
New York district judge Thomas Griesa declared on Monday Argentina in contempt of court, due to the country's actions in attempting to change debt jurisdictions as a result of the ongoing judicial conflict with holdout investors presided over by the US magistrate.

Venezuela's Bolivar currency hit a record low 100 to the U.S. dollar on the black market on Friday, making the dollar 16 times more expensive than the strongest official rate, according to a website that tracks it.

Following the opening remarks by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Brazil’s president Dilma Rousseff was the first head of state to address the General Assembly on Wednesday. She called for a “re-launching of global economy” and a “true reform” of the UN Security Council.

Argentine President Cristina Fernández accused holdout investors of committing economic terrorism and reiterated her wish for a multi-lateral framework to regulate sovereign debt, during her speech before the United Nations 69th General Assembly on Wednesday.

New York district judge Thomas Griesa has asked Argentina to show cause and explain why the country should not be declared in contempt, following its decision not to pay holdout investors full amount for their defaulted bonds as the judge’s ruling ordered on August 8.

The informal rate for the US dollar in Argentina kept climbing on Wednesday and after brushing 16 Pesos, finally closed 53 cents higher at 15.95 Pesos, while the gap with the formal dollar soared to 89%. Distrust with government policy, plain speculation and hikes in the stock exchange rate were blamed for the situation.

President Cristina Fernández addressing on Wednesday the United Nations General Assembly said Argentina, in the context of a complex world situation, has become a triple leading case, (vulture funds, terrorism) and one referred to 'the use of force and territorial integrity', more specifically the pending dispute with the United Kingdom over the Falklands/Malvinas.

Brazil’s Real advanced from a seven-month low as the central bank signaled it will maintain support for the currency when it increased the number of foreign-exchange swap contracts offered in a rollover.

The Uruguayan government released this week the equivalent of 22.9 million dollars for the financing of political parties campaigning for 26 October when presidential and legislative elections are scheduled. In Uruguay political parties receive government support for electoral activities and private donations are closely scrutinized.

Credit ratings agency Moody's Investors Service has warned about the Argentine situation which can become “harmful” for Latin America, stating that the country's economy is in “decline” and qualifying current policies as “highly risky.”