Economy

• Monday, March 13th 2017 - 08:39 UTC

  UK's £50bn Brexit “divorce bill”: follow the example of PM Thatcher, says Boris

  

  Boris Johnson has told the BBC that Britain should reject any EU demands for a £50bn “exit bill” and follow the example of former PM Margaret Thatcher. It has been reported that EU negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must continue to pay into the EU until 2020.

• Friday, March 10th 2017 - 08:03 UTC

  UK calls on 30 Commonwealth countries for a post-Brexit trade network

  

  British trade‎ minister Liam Fox has urged ministers from more than 30 Commonwealth countries to resist “seductive” trade protectionism on Thursday, eyeing the network of mostly former colonies as a way to boost post-Brexit trade.

• Thursday, March 9th 2017 - 23:27 UTC

  US employment balloons during February with strong impact on construction and manufacturing

  

  United States companies added jobs at a great pace in February, with a notable shift away from the service-sector positions that have dominated hiring for years, according to a report released this week. Employment in the private sector surged by 298,000 for the month, with goods producers adding 106,000, ADP and Moody's Analytics said. Construction jobs swelled by 66,000 and manufacturing added 32,000.

• 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.