Economy

• Saturday, April 24th 2010 - 07:05 UTC

  US Credit Agencies Influenced by Banks that Paid Their Fees, Says US Senate

  

  The behaviour of two credit rating agencies in the run-up to the financial crisis has been criticised by US senators following an investigation.

• Saturday, April 24th 2010 - 01:32 UTC

  Could the Greek Crisis Spell the End of the Euro as a Currency?

  

  If Greece was to default it would effectively spell the end of the Euro as a currency, according to Royal Bank of Scotland's (RBS) strategist and chief European economist Jacques Cailloux.

• Saturday, April 24th 2010 - 01:12 UTC

  Peru and Chile Will Lead Latam Expansion in 2011 with 6% Growth Each

  

  Latest forecasts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predict Chile and Peru will lead Latin America’s growth in 2011 with an expansion of 6% each. The IMF released its World Economic Outlook Report on Wednesday, upping Chile’s projected growth from 4 to 4.7%.

• Saturday, April 24th 2010 - 00:53 UTC

  First Tremors of Euro Seism: Greece Asks for Financial Rescue Package

  

  Greece has formally asked for the activation of an EU-IMF financial rescue package to help pull the debt-ridden economy out of its crisis. It had hoped that just the promise of EU support, agreed last month, would have been enough to reassure markets and help its recovery.

• Friday, April 23rd 2010 - 07:11 UTC

  Argentina “only” accepts IMF “technical revision” of its economy

  

  Economy Minister Amado Boudou said that the Argentine Government “will not accept any conditions” on its economic policies, allegedly rejecting an eventual revision of its accounts by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

• Friday, April 23rd 2010 - 07:00 UTC

  Obama attacks critics of banking reforms to end “reckless practices”

  

  US President Barack Obama has attacked critics of his banking reforms in a speech which warned that without change the financial crisis will be repeated. Reckless practices and financial firms that acted like “bandits” should never be allowed to operate again, he said.

• Friday, April 23rd 2010 - 06:52 UTC

  China-Argentina trade differences increase and are openly aired

  

  Production Minister Débora Giorgi came out to stage on Thursday to support Argentina's trading policies after comments made by China's Vice Minister of Commerce JIang Yaoping, who claimed the Argentine Government is increasingly promoting trade protectionism against Chinese products.

• Friday, April 23rd 2010 - 03:21 UTC

  Brazil forecasted to grow 5.5% in 2010 boosted by domestic demand, says IMF

  

  Brazil, Latinamerica’s largest economy and leading Mercosur partner is poised to grow 5.5% this year, almost a whole percentage point more than the previous forecast in January, according to the International Monetary Fund “World Economic Outlook” released in anticipation of the IMF and World Bank annual assembly this weekend in Washington.

• Friday, April 23rd 2010 - 02:45 UTC

  UK record borrowing in 2009/10 to cover biggest budget deficit since WW2

  

  UK Primer Minister Gordon Brown’s government borrowed a record £163.4 billion in the 2009/2010 financial year, according to figures published Thursday. While it is the biggest budget deficit since the Second World War, the figure is lower than Chancellor Alistair Darling’s prediction in the budget of £166.5 billion for the year.

• Friday, April 23rd 2010 - 01:26 UTC

  Latam growingly dependent on Chinese demand for commodities

  

  Latinamerican countries with a greater link to China such as Chile, Brazil and Peru are moving out of the crisis faster and stronger according to a World Bank report which underlines the increasing significance of the Asian giant for the region.