European markets recover, UK paper apologises for Société Générale rumours European markets picked up on Thursday morning after Wednesday’s fall, which was largely prompted by rumours that France was set to follow the US in losing its AAA credit rating. France’s Cac 40 bounced back after plunging 5.45 per cent Wednesday. The French government indignantly denied the credit-rating rumour yesterday, apparently reassuring the markets although economic indicators are still poor with unemployment rising again in May and June to 9.7 per cent. Société Générale’s shares were briefly suspended after losing 22.5 per cent at one point Wednesday and finishing the day 14.74 down. France’s second-largest bank, after BNP, was almost driven out of business thanks to rumours that it was on the brink of collapse. On Thursday evening, after Société Générale boss Frédéric Oudéa toured French media denouncing the report as “pure fantasy”, the paper printed an apology stating that it was untrue. French banks, including Société Générale, are heavily exposed to Greek and Italian debt.
What We're Looking For | Top 5 Reasons to Write For Bleacher Report B/R Writer Program: Our Standards, Your Shot Think you've got what it takes to write for Bleacher Report? There's only one way to find out—and five good reasons to try your luck. The Standards The B/R Writer Program isn't for everyone. In selecting new members for admission, we subject all prospective candidates to a rigorous review process—with particular emphasis on three core qualities: Talent Our acceptance rate generally hovers at or below 15 percent, which means only the smartest analysts and most polished stylists get through the front door. As should go without saying, we never make guarantees to individual applicants, and many hopefuls go home disappointed. The Shot Bleacher Report is the most dynamic digital media outfit on the planet. We won't beg you to join the B/R Team. Reason No. 1: A Cutting-Edge Platform » Average Acceptance Rate No more than 15 percent of applicants are accepted in any given month—and the number is often much lower.
Topsy - Instant social insight With iOS 9, Search lets you look for content from the web, your contacts, apps, nearby places, and more. Powered by Siri, Search offers suggestions and updates results as you type. There are two ways to use Search on your iOS device. Quick Search Drag down from the middle of the Home screen and type what you're looking for. Siri Suggestions Drag right from the Home screen to show Search and get Siri Suggestions. Get Siri Suggestions Siri Suggestions include apps and contacts that you might be interested in. You can use Siri Suggestions with iPhone 5 and later, iPad Pro, iPad (4th generation) and later, iPad mini (2nd generation) and later, and iPod touch (6th generation). Change search settings Go to Settings > General > Spotlight Search. From here, you can turn Siri Suggestions on or off and choose which apps to include in your searches. If you don’t want Siri or Spotlight to suggest nearby locations, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services. Last Modified:
Paris property prices rocket A study of Paris and its suburbs compiled by notaries, who are responsible for property conveyancing in France, shows the biggest increase in prices for 20 years. The average price per square metre in the capital is now 8150 euros. The cheapest district is the racially and socially mixed 19th arrondissement on the northeastern edge of Paris at 6 350 euros per square metre. The 6th arrondissement, site of the Jardin de Luxembourg, and the shops of St. Germain des Prés, still associated with France's left-wing intellectuals, is now ironically the capital's most expensive area. It costs over 10 000 euros per square metre in nearly all of central Paris (Ist, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th arrondissements.) Experts say that prices will now stabilise after a springtime peak in sales.
How to Create a Million-Dollar Business This Weekend (Examples: AppSumo, Mint, Chihuahuas) Noah Kagan built two multi-million dollar online businesses before turning 28. He also looks great in orange. (Photo: Laughing Squid) I first met Noah Kagan over rain and strong espressos at Red Rock Coffee in Mountain View, CA. It was 2007. It would be the first of many. The matchmaker then introducing us was the prophetic and profane Dave McClure, General Partner of 500 Start-ups, which is now headquartered just down the street from Red Rock. Mr. He was employee #30 at Facebook, #4 at Mint, had previously worked for Intel (where he frequently took naps under his desk), and had turned down a six-figure offer from Yahoo. The purpose of this post is simple: to teach you how to get a $1,000,000 business idea off the ground in one weekend, full of specific tools and tricks that Noah has used himself. He will be your guide… Enter Noah For some reason, people love to make excuses about why they haven’t created their dream business or even gotten started. Same deal for AppSumo. 1. 1. 1. 2. 3. 4.
