Economy

Sunday, March 1st 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Venezuela's Chavez sends soldiers to take over rice mills

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez sent troops on Saturday to temporarily take over rice processing plants. Chavez accused some firms of overcharging by refusing to produce rice at prices set by the government and warned some companies could be nationalised if they tried to interfere with supplies of the grain.
Sunday, March 1st 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Plant closures cause turmoil in Brazilian cattle industry

Brazil's fourth largest Brazilian exporter of beef has halted slaughtering operations at all 11 of its plants and sent workers home, local Brazilian media reports. In addition, Independencia has not paid cattle suppliers for several days and has returned most cattle to suppliers.
Sunday, March 1st 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Euro-zone: record high jobless: record low inflation

Euro-zone unemployment rose more than economists expected in January and inflation slowed. The jobless rate in the Euro zone increased to 8.2%, the highest in more than two years, from 8.1% in December, the European Union statistics office in Luxembourg said Friday.
Sunday, March 1st 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Argentine farmers and grain traders warn government

Argentine farmers' organizations announced they would fight a reported plan to nationalize grain trading, warning that such a move would deepen a long-running conflict between the government and agricultural groups.
Sunday, March 1st 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Scandinavian region faces worst recession in 17 years

The Scandinavian region economic downturn was highlighted this week when Denmark confirmed it was in the worst recession in three decades while output in Sweden and Finland shrank the most in at least 17 years.
Friday, February 27th 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Japan falls deeper into recession

Japan's economy is sinking deeper into recession, the country's finance minister has warned, as new figures show industrial production plunged a record 10 per cent in January.
Thursday, February 26th 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Argentina's January exports drop 36%; trade surplus 27%

Argentina's exports plunged 36% in January and the trade surplus shrank 27% compared to a year ago according to the latest figures released Wednesday by the country's Statistics Office, Indec.
Thursday, February 26th 2009 - 23:00 UTC
IMF interested in resuming dialogue with Argentina

The International Monetary Fund is interested in resuming dialogue with Argentina, a fund spokesman said on Thursday, indicating ties may be thawing between Buenos Aires and the Washington-based multilateral organization.
Thursday, February 26th 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Banker challenges PM Brown “failure should not be rewarded”

Former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Sir Fred Goodwin has written to the Treasury indicating he will not voluntarily give up his pension, it has been revealed. Sir Fred is coming under increasing pressure to give up at least part of the pension, worth an estimated ?693,000-a-year, which he is already receiving at the age of 50 under an early retirement deal agreed with the RBS board when he was forced out last October.
Thursday, February 26th 2009 - 23:00 UTC
UK scheme to unload banks' toxic assets and recover confidence

The United Kingdom Treasury has launched a taxpayer-backed scheme to insure banks' riskiest assets against further losses. The scheme aims to clean up banks' balance sheets and to encourage them to lend more freely.