Economy
EconomyChina's import of key commodities falls sharply during January
China's imports of key commodities eased in January after the record high set in December, as expected as the earlier heavy purchases to take advantage of weak prices had swollen inventories, preliminary customs data released has shown.
US reports strong surge in employment and wages during January
United States employment rose solidly in January and wages rebounded strongly, a show of underlying strength in the economy. Nonfarm payrolls increased 257,000 last month, the Labor Department said on Friday.
Qatar Airways takes 10% of IAG, owner of British Airways and Iberia
Qatar Airways has emerged as the owner of a 10% stake in International Airlines Group (IAG), the owner of British Airways (BA) and Iberia. The Gulf airline is already a member of the Oneworld Alliance.
FAO Food Price Index continued de decline in January; cereal record crop anticipated
The FAO Food Price Index continued to decline in January, averaging 182.7 points for the month, or 1.9 percent below its December 2014 level. Lower prices reflect strong production expectations as FAO also raised its 2014 forecast for world cereal production to a record high and noted that early indications for crops in 2015 are favorable.
Rise of the vulture investing class
The oil markets are showing some life, having rallied 11% over a two-day period. But if a bigger rebound is not around the corner, it won’t just be oil companies that will be feeling the pain: their lenders will also face some steep losses if drillers can’t come up with the cash to cover debt payments.
Cristina Fernandez hails 'strategic partnership' with China; blasts Argentine industry for mistrusting agreements
President Cristina Fernandez expressed her satisfaction for the over 1,000 businessmen that attended the Argentinean-Chinese forum she presided in Beijing and praised the 'strategic partnership' with China. The president also rejected criticism voiced by the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA) against her trip to China and the bilateral deals reached.
China eases credit to help boost growth; 7.4% in 2014 was the lowest in 24 years
China's central bank has cut the level of funds banks must hold in reserve in an effort to boost growth in the world's second-largest economy. The reserve requirement ratio has been cut by 0.5 percentage points to 19.5%.
YPF obtains through bonds 500 million dollars; target was 750 million
Argentine state majority owned petroleum company YPF has secured funds worth around 500 million dollars on the international finance market after issuing new bond titles, according to the president of the enterprise.
Brazil's industrial production contracted sharply in 2014, worst year since 2009
Brazil’s industrial production contracted sharply in December and finished last year with its steepest decline since 2009, as rising interest rates, weak demand and waning confidence from consumers and businesses weighed on output.
Petrobras shares soar 15% ahead of CEO's and senior managers removal
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff will replace the chief executive and other senior managers at state-run oil company Petrobras later this month in an effort to turn the page on the widening corruption scandal. Petrobras shares jumped more than 15%, their biggest one-day gain in 16 years, after Folha do Sao Paulo first reported that Rousseff intended to replace CEO Maria das Graças Foster.
