Economy

Tuesday, July 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Increased chances for global trade accord, says WTO Lamy

World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy said the chances of success for reaching a world-trade agreement have increased as a result of talks before trade ministers meet next week in Geneva.
Tuesday, July 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UK June inflation soars to an 11 year high of 3.8%

Rising food and fuel costs pushed UK inflation up to an 11-year high of 3.8% in June from 3.3% in May, figures show. The rise means inflation is now well above the government's 2% target, and may reduce the chance of a UK rate cut.
Tuesday, July 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US dollar plunge triggers concern among trade partners

The Euro soared to a new high against the US dollar on Tuesday, reaching US$1.6038 in European trading as markets worried about the ongoing US lending crisis and the country's economy.
Monday, July 14th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Brazil heading for record grain and oil seed harvest

Brazil's 2008 harvest of cereals, legumes and oilseeds has been estimated in a record 143.6 million metric tons, which is 7.9% higher than the 2007 production (133.1 million metric tons) according to the June report from the country's Geography and Statistics Institute, IBGE.
Monday, July 14th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
EU reopens market for Uruguayan fisheries exports

Uruguayan fisheries exports to the European Union have officially resumed this week after having overcome sanitary observations interposed at the beginning of the year, reported the country's Fisheries Department (DINARA) director Daniel Montiel.
Monday, July 14th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chile basic rate up; consumer confidence at its lowest

Chile's Central Bank raised its target interest rate by 50 points last week to 7.25%, the highest level since February 1999. Citing the need to pull back inflation to its 3% policy goal, the bank raised the monetary policy rate (TPM) for the third time in 2008.
Monday, July 14th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Spanish group definitively decided to abandon Argentina

The Spanish group Marsans expects to finalize this week an agreement to sell Aerolíneas Argentinas and its subsidiary Austral to the Argentine government according to company sources in Madrid.
Sunday, July 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Poor countries need 6 billion USD annually to pay for food

Poor countries will need some 6 billion US dollars in food aid annually, with food and energy prices expected to remain high for years to come, said Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank.
Sunday, July 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US government bails out mortgage finance companies

The United States government has announced sweeping measures to shore up the nation's two largest mortgage finance companies, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
Saturday, July 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US trade deficit falls in May; oil imports lowest since 2002

The United States trade deficit shrank in May even when average prices for imported oil surged during the month to a record, according to a US Department of Commerce release on Friday. The deficit narrowed to 59.8 billion US dollars from 60.5 billion in April as both exports and imports rose to record highs.