"The European Commission has decided to open formal antitrust investigations against IBM Corporation in two separate cases of alleged breaches of EU rules on abuse of dominant position in the market," said the EU executive in a statement.

"The two cases," she added, "are related to behavior of IBM in the market for central servers," which weighs, equipment and operating systems including about 8.5 billion worldwide, including three billion in the European Economic Area.

The central servers are powerful computers used by many large companies and government institutions in the world to store and process critical information.

The software manufacturers penalized

The first investigation follows complaints filed against IBM by two vendors say emulation technology, the U.S. in Q3 2009 and the French Hercules Turbo this year. According to these two companies, the software giant would link its central server hardware and its own operating system these servers.

IBM, by not allowing customers the freedom to use the systems of their choice on the equipment of their choice, would penalize manufacturers of software to improve performance on computers of other brands.

As to the second inquiry, the Commission stated that it was launched on its own initiative.Its services suspect indeed a "discriminatory conduct" IBM "vis-à-vis its competitors who provide maintenance services of central servers" fast payday loan no faxing."By restricting or delaying access to spare parts that IBM is the sole supplier, American society, Brussels is concerned, could foreclose its competitors from the market.

Two investigations "without merit" for IBM

The U.S. computer giant, IBM, Judge "without merit" the two investigations announced Monday by the European Commission for abusing its dominant position in the market for central servers, a market "for it was dead" until recently.

In a statement, IBM claims that "there are few, experts in high technology and IBM's competitors were pronounced dead at the central server market", and "many companies abandoned it or developing alternatives" .

Conversely, "IBM has taken a crucial decision: to invest billions of dollars" in this technology "to bring him an unprecedented level of speed, reliability and security for the enterprise market," the statement added. He continued: "Today, the central server market is a small niche in the highly competitive landscape of servers," he says.

IBM therefore accuses "some competitors who have not been able to earn their place on the market through investments" to want to do this using regulators. "The accusations against IBM TurboHercules and T3 are driven by some of the biggest competitors of IBM, led by Microsoft, (…) who want to emulate certain aspects of IBM mainframe servers without having to make substantial investments IBM has done and continues to do, "concludes the group. "They thus violate its intellectual property."

The deal also further secures the future capital of Ubisoft, uncertain after the departure of its main shareholder, the American Electronic Arts last week. With the sale of 15% held by the latter is the Guillemot family, which became the largest shareholder with a stake in Ubisoft to 11.3%.The FMS and the Guillemot brothers now control over 25% of voting rights.

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Uncertainty remains high: the compressed oil, trapped in the wells blocked by the funnel, eventually creating gaps and spread back into the ocean.According to Thad Allen, head of operations against the oil spill administration, BP must conduct further tests because the measured pressure does not allow to draw definitive conclusions about what is happening inside the well.

High pressure would suggest that well resistance is good and there is no leakage. Low pressure instead leave thinking that oil escaping elsewhere. Admiral Allen said that the pressure increased from 0.1 to 0.6 bar per hour, which was a good sign. But Friday, the level of pressure in the well still left casts "doubt on the possible existence of a leak." On Saturday, Vice President of BP, however, that the pressure inside the well had continued to increase."The fact that the pressure continues to mount gives us more confidence that the test works," he added, stressing that the data are "quite" in the range predicted by the engineers.

The extended testing

As a precaution, the oil company said Saturday it would extend the period of initial testing prévuepour last 48 hours. "We continue in phases of six hours each time. If there is a change in the way we do, we will announce it, "said Mark Salt, a spokesman for BP at the end of this period.

If the test proves successful the well will remain closed until the risk of leak is definitely ruled out by injecting concrete through a relief well. An operation could be completed in early August.However, if a leak is detected, the valve will be reopened and the oil will be pumped to surface ships.

"If we decide to reopen the pit, oil drain into the Gulf for some time," said Mr. Wells, the time to connect the pumping lines at the wellhead. This would obviously a major failure for the oil group that tries since the end of April to contain the largest oil spill in U.S. history.

Since April 22, nearly 520 million gallons of crude that would have flowed into the ocean, estimated Tuesday the International Energy Agency. Even if the leak was finally stopped, Deepwater would remain one of the worst oil spills in history (see graphic below), a nightmare to $ 3.5 billion for BP and irreparable ecological catastrophe.

On the lower prices promised the advance Synhorcat containing figures from INSEE, reduced by 1.7% in prices. Far, indeed, the 3% promised at the signing of the contract establishing the future VAT at 5.5%.But better than the forecasts of the Secretary of State for Trade, Herve Novelli, who requested last December restaurants to limit their price increases, given the economic crisis, the level of inflation.

A decline also practiced mainly by large chains, which have clearly made this issue a sales and communication. Today Synhorcat not hesitate to praise the French restaurant as "cheap": "80% of meals in France costs less than 15 euros," he said beforehand. Not sure the French, whose purchasing power remains a major concern, hear it that way.

An agreement "historic" on wages

On the employment front, too, success is not straightforward.While restaurant owners had agreed, in consideration of the reduction in VAT, to create 20,000 permanent jobs and 20,000 contracts for professional learning or within 2 years, Synhorcat announces that for the moment creations 5700 jobs. The objective, however, seemed difficult to achieve in terms of economic conditions.

