Mexican Mining Investments Seen Reaching Record $7.6 Billion in 2012

QUERETARO, Mexico--Investment in Mexico's mining sector is expected to reach an all-time high this year of $7.6 billion, up 36% from 2011, and to keep rising in 2013 despite a decline in international prices for most metals, top mining industry leaders said Tuesday.

Latin America seen as 'second-tier' issue in US election

BOGOTA, Colombia — There's a running joke in Latin America that the region should be allowed to vote for the U.S. president because the outcome matters so much here. But with just over a week to go before the election, the region is feeling left out of the race.

Brazil Credit Growth Slows, But Pace to Pick Up Again Soon

BRASILIA--Growth in Brazilian lending volume slowed slightly in September, but the pace should pick up again in the coming months as declining credit costs and a recovering economy spur consumer and business borrowing.

Colombia Holds Policy Rate at 4.75% as Global Risk Seen Abating

Colombia kept interest rates unchanged for a second straight month as policy makers judge that bond- buying plans by the U.S. Federal Reserve and European Central Bank will ease the risk of a global slump.

Mexico's August Economic Activity Up 3.5% From a Year Ago

MEXICO CITY--Economic activity in Mexico rose in August from a year ago, but was down from July as industrial output slowed from the previous month.

Brazil Real Falls From Two-Week High as Central Bank Intervenes

Brazil’s real dropped from a two- week high after the central bank auctioned reverse currency swaps to support exporters by preventing appreciation.

Fidel Castro alive and well: Chavez aide

HAVANA (Reuters) - Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro is alive and well, according to Elias Jaua, a former Venezuelan vice president who says he met with Castro over the weekend.

Brazil Regulators OK Sinochem Purchase of 10% Stake in Offshore Blocks

Brazil's National Petroleum Agency, or ANP, approved Chinese oil company Sinochem's purchase of a 10% stake in five offshore blocks as the state-run company continues its expansion into Latin America's hottest oil frontier.

Mexico's September Unemployment 5.0% Versus 5.7% Year Ago

MEXICO CITY--Unemployment in Mexico fell in September from a year earlier, and was also down from August as the economy continued to generate jobs amid steady economic growth.

Argentina evacuating navy ship seized in Ghana

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina announced the immediate evacuation Saturday of about 300 crew members from the ARA Libertad, a navy training ship seized in Africa nearly three weeks ago as collateral for unpaid bonds dating from the South American nation's economic crisis a decade ago.

Brazil Had Capital Outflow of $1.319 Billion in First Two Weeks of October

BRASILIA--Brazil had a net capital outflow of $1.319 billion in the first two weeks of October, with both a trade deficit and an outflow of investment capital, the central bank said Wednesday.

Argentina Strikes Back at Colombia’s Claim of Bigger Economy

Argentina’s economy minister is striking back at Colombia’s claim that it has overtaken his country to become South America’s second-biggest economy.

Colombia ETFs Head-to-Head

Given the ongoing turmoil in Europe and still dismal U.S. job market, most investors are showing a large level of interest in the emerging Latin American economies.

Betting on Brazil

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Brazil may not be growing the way it once was, but there are still opportunities to be had in Latin America's largest economy.

Colombia Ditches Brazil at IMF as BRIC Power Estranges Neighbors

Colombia is leaving a group at the International Monetary Fund led by Brazil, whose quest for influence as a member of the BRICS group of emerging markets is alienating some of its smaller, Spanish-speaking neighbors.

Brazil Swap Rates Fall on Central Bank Signal; Currency Gains

Brazil swap rates dropped toward a record after the central bank signaled it will keep borrowing costs at an all-time low for an extended period.

Denying Dollars to Holders Echoes ’02 Seizure: Argentina Credit

A move by a soybean-growing province in northern Argentina to pay its dollar debt in pesos is raising the specter that holders of the nation’s $19 billion of local U.S. currency bonds won’t get their money back.

Mexico annual inflation hits 2-1/2-year high in September

MEXICO CITY – Mexican inflation accelerated to a 2-1/2-year high in September as prices of fresh food continued to rise although analysts expect no immediate reaction from the central bank.

Brazil Posts $812 Million Trade Surplus for Oct. 1-7

SAO PAULO--Brazil posted a foreign-trade surplus of $812 million for the first week of October, bringing the year-to- date surplus to $16.54 billion, significantly lagging behind 2011 performance, the Trade and Development Ministry said Monday.

IMF cuts growth outlook for Latin America on global weakness

(Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund cut its growth forecasts for Latin America on Monday against a backdrop of deteriorating global growth and contagion risks if the euro zone crisis deepens and China's growth slows more than expected.

Argentina Central Bank Wants Public to Save in Pesos, Abandon Dollar

BUENOS AIRES--The president of Argentina's central bank has affirmed the government's policy of eliminating the U.S. dollar as a transaction and savings medium in the South American economy.

Botched Chile Lithium Tender Won't Damp Mining Investments

SANTIAGO, Chile--The botched tender for a lithium operations contract, resulting in a voided contest and the resignation of the mining undersecretary Tuesday, won't damp mining investments in copper-rich Chile.

Brazil August Industrial Capacity Use 80.9%, Unchanged From July

BRASILIA--Brazil's use of installed industrial capacity held steady in August, despite signs of an incipient recovery in other indicators, the country's National Confederation of Industries, or CNI, said Thursday.

Mexico's Economy Giving Brazil, China a Run for their Money

Here's a bold prediction for 2022: Mexico will beat Brazil. Some analysts say 2022 may actually be the year when Mexico moves past Brazil to become Latin America's biggest economy.

Brazil to Push Policy, Quota Reforms at IMF Meeting - Source

BRASILIA--Brazil's government will push for accelerated implementation of policy remedies for the global economy and pending reforms of the International Monetary Fund's quota system at an upcoming meeting of that institution next week, a source from the Brazilian government said Wednesday.

Latin America growth to slow in 2012, UN report says

Latin America will grow at a slower pace than last year, primarily due to weaker growth in Argentina and Brazil, a United Nations report has suggested.

Brazil Swap Rates Decline as Analysts Cut 2013 Selic Forecast

Brazilian swap rates fell to a two- month low after analysts cut their forecasts for benchmark borrowing costs next year as faltering global growth cooled inflation expectations for Latin America’s biggest economy.

Mexico lower house approves diluted labor reform

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's lower house of Congress on Friday gave provisional approval to a bill that would mark the biggest shake-up of the country's labor market in four decades.