Mercosur

• Friday, August 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Latinamerica forecasted to expand 4,5%

  The United Nations Latinamerica and Caribbean Economic Commission, Cepal, forecasts a much stronger growth in the region than originally expected.

• Friday, August 6th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Euro rate unchanged; UK rate hops to 4,75%

  The Governing Council of the European Central Bank decided this Thursday that the minimum bid rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility will remain unchanged at 2%, 3% and 1% respectively.

• Thursday, August 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile cautions Peruvian about border reviews.

  Chile respects all opinions but stands strongly by its borders policy was Santiago's quick reply to Peruvian demands for talks on maritime frontiers and Peru's alleged readiness “in the event of an armed conflict with Chile”.

• Thursday, August 5th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Montevideo, “capital of Mercosur”

  Brazil will grant full support for Montevideo as the “capital of Mercosur” revealed Tabare Vazquez the main contender in Uruguay's presidential election next October, following a meeting with Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia.

• Wednesday, August 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Patagonian lamb for President Bush.

  The heaviest gift the United States president George Bush received during 2003 was from his Argentine counterpart Nestor Kirchner: 150 kilos of organic Patagonian lamb.

• Wednesday, August 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina's flock recovering but?

  Argentina's sheep numbers currently stand at 13,5 million with excellent prospects of expansion if certain conditions are attainable, according to several papers presented in a sheep and wool conference during the recent Palermo Agricultural Show.

• Wednesday, August 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  OPEC: oil prices have gone “crazy”.

  Oil prices hit a new record this Tuesday, above 44 US dollars the barrel, after OPEC's president told a jittery market that the cartel was unable to provide more supplies to the market which he described as operating at “crazy levels”.

• Wednesday, August 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  The Spanish are “a good EU and NATO partner”.

  ”We believe it was appropriate for a member of the (British) Cabinet to attend the (Gibraltar) ceremonies on Wednesday and we don't see any difficulty in taking that decision”, replied a 10 Downing Street spokesman when asked to comment on Spain's reported disapproval of Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon's attendance at Gibraltar's tercentenary celebrations on Wednesday.

• Wednesday, August 4th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  On Wednesday Gibraltar celebrated its Birthday with a public holiday.

  In 1704 the territory was captured by Admiral Rooke as part of a war which lasted thirteen years and was a reflection of the challenge to France as the dominant European power at the start of the eighteenth century.

• Tuesday, August 3rd 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Terror scare hits oil market.

  Crude oil prices closed at record high following warnings of possible terror attacks against financial institutions in United States and the Russian government's decision to further investigate oil giant Yukos alleged massive tax evasion.