
Brazil, Uruguay, Chile and Peru figure among the short list of top ranked developing countries for global retail expansion. In the 10th annual Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), elaborated by global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney, Brazil jumped to first place from number 5 in last year’s study.

The Peruvian currency and Lima’s stock market partially recovered on Tuesday from the dramatic Monday collapse when it was confirmed nationalist Ollanta Humala had been elected in a very tight run-off to become the country’s next president.

The Chilean volcano Puyehue ash cloud has reached the Argentine capital after moving across the Greater Buenos Aires, but the due effects of the cloud are seen to be minimal. Meanwhile local airlines confirmed cancelled all flights until further notice at the international airport of Ezeiza and at the domestic-flights metropolitan Aeroparque.

Argentina will be hosting on Thursday the first meeting of the South American Economy and Finance Council that will bring together Economy ministers and Central bank governors from members of Unasur, Union of South American Nations.

“United States is “ready and very willing” to work with Peru's president-elect Ollanta Humala said Washington’s top diplomat for Latin America, Arturo Valenzuela during the Organization of American States meeting Monday in El Salvador.

The ash cloud hovering above Argentine Northern Patagonia since Saturday after the eruption of the Puyehue volcano in the Chilean Andes may reach the city of Buenos Aires on Tuesday, experts assured.

Brazil’s presidential foreign affairs advisor Marco Aurelio Garcia celebrated the victory of nationalist Peruvian president elect Ollanta Humala who beat Keiko Fujimori in the Sunday run off by a minimum difference.

Eduardo Guilisasti, CEO of Chile’s Concha y Toro winery, placed ninth on Decanter magazine’s recently released “2011 Power List.” The bi-annual ranking lists the 50 most influential people in the winemaking world based on their level of influence over consumer choice in wine. This year’s list elevated Guilisasti from his 2009 ranking as 13th.

Peruvian president-elect nationalist Ollanta Humala promised Monday a ‘national concerted government” with representation of all democratic forces and open to the civil community.

Public support for Chile’s conservative President Sebastián Piñera fell to a new low of 36%, according to an Adimark poll released Thursday, while outright rejection of Piñera’s government reached a record 56%.