Brazil

• Monday, September 21st 2009 - 08:37 UTC

  Lula da Silva denies arms race and justifies investment in defence

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva denied South America had embarked in an arms race and justified purchases by Brazil, Chile, Venezuela and Colombia the four countries at the forefront of military hardware expenditure.

• Saturday, September 19th 2009 - 11:42 UTC

  Lula da Silva predicts Brazil will become world power in ten years

  

  President Lula da Silva predicts that Brazil in the near future will be in the short list of the world’s largest economies, probable in third or fourth position, and if “less lucky” at the most ranked fifth.

• Saturday, September 19th 2009 - 11:21 UTC

  Brazil’ stock exchange reaches new high; 62% gain so far in 2009

  

  Brazilian blue-chip shares closed on Friday at a 14-month high as global investors continue to flock to the country. The benchmark Ibovespa stocks index closed 0.8% higher at 60,703 points, up from Thursday's close at 60,236 points and breaking through the psychologically important 60,500-point mark.

• Friday, September 18th 2009 - 11:32 UTC

  Brazil’s JBS moves into the US poultry market and consolidates at home

  

  Brazil's JBS, the world's biggest beef producer, agreed this week to buy a controlling take in bankrupt US poultry producer Pilgrim's Pride and JBS' Brazilian beef rival Bertin.

• Friday, September 18th 2009 - 11:04 UTC

  US interested in promoting bilateral trade with Brazil, in spite of Mercosur

  

  United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk said on Thursday the administration of President Barack Obama was interested in promoting a bilateral trade agreement with Brazil, even when it could mean bypassing Mercosur.

• Friday, September 18th 2009 - 10:57 UTC

  Brazil confident of becoming oil super power in the next ten years

  

  Brazil will have crude for half a century and become a leading oil exporter and “an important player in international geopolitics” the country’s energy minister said during a congressional hearing.

• Friday, September 18th 2009 - 10:54 UTC

  Petrobras to concentrate all investments in pre-salt deposits

  

  Brazilian government managed oil and gas company Petrobras will freeze overseas investments as the company concentrates on its primary role to develop recently discovered offshore oil reserves, CEO Jose Sergio Gabrielli said Thursday.

• Friday, September 18th 2009 - 03:44 UTC

  Brazil is not “a Venezuela that goes shopping in the world’s arms supermarkets”

  

  Defence minister Nelson Jobim said that Brazil “is not a Venezuela that goes around shopping in the world’s arms supermarkets”. Brazil targets policy on technical training and technology transfer so “we can develop a sound, autonomous defence industry”, underlined the top official from President Lula da Silva administration.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2009 - 08:43 UTC

  Extension of US trade embargo on Cuba, “disappoints” Brazil and Latinamerica

  

  President Barack Obama decision to extend for another twelve months the 47-year-long US trade embargo on Cuba has “disappointed” Brazil and Latinamerica” said President Lula da Silva’s main foreign policy advisors.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2009 - 08:29 UTC

  Lula da Silva supports unrestricted political campaigning in internet

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva came out strongly in support of Internet for political campaigning when the Senate is ready to vote a bill which establishes serious restrictions to such a communications tool.