Brazil ministers rebut new wave of campaign funding allegations

Two Brazilian ministers denied on Friday that there was anything illegal about campaign donations made in recent years by a businessman allegedly involved in massive corruption scandal at state-run oil company Petrobras.

Venezuela Enlists Russia, China on Bond Sale to Ease Cash Crunch

Venezuela is turning to friends in Russia and China to get its hands on desperately needed cash. With the state-owned oil producer effectively shut out of the bond market with yields exceeding 20 percent, the company has hired Moscow-based Gazprombank JSC to arrange the sale of as much as $1.6 billion of yuan-denominated notes.

Brazil Bank Stock Goes From Worst to First After Investors Bail

When Banco Santander SA offered to buy out minority investors in its Brazil unit last year, many saw it as a chance to ditch the country’s worst-performing bank stock. They should have held on.

Venezuela’s Maduro Faces His Biggest Test in December 6 Vote

Venezuela’s opposition is set to gain control of congress for the first time in 16 years in a Dec. 6 vote seen as the biggest test yet for the Socialist government of President Nicolas Maduro.

Brazil Billionaire Group CEOs Detained in Petrobras Scandal

Police arrested the CEOs of two of Latin America’s largest conglomerates in a stunning widening of a massive graft and corruption investigation at Brazil’s state-run oil company Petrobras.

Mexico central bankers see weak growth, little inflation risk-minutes

MEXICO CITY, June 18 (Reuters) - Most of Mexico's central bankers think that economic growth remains sluggish and see no signs a weak peso has fueled inflation, suggesting they could hold interest rates steady in the coming months.

Real Drops Amid Signs Brazil Faces Worst Recession in 25 Years

The real fell the most among major currencies as Brazil braced for its worst recession in 25 years after the central bank reported that the economy contracted more than forecast in April.

Defeated Ex-CFO Re-Emerges to Upend

Rodrigo Toro, Isagen’s former chief financial officer, isn’t going to watch his old company be sold off without a fight.

Brazil retail sales drop unexpectedly in April

SAO PAULO, June 16 (Reuters) - Retail sales in Brazil defied expectations of a rebound in April and fell for the third straight month as unemployment and inflation rose and consumer confidence languished near its lowest level in at least a decade.

Swap Market Supremacy Denied as Oil Collapse Derails Mexico Rise

A year ago, Mexico was a rising star poised to eclipse Chile as the safest bet in Latin American debt markets. It was not to be.

Why Mexico’s Bank Bonds Are Hot Even as Economic Growth Fizzles

As Mexico heads for its third straight year of disappointing growth, the top-performing industry in the bond market is the one that’s most intertwined with the economy: banks.hcp

Peru’s Lame-Duck President in Last-Ditch Move for Redemption

Peru’s President Ollanta Humala will ask Congress for special powers this week to tackle an economic slowdown as one of Latin America’s least popular politicians makes a last-ditch attempt to salvage his administration.

Brazil’s economy falters, but worse may be to come

The signs that Brazil’s economy is in trouble have been visible for a while now, but the worst could be still to come.

Ruling leaves massive debt for next Argentina government

Buenos Aires (AFP) - A new ruling by a US judge has increased the total Argentina owes holdout bondholders to $5.2 billion -- a massive responsibility that if upheld likely will fall to the next government, experts said.

Brazilian Real’s Volatility Declines as Petrobras Concern Eases

The Brazilian real’s swings between gains and losses eased this week as Petroleo Brasileiro SA’s return to overseas capital markets with a $2.5 billion sale of 100-year notes added to speculation that the worst is over for the state-controlled oil company.

Mexico Keeps Key Rate at Record Low 3% After Forecasts Cut

Mexico’s central bank kept borrowing costs unchanged at a record low for an eighth straight meeting after reducing its growth forecast for Latin America’s second-biggest economy.

Brazil’s Development Bank Moves to Open Books Amid Graft Scandal

Brazil’s state development bank took a step toward transparency amid criticism of lending to countries like Cuba, big campaign donors and contractors involved in a graft scandal.

Venezuela's currency isn't worth a penny

Its currency, the bolivar, is literally worth less than a penny.Just a month ago, $1 was worth 279 bolivars. That was already pretty dismal for Venezuela.

Brazil's economy kicks off rough year shrinking 0.2%

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - Brazil's economy, the world's seventh largest, contracted by 0.2 percent in the first quarter of 2015, the government said Friday, kicking off a rough year in which it is expected to continue shrinking.

Argentina Is Racking Up Debt Even Faster Than During Its 2001-2002 Crisis

One gets a strange sense of deja vu looking at Argentina accumulate debt even faster than in 2001, the year of its infamous default.