been multiplied by 55. One who placed $ 10,000 on Apple in 2002 could now buy a Manhattan apartment overlooking Central Park! Rising Will it continue? Y does a bubble on the title Apple? After such a stock market boom, the question is quite clear. Innovation capacity of the group is not infinite and the other smartphone manufacturers and electronics do not remain idle. The concentration of income of the company around two flagship products, the iPhone and the iPad, is also a point of fragility. Apple is not immune to a hiccup, but for now, investors are on a cloud and continue to flock to the title. Here are seven reasons that make them love Apple.

The best growth

Since 2007, the release of the iPhone, the firm at the apple has increased its turnover by more than four. During the last quarter of 2011, which includes Christmas sales, it jumped 64.8%. A recent study by the U.S. bank JPMorgan activity including projections through 2013 show that sales of Apple might, in seven years, advancing an average of 37% per year. Conclusion of the analyst, one must have in its portfolio: Apple is growing five times faster than the finest examples of American technology, such as Google, Amazon, Dell, Cisco and Microsoft.

Profitability is a dream

The firm at the apple generated in the previous year ended September 24, 2011 net income of $ 25.9 billion, which corresponds to a net margin of 23.9%, worthy of a luxury group LVMH like. During the last quarter of 2011, the group went higher with a profit of 13 billion, with net margin to a record 28.2%. Analysts at Societe Generale are waiting for the current year a net profit of nearly $ 43 billion, one of the highest ever achieved by a private company. Unusually, sales growth is not done at the expense of profitability. According to a study by the U.S. bank JPMorgan, the manufacturer of the iPhone could end the year with a gross margin of 43.1%, one of the best ratios of Wall Street.

A value "still" very wise

Unlike technology companies of the 2000s, which dealt in stock several dozen times the amount of their turnover without a penny of profit, Apple remains poorly valued. At current, the stock pays less than 10.5 times expected profits for the current year, while on Nasdaq, the market for technology stocks in New York, shares are traded on the basis of more 15 times earnings estimates for the current year. Better, up 40% of its shares would place it in the average American coast. UBS analysts are betting on a net income of $ 48 billion in 2014. In other words, the title is paid 8.5 times estimated profits in three years. It is therefore one of the values ​​cheap Nasdaq.

A global business

Apple has the advantage of not depend on any particular geographical area for sales. The group is present on all continents, which puts him immune to geopolitical risks. During the last quarter, the group realized $ 17 billion of sales in the U.S., which remains its largest market. Europe is second with 11.2 billion. Asia and the rest of emerging countries represent $ 13.8 billion. A tremendous reservoir of growth for years to come. Do not spoil, the allocation of profits by geographical areas shows that it is in emerging countries margins are the strongest.

Considerable reserves

The $ 100 billion of cash available to the firm are fantasizing analysts. With that kind of money, anything is possible. Unless the madness: the management of the group remains true to its creed: "The cash we do not burn your pockets." This does not prevent investors dreaming of a share repurchase program that would magnify their gains.

A fabless model

Apple does not have a factory. The assembly of its products is fully contracted. This organizational model is praised by analysts. The efficiency of its supply chain is cited as a model, including by some competitors. Fabless, no fixed costs. But it could also be the Achilles heel of the firm, thank you for the goodwill of its suppliers (some of which are also competitors) or a scandal over working conditions at these sites.

The art of customer loyalty

Apple has created around its products a world that feeds on itself. A development model formidable since purchase almost automatically generates another. Apple has never sold as many Macs that since he launched the iPad. Customers are real fans of the brand. The business model also relies on the sale of associated services such as music and video (iTunes has generated 1.7 billion revenue over the previous quarter). The group has just opened a new market with its system of data storage remote icloud, already endorsed by 85 million people.

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Centerpiece of the second bailout of Greece, the restructuring of Greece's debt, which will result in a deletion of 107 billion euros of private debt, already starting to worry. Wednesday, Greek banks have fallen by over 11% of the stock market as investors fear needs more capital than expected. These institutions are most exposed to government bonds in their country. They suffer, like all private creditors, over 70% losses on their securities Greek, but it will weigh more heavily on their balance sheets. Under the rescue plan EU-IMF, recapitalization could be accompanied by a partial nationalization.

Meanwhile, the Greek Parliament will vote Thursday a law matching Greek bonds of "collective action clauses" (CACs). All holders of these securities Greek government will accept 70% loss at least. "Let's stop playing with words: the Greek case is a forced restructuring," says unexpert.

The rating agency Fitch does is not wrong. Describing the exchange of Greek debt "restructuring under constraint," it has downgraded Greece's long-term two notches, to C against "CCC" before saying "that default is likely in the short term. " The bonds will be exchanged rated "D" as "fault". And note the country will, initially, to "partial default". Wednesday, interest rates on Greek debt repayable on March 20 soared to 4,000% in the secondary market, reflecting concerns about the implementation of the debt exchange with the private sector.

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