Economy

Tuesday, September 1st 2015 - 06:12 UTC
China's factory activity contracts at its fastest in three years in August

China's factory activity contracted at its fastest pace in three years in August, confirming fears that the country's growth is continuing to slow. The official manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) dropped to 49.7 from 50 in July.
Monday, August 31st 2015 - 07:22 UTC
Lacking congressional support Rousseff discards reinstating financial transactions tax

President Dilma Rousseff has dropped the idea of reinstating a tax on financial transactions to bridge a gaping fiscal deficit in Brazil after it ran into a barrage of criticism even from within her coalition, Brazilian media reported on Sunday.
Sunday, August 30th 2015 - 13:58 UTC
Brazil in recession: worst slowdown in nearly three decades

Brazil's economy shrank 1.9% in the second quarter, sinking into a recession that has hammered President Dilma Rousseff's popularity. The quarterly contraction, reported by government statistics agency IBGE on Friday, was bigger than what markets expected and confirms the worst slowdown for Brazil in nearly three decades.
Sunday, August 30th 2015 - 13:44 UTC
Brazil wants to revive financial transaction tax to increase revenue

The Brazilian government is considering reviving a financial transaction tax known as CPMF in a bid to shore up its finances in 2016, but the initiative apparently does not have sufficient support in Congress and President Dilma Rousseff's main coalition ally, PMDB, is not willing to make the presentation.
Friday, August 28th 2015 - 07:22 UTC
Brazil/EU summit next year following exchange of proposals with Mercosur

Brazil and the European Union agreed to hold their annual summit during the first half of 2016, following the exchange of proposals for a wide ranging and cooperation trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur.
Friday, August 28th 2015 - 07:06 UTC
US economy 2Q performance changes the mood of markets

Shares rise and oil prices jumped 9% after revised figures showed the US economy grew by far more than had been thought between April and June. The economy grew by an annualized rate of 3.7%, up from the first estimate of 2.3%. Growth of 0.6% in the first three months of the year was not revised.
Thursday, August 27th 2015 - 05:04 UTC
Barcelona targets home rental websites to crack on 'uncontrolled' tourism

Barcelona's new mayor is picking a fight with home rental websites as she tries to crack down on uncontrolled tourism that she fears could drive out poor residents and spoil the Catalan capital's charm. Ada Colau is threatening to fine firms like Airbnb and Booking.com if they market apartments from tourists without a number showing that they are on the Catalan tourism register.
Thursday, August 27th 2015 - 04:41 UTC
Dilma has an extra 12 days to show 'non-doctored' government accounts

Brazil's highest accounting court gave another 15 days for President Dilma Rousseff to respond to accusations she doctored the government accounts last year to hide the deterioration of the country's finances.
Thursday, August 27th 2015 - 04:35 UTC
Brazil unemployment climbs to 8.3% in 2Q; auto industry starting layoffs

Brazil’s unemployment rate rose to 8.3% in the second quarter, according to a release from the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics, IBGE. The ranks of the jobless expanded to 8.4 million people during the April-June period.
Thursday, August 27th 2015 - 04:28 UTC
Wall Street rebounds 4%, but European markets still fearful of China

Shares on Wall Street finished with their biggest rise in four years ending another rocky day of trading on global markets. The mood was lifted by comments from US Federal Reserve official William Dudley that a rate rise in September seemed “less compelling”.