UC4 Software, a leading provider of intelligent office automation and IT process optimization, today announced the Bank of Luxembourg has successfully deployed UC4 automation engine to automate the management and control of Avaloq banking system (ABS) loads. The use of UC4 Avaloq with support from the central bank and satellite systems, the bank will benefit from an integrated automation solution to improve and stabilize the complex process of software release management.

“Bank of Luxembourg in our mission is to provide a scalable platform capable of supporting a common database to grow our branch network, which can also be dynamic and responsive to changing business conditions. With UC4 we have visibility and control of the underlying processing Avaloq . We can also manage cloning, saving and reconstruction of about 50 databases running Avaloq often need to support newer versions. It would be impossible for three people to cope without UC4 “said Alain Feyereisen, systems analyzer, Bank of Luxembourg.

Avaloq users to receive regular updates of software that allow banks to continue to comply with industry standards, the Bank of Luxembourg, UC4 automate the deployment of these updates and improvements in distribution development in about 50 cases database Avaloq. With UC4, the time required for these tasks was reduced by 80%.

“Financial institutions like the Bank More than Luxembourg, we are seeing huge cost of automation and energy saving can bring to your applications Avaloq. Acquire new knowledge customers, allowing them to be more predictable response time and the IT management Dynamic workload. These are decisive factors in on-line in the industrial sector, where demand for the changes that occur 24×7 can have a direct impact on the bottom line, “said Stefan Zeitz, senior vice president Europe Continental, UC4 Software

With effect from June 21, 2010, the group has acquired International Mount Alma group of bluO Evotape investment fund based in Luxembourg. Both parties have confirmed the closure of a joint press conference.

Evotape is a leading manufacturer of masking tapes and packing, which generates an annual turnover of 60MEUR with over 300 employees at its plants in San Pietro Mosezzo and SS. Cosma e Damiano (Italy). main customers are Beiersdorf (tesa) and Henkel. Hermann Huber The managing director said: “We look forward to working with the new shareholder, which will enhance positive results achieved thus far and secure future growth Evotape group.

As a result I will continue to support the new direction the group. “Mr. Paul Keller, Mount Alma confirmed:” Evotape represents our first acquisition in Europe and are looking for investment opportunities. “

In addition to the purchase price of 19MEUR, a variable component has been negotiated. The price includes all active and production centers. No display of combat confidence. Markus Zöllner bluO manager said: “We are very happy that the new shareholder will bring new exciting opportunities for Evotape in the” short and long term. The transaction is the first transfer of bluO, which was founded in 2008.

Mount Alma represents a group of South American investors specializing in plastic and adhesive industries.

After an item is placed in the station on a Red Cross report and plea for blood donors in Luxembourg, said that several of you and complained that they have been rejected donor clinics, because they were British. I investigated this claim and no more alarming to see what was behind it.

Doctor Paul Courrier, the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Center Director in a telephone interview with Station.lu said “this is related to BSE (mad cow disease) and Luxembourg’s rule is that if you spent a stretch 12 months or more in the United Kingdom between 1980 and 1996, then you will be rejected by a blood donor. “

The exact dates Dr. Courrier explained, are 1 in 1980 to December 31, 1996. If you spent 12 consecutive months in the UK or more at this time, you can not donate blood in Luxembourg.

In fact, the BSE epidemic that swept the UK during this period and devastated the British cattle infected meat supplies, but was not the only country affected.

According to Dr. Courrier the problem lies in detection of BSE in blood. “This precaution is because there is no real test for BSE in the blood unless we actually see the symptoms that occur.”

But this precaution is not a little ridiculous? Can not really catch BSE in a day or week, so that this period of 12 months does not make sense. “Exactly, and of course France was a major importer of British beef,” he said, according to my comment and point out the absurdity of this ban restricted to a single country. “Even if potential donors have never touched British flesh is still rejected his blood, we had to turn a woman recently deceased British vegetarian. “

Indeed, the fact that mad cow disease was a matter of Europe and even worldwide ban on British makes a somewhat pointless exercise that borders on discrimination. No other country in Europe has the same prohibition in the United Kingdom.

“So all of Luxembourg, who visited the United Kingdom during that period and ate British beef are immune?” Said one comment on the article’s original station.

Male homosexual ban

Without question Dr. E went on to say “the same situation for homosexuals, or rather that gay men can not donate blood.” This is even more alarming. Are we not constantly told that there is no such thing as a gay disease? And surely screening of blood in this area is immediately present any anomaly. And if we go further along this path, how to prove someone’s homosexuality?

