By Marc Frank HAVANA(Reuters) – Cash-starved Cuba this month opened the first grocery store to accept hard U.S. currency on the island in nearly two decades, the latest sign in a trend towards dollarization in the Communist-run country. The store, open just a few weeks, garners praise from the lucky few with dollars on an …
As Cuba-US relations sour, the island needs dollars more than ever Read More »
By Libby George and Karin Strohecker LONDON (Reuters) – Foreign investors are flocking to Turkey’s local debt markets, saying they are impressed by interest rate cuts and easing inflation and are hoping that a regional transformation could further boost their bets on the economy. Turkey’s central bank cut rates by another 250 basis points on …
Foreign investors bet on Turkey, drawn by rate cuts, easing inflation Read More »
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canadian factory sales most likely rose 0.6% in December from November, largely driven by increases in the petroleum and coal product as well as food subsectors, Statistics Canada said in a flash estimate on Friday. The estimate was calculated based on a weighted response rate of 68.9%. The average weighted response rate …
Canada December factory sales most likely up 0.6% -Statscan flash estimate Read More »
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazil’s annual inflation rate slowed less than expected in early January, official data showed on Friday, cementing the likelihood that the central bank will hike interest rates by 100 basis points at its meeting next week. Consumer prices as measured by the IPCA-15 index were up 4.5% in the year through …
More rate hikes likely coming in Brazil as inflation overshoots forecasts Read More »
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil closed 2024 with a current account deficit equivalent to 2.55% of gross domestic product (GDP), the central bank said on Friday, more than double the level seen in the previous year after reporting a shortfall in December. The deterioration was primarily attributed to a shrinking trade surplus, as import growth contrasted …
Brazil’s current account deficit widens in December, deteriorates in 2024 Read More »
By Leika Kihara and Makiko Yamazaki TOKYO (Reuters) -The Bank of Japan raised interest rates on Friday to their highest since the 2008 global financial crisis and revised up its inflation forecasts, underscoring its confidence that rising wages will keep inflation stable around its 2% target. The decision marks the BOJ’s first rate hike since …
Bank of Japan raises interest rates to highest in 17 years, yen jumps Read More »
By Gabriel Burin BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Brazil’s central bank will raise its benchmark interest rate by 100 basis points on Jan. 29, with more to increases follow, taking the cost of borrowing to the highest in nearly two decades by mid-year, a Reuters poll showed. The expected increase on Wednesday, firmly signalled by policymakers …
Brazil central bank to raise rates another 100bps in January: Reuters poll Read More »
By Rodrigo Campos NEW YORK (Reuters) – Foreign investors added $273.5 billion to their emerging market equity and debt portfolios last year, nearly $100 billion more than in 2023, according to a bank trade group’s preliminary data published on Friday. The $273.5 billion of inflows for 2024 topped the $177.4 billion in 2023 though it …
EM portfolios add $274 billion of foreign inflows in 2024, IIF says Read More »
By Mike Dolan LONDON (Reuters) – The extreme global investor bias for all things American may not need to end with some major U.S. shock, but could eventually reverse with just a modest lifting of the pervasive gloom surrounding Europe. Many experts are wary of the scale with which the U.S. is hoovering up global …
Column-US investment bias might ebb if European gloom lifts: Mike Dolan Read More »
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina’s economy grew for the first time in half a year, posting a modest 0.1% year-on-year expansion in November that beat expectations, official data showed on Thursday. Analysts surveyed by Reuters had forecast a 0.6% contraction in the grains-rich South American nation. The data points to a possible turnaround for Argentina’s …
Argentina economy expands for first time since middle of last year Read More »
