Brazil

• Monday, April 26th 2010 - 01:10 UTC

  Serra Calls for a More “Flexible” Mercosur; Claims it Limits Brazil’s “Sovereignty”

  

  Brazilian opposition presidential candidate Jose Serra—who leads in public opinion vote intention polls—reiterated his call for a more “flexible” Mercosur, effectively becoming a free trade area, because the current format limits Brazil’s sovereignty to sign agreements with other non member countries.

• Saturday, April 24th 2010 - 08:08 UTC

  Brazil to Sell Bonds in Global Markets Given Lowest Borrowing Costs Since 2007

  

  Brazil plans to sell bonds in international markets in coming weeks, taking advantage of the lowest borrowing costs since October 2007, Treasury Secretary Arno Augustin said.

• Friday, April 23rd 2010 - 03:21 UTC

  Brazil forecasted to grow 5.5% in 2010 boosted by domestic demand, says IMF

  

  Brazil, Latinamerica’s largest economy and leading Mercosur partner is poised to grow 5.5% this year, almost a whole percentage point more than the previous forecast in January, according to the International Monetary Fund “World Economic Outlook” released in anticipation of the IMF and World Bank annual assembly this weekend in Washington.

• Thursday, April 22nd 2010 - 02:52 UTC

  Mickey Mouse parade to celebrate Brasilia’s 50 years infuriates founding architect

  

  The celebration of Brasilia’s 50th anniversary began Wednesday with a parade of Walt Disney characters that riled architect Oscar Niemeyer, the 102-year-old communist regarded as the “father” of the Brazilian capital.

• Thursday, April 22nd 2010 - 00:34 UTC

  Banco do Brasil buys 51% of Argentina’s fourth largest private bank

  

  Brazilian government controlled Banco do Brasil will pay 480 million US dollars for a 51% stake in Banco Patagonia, Argentina’s fourth largest private bank. The deal is pending regulatory approval both banks said in a release.

• Wednesday, April 21st 2010 - 03:29 UTC

  Brazilian government awards bid to build controversial Amazon dam

  

  The Brazilian government accepted bids Tuesday to build what would be the world’s third-largest hydroelectric dam in the Amazon. Officials proceeded with the auction immediately after a judge overturned another magistrate’s injunction blocking the tender and revoking the environmental permit for the 11,000 MW Belo Monte complex.

• Wednesday, April 21st 2010 - 03:16 UTC

  Lula da Silva says Brazil must extend a hand to Latinamerica’s poor countries

  

  President Lula da Silva defended his “diversification” diplomacy and said that Brazil must extend “a friendly hand” to all Latinamerican countries. He recalled that some interest groups in Brazil wanted him to strongly confront the governments of Bolivia and Paraguay because of differences over energy policies.

• Wednesday, April 21st 2010 - 03:04 UTC

  Brazil’s main presidential candidate considers Mercosur a “farce” and a “barrier”

  

  Brazil’s leading presidential candidate Jose Serra described Mercosur as a “farce” and a “barrier” for Brazil to sign trade agreements with other countries.

• Wednesday, April 21st 2010 - 02:52 UTC

  Stronger Yuan “critical” for a more stable world economy claims Brazil

  

  A stronger Chinese currency is “critical” for the good of the global economy, Brazil's central bank chief Henrique Meirelles said on Tuesday, joining a chorus of critics of China's foreign exchange policy.

• Wednesday, April 21st 2010 - 02:49 UTC

  Brazil, US top list of nations demanding private information on Google users

  

  Brazil and United States topped the list of nations demanding private information about Google users, according to a tool the web giant unveiled Tuesday.