So it is easier to prove: That someone is gay, or vegetarian? I think we all know the answer to that.

The whole issue and the rules of blood donors in Luxembourg, should be investigated and updated.

High Representative of the European Union, Catherine Ashton, has said that a new active phase in the visa-free travel dialogue between Kiev and Brussels has started and is likely to see the first results of EU-Ukraine summit scheduled for this fall .

Ashton said this on Tuesday in Luxembourg, in a press conference after the meeting of the Cooperation Council EU-Ukraine was attended by Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov.

“On June 9, at the ministerial meeting, we agreed to move to what we describe as a fully operational phase of the visa dialogue. It means that based on an action plan that will lead us towards the liberalization of visas. It a very important step, “said Ashton.

He hoped that both sides would be able to demonstrate their adherence to the commitments made at the time of the Ukraine-EU summit.

Luxembourg’s prime minister said on Monday that a German official, will head a new euro440 billion (525 billion U.S. dollars) rescue fund for the 16 countries using the euro.

Klaus Regling will become chief executive of the European Union on the stability of the Fund, two years after he gave up most of the European Commission economic officer, according to a statement by Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean- Claude Juncker, who heads the group’s finance minister in the euro area.

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, provide up to euro148 billion in debt guarantees, the lion’s share of state support for the fund to borrow from markets to provide financial relief to any nation eurozone debt that can not make payments debt.

The German debt agency will also help underwrite the securities fund in the coming weeks.

The fund will be active later this month when at least 90 percent of state guarantees have been completed - and can deliver ransom until June 13, 2013.

It is one of the three prongs of a euro750 million ($ 1 trillion) of “shock and awe” rescue package agreed by EU leaders last month designed to calm jittery markets by creating a financial safety net for the states of the euro than default risk.

Some one billion euro60 managed by the European Commission is available to any EU country into trouble. And another euro250 million would be provided by the International Monetary Fund.

Greece avoided bankruptcy in May because the EU and the IMF lent it euro110 million.

Inflation in Germany, Europe’s largest economy, remained stable in January that the price of clothing declined and unemployment increases dampened demand.Consumer prices calculated on a consistent basis of the European Union rose 0.8 percent over one year after having kept pace in December, the Federal Statistics Office in Wiesbaden said today. This compares with an estimate of 0.7 percent published January 27. Compared to the previous month, prices fell 0.6 percent, also less than initially expected.Inflation “Outlook remains moderate, mainly because of excess capacity still important in manufacturing,” Alexander Koch, economist at UniCredit Group in Munich, said before the data were published. “Domestic demand shows People are still concerned about unemployment and it seems that we remain in a consumer recession. “While crude oil posted the largest annual gain in a decade in 2009 and commodities such as copper and sugar have soared, lower demand in Germany is keeping price pressures under control. Industrial production fell unexpectedly in December, and the Bundesbank said last month it has now approach “prudent” for the economic outlook.Fuel oil prices rose 7.2 percent in January compared to the previous month and rose by 7 per cent in the year, the statistics office said. Clothing prices fell 4.5 percent in the month and rose 0.3 percent in the year. Food prices rose 1.2 percent in the month and fell 1.4 percent in the year.The forecasts of the ECBBased on a national measure of consumer prices in Germany fell 0.6 percent in January from December and rose 0.8 percent over the previous year.Inflation in the 16-country euro region accelerated to 1 percent in January, the fastest in 11 months, the European Union statistics office in Luxembourg said in an estimate of January 29The European Central Bank, which aims to keep annual price gains in consumption slightly below 2 per cent by December May forecast that average inflation of around 1.3 per cent in 2010 and nearly 1.4 cent in 2011. It will publish new forecasts in March.“I have absolutely no problem with the current level of expectation of inflation as an average for next year, ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet said February 4. Inflation expectations are “well anchored”.Recent data have painted a mixed picture of the German economy. While industrial production fell in December, manufacturing output rose for the fifth month of January, according to a separate report.The confidence of European investors fell for the first time in seven months in February as the economic recovery has shown signs of abating, the Sentix research institute said yesterday.Metro AG, the largest retailer in Germany, expects that 2010 will be “another difficult year” for the economy, Chief Executive Officer Eckhard Cordes said January 29.The German economy will grow at a “moderate” this year, Bundesbank President Axel Weber said last week. “The recovery is expected to accelerate during 2011.”

