Economy

• Monday, June 6th 2011 - 17:53 UTC

  Controversy in the US over a 20% down-payment on home loans

  

  The United States mortgage market has gone and is going through rough changes. Many laws have been introduced regarding lending and borrowing and a new initiative is again triggering debate as to its effects on the mortgage market.

• Monday, June 6th 2011 - 06:56 UTC

  On Monday Customs delayed back-log of Argentina made-cars should be in Brazil

  

  Argentina and Brazil seem to be again on the path of normalizing bilateral trade following the mid May spat that triggered a round of technical exchanges in Buenos Aires and a final meeting at ministerial level in Brasilia. On Monday, allegedly all the Argentine cars delayed in the border will have been cleared into Brazil.

• Monday, June 6th 2011 - 06:47 UTC

  Chile experiences employment growth, but how do you define a ‘job’?

  

  Chile’s unemployment rate has dropped from 8.6% to 7%, according to official government statistics released this week. The three regions most affected by the February 2010 earthquake were found to have generated 31% of the nearly half a million jobs created nationwide in the past 12 months.

• Monday, June 6th 2011 - 06:27 UTC

  Number of millionaires expanded 12% in 2010 and reached 12.5 million

  

  The ranks of millionaires expanded by 12% in 2010, to about 12.5 million, led by Singapore, as gains in financial markets lifted global wealth for a second straight year, the Boston Consulting Group said.

• Monday, June 6th 2011 - 05:57 UTC

  YPF ready to take control of Argentina’s main gas distributor

  

  Argentina’s oil corporation YPF signed a purchase option for 54.67% of the British Gas controlled GASA group that is the country’s largest distributor of gas. The purchase option expires August 31.

• Sunday, June 5th 2011 - 12:29 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez says Argentine is back in the world stage with ‘a bang’

  

  President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner said that the restructuring of Argentina’s debt allowed the resumption of relations with Italy, and in human rights, art and culture Argentina was back in the world map with ‘a bang’.

• Saturday, June 4th 2011 - 06:23 UTC

  Punta Arenas included in Chile’s 285 million USD program to improve air travel

  

  In response to increased air traffic this past decade, the Ministry of Public Works has formed a plan to improve and expand the airports of Chile including Punta Arenas.

• Saturday, June 4th 2011 - 02:40 UTC

  Hard times, even closure for some Uruguayan abattoirs, anticipated Mujica

  

  Uruguayan president Jose Mujica warned that several abattoirs will run into deep trouble and might have to close down because of the lack of livestock ready for slaughtering. He also cautioned that “there is not much more the Executive can do”.

• Friday, June 3rd 2011 - 23:54 UTC

  With no accord on US debt limit, Moody’s could downgrade US ratings

  

  Moody's has warned it may downgrade the US debt rating if Congress fails to increase the US debt limit in the coming weeks and risks default. The agency warned of political “entrenchment” preventing an increase.

• Friday, June 3rd 2011 - 23:44 UTC

  Consumer inflation in Uruguay climbs to an annualized 8.53%

  

  Consumer prices in Uruguay rose sharply again in May, led by steep increases in prices at restaurants and hotels, for housing and for health costs accumulating 8.53% in the last twelve months and 4.34% in the five months of 2011.