Stories for June 17th 2010

Thursday, June 17th 2010 - 22:45 UTC
Jump in US claims for jobless benefits; May consumer prices drop 0.2%

The number of US workers filing new claims for jobless benefits jumped last week after three straight declines, the Labour Department said on Thursday. First-time claims rose by 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 472,000, the highest level in a month.
Thursday, June 17th 2010 - 22:38 UTC
Swiss parliament agrees to tax treaty with US, which saves leading bank

Swiss lawmakers approved Thursday a UBS tax treaty with the US, ending a two-year legal battle that threatened the American business of Switzerland’s largest bank. The vote removed the threat of further civil litigation against UBS and additional fallout under US criminal law.
Thursday, June 17th 2010 - 22:30 UTC
Less Europeans travelling to Chile, more Chileans visiting the old continent

The number of Chileans travelling to Europe is up sharply, thanks to the lower value of the Euro – down 9.74% between January and February of this year – which makes travel to Europe more attractive.
Thursday, June 17th 2010 - 22:29 UTC
Irish church leaders attack “shocking” lending practices of some banks

Church leaders in Northern Ireland have launched a bitter attack on the ‘shocking’ lending polices of some banks, claiming they are putting ‘decent’ businesses and people at risk.
Thursday, June 17th 2010 - 22:25 UTC
IMF praises Spain’s efforts to reform economy and publish banks ‘stress tests’

The International Monetary Fund welcomed the results of a Spanish bond auction and said decisions by Spain and Germany to publish results of stress tests on banks will boost financial market confidence.
Thursday, June 17th 2010 - 06:13 UTC
Argentine activists suspend blockade; 60 days to reach agreement

Argentine activists voted Wednesday night to temporarily lift the roadblock on a bridge leading to Uruguay which has been at the heart of a diplomatic dispute between the two countries regarding the construction of a pulp mill on the Uruguayan side which allegedly contaminates.
Thursday, June 17th 2010 - 06:06 UTC
Taiana and Tierra del Fuego governor heads of delegation to C 24 in New York

A new chapter of the Argentine escalation of the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty dispute is scheduled for next week at the United Nations Decolonization Committee or C24.
Thursday, June 17th 2010 - 06:04 UTC
Spanish government struggling to survive amid growing doubts about the economy

The Spanish government Wednesday approved a reform to make the labour market more flexible, amid growing international concern over the stability of the country's economy.
Thursday, June 17th 2010 - 06:01 UTC
Brazilian retail sales fall more than expected in April, in spite of World Cup

Brazilian retail sales declined 3% month-on-month in April, with only two of the ten surveyed sales components recording gains, the statistical agency IBGE said Wednesday. Economists were expecting sales to drop at a much slower rate of 1.6%.
Thursday, June 17th 2010 - 05:54 UTC
Scotch whisky matured for 64 years sold at £ 25.200

A Scotch whisky matured for more than six decades sold for 25,200 pounds ($37,245) at an Edinburgh auction Wednesday as collectors vied for rare malts.