Economy

Monday, February 4th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Cheap US dollar, strong imports erode Brazil's trade surplus

Brazil's trade surplus narrowed to a 5 and a half year low in January as a cheaper dollar and rising consumer demand pushed imports to a record high. Imports increased to 12.3 billion US dollars in January from 10.6 billion in December.
Monday, February 4th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Uruguay keeps consolidated budget deficit on target

In spite of a surge in expenditure in the last quarter Uruguay managed to keep to its fiscal target in 2007 with a budget deficit equivalent to 0.34% of GDP, below the 0.5% established in the Central Bank financial program.
Monday, February 4th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
RFA Lyme Bay has sailed on a mission to Tristan da Cunha

The MoD reported that RFA Lyme Bay was preparing to sail to Tristan da Cunha, where urgent repairs to the main harbour are required.
Monday, February 4th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Bernanke Makes Bulls From Dollar Bears Seeing Growth

Ben S. Bernanke's decision to lower interest rates 1.25 percentage points last month will end the dollar's two-year slide, according to the world's biggest currency traders.
Sunday, February 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Help for Chilean exporters to counter US dollar meltdown

Chile announced several measures to prop the competitiveness of Chilean exports that have been particularly affected by the international collapse of the US dollar and which has motivated reiterated claims from the industry.
Sunday, February 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Recession in the air: first decline in US jobs since August 2003

United States has seen the first decline in employment since August 2003, providing fresh evidence that the US economy could be entering a recession. Employers cut 17,000 jobs from their payrolls in January, Labor Department figures showed. Economists had been expecting a rise of 80,000.
Saturday, February 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Chile with record fiscal surplus in 2007: 8.7% of GDP

Chile finished 2007 with a record fiscal surplus of just under 14.5 billion US dollars, government officials acknowledged Wednesday. This figure represents 8.7% of Chile's overall GDP, which is also an all-time record.
Friday, February 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Climate tests China's power; concern over food supplies

With forecasts of more snow and ice, chaos in the transport and energy systems that has left millions stranded or without electricity and water, Chinese authorities are desperately trying to convince people the situation is under control.
Friday, February 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil “optimistic” about its 5% growth estimate for 2008

Brazil's Finance Minister Guido Mantega said that “for the moment” there's no reason to change the country's growth estimate of 5% for 2008, in spite of global recession fears, which he believes will impact most on developed countries.
Thursday, January 31st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
US economy and consumer confidence weakening rapidly

United States economic growth fell sharply in the last three months of 2007 as the credit crunch took effect, according to the latest figures from the Department of Commerce. Overall growth rate in 2007 was 2.2%, the weakest since 2002.