
The Chilean peso fell for a ninth day running, its longest losing streak in 15 months, as December industrial sales and production data came in below forecasts and bearish prospects for the country’s main export, copper given China’s strong liquidity and credit restrictions.

Ford Motor Co posted 2009 earnings of 2.7 billion USD, its first full-year profit since 2005, and said it expected a 2010 profit amid market share gains and a slow US auto sales recovery.

US president Barack Obama promised to make job creation his top priority as he made his first State of the Union address. Obama forecast the creation of 1.5 million jobs through the 'stimulus bill' in the nationally televised speech Wednesday evening to a joint session of Congress.

Argentine financial markets closed lower on Wednesday waiting for the outcome of the ongoing dispute between President Cristina Kirchner and Central bank governor Martin Redrado which is now under consideration in Congress.

The Federal Reserve said on Wednesday that the U.S. economic activity has continued to “strengthen” and decided to keep a key interest rate unchanged at a record low of between zero to 0.25% to prop up the economy. However there was a dissenting vote.

Legendary investor George Soros has called for a radical break-up of banks that are too big to fail. He also backed US President Barack Obama's proposed reforms to limit the size of banks at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for a fundamental rethink of capitalism in the aftermath of the financial crisis. We need deep profound change, he said in his keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae magellanicus) trawl fishery operating in the Argentine Economic Exclusive Zone and adjacent waters entered full assessment to be considered for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. It is the second South American fishery to officially seek MSC certification of sustainability.

Argentine beef exports last year soared 57% in volume and 11% in value compared to 2008, having totalled 419.000 tons and 1.65 billion US dollars according to an official release from the country’s National Food Health and Quality Service, Senasa.

The United States economic recession has taken a particularly heavy toll on young US citizens, with a record one out five black men aged 20 to 24 neither working nor in school, according to research released.