Friday closed a tsunami impact trading week for Latinamerican markets accumulating massive losses as risk aversion and recession fears contagion from major markets spread to the rest of the world.
The Mexican peso ended trading on Friday at 13.70 to the US dollar after having fallen to a record 14.50. The Mexican central bank supported the currency with 1.1 billion US dollars.
More than eight million Chileans have the right to vote this Sunday for their mayors and city council representatives in the country's 345 municipalities. While the election results will not officially reflect on the 2009 presidential race, the political parties – right, left and centre – are hotly contesting the municipal races and will surely use the final vote tallies to tout their relative strength on the national political scene.
Venezuela's budget is forecasting 15% inflation and is based assuming oil prices of 60 US dollars per barrel next year, Finance Minister Ali Rodriguez told the National Assembly this week.
Latinamerican markets plunged on Wednesday on fears of consequences from Argentina's plan to nationalize retirement funds spread to the region increasing risks of an already highly volatile global situation.
Bolivian president Evo Morales reached a deal with opposition politicians to hold a referendum on a new constitution after agreeing to limit himself to running for only one more term in office.
Latin American governments haven't yet turned to one traditional source of aid as they combat the global economic crisis: the widely vilified International Monetary Fund.
In 2010 Punta Arenas airport will have an international Terminal exclusive for Antarctic travellers. The purpose: to confirm Punta Arenas as the real door of access to Antarctica, a condition it disputes with neighbouring Ushuaia in Argentine Tierra del Fuego.
The first week of November the Chilean Ministry of Public Works in coordination with the Chilean Army are scheduled to begin a new de-mining phase in the extreme north of the country to continue eliminating antipersonnel and anti tank mines, reports the Santiago de Chile press.
Latinamerican Central bank presidents and leading economists said on Sunday the region is well prepared to face growing global financial turbulence and agreed to share information on monetary and financial markets.