Brazil

• Wednesday, May 23rd 2012 - 06:59 UTC

  Brazilian Real falls to a new three-year low, “positive” for exporters says minister

  

  The Brazilian Real fell to a new three-year low after briefly erasing its decline as the central bank sold currency swap contracts for the second time in three trading sessions, holding two auctions on Tuesday.

• Tuesday, May 22nd 2012 - 18:50 UTC

  OECD anticipated end to weak growth in Brazil but warns about inflation

  

  Weak growth in Brazil seems to be coming to an end, but there are still looming risks in the shape of inflation, credit risk and competitiveness, according to the latest outlook published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD, on Tuesday.

• Tuesday, May 22nd 2012 - 06:09 UTC

  Argentina proposal to increase Mercosur common external tariff from 22% to 35%

  

  Argentina is planning to propose its fellow Mercosur members to increase the common external tariff, CET from the current 22% to 35%, when they meet at the next summit in Mendoza. Argentina currently holds the pro tempore chair of the group and at the coming summit the helm will be transferred to Brazil.

• Tuesday, May 22nd 2012 - 06:00 UTC

  Argentine frozen chips retained in the border because of trade dispute with Brazil

  

  Canada’s Mc Cain has suspended production of frozen chip potatoes in Argentina because of the trade barriers which impede exports to Brazil in the framework of a bilateral dispute that is limiting the flow of goods both ways.

• Tuesday, May 22nd 2012 - 03:22 UTC

  Brazil announces measures to boost sales of vehicles and stimulate growth

  

  Brazil lowered taxes on consumer borrowing and created incentives for banks to boost vehicle lending as policy makers struggle to revive economic growth in the Latin America’s largest market.

• Monday, May 21st 2012 - 03:56 UTC

  Brazilian economy slows down in March for third consecutive month

  

  Brazilian government's economic activity index dropped for the third consecutive month in March, confirming a slowdown in the economy in the period.

• Sunday, May 20th 2012 - 22:18 UTC

  Rousseff receives apology and compensation for tortures suffered when she was a guerrilla

  

  President Dilma Rousseff will receive 10,000 US dollars in reparations from Rio do Janeiro state for torture she was subjected to while jailed as a leftist guerrilla during Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship, her office said Friday.

• Friday, May 18th 2012 - 09:39 UTC

  Brazil closely following events in Venezuela because of Chavez condition

  

  Brazilian Foreign Affairs minister Antonio Patriota revealed that Brasilia is following closely the situation in Venezuela because of the medical condition of President Hugo Chavez, to whom he sent a message of quick recovery.

• Friday, May 18th 2012 - 04:10 UTC

  Brazil’s Supreme Court confirms university quota system for Afro-descendents

  

  Brazil’s Supreme Court voted unanimously to permit a quota system that would favour Afro-descendants in entering universities, ending an eight-year legal battle.

• Friday, May 18th 2012 - 03:58 UTC

  Brazil passes bill to challenge embedded culture of secrecy and bureaucracy

  

  A freedom of information law has taken effect in Brazil, challenging an embedded culture of secrecy and bureaucracy. Proponents, including President Dilma Rousseff, said the measure is nothing short of a revolution for a system that has kept tight control over information for decades.