Mercosur

• Sunday, November 14th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  South American Union Preamble ready for signing.

  The Preamble to the Foundation Act of the South American Union has already been agreed and ten presidents will be present at the December 9 ceremony in Peru when Mercosur, the Community of Andean Nations and Chile will sign the creation of the third world's most important regional block behind the European Union and the North American Free Trade Association.

• Sunday, November 14th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  South Korean president visits Argentina.

  South Korean president Roh Moo-Hyun arrived this Sunday in Buenos Aires with a delegation of eighty businessmen and confirmed a 30 million US dollars line of credit to promote bilateral trade

• Saturday, November 13th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Aerolíneas del Sur ready for take off.

  If the Chilean Civil Aviation Agency in its November 17 meeting authorizes Aerolíneas del Sur operations in Chile's domestic market, the inaugural flight to Punta Arenas is scheduled for December 5 and the following day return to Santiago.

• Saturday, November 13th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil signs lucrative deals with China.

  President Lula da Silva announced the recognition by Brazil of the Chinese status as a market economy,'' Hu said after the meeting in the presidential Planalto Palace. ??I wanted to express my thanks for that recognition.''

• Friday, November 12th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil Hot News

  Headlines:
  Consumer prices contained in Brazil; Petrobras invests in oil and gas rigs; Brazilian industry expands 7,6%; Palocci insists with fiscal surplus.

• Friday, November 12th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  President to go to Chile ?soon'

  President Néstor Kirchner yesterday told Chilean Interior Minister José Miguel Insulza that he will visit the neighbouring country soon, in a gesture to further cool down a diplomatic spat sparked by the comments of Chilean Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker against the ruling Peronist party.

• Friday, November 12th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Repsol YPF lifts Jan-Sep. gas output 12%.

  Spanish oil company Repsol YPF increased its total gas production 11.8% to 598,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day (boe/d) in the first nine months of 2004 thanks to higher production in Bolivia, Argentina and Trinidad & Tobago, the company said in its earnings statement.

• Friday, November 12th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Prince Harry in Argentine polo horse farm.

  Prince Harry, son of Prince Charles and Lady Diana arrived this Friday in Buenos Aires where he will be working in a breeding polo horses' farm until the end of November.

• Friday, November 12th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazilian businessmen criticize the Mercosur “anchor”.

  A group of Brazilian businessmen will request the Lula de Silva administration to step back from Mercosur, interrupting the customs union process, reported this Friday Roberto Gianetti da Fonseca, International Relations Director from the all powerful Sao Paulo Federation of Industries, FIESP.

• Thursday, November 11th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  US basic rate climbs to 2% .

  The United States Federal Reserve Open Market Committee rose this Wednesday its key federal funds rate by 25 points to 2%, the fourth increase since last June. Although markets were expecting such a move it's the highest since November 2001 when the Fed stated to lower rates in an effort to contain the effects of an incipient recession and the impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.