Things are going well for the venerable Boeing 747 jumbo jet.The newer and more importantly, the 747-8, is set to reach the sky on its maiden flight on Monday, one day shy of the 41st anniversary of the first 747 to take off in 1969.And inside the Everett factory, after months of delay the process of constructing massive jets finally seems well oiled and ready to roll.The original 747 jumbo jet has been delivered up to the 1970s, the infamous “Boeing Bust” with the ridiculous order ahead. But the airplane, a gamble that could bankrupt Boeing endscatapulted the company a world leader in the aviation industry.The latest version is set to take off during another crisis in the industry and strong again faces customer demand slack.Unlike the lightning speed of the original Jumbo development, the 747-8 has been delayed for over a year past its original schedule. And the plane-maker rival Airbus 747 rejects the latter as “old technology”, overshadowed by the A380 superjumbo which made its first flight there are just five years.However, Joe Sutter, the veteran Boeing engineer who led the legendary team of “Incredibles” who built the first 747 and remains a consultant on the program, believes the 747-8 can rejuvenate the iconic brand.Said the engineer, now a Spry 88, “This is a brand new airplane where it should be again.”The aircraft has a new aerodynamically efficient wing, flight status control avionics and new engines from GE services on the Dreamliner.Although the market for a passenger version can not be more than 12 aircraft per year, Sutter believes Boeing could sell twice as many 747-8 freighters with virtually no competition in the high-capacity long-haul air freight market.The 747 “will be there for another 20 years because of that,” Sutter said.Relief to the programAs it was for the Dreamliner’s maiden flight in December, 747-8 first flight came as a relief to a struggling program.It has been delayed by significant changes to the wing, the differences between the older parts and newer design, issues of software integration and supply chain glitches.Two employees working on production 747-8 describes the assembly of the three test plans because the parts from suppliers were late or did not fit. But the two workers stated that these issues have diminished on follow-on aircraft now in the factory.A sign that the immense logistics of the production chain are clicking up: On January 27, after the third and final test aircraft moved outside the line of flight, the aircraft giant sections of aircraft behind the plant have all progressed to the next station assembly in a single night.As head of the program 747-8 Mohammad “Mo” Yahyavi gave the tour the next day, the workflow streamlined look.Neat tool kits and parts have been put in place exactly where needed on a factory floor uncluttered. Mechanics, electricians and plant experts worked on aircraft with a spring in their step.“Things happen almost overnight. Everyone knows exactly what to do. Coins come in time. It fits. It works” Yahyavi said. “This will be a good aircraft.”Impressive viewThe first flight should be an impressive sight. The massive cargo jet is 250 feet long with a wingspan of 225 feet.In the update the largest jumbo jet, since 747-400 maiden flight in 1991, the new aircraft has a fuselage lengthened by 18 feet long and a wingspan of 13 feet wide.Boeing promises that the 747-8 Freighter are 16 percent more cargo capacity, 17 percent lower fuel costs and 16 percent lower overall operating costs than the -400.The aircraft has a list price of $ 300 million. But with large standard discounts on new jets, an airline could probably buy one for almost half.Expected lossesBoeing projects losses of over 2 billion dollars because of production problems and delays in addition to development costs that analysts estimate at about $ 4 billion.Boeing can make a profit on these investments?The company recognizes large commercial aircraft are a shrinking market niche that the airlines make more frequent flights using smaller jets like the 777 or the 787 Dreamliner. So the plan now assumes 747-8 modest sales.After two cancellations last month, sales have stalled at just 108 total orders.Boeing Chief Executive Jim McNerney last month offered an assurance that if Boeing can achieve a target of approximately 350 sales total of 747-8, “there will be no problem with profitability.”But the Singapore Airshow last week, Boeing, Marketing Vice President Randy Tinseth told Dow Jones news agency that, given the fee, for a profit on the 747-8 will have “an enormous challenge.”If Boeing is selling a large number of jets, the aircraft will perform well in flight tests.The 747-8 on the inaugural flight, weather permitting, is set at 10 pm Monday Paine Field in Everett. A few days later, the first test aircraft flying in Moses Lake in Eastern Washington where he was based for about a month until it reaches the initial airworthiness. After that, the other two test plans can fly.Then, to stand out flight tests of the Dreamliner based at Boeing Field, all the three test aircraft will be moved 747-8 in Palmdale in Southern California for nine or 10 months remaining flight tests.Flight-test programDennis O’Donoghue, who directs all operations test Boeing said it is “very optimistic” that the flight tests will be completed in time for the first plane can be delivered to Luxembourg-based cargo operator Cargolux year-end.Most of the delay on the program to date is finally due to a lack of engineering resources, which accounted for the 787 program.A final hitch came last fall.Boeing has not invested in the multi-laboratory integration for the 747, as it did for the Dreamliner. So when the first plane has been completely assembled its engineers could test all systems. They quickly discovered that the flight controls and software that would require more integration than expected.After an embarrassing last-minute postponement of the first flight in October, Boeing has worked to correct these problems.Since then, field tests have comprehensive conditions of simulated flight with the engines running around the clock to 11 straight quarters and three teams of drivers to bike on the plane.These tests turned out some issues, but they were easily handled, Yahyavi said.He said the plant should make about three jets every two months this year, and when the first delivery, he expects to have about 20 jumbo jets, built wholly or in final assembly.Boeing began clearing timber to build the plant in Everett in May 1966 and completed the first 747, with its instantly recognizable bump forward, just 32 months later, February 9, 1969.On the flight line Paine Field late last month, engineers prepare the test aircraft initially painted on its nose landing-gear doors the initials JW in big letters. In memory of Jack Waddell, the pilot of the maiden flight in 1969.747 Chief Pilot Mark Feuerstein, Tom Imrich as co-pilot, flight control this week’s planned 747-8.“I think she is ready to go,” Sutter said.

