Mercosur

• Sunday, July 11th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Magallanes “non official relations” with the Falkland Islands.

  Punta Arenas main daily La Prensa Austral editorialized this weekend about Governor Howard Pearce's recent visit to the city when he highlighted the importance of Magallanes Region for Falkland Islands trade and its contribution to the quality of life of Islanders.

• Friday, July 9th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Lloyds Bank leaving Argentina.

  Lloyds Bank Argentina belonging to the Lloyds TSB group is leaving Argentina, the ninth foreign financial institution to abandon the country since the 2001 banking crisis, reports the Argentine press.

• Friday, July 9th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Mexico and Venezuela join Mercosur.

  On the final day of the Mercosur presidential summit held in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina, the block accepted Mexico and Venezuela as members.

• Friday, July 9th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Bank of England rate unchanged at 4,5%.

  The Bank of England this Thursday left interest rates unchanged at 4,5% after two successive months of rises. The decision was welcomed by manufacturers and mortgage holders, although market analysts believe the Bank's Monetary Policy will start raising rates again in August fearing soaring house prices and ever growing consumer debt.

• Friday, July 9th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Palermo Farm Show opens July 22.

  With a 20% increase in the number of livestock competing and over 400 commercial stands Argentina's main agriculture show in Palermo grounds, opens next July 22 and will extend until August 3.

• Friday, July 9th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Huge fine for “inside trading”.

  A Chilean court this Thursday upheld a $55 million fine - first imposed seven years ago - against six stockholders for manipulating the multi-million dollar sale of Enersis shares to Spain's Endesa, the country's main electricity consortium.

• Friday, July 9th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian industry confirms recovery.

  Brazilian industrial production reported its third consecutive increase last May, 2,2%, with a total expansion since February of 4,5%. May 2004 was also 7,8% above the same month a year ago.

• Thursday, July 8th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  EU: “Latinamerica no longer major priority”.

  Holland which since July 1, and for the next six months, presides over the European Union said it will do its outmost to conclude a trade agreement with Mercosur by next October.

• Thursday, July 8th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Respiratory disease outbreak in Santiago.

  Hospitals in Santiago are overflowing with children suffering from a respiratory virus that already has claimed two babies' lives, and with not much prospects of decreasing in intensity according to Chilean health authorities given current extreme climatic conditions.

• Thursday, July 8th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Blindage industry booming with Iraq .

  With an industry that has prospered in the midst of a violent and crime ridden society, Brazil has become the main supplier of armoured vehicles for civilian use in Iraq.