Brazil

• Saturday, October 31st 2015 - 06:42 UTC

  Unemployment in recession-hit Brazil climbing: 8.8 million looking for jobs

  

  Unemployment in recession deep Brazil climbed to 8.7% of active population in the quarter ending last August, the government said Thursday. The indicator shows a steep hike from the 6.9% recorded in August 2014, according to statistics of the National Study of Households (PNAD), published by the state Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

• Thursday, October 29th 2015 - 06:53 UTC

  On Amazon Day, Minister Swire praises Brazil as champion on climate change and tackling deforestation

  

  Describing Brazil as a valued partner of Britain, and champion on climate change and tackling deforestation, Minister of State for Latin America, Hugo Swire, attended on Wednesday the Amazon Day 2015 at the Brazilian embassy where he also met with ministers Texeira, Levy and Coutinho who are in London for the first UK-Brazil economic and financial dialogue round.

• Tuesday, October 27th 2015 - 07:43 UTC

  Japanese company acquires part of Petrobras gas distribution unit

  

  Japan-based Mitsui has signed an agreement with Petrobras for partial acquisition of shares in the latter's natural gas distribution unit Petrobras Gás (Gaspetro) for about R$1.9bn ($489m).

• Tuesday, October 27th 2015 - 07:30 UTC

  Son of Lula da Silva's offices raided as part of investigation into tax fraud

  

  Brazilian police on Monday raided the offices of a company belonging to a son of former president Lula da Silva as part of an investigation into tax fraud. The raid was part of a broader operation involving about 100 agents who descended on offices in the cities of Sao Paulo, Piaui and Maranho armed with arrest warrants and orders to seize documents and accounting records.

• Friday, October 23rd 2015 - 08:30 UTC

  Rousseff admits massive budget deficit this year; estimates are of 9% of GDP

  

  Brazil has given up on its goal of seeking a primary budget surplus this year and instead will record a massive shortfall as a deepening economic and political crisis drags on revenues, presidential chief of staff Jaques Wagner said on Thursday. Brazil's overall budget deficit has soared to 9% of GDP, according to estimates.

• Friday, October 23rd 2015 - 08:22 UTC

  Dutch company and Brazil negotiating a $250m Petrobras bribery settlement

  

  Brazil told Dutch SBM Offshore NV, the world's top oil production ship leaser, to agree soon to a $250 million bribery settlement if it wants to regain its biggest client in the world's largest oil-ship market, according to media reports from Brasilia and Sao Paulo.

• Thursday, October 22nd 2015 - 07:26 UTC

  Brazil's opposition files new impeachment petition against Rousseff

  

  Brazil's opposition filed a new impeachment petition against President Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday, accusing her of illegal accounting practices. The much-anticipated petition, whose authors include a founder of Rousseff's Workers' Party, was handed over to congressional lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha.

• Thursday, October 22nd 2015 - 07:09 UTC

  Brazil leaves Selic rate unchanged at 14.25%; inflation the target but with no timetable

  

  Brazil's central bank kept interest rates on hold on Wednesday, for a second straight month despite a jump in inflation expectations. The decision not to raise rates will give a breather to President Dilma Rousseff, who is fighting for her political survival amid the country's worst economic and political crisis in 25 years.

• Monday, October 19th 2015 - 07:11 UTC

  Economic activity in Brazil plunges 4.47% in the last twelve months to August

  

  Economic activity in Brazil fell for a third straight month in August, Central Bank data showed, adding to evidence of a steeper-than-expected recession in the country. The figures were unveiled on the same day the government dismissed rumors over the resignation of Finance Minister Joaquim Levy.

• Sunday, October 18th 2015 - 07:27 UTC

  Rousseff's reelection campaign alleged irregularities, investigated by federal police

  

  Brazil's federal police have opened a preliminary investigation into alleged irregularities in President Dilma Rousseff's re-election campaign last year. According to the media office of the federal police, the probe was opened on 7 October, following a decision by Justice Gilmar Mendes from the Superior Electoral Court to look into allegations of wrongdoing by the Rousseff campaign.