Economy

Tuesday, January 13th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Boiling kettles, Google search and carbon dioxide

Two search requests on the internet website Google produce “as much carbon dioxide as boiling a kettle”, according to a Harvard University academic. US physicist Alex Wissner-Gross claims that a typical Google search on a desktop computer produces about 7g CO2.
Tuesday, January 13th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Uruguay raises basic rate to 10% to combat inflation

Uruguay's Central bank this week raised its reference interest rate by 2.25 percentage points to 10% in an attempt to contain inflation which last year closed at 9.19%, above government target and the highest since 2003.
Tuesday, January 13th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Spain's recession hits remittances from immigrants

Immigrants' remittances from Spain to home countries totalled 1.95 billion Euros in the first three quarters of 2008, down 7% from the same period a year ago, reported the Banco de España.
Monday, January 12th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Record Latam inflation in Venezuela last year: 30.9%

The inflation rate reached 30.9% in 2008, an 11-year high, according to the latest release from the Venezuelan Central bank. The bank also said prices rose 31.9% in the capital, Caracas, the highest level since 1997, outstripping the 2007 figure, 22.5%.
Monday, January 12th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Rio Tinto freezes Corumba iron ore development in Brazil

In response to the collapse of commodity prices and demand giant Australian-UK minerals corporation Rio Tinto announced the postponement of one of its key iron ore expansion projects, the 2.15 billion US dollars Corumba mine in the heartland of Brazil.
Sunday, January 11th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Ecuador quietly downplays financial dispute with Brazil

Ecuador quietly made overdue payments to Brazil on a loan for the construction of a controversial hydroelectric project, helping to end a months-long diplomatic dispute, revealed Brazil's Foreign Affairs ministry.
Sunday, January 11th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Uruguay government admits “serious drought” condition

Following weeks of farmers' demands for emergency support, Uruguay's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries finally admitted the seriousness of the drought for the farming industry and the country's main source of exports.
Sunday, January 11th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Lloyds TSB pays 350 million USD for violating US sanctions

Britain's Lloyds TSB bank has agreed to pay a 350 million US dollars penalty to US authorities over financial transfers that violated US sanctions. The US Justice Department said Lloyds TSB had acknowledged “criminal conduct” and agreed to forfeit the funds in return for an end to its investigation.
Friday, January 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Spain: unemployment is record; more to come admits minister

The number of registered jobless in Spain topped 3 million for the first time ever in December and the government said unemployment would worsen in 2009 as the global economic crisis continues to wreak havoc on the country's construction and tourism industries.
Friday, January 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
“Ponzi” Madoff fraud investigation extends to UK

An investigation has been launched into the British activities of alleged multi-billion-pound fraudster Bernard “Ponzi” Madoff. UK officials will focus on investors who lost huge sums when Madoff's financial business collapsed, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said.