Economy

Thursday, August 22nd 2013 - 00:40 UTC
Argentina purchases Chinese equipment to improve the railway system

Argentina approved a contract to purchase railway equipment from a Chinese firm, said the government gazette. The contract was signed by the Argentine Ministry of the Interior and Transportation and the Chinese firm CSR Qingdao Sifang Co, Ltd on May 23, 2013 and officially approved with Administrative Decision 584/2013.
Thursday, August 22nd 2013 - 00:39 UTC
Argentina’s trade surplus down 40% in July; unemployment fell to 7.2%

Argentina's trade surplus shrank by 40% in July from a year earlier as surging fuel and auto imports increased pressure on President Cristina Fernandez government's system of currency controls. However the unemployment rate in the second quarter fell to 7.2% according to official data.
Thursday, August 22nd 2013 - 00:37 UTC
China’s CNOOC and Dow in line to sign agreements to develop Argentina’s shale deposits

YPF, the energy company in which Argentina holds a majority stake said its next shale oil and gas partnership will be with a group including China’s Cnooc. A deal is expected to be signed sometime next month.
Thursday, August 22nd 2013 - 00:35 UTC
Rio do Janeiro mayor questions Brasilia’s 2016 Olympic Games policy

The mayor of Rio de Janeiro has said it is a shame his city will be hosting the Olympic Games in 2016 because Brazil lacks a sports policy. Eduardo Paes said that his city should not pay for high performance athletes.
Thursday, August 22nd 2013 - 00:33 UTC
Fed members agree to slow bond purchases but divided over when to start

The US Federal Reserve members appear to agree on slowing bond purchases by the end of this year if the US economy continues to improve, but remains divided over the exact timing of the move. That's the message from the minutes of the Fed's July 30-31 meeting released Wednesday.
Wednesday, August 21st 2013 - 18:50 UTC
Chile/Argentina row: Lan Chile evicted from Buenos Aires metropolitan terminal

Chilean president Sebastián Piñera has instructed Foreign minister Alfredo Moreno to immediately contact Argentine authorities following the decision by the government of President Cristina Fernandez ordering Lan Chile to move out from the metropolitan airport of Aeroparque in Buenos Aires.
Wednesday, August 21st 2013 - 18:39 UTC
Sharp decline of oil and gas from off-shore UK is ‘worrying’ says annual report

The sharp decline in production of oil and gas from under British waters is “worrying” industry leaders. Trade body Oil and Gas UK says there is record investment this year of £13.5bn, but its annual report on the industry's economic impact highlights the sharp fall in output of 19% during 2011 and 14% in 2012.
Wednesday, August 21st 2013 - 18:36 UTC
Controversy with FIFA over hotel prices for the 2014 World Cup

The Brazilian government has expressed concern that some hotels listed on FIFA website for the 2014 World Cup plan significant price increases during the tournament. Brazil’s tourism board, Embratur, is said to have notified the justice ministry after its research showed that rates will be up to 500% more expensive during the World Cup in some hotels offered by the MATCH Services agency on FIFA website.
Wednesday, August 21st 2013 - 01:35 UTC
Uruguay Vice-president concerned Royal Bank of Canada is leaving the country

Vice-president Danilo Astori said he was surprised at the way events unfolded ending with the decision from the Royal Bank of Canada of leaving Uruguay, but also concerned about the international impact of such a move, triggered by a ‘disorderly’ raid in its offices.
Wednesday, August 21st 2013 - 00:23 UTC
“Devaluation of the Argentine Peso is a fact of the market”, says Lavagna

Former minister and ex-presidential hopeful Roberto Lavagna warned that the Argentine economy is going through “the worst scenario possible” since the market has already adapted to the devaluation of the Peso, but the government of President Cristina Fernandez in its fantasy refuses to acknowledge it.