Argentina

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 06:38 UTC

  S&P downgrades Argentina’s outlook to ‘negative’ spurred by policies enacted since October 2011

  

  Rating Agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P) downgraded Argentina’s economic and financial outlook to “negative,” after the expropriation of YPF, which endangers the “B” rating the country has for its sovereign debt.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 06:20 UTC

  S&P downgrades Repsol’s rating; sees no compensation payment in near-term

  

  Rating Agency S&P announced on Thursday it was downgrading Spain-based energy company Repsol-YPF after Argentina’s government announced the expropriation of 51% of its shares. The rating was lowered from BBB to BBB (minus), the agency said in a statement.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 03:57 UTC

  YPF nationalization bill does not contemplate compensations, says Kirchnerite Senator

  

  Senator from the Argentine ruling majority and former cabinet chief, Aníbal Fernández assured that the government “will pay the real price for the expropriation of YPF and not what Repsol’s chairman (Antonio Brufau) wants.”

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 01:51 UTC

  Colombia offers to mediate in the YPF conflict between Argentina and Spain

  

  Colombia is available to mediate between Spain and Argentina to find a solution to the dispute over the seizure of YPF from Repsol, said Colombian Vice-president Angelino Garzón.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 01:23 UTC

  Spain’s Repsol threatens companies investing in seized YPF with legal actions

  

  Spain’s main oil corporation Repsol warned it could take legal action against companies that invest in YPF after Argentina seized control of the Spanish company's energy unit last week.

• Monday, April 23rd 2012 - 09:34 UTC

  Parlatino supports Argentine decision, blasts EU for threatening with reprisals

  

  The Standing Committee from the Latin American parliament, Parlatino, approved a resolution in support of the Argentine government decision to seize a majority stake in YPF from Spain’s Repsol, according to a release made public over the weekend.

• Monday, April 23rd 2012 - 09:33 UTC

  YPF seizure approved by 62% of Argentines, according to opinion poll

  

  The recent decision by President Cristina Fernandez to seize a majority stake in YPF from Spain’s Repsol has the approval of 62% of Argentines, while 23% disagree according to a public opinion poll from Poliarquía published in the Sunday edition of La Nacion.

• Monday, April 23rd 2012 - 09:28 UTC

  Washington Post suggests replacing Argentina with Chile at the G20

  

  As has happened with other leading world opinion makers such as the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal, that have condemned the seizure by the administration of President Cristina Fernandez of a majority share in the Spanish Repsol owned YPF, The Washington Post has also been extremely critical of the Argentine leader.

• Monday, April 23rd 2012 - 09:21 UTC

  Brazil helped Soviet support operation for Argentina during the Falklands conflict

  

  Brazil collaborated during the 1982 Falkland Islands conflict in an operation mounted by the Soviets to supply Argentina with spares, arms, munitions and other requirements according to the Rio do Janeiro newspaper O’Globo based on disclosed documents from the National Security Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• Sunday, April 22nd 2012 - 23:42 UTC

  Argentina February economic activity expands 5.2%, but surprises ahead for industry

  

  Argentina's economy grew at an annual rate of 5.2% in February according to the country’s stats office Indec monthly economic activity report Emae, reflecting good performances in construction and manufacturing. But prospects for the industrial sector could have some surprises.
  The Emae indicator rose 0.3% in seasonally adjusted terms from January, Indec added.