Stories for April 23rd 2020

Thursday, April 23rd 2020 - 11:17 UTC
Argentina misses US$ 500 million payment on Wednesday; default by end of May?

Argentina said it didn’t make US$ 500 million in debt payments due Wednesday, starting a 30-day countdown to a possible default unless the government and bondholders can reach a deal on restructuring its massive foreign debt.
Thursday, April 23rd 2020 - 11:05 UTC
Argentina's foreign trade during March dropped 17,6%

Data released on Wednesday by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (Indec) of Argentina showed that its foreign trade with other countries fell 17.6% in March, compared to year-ago. The trade flow reached US$7.49 billion, in the third month of the year.
Thursday, April 23rd 2020 - 10:55 UTC
China pork imports expected to reach 2.8 million tons this year

China expects to import more soy and pork this year to supply domestic demand, after the coronavirus pandemic and the impacts of swine fever decimated its pig herds. Meanwhile, soy imports are estimated to reach 92.48 million tons this year.
Thursday, April 23rd 2020 - 10:52 UTC
Brazil orange juice 2019/20 harvest exports increased 18% in volume and 6% in value

Total Brazilian orange juice exports (FCOJ Equivalent to 66º Brix) registered an 18% increase in the first nine months of the 2019/20 harvest compared to the same period in the previous harvest. A total of 861,700 tons were shipped during the period, compared to 732,048 tons during the same period of the 2018/19 harvest. Revenues increased 6% to a total of US$1.445 billion compared to US$1.369 billion in the previous harvest.
Thursday, April 23rd 2020 - 09:25 UTC
Trump signs immigration suspension bill; seasonal labor and health care workers exempted

US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday he had signed an order partially suspending immigration to the United States, arguing the drastic measure would protect jobs during the coronavirus crisis.
Thursday, April 23rd 2020 - 09:22 UTC
Pandemic forcing Venezuela's Maduro and Guaidó to hold exploratory talks

Allies of both Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his bitter foe, opposition leader Juan Guaido, have secretly begun exploratory talks as concerns grow about the possible impact of coronavirus, according to sources on both sides.
Thursday, April 23rd 2020 - 09:20 UTC
Brazilian currency falls to an all-time low of 5,40 to the US dollar; this year it has lost 25% of its value

Brazil’s Real fell on Wednesday to a fresh all-time low close to 5.40 per dollar, as expectations intensified that the central bank will cut interest rates significantly in the coming weeks to combat the coronavirus-fueled economic crisis.
Thursday, April 23rd 2020 - 09:15 UTC
Falklands should be ready next week to test swabs in the Islands

A COVID-19 analyzer and related equipment are scheduled to arrive in the Falkland Islands over the weekend, which means the prospect of much faster testing of the Islands' swabs for potential virus contagion, and without having to send them to the UK.
Thursday, April 23rd 2020 - 09:06 UTC
Pompeo pressing China to allow inspections of sensitive laboratories

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday pressed China to allow inspectors into sensitive laboratories, voicing concern about their security amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Thursday, April 23rd 2020 - 09:01 UTC
WHO warns, “Make no mistake: We have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time”

World Health Organization on Wednesday warned that the coronavirus crisis would not end any time soon, with many countries only in the early stages of the fight, as the global death toll surpassed 180,000.