Spain failed to resume in many of its partners in the euro area and remains mired in recession, the central bank said Friday that fears about the future of public finances depth.The accumulated debt of countries and deficit burdens, coupled with those of Portugal and Greece, putting European stock markets suffered heavy pressure and resulting decline in value of the euro against the dollar.The Spanish stock market plunged 5.6 percent Thursday and down from 1.38 percent in mid-morning on Friday.The central bank said that the Spanish economy is in recession at the end of 2008, contracted 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter and declined 3.6 percent in 2009 as a whole.Although the pace of decline eased last year, Spain has nonetheless been able to join Britain, France, Germany, Netherlands and several other members of the euro area to shake off the recession.The country’s Socialist government, which says that the worst of the crisis is over, plans a return to growth in the seco nd half of 2010, although a contraction of 0.3 per cent is forecast for the entire year.Spain has been grappling with a collapse of its real estate market in 2008 after a decade of this frenetic activity.House prices have fallen 12 percent since then, according to the central bank, eroding consumer spending is critical that homeowners cut borrowing based on the value of their homes.Spain last Friday announced plans aimed at reducing its public deficit, to limit the European Union by 3.0 per cent of total production in 2013, after the deficit mushroomed to 11.4 percent last year.The debt is expected to increase from 55.2 per cent of GDP in 2009 to 74.3 percent in 2012, also well above the limit of 60 of Europe percent.The debt burden and deficit have caused concern among investors in depth and have driven up the cost of government borrowing on the bond market.Adding to the pressure has been speculation that the international rating agency, either Fitch or Moody’s could lower its outlook on Spain.A third agency, Standard and Poor’s, took such a decision in December.Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero defended the health of the economy of his country during a visit to Washington Thursday.“This is not an easy moment, there are fundamental economic challenges of great magnitude for Spain and other countries” in Europe, the Spanish leader told reporters.He said that criticism of the economy of Spain was from countries outside the euro area. These declarations have an effect on the market, “he said,” but the fundamentals of the economy of Spain are healthy. “Spain itself, got a boost on Thursday from the head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers, Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg, who insisted that neither Portugal nor Spain was a threat to stability eurzone.“They do not pose a risk,” Luxembourg Prime Minister Juncker told reporters.Portuguese Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos also stressed that his country has “nothing to do with Greece, which faces severe budget problems, and attacked investors for his country as” prey “.But the EU “Economic and Monetary Affairs, Joaquin Almunia mentioned Spain, Portugal and Greece in the same breath, on Wednesday, saying they” share the same problems, “irritating Lisbon and Madrid.European Central Bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday that the high deficit and debt in some countries has been to impose a charge “extra” on monetary policy and undermine the stability of the euro area and the cartel growth.

