
Argentina's Lithium Round Table convened Tuesday in Buenos Aires to discuss a proposal whereby the country would promote adding value to the extracting activity. The meeting was chaired by Jujuy Governor and Presidential hopeful Gerardo Morales, who warned that the participating provinces were being cast aside from the activity's large revenues.

The benchmark index of international food commodity prices declined in January for the tenth consecutive month, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reported.

With a Consumer Price Index (CPI) for January 2023 expected at 5.6%, Argentina's Central Bank (BCRA) issued a report Friday forecasting that inflation for the entire year would be 97.6% while the country's Gross Domestic Product (the sum of all services and goods traded) will only grow by 0.5%.

The World Bank (WB) announced this week the appointment of US-French Economist Marianne Fay as its new Director for Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay to replace Jordan Schwartz, who will head the Eastern Europe division.

A technical team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that political unrest in various regions of Latin America might have consequences for the economy since it would affect how the region is perceived worldwide.

The European Central Bank increased its basic interest rate 50 basis point to 2,5% and anticipated it intended to hike by another 50 basis points in March. The move follows four hikes in 2022 which brought euro zone rates out of negative territory for the first time since 2014.

The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee on Thursday voted 7-2 in favor of hiking interest rates by 50 basis points with the main rate now at 4%. However the MCP indicated in its statement that smaller hikes and an eventual end to the hiking cycle may be in the cards in coming meetings. The two dissenting members voted to leave rates unchanged at this meeting.

Brazil's protein producer giant Minerva Foods issued a note to the market communicating the purchase of state-of-the-art Breeders and Packers Uruguay (BPU Meat) abattoir and processing plant for USD 40 million. The conclusion of the deal is still pending approval by the Uruguayan authorities.

Brazil's Central Bank on Wednesday left the Selic benchmark interest rate at 13,75%, but in the adjoining release, the bank's rate setting committee, Copom said the high interest rate policy is expected to last longer than market expectations because of fiscal risks

The Federal Reserve following a two day meeting announced it decided on Wednesday to raise its key interest rate a quarter point arguing that although inflation is easing it is still too high, and did not discard further rate hikes could be needed since more evidence is needed to be confident inflation is in a sustained downward path. The increase was the eighth since March.