EADS could lose 3 billion euros due to the falling dollar, according to its CEO Philippe Camus. Experts confirm his concerns, but doubt the accuracy of the figures he cites. EADS is the largest European aerospace concern. According to the results of the first nine months of 2003, EADS revenue amounted to 18.5 billion euros, losses - 124 million euros. EADS is the main shareholder of the world's second largest aircraft manufacturer Airbus (EADS owns 80%, 20% - BAE Systems).

The Ministry of Communications is abandoning the practice of discriminating against foreign manufacturers of telecommunications equipment in order to facilitate Russia's entry into the WTO. Some market players believe that the refusal to provide preferences to Russian companies will benefit the communications market. Others say that these preferences were only declared before, but did not actually work.

Ten years ago, the owners and managers of Russian companies considered "meeting the right people" to be the most important quality that helped them achieve success in business, according to a VTsIOM poll. Today, representatives of the Russian business elite put useful connections only in eighth place. And the leader is professionalism is on the list of the most important qualities.

According to a tradition established six years ago, the Moscow Music Year began with the "Return" festival, which is organized by young musicians in the Rachmaninov Hall of the Conservatory. During the existence of the tradition, they managed to mature somewhat, but remained faithful to their project.

At the end of the first capitalist four-year period, a small but pleasant present arrived from Washington to Moscow. Most likely, it was addressed to the economic adviser to President Putin, Andrei Illarionov. In the "Rating of Economic Freedom - 2004", the Heritage Foundation, close to the right-wing Republicans, raised the quotations of our country. In the list of 150 countries, Russia moved up from 135th place by 21 steps.

Analysts believe that the Finance Ministry will be able to implement its borrowing program. "It is quite possible to place bonds for 290 billion rubles, there will be demand," says Nikolai Kashcheyev, chief specialist at the investment bank Trust. In his opinion, banks have plenty of money (daily balances on correspondent accounts and deposits with the Central Bank are about 500 billion rubles) and even a decrease in liquidity is unlikely to change the mood of investors much.

While Western automobile concerns are pondering whether to open new passenger car factories in Russia, Moscow Region entrepreneurs are planning to flood our country with bicycles. A bicycle assembly plant from Chinese components, which will open on Friday in Kubinka, Moscow Region, will be comparable in capacity to the bicycle giants created back in Soviet times. The plant in Kubinka was built by the company "Velomotors Plus", which has been selling bicycles and mopeds since the mid-90s.

"United Russia", which received a constitutional majority in the new State Duma, did not share committees with minority factions. But the latter treated the decision of "United Russia" with philosophical calm. Yesterday, United Russia approved 29 candidates for the positions of chairmen of all Duma committees. It is expected that at the plenary session on Friday, 305 members of the faction will vote to approve all of their candidates.

Kotter John P. Ahead of Change. - M., Olimp-Business, 2003. "Harden yourself if you want to be healthy!" - these words from the famous film "The First Glove" correspond well to the essence of John Kotter's book. One of the youngest professors in the history of the Harvard Business School (and doctors, respectively), who devoted his entire life to the problem of restructuring organizations, empirically discovered eight stages (!) of renewal of any organism.

As Vedomosti has learned, the owners of the financial corporation NIKoil are thinking about renaming their financial empire. Today, the corporation's board, led by its president and co-owner Nikolai Tsvetkov, will discuss the possibility of changing the brand with a 10-year history to UralSib, which, despite the two-year anniversary celebrated the other day, has been recognized as preferable. But even if the decision on rebranding is made, some NIKoil structures will still retain their names.

Brunswick UBS raised its 12-month price target for Rostelecom common shares from $1.65 to $2.27, maintaining its "hold1" recommendation. The price target was raised following the publication of new macroeconomic forecasts by Brunswick UBS. The investment bank's analysts believe that Rostelecom's business model may change significantly in the long term.

Yesterday, the city administration put 157 outdoor advertising spots up for auction. The winners of the auction have not yet been officially announced, but advertising market participants are confident that the winning agencies will be those controlled by the largest national operator NewsOutdoor Russia, which will only increase the already high level of monopolization of the local market.

Today Irina Khakamada will hold a press conference that will launch her election campaign. Khakamada's SPS comrades claim that her nomination is supported by the presidential administration, which is concerned about "ennobling" Vladimir Putin's re-election. Nevertheless, representatives of the Open Russia Foundation, including YUKOS co-owner Leonid Nevzlin, have decided to help Khakamada. And the foundation's project director Marina Litvinovich has headed Khakamada's headquarters.

Since early January, the Hermitage has converted ticket prices for foreigners from dollars to euros. The museum administration hopes to earn an additional $1 million a year this way. But the Hermitage and other museums could earn even more if they switched from the European currency to European rules of decency. In museum circles, it is generally accepted that any Russian citizen is several times poorer than any foreigner. They only argue about the depth of the abyss.

The first meeting of the Russian Anti-Corruption Council took place. Experts argue about its effectiveness. But are there examples of successful fight against corruption in the world? (The survey was prepared by Anton Osipov.) An interesting example is Italy, where they passed a law requiring people to prove their origin. The Italians managed to knock the economic foundation out from under the mafia, and corruption ties immediately collapsed.