Brazil

• Thursday, March 17th 2011 - 00:51 UTC

  Hours before Obama arrives, Brazil reaffirms its commitment is with Mercosur

  

  When US president Barack Omaba lands in Brazil next Saturday the emphasis of the visit will be on deepening economic relations and potential business opportunities, but Brazil has made it plain clear that any free trade talks with the United States can only take place in the framework of Mercosur.

• Wednesday, March 16th 2011 - 15:00 UTC

  US Travel Association urges Brazil and Chile be included in the Visa Waive Program

  

  Citing an opportunity to advance national security, economic competitiveness and public diplomacy, the U.S. Travel Association has urged President Obama to discuss prospects for including Brazil and Chile in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) when he visits South America this month.

• Wednesday, March 16th 2011 - 14:55 UTC

  Economists downgrade Brazilian 2011 growth to 4.1%; government insists 5%

  

  The Brazilian government said GDP is expected to grow by more than 5% a year through 2014. The Finance Ministry says in a release argued that increased long term investments by the private sector will be fundamental in achieving the projected growth.

• Wednesday, March 16th 2011 - 04:23 UTC

  Reviving the US economy and trade relationship, main objectives of Obama’s visit

  

  US President Barack Obama's trip to Brazil, Chile and El Salvador beginning this week is still on, despite fears of a nuclear disaster in Japan and turmoil in the Middle East, officials said on Wednesday.

• Tuesday, March 15th 2011 - 11:05 UTC

  President Obama will underline ‘coincidences’ during his visit to Brazil

  

  US ambassador in Brazil Thomas Shannon downplayed differences between Washington and Brasilia saying that coincidences are far greater and will be the core of discussions during the coming visit of US president Barack Obama next week end.

• Monday, March 14th 2011 - 06:50 UTC

  Brazil preparing plan to stimulate industry and cut knick-knack Chinese imports

  

  Brazil imports too many knick-knacks from China complained Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff, who next month makes an official state visit to the Asian giant, according to reports in the Sao Paulo press

• Monday, March 14th 2011 - 06:31 UTC

  Brazil’s military hardware in very poor conditions, alleged Defence report

  

  Brazilian Armed Forces military equipment is ‘obsolete’ and not in condition to be displayed in case of a conflict according to an official reports published Sunday the Folha de Sao Paulo.

• Thursday, March 10th 2011 - 22:35 UTC

  Petrobras abandons oil exploration in Cuba; all eyes set on Repsol-YPF

  

  Brazilian oil giant Petrobras has withdrawn from an offshore oil exploration block in Cuba's waters that it leased amid great fanfare in 2008, a Brazilian official said on Thursday, citing poor prospects.

• Thursday, March 10th 2011 - 22:32 UTC

  Massive inflow of foreign capital into Brazil during first two months of 2011

  

  The inflow of US dollars to Brazil so far this year (Jan-March 4) marks a surplus of 24.3 billion USD over outflows, which helped to further appreciate the Brazilian Real, according to the latest figures released by the Central Bank.

• Thursday, March 10th 2011 - 20:16 UTC

  Brazilian markets expect further tightening to bring inflation to target

  

  Brazil's central bank said Thursday it remained cautious about the outlook for prices due to uncertainties in the global economy, and hinted that more than just interest rates may be needed to bring inflation back into line with targets.