United States

Thursday, July 9th 2009 - 12:32 UTC
US regulators target speculation in the energy markets

A United States regulator is to hold hearings to decide whether it should clamp down on speculation in the energy market.
Wednesday, July 8th 2009 - 07:23 UTC
Loan delinquencies in the US hit a new record

The level of people falling behind with consumer loans in the US hit a new high in the first three months of 2009, the American Bankers Association said. Rising unemployment was behind the missed payments, it suggested.
Monday, July 6th 2009 - 19:43 UTC
“Colombian Musicians in New York”

A large crowd was drawn to New York's Highline Ballroom for the VI Encuentro of Colombian Musicians. This annual music and dance gathering of Colombian musicians in New York, brought together a marathon of 20 of NYC’s most renowned Colombian bands, celebrating the diverse Colombian genres of cumbia, currulao, vallenato, joropo, bambuco, pasillo, and other diverse rhythms, all originally from Colombia.
Saturday, July 4th 2009 - 13:58 UTC
US regulators close seven banks; 52 so far in 2009

United States bank regulators closed seven institutions this week including six banks in Illinois controlled by one family and a small bank in Dallas, bringing the total number of US bank failures to 52 so far this year. (This compares with 25 in 2008 and 3 in 2007).
Friday, July 3rd 2009 - 06:57 UTC
US jobless rate in June 9.5%; 14.7 million unemployed

The number of jobs lost in the US last month came in at 467,000, which was much more than had been expected. The jobless rate rose to 9.5% in June, from 9.4% in May, as the US economy continued to struggle.
Thursday, July 2nd 2009 - 08:21 UTC
US car sales drop in June but Ford shows stabilization signs

United States vehicle sales dropped in June, but there were signs of stabilisation as Ford saw its smallest fall in a year. Ford, the only one of the so-called “Big Three” carmakers not to have gone bankrupt, had the smallest drop, with sales down 10.7% from a year earlier. General Motors said sales fell 33.6%, while Chrysler sales fell by 42%.
Wednesday, July 1st 2009 - 13:07 UTC
Leading Senator calls for US trade benefits to Uruguay, “bypassing” Mercosur

United States Senator Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee is urging the US to extend trade benefits to Uruguay, bypassing Mercosur, a move he says would also increase pressure on Brazil to deepen commercial ties.
Wednesday, July 1st 2009 - 12:50 UTC
US Democrats consolidate control of the Senate with 61 seats

The state of Minnesota's Supreme Court declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of the disputed 2008 US Senate race thus giving the Democrats their 60th vote.
Thursday, June 25th 2009 - 09:49 UTC
Washington and Venezuela agree to re-establish their ambassadors

Venezuela and United States will be re-establishing their ambassadors in the coming days, confirmed on Wednesday Venezuelan Foreign Affairs minister Nicolas Maduro Ambassadors Bernardo Alvarez and Patrick Duddy were withdrawn last September when hostility between President Hugo Chavez and former President George Bush climaxed following years of disagreements and diplomatic clashes.
Thursday, June 25th 2009 - 06:16 UTC
US recession “slowing” but economy is expected to remain weak, says Fed

The United States Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged on Wednesday and said that the recession in the US is “slowing” but “economic activity is likely to remain weak for a time”.