Latin America

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 23:19 UTC

  With Venezuela Mercosur has become “a new pole of world power”

  

  Argentine President Cristina Fernández said on Tuesday during a press conference held at the Mercosur extraordinary summit in Brasilia, that Venezuela’s entry to the bloc “strengthens the entire region” and creates a “new pole of power” at world level.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 22:22 UTC

  Second risk rating agency upgrades Uruguay to investment grade

  

  Moody's Investor Service upgraded Uruguay's sovereign ratings from Ba1 to Baa3, following Standard & Poor's upgrade announced on April.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 07:42 UTC

  Not without controversy Venezuela becomes Mercosur fifth full member

  

  Following a full day of deliberations in Brasilia between Foreign Affairs ministers, the presidents from Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, on Tuesday will formally receive Venezuela as the new full member of Mercosur, as was agreed at the regular mid year summit in Mendoza.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 04:04 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez prepares another ‘independence day’ celebration next Friday

  

  Argentina is ready to cancel next Friday a bond issue which was handed out to residents with bank deposits victims of the so called “corralito” (paddock) in 2002 when the collapse of the Argentine economy and financial system.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 02:05 UTC

  Uruguay expects to plant a record area of soybeans this coming season

  

  The soybean area and crop of the next harvest in Uruguay is expected to establish a new record with an additional 10% acreage, totalling over a million hectares boosted by excellent international prices and good weather prospects, according to reports from local grain and oilseed operators.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 01:58 UTC

  Increase of non resident deposits in Uruguayan banks

  

  The number of bank accounts of non residents in Uruguay climbed 14% in June compared to a year ago, --6.769 new clients--, which is higher than the increase verified for the whole number of residents and non residents, up 2%, according to Uruguay’s central bank data.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 01:25 UTC

  Brazil: Violent land disputes between tribes and ranchers on the rise

  

  Violent disputes over indigenous land are on the rise in Brazil, sparking heightened militancy by natives angered by broken promises of compensation and slower government registrations.

• 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 - 07:08 UTC

  Punta Arenas largest single industry leaves for Louisiana: insufficient gas supply

  

  The world’s largest supplier of methanol, Canadian-based Methanex, will invest 550 million dollars to relocate a methanol production plant from the extreme south of Chile to a 225-acre site in Geismar, Louisiana.

• Monday, July 30th 2012 - 07:04 UTC

  Soaring costs delay Barrick-Gold Andes mining project delayed a full year

  

  Barrick Gold, the world’s biggest gold miner, says its capital costs to develop a giant mine high in the Andes could reach 8 billion dollars and has delayed production until 2014.