Economy

Wednesday, April 3rd 2019 - 08:39 UTC
Brazil posts lower trade surplus in March with a strong rise in imports

Brazil posted a trade surplus of US$ 4.99 billion in March, the Economy Ministry said, significantly smaller than the same month a year ago thanks to a strong rise in imports. The trade surplus last month fell 22.3% to US$ 4.99 billion from US$ 6.42 billion a year ago, although that was up more than a third from February’s surplus of US$ 3.67 billion.
Wednesday, April 3rd 2019 - 08:33 UTC
Spanish bank cautious about Brexit but confident of solid growth in Latin America

Spanish bank Santander is expected to take a cautious stance on its British business in a strategy update on Wednesday, seeking to reassure investors after its aborted recruitment of former UBS banker Andrea Orcel as CEO.
Tuesday, April 2nd 2019 - 09:50 UTC
Sales of new cars in Argentina crash 50% in first quarter of the year

Sales of new cars in Argentina collapsed by almost 50% in the first quarter of 2019, the Association of Automobile Dealers of Argentina (ACARA) said Monday. Sales fell by 49.5% in the year-on-year comparison, with purchases down 50.4% in March year-on-year too, said ACARA.
Tuesday, April 2nd 2019 - 06:35 UTC
Argentina authorizes early opening of squid season north of parallel 44

Argentina's Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) decided to authorize the early opening of the northern squid sector, as it has been the case since 2016 on recommendations from the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (INIDEP).
Monday, April 1st 2019 - 09:00 UTC
Another Vale mining dam collapsed: no deaths reported and “no contamination”

Brazil has suffered another mining dam collapse, though this time there are no reports of dead or missing. The Rondonia state environment secretary says the dam in Oriente Novo gave way after a waterspout damaged its structure on Friday.
Monday, April 1st 2019 - 08:55 UTC
Trump cuts aid to Central American countries to stop immigration to the US

United States opposition politicians and aid agencies have questioned a decision by President Donald Trump to cut off aid to three Central American states. Mr. Trump ordered the suspension of aid payments to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to push their governments to stop migration into the US.
Monday, April 1st 2019 - 08:44 UTC
Petrobras interested in tendering to explore for oil and gas offshore Israel

Brazilian state-run oil firm Petrobras is considering bidding in a new tender to explore for oil and gas offshore Israel, a leading Israeli financial news website reported on Sunday. Calcalist reported that a final decision could be announced during a four-day visit to Israel by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro that began on Sunday.
Monday, April 1st 2019 - 08:40 UTC
Brazil will open a “business office” in Jerusalem; signs several agreements with Israel

Brazil's Foreign Ministry formally announced on Sunday it will open a “business office” in Jerusalem, backtracking on President Jair Bolsonaro's promise to move his country's embassy to Jerusalem.
Monday, April 1st 2019 - 08:27 UTC
The Revoke Article 50 petition (to halt Brexit) has passed six million signatures

The petition calling on the UK Government to halt the Brexit process has passed six million signatures. The Revoke Article 50 petition, due to be debated by MPs this Monday, is the best-supported proposal in the history of the House of Commons and Government’s e-petitions website.
Monday, April 1st 2019 - 08:20 UTC
Venezuela collapses: no power, water or internet; Schools suspended, workday limited to 02:00 PM

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro announced 30 days of electricity rationing on Sunday, after his government said it was reducing the length of the workday and keeping schools closed due to devastating blackouts plaguing the country.