The Americas Economy
-
Another Food Crisis Looms Driven By Soaring Grains And Sugar Prices, UN Agency Warns
August 10 2012 4:57 AM
A global hike in food prices last month due to unfavorable weather conditions, compounded by exporting nations placing restrictions and importing nations stockpiling due to concerns over the grain price rally, could lead to a food crisis along the lines of the one that happened in 2007-08, the U.N.'s food agency warned Thursday.
-
BREAKING: Italy, Spain Downgraded by DBRS
August 08 2012 12:33 PM
Toronto-based credit rating agency DBRS, Inc. announced today it is downgrading the sovereign credit ratings of the Kingdom of Spain and the Republic of Italy from their current "A (high)" ratings. The rating agency gave Spain's long-term rating a two-notch downgrade to "A (low)." Italy was taken down one notch to "A."
- HP Boosts Earnings Estimates After Firings Start
August 08 2012 10:51 AM
Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ), the No. 1 computer maker, raised its estimates for third-quarter earnings to $1 a share from 94 cents apparently because of higher demand as well as the initial impact of firing 27,000 employees to shave costs.
-
The Great Plastic Robbery Continues: Visa, MasterCard Still 'Ripping Off' US Consumers
August 03 2012 12:12 PM
The Merchants Payments Coalition (MPC), which represents retailers, says the fees levied on American supermarkets, stores and gas stations by Visa and MasterCard are up to three times more than in other parts of the world, inflating prices for U.S. consumers.
-
Honduras Bans Guns In Colon Region, But Paramilitaries Will Be Exempt
August 03 2012 11:41 AM
Honduras, which has the world’s highest homicide rate already -- estimated at 86.5 murders per 100,000 inhabitants according to the United Nations -- has witnessed a particularly gruesome spike in carnage in Colon, from two different fronts.
-
Global Manufacturing Slumps On Lingering Euro Zone Debt Crisis
August 01 2012 2:37 PM
Euro zone Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) numbers continued their 11-month straight contraction, with manufacturing in Italy, Spain and Greece continuing their alarming downward trends.
-
Oil, Gas, And The Quest For New Friends: Chavez Hails Venezuela's Entry Into Mercosur
July 31 2012 1:29 PM
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is attending the South American trading bloc Mercosur summit in Brazil, where his country has been inducted as an official member of the group after a six-year wait. But not every Venezuelan is pleased
-
Peruvian President Replaces Controversial Prime Minister Amid Anti-Mining Protests
July 24 2012 1:59 PM
Peruvian President Ollanta Humala appointed a new prime minister among several anticipated cabinet changes Monday, reflecting pressure from low approval ratings amid mass environmental protests.
-
Iran Launches Domestically-Built Tanker: State Media
July 24 2012 1:52 PM
The tanker was apparently ordered by Iran’s ally, Venezuela.
-
Dr. Doom 2013 Prediction: Roubini Says Worse Global Economic Turmoil Approaching; Five Factors To Blame
July 24 2012 1:31 AM
For the last three years, the consensus has been that a robust and self-sustaining recovery for the U.S. economy is on the cards, but economist Nouriel Roubini, dubbed Dr. Doom, thinks that it's not likely to happen, rather he expects below trend growth for many years to come.
-
Indian Economy to Grow at Slowest Pace in 10 Years: Poll
July 19 2012 8:42 AM
India's economy will grow at its slowest pace in a decade this fiscal year, with tight monetary policy, political gridlock and a weakening global economy prompting analysts to slash their forecasts, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday.
- US Can Defeat Any Iranian Effort To Block Persian Gulf Oil: US DOD's Panetta
July 18 2012 1:32 PM
The United States has the military capacity to defeat any Iranian attempt to shut down sea commerce in the oil-rich Gulf region and will hold Tehran directly responsible for shipping disruptions, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Wednesday.
![Google I/O 2013 Review: 7 Highlights And Analysis [PHOTOS AND VIDEOS]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_thumbnail/public/2013/05/15/google-io-2013.png "Google I/O 2013 Review: 7 Highlights And Analysis [PHOTOS AND VIDEOS]")
![Bright Moon Explosion 2013: Watch Meteroid Cause Brightest Blast In Years [VIDEO]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_thumbnail/public/2013/05/19/moon-explosion.png "Bright Moon Explosion 2013: Watch Meteroid Cause Brightest Blast In Years [VIDEO]")
![Fort Worth Texas Tornadoes Claim 6 Lives: Pictures And Videos During The Storm And Its Aftermath [PHOTOS/VIDEO]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_medium/public/2013/05/16/tornado.PNG "Fort Worth Texas Tornadoes Claim 6 Lives: Pictures And Videos During The Storm And Its Aftermath [PHOTOS/VIDEO]")
![Introducing Skywhale: Canberra, Australia’s Controversial $300K Centenary Balloon [PHOTOS]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_multimedia/public/2013/05/14/skywhale.jpeg "Introducing Skywhale: Canberra, Australia’s Controversial $300K Centenary Balloon [PHOTOS]")
![Meet Ahmed Angel: The Greatest Internet Superstar. Ever. [PHOTOS]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_medium/public/2013/05/14/ahmed-angel.jpg "Meet Ahmed Angel: The Greatest Internet Superstar. Ever. [PHOTOS]")
![Airbus Shows Off The First A350 XWB, The Boeing 787's Rival [PHOTOS]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_medium/public/2013/05/13/a350.jpg "Airbus Shows Off The First A350 XWB, The Boeing 787's Rival [PHOTOS]")
![Lisalla Montenegro: Meet Angels Pitcher C.J. Wilson’s New Supermodel Fiancé [PHOTOS]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_medium/public/2013/05/10/lisalla-montenegro_3.jpg "Lisalla Montenegro: Meet Angels Pitcher C.J. Wilson’s New Supermodel Fiancé [PHOTOS]")
![Surviving Sandy: The Rockaways Rise From The Ashes Six Months Later [PHOTOS]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_medium/public/2013/05/09/breezy-point_4.JPG "Surviving Sandy: The Rockaways Rise From The Ashes Six Months Later [PHOTOS]")
![Swallowed By Hippo: Paul Templer, River Guide, Attacked By Hippopotamus On Africa's Zambezi River [VIDEO]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_medium/public/2013/05/09/hippo.jpg "Swallowed By Hippo: Paul Templer, River Guide, Attacked By Hippopotamus On Africa's Zambezi River [VIDEO]")
