Chile’s Pinera Transfers Assets, Seeks Advice on Lan Airlines

By Nathan Gill and James AttwoodApril 27 (Bloomberg) — Sebastian Pinera, the presidential candidate for the Alliance for Chile coalition, said he’s taking advice on how to sell his stake in Lan Airlines SA and placed shares of other companies he owns in a blind trust. Pinera, who lost the last presidential election in 2005… Read More Chile’s Pinera Transfers Assets, Seeks Advice on Lan Airlines

Chile Police Use Teargas to Break Up Strike Protests

By Nathan Gill and Sebastian Boyd April 16 (Bloomberg) — Chilean police used teargas and water cannons to break up demonstrations in Santiago as unions called a national strike to protest layoffs and demand higher taxes on the rich. About 12,000 people marched today in support of the strike, according to Radio Cooperativa. Chile job… Read More Chile Police Use Teargas to Break Up Strike Protests

Chile’s Pharmacy Fasa to Reimburse Customers for Inflating Drug Prices

By Nathan Gill and James Attwood April 16 (Bloomberg) — Farmacias Ahumada SA, Chile’s second-biggest drugstore chain known as Fasa, will reimburse customers hit by inflated medicine prices. Fasa plans to return 2.5 billion pesos ($4.3 million) through refunds or credit for new purchases, Alejandro Rosemblatt, the company’s chief executive, told reporters in Santiago today.… Read More Chile’s Pharmacy Fasa to Reimburse Customers for Inflating Drug Prices

Chile’s Vapores Rises Most in Six Years on Financing Talks

By Nathan Gill and James Attwood April 14 (Bloomberg) — Cia. Sudamericana de Vapores SA, Latin America’s largest container ship company, rose the most in six years in Santiago after saying it’s in talks to raise $750 million to turn around unprofitable shipping operations.  The Valparaiso, Chile-based company plans to sell about $350 million in… Read More Chile’s Vapores Rises Most in Six Years on Financing Talks

Chile’s Pinera to Transfer Stock Holdings This Month

By Nathan Gill and James AttwoodApril 8 (Bloomberg) — Sebastian Pinera, the presidential candidate for the Alliance for Chile coalition, said he plans to begin handing over control of his stock holdings before this year’s elections. “In April I’m going to transfer voluntarily the administration of all investments in public companies to Chilean financial institutions,”… Read More Chile’s Pinera to Transfer Stock Holdings This Month

Chile’s Vapores Rating Cut to B- From BB- by S&P on Shipping Outlook

By Nathan Gill April 2 (Bloomberg) — Cia. Sudamericana de Vapores SA’s long-term credit rating was cut three levels by Standard & Poor’s, which cited the outlook in container shipping markets and the company’s “weak” liquidity. S&P lowered Latin America’s largest container ship company’s credit rating to B- from BB-, according to a statement on… Read More Chile’s Vapores Rating Cut to B- From BB- by S&P on Shipping Outlook

Chile President Bachelet’s Approval Rating Increases to a Record High

By Nathan Gill April 2 (Bloomberg) — Chilean President Michelle Bachelet’s approval rating rose to 62.2 percent in March, the highest since she took office two years ago, according to a poll published today by Santiago-based Adimark Gfk. Finance Minister Andres Velasco’s popularity also rose, giving him a 57.1 percent backing and making him the… Read More Chile President Bachelet’s Approval Rating Increases to a Record High

Anglo American to Invest $500 Million in Chile Copper Mine

By Nathan Gill April 2 (Bloomberg) — Anglo American Plc will invest $500 million in its Los Bronces copper mine in Chile this year, Chilean Mining Minister Santiago Gonzalez said. An expansion project at the mine could create 4,000 jobs by the beginning of 2010, Gonzalez, chairman of Chile’s state-run mining company, Codelco, said today… Read More Anglo American to Invest $500 Million in Chile Copper Mine

Chilean Inflation to Slow to 3% ‘Soon,’ Finance Minister Velasco Says

By Nathan Gill      April 2 (Bloomberg) — Chile’s inflation rate will fall to the central bank’s 3 percent target ‘soon” as prices for energy and food continue to decline, Finance Minister Andres Velasco said. Chile’s central bank raised its benchmark interest rate to a decade-high of 8.25 percent last year after inflation surged to… Read More Chilean Inflation to Slow to 3% ‘Soon,’ Finance Minister Velasco Says

Pinera to Run for President in Chile on Employment, Education

By Nathan Gill March 31 (Bloomberg) — Chilean billionaire Sebastian Pinera will present his presidential campaign platform this week, highlighting his plans for boosting employment and improving education in South America’s fifth-biggest economy.       Pinera, running as a candidate for the Alliance for Chile coalition, said his proposal would add 1 million jobs in five… Read More Pinera to Run for President in Chile on Employment, Education

