Stories for January 2010

Saturday, January 9th 2010 - 08:08 UTC
Surprise rise in US unemployment during December

US employers unexpectedly cut 85,000 jobs in December, but the unemployment rate held steady at 10%, official figures have shown. The number of job losses was surprising, particularly after November's figures had been revised.
Friday, January 8th 2010 - 20:45 UTC
Falkland Islands: Drilling preparations step up a gear onshore

AS the semi-submersible drilling rig Ocean Guardian, contracted by Desire Petroleum from Diamond Drilling, continues to make its way south, a number of oil operators are scheduled to visit the Falklands to meet with government officials this month.
Friday, January 8th 2010 - 13:03 UTC
PM Brown reaffirms Falklands’ sovereignty and support for oil development

Prime Minister Gordon Brown in his New Year message reaffirmed UK sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and “the principle of self determination that underlies it”, emphasizing there will be “no negotiations (with Argentina) on the Islands sovereignty unless and until such a time as the Islanders wish”.
Friday, January 8th 2010 - 13:01 UTC
Excellent rain-timing anticipates record crops in Brazil of coffee and soy

Brazil's coffee crop may beat the 48.48 million bag record this year, the country's crop supply agency said in a report which also raised forecasts for the newly-begun soybean harvest.
Friday, January 8th 2010 - 12:49 UTC
Barrick Gold mine project threatens glaciers claims Chilean government

Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold, the owner of what would be Chile’s largest gold mine, Pascua Lama, could face legal sanctions after Chile’s national water commission (DGA) reported that the company is failing to comply with Chile’s environmental laws.
Friday, January 8th 2010 - 08:11 UTC
Mrs. Kirchner gets her way and will pay debts with Central bank reserves

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and her cabinet signed Thursday a disputed decree removing Central Bank President Martin Redrado from office amid a fight over the use of bank reserves to pay debt due this year.
Friday, January 8th 2010 - 08:08 UTC
China surprise move to control liquidity sends markets plunging

China's central bank surprised markets on Thursday by raising the interest rate on its three-month bills for the first time since August, intensifying its grip on liquidity a day after it promised to keep credit growth in check.
Friday, January 8th 2010 - 06:48 UTC
Latinamerica’s 2009 trade contracts 24% in value, the worst since 1973

Latinamerica and Caribbean exports plunged 24% in value last year compared to 2008 because of the international crisis, according to the latest estimates from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latinamerica and the Caribbean, Cepal, released Thursday in Santiago de Chile.
Friday, January 8th 2010 - 06:44 UTC
New Japan Finance minister wants weaker Yen to help recover economy

Japan's newly appointed finance minister Naoto Kan has called for a weaker yen in order to aid the recovery of the Japanese economy. Speaking the day after his appointment, Mr Kan said it would be “nice” to see the currency weaken.
Friday, January 8th 2010 - 06:28 UTC
Ample support for Bank of England’s decision to leave monetary policy unchanged

The Bank of England announced Thursday its decision to hold the base rate of interest at its current historic low of 0.5%. The Monetary Policy Committee also opted against altering its quantitative easing programme, under which it has already created £200 billion to pump into the economy.