Investments

• Saturday, August 4th 2012 - 03:14 UTC

  Venezuela accession to Mercosur “by the back door”, according to The Economist

  

  Under the heading of “In by the back door” referred to the expansion of Mercosur, The Economist says “bringing Venezuela certainly was smart, in the sense of cunning rather than wise”, but it was done ignoring the block’s rules which call for unanimity in admitting new members.

• Friday, August 3rd 2012 - 08:25 UTC

  Falkland Islands debates and prepares for the development of the oil industry

  

  A public debate on the future of the Falkland Islands in the face of income from oil exploitation is required rapidly, according to a Member of the elected Legislative Assembly.

• Friday, August 3rd 2012 - 07:46 UTC

  State of emergency in south Peru to protect mining projects from guerrillas

  

  Peru’s government has extended a state of emergency for 60 days in several districts of south-central regions because of the presence of the guerrilla group Shining Path remnants.

• Friday, August 3rd 2012 - 07:01 UTC

  Petrobras and BP discover oil in deep-water at the northeast basin off Ceara

  

  Brazil’s government controlled oil and gas corporation Petrobras and Britain’s BP announced the discovery of oil in a deep-water offshore well in a new area for exploration off Brazil's northeast coast, according to a securities filing on Thursday.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 22:13 UTC

  B&S abandons south Falklands oil and gas exploration; FOGL takes over

  

  After two disappointing results, Borders & Southern has officially completed its deep water drilling program in the South Falkland Islands basin, the company announced on Tuesday. The company said well Stebbing has been “successfully plugged and abandoned,” bringing to an end the Company's current two well drilling program.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 01:19 UTC

  Chavez after an energy alliance with Argentina and Brazil in the framework of Mercosur

  

  Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez announced he expected to sign an oil/gas alliance between Argentina’s YPF and PDVSA (Venezuelan Petroleum) when he meets with his peer Cristina Fernandez in Brasilia in the framework of the Mercosur extraordinary summit to officially incorporate the country as full member of the trade group.

• Monday, July 30th 2012 - 16:39 UTC

  Argentina plans to explore for oil and gas next to the Falklands

  

  As part of its “Malvinas noose tightening” policy the Argentine government is planning an international tender to offer licenses to explore for oil near the Falkland Islands, reports Buenos Aires main daily Clarin in its Monday edition, citing a letter to Congress by Cabinet chief Juan Manuel Abal Median.

• Saturday, July 28th 2012 - 11:05 UTC

  Pluna’s seven Bombardiers to be auctioned next 3 September says government

  

  The Uruguayan government announced it will auction next 3 September the seven Bombardier aircraft from the collapsed flag air-carrier Pluna, which was definitively grounded last July 5, announced Public Works and Transport minister Enrique Pintado.

• Saturday, July 28th 2012 - 03:03 UTC

  Mexican regulators impose highest fine ever on HSBC for money-laundering

  

  Mexican regulators have imposed a fine of 27.5 million dollars on banking giant HSBC for its failure to comply with money-laundering regulations.

• Saturday, July 28th 2012 - 02:35 UTC

  Despite profits in Brazil, Santander bank profits halved following write-downs

  

  Profits at Spanish banking giant Santander have halved after it made more write-downs against unrecoverable loans secured against property. The bank, which is the Euro zone biggest, said first-half profits halved to 1.7bn Euros in the six months to the end of June.