Economy

• Saturday, July 31st 2010 - 05:08 UTC

  Chile ahead in the region as recipient of direct foreign investment

  

  A report issued by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) puts Chile ahead of Brazil in terms of direct foreign investment so far this year. Brazil had been the regional leader since 2007.

• Friday, July 30th 2010 - 06:00 UTC

  Citibank agrees fine to settle charges it misled investors with high risk mortgages

  

  Banking giant Citigroup has agreed to pay 75 million US dollars to settle civil charges that it misled investors over potential losses from high-risk mortgages. It agreed the settlement with US financial watchdog the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

• Friday, July 30th 2010 - 03:27 UTC

  Employment picks up in Chile boosted by construction and social services

  

  A survey in June by the Economics department at the Universidad de Chile reported a 3 percentage point decline in unemployment in Santiago to 8.9%, from 11.9% in June 2009 – the largest decline since December 1991.

• Friday, July 30th 2010 - 02:57 UTC

  International air traffic showed strong recovery in June said IATA

  

  International air passenger demand (particularly China and Latinamerica) and freight showed a strong improvement during June compared to a year ago according to the latest traffic international statistics released by the International Air Transport Association, IATA.

• Thursday, July 29th 2010 - 05:52 UTC

  United and Continental closer to becoming the world’s largest carrier

  

  Continental and United airlines received this week the approval of European regulators permitting the two carriers to move ahead with their plans to create the world’s largest carrier.

• Thursday, July 29th 2010 - 01:23 UTC

  India wants to “deepen and expand” trade accords with Mercosur

  

  The Indian ambassador to Argentina Rengaraj Viswanathan said his country, currently the fourth largest economy in the world, is looking to “deepen and expand” its accords with the Mercosur and highlighted that Indian businessmen “use Argentina as a platform” to access regional markets.

• Wednesday, July 28th 2010 - 17:54 UTC

  Chilean fruit industry compensates smaller shipments with higher global prices

  

  Despite sharp declines in the volume of exported fruits during the 2009-2010 season Chile’s fruit industry managed to offset those losses because of higher prices paid in foreign markets.

• Wednesday, July 28th 2010 - 06:49 UTC

  LAN Chile’s passenger and cargo businesses grow 24.5% and 60.3%

  

  LAN Airlines, Chile’s flag carrier second-quarter net profit jumped to 60.6 million US dollars in line with market expectations, from 4.2 million USD a year earlier, the flagship carrier reported Tuesday.

• Tuesday, July 27th 2010 - 23:51 UTC

  Fitch upgrades Uruguay’s debt to BB, just below investment grade

  

  Citing the “increased resilience to external shocks” Fitch upgraded Uruguay to BB from BB-, two levels below investment-grade and in line with Standard & Poor's. Moody's Investors Service rates Uruguay at Ba3, three levels below investment grade. Fitch last increased the country's rating in July 2007, taking it up one level from B+.

• Tuesday, July 27th 2010 - 23:37 UTC

  As Argentine economy picks up, imports soar and trade surplus is down

  

  Argentina's trade surplus narrowed by 19% in June from the same month a year ago, falling short of market expectations as brisk economic growth fuelled demand for imports, according to official data released last week.