Latin American economic growth may slow more than expected in 2009 due to lower prices for the commodities that drive many of the region's economies, the International Monetary Fund said this week in Chile.
Sao Paulo Alpargatas, Brazil largest textile and Footwear Company announced Friday the acquisition of Alpargatas Argentina, turning the consolidated company into a bi-national corporation leader in its sector in Mercosur and Latinamerica.
A United States federal jury in Miami began deliberations Friday in the trial of a wealthy Venezuelan businessman accused in a conspiracy to hide the source and destination of a suitcase stuffed with 800,000 USD in cash and involving Venezuela and Argentina.
Crude prices plunged Friday despite a hefty OPEC cut in production as recession fears gripped global markets in panic, heightening concerns about declining energy demand. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for December delivery, tumbled to 64.15 USD a barrel, down 3.69 from its close Thursday.
East Asian nations have pledged to set up an 80 billion US dollars swap scheme by mid-2009 to help protect the region from financial turmoil. The move by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is backed by South Korea, China and Japan.
The International Monetary Fund, which has announced its readiness to act in support of nations hit by fallout from the global financial turmoil, is holding talks with several countries about possible new lending programs. According to an official release IMF has 200 billion US dollars ready for loans.
Mexico's Senate approved this week changes to the country's oil sector designed to halt rapidly falling production and ensure Mexico's oil self-sufficiency in the medium term. The bill must now be considered by the Lower House.
Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez is reconsidering the proposal for his re-election next year if the ruling coalition, Broad Front, can't agree on a 2009 consensus presidential ticket during the coming movement's congress.
Friday closed a tsunami impact trading week for Latinamerican markets accumulating massive losses as risk aversion and recession fears contagion from major markets spread to the rest of the world.
The Mexican peso ended trading on Friday at 13.70 to the US dollar after having fallen to a record 14.50. The Mexican central bank supported the currency with 1.1 billion US dollars.