Brazil

• Thursday, December 9th 2010 - 07:52 UTC

  Rio displays the world’s largest floating Xmas tress with 3.3 million lights

  

  Thousands of Brazilians and visitors gathered at Rio de Janeiro's Rodrigo de Freitas Lake to witness the lighting of the world largest floating Christmas tree with 3.3 million lights.

• Thursday, December 9th 2010 - 07:49 UTC

  Brazil’s main coalition partner given five ministries in Rousseff’s cabinet

  

  Brazilian President-elect Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday nominated five Cabinet members from her most important coalition partner in an effort to secure congressional support for her government.

• Thursday, December 9th 2010 - 07:47 UTC

  Brazil central bank leaves basic rate unchanged, but hike anticipated for January

  

  Brazilian policy makers kept their benchmark overnight rate unchanged on Wednesday after curbs on credit allowed central bank President Henrique Meirelles to leave anticipated rate increases for his successor.

• Wednesday, December 8th 2010 - 17:04 UTC

  Brazilian iron-ore giant Vale traded at a premium in Hong Kong market debut

  

  Brazilian corporation Vale, the world's biggest iron ore miner, listed on Wednesday at the Hong Kong stock exchange where it traded at a premium to New York's close, as the company looks to raise its profile among Asian investors.

• Wednesday, December 8th 2010 - 00:58 UTC

  Higher rates expected to dent into Brazil’s booming auto sales

  

  Interest rates on financing car sales without a down payment have almost doubled in Brazil following last week’s liquidity tightening measures from the central bank, reports O Estado de Sao Paulo, adding that higher financial costs could dent automobile sales by as much as 20%.

• Tuesday, December 7th 2010 - 19:33 UTC

  Brazil’s multi-billion jet fighter purchase will be decided by Dilma Rousseff

  

  Brazilian President Lula da Silva has said he will not make a decision on a multi-billion-dollar jet fighter purchase before stepping down on January 1, state media reported.

• Tuesday, December 7th 2010 - 19:27 UTC

  Lula da Silva promises to veto bill on oil royalties sharing plan

  

  Brazilian President Lula da Silva said on Tuesday he would veto a plan to change the distribution of oil royalties among state governments, paving the way for the implementation of a legal overhaul of Brazil's oil sector.

• Tuesday, December 7th 2010 - 08:05 UTC

  Brazil and U.S. open-skies agreement; fully operational in 2015

  

  Representatives of the United States and Brazil have singed an Open-Skies aviation services agreement which will significantly liberalize U.S.-Brazil air services for airlines of both countries over a transition period, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

• Sunday, December 5th 2010 - 23:54 UTC

  “All is possible” regarding President Lula da Silva comeback in 2014

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva who steps down next January first could run for a third mandate in 2014, according to cabinet Secretary general Gilberto Carvalho.

• Sunday, December 5th 2010 - 16:33 UTC

  Drastic budget cuts anticipated if Brazil is to consolidate 3.3% of GDP surplus

  

  The incoming Brazilian administration next January first will have to implement a tougher program of savings than President Lula da Silva in 2003 if the primary budget surplus is to consolidate at 3.3% of GDP in 2011, according to economists from the prestigious think-tank Getulio Vargas Foundation, FGV.