Google opens its online bookstore in Canada
Google has opened Tuesday in Canada access to its online bookstore, offering hundreds of thousands of electronic books to buy and two million others to download.
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The company said it had established for this purpose partnerships with several Canadian publishers, including McClelland & Stewart, Douglas & McIntyre, House of Anansi and Dundurn, and with retailers such as McNally Robinson and Campus eBookstore.
The online bookstore Google eBookstore was launched in the United States in December 2010. It was extended to Britain last month.
Digital books purchased from Google can be played on the Sony Reader, the Nook Barnes & Noble and other electronic readers, but not on the Amazon Kindle.
They can also be many other devices, including PCs, Macs and Android tablets.
Capping the price of gasoline: Gignac is skeptical
The Minister of Natural Resources, Clement Gignac said Tuesday that the price cap of gasoline is a mirage that would not benefit consumers.
Citing the results of a new study, Mr. Gignac said it would be more costly in several Quebec cities to impose a ceiling.
The Minister has instead suggested consumers to opt for public transit or anticipate their tank of gas just before the long holidays.
Mr. Gignac filed Tuesday in the National Assembly a study of the Régie on the appropriateness of adopting measures to control gasoline prices.
The regulator found in the document that it is unable to assert that the adoption of mechanisms to control prices would be the best solution.
The Board believes that the model currently in place remains valid to support the greatest number of consumers receive the lowest price.
The government last year asked the Board to conduct this study, following a proposal from the Quebec Association of Independent Petroleum (AQUIP).
The AQUIP suggested to divide Quebec into three areas of price control, to limit the dramatic increases for consumers.
U.S.: slowdown in hiring of private sector
Job creation in the private sector slowed in the United States in October, according to the monthly survey of the consulting firm HR ADP released Wednesday.
Private companies have created that month 110,000 more jobs than they destroyed, in seasonally adjusted data, ADP said.
The firm has revised up sharply its estimate of net new jobs in September, to 116,000. The balance of the hiring of October and is down 5.1% over the month but better than expected as the median estimate of analysts gave it to 100,000.
Data from the study "suggests that the recent trend of private employment is [that of an increase] moderate, whose rate is probably lower than it would take to maintain a stable unemployment rate , "writes ADP as the previous month.
This "moderate increase reflects the sluggish economic growth" observed at the beginning of the year, the firm adds.
The increase in U.S. GDP fell to 0.4% in the first quarter and 1.3% in the second. The first official estimate of growth for the third quarter released on Thursday, it accelerated to 2.5% during the summer.
According to figures from ADP, the service sector, which dominates the U.S. economy created 114,000 net new jobs in October. Instead, the industry has eliminated 4,000 jobs more than it created.
As in previous months, it is the SMEs (fewer than 500 employees), and especially small businesses, which appear as the driving forces of hiring. Large groups have reduced their workforce of 1,000 jobs in October, the data indicate the firm.
Normally published two days before the monthly report on employment (public and private non-farm) of the Department of Labor, the ADP survey provides an initial overview of the changing U.S. labor market during the coming month of drain.
According to their median forecast, analysts believed before the publication of the study than the official figures are expected to appear Friday 85,000 net new jobs in the country in October, against 103,000 in September and the unemployment rate stable at 9.1% .
Another survey released Wednesday by the firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, says the number of layoffs announced by U.S. companies fell in October to its lowest level since June, after being installed in September to its highest level in nearly two and a half years.
These ads threaten 42,759 jobs in total (in the U.S. and the world), or 63% from September and 12.6% from a year earlier.
Given that economic recovery is "very slow and bumpy," the firm believes that the evolution of layoffs should evolve sawtooth until the first half of 2012.
MEGA Brands: profits stagnate
Net income for MEGA Brands has remained stalled in the third quarter to 17.1 million, down 0.6% from the same period last year. The Montreal toymaker says it stands out from its competitors as retailers manage their inventory cautiously because of economic uncertainty.
Revenues, meanwhile, rose by 4% to 133.4 million. This is less than the 137.5 million expected by analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. The profit per share to 51 cents above the consensus at 47 cents.
