Stories for November 9th 2018

Friday, November 9th 2018 - 18:40 UTC
“Bolivianisation” of economy brings “shortage” of foreign currency - big business for black market

Evo Morales' government pushing to expand the “bolivianisation” of the country's economy has resulted in a “shortage” of foreign currency - particularly of US dollars - and to a subsequent growth of the exchange black market, it as repirted.
Friday, November 9th 2018 - 09:58 UTC
Argentina expects a record harvest of 140 million tons of grain and oilseeds

Argentina is expected to harvest some 140 million tons of grain in the 2018/2019 season, the largest crop in the country's history, according to Argentina's Agriculture Secretariat.
Friday, November 9th 2018 - 09:09 UTC
Bolsonaro vows to investigate Americas largest development bank, Brazil's BNDES

Right-wing President-elect Jair Bolsonaro vowed in a tweet on Thursday to investigate Brazil’s state-run national development bank, BNDES, for corruption by opening its “black box” of secret transactions. BNDES is the largest development lender in the Americas with a loan book larger than the World Bank’s.
Friday, November 9th 2018 - 08:59 UTC
Brexit and Article 50 to be referred to the European Court of Justice

The European Court of Justice will be asked if the UK can unilaterally stop Brexit after the UK Government was refused an appeal by Scotland’s highest court. The Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled in September to refer the question of whether the UK can unilaterally revoke its Article 50 request to leave the European Union to the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) after a case brought by a cross-party group of politicians.
Friday, November 9th 2018 - 08:50 UTC
Armistice centenary: Theresa May will lay wreaths in Belgium and France

Theresa May will lay a wreath at the graves of the first and last UK soldiers killed in World War One as she travels to France and Belgium to mark the Armistice centenary. The prime minister will be joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel for the commemorations on Friday.
Friday, November 9th 2018 - 08:48 UTC
Stamps on centenary of the end of WWI issued by BAT and SG

The British Antarctic Territory and South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands marked the centenary of the end of World War I with new stamps. The issue honors members of Ernest Shackleton’s 1914-16 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition who served in the war.
Friday, November 9th 2018 - 08:45 UTC
Federal Reserve leaves rate unchanged but December hike is expected

The Federal Reserve has left its key policy rate unchanged but signaled that it plans to keep responding to the strong U.S. economy with more interest rate hikes. The next rate increase is expected in December.
Friday, November 9th 2018 - 08:41 UTC
China exports and surplus remain strong while imports started to pick up

China reported much stronger-than-expected exports for October as shippers rushed goods to the United States, its biggest trading partner, racing to beat higher tariff rates due to kick in at the start of next year. Import growth also defied forecasts for a slowdown, suggesting Beijing’s growth-boosting measures to support the cooling economy may be slowly starting to make themselves felt.
Friday, November 9th 2018 - 08:30 UTC
Falkland Islands could have a new port in the next two years

The Falkland Islands could have a new port within the next two years. Three consortia have presented proposals to the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) for a new port confirmed Legislative Assembly Member Dr Barry Elsby in recent weeks.
Friday, November 9th 2018 - 08:27 UTC
Oil down 20% from its October peak despite US sanctions on Iran

Oil markets on Friday remained weak as rising supply and concerns of an economic slowdown pressured prices, with U.S. crude now down by 20% since early October. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures were at US$ 61.63 per barrel.