
As was anticipated in the Argentine 2012 Budget the government is appealing to Central Bank reserves to pay sovereign debts. According to a resolution published in the Official Gazette, a Treasury bill equivalent to 5.674 billion dollars will be repaid to the bank in several instalments during ten years.

Paraguay refrigerated beef exports to Brazil soared 202% during March compared to a year ago and is turning the giant neighbour into the main partner for the item replacing Chile, which ceased purchases following an outbreak of Foot and mouth disease a few months ago.

Kramers Mandate, a majestic 13-month-old weighing nearly 590 kg, commanded the highest price for a breeding bull in the 44-year history of an annual auction in Illinois, Midwest US.

Committees of Argentina’s Lower House of Congress began a plenary session on Thursday in order to clear the YPF expropriation bill for debate, which was approved early morning by the Senate.

The IMF warned Latin America on Wednesday that favourable economic conditions are not for ever and called on the region’s countries to “rebuild defences” ahead of an uncertain economic future.

The processes of concentration, foreign ownership and land degradation came to be a central concern of supranational bodies and NGOs that warn, like the United Nations Organizations for Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), of the “negative effects of these phenomena on food security, agricultural employment and the development of family farming.”

Three of Brazil's leading companies said on Wednesday they are increasing investment and exploration in Peru's natural gas sector as the country prepares to build a new pipeline and petrochemical plants.

Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday said US monetary policy was more or less in the right place even though the central bank would not hesitate to launch another round of bond purchases if the economy were to weaken.

European Commission Deputy Director General for Enterprise and Industry Daniel Calleja warned on Wednesday that Europe has lost its trust in Mercosur trade block after the government announced it would expropriate 51% of YPF shares, owned by Spanish oil company Repsol.

Three Argentine ministers denied as “false” that YPF, under control of Spain’s Repsol had invested more than 20 billion dollars in the company since 1999, arguing the fall in Argentine oil and gas production and reserves is clear evidence of that.