Economy

• Monday, December 10th 2012 - 02:17 UTC

  US unemployment down to Dec 2008 level; 12 million still out a job

  

  The US announced that the labour market advanced sharply last month and its jobless rate fell to 7.7%, the lowest level in nearly four years. Washington said that late October's devastating super-storm Sandy had little effect on hiring, as employers unexpectedly added 146.000 new jobs in November, which was substantially more than economists had predicted.

• Saturday, December 8th 2012 - 03:47 UTC

  Bolivian industry warns about the Mercosur ‘straight jacket’ and protectionism

  

  The incorporation of Bolivia to Mercosur must not become a “straight jacket” that leaves the country with no margin to negotiate trade agreements with other regions, said the private business organization, Bolivia Foreign Trade Institution, IBCE

• Friday, December 7th 2012 - 17:24 UTC

  FAO food prices index down in November except for dairy

  

  The FAO Food Price Index averaged 211 points in November 2012, down 3 points (1.5%) from October and the lowest since June 2012. Except for dairy, international prices of all the commodity groups included in the Index fell in November, with sugar undergoing the sharpest dip, followed by oils and cereals. The decline puts the November index value nearly 3% below one year ago.

• Friday, December 7th 2012 - 05:26 UTC

  Bank of England at crossroad on stimulus program despite weaker economy

  

  The Bank of England has decided not to extend its quantitative easing (QE) stimulus program, which has injected £375bn into the UK financial system.

• Friday, December 7th 2012 - 05:22 UTC

  Brazil helped by good weather heading for record soybean and corn crops in 2012/13

  

  Brazil held forecasts for a record 2012/2013 soybean crop with the latest estimate from Conab, the Brazilian crop bureau, at 82.6m tons, towards the top of the range of 80.1m-83m tons previously anticipated and representing a jump of more than 20% year on year.

• Friday, December 7th 2012 - 02:18 UTC

  Brazil central bank expected to keep interest rates low for a ‘prolonged period’

  

  The Brazilian central bank indicated it will keep interest rates at their current level for an extended period given favourable signs for the inflation outlook.

• Friday, December 7th 2012 - 01:48 UTC

  ECB slashes Euro-zone growth prospects; further rate cut not discarded

  

  The European Central Bank on Thursday opened the door to a rate cut next year, after slashing its economic growth projections for the 17-member Euro- zone.

• Thursday, December 6th 2012 - 23:29 UTC

  EU, US and Japan ask WTO to rule on Argentine imports’ restrictions

  

  The European Union, the US and Japan have jointly asked the World Trade Organization to rule in a protracted trade dispute with Argentina. They criticize what they believe are unfair import restrictions and protectionism.

• Thursday, December 6th 2012 - 21:09 UTC

  FOGL ends drilling program in south Falklands; begins further seismic surveying

  

  Falklands Oil & Gas (FOGL) announced Thursday it had abandoned its Scotia exploration well in the south basin after disappointing results, thus completing its 2012 two-well drilling (Loligo and Scotia) program in the Falkland Islands.

• Thursday, December 6th 2012 - 07:49 UTC

  Latam needs structural reforms and equality to consolidate as economic power

  

  Economics and finance experts said Latin American must address structural reforms as part of the essential process to consolidate as an economic power and look after the Asian market.