Stories for April 2010

Friday, April 30th 2010 - 01:16 UTC
Repsol YPF Plans to Raise Cash to Keep Expanding in Brazil

Repsol YPF S.A. (BMAD:REP), Spain’s biggest oil company, is considering the sale of about 40% of its Brazil assets in an initial public offering as early as this year, company executives said Thursday on a conference call.
Friday, April 30th 2010 - 00:24 UTC
Brazil’s Lula da Silva Named “Most Influential World Leader” by Time Magazine

Brazilian President Lula da Silva has been named the most influential leader in the world by Time Magazine, ahead of US President Barack Obama who is ranked fourth. No European leader figures among the top 25.
Thursday, April 29th 2010 - 18:59 UTC
Fish Meal Price Rockets Because of Chilean Earthquake Damage to Plants

The earthquake in Chile earlier this year destroyed Chilean processing plants tightening world supply of fishmeal and causing world market prices to hit an all-time high. Chile is the world’s second biggest exporter of fishmeal, second only to Peru.
Thursday, April 29th 2010 - 18:49 UTC
Australia Opens Brine Shrimp Farm, Key Component in Aquaculture Food Chain

Australian Fisheries Minister Norman Moore embraced the aquaculture potential of Western Australia with the opening of a cutting edge-design commercial brine shrimp farm at Port Gregory, near Geraldton.
Thursday, April 29th 2010 - 07:50 UTC
Chávez Calls for Venezuela’s Mercosur Incorporation Before Lula da Silva Leaves Office

President Hugo Chávez expects Venezuela will be fully incorporated to Mercosur before Brazilian president Lula da Silva steps down from office next January first. The two leaders met Wednesday in Brasilia and also agreed to strengthen Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).
Thursday, April 29th 2010 - 07:28 UTC
Outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Japan Includes Cows and Pigs

Japan has discovered suspected cases of foot-and-mouth disease in pigs at a farm in Miyazaki prefecture, where the government confirmed the first outbreak since 2000 in cows last week.
Thursday, April 29th 2010 - 07:18 UTC
Farm Exports Leading Latam Strong Recovery, Says FAO

Latinamerica and the Caribbean are undergoing a strong recovery boosted mainly by agriculture exports, said José Graziano da Silva, head of FAO’s regional office in Panama, during the presentation of the Report on Agriculture and Rural Development 2010 Prospects for Latinamerica.
Thursday, April 29th 2010 - 07:10 UTC
Cuba Promotes Building of “Own Effort Homes” to Help With Lack of Housing

Cuba began granting licenses to people to build homes “with their own effort”, an initiative approved last year by President Raúl Castro. The granting of the permits was finally approved by the National Housing Institute for people who are the owners of land, homes or other areas included in the new resolution.
Thursday, April 29th 2010 - 07:03 UTC
Fearing an Over-Heated Economy Brazil Hikes Basic Rate 75 Points to 9.5%

Central Bank of Brazil increased on Wednesday the benchmark interest rate for the first time in 19 months in an effort to cool an economy forecast to expand 6% this year, one of the highest rates in two decades.
Thursday, April 29th 2010 - 06:59 UTC
Obama Nominees for the Fed Support “Job Creation and Low Rates”

US President Barack Obama is expected to announce this week his choice of Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Janet Yellen as vice-chairman of the Fed Board of Governors, according to congressional sources.