AP – Millions in the United States were preparing for another night blast of snow and ice following a day in which vast areas of states, mainly Texas has to endure frigid conditions without electricity or heat. Some thirty deaths have been reported so far.
Good news for Chile. The price of the country's main export, copper, reached this week its highest international value in eight years and nine months, at US$ 3,81 the pound, according to the latest reports from the London Metal Exchange.
Argentina’s state-managed oil giant expects to avoid a costly default next month after it won support for a debt swap from a large creditor group. The so-called Ad Hoc Bondholder Group, which holds 45% of YPF’s 2021 notes, expressed support for the exchange after the company increased its cash sweetener over the weekend.
Despite confusing news from Argentina following president Alberto Fernandez's announcement that he is prepared to reimpose levies on grains and oilseeds exports if food prices keep increasing, oilseed crushers said they had reached a deal with the government to hold down domestic edible oil prices.
Fracking activity in Vaca Muerta, Argentina shot up in January to its highest level in 17 months, according to the Argentine unit of Houston-based services company NCS Multistage.
Brazilian mining giant Vale signed a settlement deal on Thursday to pay 37.7 billion reais (US$ 7 billion) to the state of Minas Gerais, following the collapse of a dam two years ago that devastated the city of Brumadinho and killed more than 270 people.
Brazil’s Car Wash anti-corruption unit has officially been disbanded putting an end for a team of prosecutors that sent dozens of Brazilian and regional political and business leaders to jail, including several former presidents.
Brazil independent truckers strike got off on Monday to a weak start because of internal divisions on how to protest fuel prices. The government said traffic was flowing freely on all of the country's highways far from fears of a repeat of the 2018 protest that disrupted food and fuel supplies.
Brazil's oil and gas giant Petrobras announced a hydrocarbon discovery in the pre-salt Campos Basin offshore Rio de Janeiro state, some 200 kilometers from the coast and at a depth of 2,950 meters.
The Hess Exploration company is betting strongly in the opportunities of its Guyana operations. With a 30% interest in the Stabroek Block, it has allotted more than 80% of its capital and exploratory budget of US$1.9 billion for 2021 to its offshore blocks.