Stories for October 2nd 2014

Thursday, October 2nd 2014 - 07:47 UTC
Uruguay's presidential election at the end of October 'too tight to call'

With less than four weeks to 26 October presidential election in Uruguay, the leading candidates are in a neck to neck race, which will demand a run off at the end of November with the result is too close to call, although two of the latest opinion polls believe that the ruling coalition could still scratch through.
Thursday, October 2nd 2014 - 07:39 UTC
Dilma and Marina fighting for the religious vote, one fifth of the Brazilian electorate

Brazil's rapid religious transformation is having an impact on the country's tight presidential race, where abortion and gay marriage have emerged as hot issues and Pentecostal televangelists are political power brokers.
Thursday, October 2nd 2014 - 07:31 UTC
Argentina's new central bank president: a blend of Keynes with strong government intervention

Alejandro Vanoli, the designated new President of the Argentine Central Bank following Juan Carlos Fabrega’s resignation, is the current leader of the CNV securities regulator, in charge of that entity since 2009 after serving for three years as its deputy.
Thursday, October 2nd 2014 - 07:24 UTC
Buenos Aires shares plunge 8.2%; US dollar trades cautiously fearing raids

Buenos Aires shares plunged on Wednesday 8.2% to 11.516,28 units following the news that the Central Bank chief Juan Carlos Fabrega had resigned. The Merval benchmark stock index has risen 132% so far this year.
Thursday, October 2nd 2014 - 07:15 UTC
Climbing volatility of the US dollar in Argentina forces resignation of central bank president

Argentine Central Bank President Juan Carlos Fabrega resigned Wednesday after an alleged disagreement with President Cristina Fernandez over how to keep a lid on the black market exchange rate ('blue' dollar) that hit a record 16 pesos per dollar last week.
Thursday, October 2nd 2014 - 07:06 UTC
Uruguay's fiscal deficit 'relatively' stable at 3.3% of GDP

Uruguay's fiscal deficit in the twelve months to August was equivalent to 3.3% of GDP, or 1.725bn dollars according to the latest release from the Economy and Finance ministry. However the primary deficit (before debt payments) was 202 million dollars or 0.39% of GDP.
Thursday, October 2nd 2014 - 06:59 UTC
Head of Mormons in Argentina kidnapped and robbed in Buenos Aires

The head of the Mormon Argentina Buenos Aires West Mission, US citizen David Paul Robertson, was kidnapped, robbed, and finally released by armed men that attacked him while he was driving in Ciudadela, in Greater Buenos Aires.
Thursday, October 2nd 2014 - 06:54 UTC
Ecuador apologizes to indigenous community for allowing oil drilling

Ecuador has apologized to an indigenous community for authorizing oil drilling on ancestral land without their permission. The apology to the Sarayaku community came two years after the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that the OPEC nation had violated the tribe's right to be consulted on oil concessions granted for their land.
Thursday, October 2nd 2014 - 06:34 UTC
Magallanes region in extreme south Chile has the lowest unemployment rate

The extreme south region of Chile, Magallanes continues with record low unemployment, less than half the national average, according to the official stats for the mobile June/August quarter. While the Chilean national average unemployment is 6.7% in Magallanes it stands at 3.3%, and 0.8 percentage points less than a year ago.
Thursday, October 2nd 2014 - 06:24 UTC
Mysterious outbreak of hemorrhagic fever syndrome in Venezuela kills ten

An outbreak of a mysterious hemorrhagic fever syndrome in the Venezuelan state of Aragua and the country’s capital Caracas has left ten people dead in the last three weeks. Reports indicate that nine people have so far succumbed to the disease in the northern state and a tenth person has died in the capital.