Mercosur

• Sunday, March 7th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Breaking News.

  Aerolíneas Argentinas has big plans for Chile;
  Argentine natural gas exports increase;
  Confidence in sheep farming is returning.

• Friday, March 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Key ECB interest rates remain unchanged

  The governing council of the European Central Bank, meeting in Frankfurt, decided this Thursday to keep the basic exchange rate unchanged at 2%, despite calls for reduced rates from political leaders in Germany and France.

• Friday, March 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Bank of England keeps rates on hold at 4%

  The Bank of England decided to keep United Kingdom interest rates on hold at 4%. Last February in an attempt to cool consumer spending and the housing market the bank's Monetary Policy Committee voted to increase rates to 4% from 3,75%.

• Friday, March 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF chief next president of Germany

  International Monetary Fund Managing Director Horst Koehler was officially presented this Thursday as the Conservative opposition candidate for president of Germany which almost ensures his access to becoming head of state next May 23.

• Friday, March 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Lowest inflation since February 1939 in Chile

  The consumer price index during February in Chile experienced no change, similarly during the last twelve months, recording the lowest twelve months inflation since February 1939 (-1,1%). Compared to December 2003 the index actually dropped 0,2%, according to the National Statistics Office.

• Thursday, March 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina's debt offer will not be modified

  Roberto Lavagna, Argentina's economy minister, has warned the country's private creditors that the government will not modify the debt-restructuring offer it made in Dubai last year.

• Thursday, March 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Caribbean nations won't join Haiti peace force

  Fourteen Caribbean nations rejected joining any peacekeeping force for Haiti Wednesday and called for a probe into ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's charge that the United States forced him from office.

• Thursday, March 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  State of emergency declared in Haiti

  Political turmoil continued in Haiti late Wednesday as Prime Minister Yvon Neptune declared a state of emergency and announced the formation of a commission to oversee security in the turbulent nation

• Wednesday, March 3rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Fiscal flexibility for infrastructure investments

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva asked this Tuesday president George Bush for US support in implementing changes in the contingent agreements reached between Latinamerican countries and the IMF.

• Wednesday, March 3rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Greenspan warns about Chinese financial fragility

  The Chinese financial system is currently weak and the abrupt disengagement of the flotation system pegged to the US dollar could worsen the situation warned US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan in a letter to the Banking Affairs Committee of the US Senate.