Northern Trust was recognized for “Best customer service in Asia Pacific” by Asia Asset Management for a second consecutive year, the publication of the seventh annual “Best of the Best Awards.“This award reflects the innovation Northern Trust and commitment in the field of customer service,” said Tan Lee Hock, editor of Asia Asset Management. “Although there were many highly qualified candidates for the award of this year clients of services, where Northern Trust has clearly led to their demonstrated ability to provide the level of service and solutions than anticipated and responded to points painful client in a very difficult environment. “Prices are divided into categories of performance, countries and regions. “Best Customer Service” has been a regional award, based on achievements in relation to 2009, providing quality services, the size of the customer service team and location. Nominations have been carefully validated against these criteria by a panel of three experienced person, composed of two outer parts and Tan Lee Hock.Northern Trust 2009 customer service highlights:Workshops dedicated to clients on international standards of financial reporting;The innovative technology providing advanced reporting, risk monitoring, measurement and management of client portfolios;A pioneer of online data management solutions for fund managers, hedge funds and investors.“At Northern Trust, we strive to combine innovative thinking with discipline in customer service,” said Teresa Parker, Asia-Pacific region CEO for Northern Trust. “Our growth and commitment to the region we have created a comprehensive service to institutions with complex service requirements more stringent, as sovereigns, central banks and government agencies. “Merits of Northern Trust have been made by customers in the region, including Lu Lan Fang, chief financial officer for APS Asset Management. “Northern Trust has demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the markets they support and complement its services with a human touch that sets it apart from the rest. With Northern Trust as a business partner, we are confident that our needs are well treated, “said Lu.Chew-Mee Kirtland, Managing Director of Mornington Services PTE Ltd, also said that Northern Trust put differentiators ahead of its peers. “In 2007-2008, we initiated a selection process to select the best goalkeeper for our needs. After narrowing the field to four candidates, we decided to Northern Trust. We chose Northern Trust dedicated team of professionals in Singapore and a technology platform that exceeded those of three other companies, “said Kirtland.Founded in 1995, Asia Asset Management is a monthly publication covering the institutional fund markets in the Asia-Pacific, and has a well established and influential in the institutional market APAC.About Northern TrustNorthern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of investment management, asset and fund administration, banking solutions and fiduciary services to corporations, institutions and affluent individuals worldwide. Northern Trust, a financial holding company based in Chicago, has offices in 18 U.S. states and 16 international locations in North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific. As of December 31, 2009, Northern Trust had assets under custody of $ 3.7 trillion and assets under investment management of U.S. $ 627.2 billion.For 120 years, Northern Trust has earned distinction as an industry leader in combining exceptional service and expertise with innovative products and technology. For more information, visit www.northerntrust.com.Northern Trust operates in Australia as an authorized deposit institution abroad (Foreign ADI) and is regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.Northern Trust in Hong Kong is a securities company regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission.Northern Trust in Singapore is a major foreign bank regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.Northern Trust operates in China as a representative office and is regulated by the China Banking Regulatory Commission.Northern Trust (Guernsey) Limited, Northern Trust Fiduciary Services (Guernsey) Limited, Northern Fiduciary Trust Company (Guernsey) Limited and Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited are licensed by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.Northern Trust International Fund Administrators (Jersey) Limited and Northern Trust Fiduciary Services (Jersey) Limited is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission.Northern Trust Global Services is authorized and regulated in the Netherlands by De Nederlandsche Bank.Northern Trust Global Services Limited Luxembourg Branch is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and by the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) and Northern Trust Luxembourg Management Company SA is regulated by the CSSF.Northern Trust Global Services Limited - Abu Dhabi. Representative Office License No. 13/238/2008.When the entities of the United Kingdom of Northern Trust have a regulated activity, they are authorized and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority.Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Ireland) Limited and Northern Trust Fiduciary Services (Ireland) Limited is regulated by the Financial Regulator.The Northern Trust Company operates in Canada and the Northern Trust Company, Canada Branch is a branch of foreign bank authorized under the Bank Act (Canada). Trust services related to Canada are provided by wholly owned subsidiary of The Northern Trust Company, Canada, a trust company authorized under the Trust and Loans Companies Act (Canada).Deposits in the Northern Trust Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries are not insured by the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Canada.Northern Trust Global Services Ltd. (UK) Sweden is a subsidiary branch of BCD passport Northern Trust Global Services Ltd., a company authorized and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

The Frankfurt Stock Exchange saw first IPO this year, a company listed on the Prime Standard segment. The Luxembourg company Helikos SE made its initial public February 4. Helikos is the investment vehicle of all, a special purpose company acquisition (SPAC) to be listed on Deutsche Börse.SPACs are shell companies newly formed for the purpose of acquiring companies or shares in companies within a specified period of time, putting the companies listed on the exchange of shares. The capital raised at IPO is paid into a trust account where the transaction is not completed, it can be refunded to investors with interest.According to the company, Helikos was formed to acquire one or more operating companies with business operations primarily in Germany. By making a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with its target will Helikos with its objective of raising capital and become a publicly traded company.