Economy

• Monday, July 12th 2010 - 03:52 UTC

  Argentina and Venezuela with highest (and climbing) inflation in South America

  

  While most of South America is undergoing a deceleration of consumer prices Argentina and Venezuela are the only countries to experience a significant increase in inflation, making it one of the main concerns or public opinion.

• Monday, July 12th 2010 - 03:48 UTC

  Chinese trade “has recovered to pre-crisis levels” affirms Beijing

  

  China’s trade surplus widened to the highest this year and exports climbed more than estimated to a record in June, adding pressure on the government to let the currency gain after the U.S. said the Yuan “remains undervalued.”

• Monday, July 12th 2010 - 03:41 UTC

  Record import of soy beans by China during June

  

  Soy-bean imports by China, the biggest buyer, jumped to a record in June after a halt to Argentine soy oil shipments and increasing feed consumption boosted demand from crushers, according to Bloomberg.

• Saturday, July 10th 2010 - 07:41 UTC

  US no longer world’s great consumer; needs to target sustainable debt, says IMF

  

  The US economy is recovering after the global economic crisis, but consumers and financial institutions remain cautious as weak housing markets, high unemployment, and risks in Europe remain a concern, the IMF staff said in a press conference that followed its annual review of the world’s largest economy.

• Saturday, July 10th 2010 - 07:18 UTC

  Argentine agro-exports help boost international reserves to over 50 billion USD

  

  Argentina’s international reserves once again exceeded the 50 billion US dollars mark, boosted by an intervention to the Central Bank by the market in a record purchase of 262 million USD.

• Saturday, July 10th 2010 - 07:13 UTC

  School comic strips to depict the turbulent IMF/Argentina relation

  

  Argentina high school students are enjoying four comic strips, part of the official program, which satirizes the turbulent relation of the country with the IMF, presenting one of the works under the attractive name of “An intruder in the family”.

• Friday, July 9th 2010 - 05:34 UTC

  Euro zone rates unchanged; all eyes set on 23 July EU banks’ stress-tests

  

  The European Central Bank left its key interest rate on hold for the fourteenth consecutive month in July as the region's banks face stress tests to ensure the stability of the financial system that is threatened by investor fears about debt.

• Friday, July 9th 2010 - 05:29 UTC

  UK leaves rates at a record low for the 16th month running

  

  The Bank of England has kept UK interest rates on hold at a record low of 0.5% for the 16th consecutive month. The Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) also decided on Thursday not to inject any more money into the economy under its policy of quantitative easing (QE).

• Friday, July 9th 2010 - 04:45 UTC

  China confirms it will stick to moderately loose monetary policy

  

  China’s central bank said on Thursday it will stick to a moderately loose monetary policy as economic growth becomes better balanced between consumption, investment and exports.

• Friday, July 9th 2010 - 01:58 UTC

  UK and Irish farmers’ claim Brazil’s beef exports fail to meet EU standards

  

  The UK National Farmers Union, NFU and Irish Farmers' Association have expressed concern about the reopening trade talks with the Mercosur group of South American countries because of the impact it could have on farmers.