
Chile announced that the “Integration and Cooperation” agreement with Argentina, which was stamped by Presidents Cristina Kirchner and Michelle Bachelet last October 30, became effective as of Friday January 22nd.

The White House says it is confident of Ben Bernanke's confirmation as Federal Reserve chairman for a second term.

Argentina’s Federal Contentious Administrative Court Friday ratified the suspension on the use of the Central Bank foreign currency reserves to payout public debt, according to judicial sources in Buenos Aires.

The British Government borrowed £15.7 billion last month - an amount that was less than expected, but still the highest December figure on record. Borrowing for the whole of 2009 reached £142.6 billion, the highest since Office for National Statistics (ONS) records began in 1946.

Brazil’s Banco Bradesco announced Friday that it plans to enter the Mexican retail banking market through the acquisition of Ibi Mexico

The damage wreaked by the recession on Britain's car industry was made clear as figures showed production in 2009 dropped almost a third on the previous year. Car production was down 30.9% compared to the previous year to 999,460 vehicles, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) announced.

World stock markets have fallen sharply in response to far-reaching plans by US President Barack Obama to curb the activities of the biggest US banks. The Dow Jones closed down 2%, its worst fall since October, while Japan's Nikkei closed at a three-week low.

The global economic recovery that is now underway will slow later this year as the impact of fiscal stimulus wanes. Financial markets remain troubled and private sector demand lags amid high unemployment, according to a new report from the World Bank.

According to the World Bank Global Economic Prospects 2010, regional outlook, the East Asia and Pacific region led the rebound in the global economy last year, reflecting robust fiscal policy steps and strong domestic demand.

Uruguay had a very good tourist year in 2009 when the number of visitors climbed to 2.1 million and income reached 1.5 billion US dollars which is considered a record, according to Tourism Minister Hector Lescano.