Passing Mexican Energy Reform 'Easy Part' of Process

Passing the energy reform legislation in Mexico was the easy part. Next comes the hard part – forming secondary legislation, strengthening regulatory institutions and creating contract terms attractive for investment, an industry observer told attendees at a recent presentation in Houston.

Wary Argentines Shun Offer to Buy Dollars With Strings Attached

Few Argentine savers are taking advantage of the opportunity to buy dollars from the government for the first time in 18 months following the peso devaluation and easing of currency restrictions in the past week.

Cuba hosts LatAm leaders against crisis backdrop

Havana (AFP) - Leaders from across Latin America put aside domestic financial stability concerns to converge on Cuba for the summit of a major group set up to counter US influence.

Brazil Swap Rates Rise on Tombini Inflation Pledge; Real Falls

Brazil’s swap rates climbed after central bank President Alexandre Tombini said policy makers will fight inflation as the real weakens, reviving speculation that the central bank will extend increases in borrowing costs.

Argentina economy minister backtracks on details in relaxing some currency controls

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Argentina's economy minister is backtracking on details of the government's recent announcements over the easing of currency controls.

New economic realities take hold in Latin America

While some countries continue to make international news as they battle drug cartels and flash mobs, some experts say Latin America as whole is a picture of growing prosperity.

Brazil's Consumer Confidence Index Fell in January -FGV

SAO PAULO--Brazil's main consumer confidence index dropped in January to its lowest level since June 2009 due to the country's mediocre economic activity and rising inflationary pressures, the Getulio Vargas Foundation, or FGV, said Friday.

Mexico inflation hits fastest pace in 8 months in early Jan

MEXICO CITY, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Mexican annual inflation rose in early January at its fastest pace since May due to an uptick in soda and gasoline prices after a fiscal reform, but the central bank has said it expects the spike to be temporary.

Argentina restricts online shopping as foreign reserves drop

Argentina has introduced new restrictions on online shopping as part of efforts to stop foreign currency reserves from falling any further.

Brazil Analysts Forecast Tighter Monetary Policy as Prices Rise

Brazil economists raised their forecast for benchmark interest rates this year as policy makers in the world’s second-largest emerging market combat the fastest inflation in more than a decade.

Argentina Economy News: 75% Think Country's Economy Is Failing

A new report finds that Argentineans are deeply concerned about the country's economic state. A new survey has found that 75 percent of those questioned felt that the economy is "on the wrong track" while only 16.9 percent felt were satisfied with the country's economic trajectory.

Chile Peso Declines to Three-Year Low After Central Bank Signal

Chile’s peso fell to the lowest level since July 2010 after the central bank said it may cut borrowing costs in coming months to support the economy.

Mexico Peso Falls Most in Latin America on Fed Stimulus Outlook

Mexico’s peso dropped the most in Latin America as signs global growth is accelerating spurred speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve will move quickly to cut U.S. monetary stimulus.

Venezuela shuffles economic team, keeps forex rate

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro named an army general as the new finance minister in a reshuffle of his economic team on Wednesday and said there would be no currency devaluation this year despite a soaring black market for dollars.

World Bank sees global economy picking up

WASHINGTON (AP) - The global economy is slowly picking up steam, led by advanced economies appearing to turn the corner after five years of financial crises and recession and a continued good performance by China, the World Bank said Tuesday.

US Supreme Court to hear Argentina case

The US Supreme Court has agreed to rule on whether Argentina's assets are protected from hedge funds seeking to be paid back.

Latin American 'reconquest' well-placed for Spanish recovery

MADRID/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - As Spain's economy begins to recover from a near-fatal crisis, Latin American companies and entrepreneurs are ahead of the pack in gaining a foothold from which they can grab a share of the spoils.

Chile Inflation May Accelerate With Changes to Basket

Chile’s inflation ended last year right on the central bank’s target of 3.0%, but changes to the basket used to measure consumer prices could push up inflation going forward.

Brazil inflation fails to slow in 2013 despite rate hikes

Inflation in Brazil ended 2013 higher than expected after surging in December, stymieing President Dilma Rousseff's hopes that a flurry of aggressive interest rate hikes and tax breaks for key industries would tame consumer prices.

Argentina: new price controls to fight inflation

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Argentina's government is launching its latest price control program to curb high inflation.

Mexico auto production, exports rise in 2013-AMIA

MEXICO CITY, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Mexican auto production rose by 1.7 percent and exports jumped by 2.9 percent last year, the Mexican Auto Industry Association (AMIA) said on Wednesday.

Latin America in 2014

It has taken 50 years for a commercial flight from the United States to have official permission to land with American passengers in Cuba, but recently a small plane from Key West has done just that.

Moody's could cut Brazil rating outlook if economy disappoints

SAO PAULO, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Moody's Investors Service could cut Brazil's rating outlook later this year if the economy disappoints in the first half of 2014, Mauro Leos, the firm's senior credit analyst for Brazil, said on Monday.

Argentina’s economy is in crisis. So it focuses on the Falklands, of course

WASHINGTON — Argentines have given so much to the world, yet have so little to show for it. The second largest country in Latin America has given birth to music (tango), soccer stars (Maradona and Messi) and popular icons (Eva Peron) that have mesmerized the world for decades.

Colombia’s Central Bank Considers Lower Rates to Hit CPI Target

Colombia may need to cut interest rates to ensure that the economy grows at its full capacity, according to some members of the central bank’s policy committee.

Brazil Posts Smallest Trade Surplus Since 2000 on Surging Imports

Brazil barely exported more than it imported in 2013, the worst trade performance by Latin America’s largest economy in more than a decade as strong consumer spending boosted imports and weak global demand eroded exports, an imbalance that could create problems for President Dilma Rousseff this year as she strives to prod growth ahead of elections.

Mexican sales tax hike seen as boon on US border

CHULA VISTA, Calif. (AP) -- Mexican license plates are common in parking lots of shopping malls in U.S. border cities.

Brazil Real Falls to Four-Month Low as Intervention Scaled Back

Brazil’s real dropped to a level weaker than 2.4 per dollar for the first time in four months as the central bank began scaled-back support for the currency.

Latin Americans Head to Spain for Business School

After seven years of working in management in the United States, Joana Jo Fratini started making plans a couple of years ago to return home to Brazil.