Chile Stimulus Plan to Spur Job Growth, Velasco Says

By Nathan Gill March 31 (Bloomberg) — Chilean government spending will help create jobs, Finance Minister Andres Velasco said today after the unemployment rate rose to a two-year high last month.       The government’s $4 billion economic stimulus package and “solid and credible” institutions will allow Chile to limit the damage from the global financial… Read More Chile Stimulus Plan to Spur Job Growth, Velasco Says

Chileans Storm Pharmacies to Protest Price-Fixing on Medicine

By Nathan Gill and James Attwood March 27 (Bloomberg) — Chileans stormed pharmacies and the government pledged a crackdown after the country’s second-biggest drugstore chain said it joined with rivals to raise prices of life-saving medicine.      Crowds gathered outside pharmacies in downtown Santiago, waving placards and shouting their opposition to high prices, according to… Read More Chileans Storm Pharmacies to Protest Price-Fixing on Medicine

Chile’s Fasa Agrees to Pay $1 Million for Collusion

By James Attwood and Nathan Gill March 25 (Bloomberg) — Farmacias Ahumada SA, Chile’s second-biggest pharmacy chain known as Fasa, said it fixed medicine prices with rivals and will pay a $1 million fine.      Fasa reached an agreement with antitrust regulators in a case involving products sold from November 2007 to March 2008, the… Read More Chile’s Fasa Agrees to Pay $1 Million for Collusion

Peru Restarts War of the Pacific with UN Lawsuit against Chile

March 21, 2009 (Southern Affairs) — Peru, home of the ancient Incan Empire, is trying to win back by reason what it lost by force. On March 19, Peru asked the United Nations to settle a century-old dispute with its southern neighbor Chile over some of South America’s richest fishing grounds. Jose Garcia Belaunde, Peru’s… Read More Peru Restarts War of the Pacific with UN Lawsuit against Chile

Chile’s Cap Gains for a Fifth Day as Commodities Rise

By Nathan Gill March 19 (Bloomberg) — Cap SA, Chile’s biggest steel and iron-ore producer, rose for a fifth day in Santiago trading as commodities surged on speculation the Federal Reserve’s steps to revive the U.S. economy will boost demand for raw materials.      Santiago-based Cap gained 2 percent to 8,920 pesos, the highest since… Read More Chile’s Cap Gains for a Fifth Day as Commodities Rise

Peru Seeks UN Ruling on Chile Maritime Dispute, Garcia Says

By Nathan Gill March 19 (Bloomberg) — Peru presented the United Nations International Court of Justice in The Hague today with its claim to some of the world’s richest fishing grounds now held by Chile, Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde said.      Garcia Belaunde said he’s confident the court will agree to hear the… Read More Peru Seeks UN Ruling on Chile Maritime Dispute, Garcia Says

BCI Gains to Highest in 2 Weeks on Lower Rates

By Nathan Gill March 17 (Bloomberg) — Banco de Credito e Inversiones, Chile’s fourth-largest lender, rose to the highest in two weeks in Santiago trading on speculation lower interest rates will boost lending.      BCI, as the bank is known, gained 2.6 percent to 11,390 pesos. Larger rivals Banco Santander Chile and Banco de Chile… Read More BCI Gains to Highest in 2 Weeks on Lower Rates

Chile State Bank Cuts Rates, Pressuring Private Banks

By James Attwood and Sebastian Boyd March 13 (Bloomberg) — Chile’s government-owned Banco del Estado de Chile today said it will cut interest rates to consumers, adding pressure on the country’s private banks to follow suit.      Chile’s central bank last night slashed its benchmark interest rate by 2.5 percentage points, bringing cuts this year… Read More Chile State Bank Cuts Rates, Pressuring Private Banks

Chile’s Vapores Sinks to 6-Year Low on Cash Concerns

By Nathan Gill March 12 (Bloomberg) — Cia. Sudamericana de Vapores SA, Latin America’s largest container ship company, plunged as much as 13.9 percent and closed at a six-year low on speculation it will struggle to pay maturing debt.      The share tumble, which followed an 8.7 percent slide yesterday, prompted the Santiago Stock Exchange… Read More Chile’s Vapores Sinks to 6-Year Low on Cash Concerns

Chile’s Bachelet Replaces Foreign, Defense Ministers

By Sebastian Boyd and Nathan Gill March 12 (Bloomberg) — Chilean President Michelle Bachelet replaced her foreign and defense ministers as the government works to confront an economic slump.      Mariano Fernandez, former ambassador to the U.S., was named foreign minister, replacing Alejandro Foxley, who is returning to the economic research group he used to… Read More Chile’s Bachelet Replaces Foreign, Defense Ministers

