U.S. Nears Colombia Trade Deal, Strengthening Economic Ties with Latin America

The United States has resolved labor issues with Colombia, paving the way for approval of a stalled free-trade agreement (FTA) and strengthening economic ties between the countries.

The United States and Colombia were expected to announce the agreement this week after months of talks, people familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

Venezuela sees 3 to 4 pct economic growth in 1Q

Venezuela's Central Bank says the economy is showing signs of rebounding from two years of recession. The banks says it's likely the economy grew between 3 percent and 4 percent in the first three months of 2011.

Venezuela's economy contracted 1.4 percent last year and 3.3 percent in 2009.

Professor gives lecture on Chinese, Latin American economics

On April 1, associate professor of political science and comparative politics Jose de Arimateia da Cruz presented "The Chinese in Latin America: The Commodity Lottery Winners and Losers," a lecture on the effects of Chinese economic influence in Latin America.

Brazilian Interest-Rate Futures Yields Rise on Interest Rate Concern

Yields on Brazilian interest-rate futures contracts rose as traders bet the central bank will boost borrowing costs by more than anticipated to cool inflation running at the fastest pace in more than two years.

The yield on the contract due in January 2012 climbed 3 basis points, or 0.03 percentage point, to 12.19 percent at 12:58 p.m. New York time. The yield on the contract due in January 2021 rose 3 basis points to 12.57 percent.

Grupo NCF sees Peru as leading economy in Latin America this year

Lima, Apr. 04 (ANDINA). The Peruvian economy has started 2011 on the right foot and is poised to become one of the leading economies in Latin America this year, according to Lima-based brokerage Grupo NCF SAB.

Juan Carlos Castillo, an analyst at Grupo NCF SAB, noted that in recent years the Peruvian economy has maintained monetary and fiscal stability, reflected in the strength of its basic macroeconomic indicators.

Peru cenbank wary of braking on icy road

(Reuters) - High commodities prices could hobble the global economy and uncertain times require extra caution when it comes to setting monetary policy, Peru's central bank chief said on Friday.

Julio Velarde, who spoke during the Reuters Latin American Investment Summit, said he was not surprised that Peruvian inflation in March sped up to 0.7 percent, the highest monthly level in nearly three years. Economists had forecast a rise on Friday of barely 0.5 percent.

Brazil's February Industrial Output Rises 1.9% Vs Jan - IBGE

RIO DE JANEIRO (Dow Jones)--Brazil's industrial output gathered pace in February, beating analysts' estimates as production of food and vehicles as steamed ahead in Latin America's largest economy.

Output at Brazil's factories increased a seasonally adjusted 1.9% from January and picked up 6.9% compared with February 2010, the Brazilian Census Bureau, or IBGE, said Friday. February was the second consecutive month of rising output, after January's increase of 0.2%, which followed a slackening in output in late 2010 when some industrial sectors wrestled with high import levels.