Brazil’s economy will emerge from its worst recession on record in the first quarter of this year, Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said in an interview with Bloomberg News and TV. Latin America’s largest economy is estimated to have grown 0.5 percent to 0.7 percent quarter-on-quarter in the three months ending in March, Meirelles said in... Continue Reading →
Economists see Brazil as too optimistic about pension reform changes
The latest draft bill for Brazil's landmark pension reform is substantially weaker than the original proposal and will probably force the government to take additional austerity measures, economists said on Thursday. Changes made on Tuesday by the bill's sponsor after talks with party leaders and government officials are likely to reduce savings from the bill... Continue Reading →
Dominican Republic ratifies terms of Odebrecht’s $184 million plea deal
A judge in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday approved terms of a $184 million fine on Odebrecht SA [ODBES.UL], which sought a plea deal after admitting to bribing officials to win contracts in the country. Dominican Attorney General Jean Rodriguez called the ruling by Judge Danilo Quevedo "a momentous step forward in the fight against... Continue Reading →
Brazil port M&A frenzy proves not cheap for MSC, Dubai World
Dubai Ports World Co and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co SA are seizing on Brazil's three-year-long recession and rising debt levels among local port operators to bid for marine terminals in one of the world's top commodity exporters. But their plan will not come cheap. Half of the 12 terminal and port sales negotiated in Brazil... Continue Reading →
China’s HNA nears deal to buy Odebrecht’s Brazil airport stake
HNA Airport Holding Group Co Ltd is close to buying out the stake that engineering conglomerate Odebrecht SA has in Brazil's second-busiest international airport, a person briefed on the matter said on Monday, partly solving an impasse with a government agency over licensing rights. The Chinese company, which is part of HNA Group Co Ltd,... Continue Reading →
Brazil waters down pension reform as protests turn violent
Brazil's President Michel Temer on Tuesday made new concessions to ease passage of an unpopular pension reform bill that has drawn angry demonstrations from labor organizations, including police unions that tried to invade Congress in protest. The watered-down proposal, which has faced pressure from skittish lawmakers, has raised doubts among investors about the full fiscal... Continue Reading →
Brazil’s former minister Palocci enters plea deal talks
Former Brazilian Finance Minister Antonio Palocci entered talks with federal police to strike a plea bargain deal, in a potential blow to former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's chances of running in next year's election, newspaper Folha de S.Paulo said on Tuesday. Palocci, one of the closest advisers to Lula and former president Dilma... Continue Reading →
IMF Sees Brazil Growth Rebounding in 2018 on Easing Uncertainty
The International Monetary Fund nudged up its 2018 growth outlook for Brazil as fading political uncertainty, easing monetary policy and progress on the government’s economic reform agenda help foster a gradual recovery. Brazil will grow 1.7 percent next year, compared with a January forecast of 1.5 percent, the IMF said in its World Economic Outlook... Continue Reading →
Lender to Sete Brasil just wants to jump ship
Without having faith in the judicial recovery process of Sete Brasil - and who does? - Jurong shipyard will take tougher measures against the company. The Singapore Group is expected to demand possession of the Arpoador drill ship, which Jurong is building for Sete Brasil. It would use the equipment to cover part of... Continue Reading →
Brazil’s Markets Aren’t Fazed by Latest Corruption Scandal Headlines
Brazil’s newsstands and its markets have never seemed more disconnected. As the nation obsesses over new details emerging from a sweeping corruption probe that’s implicated top business executives and politicians -- with pundits predicting who is likely to end up in jail and which government figures will resign in disgrace -- Brazilian assets are extending... Continue Reading →