"We are continuing our momentum in the Toys, retail sales of our products ahead of our shipments and positive developments with regard to retail our products in 2011 are favorable, as we see clear signs that the recovery in the Stationery and business is well under way, "wrote CEO Marc Bertrand said in a statement.
The division toys and stationery division experienced the same rate of revenue growth, or 4%. Revenue increased 6% in North America and 2% internationally.
WikiLeaks battles lost Assange
Assange lost big in 11 months of legal battle: his extradition from Britain, Sweden seems increasingly likely, his supporters have melted as well as its superb cross of transparency, the machine scoops, WikiLeaks is threatened with closure.
At eleven months apart, the contrast was striking Wednesday, when Australia's 40, tall, thin blond hair and a bit sarcastic smile, emerged from the High Court in London, which was dismissed on appeal.
The statement is a concise unusual. Just 30 seconds. The speech is simple. The cyber-warrior wears a poppy in his lapel ultra-conventional supported by the entire British establishment to commemorate the sacrifice of the soldiers died in the war.
Assange, who has 14 days to file yet another appeal refers all questions to the consultation site "Suedevsassange.com" (Sweden against Assange).
Upon his arrest last December as part of a sexual assault case against two alleged rape and Swedish, the same Assange showed a fighting spirit to any event. Talk forever about the "conspiracy" hatched by the United States to deport him to Guantanamo via Sweden.
Assange was convinced that his troubles arise solely from the publication in 2010 by Wikileaks documents classified U.S. military on Afghanistan and Iraq, followed by the release of 250,000 U.S. diplomatic telegrams.
Named "Man of the Year" by Time magazine and The World, distinguished by Amnesty International, however, is the bane of the United States.
But the extradition request and prosperous Swedish messes his itinerary.
In the months before his arrest, Assange led a life worthy of a spy novel, moving from one country to another, avoiding sleep for several days in the same bed, wiping his tracks by changing constantly his laptop chips.
House arrest in a mansion in the English countryside since December 2010, forced to wear an electronic bracelet and forced a curfew, it does not multiply least at first interviews since his "gilded cage."
His motto? "Free Press", the secrets and expose abuses of state, "save the documents that make history."
Gradually, the press leaks are becoming scarce, interviews spaced, isolation is gaining ground.
A former spokesman for the German organization, Daniel Domscheit-Berg, blasted his "authoritarian" in a scathing attack.
The main media partner of Wikileaks distance themselves. "I came to see Assange as a man who can do both a hero or villain," the editor of the New York Times, Bill Keller.
Last September, the sprinkler becomes watered. Assange vituperation against the release of an "unauthorized autobiography" in which he has contributed before to quarrel with the author.
The book traces the nomadic childhood that led him to attend 37 schools. Adolescence, marked by the awakening to hacking. His career as a hacker "repented," security consultant, entrepreneur, "researcher in journalism," and finally the founder of Wikileaks in late 2006. He protested his innocence: "I am perhaps a male chauvinist but not a rapist."
In mid-October, Assange still look good. "The support of the media and people has never been stronger" for Wikileaks' intelligence agency of the people, "said he.
Soon after, however, he acknowledged that Wikileaks is strangled by an "arbitrary and illegal financial blockade" of the United States. The point of being threatened with closure in December.
Biomass pollute more than coal, according to Greenpeace
Burning wood forest to produce energy is actually more polluting and dangerous for the environment than using gasoline or coal, Greenpeace Canada said Wednesday in a report based on extensive research.
Several Canadian provinces have open public forest to large-scale extraction of plant material (trees, shrubs, stumps, roots and leaves) to produce energy from their combustion in power plants.
The environmental group calls this policy "biomascarade" and noted that there has been no public debate on the issue, or development of adequate environmental regulations.
Contrary to the claims of the authorities and the interested companies, Greenpeace says that the burning of trees is not "carbon neutral", meaning it has no neutral assessment of emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and more generally greenhouse gas emissions.
In fact, the North American power plants running on biomass "emit up to 150% more CO2, 400% more carbon monoxide lung irritant, and 200% more fine particles that cause the asthma, "said Nicolas Mainville, head of the campaign" Forest "by Greenpeace in its report.
