Economy

Wednesday, April 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Investment grade for Brazil; stock market balloons 6.3%

Brazil's Ibovespa stock exchange index jumped to a record on Wednesday after Standard & Poor's unexpectedly raised the country's credit rating to investment grade. S&P Ratings Services Brazil's debt rating announcement from BB+ to BBB- sent domestic stocks soaring 6.3% hitting a new intraday record of 67,854.
Wednesday, April 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US households spending grows the slowest since 2001

The United States economy expanded at an annual rate of 0.6% in the first quarter of 2008, exceeding analyst expectations of an annualized growth rate of 0.2%.
Tuesday, April 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
EU expects slowdown and higher inflation in 2008/09

The marked slowdown in global activity, United States on the brink of recession and persisting financial turmoil are expected to have an impact on the European Union in the next 24 months with slower economic growth and higher inflation.
Tuesday, April 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
IMF approves by wide margin vote and quota reforms

The IMF Board of Governors adopted by wide margin far-reaching reforms to increase the voting shares of a majority of the 185 member countries particularly the large emerging economies.
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.