Politics

• Friday, October 3rd 2014 - 06:59 UTC

  ECB announces two-year plan to purchase covered bonds and inject liquidity

  

  The European Central Bank has kept its benchmark interest rate at 0.05% and given details of its asset purchase program announced last month. The bank's head Mario Draghi said it would start buying covered bonds this month and other assets in the final three months of the year. This would go on for two years.

• Friday, October 3rd 2014 - 06:49 UTC

  Falklands' lawmakers meet Foreign Secretary Hammond and Defence chief Fallon

  

  The Falkland Islands Government’s stand at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham (28 September to 01 October) was extremely busy with visitors. Situated in a prime location, MLAs Jan Cheek and Ian Hansen and the Falkland Islands Government Representative, Sukey Cameron MBE, were able to meet with a large number of delegates, including MPs and Parliamentary Candidates.

• Friday, October 3rd 2014 - 06:38 UTC

  Bank of England wants new powers to prevent a housing 'boom and bust'

  

  The Bank of England has asked formally for new powers to prevent a housing boom and bust. Under the powers, the Bank would be able to limit how much people can borrow to buy a home, according to their financial circumstances.

• Friday, October 3rd 2014 - 06:20 UTC

  The Argentine economy: “Thumbs down” writes The Economist

  

  Those baffled by the Argentine economy could do worse than listen to Puff Daddy. Ask what ails the country and the answer will echo the rapper’s ode to the 100-dollar bill, “It’s all about the Benjamins”.

• Friday, October 3rd 2014 - 06:15 UTC

  Chavista lawmaker stabbed at his home in Caracas: “intentional homicide” argues government

  

  Robert Serra, a young “Chavista” ruling party lawmaker, died after being stabbed in his home in Caracas in an “intentional homicide,” government officials said, in Venezuela's latest high-profile violent crime.

• Thursday, October 2nd 2014 - 07:47 UTC

  Uruguay's presidential election at the end of October 'too tight to call'

  

  With less than four weeks to 26 October presidential election in Uruguay, the leading candidates are in a neck to neck race, which will demand a run off at the end of November with the result is too close to call, although two of the latest opinion polls believe that the ruling coalition could still scratch through.

• Thursday, October 2nd 2014 - 07:39 UTC

  Dilma and Marina fighting for the religious vote, one fifth of the Brazilian electorate

  

  Brazil's rapid religious transformation is having an impact on the country's tight presidential race, where abortion and gay marriage have emerged as hot issues and Pentecostal televangelists are political power brokers.

• Thursday, October 2nd 2014 - 07:31 UTC

  Argentina's new central bank president: a blend of Keynes with strong government intervention

  

  Alejandro Vanoli, the designated new President of the Argentine Central Bank following Juan Carlos Fabrega’s resignation, is the current leader of the CNV securities regulator, in charge of that entity since 2009 after serving for three years as its deputy.

• Thursday, October 2nd 2014 - 07:24 UTC

  Buenos Aires shares plunge 8.2%; US dollar trades cautiously fearing raids

  

  Buenos Aires shares plunged on Wednesday 8.2% to 11.516,28 units following the news that the Central Bank chief Juan Carlos Fabrega had resigned. The Merval benchmark stock index has risen 132% so far this year.

• Thursday, October 2nd 2014 - 07:15 UTC

  Climbing volatility of the US dollar in Argentina forces resignation of central bank president

  

  Argentine Central Bank President Juan Carlos Fabrega resigned Wednesday after an alleged disagreement with President Cristina Fernandez over how to keep a lid on the black market exchange rate ('blue' dollar) that hit a record 16 pesos per dollar last week.