Economy

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:29 UTC

  China fears a US/EU free trade area could become protectionist; looks to Latinamerica

  

  China has raised concerns about European Union plans to negotiate an ambitious free trade deal with the United States, fearing it is a protectionist move and at the same time Beijing new administration is doubling efforts towards Latinamerica and Africa.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:23 UTC

  Argentines keep travelling overseas despite the ‘dollar clamp’ and the ‘Coca Cola formula’

  

  Despite the ‘dollar clamp’ and other obstacles to purchase the US currency in Argentina, the number of Argentines travelling abroad increased by 8% last March in comparison to the same period the year before although they spent 6.2% less than in 2012, it was reported by the National Statistics Bureau (INDEC).

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:19 UTC

  Uruguay’s inflation in April eased for third month running, but remains above target

  

  Inflation in Uruguay during April slowed down for third month running, according to the latest release from the country’s Statistics Office, INE. Consumer prices in the fourth month of the year climbed 0.45% with inflation in the last twelve months reaching 8.14%, compare to 8.54% in March.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:02 UTC

  Fiat plans to invest 7bn dollars in next three years to remain main automaker in Brazil

  

  Italy’s carmaker Fiat is upping its stake in Brazil, pouring about 7 billion dollars into local investments by 2016, according to a plan its CEO Sergio Marchionne handed President Dilma Rousseff on Monday.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 08:57 UTC

  Petrobras finds ‘good quality’ oil in the sub-salt area of the Santos Basin

  

  Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras found “good quality” oil in a sub-salt area of the offshore Santos Basin, one of the world's most promising oil frontiers, according to a securities filing by Petrobras on Tuesday.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 02:44 UTC

  Dollar in Argentina breaks 10 Pesos barrier, despite Cristina Fernandez and her “I want to leave” minister

  

  The ‘blue’ or parallel dollar in Argentina beat a new record on Tuesday by breaking the 10 Pesos milestone and ending trading at 10.08 Pesos. The official rate meantime remained relatively stable and closed at 5.16 and 5.21 Pesos (buying and selling price).

• Tuesday, May 7th 2013 - 09:28 UTC

  IMF again warns Argentina about protectionist and foreign currency exchange policies

  

  The International Monetary Fund Director for the Western Hemisphere, Alejandro Werner, warned on Monday about the “negative effect” that the existence of two foreign currency exchange markets and protectionist policies bring to Argentina.

• Tuesday, May 7th 2013 - 09:04 UTC

  Brazil expects a boom in sales of its unique sugar cane liquor ‘cachaca’

  

  Brazil’s ‘cachaca’ the world's fourth most-produced distilled spirit, but little known abroad, except as an ingredient in popular cocktails like caipirinhas is about to change when the US recognizes the sugar cane liquor as a distinctive Brazilian product.

• Tuesday, May 7th 2013 - 09:00 UTC

  Rousseff creates ministry for small businesses and announces soft loans

  

  Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff announced on Monday a reduction in the interest rate on public loans for owners of small businesses from 8% to 5% and inaugurated the Secretariat for Micro and Small Businesses which will have the category of a ministry.

• Tuesday, May 7th 2013 - 05:49 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez pledges ‘no Peso devaluation’, but markets are not convinced

  

  In a clear signal to the markets, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner strongly rejected on Monday a possible devaluation of the Argentine Peso and targeted sectors advocating for such a measure, as she warned that “those hoping to profit from it will have to wait for a different Government.”