Stories for February 2011

Thursday, February 17th 2011 - 02:38 UTC
The Fed confident about economic recovery but depressed with job market

US Federal Reserve officials are increasingly confident of the economic recovery but remain unsatisfied with the healing of the job market, minutes of their January meeting released showed.
Thursday, February 17th 2011 - 02:35 UTC
Argentina’s January industrial production expanded 10.3% over a year ago

Argentina's industrial production in January continued to expand at a quick pace, led by strong output of machinery and equipment, food, non-metallic minerals and chemicals, a local think tank reported Wednesday.
Thursday, February 17th 2011 - 01:58 UTC
Brazil injects 27 billion USD to subsidized-loans development bank

Brazilian state-run development bank BNDES will receive at least 45 billion Real or 27 billion US dollars from the government to extend its program of low-cost loans for supporting company investments in capital goods, local media reported this week.
Thursday, February 17th 2011 - 01:18 UTC
Argentina’s boost-industry import restrictions estimated in one billion US dollars

Imports restrictions imposed this week by the Argentine government with the purpose of “preserving the re-industrialization process” cover approximately 200 products totalling annual imports of a billion US dollars, according to preliminary reports.
Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 22:53 UTC
Mantega reiterates opposition to French plan for commodity prices regulation

Brazil reiterated opposition to a French plan to impose regulation on commodity prices, saying it could have “negative effects” on major suppliers such as itself. “Brazil is totally opposed to a mechanism of control or regulation of commodity prices,” Finance Minister Guido Mantega told reporters, reiterating a position he gave last week.
Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 22:39 UTC
Uruguay’s debt rated “positive” and edging on investment grade, says DBRS

Canadian credit rating agency DBRS maintained Uruguay’s debt at BB (two steps below investment grade) but elevated prospect from stable to positive. The latest release from DBRS means Uruguay in the next 6 to 12 months could advance to one step below investment grade if “current fiscal discipline is sustained and levels of debt continue the descending trend”.
Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 22:34 UTC
Trichet blames Euro-zone inflation spike on emerging economies rapid recovery

The European Central Bank is not surrendering its price stability objective for crisis management policy, the bank's President Jean-Claude Trichet said. He also argued that the recent spike in Euro zone inflation is due to the current rapid economic recovery in emerging markets and not due to the currency bloc's sovereign debt crisis.
Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 22:30 UTC
World’s largest mining company fearful of espionage from China and competitors

Anglo Australian mining giant BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers confirmed reports that he is fearful of espionage from China, competitors like Rio Tinto and the Australian government, saying it is one reason why he lobbied furiously for short-term pricing of key commodities.
Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 19:25 UTC
US Justice Department looking into Google’ plan to become hub of online travel

Google wants to become the hub of online travel, promising better bargains and more convenience by melding the internet search leader's capability with the web's top airline-fare tracker, ITA Software.
Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 19:12 UTC
The mobile phone is the new PC anticipates Google CEO Schmidt

The mobile phone is the new PC, Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said this week at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.