
Argentine trade with Brazil in 2010 is going to increase significantly and could replace United States as the second most important importer of Brazilian goods, said Foreign Affairs minister Celso Amorim.

Central bank governors and senior regulators have agreed new rules designed to prevent a repeat of the recent financial crisis. At a meeting in the Swiss city of Basle, they agreed a deal requiring banks to hold more capital in reserve.

Under the heading of “The United States and Latin America: Nobody’s backyard”, The Economist publishes one of its leading articles, supported by special pieces dedicated to the region’s potentialities, recent successes and shortcomings, mainly triumphalism and complacency.

Lu Hongxiang from Xin Xiang, China was recently the 2 millionth visitor at the Chilean pavilion at the Shanghai Expo that runs from May 1 to Oct 31, 2010.

China's trade surplus narrowed in August as imports picked up at a faster pace and exports slowed although not drastically, official figures showed on Friday. The data is likely to keep up pressure on Beijing to ease currency controls.

British Ministry of Defence revealed that contracts worth about £1.25bn have been awarded for building two aircraft carriers even though the project may not go ahead, figures have revealed. The figures came in answer to a parliamentary question by a Labour MP.

The global economic recovery is slowing faster than forecast, but a return to recession is unlikely, a leading global economic group has said. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said the slowdown had been more pronounced than anticipated.

Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said the government won’t allow the Real to strengthen excessively as the currency reached its strongest in eight months.

Argentina is still opposed to having its economy reviewed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), government ministers said on Thursday, refuting recent media reports to the contrary.

The Bank of England has kept UK interest rates on hold at a record low of 0.5% for the 18th consecutive month. The Monetary Policy Committee's (MPC) decision had been expected, but calls have been growing for an increase in rates to curb inflation.