Stories for January 2013

Friday, January 11th 2013 - 08:36 UTC
Argentine tourists must pay 8 pesos for the US dollar in neighbouring countries

Following on the climbing tendency since the beginning of the year, the ‘blue’ or ‘parallel’ US dollar traded in Buenos Aires at 7.25 Argentine Pesos with a 46% gap over the ‘official’ dollar that remained relatively stable at 4.95 Pesos.
Friday, January 11th 2013 - 08:32 UTC
An optimistic Dragui sees a “positive contagion” in the Euro zone economy

European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi spoke on Thursday of a “positive contagion” in the Euro zone economy, saying that the financial situation is improving and growth is set to return in the second half of the year.
Friday, January 11th 2013 - 08:25 UTC
Obama nominates budget expert to replace Geithner as Treasury Secretary

US President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated his chief of staff, Jack Lew, as the next Treasury secretary, praising him as a expert on the pressing national issues of spending cuts and deficit reduction.
Friday, January 11th 2013 - 08:21 UTC
Bank of England keeps monetary policy unchanged waiting for GDP figures

The Bank of England on Thursday decided not to extend its quantitative easing (QE) stimulus program, which has injected £375bn into the UK financial system. It is also keeping its key interest rate unchanged at 0.5%, where it has been since March 2009.
Thursday, January 10th 2013 - 18:56 UTC
FAO food price index finished the turbulent 2012 down 7% compared to 2011

The United Nations reported on Thursday that food prices fell for the third month in a row in December last year, balancing out sharp increases registered earlier in 2012, which had previously sparked fears of a food crisis.
Thursday, January 10th 2013 - 12:57 UTC
Venezuelan opposition leader accepts high court ruling but tells government ‘back to work’

Opposition leader Enrique Capriles accepted Venezuela’s high court sentence endorsing the postponement of President Hugo Chavez inauguration on Thursday and the ruling that the cancer-stricken leader and his administration remained in office, since “as president re-elect there is no interruption of performance of duties”.
Thursday, January 10th 2013 - 11:56 UTC
In a highly political speech CFK appealed to the motherland and blasted hedge funds

President Cristina Fernandez (CFK) as expected made the welcoming ceremony for the Argentine frigate ARA Libertad (retained in Ghana for 78 days) into a ‘sovereignty and dignity’ political rally including the support of 20.000 militants, mostly bused in by political organizations, in which she blasted hedge funds, ‘global social predators’ and warned that through extortion and force nobody is going to obtain anything from Argentina.
Thursday, January 10th 2013 - 04:06 UTC
Cristina Fernandez targets UK ‘threats’ to keep escalating the Falklands’ dispute

Argentine president Cristina Kirchner targeted the UK for “threatening” to come “to militarize and invade our Malvinas Islands” following the announcement that an additional 150 British soldiers are been sent to the Falklands and PM David Cameron recent warnings on support of the Islands.
Thursday, January 10th 2013 - 04:03 UTC
Brazilian hacker publishes sensitive personal data on politicians convicted for corruption

A hacker in Brazil has published sensitive personal data of politicians convicted during a major corruption trial known as the “Mensalao”. Jose Genoino, Jose Dirceu and Delubio Soares have had address, phone numbers, emails and other details exposed.
Thursday, January 10th 2013 - 03:54 UTC
Brazilian corporations fearful of Venezuelan situation despite Brasilia support for Maduro

Brazilian corporations with strong interests in Venezuela have expressed concern about the future of the country and its impact on Mercosur if the political transition, because of President Hugo Chavez health condition, does not follow the constitutional process