Economy

Thursday, October 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Interest rate in UK on hold at 5.75%; eyes set on November

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted Thursday to maintain UK interest rates on hold at 5.75%. The decision comes despite pressure to follow the example of the US Federal Reserve to cut the cost of borrowing and help with the credit crunch.
Thursday, October 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
iPod sale: try Hong Kong, US but avoid South America

Want to buy an iPod? Try Hong Kong and if in Europe, Switzerland, and if in the Americas, United States or Canada but please avoid Brazil. That is the suggestion of Commonwealth Bank, one of Australia's largest, which checked the cost of a digital music 4GB iPodNano in 55 different countries.
Wednesday, October 3rd 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina closer to an agreement on Paris Club debt

Argentina is considering submitting a report on its economic program to the International Monetary Fund to help unblock negotiations on its 6.3 billion US dollars debt with the Paris Club, a government official said yesterday.
Wednesday, October 3rd 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Business newspapers on website for free competition

Pearson, the world's largest education publisher announced this week it was partially opening up free access to its Financial Times newspaper as it adopted a new online business model.
Wednesday, October 3rd 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Good prospects for Mercosur wheat, corn and soy crops

Weather conditions are improving in Mercosur main farm areas helping advance optimistic prospects for the 2007/08 harvests. In Argentina the wheat crop is predicted to reach 14 million tons while corn and sunflower planted areas are expected to increase significantly.
Tuesday, October 2nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Magallanes and Punta Arenas with lowest unemployment

Magallanes Region in the extreme south of Chile again recorded the lowest unemployment rate in the country during the June-August quarter, according to the latest release from the country's Statistics Office.
Monday, October 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Inflationary debate rages in Argentina; food CPI ranges 15%

Prices in Buenos Aires supermarkets and groceries jumped 1.6% in August totaling 14.1% in the first eight months of the year according to reports from the controversial Argentine Statistics and Census Office, Indec.
Monday, October 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC
China becoming world leader in wool processing

During the first seven months of this year China purchased 202.000 tons of wool, equivalent to 1.13 billion US dollars, up 61% over the same period a year ago according to the Uruguayan Wool Secretariat.
Monday, October 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Cuba and the “new climate” after more foreign investors

Cuba is considering further opening its economy to foreign investments given the “new climate” for business and “economic consolidation”. However errors of the past 2will not be repeated”.
Monday, October 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC
IMF is no longer “policeman” says Strauss-Khan

“The IMF can no longer play the role of policeman” admitted incoming International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn who added that the global economy is drastically different from when the IMF was created, and therefore “must adapt to change”.