Bolivia’s Morales needs cash, know-how for bold plans
Bolivia’s President Evo Morales wants to launch state-run paper and cement ventures and develop lithium, petrochemical and iron projects in his second term but a lack of foreign investment and know-how could hamper his ambitious plans. Leftist Morales won 63 percent of the vote in an election on Sunday to run the energy-rich but economically […]
OPEC set for no change, oil price holds the key
OPEC is expected to hold output steady when it meets in Luanda at the end of this month, rounding off a year of stable production policy and of robust oil prices. Oil inventories are brimming and any recovery in demand is expected to be slow, but international benchmark U.S. crude futures have more than doubled […]
Lamborghini braces for tough 2010, China revs up
Lamborghini expects to post a roughly 35 percent slide in 2009 sales as the global economic downturn slams the brakes on spending from even the super-rich, with growth likely to pick up again only in 2011. Next year will remain challenging for the maker of supercars graced by a charging bull logo, a unit of […]
Hopes low on near-term China approval for Hummer deal
Hopes China’s Tengzhong will complete the deal to buy General Motor’s Hummer brand as early as this week appear unlikely to be fulfilled, with the regulator tasked with assessing the deal yet to receive a formal application, according to a regulatory source. Nearly two months have passed since GM signed a deal to sell its […]
Spain’s jobless claims rise again in November
Spain’s registered jobless rose for the fourth consecutive month in November official data showed on Wednesday, and was seen edging higher as the recession weighs and a multi-billion euro stimulus package loses steam. The Spanish economy is not expected to emerge from recession until next year as it reels from the collapse of a decade-long […]
Some Emiratis glad Dubai’s ambitious plans dented
Dubai nationals were alarmed by the fallout from the emirate’s debt standstill, but many hope the crisis may stem the torrent of foreigners into the conservative Gulf Arab city, where locals are outnumbered ten to one. The freewheeling emirate, one of seven that form the United Arab Emirates, sent jitters through global markets last week […]
Siemens settles case with von Pierer – sources
Siemens AG has struck a deal with former Chairman Heinrich von Pierer on payments for part of costs of a corruption case, paving the way for an amicable ending to the biggest bribery scandal in the country. Two sources familiar with the matter told reporters on Tuesday that Siemens has agreed to reduce the amount […]
Strauss-Kahn keeps France guessing on presidency
If Dominique Strauss-Kahn is tempted to make an early exit from the International Monetary Fund to run for president of France, he will have found plenty of encouraging signs during a stay in Paris this week. The next election is not until 2012 and Strauss-Kahn would have many hurdles to overcome before even getting his […]
Uganda poised to become top-50 oil producer
A deal last week has brought Uganda a step closer to becoming a significant oil producer, offering billions of dollars of fresh investment to develop newly discovered oilfields. Italian energy giant Eni said on Monday it had agreed to buy a stake in two large oil exploration blocks in Uganda for up to $1.5bn. For […]
Honduras coup tensions take toll on economy
Business was bad in Honduras even before the president was ousted in a June coup, unleashing months of political turmoil that have deepened the impoverished country’s economic woes. Honduras was already suffering from the recession in the US, its top trade partner, due to slack demand for its key clothing exports and a plunge in […]
