Brazil

• Thursday, January 24th 2013 - 00:25 UTC

  For Santander bank, “Brazil is the most important country in the world”

  

  Banco Santander chairman Emilio Botin denied this week that he is selling his company’s assets in Brazil and said his bank is only interested in “buying” in Latinamerica’s leading economy.

• Tuesday, January 22nd 2013 - 15:42 UTC

  Agusta-Westland plan helicopter plant in Brazil to service oil industry boom

  

  Italy’s AgustaWestland looks set to cash in on an oil-driven Brazilian helicopter sales bonanza through a joint venture with Embraer that could lead to production of its rotorcraft in the country.

• Saturday, January 19th 2013 - 04:30 UTC

  Tourists arriving in Uruguay dropped 14% in first weeks compared to 2012

  

  The number of tourists arriving to Uruguay in the first weeks of this summer season has dropped 14% compared to the same period a year ago, which represents 20.600 less, mostly Argentines and Brazilians, according to Benjamin Liberoff, Director of Tourism.

• Friday, January 18th 2013 - 23:39 UTC

  First journalist killed in the western hemisphere in 2013 is from Brazil

  

  Renato Machado Gonçalves, the manager and joint owner of Radio Barra FM in Rio de Janeiro state, has become the first journalist to be killed in the western hemisphere in 2013. He was gunned down as he left his home in the north of the state last week.

• Thursday, January 17th 2013 - 16:49 UTC

  Uruguay poised to grow 4% this year; Argentina and Brazil, 3.4%, says World Bank

  

  Uruguay’s economy is poised to grow 4% this year and in 2014, which is above the region’s average, according to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects issued this week. However Uruguay will be ranked twelfth in the growth ranking of Latinamerica this year but ahead of Brazil and Argentina with 3.4%.

• Thursday, January 17th 2013 - 16:47 UTC

  Brazil expects to tame inflation with the currency and energy rate cuts

  

  The Brazilian currency and energy rate cuts will help tame inflation this year, allowing the Brazilian central bank to keep interest rates at a record low even as growth accelerates, said Treasury Secretary Arno Augustin.

• Thursday, January 17th 2013 - 15:38 UTC

  Atlantic countries concerned with UK presence in Falklands; call for talks with Argentina

  

  Twenty one countries from South America and Africa strongly supported their commitment to keep the South Atlantic free of arms of massive destruction and expressed concern over the British military presence in the Falklands/Malvinas, which are claimed by Argentina.

• Thursday, January 17th 2013 - 14:04 UTC

  Despite inflation risks Brazil keeps interest rates at record low, 7.25%

  

  The Brazilian central bank kept its benchmark interest rate at a record low for the second straight meeting, 7.25%, despite admitting inflation was a short term risk and economic recovery less intense than expected.

• Tuesday, January 15th 2013 - 02:54 UTC

  Brazil insists with fresh election in Venezuela if Chavez dies, according to Reuters

  

  According to a report from Reuters, Brazil is urging Venezuela's government to hold elections as quickly as possible if President Hugo Chavez dies, which in that case would help a smoother leadership transition in Caracas.

• Saturday, January 12th 2013 - 11:57 UTC

  Inflation under control says Brazil, but investors not entirety convinced

  

  Brazilian consumer prices ended 2012 near the top of the central bank's target range for the third year running, prompting concern from economists that the country is stuck in a phase of low growth and high inflation.