Economy

• Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:49 UTC

  S&P admits a mistake and raised its debt grade for Argentina to CCC

  

  S&P Global Ratings raised its debt grade for Argentina on Tuesday, acknowledging the agency made a mistake when it changed the rating in late December for the crisis hit country.

• Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:46 UTC

  Chilean activity down and poor prospects for this year, following weeks of social unrest

  

  Economic activity in Chile dropped 3.3% in November, led by a slump in mining activity, the central bank has said, and officials predicted low growth for the coming year as the country reels from anti-government unrest. The prediction is based on Chile’s economic activity index or IMACEC (Indicador Mensual de Actividad Economica).

• Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:45 UTC

  Argentina will begin distribution of food cards to low income families later this month

  

  Argentina's government will begin to distribute food cards to low-income families beginning later this month as part of its anti-hunger program. Social Development Minister Daniel Arroyo announced during a live presentation of Argentine Plan Against Hunger the government reached an agreement with the Governor Jorge Capitanich from the northern province of Chaco to fight with hunger.

• Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 08:55 UTC

  Copper price unlikely to rebound in 2020 forecasts Chile's mining union

  

  The copper price is unlikely to rebound in 2020 even if trade tensions between the United States and China subside, the head of Chile mining trade union Sonami said on Tuesday.

• Tuesday, January 7th 2020 - 09:55 UTC

  Pompeo and Uruguay president elect Lacalle Pou look forward to a closer partnership

  

  United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke on Monday to Uruguayan president-elect Luis Lacalle Pou to congratulate him on his November 24 presidential election victory and to discuss expanding bilateral economic engagement and deeper political cooperation.

• Tuesday, January 7th 2020 - 09:18 UTC

  Bolsonaro will submit to Congress bill reducing the size of government

  

  Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro told journalists on Monday that his administration will likely submit to the Congress in February a reform to reduce the size of the government, aiming to cut public spending.

• Monday, January 6th 2020 - 09:49 UTC

  “Fernandez will be received with full honors of head of state”, Bolsonaro

  

  If Argentine president Alberto Fernandez visits Brazil, “he will be received with all the honors of head of State, which he deserves”, according to his peer Jair Bolosonaro, which has been interpreted as an easing of tensions between both leaders following the initial stormy clashes.

• Monday, January 6th 2020 - 09:29 UTC

  US not pleased with Alberto Fernandez foreign policy outlook

  

  The US government has warned Argentine president Alberto Fernandez that his first actions in foreign policy could endanger both IMF support as well as US investments in the country's energy sector.

• Monday, January 6th 2020 - 09:20 UTC

  Boris Johnson hosts EC President von der Leyen ahead of trade talks

  

  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in London on Wednesday ahead of the opening rounds of trade talks that will begin once Britain formally leaves the bloc on Jan 31.

• Saturday, January 4th 2020 - 09:50 UTC

  Falklands' Pensions Scheme reviewed to include greater option flexibility

  

  The Executive Council has considered a paper on retirement for members of the Falkland Islands Pension Scheme (FIPS), and approved a move towards greater pension flexibility.