Economy

• Saturday, September 22nd 2012 - 02:23 UTC

  Wheat prices climb as Russia comes closer to curbing exports

  

  Global wheat prices climbed on Friday as Russia’s economy minister raised the possibility of grain export curbs from one of the largest global suppliers in what appeared to be a policy u-turn.

• Friday, September 21st 2012 - 23:53 UTC

  Falklands to introduce minimum wage; document recommends £ 5, 50 the hour

  

  Over the years there has been talk of implementing a minimum wage in the Falkland Islands, a significant amount of work has been undertaken on the issue and a minimum wage should be in place by early 2013.

• Friday, September 21st 2012 - 16:45 UTC

  Mantega says US and Japan have again ignited the “currency war” and Brazil will defend itself

  

  Brazil threatened on Friday a further clampdown on speculative foreign capital, firing a warning shot in the “currency war” Finance minister Guido Mantega blames on money-printing by Western central banks.

• Friday, September 21st 2012 - 16:42 UTC

  World trade to grow 2.5% this year dragged down by Europe

  

  World trade will grow by a mere 2.5% this year, dragged down by Europe to less than half of the previous 20-year average, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said on Friday. WTO cut its estimate from a 2012 growth forecast of 3.7% in April and also lowered its growth forecast for 2013 to 4.5% from 5.6%.

• Friday, September 21st 2012 - 06:48 UTC

  US calls on Brazil to reconsider proposed tariff increases in Brazil and Mercosur

  

  US Trade Representative Ron Kirk urged the Brazilian government in a letter sent on Wednesday to reconsider plans for “protectionist” tariff increases expected to hurt US exports.

• Friday, September 21st 2012 - 06:42 UTC

  Mexican president-elect Peña Nieto brings up trade issues during visit to Brazil

  

  Latin America’s two largest economies should be expanding rather than curbing trade flows, Mexico’s President-elect Enrique Peña Nieto said in veiled criticism of a Brazilian restriction on Mexican car imports.

• Friday, September 21st 2012 - 06:23 UTC

  Brazilian middle class expected to move a trillion dollars this year

  

  Brazil's middle class which now numbers 104 million equivalent to 53% of total population (38% ten years ago), is likely to move 1 trillion Reais this year (approx a trillion dollars), government estimates show.

• Friday, September 21st 2012 - 06:13 UTC

  Argentine industrial production and outlook stable in August

  

  Argentina’s industrial output fell 0.8% last August when compared to the same month last year, according to the country’s stats office Indec. However it improved 0.7% when compared to July but dropped 1.2%, points out Indec Monthly Industrial Estimate

• Friday, September 21st 2012 - 06:06 UTC

  Brazil approves bill which allows the opening of tax-free shops along border towns

  

  The Brazilian congress approved this week a bill which enables the opening of free shops or tax free shops, along border towns currently suffering from the massive inflow of imported goods purchased at international prices in such stores in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.

• Thursday, September 20th 2012 - 23:34 UTC

  Merkel honours her mentor and Euro architect, Kohl to help discipline the party

  

  Angela Merkel is seeking help from her estranged, former mentor Helmut Kohl, architect of the Euro, to restore voter faith in the European project before next year's election.