Economy

• Thursday, March 9th 2017 - 21:41 UTC

  Brazil denies plans to raise taxes on forex transactions to help meet fiscal target

  

  Brazil's central bank and finance minister denied a report that the government could raise taxes on foreign exchange transactions to help reach this year's fiscal target. Bloomberg News had reported the move was “among the options being considered” by the Brazilian government to meet its fiscal target, citing a source with direct knowledge of the issue.

• Thursday, March 9th 2017 - 13:55 UTC

  Temer launches 55 infrastructure projects to boost private investment and create 200.000 jobs

  

  Brazil's President Michel Temer launched an infrastructure concessions program on Tuesday that he said should raise 45 billion Reais (US$14.43 billion) in investment in building and operating roads, port terminals, railways and power transmission lines. Temer said the program was key to restoring an attractive business environment as Brazil struggles to emerge from its worst-ever recession.

• Thursday, March 9th 2017 - 11:32 UTC

  Brazil's fertilizer market picks up strongly as sowing area expands

  

  Brazil's fertilizer market, having recovered to set a fresh all-time high last year, will expand further in 2017, Fertilizantes Heringer said, as it unveiled a jump in corn nutrient volumes, but a fallback in sales to coffee growers.

• Thursday, March 9th 2017 - 11:28 UTC

  Brazilian economy two-year contraction is slowing

  

  Brazilian services activity contracted at the slowest pace in two years in February, contributing to signs that Latin America's economy may soon turn the corner on a deep recession. The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for Brazilian services, compiled by research firm Markit, rose to 46.4 in February from 45.1 in January, hitting its highest mark since March 2015.

• Wednesday, March 8th 2017 - 12:08 UTC

  UK has made a “bad choice at a bad time” with Brexit, argues Hollande

  

  Britain will not be able to hang on to the benefits of European Union membership once it has left, French president Francois Hollande has warned. Hollande, who leaves office in May, said the UK had made a “bad choice at a bad time” in voting for Brexit.

• Wednesday, March 8th 2017 - 10:39 UTC

  Falklands' population better off, healthier and happier than when the 2012 Census

  

  The Falklands population continues to grow, is generally better off, healthier and happy with the roof over their heads, than four years ago when the last Census was conducted. Maeve Daly, Statistics and Performance Officer of FIG’s Policy Unit presented the ‘headlines’ of the latest Census, at a Public Meeting last week.

• Wednesday, March 8th 2017 - 10:32 UTC

  UK will prioritize a Brexit safety net fund in the budget, says Chancellor Hammond

  

  United Kingdom Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond has signalled he will prioritise building up a Brexit safety net fund ahead of launching a spending spree in Wednesday’s Budget.

• Wednesday, March 8th 2017 - 10:12 UTC

  Brazil's worst-ever recession continued during 2016, GDP drops 3.6%

  

  Brazil’s economic woes continue as the country’s worst-ever recession unexpectedly deepened at the end of last year. Gross domestic product contracted by 0.9% between October and December. For all of 2016 it dropped by 3.6%; almost as bad as in 2015 with a 3.8% slump. It was the eighth straight quarter of contraction.

• Wednesday, March 8th 2017 - 09:42 UTC

  Argentina: “The honeymoon with the Macri administration is over” warns analyst Fraga

  

  “The honey moon is over” and the government of President Mauricio Macri must rapidly reconsider its strategy since public opinion is no longer responsive to the expectations of the first fourteen months, according to Argentine political analyst Rosendo Fraga. His analysis was also supported by another political commentator Carlos Pagni, who said all opinion polls indicate a sliding drop in expectations.

• Tuesday, March 7th 2017 - 09:19 UTC

  Lords again challenge PM May on Brexit plan: they insist with greater say on final terms

  

  United Kingdom ministers are at risk of a second defeat in the House of Lords over the bill paving the way for Brexit talks. Peers may back calls for a “meaningful vote” on the final terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU and its future relations during a debate on Tuesday.