Economy

Saturday, July 5th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
China agrees to pay double for BHP Billiton iron ore

Mining giant BHP Billiton has reached a deal with China's largest steelmaker to almost double iron ore prices. Under the agreement, covering contracts for one year from 1 April 2008, BHP will increase its prices by up to 96.5% for deliveries to state-owned Baosteel.
Saturday, July 5th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Sao Paulo stock market lost foreign investors in June

Brazilian stocks partly recovered (0.16%) on Friday after their worst week in nearly a year with the Sao Paulo Bovespa index falling 7.7%, -below the 60.000 benchmark-, in line with global markets and concerns about oil and inflation.
Friday, July 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Seoul government cornered by US beef triggered crisis

South Korea's president called for an end to an on going dispute over United States beef imports, saying it was time for the nation to concentrate on overcoming domestic and economic difficulties.
Friday, July 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
June inflation in Chile is the highest in 17 years: 1.5%

Chile's Consumer Prices Index rose 1.5% in June accumulating 4.3% in the first half of the year according to the latest release from the country's Statistics Office. This is the highest June inflation since June 1991 (1.8%) and the highest monthly since October 1993 (2.6%).
Friday, July 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Record sale of cars and farm machinery in booming Brazil

The Brazilian automobile industry produced and sold a record number of new vehicles in the first half of 2008, with flex-fuel cars leading the surge according to the auto manufacturers' association, Anfavea, said on Friday.
Thursday, July 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Forbes ranks Chile as tops in Latam in business

Forbes Magazine this week ranked Chile as the best Latin America country for doing business. Chile ranked 19th among all the world's countries, up nine notches compared to last year. Mexico ranked 43rd, Uruguay 44th.
Thursday, July 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Euro zone hikes basic rate to 4.25%; oil at new record

The European Central Bank hiked on Thursday its key rate 25 points to 4.25%. This is the first rise in a year and is geared to contain food and fuel prices that in June reached an annualized 4%, the highest since 1996.
Thursday, July 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UK Defence £ 3 billion contracts for two new aircraft carriers

Britain's Ministry of Defence signed this week contracts to build two future aircraft carriers, to be named HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince Of Wales, the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed in the UK.
Thursday, July 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina exports 4.124 tons of ovine meat in five months

During the first five months of 2008, lamb and mutton exports from Argentina totaled 4.124 tons equivalent to 15.1 million US dollars which represents a 5% increase in volume and 19% in value, according to the latest statistics from SENASA, the Agro-food health and quality service.
Thursday, July 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina unable to complete EU beef Hilton quota

For the first time in almost thirty years Argentina was unable to fulfill its high priced special cuts Hilton quota of beef for the European Union in the fiscal year which ended June 30.