The United Nations Economic Committee for Latinamerica and the Caribbean, Cepal and the Andean Promotion Corporation, CAF downgraded their prospects for the region's growth this year fearing the impact of a recession in United States.
Chile's foreign direct investment in 2007 reached its highest level in the past 10 years, according to the Santiago Chamber of Commerce (CCS). Of 4.689 billion US dollars in Chilean capital invested outside Chile, 26%, or 1.236 billion dollars, ended up in Peru.
Colombian president Alvaro Uribe has an 80% support, the highest since taking office back in 2002, according to the latest public opinion polls released this week. The previous poll in November showed Uribe with a 74% support and 14% negative response.
World soybean supplies are smaller than expected and high exports are cutting stocks in key producing countries, Hamburg-based oilseeds analysts Oil World said.
Chile's congress backed a pension reform bill Wednesday to ensure the country's landmark social security program for the first time covers every citizen.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who remains in a convalescent state hospitalized in Havana because of gastrointestinal problems, wrote an essay which became public yesterday where he stated that Argentina and Brazil could be the life-jackets of the Latin America region's economy, because of their production of meat and cereals.
Divided Bolivia took a tentative step toward reconciliation as President Evo Morales and opposition governors agreed to seek a compromise between Morales' new constitution and declarations of autonomy by four resource rich eastern states.
Chile summoned home its ambassador to Peru for consultations amid a growing dispute over the countries maritime boundary and lucrative fishing grounds. Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley said Ambassador Cristian Barros was due in Santiago Thursday or Friday for a long conversation.
Colombia's biggest rebel group cocaine funded FARC kidnapped six Colombian tourists in the western province of Choco, daily El Tiempo reported in its online edition.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived Tuesday in Havana for a 24-hour visit to strengthen economic ties with Cuba. He is expected to sign a series of trade, cooperation and investment agreements in spite of the US economic embargo