In addition, emissions of CO2 from forest bioenergy are not included because the authorities consider them wrongly as carbon neutral. In fact, according to Greenpeace Canada, it is about 40 megatonnes per year, a figure that exceeds those of the Canadian fleet in 2009.
Greenpeace calls for a moratorium on new bioenergy projects and review of existing projects, the ban on harvesting of whole trees and the abandonment of the principle of "carbon neutrality" for biomass.
According to the association, wind, solar and geothermal energy are far preferable to the use of forest energy.
Andrew Molson board of the Chamber of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
One member of the famous Molson family involved in the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.
Andrew Molson was appointed as Chairman of the Board of the Board for a term of one year. He succeeds Sylvain Vincent, managing partner of Ernst & Young for Eastern Canada.
Mr. Molson is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the brewing company Molson Coors. He serves on the board of directors of several organizations including the Montreal Canadiens, Concordia University and the Molson Foundation.
For Molson, the assumption of the chairmanship of the House is a great way to recognize the contribution of Molson in the economy of the metropolis. He rejoiced especially as it is celebrating the 225 years of the Molson brewery.
As chairman of the House, Andrew Molson will be involved in the activities of the organization during the years 2011-2012, then as Past Chair the following year. Throughout this period, he will sit on the executive committee of the House.
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montreal and to provide specialized services to individuals, merchants and businesses.
Poverty: Gates calls on the private
Microsoft founder Bill Gates on Wednesday asked the G20 to encourage the private sector to invest more in helping the least well off, on the eve of the summit in Cannes that the American billionaire to participate .
"The development does not benefit only the residents of the poorest countries, it also benefits us," Gates wrote in an article published in the Washington Post.
"If countries that are currently the poorest manage to feed, educate and provide jobs for their citizens in the long run, they contribute to the global economy," said Bill Gates, himself very invested in helping poorest countries through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
He must attend the G20 summit to be held in Cannes on Thursday and Friday at the invitation of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had given him a mission on the subject of innovative financing.
The founder of Microsoft said it will present its report with proposals on "Innovative Financing for the world to continue to invest in the development despite budget constraints" current.
"The private sector has not invested in the development as it should, because the incentives were not always obvious. But it is possible to promote" greater private sector involvement, he said.
"In my report to the G20, I will do a half-dozen recommendations to mobilize tens of billions of dollars from private resources each year," he said Bill Gates.
He delivered such that the costs of remittances from migrants to their countries of origin increased from 10% to 5% of the amount sent. "This will unlock $ 15 billion per year in the poorest countries," Judge said.
The Mail Champlain defends its position against the Dix30
Not easy for the Mail Champlain being located just 5 km from the popular Quartier Dix30, which already attracts 11 million people a year before being completed. But its owner, Ivanhoe Cambridge, believes in the potential of the shopping center to the point of having invested 40 million.
The Mail Champlain is not greater, but it is more modern, younger, sunnier than before. The old floor mat was covered with shiny chic ceramics, leather chairs and computers Apple Raspberry invite guests to relax. "We could have added a floor but the problem was not size, it was rather the positioning," said Jean Laramée, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Eastern North America, Ivanhoe Cambridge, during a site visit with lesaffaires.com.
To change its image, the mail has recruited new tenants "more efficient" (that achieve higher sales), young (Forever XXI) and higher-end (Simon Chang, Guess, BCBG Maxazria). "In coming to settle here, Browns [which has a store in Dix30] made a statement and sales are better than expected. It sends a signal, "said Jean Laramée, indicating that some of the 40 million was used to attract new tenants sign a lease. Some brands have also been moved to allow the best areas, those on the corners, with names more attractive.
Although the Dix30 had never left the ground, Ivanhoe Cambridge argues that the same amount was spent to do the work, became more than necessary. The last brush stroke, "very minor" was given 10 years ago. But the landlord can not deny that the increased competition of the largest lifestyle center in Quebec hurts. "People had not deserted but had to make a move to establish a position of quality, says Jean Laramee. Sales were down but the traffic has not dropped that much, maybe 10% maximum. "
Traffic up
As for tenants, only a few - including Clement and the theater would have left to settle in Dix30. Some have chosen to operate stores in both locations. "The positive is that the Dix30 has improved the strength of the commercial center. We fight against them for some tenants to Zara and XXI Forever are here, not there, "says the manager.
