Economy

Saturday, June 25th 2011 - 08:00 UTC
Canada interested in closer links with Mercosur announces ‘exploratory talks’

Canada and Mercosur agreed on Friday to hold exploratory talks to strengthen their relationship, Canadian Trade Minister Ed Fast said on Friday. Fast is currently in Asunción to promote bilateral trade and investments, and Paraguay currently holds the Mercosur chair.
Saturday, June 25th 2011 - 07:54 UTC
Argentina’s economic activity soars 9.1% in first four months, says Indec

Argentina’s economic activity level increased 9.1% in the first four months of the year compared to the same period of 2010 fuelled by domestic consumption, manufacturing and international trade, according to the country’s Statistics and Census Office, Indec.
Saturday, June 25th 2011 - 07:49 UTC
Brazil preparing to licence 45 ports to operators; the first Amazon city of Manaus

Brazil's government, which has already begun the process of handing over airports to private investment, is now preparing 45 ports to be licensed to operators, Estado de S Paulo newspaper reported Friday.
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 22:58 UTC
China says it can control inflation and maintain robust growth

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has said that China can control inflation and maintain its robust growth. Writing in the Financial Times, Mr Wen said “price rises will be firmly under control this year”.
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 22:44 UTC
US economy expanded at a 1.9% annual pace in the first quarter

The United States economy grew at a 1.9% pace in the first quarter marking the start of what Federal Reserve policy makers anticipate is a temporary slowdown in growth.
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 22:23 UTC
FIFA slams Brazil’s slow pace of preparation for the 2014 World Cup

Brazil's slow pace of preparation for the 2014 World Cup has come under attack from FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke. Stadium development plus work on airports and the transport system are lagging well behind schedule.
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 21:58 UTC
Croatia become the European Union 28th member; final ratification June 2013

European Union leaders said Croatia is ready to become the bloc’s 28th member, signalling peace in the Balkan region.
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 20:15 UTC
Krugman: “when Argentina tried to act as a serious country, it was “a disaster”

Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman took to his blog in the New York Times to say he didn’t see how Argentina’s default could be seen as a cautionary tale for Greece, and questioned a local economist who assured Argentina was not considered “a serious country.”
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 19:46 UTC
Potassium mining project that could make Argentina top exporter is suspended

The government of the Argentine province of Mendoza is studying documents presented by Vale that could allow the Brazilian miner to continue with a 4.6 billion US dollars potassium project, said an official in Mendoza.
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 19:08 UTC
Argentina’s trade surplus in May rose 29%; imports soared 39%

Argentina's trade surplus in May rose 29% from the previous month, thanks to high prices for the country's exports of grains and manufactured goods, the national statistics agency said Thursday.