Growth in Latin America Weakens for Fifth Year in a Row IMF Survey April 29, 2015 Growth in Latin America and Caribbean to drop below 1 percent in 2015, modest recovery expected in 2016 South America’s growth weighed down by lower commodity prices; better outlook for Mexico, Central America, Caribbean Region needs to tackle long-standing... Continue Reading →

Exxon Posts Sharply Lower Results But Tops Estimates Exxon boosted its quarterly dividend this week. PHOTO: ANDREY RUDAKOV/BLOOMBERG NEWS By CHELSEY DULANEY/WSJ April 30, 2015 8:06 a.m. ET Exxon Mobil Corp., the biggest and richest U.S. oil company, posted a 46% drop in first-quarter profit, hurt by the sharp slump in oil prices, though results still topped expectations. Exxon... Continue Reading →

Majors’ Quandary: Why Drill for Oil When They Can Buy Somebody Else’s? Rising oil-exploration costs and shrinking valuations of smaller players make takeovers likely The rising costs of finding and producing oil were eating into profits even before global crude prices began to slide last summer from over $100 a barrel to about $66. PHOTO: REUTERS By DANIEL... Continue Reading →

Shell Profit Beats Analyst Estimates After Gains From Refining By Rakteem Katakey 3:07 AM BRT April 30, 2015 Royal Dutch Shell Plc, the oil producer buying BG Group Plc for $70 billion, reported first-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates as refining and trading earnings countered part of the drop in crude prices. Profit adjusted for... Continue Reading →

U.S. Economic Growth Nearly Stalls Out Businesses slash investment, exports tumble and consumers show caution as GDP expands at 0.2% pace The U.S. economy slowed sharply at the start of the year as businesses slashed investment, exports tumbled and consumers showed signs of caution., Here, a pallet of lumber gets marked at the Allegheny Millwork... Continue Reading →