Economy

• Saturday, December 19th 2015 - 06:18 UTC

  Argentina's foreign exchange market slowly adapting to new rules with no major surprises

  

  The US dollar in Argentina's foreign exchange market plunged on Friday 35 cents to 13.60 Pesos on the second day since President Mauricio Macri's administration decided to put an end to official restrictions for the purchase of greenbacks and other dealings with foreign currency.

• Saturday, December 19th 2015 - 05:37 UTC

  WTO statement in support of reducing fishing subsidies

  

  World Trade Organization members, including Argentina and Uruguay, have agreed on the need to reduce fishing subsidies so as to contribute to the conservation of fishing resources worldwide. This decision was taken because WTO is convinced that fisheries subsidies contribute to economic losses in the fisheries sector, leaving serious impact on food security and livelihoods, particularly in developing countries, Star Business Report reported.

• Saturday, December 19th 2015 - 04:41 UTC

  China's demand for infant milk makes NZ company shares surge 140% in one year

  

  Shares in New Zealand dairy firm - The a2 Milk Company (A2) - were up more than 30% in Sydney on Friday after the firm raised its full-year earnings forecast on demand for its infant formula in China and Australia. It is the second time since November the company has raised its guidance.A2 said group revenue could reach US$ 212 million for the period, up from US$180.

• Saturday, December 19th 2015 - 04:11 UTC

  United States lifts 40-year ban on exports of crude oil

  

  The United States has approved a measure to lift the 40-year ban on crude oil exports. The move is part of a US$1.1 trillion spending bill approved by the Senate on Friday that will fund the US government until 2016.

• Friday, December 18th 2015 - 09:14 UTC

  Argentine minister 'satisfied' with the market response on first day without the dollar clamp

  

  Argentina's Finance Minister Alfonso Prat Gay said on Thursday that the first day in the market without the dollar restrictions imposed by the previous administration, had been positive and as they had planned or expected. Compared to the previous multi-tier system, the dollar appreciated in the range of 25% against the Peso in the unified market.

• Friday, December 18th 2015 - 08:57 UTC

  Cameron hopeful of a more mature relation with Argentina but Falkland Islanders self determination is 'unmovable'

  

  In a Christmas message to Falkland Islanders, UK Prime Minister David Cameron is hopeful that the election of a new Argentine president “will allow us to move towards a more mature relationship”.

• Friday, December 18th 2015 - 08:01 UTC

  Brazil's budget targets ignored by Congress; Finance minister could resign

  

  Brazil’s Congress on Thursday approved a 2016 budget with surplus targets lower than what Finance Minister Joaquim Levy wanted, a day after the country lost an investment-grade credit rating on concerns about fiscal restraint.

• Friday, December 18th 2015 - 07:55 UTC

  South America to contract 0.8% and Central America will expand 4.6% in 2016, says UN office

  

  Latin American and Caribbean economies will contract 0.4% on average in 2015 and will grow just 0.2% next year, as a result of the complex external scenario, according to new projections unveiled on Thursday by the UN Latin America and Caribbean Economic commission, ECLAC. Estimates for next year are that Central America will expand 4.6% while South America will again contract 0.8%.

• Friday, December 18th 2015 - 07:44 UTC

  A good one for Brazil: trade surplus has reached US$15.8bn

  

  Brazil accumulated a trade surplus of US$15.8 billion between January and the second week of December, its biggest for that period since posting a US$17.15 billion trade surplus for the first 11 months of 2012, according to Development, Industry and Foreign Trade Ministry figures.

• Thursday, December 17th 2015 - 07:56 UTC

  Fitch downgrades Brazilian bonds to junk; investors could dispose of 20bn in debt

  

  Fitch Ratings downgraded Brazil government bonds to junk on Wednesday, citing rising concerns about an economic and political crisis that threatens to push President Dilma Rousseff from office and scuttle efforts to close a gaping fiscal deficit.