Economy

• Tuesday, April 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  UN-World Bank task force to tackle global food crisis

  The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is setting up a task force to tackle the global food crisis. Ban Ki-moon said the world faced “widespread hunger, malnutrition and social unrest on an unprecedented scale” because of soaring food prices

• Monday, April 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Seven S. American countries launch the Bank of the South

  

  South American Economy ministers agreed in Montevideo on an initial credit turnover of 20 billion US dollars for the regional development Bank of the South as well as each country member's contribution and credit access.

• Monday, April 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Good performance of Paraguayan economy last year: 6.8

  

  The Paraguayan economy boosted by the faro sector Grez 6.8% in 2007, which is higher than originally forecasted, 6.4%, according to the country's Central Band president German Rojas.

• Monday, April 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina's country risk reaches highest since June 2005

  Argentina's country risk according to JP Morgan signaled last Friday a new high, matching the June 2005 mark, following Standard & Poor's negative rating of Argentina's foreign debt.

• Monday, April 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  High meat and cereal prices for some time forecasts bank

  

  China's preference for different types of meat and a growing demand for cereals and oilseeds have had a direct impact on the price of food world wide according to an expert from the Spanish bank BBVA, which has a strong influence and presence in Latinamerica.

• Sunday, April 27th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina: Largest sunflower crop in six years, 4.52 m tons

  

  Argentina's sunflower crop was greater than forecasted totalling 4.52 million tons, the largest of the last six seasons, according to Buenos Aires Grain Exchange. The total area planted was 2.636.000 hectares, with an average yield of 1.720 kilos per hectare, which is 2.5% over last year's crop.

• Saturday, April 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay acts to contain US dollar fall in local market

  

  Uruguay announced a package of measures to contain the effects of a collapsing US dollar in the local money market and to combat inflation. The local currency, Uruguayan peso, has appreciated almost 7% against the US dollar in the first four months of 2008 and has dropped to June 2002 levels which has caused concern among the country's exporters.

• Friday, April 25th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner inflation index for March 1%; Argentina's CPI 4.2%

  

  Two Argentine provinces, which are out of the Kirchners' political influence, have reported monthly inflation almost four times the official percentage, according to the latest releases from the Statistics and Census Office in Buenos Aires and its branches in Santa Fe and San Luis.

• Thursday, April 24th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Latam forecasted to expand 4.7% in 2008; Argentina 7%

  Latin America's economy will grow at 4.7% in 2008 compared with 5.7% last year, the United Nations Latin American and Caribbean Economic Commission, CEPAL, estimated this week, reaffirming growth targets trimmed in March.

• Wednesday, April 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Rice prices soar on fears Thailand could ban exports

  Rice prices have ballooned to fresh heights in Asian trade amid concern that export bans by key producing countries will hit supply. Curbs are in place in India and Vietnam to protect domestic supply and there are fears that Thailand, the world's largest producer, could follow suit.