Economy

• Wednesday, March 12th 2014 - 07:35 UTC

  Manufacturing remains the weakest link of the Brazilian economy

  

  Industrial production in Brazil rose 2.9% in January from December, government statistics agency IBGE said on Tuesday led by a jump in capital goods production.

• Wednesday, March 12th 2014 - 07:28 UTC

  Brazil car production up in February but sales dropped in the two months

  

  Motor vehicle production in Brazil surged in February after auto workers returned from vacations, but production remains below levels seen in 2013 and sales have also dropped in the first two months of the year.

• Tuesday, March 11th 2014 - 06:44 UTC

  Argentina with no serious economic problems, “just complexities and challenges”

  

  Economy Minister Axel Kicillof argued that Argentina does not have serious economic problems, but rather “complexities, difficulties and challenges,” and accused economists and dissident media outlets of orchestrating a campaign to generate an “end of the world” feeling among members of society.

• Saturday, March 8th 2014 - 06:47 UTC

  Brazil's trade deficit soars in February: 6.3bn dollars if first two months of 2014

  

  Brazil recorded its largest February trade deficit ever, deepening a trade gap this year that underscores the lack of competitiveness from local industry. The deficit reached 2.125 billion dollars the trade ministry announced.

• Saturday, March 8th 2014 - 06:37 UTC

  US unemployment rises slightly in February despite a boost in new jobs

  

  The US economy added 175,000 new jobs in February, but the unemployment rate rose slightly to 6.7%. The jobs figures, from the US Labor Department, were better than many had been expecting and marked a rebound from two weak months.

• Saturday, March 8th 2014 - 06:02 UTC

  February experienced a sharp increase in FAO Food Prices Index

  

  Weather-related events and increased demand came into play as the FAO Food Price Index registered its sharpest increase since mid-2012, averaging 208.1 points in February 2014. The new level is 5.2 points, or 2.6%, above a slightly revised index for January, but is still 2.1% lower than last year at the same time.

• Friday, March 7th 2014 - 05:10 UTC

  With an eye on Argentina and Venezuela, Brazil private sector wants Mercosur trade in local currencies

  

  Brazil's private sector concerned with harsh times ahead, particularly with exports to Argentina and Venezuela are proposing that Mercosur trade should be done with local currencies leaving aside the US dollar. The initiative was launched by the president of the Brazil-Argentina Commerce Chamber.

• Friday, March 7th 2014 - 05:02 UTC

  OAS leader compares the 'dynamic imbalance' in trade talks EU/US and EU with Mercosur

  

  The dynamic imbalance in trade negotiations is clearly evident in the case of trade negotiations of Canada and the US with the European Union, and what happens with EU/Mercosur trade talks that have been going for seventeen years, with no clear results yet, according to OAS Secretary General Miguel Insulza.

• Friday, March 7th 2014 - 04:41 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez wants France to lobby before the Paris Club

  

  President Cristina Fernandez is expected to visit France for the opening of Paris Book Show, with a great display of Argentine culture and conferences, but most important she will be meeting on 19 March with her peer Francois Hollande to strongly lobby for a better deal with the Paris Club for the payment of a defaulted debt of 10bn dollars dating back to 2001.

• Thursday, March 6th 2014 - 21:13 UTC

  UK interest rate held at 0.5%, making it a record low of five years

  

  UK interest rates have been held at 0.5% for another month, the Bank of England announced on Thursday. The decision by the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee comes five years after the record low level was first introduced.