
By Mike Summers (*)
The reports on the reaction in the United Kingdom to the death of Baroness Thatcher have shown a clear contrast between those who approved of her policies and those that did not. This is understandable and is no doubt true of any prime minister. However, here in the Falkland Islands there is very little difference of opinion. Margaret Thatcher is held in high regard and with deep affection by Islanders, for she is someone to whom we owe much.

Brazil's top two economic policymakers warned on Friday that high inflation will not be tolerated. Central bank chief Alexandre Tombini and Finance Minister Guido Mantega said at separate events the government will not hesitate in taking measures to combat high inflation.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said on Friday that the government intends to double per capita income by 2022, when Brazil celebrates 200 years of independence from Portugal.

Despite the efforts from the administration of President Cristina Fernandez that brokered a price freeze for another two months with the main supermarket chains of Argentina, March inflation according to the average of private estimates stood at 1.54% and 24.43% in the last twelve months.

The FAO Food Price Index (FPI) crept higher by one percent in March compared with a month before, driven mainly by an 11% increase in dairy. Dairy products carry a 17% weight among the various commodity prices included in the calculation of the overall FPI.

The US Federal Reserve could slow the pace of its bond-purchase program this year if the jobs market continues to improve, according to the minutes of the last FOMC meeting released Wednesday.

Argentina’s state oil and gas company YPF CEO Miguel Galuccio announced that fuel production could drop 7% because of a fire at its refinery in La Plata. A return to full operations at the 180.000 bpd facility is expected in 30-45 days time.

Borders & Southern announced this week it has completed the 3D seismic program in the South Falkland Basin offshore the Falkland Islands. The group acquired 1,025 sq km of full fold seismic data collected by the ‘Ramform Challenger’, which will be processed by Petroleum Geo-Services.

The opposition candidate in Venezuela’s next Sunday’s presidential again pounded on his country’s foreign policy and claimed that Argentina has a pending debt of 13 billion dollars arising from oil contracts.

WTO Director General Pascal Lamy warned that 2013 could turn out even weaker than expected, especially because of risks from the Euro crisis as countries might try to restrict trade further in a desperate attempt to shore up domestic growth.