Mission to Mexico lands new business partner

MEXICO CITY (KCRA) —Gov. Jerry Brown has been promoting California business in Mexico City, where he is leading a trade delegation actively looking for Mexican companies willing to invest in the state.

Brazil Personal Default Rate Drops in June as Bank Eases Credit

Brazil’s consumer-loan default rate fell in June, as the central bank loosens reserve requirements to ease credit conditions in the world’s second-largest emerging market.

Argentine debt mediator: no resolution, delegation returning to Argentina

(Reuters) - Argentina failed to reach a breakthrough with the U.S. court-appointed mediator in its battle with holdout creditors on Friday in talks that lasted just an hour, suggesting a settlement to avoid a default next week remains elusive.

Puerto Rico creditor group gains $180 billion in new muscle

(Reuters) - A group of hedge funds supporting debt restructuring efforts in Puerto Rico has gained 14 new members, bringing the group's total assets under management to $240 billion, a spokesman for the group said on Friday.

Brazil to boost credit to counter economic slowdown

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 25 (Reuters) - Brazil's central bank on Friday announced measures to boost credit in the country's ailing economy, one week after keeping its benchmark interest rate at its highest level in over two years to fight inflation.

IMF cuts global growth outlook; India avoids ratings downgrade

WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund on Thursday chopped its 2014 forecast for global economic growth to take into account weakness early in the year in the United States and China, the world's two biggest economies.

Exclusive: Holdouts not asking to suspend Argentine debt order - Aurelius

(Reuters) - Argentine debt holdout investor Mark Brodsky refuted a story in Argentina's La Nacion newspaper suggesting his group, which is negotiating a settlement with the government, will ask a U.S. judge to suspend his payment order ahead of a July 30 deadline.

Brazil's economy seen growing less than 1 pct in 2014 - survey

BRASILIA, July 21 (Reuters) - Brazil's economy will probably grow less than 1 percent this year, edging closer to a recession as weak confidence and higher interest rates hamper investments and industrial output, a weekly survey of economists showed on Monday.

China's President Xi Jinping signs Venezuela oil deal

Chinese President Xi Jinping has signed a series of oil and mineral deals with Venezuela. They include a $4bn (£2.34bn) credit line in return for Venezuelan crude and other products.

Brazil Analysts Cut 2014 GDP Call Below 1% for First Time

Brazil economists cut their 2014 growth forecast for the eighth consecutive week, as low confidence and above-target inflation curb demand in the world’s second-largest emerging market.

Argentina Default Would Deepen Recession, Centennial Says

A failure by Argentina to avoid a second default in 13 years will deepen the recession, fuel inflation and prompt a selloff in the peso, according to Claudio Loser, a former International Monetary Fund director.

Tourism spending rises 7 percent in New Mexico

ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — Tourism continues to be a bright spot in New Mexico's otherwise struggling economy.

Brazil’s Real Leads Global Gains as Rousseff Poll Lead Narrows

Brazil’s real led global gains as a poll showed support for President’s Dilma Rousseff re-election bid narrowed before the October vote amid the slowest economic growth in two decades.

U.S. judge to hear latest motions in Argentina debt case July 22

(Reuters) - A U.S. judge said in New York on Wednesday that he would hear arguments next Tuesday related to the banks and payment agents caught up in Argentina's sovereign debt case as a potential default looms at the end of the month.

Exclusive: Brazil's BNDES pullback slowed by credit scarcity - chief

(Reuters) - Insufficient credit for Brazilian private companies will prevent the country's development bank BNDES from moderating loan disbursements this year as quickly as it would like, the bank's chief Luciano Coutinho told Reuters.

EMERGING MARKETS-Latam currencies weaken on Fed's Yellen comments

SAO PAULO, July 15 (Reuters) - Latin American currencies weakened on Tuesday after comments from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen stoked investors' expectations that U.S. interest rates are set to rise sooner rather than later.

Chile June inflation comes in below forecast, rate cuts eyed

Chile's June inflation was the lowest monthly increase this year and came in slightly below a Reuters forecast, lending support to views the central bank is poised to resume interest rate cuts to spur the economy.

Latin America has power to reshape relations with China - but will it use it?

Fortaleza, Brazil — South American nations have a lot of issues to raise with China: questionable labor and environmental practices of Chinese firms in the Andes; unfair trade rules toward major exporters like Brazil; the region’s desire to evolve from a mere commodities supplier to an advanced manufacturing base.

Slim expects Mexican growth to be 'much better' in 2015

(Reuters) - Carlos Slim, Latin America's richest man, said he thinks Mexico's economy will start to grow at a faster pace next year after overcoming a sluggish past couple of years.

Fitch: Latin American Infrastructure, Performance Sustained at Mid-Year

Performance metrics in line with expectations despite an anemic global environment supports stable outlook for Latin American infrastructure, according to a new Fitch Ratings report entitled, '2014 Midyear Outlook: Latin America Infrastructure'.

Brazil World Cup Defeat Unlikely to Force Rousseff Loss

President Dilma Rousseff enjoyed increased support ahead of elections in October as Brazil hosted the World Cup without major problems.

Mexico Consumer Prices Rise in June After Interest Rate Cut

Mexican consumer prices rose for the first time in three months in June on a pickup in services and processed food costs after the central bank unexpectedly cut the key interest rate last month.

Chilean Prices Rise Less Than Forecast as Economy Weakens

Chilean consumer prices rose less than analysts expected in June, slowing annual inflation for the first time in eight months, as the weakest economic growth in four years eased pressure on costs.

Mexico Passing Brazil as Top Latin American Car Producer

Mexico is poised to overtake Brazil as the top Latin American automobile producer for the first time in more than a decade as surging exports to the U.S. spur factory openings and record output.

Argentina will not make holdouts offer on Monday - paper

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina will not make a formal offer to settle its dispute with holdout investors in its sovereign debt at its meeting on Monday with a court-appointed mediator, an Argentine daily wrote on Saturday, citing Economy Ministry sources.

Colombia’s Currency Advances Most on Week Among Emerging Markets

Colombia’s peso posted the biggest gain this week among emerging markets on rising inflows as policy makers increase interest rates and growth in the Andean economy accelerates.

Brazil asset managers have worst year for fundraising since 2002

(Reuters) - Asset managers in Brazil raised the lowest amount of money from investors in 12 years in the first six months, an industry group said on Thursday, a sign that worries over the October presidential election, high borrowing costs and growing global market turmoil are scaring market participants.

Peru Dollar Bonds Rally After Moody’s Upgrades Rating

Peruvian dollar bonds rose the most in the Americas after Moody’s Investors Service lifted the nation’s credit rating by two levels, citing falling debt and reduced dependence on metal exports.

Mexico oil contracts set to be delayed: official

(Reuters) - The first big set of contracts for oil and gas development in Mexico are likely to be delayed a few months, an energy ministry official said on Tuesday, after disagreements in Congress over detailed legislation to underpin them.

Petrobras board member lashes out at gov't over oil plan

(Reuters) - A board member of Brazil's state-run Petrobras lashed out at the government on Thursday and said he may ask the country's securities regulator to sanction the oil company for failing to inform him and other board members of a 15 billion real ($6.8 billion) oil-rights purchase plan.

Argentina economic activity index fell 0.5 pct in April

BUENOS AIRES, June 30 (Reuters) - Argentina's economic activity index fell 0.5 percent in April compared with the same month last year, government data showed on Monday, suggesting Latin America's No. 3 economy remains in the throes of recession.