Brazil

• Friday, May 31st 2013 - 07:19 UTC

  Despite great agriculture performance Brazil’s economy first quarter result disappoints

  

  Brazil's economy grew 0.6% in the first quarter of 2013, compared with the final quarter of last year, the government said this week. The figure could confirm official projections that the economy would recover following the slowdown experienced over the past two years.

• Friday, May 31st 2013 - 07:15 UTC

  Fearing high inflation Brazil raises basic rate 50 basic points to 8%

  

  Brazil's central bank raised its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday to 8% from 7.5%, as part of an effort to battle high inflation in an economy that keeps struggling with slow growth.

• Wednesday, May 29th 2013 - 20:32 UTC

  Obama to welcome Rousseff: a “new era” starts in Brazil

  

  A communiqué released today by the White House said, “The President and First Lady will host Dilma Rousseff, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, for an official State Visit with a State Dinner at the White House on October 23,” in what the United States hopes will mark the start of “a new era in relations”, as announced by Vice President Joe Biden, in Rio de Janeiro.

• Tuesday, May 28th 2013 - 05:57 UTC

  Brazil World Cup 2014: heavy rain tears through roof a newly constructed stadium

  

  Heavy rains in the Brazilian north-eastern city of Salvador tore through the roof of a newly constructed stadium for Confederations Cup soccer games starting next month, a warm-up before Brazil hosts the World Cup next year.

• Monday, May 27th 2013 - 08:22 UTC

  Brazil’s April current account deficit a new record pushed by negative trade balance

  

  Brazil posted another hefty current account deficit in April as its traditional trade surplus has turned into a deficit this year and foreign companies are repatriating more of their profits, according to central bank data.

• Monday, May 27th 2013 - 02:54 UTC

  Brazil warns Uruguay on Pacific Alliance plans: Mercosur can only act as ‘a block’

  

  Mercosur must negotiate any possible incorporation to the Alliance of the Pacific “as a block” since it is important that its member countries remain ‘united’ and respect the current charter, said the Mercosur High Representative, Ambassador Ivan Ramalho from Brazil.

• Monday, May 27th 2013 - 02:41 UTC

  Brazil cancels 900 million dollars of African countries debt

  

  Brazil has announced that it will cancel or restructure almost 900m dollars worth of debt with Africa. Oil- and gas-rich Congo-Brazzaville, Tanzania and Zambia are among the 12 African countries to benefit. The move is seen as an effort to boost economic ties between the world's seventh largest economy and the African continent.

• Monday, May 27th 2013 - 01:49 UTC

  Paraguay demands respect from Mercosur, “if not leave us as we are”

  

  The Argentine ambassador to Uruguay, Dante Dovena, assured that authorities are “working intensely” in preparations for the next Mercosur summit scheduled to take place on June 28th in Montevideo. However news form Paraguay doesn’t indicate the same optimism and are demanding respect for ‘the country’s dignity and rule of the law”.

• Saturday, May 25th 2013 - 05:11 UTC

  Brazil’s employment rate remains stable but job creation slowed in recent months

  

  Brazil's jobless rate rose slightly in April for the fourth straight month but remained near record lows, suggesting that tight labour conditions bolstered a gradual recovery and fed into inflation, statistics agency IBGE said this week.

• Friday, May 24th 2013 - 07:30 UTC

  Brazil’s Rousseff one of the main speakers at the African Union 50 year celebration

  

  Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff will be attending next Saturday in Ethiopia the fiftieth celebration of the African Unions Organization that preceded the African Union, (AU) and will be one of the main speakers on the opening day.