Economy

• Thursday, January 20th 2011 - 16:52 UTC

  UK Unemployment at Record High

  

  The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the number of unemployed in the UK has increased by 49,000 to 2.5 million, with a record number of young people out of work.

• Thursday, January 20th 2011 - 16:44 UTC

  Brazil Raises Interest Rate to 11.25%

  

  Brazil’s Central Bank has increased its key interest rate to 11.25% in the hope of halting inflation. The rate has gone up from 10.75% and is the first under the Government of President Vilma Rousseff, who came in to office earlier this month.

• Thursday, January 20th 2011 - 16:40 UTC

  Argentine Economic Activity Increases 8.2% in 2010

  

  Economic activity in Argentina increased 8.2% during 2010 and in December grew 9.3% compared to the previous year, a private report says.

• Thursday, January 20th 2011 - 03:42 UTC

  Argentina Farmers Threaten Second Strike of 2011

  

  Argentine farmers threatened to go on strike for a second time this year if the government does not change their policy towards them. At a meeting in Buenos Aires province city, Bahia Blanca, farm workers leaders met to discuss the week-long strike, which began last Monday. Farmers have stopped the sale of wheat, corn and soybean over export curbs.

• Wednesday, January 19th 2011 - 22:56 UTC

  Brazil Created a Record 2.52 Million New Jobs in 2010

  

  Figures in Brazil show that 2.52 million new jobs were created last year, the Brazilian Labour Ministry reported.

• Wednesday, January 19th 2011 - 20:53 UTC

  Standard Chartered Private Banking Assets in Latin America to Double

  

  The UK's Standard Chartered will focus on serving Latin American clients in segments requiring direct access to Asia, Africa and the Middle East, the bank's head of private banking in the Americas, John Leto, told BNamericas, saying he plans to double its private banking assets in the region in two years.

• Wednesday, January 19th 2011 - 00:43 UTC

  Chile: After Seven Days of Manifestation Agreement Puts End to Gas Crisis

  

  Chilean officials reached agreement Tuesday with the Citizens Assembly of Magallanes over an increase in natural gas prices that sparked a week-long general strike in the remote southern region, sources involved in the talks said.

• Tuesday, January 18th 2011 - 00:50 UTC

  Eurogroup: 'No Bailout Fund Decision Imminent'

  

  The Eurogroup president Jean-Claude Juncker has said that no decision on a bailout fund will be made at the meeting of finance ministers in Brussels.

• Monday, January 17th 2011 - 20:59 UTC

  Brazilean Central Bank Intervenes in Futures Dollar Market to Stop Real Appreciation

  

  Dilma Rousseff has taken measures to stop the appreciation of the real. The Brazilian Central Bank swapped all of the currency futures contracts in a reverse swap auction. This way the institution headed by Alexandre Tombini disembarks in the futures market.

• Monday, January 17th 2011 - 08:57 UTC

  Argentine farmers are back in a strike

  

  Argentine farmers have halted sales of wheat, corn and soy in a strike over export curbs, rekindling a dispute that helped drive global grains prices to record highs three years ago.