VALS™ | VALS™ Types | SBI VALS™ segments US adults into eight distinct types—or mindsets—using a specific set of psychological traits and key demographics that drive consumer behavior. The US Framework, a graphic representation of VALS, illustrates the eight types and two critical concepts for understanding consumers: primary motivation and resources. The combination of motivations and resources determines how a person will express himself or herself in the marketplace as a consumer. VALS assigns individuals a VALS type on the basis of their responses to questions in the VALS Survey. VALS-typing populations of interest, such as customers or constituents, is the first step in a VALS approach to achieving strategic marketing and communication goals. Using VALS provides clients with: A fresh perspective by effectively "putting them inside the head" of their customers Rich, customized, consumer profiles or personas Distinctive communication styles of their best targets. Resources
Hundreds of protestors held in anti-Wall Street New York demo Some of those arrested at the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday were released after a few hours, while others could be held for a day or could receive a court summons, police said. Activists belonging to the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement, many of whom have been camped out in Manhattan for two weeks, were detained during their latest and biggest demonstration so far. The movement said it had staked its ground in downtown Manhattan "as a symbolic gesture of our discontent with the current economic and political climate." The anti-Wall Street activists began their campaign by occupying Zuccotti Park, in the heart of Manhattan's financial district, on 17 September and have since held protests outside the New York Stock Exchange and NYPD headquarters. Saturday's protest forced authorities to shut down the Brooklyn Bridge for several hours as police placed protestors in handcuffs while others chanted slogans. According to organizers, around 3,000 people marched outside the bank.
Doing Business - Home | City of Toronto Family activities for Easter weekend The City of Toronto will offer many stimulating activities at its parks, forestry and recreation attractions and historic sites this weekend. Get on the green! There's something for everyone at the City's five golf courses and twilight rates apply until April 30. Book your tee time now. What to do with leftover ice storm wood debris There will not be another city-wide wood debris removal sweep. Be the Heart of the Games The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for volunteers. Clean Toronto Together Spring is here and it's time to clean Toronto together. Jobs at the City
Anti-capitalist Occupy protests continue Sunday Over 950 rallies in at least 80 countries took place on Saturday, the largest being in Lisbon, Madrid and Rome with thousands also turning out in New York and Washington. Violence broke out in the Italian capital, with 70 people injured, three of them seriously, and 12 arrests. In New York 88 people were arrested. Unexpected support came from Italian central bank governor Mario Draghi, a former Goldman Sachs executive who takes over as European Central Bank president next month. "They're angry against the world of finance. I understand them," he said at a meeting of G20 financial powers in Paris on Saturday, although he expressed regret at the violence. Hundreds of protesters have stayed on to camp out in Frankfurt, Amsterdam and London, where they have pledged to stay outside St Paul’s Cathedral, near the City of London financial district, to express their anger at the banks’s role in the current economic crisis.
Police clash with Athens protesters as record turnout on Greek demonstrations Clouds of teargas hung over the centre of the Greek capital after groups of youths had thrown Molotov cocktails at the police and attacked a steel barricade in front of the parliament building and other targets. There were also clashes in Thessalonoki and protests in other cities, including Patras and Herklion. Police, who claimed that 125,000 people turned out on the protests at the start of a two-day general strike, said that participation was the highest in a decade, while unions put the turnout at 200,000 in Athens alone. The government says the legislation is vital to convince the European Union crisis summit on Sunday to release further loans. It expects to pass it on Thursday, although some MPs from the ruling Pasok have threatened to oppose an amendment to collective wage agreements. Former labour minister Louka Katseli is among them and could be expelled from the party’s parliamentary group, which would reduce it to 153 MPs out of 300.
No more tax havens, says Sarkozy as G20 wraps up Sarkozy said 11 tax haven countries had been identified and pointed out Switzerland and Liechtenstein as not doing enough to end banking secrecy. "We don't want any more tax havens. Our message is clear," he said. At a summit dominated by the financial crisis facing the eurozone, G20 members also agreed to work on a possible increase in funds for the International Monetary Fund and are set to discuss the introduction of a tax on financial transactions at a summit scheduled for the beginning of 2012. The French president also said conditions were favourable for an agreement in Greece over an IMF-EU billion-euro bailout to help the debt laden country. Just ahead of his speech, Athens announced that it would not hold a referendum on the bail-out fund. G20 members also agreed to work on a possible increase in funds for the International Monetary Fund and are set to discuss the introduction of a tax on financial transactions at a summit scheduled for the beginning of 2012.
Rise in sales tax as French PM Fillon warns bankruptcy no longer an abstract word - France He said the country’s financial, economic and social sovereignty meant “prolonged collective efforts and even some sacrifices” were necessary. France needs to save 100 billion euros a year to eliminate the budget deficit by the 2016 deadline, including 500 million euros in extra state budget savings next year. New measures include an increase in Value Added Tax, VAT, from 5.5 per cent to seven per cent, bringing forward by a year to 2017 the increase in the state retirement age from 60 to 62 and increasing corporate tax by five per cent for companies which have an annual turnover of more than 250 million euros. The government also hopes to reduce spending on public health by 700 million euros and will increase some social benefits by just one per cent next year in line with expected growth figures. The prime minister also said there would be wage freeze for the President of the Republic and government ministers.