China's manufacturing growth slowed in April, according to official figures. The country's purchasing managers' index (PMI), which is designed to provide a snapshot of conditions in the manufacturing sector, fell to 52.9 in April, from 53.4 in March.
China's currency, the Yuan, strengthened past a key level against the US dollar on Friday, as part of wider efforts to contain inflation on the mainland. The Yuan broke past 6.50 against the dollar, a level not seen since 1993.
Rio de Janeiro's hosting of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics is an unprecedented chance to promote the Brazil brand and ensure a legacy of economic and social benefits, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Friday.
Three Latin American countries figure among the ten top users of social network Tiwtter according to a release from comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, based on the comScore Media Metris service.
Argentina's construction activity was up 4% in March from the same month a year ago, the smallest increase in at least 15 months. In comparison, construction activity in March 2010 was up 12.8% on the year.
Weak jobs data, sliding retail sales and rising inflation confirm Spain’s economic recovery is faltering. The official figures released Friday showed 21.3% of the workforce without a job, up from 20.3% at the end of last year.
The US economy is not fully recovered from its deep recession, with housing still weighing on growth, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Friday in a speech spelling out ways the US central bank has studied lower income communities.
US economic growth slowed in the first three months of 2011 to an annualised rate of 1.8%, corresponding to a 0.4% quarterly increase. This compares with a revised annual growth rate of 3.1% in the previous quarter, official figures show.
The strength of the Brazilian Real against the US dollar is very worrying for the country's exporters, with many companies struggling with higher production costs and a reduced ability to compete in global markets, Bunge Brasil CEO Pedro Parente said Thursday.
The Brazilian central bank said it will raise interest rates at a slower pace for a longer period than initially planned as the country’s inflation outlook worsens, according to the minutes of its April 19-20 meeting.