Forex / South America news

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Copper rose after a report showing stocks fell to their lowest level since July last year stoked supply jitters.Stocks stored in LME certifies warehouses across the globe fell 725 tonnes to 98,625 tonnes, said the exchange in a daily report...

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Oil continued to trade lower on the day after US fuels inventory data showed gasoline stocks rose last week above market expectations.Motor fuel stocks rose by 1.2 mln barrels in the week to July 6 while crude stocks dipped by 1...

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Oil eased from near record highs as traders took profits ahead of a weekly US fuel stocks report which is likely to move prices.The market is expecting gasoline stocks, which are in short supply, to have risen slightly by 750,000 barrels last week, which would signal inventories remain at lower levels...

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Oil came off strong gains but stayed within striking distance of an 11-month high struck yesterday ahead of US fuels stocks data due later today.US refinery problems, ongoing tension in key crude producer Nigeria and technical factors kept prices near higher levels...

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - The mother of a kidnapped U.S. contractor in Colombia said her son has made friends with his captors, learned to speak Spanish and is generally holding up well after more than four years as a hostage.Yet Jo Rosano was also told that the camp where her son Marc Gonsalves is being held is rigged with explosives to prevent any attempted military rescue...

HOUSTON (AP) - Though the U.S. is still the world's leading oil consumer, its might in the global petroleum business is dwindling.Developing countries are locking up a bigger share of the world's oil and gas resources to profit from high prices and fuel industrial growth...

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Colombia would be compelled to rethink its close ties to Washington if the Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress refuses to ratify a free trade agreement with the South American nation, the vice president said Thursday.Francisco Santos said in a radio interview that Colombia is willing to consider some changes to the pact, but a flat-out refusal to ratify the agreement would, "lead to a fundamental repositioning of relations between Colombia and the United States...

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - "The captain" delivered in the clutch for Russia.The personal appeal and power of Russian President Vladimir Putin swayed just enough votes among Olympic leaders Wednesday to bring his nation its first Winter Olympics -- bitterly disappointing South Korea and Austria...

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Increased refinery rates in the US are likely to have helped ease record high crude stocks and pushed out more gasoline last week.Analysts polled by Thomson Financial News expect a weekly snapshot of fuel inventories, due to be released later today, to show crude stocks fell 420,000 barrels, gasoline up 410,000 barrels and distillates to have gone up by 100,000 barrels in the week to June 29...

LISBON (Thomson Financial) - The European Union and Brazil signed a "strategic partnership" agreement yesterday to develop their relations in all areas and to deepen their political dialogue, at their first summit held in Lisbon.Presiding at the conference were Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates who is the current EU Commission president, EU Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, EU foreign affairs commissioner Javier Solana, as well as Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, who will take over the EU presidency from Jan 1, 2008, and EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson...

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (AP) - Tens of millions of dollars pouring into Olympic bid campaigns. PR companies, lobbyists and spin doctors working frantically. Rumors of dirty tricks swirling behind the scenes.Intrigue was rampant on Monday in the final 48 hours before the vote on the host city for the 2014 Winter Olympics, leading some senior International Olympic Committee officials to say that the bidding process has gotten out of control and needs to be curbed...

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Oil steadied near 72 usd with prices supported by fears supply might be limited during the US's peak demand driving season.Geopolitical tensions, now the UK's security level has been upgraded to the highest ever level, lent further support...

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Oil eased from a ten month high struck yesterday as traders took profits after several days of gains but losses were limited on expectations US crude stocks will tighten.Early estimates by Thomson Financial News show the Energy Information Administration's (EIA) weekly snapshot of US fuel inventories, out Thursday, is likely to show crude stocks fell last week...

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Oil eased as traders booked profits after recent gains but continued concerns US gasoline supply will remain tight limited losses.Crude prices in London and New York had rallied Friday on ongoing worries that motor fuel demand will outpace supply as the world's top oil consumer's driving season gets underway, and after the UK terror threat was raised to critical after car bombs were found in London...

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (AP) - Forced into a catch-up mode after a rocky campaign, Austria went on the offensive Sunday in the final days before the vote on the host city for the 2014 Winter Olympics.Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, the first of three heads of government to come to Guatemala to push his country's bid, said Salzburg can't compete with the money thrown behind rival bids from Russia and South Korea but has the ready-built venues, safe conditions and passionate crowds that the others can't offer...

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Copper prices continued higher as stockpiles monitored by the London Metal Exchange slumped to their lowest in over eight months and on supply concerns linked to ongoing industrial unrest in South America.At 12.16 pm, LME copper for three-month delivery stood at 7,640 usd per tonne against 7,560 usd at the close on Friday...

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Oil was steady near 71 usd, supported by tight US gasoline supplies and as a holiday week in the world's top consumer is likely to intensify demand.Further geopolitical tensions lent support. The terrorism alert in the UK has been raised to critical after a car bomb exploded at Glasgow airport and failed car bombs were found in London...

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Copper prices resumed their climb after easing in Asian trade as the market eyed ongoing labour unrest in Latin America and as stockpiles of the red metal continued to decline in Europe and Asia.At 9.49 am, LME copper for three-month delivery stood at 7,645 usd per tonne against 7,560 usd at the close on Friday...

MADRID (Thomson Financial) - The Portuguese and Brazilian governments are interested in supporting a Portuguese-language telecoms group to compete with major international telecoms operators, weekly Sol reported without citing sources.While the matter is not on the agenda of a bilateral meeting in Lisbon between the two countries scheduled for July 4, the two governments could talk about the subject informally, the newspaper said...

BRUSSELS (Thomson Financial) - EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson said he is "disappointed" that trade talks between the 'G4' of the US, the EU, Brazil and India collapsed in the German city of Potsdam last week.Speaking in Paris, Mandelson said: "I am disappointed that the talks...