Economy

Friday, May 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Ten states of Brazil to be declared free of FAM with vaccine

The Animal Health Organization, OIE, with seat in Paris is expected to declare ten states of Brazil including the Federal District of Brasilia free of foot and mouth disease with vaccination.
Friday, May 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Brazil powerhouse: Fitch hikes debt to investment grade

Fitch Ratings became this Thursday the second large rating agency in less than a month to up Brazil credit ratings to investment grade. Fitch said in a statement that the upgrade “reflects the dramatic improvement in Brazil's external and public sector balance sheet”.
Friday, May 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
EU steel lobby rejects BHP Billiton Rio Tinto takeover bid

Mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd. formally filed Friday with the European Commission to take over rival Rio Tinto, triggering an antitrust review of the hostile takeover. The EC confirmed the notification and will reach a decision by July 4 when it can approve the deal, open an in-depth investigation or permit a short extension.
Friday, May 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Unemployment in Punta Arenas remains stable at 2.6%

Unemployment in Magallanes Region in the extreme south of Chile was 2.6% in the three months period, February, March, April, compared to a national average of 7.6%, according to the latest release from the Statistics Office.
Thursday, May 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
FAO anticipates sharp price hikes in food supplies

Further sharp price hikes and continued volatility in markets for food supplies appear to be likely for the next few seasons, according to a report released Wednesday by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the run-up to a summit on the global food crisis which is being held in Rome early next month.
Thursday, May 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentine inflation in four months reaches 10.5%

Although Argentine official inflation statistics are considered non reliable and there's no national consumers price index, some provinces, --outside the realm of the President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner administration--, have kept local statistics branches operational and their numbers are considered a valid reference.
Thursday, May 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Farmers' conflict shadows “inflation and poverty”

Argentine former Economy minister Roberto Lavagna said that the current conflict of the government with the farmers helps to over shadow other critical issues for Argentine consumers such as inflation.
Thursday, May 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Soy gains in Chicago with Argentine farmers' conflict

Soybean futures advanced in Chicago as Argentina's farmers decided to stop selling crops and livestock until next week in the third protest in two months over export taxes.
Thursday, May 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US economy surprise: 0.9% growth in first quarter

The United States economy performed better than expected in the first quarter of 2008 having expanded 0.9% according to the latest data from the Commerce Department.
Wednesday, May 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Federal Reserve member decides to return to academia

Federal Reserve Governor Frederic Mishkin will leave at the end of August and return to teaching at Columbia University, the United States central bank announced Wednesday.