Stories for April 2012

Friday, April 27th 2012 - 23:11 UTC
World Bank Food Price Watch jumped 8% in four months to March

Global food prices increased by 8% from December 2011 to March 2012 due to higher oil prices, adverse weather conditions, and Asia’s strong demand for food imports, according to the World Bank Group’s latest Food Price Watch.
Friday, April 27th 2012 - 23:09 UTC
Uruguay fish exports increase 20% in volume totalling 236 million dollars in 2011

Uruguay fish exports increased 20% in volume and the average ton price 22%, with Brazil, China and Nigeria as the main markets during the twelve months of 2011, according to a release from the country’s Aquatic Resources Department, Dinara.
Friday, April 27th 2012 - 11:35 UTC
Brazil's unemployment increased in March to 6.2% from February’s 5.7%

Brazil's unemployment rate increased from the previous month in March, data released by statistical office IBGE showed Thursday.The unemployment rate increased to 6.2% in March from 5.7% in February. In March, 2011, the jobless rate was 6.5%.
Friday, April 27th 2012 - 11:30 UTC
Timerman replies to De Gucht rejecting “unacceptable” arguments and “tone”

Argentine Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman said the recent criticism from the European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht regarding the YPF expropriation is “unacceptable,” and assured that it “surprised him due to his tone and approach”.
Friday, April 27th 2012 - 11:24 UTC
Piñera announces tax reform to fund an education overhaul that threatens his government

Chile's government on Thursday proposed a sweeping tax reform that raises levies on companies to help fund an education overhaul, as it seeks to quell social protests ahead of local elections seen as a litmus test for the 2013 presidential race.
Friday, April 27th 2012 - 09:33 UTC
Argentine Securities Commission puts more pressure on Falklands’ oil industry

Argentina’s National Securities Commission, CNV, announced on Thursday that it will inform UK regulatory authorities on the legal actions to be undertaken by the Argentine state against oil companies “illegally operating in the Malvinas Islands”.
Friday, April 27th 2012 - 09:24 UTC
Government organizing massive display in support of President Cristina Fernandez

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez will be leading on Friday a massive demonstration of support in a Buenos Aires stadium in the midst of an international controversy over the seizure of 51% of YPF from Spain’s oil conglomerate Repsol.
Friday, April 27th 2012 - 02:40 UTC
Argentina appeals to 5.7bn dollars Central bank reserves to pay sovereign debt

As was anticipated in the Argentine 2012 Budget the government is appealing to Central Bank reserves to pay sovereign debts. According to a resolution published in the Official Gazette, a Treasury bill equivalent to 5.674 billion dollars will be repaid to the bank in several instalments during ten years.
Friday, April 27th 2012 - 02:37 UTC
US admits relations with Argentina are “difficult” and calls for positive attitude

US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson asked Argentina to go back to having a “positive” relationship with the international financial community and its creditors.
Friday, April 27th 2012 - 00:36 UTC
Foreign Minister Maduro could replace Chavez given his growing fragile health

Venezuelan journalist Nelson Bocaranda said that for the first time President Hugo Chavez is thinking of naming his faithful Foreign Affairs minister Nicolas Maduro as his successor, given the seriousness of the cancer the leader is suffering.