The Punta Arenas retail market in the extreme south of Chile has significantly grown in recent years, attracting Chile's leading retailers. Retail giants Lider, Fallabella, La Polar and Johnson's have opened branches in the southern Region XII city over the past three years, and saw profitable returns in 2006.

Argentina's economic activity in February expanded 7.9% over the same month a year ago, and 0.6% over January 2007, according to the latest release from the National Statistics and Census Office, Indec.

The British pound hit a 14-year high of 1.9938 against the dollar, with many experts believing it will break through the 2 dollars benchmark in the next few days.

The New York Times has called for the dismissal of World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz who is entangled in a scandal over securing a huge pay raise awarded to a close female friend.

The European Central Bank decision on Thursday to leave key interest rates at 3.75% came as no surprise to money markets. However the ECB said it would monitor the risks to price stability very closely, avoiding the stronger word vigilance.
Brazil and United States manufacturing industries agreed on Friday in Sao Paulo to join efforts in achieving a reduction of trade barriers, which so far have frustrated a long expected global free trade agreement.
The International Monetary Fund, IMF said Latin America's private credit expansion requires careful vigilance, particularly with household loans and collateral conditions.
The international soybean market, the main crop in Argentina and Brazil, is showing excellent prospects for South American farmers reports Oil World a reputed publication from the industry
China surprised all forecasts and reported a shock tumble in the size of its trade surplus. According to official figures, the March surplus was 6.9 billion US dollars, down from 23.8 billion in February and well below the 20 billion forecast by analysts.
The Argentine government prices policy has collapsed and inflation could become out of control warned on Wednesday Javier Gonzalez Fraga, a former Central Bank president and expert in capital markets.