Companies in Venezuela’s non-oil sector have had a hard time staying in business because domestic demand is weak and a strong bolivar shut them out of export markets.
Category: Regions
MarketWatch
Divergent Paths Interest rates in Mexico and Chile are at historical lows, in spite of the growing uncertainty afflicting most of the region. Chile is located next door to Argentina, […]
An Intercontinental Mix
Cemex, the Mexican cement company, is a global player that has acquired competitors on five continents. But the markets are carefully watching Cemex?s Asian expansion, worried that it might now be overextending itself.
An Inconsistent Response
Caribbean nations with substantial offshore financial sectors have not responded uniformly to international efforts to crack down on money laundering and tax evasion.
Fighting on All Fronts
As Secretary of Mexico?s Ministry of Comptrollership and Administrative Development, Francisco Barrio Terrazas is the country?s anti-corruption czar. His job, and that of his office, is to stamp out deep-rooted government corruption and promote financial transparency and accountability in all public institutions. Here Barrio describes Mexico?s multi-pronged attack on dishonesty and fraud in government, and acknowledges that a prolonged and relentless effort is necessary to alter the course of decades of corruption.
Life is not a beach
The major Caribbean countries this year face rising debt loads, election uncertainty and economic challenges.
To keep investors satisfied, they must maintain fiscal discipline and diversify their markets.
No Bells and Whistles Needed
Riding on the tails of Mexico?s freshly upgraded credit rating, Grupo Televisa, the Spanish-language television broadcaster, was able to raise $300 million with 30-year plain vanilla bond in the international market.
Making A Jamaican Statement
Canadian mutual fund magnate Michael Lee-Chin recently expanded his empire with the purchase of Jamaica?s largest bank. He plans to use National Commerical Bank?s 50 branches to distribute every conceivable financial product.
Sold on Cell Phones
There are now more cell phones in use in Peru than traditional fixed-line phones.
Living With the Dollar
Dollarization has put Ecuador’s economy back on track after a disastrous roller coaster ride that ended in default. Confidence is back, but the new currency poses new challenges.
