Economy

• Thursday, April 26th 2018 - 09:18 UTC

  EU insists in good sanitary standards for Mercosur produce, if a deal is to be reached

  

  European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan insisted there would be “no deal” with Mercosur unless negotiators are fully satisfied strong standards will apply to all produce. It comes as another round of the negotiations on Mercosur got under way in Brussels this week.

• Thursday, April 26th 2018 - 08:46 UTC

  Trade skirmish: China halts purchases of US soybeans, gives priority to Brazil

  

  China’s purchases of U.S. soybeans have come to a grinding halt, trade and industry sources say, as fears of further action by Beijing to curb imports of U.S. crops following last week’s anti-dumping move on sorghum rattles the agriculture industry.

• Wednesday, April 25th 2018 - 09:14 UTC

  The yield for 10-year US Treasury bonds breaks 3% yield rattling markets

  

  The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield has broken through the “psychologically important” level of 3%, leaving analysts contemplating what it could mean the future of asset markets and, more importantly, the global economy. The yield on the benchmark bond — which helps to set prices for debt instruments all over the world — inched past 3% on Tuesday, a level that many market players deem dangerous for investments and the economy.

• Wednesday, April 25th 2018 - 08:50 UTC

  Paraguay soy farmers hopeful newly elected Senate will not slap levy on exports

  

  Paraguay's business-friendly ruling party lost fewer seats in Sunday's Senate election, than expected, ensuring strict fiscal policies while lessening chances of a tax hike on the key soy sector. Farmers in the world's No. 4 soybean exporter had feared that the new Senate might approves a measure, defeated last year, that would slap a 10% levy on exports.

• Wednesday, April 25th 2018 - 08:46 UTC

  Argentina central bank holds benchmark rate at 27.25%; economy expands 4.7% in first two months

  

  Argentina’s central bank held its benchmark interest rate at 27.25% on Tuesday, reiterating in a statement that high-frequency indicators suggested core inflation would remain high in April, but below March levels.

• Wednesday, April 25th 2018 - 08:25 UTC

  Lord Mayor of London visits Chile to boost financial and professional sector links

  

  The Lord Mayor of London, global ambassador for the UK’s financial and professional services industry, is visiting Chile at the head of a business delegation this week with the aim of strengthening trade links with the City of London.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2018 - 08:42 UTC

  Brazil poised for historic oil boom

  

  By Mathew Smith<br />
  <br />
  After being caught up in major corruption scandals and suffering from what some have claimed was its worst economic downturn in 100-years, Brazil has pulled itself back from the brink. The economy commenced growing again in 2017 with gross domestic product (GDP) expanding by 1 percent and 2018 GDP growth forecast by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to be 2.3%.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2018 - 08:31 UTC

  Japanese manufacturers insist on a single market for its UK investments

  

  Britain will not get a Brexit deal better than the current single market, Japan’s ambassador to the UK has said. Koji Tsuruoka, who took up the role just over a fortnight before the referendum in June 2016, said Japanese firms are watching negotiations and will want to continue to be located in the single market after next March.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2018 - 08:00 UTC

  Crucial week for Theresa May who insists that “we are leaving the customs union”

  

  British Prime Minister Theresa May could bow to Parliamentary pressure to keep Britain in a customs union with the European Union after Brexit. Following a defeat in the House of Lords and reports that a number of Tory MPs will vote in favor of membership in the Commons, the Prime Minister and her team are reported to be having a rethink.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2018 - 07:22 UTC

  IMF forecasts Argentina will grow 2% this year because of the drought and fiscal shortcomings

  

  The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) World Economic Outlook update for April 2018 has reduced its expectations of growth for Argentina this year, and its projected annual inflation rate largely exceeds the 15% goal set by president Mauricio the Macri administration in December 2017.