During the first seven months of this year Uruguay meat exports totaled 983 million US dollars, 54% higher than the same period in 2007, of which beef represents 84% and lamb 4%, according to the country's Nacional Institute of Meats, INAC.
The Japanese economy contracted by 0.6% between April and June, prompting fears that it is sliding towards recession. Declining exports and consumer demand were behind the fall - the first for more than a year - which came after a rise of 0.8% in the previous quarter.
Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov paid 300 million Euros for a villa in the French Riviera built in 1902, so grand that it takes a reputed 50 gardeners to tend its gardens, according to the Paris daily Le Monde.
The US Department of Agriculture corrected upwards its estimate of world production of grains for 2008/09 which should total 2.190,61 million tons, up from the previous 2.164,97 million tons.
Economic activity in Magallanes Region, extreme south of Chile, has fallen dramatically during the second quarter of this year compared to the same period a year ago according to the latest data from the country's official Statistics Office.
Venezuela raised regulated prices of 15 basic foods ranging from bread to beef by up to 50% and removed price controls from other goods in an attempt to ease sporadic shortages in supermarkets.
Despite the recent dip in prices soybeans keep attracting Argentine farmers who for the coming 2008/09 season are expected to dedicate a record area to the oilseed crop.
Argentina's foreign debt rating outlook was cut on Thursday to stable from positive by Moody's Investors Service, which cited heightened political volatility. This means Argentina's rating stands at B3, six levels below investment grade.
The 15 economies of the Euro zone contracted by 0.2% between April and June heightening fears the Euro area is sliding towards recession. The first decline since the Euro zone was created in 1999 was driven by a slowdown in exports and consumer spending.
United States consumer prices rose by 5.6% in the year to July, the fastest inflation rate for almost two decades figures show. US Labor Department reported consumer prices rose 0.8% last month after jumping 0.6% in May and 1.1% in June. The July number was double what economists had predicted.