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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, October 21st 2025 - 08:42 UTC

Brazil

  • Thursday, March 3rd 2016 - 05:03 UTC

    Brazil leaves key interest rate unchanged at 14.25% for the fifth time running

    Central bank chief Alexandre Tombini has said inflation has peaked and should start to drop in coming months

    Brazil's central bank kept interest rates on hold on Wednesday as widely expected, opting to avoid inflicting more harm on an economy mired in its worst recession in decades despite a surge in inflation. In a split vote, the bank's monetary policy committee, Copom, kept its benchmark Selic rate at 14.25% for the fifth straight time.

  • Wednesday, March 2nd 2016 - 22:43 UTC

    US becomes a net natural gas exporter for a week with a shipment to Brazil

    But US is not expected to become a net exporter of gas on an annual basis until 2017 after more pipelines to Mexico and LNG export terminals enter service

    United States turned into a net natural gas exporter for a week after the first liquefied natural gas export from Cheniere Energy Inc's Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana left for Brazil. The United States however is not expected to become a net exporter of gas on an annual basis until 2017 after more pipelines to Mexico and LNG export terminals enter service, according to federal energy estimates.

  • Wednesday, March 2nd 2016 - 22:39 UTC

    Brazil posts trade surplus in February, as imports plummet with a weak Real

    Brazil posted a $3.04 billion trade surplus in February, the Trade Ministry said on Tuesday. Brazil exported $13.3 billion last month and had imports of $10.3 billion.

    Brazil posted a $3.04 billion trade surplus in February, the Trade Ministry said on Tuesday. Brazil exported $13.3 billion last month and had imports of $10.3 billion.Analysts are expecting a $40 billion trade surplus for 2016, according to a central bank survey released Monday.

  • Wednesday, March 2nd 2016 - 07:45 UTC

    Brazil begins reconstruction of Antarctica base “Comandante Ferraz” lost to fire in 2012

    The new base will cost US$ 99.6m and will be built by a Chinese company which won the international bidding process.

    A symbolic ceremony launching the reconstruction of Brazil's “Comandante Ferraz” Antarctic base was held at the Chilean Antarctic Institute in Punta Arenas with the attendance of top officials from both countries. The Brazilian base, located in King George Island was a total loss back in February 2012 caused by a fire that started at the power room.

  • Wednesday, March 2nd 2016 - 07:08 UTC

    Brazilian police arrests Facebook executive for refusing to release WhatsApp data

    Facebook called Mr Dzodan's arrest an “extreme and disproportionate measure”. Mr Dzodan's arrest was ordered by a judge in the north-eastern state of Sergipe.

    Police in Brazil have arrested the vice president of the social media company Facebook in Latin America. Diego Dzodan, an Argentine national, has repeatedly refused to comply with court orders to hand over data for use in a criminal investigation into drugs trafficking, police said. His arrest relates to the messaging service WhatsApp, owned by Facebook.

  • Tuesday, March 1st 2016 - 07:32 UTC

    China to the rescue of debt-burdened Petrobras with a US$10bn credit

    The company has about US$24bn in debt maturing between this year and next against some US$25bn in cash, according to Moody's

    Bonds issued by Brazil's Petrobras ended one to two points higher on Monday as the beleaguered oil company eased refinancing pressure by clinching a US$10bn loan from China. The US$10bn loan from China Development Bank, which can be repaid in cash or oil, will do much to reduce refinancing risks for what is one of the world's most indebted companies.

  • Monday, February 29th 2016 - 20:42 UTC

    Arrest of Rousseff key advisor brings more uncertainty to her administration

    A prize-winning journalist before becoming Latam's most successful campaign strategist, Santana says allegations are unfounded and politically motivated.

    A member of Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff’s inner circle who masterminded her two successful election campaigns, Joao Santana is accused by prosecutors of receiving payment for his services in money illegally siphoned from state oil company Petrobras.

  • Friday, February 26th 2016 - 11:02 UTC

    Brazil's Vale reports record losses; puts prime assets on sale to lower debt

    CEO Murilo Ferreira said there were “no restrictions” on what the company would consider selling in order to reduce net debt to $15 billion

    Brazilian miner Vale SA put its prime assets on the block on Thursday after taking the biggest loss in decades, but analysts said the target to make $10 billion in 18 months was unrealistic and expressed concern a fire sale could destroy equity value.

  • Friday, February 26th 2016 - 06:55 UTC

    Petrobras scandal becomes a mincing machine for the political system

    Supreme Court Justice Celso de Mello said federal prosecutors could investigate Aloizio Mercadante, who now serves as education minister

    Petrobras corruption investigation keeps gobbling Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff former cabinet members, but also political figures from other leading political parties. On Wednesday the Supreme Court authorized formal investigations into Rousseff’s former chief-of-staff, as well as the mayor of the country’s largest city and an opposition senator, for potential corruption.

  • Thursday, February 25th 2016 - 06:50 UTC

    Moody's downgrades Brazil's sovereign debt to 'junk territory'

    “The downgrade was driven by the prospect of further deterioration in Brazil's debt metrics in a low growth environment” Moody's said.

    Moody's Investors Service on Wednesday joined the two other major credit rating agencies in downgrading Brazil's sovereign debt to junk territory. Moody's lowered Brazil's credit rating by two notches from Baa3 (its lowest investment-grade rating) to Ba2 and changed the country's outlook to “negative,” a move that follows similar actions by Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's.