Stories for February 2020

Wednesday, February 12th 2020 - 09:32 UTC
Brazilian governor believes less protection of sugar will mean lower prices for consumers

The governor of Sao Paulo said on Monday at an industry conference that less protection of sugar would guarantee better access and lower prices for consumers. “Sugar is the most protected product in the market, the reduction of tax and non-tax barriers would guarantee better access,” Joao Doria said in his opening remarks at a three-day industry meet in Dubai.
Wednesday, February 12th 2020 - 09:30 UTC
Guaido returns to Venezuela greeted by supporters but also attacked by Maduro government thugs

Opposition leader Juan Guaido returned to Venezuela on Tuesday following a 23-day international tour in which he defied a ban on leaving the country imposed by President Nicolas Maduro's government. Guaido announced his return on Twitter before being greeted by a throng of cheering supporters at the Caracas international airport, where he arrived on a flight from Portugal.
Wednesday, February 12th 2020 - 09:29 UTC
Argentina delays bond maturity date from 13 Feb to 30 Sept: “the country will not be held hostage by foreign investors”

Argentina said it won’t make a local bond payment on time after failing to refinance the debt, declaring it won’t be “held hostage” by foreign investors demanding their money back. The maturity date for the note will be delayed to Sept. 30 from the original Feb. 13, the Economy Ministry said in a statement.
Wednesday, February 12th 2020 - 09:28 UTC
Challenging week for the Fernandez administration as the IMF mission arrives in Buenos Aires

A challenging week for the administration of Argentine president Alberto Fernandez and his foreign debt strategy. IMF negotiators land in Buenos Aires this Wednesday for their first mission since Fernandez took office in December. Before agreeing to any changes in the terms, negotiators will want to see Fernandez’s blueprint for tackling more than US$ 320 billion in total debt and for rescuing an economy that’s forecast to shrink for a third straight year.
Wednesday, February 12th 2020 - 09:25 UTC
The Danish central bank experience with record negative interest rate could be coming to an end

Denmark and Switzerland have long shared the world record in negative interest rates, at minus 0.75%. But that may be about to change. Economists at some of the biggest Nordic banks say Denmark, which pegs the krone to the euro, is likely to raise its key rate in the coming months.
Wednesday, February 12th 2020 - 09:20 UTC
Coronavirus, COVID-19, “Public Enemy Number 1” and more powerful than a terrorist attack, WHO chief

China's coronavirus outbreak poses a “very grave threat for the rest of the world” and should be viewed as “Public Enemy Number 1”, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.
Wednesday, February 12th 2020 - 09:19 UTC
Trump has a top Treasury official as candidate for the IMF No. 2 job

President Donald Trump’s administration is considering nominating a top U.S. Treasury official for the No. 2 job at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, according to people familiar with the matter.
Wednesday, February 12th 2020 - 09:00 UTC
Moody's presents a positive outlook for Brazil's sovereign credit profile

Capital outflows from Brazilian asset markets and the Real's slide to new all-time lows against the U.S. dollar pose little threat to Brazil's sovereign credit profile, ratings agency Moody's said on Monday.
Wednesday, February 12th 2020 - 08:58 UTC
US and German intelligence services had direct access to secret communications from governments

US and German intelligence services raked in the top-secret communications of governments around the world for decades through their hidden control of a top encryption company Crypto AG, US, German and Swiss media reported on Tuesday.
Wednesday, February 12th 2020 - 08:41 UTC
Brazilian and Indonesia billionaires clash over the sale of a US$ 3.5bn pulp mill

The business dispute between the disgraced billionaire Batista brothers in Brazil and the heir to an Indonesian pulp and paper fortune is throwing a wrench in meatpacker JBS SA’s plans to list its international operations in the United States.