Lone Latin America Rate Rises Fade as Colombia Hints at Cuts

Traders are betting Colombia will fall into line with other emerging markets and begin cutting interest rates as soon as July after keeping borrowing costs unchanged at 5.25 percent for a fourth straight meeting today.

Morgan Stanley dragged into Brazil bank fight: report

(Reuters) - Brazilian authorities want investment banking giant Morgan Stanley to return about 113 million reais ($54 million) associated with a stock sale by shareholders of troubled lender Banco Cruzeiro do Sul, which was seized by the central bank this month, Folha de S.Paulo newspaper reported Sunday.

Glencore protests at nationalisation of Bolivia mine

Mining giant Glencore has protested strongly at the nationalisation of an operation in Bolivia.

Mexico's May Unemployment 4.8% Vs. 5.2% Year Ago

MEXICO CITY--Unemployment in Mexico fell in May compared with its year-ago level and was practically unchanged from April, the National Statistics Institute, or Inegi, said Friday.

Brazil in trade pact with China, sees aviation gains

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil and China on Thursday signed a handful of trade agreements aimed at boosting investment and trade flows for the coming decade, at a time when economic growth in both emerging market powerhouses is losing momentum abruptly.

Mexico loses $872B in 40 years

Mexico's economy lost a staggering $872 billion dollars over a 40-year period to tax evasion, corruption and crime that included drug, arms and human trafficking, according to a new study by Global Financial Integrity.

Petrobras $237 billion plan a fiction without fuel hike

(Reuters) - Petrobras (PETR4.SA), Brazil's state-led oil company, and its latest business plan have a serious problem.

China Leads Nations Boosting IMF’s Firewall to $456 Billion

Emerging-market nations including China and Brazil formalized funding pledges to the International Monetary Fund, helping to almost double its lending power to protect the world economy from Europe’s debt turmoil.

Europe’s Mistakes a Lesson for Latin America, Chile Says

Latin America must avoid the costly welfare policies plunging Europe into crisis and should adhere to a market-friendly course to preserve gains made over the past decade’s economic boom, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said.

Argentine Economy Grew 5.2% in First Quarter From Year Ago

Argentina’s economy expanded at the slowest pace since 2009 in the first quarter, hampered by a slowdown in Brazil and drought-hit harvests.

Colombia, Costa Rica to sign trade agreement

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Reuters) - Presidents Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica and Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia agreed on Friday to start negotiations for a free trade agreement between their two countries.

Brazil raises G20 stakes on IMF funding pledge

(Reuters) - Brazil raised the stakes ahead of next week's Group of 20 summit on Tuesday by saying it may cap its contribution to a planned funding increase for the International Monetary Fund unless there are firm promises to give emerging markets more say at the international table.

Is Latin America’s middle class on safe ground?

BOGOTA, Colombia (MarketWatch) — Andrea Enciso Garcia has found a niche — buying certified organic vegetables and herbs from farms outside Bogota and selling them to the newly created middle class of Colombia.

DATA SNAP: Mexico April Industrial Output Up 3.6% On Year

MEXICO CITY -(Dow Jones)- Mexican industrial output maintained a healthy rate of growth in April, expanding 3.6% from a year earlier with gains in manufacturing and construction offset slightly by lower oil production, the National Statistics Institute, or Inegi, said Monday.

Brazil Signals at Least One More Parsimonious Key Rate Cut

Brazil’s central bank signaled it will reduce its benchmark interest rate for an eighth straight time in July after saying the economy is recovering at a “very gradual pace.”

Use the global sell off to load up on Latin America

Fitch Ratings recently reported on growth sustainability in Latin America in the face of deepening problems in the euro zone.

Mexico accounting regulator says no fraud at Pemex

(Reuters) - Mexican authorities said on Wednesday that state oil monopoly Pemex had not hidden losses of $30 billion, quashing accusations from opposition lawmakers in the run up to a presidential election in which overhauling the firm is set to be a key issue.

Brazil's BNDES Cuts Interest Rates For Micro, Small Businesses

RIO DE JANEIRO--Brazil's economy is solid and has the capability to grow in the long term, the president of the country's National Development Bank said Tuesday as he announced interest-rate reductions on credit lines for micro, small, medium and large businesses.

Mea culpa, economy boost Chile Pinera's approval: poll

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Embattled Chilean president Sebastian Pinera's approval rating bounced from a record low to 33 percent in May, a poll showed on Monday, boosted by a solid economy and a breather in social protests, though some see a brief respite unlikely to affect governance.

Argentina's Deputy Economy Minister Denies Government Will Abolish Dollar Use

BUENOS AIRES – Argentina's Deputy Economy Minister Axel Kicillof on Friday lashed out at a report that his economic team is drafting legislation to abolish the use of foreign currencies in the economy as double-digit inflation spurs Argentines to seek the perceived safety of the U.S. dollar.

Analysis: the Chilean economy in 2012

The Chilean economy has long been the model for Latin America and maintains the region's highest credit ratings with Aa3 from Moody's and A+ from Standard & Poor's and Fitch.

Brazil Flexes Strong Arm to Reverse Slowdown

BRASILIA—Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega vowed that a weaker currency, more government-backed lending and other stimulus measures will reactivate the once high-flying South American economy, whose recent stagnation has prompted some economists to predict an era of modest growth.

Another Way Into Latin America

It’s not easy being invested in equities these days. Especially higher beta region like Latin America. The market is not really rewarding the region for its solid government finances and ever-expanding consumer base.