
Coronavirus concerns have pushed the US$ 45 billion cruise line industry to cancel trips and reroute ships as it struggles to contain the impact from fearful travellers. But experts say the industry will bounce back after the outbreak is contained.

Argentina's economic activity expanded in December as retail sales and manufacturing advanced, while the country posted a trade surplus in January that almost tripled the surplus the same month a year earlier.

Argentina is thought to be on the brink of falling into its ninth sovereign default, prompting some analysts to speculate whether the crisis-prone South American country might be tempted to accept funding from China.

Recession-hit Argentina's economy shrank by 2.1% in 2019, the state statistics institute said on Friday. The institute said the economy contracted by 0.3% in December compared to the same period in 2018.

President Jair Bolsonaro said on Friday he would try to convince electric carmaker Tesla to open a factory in Brazil when he heads to the United States next month. Bolsonaro, who will visit Miami and Dallas on March 9 and 10, said on Twitter that our extensive agenda will include the possibility of bringing Tesla to Brazil.

Intense rains in parts of Brazil have limited the advance of the soybean harvest over the past few days while also delaying exports of the oilseed, agribusiness consultancy Arc Mercosul said on Friday.

The US government expects China to honor its commitments to buy more US goods under a trade deal signed by the world's two largest economies in January despite the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak, a senior US official said on Thursday.

Brazil’s real posted a record low close against the dollar for a second straight day on Wednesday, after earlier sliding to within less than one centavo of its weakest-ever level as the weight of selling pressure built up on several fronts.

An IMF team, led by Julie Kozack Deputy Director of the Western Hemisphere Department and Luis Cubeddu Mission chief for Argentina, visited Buenos Aires from February 12 to 19, 2020 to discuss the recent macroeconomic developments and learn more about the Argentine authorities’ economic plans and policies. At the conclusion of the staff visit, Ms Kozack and Mr Cubeddu issued the following statement:

Brazilian oil workers and oil giant Petrobras were locked in a power struggle over the company’s privatization plans, with the union saying thousands of employees are on an indefinite strike.