The Chilean economy experienced an unexpected trade deficit in September, the first negative month in six years according to the latest release from the Central Bank. The misbalance was 318 million US dollars; a year ago it was a surplus of 1.37 billion US dollars.
Australia's central bank surprised financial market by cutting its key interest rate a full percentage point from 7% to 6%. The bank said the sharp cut was justified given the prospects for growth, even though inflation is currently above target.
Neel Kashkari, 35, a United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, was named on Tuesday interim head of the Office of Financial Stability by US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. The office will run the 700 billion US dollars financial bailout program signed into law Friday.