Argentina to grow more than 6.5 pct in 2011-cenbank

(Reuters) - Argentina's central bank sees economic growth topping 6.5 percent this year, raising its outlook from 6 percent in January, according to a quarterly report released late on Friday.

The central bank said robust domestic demand would keep fueling the expansion in Latin America's No. 3 economy. It said growth so far this year in industrial output, construction and public services showed the economy was still going strong.

Microsoft Latin American Sales Grew As Fast As 36%, Rincon Says

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)´s revenue in Latin America is growing as fast as 36 percent as rising incomes and lower computer prices bolster demand, said Hernan Rincon, the company´s president for the region.

Microsoft’s sales surpassed the growth of the area’s information technology industry, which is expanding at 12 percent, he said.

Citigroup steps up hiring in Brazil

Citigroup has stepped up hiring in Brazil, joining a growing war for talent among foreign banks seeking greater market share in Latin America’s largest economy.

Citi has hired 380 people in April in the country on top of 400 it hired in the first quarter and 500 last year across all business areas, executives said on Wednesday during a visit by Vikram Pandit, Citi chief executive.

Latin America’s trading bootstraps

From independence, Latin American countries’ dream of a more united continent was on the horizon – where it remained stuck for two centuries. Today, deepening trade ties are finally advancing the integration so long frustrated by the politics of national narcissism.

It is hard to think of a region that has more to gain from deeper interregional economic ties. Latin America’s cultural and linguistic affinities should make it a natural single market – with a scale large enough to compensate for the cost of overcoming the continent’s big natural barriers. But this ambition long fell foul of inward-looking and misguided governments.

Commentary: Panama's economy is booming, but institutions aren't

PANAMA CITY — Latin America's most strategically located country is booming, and its current prosperity is expected to accelerate in coming years thanks to a windfall of profits from the Panama Canal's expansion. And yet, there are fears about the country's future.

There is widespread anxiety — including from senior U.S. diplomats, according to recently released WikiLeaks cables — that President Ricardo Martinelli's bullying governing style might lead to an excessive accumulation of powers, increased corruption, political turbulence, capital flight, and an economic downturn.

Analysis: China eases Brazil's concerns with investments

(Reuters) - China has put its relations with Latin America's largest economy back on track by sending Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff home with billions of dollars in pledged investments, showing its economic clout and easing, for now, Brazil's concerns over trade imbalances.

The Asian giant's showering of business deals on Rousseff contrasts sharply with last month's trip to Brazil by U.S. President Barack Obama, who offered much praise for Brazil's rising economy but few concrete agreements.

British Airways’ Commitment To Latin America Continues With Rio Increases

The FINANCIAL -- British Airways is increasing its services to Brazil by doubling its weekly frequency to Rio de Janeiro from three to six flights.

Neil Cottrell, British Airways’ head of network planning, said: “We are experiencing a real increase in demand for Rio and by doubling the number of frequencies, we are able to offer our customers more choice and greater availability. Brazil is also experiencing strong economic growth and this capacity increase is a great opportunity for British Airways to be part of that growth.”

Mantega: Inflation Under Control In Brazil As QE2 Pressures Real

“Emerging economies have already left behind the [global financial] crisis,” according to Brazil’s sharp-tongued Finance Minister, Guido Mantega, who also blamed quantitative easing for the appreciative forces on the Brazilian real while noting that the largest Latin American economy would grow at a “sustainable” rate of 4.5% in 2011.

Mantega, who gave the Brazil Summit’s keynote speech at the New York Harvard Club, was optimistic about the strengths of emerging economies and their capacities to deal with massive capital inflows. “Job creation is [going very] fast and [Brazil] has a very strong domestic market,” explained the Finance Minister, noting that they can count on the “stimulus” that a “new emerging middle class with high purchasing power” can deliver.

JPMorgan strategy aims to harness growth

In September 2008, the International Council of JPMorgan was scheduled to hold its annual meeting in São Paulo to familiarise members with Latin America’s largest economy ahead of a planned expansion.

But days later, Lehman Brothers imploded and the visit by the high-level advisory board, headed by former British prime minister Tony Blair and including luminaries such as former US secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, was postponed.

Hispanics rally on Oklahoma Capitol steps

Hundreds gathered in the area on the south Capitol steps Saturday holding signs, smiling, laughing and celebrating.

