Economy

Sunday, March 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina: 30.4% (10.8 m) live below the poverty line

Higher food and fuel prices plunged 1.3 million Argentines below the poverty line in 2007, which means the income of 10.8 million Argentines is not enough to cover the costs of the basic food basket, according to a paper from the Buenos Aires think tank Sociedad de Estudios Laborales, SEL.
Sunday, March 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Vietnam limits rice exports; China boosts pay to farmers

Vietnam became the latest rice-producing country to limit exports of the grain and China announced on Friday higher payments to farmers both rice and wheat in an attempt to boost crop production and cool surging inflate
Friday, March 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Uruguay: Inflation becomes “permanent challenge”

Uruguayan Ministry of Economy admitted that inflation has become a “permanent challenge” demanding an “ongoing monitoring” of prices. Remarks follow the latest readjustment of fuel (2.4%) and bakery (14%) prices which have been influenced by the soaring values of oil and wheat.
Thursday, March 27th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Millions of Asians in poverty because of agriculture neglect

Chronic neglect of agriculture in Asia and the Pacific has left over 200 million people in extreme poverty amid rising prices for foodstuffs and despite robust growth in other sectors, according to a United Nations report released Thursday.
Thursday, March 27th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Strong economy boosts Lula da Silva's support to 58%

Support for Brazilian President Lula da Silva's administration jumped to its highest level 58%, riding on a strong economy which has helped boost wages and jobs, a public opinion poll showed on Thursday.
Wednesday, March 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
United States economic misery continues

The US economy is continuing its economic downturn although it would be “premature” to officially declare a recession, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has said.
Wednesday, March 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Brazil, Spain's main destination of net investment in 2007

Brazil became in 2007 Spain's second most important trade partner in the region (behind Mexico) and the main destination for Spanish net investments, according to official figures released this week in Madrid.
Wednesday, March 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Trichet calls for bank transparency and infers no rate cuts

The European Central Bank president Jean Claude Trichet anticipated “high inflation for a relatively longer period” than originally expected and defined growth outlook for the European Union a “unusually uncertain”.
Wednesday, March 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Sao Paulo's “Nova Bolsa”, becomes world's third largest

The merger of the Brazilian Bolsa de Valores de Sao Paulo and the futures Bolsa de Mercaderias & Futuros-BM&F SA confirmed the creation of the world's third-biggest publicly traded securities exchange and the largest in Latin America.
Wednesday, March 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Rice prices become a ticking time bomb for Asian countries

The spiral in rice world prices has become an extraordinary source of revenue for exporters Thailand and Vietnam but for the rest of Asian countries is a ticking time bomb that could lead to social chaos. Rice is the staple food for hundreds of millions in Asia and the Pacific basin.