Economy

• Friday, October 4th 2019 - 09:50 UTC

  Ecuador declares state of emergency to contain protests against elimination of fuel subsidies

  

  Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno declared a state of emergency Thursday as protests broke out nationwide over the end of decades-old fuel subsidies as part of a $2 billion government fiscal reform package. Police responded with tear gas in the worst unrest for years in the oil-producing Andean nation.

• Friday, October 4th 2019 - 09:40 UTC

  
Argentine industrial activity dropped 6.4% in August and 8.1% so far this year

  

  Industrial activity in Argentina dropped 6.4% during August compared to a year ago and 2.8% over last July, totalling a slide of 8.1% so far this year, according to the official stats office, Indec.

• Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:54 UTC

  Developing nations foreign debt reaches US$ 7.8 trillion, World Bank report

  

  Total foreign debt held by developing nations jumped more than 5% to US$7.8 trillion, driven by a surge in Chinese debt, the World Bank said in a report on Wednesday.

• Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:51 UTC

  Brazil's landmark pension reform bill closer to its final approval

  

  Brazil’s Senate on Wednesday approved a landmark pension reform bill in the first round of voting, in relief for far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, although senators voted down an amendment in a move that dilutes the reform’s projected savings. The bill will now pass to a second and final voting round.

• Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:50 UTC

  US will impose 10% tariffs on Airbus planes and 25% on French wine and Scotch

  

  United States on Wednesday said it would enact 10% tariffs on European-made Airbus planes and 25% duties on French wine, Scotch and Irish whiskeys and cheese from across the continent as punishment for illegal EU aircraft subsidies.

• Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:35 UTC

  Cool reception from Brussels to UK's new Brexit plan: “a lot of work needs to be done”

  

  Britain's new Brexit plan got a cool reception on Wednesday in Brussels, where European officials highlighted problems and their chief negotiator warned it left “a lot of work” to be done.

• Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:18 UTC

  China's hog herd drops to half because of the African swine fever

  

  China's hog herd fell by half in the first eight months of 2019 due to a devastating outbreak of African swine fever and will likely shrink by 55% by the end of the year, analysts at Rabobank said on Wednesday.

• Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 08:52 UTC

  The IMF after Argentina

  

  By Kenneth Rogoff (*) - It’s high time to ask how to refocus the International Monetary Fund’s mandate for dealing with emerging-market debt crises. How can the IMF be effective in helping countries regain access to private credit markets when any attempt to close unsustainable budget deficits is labeled austerity?

• Wednesday, October 2nd 2019 - 09:57 UTC

  Mercosur and South Korea fourth round of trade talks, this time in Busan

  

  South Korea’s trade ministry said on Monday it plans to hold the fourth round of trade talks with Mercosur as Seoul aims to expand its trade network with emerging countries and revitalize its ailing exports.

• Wednesday, October 2nd 2019 - 09:55 UTC

  Falklands appoints new Director of Policy and Economic Development

  

  The Falkland Islands Government announced on Tuesday the appointment of Andrew Gaule as the new of Director of Policy and Economic Development. Andrew is due to arrive in the Islands on 2 November 2019 to allow for a seamless handover from the current Director Diane Simsovic.