Latin America

• Saturday, October 25th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Mexico injected 13 billion USD in 2 weeks to support the Peso

  

  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.

• Friday, October 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chilean Sunday local elections will test parties' strength

  

  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.

• Thursday, October 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela's budget based on petroleum at 60 USD a barrel

  

  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.

• Thursday, October 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Global recession fears have Latam markets on free fall

  

  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.

• Tuesday, October 21st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Bolivia agrees vote on new constitution referendum

  

  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.

• Tuesday, October 21st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  In spite of global crisis Latam countries avoid IMF

  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.

• Tuesday, October 21st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Punta Arenas airport will have exclusive Antarctica Terminal

  

  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.

• Monday, October 20th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile de-mining with sophisticated Pentagon equipment

  

  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.

• Sunday, October 19th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Strong confidence message from Latam central bankers

  

  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.

• Friday, October 17th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil and Mexico inject US dollars to sustain currencies

  Brazil Central Bank announced on Thursday further measures to ensure liquidity and support the local currency Real. The bank expanded the list of securities it will accept to free up reserve requirements on term deposits and took new measures to ensure that banks that borrow from its discount window provide credit lines to exporters