Economy

Thursday, July 23rd 2015 - 08:18 UTC
Protesting French farmers promised €600m of emergency government help

Dramatic protests across the north of France have won the country’s farmers €600m of emergency government help. This week thousands of tractors blockaded motorways and brought cities to a standstill, as the plight of producers dominated the nation’s news.
Thursday, July 23rd 2015 - 08:02 UTC
Brazil slashes fiscal savings' goals for 2015 and 2016 on plunging tax revenue

Brazil dramatically lowered its fiscal savings goals for 2015 and 2016 on Wednesday due to plunging tax revenues, and announced new spending cuts to underscore its commitment to austerity. The government cut its primary surplus goal for this year to 8.7 billion reais ($2.70 billion), or 0.15% of GDP, from 66.3 billion reais, the equivalent of 1.1% of GDP, originally budgeted.
Thursday, July 23rd 2015 - 07:24 UTC
Over half of Argentina households belong to the middle class; only second to Uruguay

Argentina is the Latin American country where the middle class has grown the most in ten years, doubling in size, according to a report released by the Pew Research Center in the United States.
Wednesday, July 22nd 2015 - 07:22 UTC
BRICS bank (New Development Bank), takes off in low-key Shanghai ceremony

Officials from the world's largest emerging nations launched on Tuesday the New Development Bank (NDB), the second of two new policy banks heavily backed by Beijing that are being pitched as alternatives to existing institutions such as the World Bank. Also known as the BRICS bank, it follows soon after the establishment of the China-led Asian Investment Infrastructure Bank (AIIB).
Wednesday, July 22nd 2015 - 06:37 UTC
Dollar in Argentina breaks 15-Peso threshold; pro-business candidate poor showing scares markets

The US dollar kept climbing in Argentina and ended trading on Tuesday above the 15 Pesos threshold after having advanced 30 cents on Monday and 54 cents today. Sunday's electoral result in the City of Buenos Aires where the pro-business PRO party just managed to scrape by with victory, has triggered growing nervousness and speculation among savers and traders.
Wednesday, July 22nd 2015 - 05:58 UTC
French president to announce emergency measures in support of farmers

President Francois Hollande has said he would unveil emergency measures to help France’s livestock and dairy farmers on Wednesday. Tuesday’s announcement came as as livestock farmers caused chaos in the north west of France, using tractors and trucks full of manure and rubble to block roads.
Wednesday, July 22nd 2015 - 01:07 UTC
“Another example of efforts to damage the Falklands' economy”

The Falkland Islands government reacted strongly to statements by the Argentine official in charge of Malvinas affairs who claimed that “the theft of squid and other valuable fish stocks” in the South Atlantic, was the reason behind the success of the Islands' economy, according to a report from the Express.co.uk.
Tuesday, July 21st 2015 - 05:49 UTC
White House advisor, expert in stimulus next IMF chief economist

The International Monetary Fund has named as its new chief economist Maurice Obstfeld, an academic and White House economic adviser known for his work on money flows and international finance.
Monday, July 20th 2015 - 08:06 UTC
France calls for an 'Euro government” led by a 'vanguard of countries'

France favors a “stronger organization” behind the Euro led by “a vanguard of countries”, French President Francois Hollande said in an interview published Sunday. In the past week “the European spirit prevailed” in addressing the Greek crisis, he told the weekly Journal du Dimanche.
Monday, July 20th 2015 - 08:03 UTC
A new chapter for Greece: banks reopen and a raft of VAT increases

Banks in Greece expect long queues but no major problems when they reopen this Monday for the first time in three weeks, although withdrawals will still be limited and capital controls will remain, senior banking officials said on Sunday.