Mercosur

• Monday, August 30th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  35,5 million US citizens below poverty line.

  In spite of clear signals of economic recovery the number of poor people in the United States increased 1,3 million during 2003, reaching 35,9 million, according to the latest official data from the US Census Bureau.
  Children and the black population seem to be the most vulnerable.

• Monday, August 30th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Unemployment remains stubbornly high.

  Unemployment in Chile during the May-July quarter reached 9,7%, a tenth of a point above the April-June quarter and six tenths higher than in the same period a year ago.

• Monday, August 30th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Record private credit for Chilean salmon farming

  Cultivos Marino Chiloé one of the top ten salmon farming industries in Chile managed to obtain a record syndicated loan of 61 million US dollars. The operation is considered a turning point for the industry which for the last twenty years has had private credit access difficulties.

• Monday, August 30th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Magallanes after NZ tourism know-how.

  Nine tourism businessmen from Magallanes Region will be travelling to New Zealand for a two weeks market research and learning experience this week.

• Monday, August 30th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Athens bids Games farewell.

  The Olympic flame was extinguished just before 11 p.m. Sunday night in Athens, bringing to a close the 2004 Summer Games.

• Monday, August 30th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF praises Uruguayan “faster than expected recovery”.

  The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed last Friday the fifth review under the SDR 2.13 billion (US$3.1 billion) Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for Uruguay which makes available immediately SDR 139.8 million (about US$204 million).

• Monday, August 30th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Lan Chile raises air fares average 4%

  Ballooning fuel prices have forced Lan Chile to increase international and domestic fares an average 4%, the Chilean flag air carrier announced last week.

• Friday, August 27th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian bank warns about oil and inflation

  If oil prices remain strong in world markets and inflation estimates for 2005 do not begin to fall, the Monetary Policy Committee of the Brazilian Central Bank will “adopt a more active monetary policy attitude”, that is the basic SELIC interest rate could further raise.

• Friday, August 27th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF-Argentina third review “delayed”

  The International Monetary Fund, IMF, said Thursday that the third review of the 13 billion US dollar agreement with Argentina is “delayed” but not suspended since both sides continue negotiations in the framework of very cordial relations.

• Friday, August 27th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Pinochet stripped of immunity from prosecution

  The Chilean Supreme Court cleared the way Thursday for former dictator Augusto Pinochet to be prosecuted for his role in the killing and torturing of thousands of leftists during his iron fisted rule (1973/1990), but it is still to be seen if the aging general suffering from “dementia” will eventually stand trial.