Venezuelan Bonds Rally Most in Five Years on Devaluation Wagers

Venezuelan bonds are posting their biggest rally in five years on speculation the government is considering economic changes including a currency devaluation.

Chile aims to expand cooperation with EU

BERLIN (AP) — Chile's President Michelle Bachelet says she wants to expand cooperation with the European Union, building on a decade-old trade pact.

Rousseff Says Market Will Calm as Brazil Works for Growth

Brazil’s financial markets will calm down following yesterday’s declines as the country’s new government engages in dialog to promote growth, President Dilma Rousseff said after winning re-election.

Mexico's Carstens sees rapid decline in inflation next year

(Reuters) - Mexico's central bank chief Agustin Carstens said on Sunday that he sees inflation heading quickly toward policymakers' target rate of 3 percent next year.

Brazil’s Real Leads Global Currency Gains as Neves Ahead in Poll

Brazil’s real led global currency gains after a poll showed candidate Aecio Neves ahead of President Dilma Rousseff, reviving speculation that a new government will restore economic growth.

U.S. court hearing over Citi processing of Argentine bond payment delayed

(Reuters) - A U.S. judge has delayed by a week a December hearing to consider whether Citigroup Inc (C.N) should be allowed to process an interest payment by Argentina on bonds issued under its local laws following its 2002 default.

As Cuban economy stagnates, economists press for deeper reforms

(Reuters) - Some of Cuba's best-known economists are openly questioning the very core of the Soviet-style command economy and saying market reforms under way are too modest to boost weak growth.

Mexico's Banorte 3rd-qtr net profit rises 15 pct on year

MEXICO CITY, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Grupo Financiero Banorte, Mexico's fourth-largest bank by assets, said on Thursday its third-quarter net profit rose 15 percent from the same period last year, mostly as a result of its increased stake in a pensions and insurance unit.

Colombia Sells $1 Billion of Bonds Overseas to Fund 2015 Budget

Colombia sold $1 billion of bonds in overseas markets today to fund next year’s budget, the Finance Ministry said.

Petrobras Optimism on Election Results Unfounded: Chanos

Optimism that Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR4) will benefit if President Dilma Rousseff is voted out of office is unfounded, said Jim Chanos, founder of short-seller Kynikos Associates LP.

Managed Trade for Sugar from Mexico?

Mexican Economy Secretary Ildefonso Guajardo was in Washington this week arguing on behalf of an agreement to suspend the U.S. antidumping/countervailing duty (AD/CVD) investigation against imports of sugar from Mexico.

Chile Policy Makers Signal Rate Cut May Be Last in Current Cycle

Chilean policy makers signaled that yesterday’s benchmark interest rate cut may be the last in the current cycle following eight reductions in 13 months.

Brazil’s Real Rises on Wagers Debate Performance Will Buoy Neves

Brazil’s real advanced for the first time in four days on speculation opposition candidate Aecio Neves’s performance in a presidential debate yesterday will give him momentum as the election runoff approaches.

Argentina's lawyers meet debt mediator, but not to negotiate

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina's lawyers met with a court-appointed debt mediator on Wednesday, but they attended only as officers of the court rather than representing the country in its years-old legal battle with holdout hedge funds.

Chile stimulus could scale back in 2016 if growth hits target-finance minister

LONDON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Chile's stimulus programme, which aims to increase public spending by a tenth next year, could be scaled down from 2016 if economic growth hits targets above 4 percent, the finance minister said on Tuesday.

Brazil presidential contenders face off in debate

SAO PAULO (AP) — President Dilma Rousseff and her rival in the Oct. 26 runoff election faced off Tuesday night in their first debate since the opening round ballot, a crucial confrontation with recent opinion polls showing the pair locked in a dead heat.

Venezuela Default Almost Certain, Harvard Economists Say

Venezuela will probably default on its foreign debt as a shortage of dollars makes it impossible for the government to meet its citizens’ basic needs, Harvard University economists Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff said.

Brazil's Neves would improve ties with United States: adviser

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Brazilian presidential challenger Aecio Neves would seek to repair ties with the United States and finalize a long-delayed free-trade agreement with the European Union if he is elected in an Oct. 26 runoff, his top economic adviser said on Friday.

Argentina Questions IMF Forecast Accuracy After Data Overhaul

Six months after overhauling its statistical data under pressure of sanctions by the International Monetary Fund, Argentina is taking the fund to task for what it says are inaccurate forecasts.

Mexico economy shows signs of improvement; peso could rise-Carstens

There are clear signs the Mexican economy is improving and that the peso could appreciate in the future thanks to the country's solid economic fundamentals, Banco de Mexico governor Agustin Carstens said on Tuesday.

Brazil's Mantega blasts IMF for economic forecast shifts

(Reuters) - Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega took the International Monetary Fund to task on Friday for "contradictory" assessments of Brazil's economy, saying the global lender should be more careful in its forecasting.

Latin America asks U.S. to consult on monetary policy changes

(Reuters) - Latin American finance ministers expect to be consulted on U.S. monetary policy and hope officials in Washington will consider the impact of abrupt changes on emerging markets, Colombian Finance Minister Mauricio Cardenas said on Wednesday.

Brazil economy faces gloomy outlook without reforms: IMF

BRASILIA (Reuters) - The Brazilian economy will likely have a mild recovery next year as electoral uncertainty fades, but still lag regional peer Mexico that should grow faster after a series of economic reforms, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday.

Pimco’s Mexico Derivatives Wagers Grew Before Gross Exit

Pacific Investment Management Co. Chief Investment Officer Daniel Ivascyn has made no secret about his bullishness toward Mexico, a view that predecessor Bill Gross also backed.

Brazilians voting in nail-biter election for president

RIO DE JANEIRO/SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Voters across Brazil cast ballots on Sunday in an unpredictable election that will decide whether Latin America's largest economy adopts a more free-market approach after 12 years of leftist Workers' Party rule.

Boom year for Argentine stocks reflects fear more than confidence

BUENOS AIRES, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Argentina has defaulted on its debt, the economy is stagnant, inflation is soaring and its market-friendly central bank chief has just been forced out.

Colombia to Cut 2015 Sales of Local Bonds by 1.4 Trillion Pesos

Colombia plans to sell about 30.5 trillion pesos ($15 billion) of local bonds in 2015, or 1.4 trillion pesos less than in a government statement earlier this week, according to Public Credit Director Michel Janna.

Mexico eyes IMF credit line renewal despite review lag: official

(Reuters) - A Mexican finance ministry official on Friday said he was confident Mexico would renew its $72 billion flexible credit line with the International Monetary Fund before it expires next year, but that the process had taken longer than expected.

Brazil posts first trade deficit in seven months

(Reuters) - Brazil posted a trade deficit BRTBAL=ECI of $939 million in September, its first monthly deficit after six straight positive results this year, government data showed on Wednesday.

Argentina central bank chief quits, raising policy uncertainties

(Reuters) - Argentina's central bank chief resigned on Wednesday after a long tussle with the economy minister and was replaced with a regulator seen as sympathetic to the interventionist stance of a government fighting one of the world's highest inflation rates.

Fitch: External Risks and Domestic Challenges Continue to Weigh on Latin America's Growth

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In its Latin American Sovereign Overview, Fitch Ratings says that economic deceleration continues throughout the region, as greater trade links with China and heavy commodity dependence of several countries is exposing the region to the China slowdown and weaker commodity prices.