Latin America
Brazil May Levy Tax on Ore Exports as Lobao Says He `Wants More' From Vale Brazil, the world’s second-biggest
iron-ore exporter, may start taxing shipments of the steelmaking
raw material as it seeks to lure investment in domestic steel
plants, Energy and Mining Minister Edison Lobao said.
Pinera's Choice of Larrain as Finance Minister Would Maintain Policies Chilean President-elect Sebastian
Pinera’s likely choice of Felipe Larrain as Finance Minister
would ensure a degree of continuity with the policies of the
current administration, according to Morgan Stanley’s Luis
Arcentales and Alberto Bernal at Bulltick Capital Markets.
Itau Unibanco Net Rises 72% as Expanding Demand Boosts Loans; Shares Surge Itau Unibanco Holding SA, Brazil’s
biggest bank by market value, said fourth-quarter profit
advanced 72 percent as the recovery in the local economy boosted
demand for loans.
Bovespa Jumps Most Since October as Currency Gains, Bank Earnings Surge Brazil stocks rose the most since
October, extending the Bovespa index’s rebound from a three-
month low, as a stronger currency boosted the nation’s biggest
airlines and Itau Unibanco Holding SA said earnings surged.
Chavez's Threats to Nationalize Help Contain Venezuelan Consumer Prices Venezuelan consumer prices rose less
than analysts forecast in January after President Hugo Chavez
threatened to seize businesses that raised prices.
Brazil Soy Forecast Raised to 66.7 Million Tons After Rains, Ministry Says Soybean output in Brazil, the world’s
largest grower after the U.S., will rise more than previously
forecast this year as above-average rains help the flowering of
the beans, the Agriculture Ministry said.
Mills Estruturas Files to Sell Shares in Brazil Initial Public Offering Mills Estruturas e Servicos de
Engenharia SA, a company that provides scaffolding and concrete
forms for Brazil’s oil, shipbuilding and construction
industries, filed to sell shares in an initial public offering.
Anglo, Vale Help Push Bond Sales to Record, Signaling Mining Acquisitions Record bond sales by global mining
companies such as Anglo American Plc and Vale SA have bolstered
raw material producers’ war chests for acquisitions, expansions
and buybacks as they prepare for sustained global recovery.
Venezuela's Chavez Declares National `Emergency' Over Electricity Crisis Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
declared a national emergency in the electricity sector as the
country’s worst drought in 50 years dries up water supplies in
hydroelectric dams.
Brazil Real to End First Quarter, Year at 1.8 Per Dollar, JPMorgan Says The Brazilian real will finish the
first quarter at 1.8 per dollar, JPMorgan Chase & Co. said,
changing its previous forecast of 1.65 per dollar.
South American Leaders Pledge Haiti Aid as Regional Summit Cools Tensions South American leaders agreed to
provide $300 million in aid to Haiti at a summit in Ecuador
after skirting regional disputes that have undermined relations
on the continent since 2008.
Brazil Will Decide This Month Which U.S. Goods Face Sanctions, Porto Says Brazil hasn’t yet decided which U.S.
goods will face retaliation after the World Trade Organization
authorized sanctions in response to subsidies to cotton farmers,
agriculture ministry official Celio Porto said in an interview
in Brasilia.
Brazil Senate Rejects Creating 1% Wealth Tax on Assets Over $5.4 Million A Brazilian Senate committee has
rejected a proposal to create a 1 percent tax on individuals
with assets totaling over 10 million reais ($5.4 million).