Latin America Archives

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Economics, Policy & Regulation

Brazil: Correcting Its Fiscal Slippage

In a presentation in New York on February 18—his first official visit to the US since his appointment—Brazil’s Finance minister Joaquim Levy said that Brazilians are learning by doing.

Emerging & Frontier Markets

COSTA RICA: THE FDI SUCCESS STORY

Frontier Markets Report | Costa Rica Costa Rica has a long history of actively and successfully seeking outside investment. However, the country is dealing with high unemployment and an uncertain fiscal outlook, given that the government plans to ramp up spending on social programs, which could raise the debt level.

Emerging & Frontier Markets

US-CUBA RELATIONS THAW, BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN

Milestones | United States & Cuba After 54 years of economic and diplomatic isolation, relations between Cuba and the United States appeared to thaw in mid-January, when the U.S. implemented a host of regulatory changes to its sanctions regime against the Communist country.

Economics, Policy & Regulation

BRAZILIAN ECONOMY: CAN LEVY HELP IT TURN A CORNER?

Brazil | Newsmakers Joaquim Levy, Brazil’s newly appointed minister of Finance, will need to muster all his skills to navigate the rough waters of Brazilian domestic politics and restore the public budget surplus that made the country a darling of Wall Street investors.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

MEXICAN COMPANIES GAIN ACCESS TO EUROCLEAR FOR PESO DEBT

Corporate Debt | Capital Markets Euroclear will extend its cross-border settlement services at the end of January to Mexican corporate debt instruments known as cebures, or “bourse certificates.” This will enable Mexican companies to issue peso-denominated debt specifically targeted to international investors.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

ARGENTINA’S TAX DEPARTMENT STRIPS PROCTER & GAMBLE LICENSE

Corporate Tax | Management Approximately 500 American companies operate in Argentina—but on November 3 that number abruptly decreased by one as the country’s tax authority, the Administración Federal de Ingresos Públicos (AFIP) revoked the company’s registration, accusing P&G of tax and accounting fraud.

Economics, Policy & Regulation

LATIN AMERICA: END OF THE BOOM ERA?

Latin America | Emerging Markets Regional Review After years of strong growth, many key markets in Latin America are faltering. Although overall the region is no longer producing the high growth it once did, a number of markets continue to rise to new heights.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

OIL-RICH VENEZUELA FORCED TO IMPORT CRUDE

Venezuela | Milestones Venezuela, home to the world’s largest oil reserves at 298 billion barrels, is having a tough time getting the stuff out of the ground.

Banking

ARGENTINE GOVERNOR MAY FURTHER DILUTE CENTRAL BANK INDEPENDENCE

Newsmakers | Argentina Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in early October triggered the resignation of the head of the country’s central bank, Juan Carlos Fabrega, by criticizing him for not reducing manipulation of the country’s currency. His replacement, Alejandro Vanoli, formerly the head of the country’s securities regulator, CNV, doesn’t look likely to set Argentina on a better path.

Economics, Policy & Regulation

COLOMBIA TO JOIN OECD

Milestones | Colombia The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is a relatively small club of 34 countries. It seeks long-term social and economic development through data collection, analysis and discussions.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

REGION REMAINS A SWEET SPOT FOR PRIVATE EQUITY

MILESTONES | LATIN AMERICA In Latin America, the outlook for private equity and venture capital remains bright. Despite a 10% fall in investments during the first half of 2014, local and global players increased the amount of funds raised.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

ARGENTINE DEFAULT: BETTER THE SECOND TIME

ARGENTINA The aftermath of Argentina’s so-called default on July 31 doesn’t at all resemble the catastrophe accompanying its earlier default in 2002, when the country was unable to repay $100 billion of debt and the economy collapsed, costing millions of jobs.