Economy

• Thursday, December 31st 2009 - 11:07 UTC

  Argentina’s stock market completes biggest annual gain in 18 years: 115%

  

  Argentina’s main stock index completed its biggest annual gain in 18 years. The Merval index’s 115% rise this year is its best performance since 1991 and reverses a 50% drop in 2008.

• Thursday, December 31st 2009 - 11:01 UTC

  Chile’s share-index advanced 51% in 2009; Peso 26% stronger

  

  Chile's leading share index ended 2009 with an annual gain of 51% as utility, retail and commodity stocks fuelled the biggest annual rise in 16 years. At the same time, Chile's currency, the peso ended with a 26% annual advance against the dollar, traders said.

• Thursday, December 31st 2009 - 09:15 UTC

  Brazil’s market soars 83% in 2009 and Real appreciates 34% against US dollar

  

  The performance of Brazilian stocks in 2009 has been one of the highest in the world while the local currency, the Real reflected the recovery of Latinamerica’s largest economy by appreciating 34% against the US dollar this year.

• Thursday, December 31st 2009 - 04:39 UTC

  IDB record loan approvals but needs capital increase by 2011

  

  The Inter-American Development Bank set record levels of loan approvals and disbursements in 2009, playing a counter-cyclical role by providing financing to Latin American and Caribbean countries in the face of the global economic crisis.

• Thursday, December 31st 2009 - 02:22 UTC

  Scientific warning that Argentina’s hake TAC “high risk scenario”

  

  Measures recently adopted by the Argentina’s Fisheries Federal Council regarding hake TACs imply very high risks for sustainability and, therefore, to the continuity of related economic activities throughout the country, claims the Centre for Development and Sustainable Fisheries (CeDePesca).

• Wednesday, December 30th 2009 - 09:48 UTC

  Companies listed in the London Stock Exchange raised record £ 82.5 billion

  

  Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) have raised a record £82.5bn from investors in 2009. The LSE said investors had been keen to take up offers of new shares despite continued concerns over the economy.

• Tuesday, December 29th 2009 - 12:13 UTC

  China poised to become world’s second largest economy in 2010

  

  China is expected to become in 2010 the world’s second largest economy displacing Japan according to economic forecasts from Beijing’s Statistics Office and reported in the China Daily.

• Tuesday, December 29th 2009 - 12:12 UTC

  First signs Beijing is reassessing bank loans and interest rates

  

  China admitted fears about increasing inflation, resulting from the strong stimuli program, and also cautioned that Beijing will not yield to foreign pressures to let the Yuan appreciate.

• Tuesday, December 29th 2009 - 07:43 UTC

  Argentina anticipates record crop of “green gold” soybean

  

  Argentina’s “green gold” soybean 2009/2010 crop is forecasted to establish a new record, 50.8 million tons, according to the Chamber of Commerce from Rosario, located at the epicentre of the country’s oil seed production.

• Tuesday, December 29th 2009 - 07:26 UTC

  Uruguayan organic beef at Shanghai’s world expo next year

  

  Uruguayan organic beef directly from the country’s natural pastures will be available at a restaurant catered by Uruguayans at the Shanghai World Expo next year.