Chile to Spend Savings in ‘Lean Times,’ Bachelet Says

By Nathan Gill and Sebastian Boyd March 11 (Bloomberg) — Chile will spend savings accumulated from record copper prices to fight unemployment and will emerge stronger from the global economic slowdown, President Michelle Bachelet said. The government’s $4 billion economic stimulus package offers long-term solutions rather than populism, she said today in a speech to… Read More Chile to Spend Savings in ‘Lean Times,’ Bachelet Says

Unasur Defense Ministers Play Down Regional Conflicts at South American Summit

March 10 (Southern Affairs) — Unasur’s defense ministers met again in Santiago today to kick off the South American Defense Council. Amid handshakes and congratulations, the ministers emphasized the historic nature of the meeting which they say will help ensure peace and democracy throughout the continent. What the ministers did not discuss publicly was how… Read More Unasur Defense Ministers Play Down Regional Conflicts at South American Summit

Cencosud Falls to Two-Month Low on Economic Slowdown

By Nathan Gill March 5 (Bloomberg) — Cencosud SA, Chile’s biggest retailer, fell to the lowest in two months on expectations that weak economic activity will increase the nation’s unemployment rate and hurt consumers’ ability to spend.      Cencosud dropped 2.4 percent to 976 pesos, the lowest price since Jan. 5. Chile’s central bank reported… Read More Cencosud Falls to Two-Month Low on Economic Slowdown

Chile Economy Shrank 1.4% in January, Most in Decade

By Sebastian Boyd and Nathan Gill March 5 (Bloomberg) — Chilean economic activity shrank by the most in almost a decade in January, fueling expectations that policy makers next week will cut interest rates for the third time this year.      The economy contracted 1.4 percent in January from the same month a year earlier,… Read More Chile Economy Shrank 1.4% in January, Most in Decade

Provisioning of the Inka Army in Wartime: Obsidian Procurement in Pambamarca, Ecuador: Ogburn et al.

Ogburn, Dennis, Samuel Connell, and Chad Gifford. “Provisioning of the Inka Army in Wartime: Obsidian Procurement in Pambamarca, Ecuador.” Journal of Archaeological Science 36, no. 3 (March 1, 2009): 740–51. Dennis Ogburn, Samuel Connell, and Chad Gifford look at sources of obsidian found at the Pambamarca fortress complex to the north and east of Quito,… Read More Provisioning of the Inka Army in Wartime: Obsidian Procurement in Pambamarca, Ecuador: Ogburn et al.

Cap Gains as China Speculation Eases Price Concern

By James Attwood and Nathan GillMarch 4 (Bloomberg) — Cap SA, Chile’s biggest steel and iron-ore producer, rose the most in a month on speculation Chinese stimulus spending will limit iron-ore price declines.      Cap gained 4.3 percent to 8,211 pesos, the steepest increase since Feb. 5. The stock dropped 11 percent last week.     … Read More Cap Gains as China Speculation Eases Price Concern

De Gregorio Says Chile Bank Will ‘Probably’ Cut Rates

By Nathan Gill and Sebastian Boyd March 2 (Bloomberg) — Chile’s central bank will probably lower its benchmark lending rate for the third time in as many months at its next meeting on March 12, bank President Jose de Gregorio said today      The bank “took very aggressive action in its monetary policy in its… Read More De Gregorio Says Chile Bank Will ‘Probably’ Cut Rates

Correa Says Ecuador Willing to Renew Relations With Colombia

By Nathan GillFeb. 27 (Bloomberg) — Ecuador may renew diplomatic relations with Colombia if certain conditions are met, President Rafael Correa said today in a statement posted on the presidential Web site. Correa asked Colombia to reveal all the details of an air raid last year in Ecuadorean territory, repay Ecuador for unspecified damages, support… Read More Correa Says Ecuador Willing to Renew Relations With Colombia

Ecuador May Seize Perenco Assets Over Tax Dispute

By Nathan Gill Feb. 26 (Bloomberg) — Ecuadorean Oil and Mines Minister Derlis Palacios said Perenco SA has until March 3 to pay taxes or state-owned PetroEcuador will take steps to seize the French oil company’s assets. Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa said Feb. 14 that he had given the order to begin a lawsuit against… Read More Ecuador May Seize Perenco Assets Over Tax Dispute

Ecuador’s Borja Vows to ‘Defend’ Use of U.S. Dollar

By Nathan Gill Feb. 17 (Bloomberg) — Ecuador’s Economic Policy Minister, Diego Borja, defended the country’s use of the U.S. dollar and said President Rafael Correa wasn’t planning to abandon the system. “The president has been clear, we are going to defend dollarization,” Borja said today in an interview broadcast on Quito-based television station TeleAmazonas.… Read More Ecuador’s Borja Vows to ‘Defend’ Use of U.S. Dollar