Stories for July 9th 2011
Argentina files criminal charges against consulting firm for publishing inflation data
Argentina's government has filed criminal charges against the managers of an economic consulting firm, escalating its persecution of independent economists. A federal court official said Friday that a judge is evaluating the charges but has yet to decide if it is appropriate to begin investigating them.
Brazil offers Venezuelan leader Chavez specialists to help him overcome cancer
Brazilian President Dilma Roussef offered Venezuela leader Hugo Chávez her support over the mandate’s battle against cancer. According to the Presidential House press Secretary, Rousseff expressed her sentiments during a phone call conversation held this morning.
US jobs data for June disappoints markets: unemployment again at 9.2%
US employment growth ground to a halt in June, with employers hiring the fewest number of workers in nine months, dousing hopes the economy would regain momentum in the second half of the year.
Brazil introduces rules on short-dollar positions to curb speculation with the Real
Brazil’s central bank changed currency market rules to curb bets that the Real will appreciate against the dollar, according to an e-mailed statement. Brazil will require that banks make non-interest bearing deposits with the central bank equivalent to 60% of their short dollar positions exceeding 1 billion US dollars, the bank said.
Brazil banned from selling Israeli-technology UAV to Venezuela
Israel Aerospace Industries signed a joint venture with Brazil's Synergy Group to manufacture Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) (drones) to fight drug trafficking in Brazilian borders under the condition that the aircrafts are not sold to Venezuela.
Brazil drop in production has sugar prices soaring: 73% in last twelve months
Sugar jumped the most since October after an industry group said output would decline in Brazil, the world’s biggest grower. Production in the Centre South, Brazil’s largest growing area, may drop by as much as 1 million metrics in the current season compared with a year earlier, Unica said on Friday.
Fiat confirms trade disputes between Argentina and Brazil
Fiat will trim some production in Brazil and Argentina for a week because of a trade spat between the South American neighbours, the Italian car maker said on Friday.
Obama says debt-limit controversy fuelling uncertainty in the business sector
President Barack Obama cited gloomy jobs numbers as one more reason lawmakers must strike a deal soon to raise the US debt limit, saying the impasse was fuelling uncertainty within financial markets and in the business sector.
Inflation at its highest level in three years; concerns over food prices and social unrest
Inflation in China has risen to its highest level for three years, despite a series of interest rate rises and curbs on bank lending. Prices in June rose 6.4% from a year earlier, well above the rate for May.
Volcanic ash again cancels hundreds of flights in the Southern Cone
Clouds of ash spewing from Chile's Puyehue volcano again grounded flights at airports in Uruguay and Argentina, where a major football tournament is being held. Scores of local and international flights were delayed or cancelled in and out of Buenos Aires, regional airport authority Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 said on its website on Friday.
