Mercosur

• Monday, September 8th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Low interest rates for some time.

  Most Wall Street operators who deal directly with the Federal Reserve in the bonds market forecast that United States interest rates will remain low for the next twelve, eighteen months, says Reuters.

• Monday, September 8th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  As broke and polarized as ever.

  Venezuela's Finance Minister Tobías Nóbrega admitted that his country's economy would contract 10/11% in 2003 with inflation reaching 30%. However he anticipated the economy would expand 5% in 2004, with the non-oil sector growing 12,5%, “given the greater exchange rate flexibility expected”.

• Monday, September 8th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  US could resort to bilateralism.

  United States threatened to resort to an own agenda of bilateral agreements if the current global trade negotiations in the framework of the World Trade Organization rounds are not achieved by January 2005.

• Monday, September 8th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Fujimori calls for a day of protest.

  Exiled in Japan former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori has called the Peruvian population for a day of national protest next September 12.

• Monday, September 8th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Santiago patrolled by 10,000 police.

  The Chilean government is running no risks and will have 10,000 police and riot forces in the streets of Santiago next September 11, the thirtieth anniversary of the 1973 military coup that violently toppled elected Socialist president Salvador Allende.

• Monday, September 8th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina and IMF “very close”.

  Argentina is virtually “very close” to a new agreement with the International Monetary Fund, IMF and any “misunderstandings” are related to the fiscal surplus, public utility rates and bank compensations said cabinet Chief Alberto Fernandez.

• Monday, September 8th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  “Give Argentina a break” says US to IMF

  Argentina received crucial political support from the United States in its current negotiations with the IMF, less than 24 hours from the deadline for the repayment of 2,9 billion US dollars that could again bring the spectre of default unless an agreement is reached by mid day tomorrow.

• Sunday, September 7th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Hog FAM in northern Argentina.

  Brazil and Uruguay banned all meats and live animal imports from Argentina following the confirmation of an outbreak of foot and mouth, FAM, disease among hogs in the northern province of Salta close to be Bolivian border.

• Sunday, September 7th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Tied election prospect in Buenos Aires.

  With less than a week for Sunday September 14 crucial runoff election the two candidates for Mayor of the city of Buenos Aires are technically tied according to the latest poll published in the Argentine press.

• Saturday, September 6th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Strong rebound of the Chilean peso

  A record drop experienced the US dollar in Santiago's money markets with the exchange rate going from 700 to 680 pesos in just two weeks.