Brazilian auto production hit 2.97 million units in 2007, up 13.9% from 2006 while domestic sales totaled 2.2 million units, which was also a record, 22.9% higher than in 2006 according to the Brazilian Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association, or Anfavea.
Brazil will invest heavily in infrastructure this year which will help create jobs and boost the economy said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during his weekly broadcast.
For years, the joke in this country was that Brazil's economy was the economy of the future. The morose punchline, of course, was that the future never arrives. But finally, it seems, the future is now.
Brazil's main stock market, Ibovespa ended an exceptional 2007 with a turnover of 570 billion US dollars and its biggest annual gain in four years, over 40%. The Sao Paulo stock exchange closed Friday at 63.774 points, accumulating 43.4% gain over the closing of 44.473 points a year ago.
Brazilian authorities said they were awaiting notification from Italy on arrest warrants for suspects in the coordinated repression campaign during South America's dictatorship era, but also anticipated that Brazilian citizens could not be extradited for trial abroad.
In its end of the year summing up Brazil's government managed oil corporation Petrobras announced Wednesday it has set another daily oil-production record in Brazil: 2.238,000 barrels, a mark only eight companies in the world have reached.
World Trade Organization director Pascal Lamy said Brazil had managed to impose its agenda in the current global trade liberation discussions and trusted that the Doha Round talks will be finalized in 2008.
Petrobras shares rose Friday a day after Brazil's government owned oil company said it found more oil in the offshore Santos Basin. Shares rose 4.88, or 4.5%, to $112.88 in afternoon trading.
Brazil's second largest steelmaker this week confirmed last September's pledge to invest 9 billion US dollars over the next four years, revealing plans to plow 5.25 billion US dollars into mining, steel and cement projects in Minas Gerais state over the next six years.
Ireland wants an immediate ban on Brazilian beef imports into the European Union due to concerns that the country's produce does not meet the standards of the bloc, Irish farm minister Mary Coughlan said on Wednesday.