Venezuela hikes minimum wage 30 percent amid high inflation

(Reuters) - President Nicolas Maduro announced on Monday a 30 percent increase in the minimum wage and pensions to protect Venezuelans from inflation nearing a 60 percent annual rate.

Mexican reform drive bogged down by opposition strife

(Reuters) - In his first year in power, Enrique Pena Nieto raced to push through Congress the most ambitious reforms Mexico has seen in a generation, raising hopes of a new dawn for Latin America's second largest economy.

Colombia Unexpectedly Lifts Rates as Growth Rebounds

Colombia’s central bank unexpectedly increased its benchmark interest rate for the first time in more than two years amid signs of an economic rebound and a surge in inflation expectations.

Brazil current account deficit narrows on trade surplus, still large

BRASILIA, April 25 (Reuters) - Brazil's current account deficit narrowed in March after an improvement in the trade balance, but it was still the nation's second largest on record for that month, central bank data showed on Friday.

Mexico central bank seen holding rates as economy drags

MEXICO CITY, April 25 (Reuters) - Mexico's central bank is expected to hold its main interest rate steady on Friday as easing inflation pressures give policymakers room to leave borrowing costs low to support an economic recovery.

Colombia to raise liquidity requirements for brokerages

(Reuters) - Colombia's financial regulator said on Wednesday it will increase the proportion of liquid assets brokerages must hold starting in November, in a bid to reduce exposure to risk.

Wall Street bets on change in Brazil, but the gradual kind

(Reuters) - Brazil's financial markets have soared over the past month on hopes that the government may run smaller deficits, stop interfering as much in the private sector and perhaps even undertake long-needed reforms to revive the economy.

Bolivia raises minimum wage by 20%

Bolivia will raise the minimum wage by 20%, President Evo Morales announced on Monday. Following talks with leaders from Bolivia's main trade union federation, President Morales also said that the basic salary would go up by 10%.

EMERGING MARKETS-Mexico peso firms, Chile dips in thin trade

MEXICO CITY, April 21 (Reuters) - Latin American currencies traded mixed on Monday with Mexico's peso firming along with U.S. stock markets, while Chile's peso slipped amid bets of further interest rate cuts ahead.

Chile Keeps 4% Rate After Four Rate Reductions in Six Months

Chile kept borrowing costs unchanged as quickening inflation led the central bank to pause following four reductions in the past six months.

Power Cuts Reported After 7.5-Magnitude Quake Hits Mexico

Buildings swayed in Mexico City and some neighborhoods lost power after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck about 273 kilometers (170 miles) southwest of the capital of Latin America’s second-largest economy.

Brazil's Rousseff looks weak, but so do her election rivals

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - With Brazil's economy struggling, a scandal at its state-run oil company and nearly three-quarters of voters saying they want change from their government, President Dilma Rousseff looks vulnerable in her bid for re-election this October.

Argentina says March inflation rate slows to 2.6 pct

BUENOS AIRES, April 15 (Reuters) - Argentine inflation slowed to 2.6 percent in March from 3.4 percent in February, Economy Minister Axel Kicillof announced on Tuesday, adding that the government expects to see a good result for April as well.

Mexico Peso Rises as Sign of U.S. Recovery Buoys Outlook

Mexico’s peso climbed the most in a week as evidence of a U.S. economic recovery boosted the Latin America country’s export outlook.

Peru's economy grew 5.7 pct in February, year over year

LIMA, April 15 (Reuters) - Peru's economic growth picked up in February, rising 5.72 percent from the same month a year earlier on robust mining and manufacturing activity and beating forecasts, government data showed on Tuesday.

World Bank Says Latin America Growth Slowing as Commodities Ease

Economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean will slow this year as commodity prices remain flat or drop on a deceleration in China, the World Bank said in a report today.

Brazil's Batista faces insider trading probes

(Reuters) - Eike Batista, who was Brazil's richest man for most of the past decade, is under investigation by securities industry watchdog CVM for allegedly engaging in insider trading while he chaired his now-bankrupt oil-producing and shipbuilding firms.

Peru finance minister says GDP likely not up more than 6 pct in 2014

LIMA, April 10 (Reuters) - Peru's economic slowdown has bottomed out but more robust growth in coming months will probably not result in an expansion greater than 6 percent this year, the finance minister said on Thursday.

Mexico Peso Heads for Weekly Drop Amid Energy Law Rules Impasse

Mexico’s peso headed to its biggest weekly drop since January as the country’s political parties wrangled over rules for opening up the energy industry, fueling concern that so-called secondary laws may be delayed.

Brazil Says Prices Yet to Feel Full Impact of Higher Rate

The full impact of Brazil’s yearlong interest-rate tightening cycle has yet to be reflected in the inflation rate, according to the central bank.

Mexico inflation cools in March, below central bank limit

MEXICO CITY, April 9 (Reuters) - Mexican inflation fell below the central bank's 4 percent limit in March, cooling a bit more than expected and backing bets for steady interest rates this year in Latin America's No. 2 economy.

Cuba Slashes More Than 100,000 Health Care Jobs

Cuban authorities say they have eliminated more than 100,000 jobs in health care, considered one of the pillars of the 1959 revolution.

Argentine GDP Warrants Drop After Payment Ruled Out

Argentine securities tied to economic growth tumbled after Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich said the government won’t make a $3.6 billion payment on the notes following a revision of gross domestic product data.

Mexico growth picking up, inflation behaving - Carstens

MEXICO CITY, April 3 (Reuters) - Mexico's economy is pulling out of a soft patch while inflation will head back towards 3 percent over the next 18 months, Central Bank Governor Agustin Carstens said on Thursday.

Brazil Rate Hikes Not Done Yet

Brazil raised its overnight Selic interest rate to 11% Wednesday as expected, but Nomura Securities in New York thinks the Central Bank is not done hiking rates just yet.

Big Chinese soy project in Brazil: so far, just an empty field

BARREIRAS, Brazil (Reuters) - No signs identify a barren field in northeastern Brazil that was meant to be the center of one of China's most ambitious agricultural forays into South America.

EMERGING MARKETS-Latam currencies weaken on U.S. data, stocks gain

By Asher Levine SAO PAULO, April 2 (Reuters) - Latin American currencies weakened against the dollar on Wednesday after encouraging U.S. employment data raised expectations that monetary stimulus in the world's largest economy would continue to be wound down at its current pace.

Mexican growth to pick up 'more clearly' in second-half: Sanchez

(Reuters) - Mexico's economy should rebound more clearly in the second half of the year as growth picks up for top trade partner the United States, a central bank deputy governor said on Tuesday.

Argentina says March tax income jumps 31 pct year on year

BUENOS AIRES, April 1 (Reuters) - Argentina's tax revenue jumped 30.6 percent in March from a year earlier to 78.71 billion pesos ($9.8 billion), the government said on Tuesday, below the median forecast of 81.2 billion pesos estimated in a Reuters poll of analysts.

Mexico economy hampered by US, weather in 1st quarter - Carstens

NEW YORK, March 28 (Reuters) - Mexico's economic growth in the first quarter of the year is being affected by slower growth in the United States and by poor weather, Mexico Central Bank Governor Agustin Carstens said on Friday.