It wasn’t a scene of protest or defiance. Rather, it was a rally with a purpose: “I wanted to show that I’m Hispanic and love my state and country,” said Luis Hidalgo, 20.

Armenia’s economic model similar to Latin American monopolies - OSCE rep.

Head of the OSCE office in Yerevan, Ambassador Sergey Kapinos explained to the mass media his comments on his statements on Armenia’s economic system at the roundtable on Armenia’s business environment, March 11, 2011.

Brazil’s Tombini: Economic Framework Has Been ‘Well Tested’

Brazil’s economic policy framework has been “well tested” over the last 10 years, and helped the country cope with the global economic and financial crisis of 2008, central bank president Alexandre Tombini said Friday.

“We have now in Brazil and in many countries in c a very well tested policy framework,” Mr. Tombini told a conference at the Brookings Institution in Washington.

Is Peru's Political Suicide America's Future?

Peru had its presidential election on Sunday, and the outcome could not have been worse. Few Americans will care about that, but they should. The result is not just another example of Latin America's self-destructive tendencies. It may be America's future.

Latin America Logs Largest Increase in 2010 Military Spending

Latin America has displaced traditional high-rollers, including the Middle East and Europe, as the region registering the largest percentage increase in military spending last year, according to a new study released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The increase in real terms was 5.8 percent for Latin America compared with 5.2 percent for Africa, 2.8 for North America, 2.5 for the Middle East and 1.4 percent for Asia.

U.S. Nears Colombia Trade Deal, Strengthening Economic Ties with Latin America

The United States has resolved labor issues with Colombia, paving the way for approval of a stalled free-trade agreement (FTA) and strengthening economic ties between the countries.

The United States and Colombia were expected to announce the agreement this week after months of talks, people familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

Venezuela sees 3 to 4 pct economic growth in 1Q

Venezuela's Central Bank says the economy is showing signs of rebounding from two years of recession. The banks says it's likely the economy grew between 3 percent and 4 percent in the first three months of 2011.

Venezuela's economy contracted 1.4 percent last year and 3.3 percent in 2009.

Professor gives lecture on Chinese, Latin American economics

On April 1, associate professor of political science and comparative politics Jose de Arimateia da Cruz presented "The Chinese in Latin America: The Commodity Lottery Winners and Losers," a lecture on the effects of Chinese economic influence in Latin America.

Brazilian Interest-Rate Futures Yields Rise on Interest Rate Concern

Yields on Brazilian interest-rate futures contracts rose as traders bet the central bank will boost borrowing costs by more than anticipated to cool inflation running at the fastest pace in more than two years.

The yield on the contract due in January 2012 climbed 3 basis points, or 0.03 percentage point, to 12.19 percent at 12:58 p.m. New York time. The yield on the contract due in January 2021 rose 3 basis points to 12.57 percent.

Grupo NCF sees Peru as leading economy in Latin America this year

Lima, Apr. 04 (ANDINA). The Peruvian economy has started 2011 on the right foot and is poised to become one of the leading economies in Latin America this year, according to Lima-based brokerage Grupo NCF SAB.

Juan Carlos Castillo, an analyst at Grupo NCF SAB, noted that in recent years the Peruvian economy has maintained monetary and fiscal stability, reflected in the strength of its basic macroeconomic indicators.

Peru cenbank wary of braking on icy road

(Reuters) - High commodities prices could hobble the global economy and uncertain times require extra caution when it comes to setting monetary policy, Peru's central bank chief said on Friday.

Julio Velarde, who spoke during the Reuters Latin American Investment Summit, said he was not surprised that Peruvian inflation in March sped up to 0.7 percent, the highest monthly level in nearly three years. Economists had forecast a rise on Friday of barely 0.5 percent.

Brazil's February Industrial Output Rises 1.9% Vs Jan - IBGE

RIO DE JANEIRO (Dow Jones)--Brazil's industrial output gathered pace in February, beating analysts' estimates as production of food and vehicles as steamed ahead in Latin America's largest economy.

Output at Brazil's factories increased a seasonally adjusted 1.9% from January and picked up 6.9% compared with February 2010, the Brazilian Census Bureau, or IBGE, said Friday. February was the second consecutive month of rising output, after January's increase of 0.2%, which followed a slackening in output in late 2010 when some industrial sectors wrestled with high import levels.