Latin America

Friday, December 11th 2009 - 06:22 UTC
Billionaire Piñera favourite to win Chile’s Sunday presidential election

The latest poll published in Santiago just four days before Chileans elect their next president - confirms billionaire businessman Sebastian Piñera as the heads-on favourite to win next Sunday’s vote.
Thursday, December 10th 2009 - 11:28 UTC
FOGL trying to tempt Chilean companies to join Falklands’ oil exploration

Senior executives from Falkland Oil and Gas Limited (FOGL), which operates in the Falkland Islands, where it just announced the existence of significant oil reserves tempted Chile's State Oil Company (ENAP) into entering the business to help them explore and develop a 49,000 square meter basin in the South Atlantic.
Thursday, December 10th 2009 - 11:26 UTC
Chilean officials and private sector divided over recovery of salmon exports

Chilean officials expect sustained growth from the aquaculture sector with exports reaching 4 billion US dollars by 2015. Currently Chile’s main aquaculture export product is salmon with overseas sales in 2008 of 2.4 billion USD. The private sector however does not share the enthusiasm.
Thursday, December 10th 2009 - 07:53 UTC
Gallup poll shows strong Latinamerican support for Obama: 61%

A recent Gallup poll surveying Latinamerican perceptions of Barack Obama found that the US President’s strongest support comes from Chile, where 72% of those polled have a favourable image of him.
Thursday, December 10th 2009 - 07:32 UTC
US Assistant Secretary of State will be visiting Mercosur members next week

Recently nominated United States Assistant Secretary of State Arturo Valenzuela will be making his first trip to the region next week with visits to Mercosur full members, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, reported the US State Department.
Wednesday, December 9th 2009 - 14:49 UTC
Mercosur summit fails to advance in internal trade issues

The political coincidences of the two-day Mercosur presidential summit held in Montevideo overshadowed the lack of relevant decisions for the consolidation of the block as a customs union, according to Brazilian sources.
Wednesday, December 9th 2009 - 14:37 UTC
Mercosur presidents strongly reject Honduras November elections

Mercosur presidents expressed their most “energetic condemnation” of the Honduran coup and “total and full rejection” of the November 29th elections which represent a strong blow to “the democratic values of Latinamerica and the Caribbean”.
Wednesday, December 9th 2009 - 14:29 UTC
Venezuelan top private bankers help to calm markets and depositors

A two-week banking crisis in Venezuela seems to be settling down following President Hugo Chavez announcement that private banks will be respected but new rules to make the system more transparent and production-geared will begin to be enforced.
Wednesday, December 9th 2009 - 08:38 UTC
Economists suggest coordinated rates cuts to protect Latam currencies

Latinamerica should consider the possibility of a coordinated interest rate cut, in consultation with the IMF to combat the appreciation of local currencies was suggested Tuesday by a group of former government financial officials and economists from the region.
Wednesday, December 9th 2009 - 08:23 UTC
Search for remains of British priest killed when 1973 Chilean coup

Investigators will be searching for the body of torture victim Father Micheal Woodward at a cemetery in the Chilean city of Valparaiso (Region V) through next month, the victim’s family informed Chilean press on Monday.