Mercosur

• Tuesday, February 8th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Mexican oil opens to greater private participation.

  Mexico's government owned oil giant Pemex will open exploration and production operations to the private sector announced Area Manager Carlos Morales.

• Tuesday, February 8th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentine beef exports expanded 26% in 2004

  Argentine beef exports last year expanded 26% in volume and 51% in income compared to 2003, according to the Argentine Sanitary and Quality Office.

• Sunday, February 6th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  G7: much good will but little substance.

  Debt relief and further development aid for the world's poorest countries, plus pushing for “exchange rates that reflect economic fundamentals” were the two outstanding points of the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank governors meeting held 4/5 February in London and included in the final release.

• Friday, February 4th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Euro Zone interest rates unchanged at 2%

  A day after the US Federal Reserve raised the basic interest rate for the six time running to 2,5%, the European Central Bank left rates unchanged Thursday, with Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet saying recent economic indicators suggest a moderate recovery remains on track.

• Friday, February 4th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Colombia's President Uribe Hospitalized

  President Alvaro Uribe was hospitalized with a stomach infection Thursday, forcing the postponement of a fence-mending summit with Venezuela's president, officials said.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Norwalk virus attacks cruises in South America.

  At least 230 tourists from two luxurious cruises and suffering from the recurrent Norwalk virus infection had to remain in their cabins while the vessels called in the port of Montevideo over the weekend, reported officials from the Uruguayan National Health Ministry.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Fed raises basic interest rate to 2,5%

  As market analysts anticipated, and arguing that the “stance of monetary policy remains accommodative” and “with underlying inflation expected to be relatively low”, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee decided Wednesday to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 2,5%. This is the sixth straight rise since last June.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentine hopeful with squid season.

  With great expectation the squid season opened in the Argentine EEZ, south of parallel 44, reports Pescare from Mar del Plata.

• Wednesday, February 2nd 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Boycott against Benetton for sheep “museling”.

  The United States chapter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, PETA has called on consumers to boycott Italian Benetton textile fashion garments claiming they are made of wool from Australian sheep exposed to some of the worst abuses in the industry.

• Wednesday, February 2nd 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Subcutaneous micro chips against kidnapping.

  Brazil's most powerful businessmen mostly from Sao Paulo, have began using subcutaneous microchips which can be easily tracked if they are kidnapped, and have also ordered bullet protection vests for their under 12 children.