Brazil

• Wednesday, October 28th 2009 - 06:07 UTC

  Trade disputes cast doubts on the “Argentine-Brazilian” strategic alliance

  

  Trade obstacles imposed by Brazil against Argentine exporters in reprisal for similar measures by the Argentine government of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner escalated Tuesday when the Brazilian ambassador was summoned to the Argentine Foreign Affairs ministry.

• Wednesday, October 28th 2009 - 02:19 UTC

  Brazil remains divided on Venezuela’s Mercosur incorporation

  

  The president of the Brazilian Senate Jose Sarney reiterated Tuesday he does not support the incorporation of Venezuela to the South American trade block Mercosur, since “decisions from the government of that country represent a crumbling and deviation of democracy”.

• Tuesday, October 27th 2009 - 12:23 UTC

  Brazil planning to cut taxes to stimulate domestic consumption

  

  Brazil is considering extending stimulus tax cuts on home appliances even as the country’s economic recovery shows signs of gaining momentum. Tax cuts helped Brazilian auto industry sales to soar.

• Tuesday, October 27th 2009 - 09:18 UTC

  Brazil Marfrig food company turns a profit in the third quarter

  

  Brazilian food company Marfrig Alimentos, with strong interests in Uruguay and Argentina turned a profit in the third quarter of this year compared to a year ago, as new acquisitions boosted its capacity.

• Monday, October 26th 2009 - 12:51 UTC

  Brazil to increase diesel bio-fuel content to 5% next January

  

  Brazil will raise the bio-fuel content of its diesel to 5% up from 4% previously, after President Lula da Silva approved the proposal on Friday.

• Saturday, October 24th 2009 - 07:33 UTC

  Argentina, Paraguay pledge to save what is left of the Atlantic Forest

  

  Argentina and Paraguay have made a historic pledge to save one of the world’s most threatened forests. During a special ceremony at the XIIIth World Forestry Congress, the two governments agreed to work towards zero net deforestation in the Atlantic Forest, and to implement a package of measures that include national legislation to enforce those commitments.

• Saturday, October 24th 2009 - 07:19 UTC

  Paraguayan congress approves Itaipú treaty with Brazil

  

  The Paraguayan Senate approved by an ample majority the agreement with Brazil which represents a higher financial compensation for Paraguay from Itaipú, the world’s largest operational hydroelectric dam, a long standing claim which was addressed in several summits between presidents Lula da Silva and Fernando Lugo.

• Saturday, October 24th 2009 - 05:54 UTC

  Petrobras sells 4 billion US dollars in 2020 and 2040 bonds

  

  Brazilian oil giant Petrobras on Friday launched 2.5 billion US dollars of 2020 bonds and 1.5 billion USD of 2040 bonds, in what might be the largest ever sale of corporate debt by a Brazilian company.

• Saturday, October 24th 2009 - 05:43 UTC

  Brazilian financial sector “is crying with a full belly”

  

  Brazilian Economy minister Guido Mantega said that the financial sector is “crying with a full belly” in direct reference to complaints about inflowing capital tax which was decided this week to prevent a foreign exchange bubble between the local Real and the US dollar.

• Saturday, October 24th 2009 - 05:23 UTC

  Brazilian central bank leaves monetary expansion policy unchanged

  

  Brazil’s central bank kept its key Selic interest rate at a record low 8.75% and said its level was “consistent” with a non-inflationary recovery, signalling that no increase in borrowing costs is imminent.