The only real success of the VAT reduction: the agreement on wage conditions in the restaurant, described as "historic" by Hervé Novelli. "We are hiring today with a salary 25% above the law", welcomes the Synhorcat. Wages have indeed been reassessed 5% when the non-frames increases leveled averaged 1.1% in 2009.A mutual health has been created, and employees receive an annual bonus equivalent to 2% of their annual salary, capped at 500 euros.

Employees are however not the only benefit from the reduction of VAT in 2009, the catering market has indeed registered a positive growth, and an estimated turnover of 72.5 billion euros, posting also Synhorcat.

At the close, the Dow Jones, Nasdaq 100 and S & P 500 climbed 0.11%, respectively, to 10,564 points, from 0.36% to 2341 points and 0.17% to 1,140 points. Cisco's announcement boosted the Nasdaq, which connects the tenth consecutive increase.

There is exactly one year, March 9, 2009, the major stock indexes have hit a "low point". Since the S & P 500 has started the largest rally in history. In one year, the U.S. index has increased by almost 70%!

The next U.S. statistics are expected tomorrow with the traditional weekly report on unemployment.Weekly Market in the United States, will then be placed under the sign consumer. The two major economic indicators this week, published Friday, will be the sales details for the month of February and the preliminary estimate of consumer confidence.

Oil prices retreated Tuesday in New York, a barrel of reference giving 38 cents to 81.49 dollars, penalized by the strengthening of the dollar.

Cisco will revolutionize Internet

The values listed, Cisco Systems (the balance at the close at 26.13 dollars) today announced a new bid to speed internet connections bad credit payday advance .Analysts said the group could announce as Google, investments in new broadband network.

In the wake of this news, AT & T, a major customer of Cisco rose 1.15% to 25.57 dollars, and Apple rose 1.8% to 223.02 dollars.

Also in the technology sector, the U.S. manufacturer of electronic components, Texas Instruments (2.27% to 24.13 dollars) has revised upward its earnings forecast for the first quarter.

AIG has flown Boeing format

AIG. The shares jumped 13% in session amid optimism (+11.9% at closing): investors reacting to efforts by the insurer to sell its assets and repay billions of dollars to the state shareholders to 80%. The group published a series of announcement that it will bring back some 25 billion dollars in cash in his accounts.

Same with Citigroup, which soared 7.58% to 3.83 dollars. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have also grown strongly, respectively 10 and 11% during the session.

After the withdrawal of EADS and its U.S. partner Northrop's tanker contract to the Pentagon, whose first installment is only valued at 35 billion dollars, Boeing remains alone lice.Les Boeing shares advanced 0.82 % to 67.79 dollars and Northrop Grumman declined him, from 0.25% to $ 64.

UAL shares have appreciated by 3.6% (18,16 dollars) after announcing profits in February increased by 17% in one year.

Emirates has increased its frequency this year in Nice and open lines on Amsterdam, Madrid and Prague, Qatar Airways has launched Barcelona and has strengthened Paris, Athens and Madrid; Ethiad has multiplied its rotations on Dublin, Frankfurt and Athens.

Meanwhile, 12 new international destinations outside Europe appeared in the list of three companies of the Gulf, including Tokyo, Seoul, Melbourne, Goa and Bangalore.To go to Japan, a client of Lufthansa or Air France has a choice between going through Paris or Frankfurt and transit through Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

In this battle, Gulf companies have strong points to make: their hubs have the best possible geographical position between the U.S. and Asia, and have unit costs of staff 50% lower than those of Air France, Lufthansa and British Airways. "They also have a very good product recognizes a part of an EU airline. They all have strengths to further participate in industry growth than we are. "

Orders for Airbus A380 should also provide them with an armada of large aircraft instant payday loan .While Air France and Lufthansa 27 total orders for the new jumbo Airbus, the three companies in the Gulf will eventually 72.

Competitors very annoying

The subject is considered sensitive by European airlines. It has even been mentioned before Tuesday elected staff at the surveillance committee of the CCE Air France. Lufthansa said that its offer seat on intercontinental flights the group should grow by 4% from 2009 to 2012, against 12% for companies in the Gulf.

These competitors are now considered more annoying than low-costs addressing some profitable lines. This time, it is a battle between European airports to those in the Gulf."For now, we have a better mesh of Europe they, believes the framework of an EU airline, but they are very difficult to prevent, where they arrive."

This competition, hitherto confined to flights to Asia and the United States extends to Africa, far backyard of Air France and Lufthansa. Emirates already offers 16 destinations in Africa, 7 Etihad and Qatar Airways 13. "Gulf companies are even more threatening than their owners are not obsessed with profitability, said a European competitor. They invest a lot and are a showcase for the UAE. "

After your secret ballot procedure rarrissime the board took this decision by 18 votes against 12. The Ania MEDEF considers that it "pays" too little regard to the amount of annual dues (over 600,000 euros).

Yet no decision to join another employer organization has been taken. The departure of a large federation, which had supported Laurence Parisot when she presented herself at the head of MEDEF, is a blow to the boss of bosses.

The owner of Ania, Jean-Ren? Buisson, will hold a press briefing at 15 am explaining the decision of its directors.

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