Industry Summits

Costa Rica telecom market seen opening soon 2:43pm EDT

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Reuters) - Costa Rica, one of the few Latin America countries still with a state-run telephone sector, is expected soon to open to big foreign players as part of a trade deal with the United States. Full Article | Video

Brazil, Peru, Chile less slowdown prone 2:34pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Brazil, Peru and Chile, while exposed to swings in commodity prices, are best able in Latin America to withstand a U.S. slowdown because of flexible policies, a Merrill Lynch & Co economist said on Thursday. Full Article

Bush seeks to help Colombia trade vote-official 2:29pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration is prepared to work closely with Democrats to expand a federal program to help workers who have lost jobs due to international trade in the hopes of winning approval of a free-trade deal with Colombia, a top U.S. trade official said on Thursday. Full Arti

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's first deep sea wells have not found oil, and if reform talks to allow foreign partnerships fail, it could be 20 years before it produces any crude from deep waters, monopoly Pemex said on Thursday. Full Article

Brazil, Peru, Chile less prone to slowdown: expert 12:03pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Brazil, Peru and Chile, while exposed to swings in commodity prices, are best able in Latin America to withstand a U.S. slowdown because of flexible policies, a Merrill Lynch & Co economist said on Thursday. Full Article

Peru finmin: Economy not overheating 1:57pm EDT

LIMA (Reuters) - Peru's fast-growing economy is not overheating as public and private investments are rising to create new capacity, Finance Minister Luis Carranza said on Thursday. Full Article

Mexico bank loans seen up to 25 percent 2:53pm EDT

ACAPULCO, Mexico (Reuters) - Mexican banking credit will likely grow up to 25 percent in 2008, slightly above last year's expansion led by strong demand from the private sector and unaffected by the U.S. credit crisis, the Mexican banking association said on Thursday. Full Article

Ecuador says close to securing new oil deals 1:20pm EDT

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuador hopes to sign the first batch of agreements with foreign oil firms to increase state participation in contracts by next week, Oil Minister Galo Chiriboga said on Thursday. Full Article

America Movil eyes new acquisition zones 2:11pm EDT

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's America Movil, the largest cell phone operator in Latin America, is "open" to acquisitions and buying operating licenses outside its core region, said Chief Financial Officer Carlos Garcia-Moreno. Full Article

Inflation worries Toyota Argentina 11:27am EDT

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - High inflation in Argentina is "worrying" Toyota's local unit but the company is optimistic that concerns over energy shortages will ease in the medium term, the firm's president said on Thursday. Full Article