Mail Champlain's efforts seem to be working as the traffic in October jumped 15% over the same month the previous year. H & M, which has benefited from the work to enlarge his store increased its sales by 30%, says Jean Laramee, walking to the famous Swedish brand. To discover its new image, the mall has undertaken an extensive advertising campaign and public relations, the cost was not disclosed.
The challenge is to convince people to stay as long in the center. Because long visits often lead to impulse buying and a short stop in the food court. Currently, the average visit length is 75 minutes. Ivanhoe Cambridge has not been able to compare this data with that of 10 years ago, but notes that "it is decreasing" since "people have less and less time. "In Dix30, it is stated that the average visit lasts 177 minutes.
* Each year, the Mail Champlain welcomes 7 million customers. The Dix30 expected to draw in 20 million when all phases are completed, in 2013.
Investing: Couche-Tard can it reach other heights?
The action of Alimentation Couche-Tard has taken twice a historic summit closing in October. She capped? Analysts are optimistic approach to publishing the results of the second quarter of fiscal 2012 ended earlier this month.
On October 13, the title of Couche-Tard has reached $ 30.50, a new record high closing and exceeds its peak in July ($ 30.48). On October 20, it rises even higher to $ 30.95. "Despite a recent historical high, Couche-Tard is still our favorite title," writes Michael Van Aelst, an analyst at TD Securities, which keeps the action on his "shopping list". The target is $ 38.
Most analysts reiterate, too, their confidence. Of eight analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, six issue a recommendation to buy, against which emit two "hold". The average target price of $ 34.50, representing an increase of 15% in one year.
For the years 2012 and 2013, the analyst of TD anticipates earnings growth of 19% and 15%, respectively. And it exceeds the consensus of 6% and 13%. It builds on a recovery in the fresh food sector, cost control and an increase in comparable sales.
David Hartley, an analyst at Credit Suisse initiates follow up with a recommendation "outperform" and a target of $ 35. Its long-term growth assumption is based primarily on the ability of Couche-Tard to make acquisitions. Moreover, Mr. Hartley said that a reduction in acquisition opportunities in the short term represents a risk to the stock. An entry in Europe could also be seen in one eye unfavorable markets, he warns.
"The acquisitions have been very lucrative in the past, and we believe it will continue," said the analyst, who believes that the retailer Laval may invest up to $ 2 billion in acquisition.
The announcement of a share repurchase program demonstrates that Couche-Tard is ready to create value for shareholders while waiting to get their hands on an attractive target, said Patricia Baker, Scotia Capital analyst, who makes a recommendation "performance area" and a one-year target of $ 33.
In addition to announcements of acquisitions, Couche-Tard is present in the news because of its confrontational relationship with CSN. The retailer closed two unionized establishments. These cases are before the Labour Relations Board. Analysts do not seem to worry that the conflict has a financial impact or harm the reputation of the company. None of the studies reviewed by LesAffaires.com even mention them.
Results
Couche-Tard to unveil its results for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 (ended in early October) on 23 November. The comments of analysts surveyed by LesAffaires.com point to better gasoline margins than anticipated in the United States.
By relying on data from Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), Ms. Baker and Peter Sklar, analyst at BMO Capital Markets, in particular, expect an improvement in margins on gasoline. They also raised their forecasts for this.
However, the weak U.S. consumer growth points to a lower comparable sales, says Mr. Sklar. The analyst also notes that south of the border travel fewer miles, another sign announcing a pressure on comparable sales.
On average, the consensus of analysts expects a profit per share of 0.59 percent and revenues of $ 5.204 billion.
Beyond the second quarter, Vishal Shreedhar, analyst at National Bank Financial, said that the company will benefit from the acquisition of 145 corporate stores, 263 dealers and 65 service stations from the second half of its fiscal year 2012, which has just begun.