Economy

Tuesday, December 15th 2015 - 07:51 UTC
Latin American exports fall for third year running and 2016 prospects are not encouraging

Exports from Latin America and the Caribbean will drop about 14% in 2015 due to a steep decline in prices and weak demand for the region’s main exports from key trading partners, according to a new report from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Tuesday, December 15th 2015 - 07:41 UTC
Moody's raises Cuba's rating to positive as it moves away from Venezuela dependence and is closer to US

International ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service has moved Cuba’s economic from stable to positive, citing its lessening dependence on Venezuela and the possibility of more improved relations with the United States.
Monday, December 14th 2015 - 08:17 UTC
Brazil's harvest for 2016 estimated at 209.3 million tons, slight drop from 2015

Brazil's harvest in 2016 will reach 209.3 million tons, which is 0.5% less than in 2015 according to the estimates from the Brazilian stats institute, IBGE. The fall is related to less crops of oilseeds, cereals and legumes in the centre west of the vast country, which is also the main farming area, as well as in the north.
Monday, December 14th 2015 - 07:49 UTC
Moody's downgrades Petrobras credit rating; warns of difficulties to raise cash through asset sales

Moody's Investors Service has lowered Brazilian state-controlled oil company Petrobras' credit rating further into junk territory and warned of a possible further downgrade. “These rating actions reflect Petrobras' elevated refinancing risks in the face of deteriorating industry conditions that make it more difficult to raise cash through asset sales,” the New York-based ratings agency said Wednesday.
Saturday, December 12th 2015 - 07:11 UTC
Argentina's new administration package of economic measures next week

Argentine finance minister Alfonso Prat-Gay announced on Friday that next week levies on farm (grains and oilseeds) exports will be lowered, the half year bonus of wage earners if below 30.000 Argentine Pesos will be exempt from income tax, and the policy of “looked-after prices” at supermarkets will continue.
Saturday, December 12th 2015 - 07:03 UTC
US crude futures trade at $35, lowest since February 2009; in one week price dropped 10%

United States crude futures fell sharply on Friday plunging below $36 a barrel for the first time in more than seven years, after a bearish report from the International Energy Agency projected that global energy markets will remain vastly oversupplied for at least the immediate near future.
Saturday, December 12th 2015 - 06:56 UTC
Petrobras not selling any stake of its giant Libra offshore oil prospect

Petrobras, is not considering selling a 10% stake in its giant Libra offshore oil prospect at this time, Brazil's state-run oil company said on Friday. Petrobras was responding to a report on Tuesday that industry sources had been told by the company that the Libra stake was on offer.
Friday, December 11th 2015 - 12:04 UTC
Venezuelan subsidized oil sales to the Petrocaribe program on a tight rope

If the newly elected Venezuelan National Assembly votes to cancel that country's program of subsidized oil sales to Caribbean and Central American nations, the United States will not be able to substitute U.S. oil for Venezuelan oil, a senior U.S. official warned this week.
Friday, December 11th 2015 - 11:54 UTC
International banks commit 8bn dollars to the new Argentine administration

The incoming government of Argentine president Mauricio Macri is about to receive its first financial boost from overseas, which according La Nacion sources could be in the range of 8 billion dollars.
Thursday, December 10th 2015 - 08:22 UTC
Macri's candidate will head the Central bank from the first day; Vanoli resigns

Argentina Central Bank President Alejandro Vanoli resigned Wednesday under pressure from President-elect Mauricio Macri, who plans to remove currency controls with reserves standing at a nine-year low.