United States unemployment reached a four year low in August, 4,9%, but since figures do not include the effects of the Katrina hurricane which hit Louisiana and other southern states, analysts are looking at the number of new jobs created in August which was less than expected.
Crude prices fell on Friday following confirmation that more strategic oil reserves will be released to alleviate the market following the impact of the Katrina hurricane which cut United States production by an estimated 30%.
The United States dollar dropped to a new record in the Chilean financial market closing the week in the range of 530 pesos, a benchmark unseen since June 2000.
Headlines:
Baton relay: by road, sea and horse; Off to college; Stanley burials for seamen; Police tackle ?worrying' underage drinking trend; Summer time begins.
Mad cow disease may have originated from human remains mixed into cattle feed, according to a controversial new theory.
Argentina's processed and unprocessed fish and shellfish exports totalled earned 523 million US dollars in the first seven months of 2005, 5% above the same period last year, reported the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INDEC).
Venezuela is preparing to take political control of private banks as part of a drive to spread revolutionary government control over the economy of the world's fifth largest oil exporter.
The United States government decided Wednesday to release oil from its strategic reserves in an attempt to offset production cuts caused by hurricane Katrina which has devastated several states in the Gulf of Mexico and panicked oil markets.
The US economy expanded 3,3% during the second quarter, a tenth less than expected reported Wednesday the US Commerce Department.
Chile is the South American country with the lowest unemployment rate while Colombia, Venezuela and Uruguay figure at the other end of the list according to a release from the United Nations Latinamerican Economic Commission, Cepal.