Mercosur

• Sunday, November 26th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Populist leader leading in Ecuador's presidential run-off

  Nationalist-populist leader Rafael Correa seems to have emerged as the winner in Ecuador's Sunday presidential run-off according to private surveys, in what has been interpreted as a clear signal of electorate disenchantment with traditional politics.

• Saturday, November 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Euro soars to its highest against the US dollar

  The Euro soared to its highest level against the US dollar since April 2005 amid concerns for the deceleration of the US economy and a significant slowdown in the housing market.

• Saturday, November 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina invests 1.6 billion in two power plants

  Siemens Power Generation, a unit of Siemens AG (SI) said Friday it has been awarded major contracts from Argentina for the turnkey construction of two combined cycle power plants.

• Saturday, November 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile resumes as associate member of CAN

  The Community of Andean Nations Foreign Affairs ministers' council extended Friday the category of associate member to Chile.

• Friday, November 24th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil's growth potential limited by structural distortions

  Brazil has made great advances in growth and productivity performance and stability but macroeconomic and structural distortions remain preventing the country from reaping the full benefits of stabilization in terms of potential growth points out a report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development released Friday.

• Friday, November 24th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  South American countries eliminate regional tourist visas

  The twelve countries which make up the South American Community of Nations signed Friday an agreement for the elimination of tourist visas with the purpose of boosting regional tourism.

• Friday, November 24th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Kirchner after bigger stake in Aerolineas Argentinas

  Argentina is considering acquiring 20% of Aerolíneas Argentinas stock currently under Spanish majority control, after having increased its participation from 1.5 to 5% this week, revealed Friday Argentina's Transport Secretary Ricardo Jaime.

• Friday, November 24th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  FAO battling to lower “discard rate” in shrimp fisheries

  It is the world's most sought-after seafood commodity: some 3.5 million tons of the many-legged delicacy are pulled from the ocean's waters each year, with another 2.4 million tons raised on aquatic farms.

• Friday, November 24th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela looses ambassador in friendly turf

  Venezuela seems to have lost another “too exposed” diplomat for having triggered undesired events for the host country's president, --Argentina's Kirchner-- even when he happens to be a good friend of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.

• Friday, November 24th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Ecuador: survey shows split electorate and turbulence

  Ecuador's richest man and a left wing US educated economist have ended their campaigns for next Sunday's presidential run off which is too close to anticipate not only a clear winner, but a promising politically stable future for the oil rich country.