Bloomberg Línea — A consortium comprising Colombian state oil company Ecopetrol and Royal Dutch Shell was a big winner in Brazil’s latest oil auction, having been awarded eight exploratory blocks of a total of 14 in seven basins.
Following the announcement, Colombia’s President Iván Duque said Wednesday in an interview with Bloomberg TV that Colombia can produce two million barrels of oil per day, amid of U.S. requests for the South American country to supply it with more crude oil in view of the supply difficulties caused by the war in Ukraine.
Foreign-owned factories, or maquiladoras, in northern Mexico have lost more than $100 million due to the blockade of the border crossing by truckers, which entered its third day on Wednesday, in protest at the decision by Texas state governor Greg Abbott to increase inspections on incoming vehicles.
Argentina’s Merval (MERVAL) led the gains in Latin America’s stock markets, up 0.77%, while Brazil’s Ibovespa (IBOV) gained 0.55%, and Mexico’s S&P BMV/IPC (MEXBOL) closed up 0.49%. Peru’s stock market extended its losing streak however, with the S&P BVL/Peru (SPBLPGPT) down 1.02%.
Following is a roundup of Wednesday’s news from Bloomberg Línea and Bloomberg reporters across Latin America.
Argentina:
- Argentina’s government is trying to reach an agreement with transport trade unions to end the strike that is paralyzing grain distribution, and which was called in protest at the increase in diesel prices and the lack of supply of the fuel.
Brazil:
- Brazilian e-commerce grew by 11.3% in March, but which followed a 14% drop in February. In March, domestic e-commerce totaled 1.68 billion transactions, bringing the total over the past year to 20.6 billion.
Chile:
- Chile’s central bank said it has opted for a 1.5-percentage-point interest rate hike, lower than expected, but which the bank says leaves it in a more comfortable position to accelerate tightening if necessary in the future.
Colombia:
- A consortium comprising Colombian state oil company Ecopetrol and Royal Dutch Shell was a big winner in Brazils latest oil auction, having been awarded eight exploratory blocks of a total of 14 in seven basins. Following the announcement, Colombia’s President Iván Duque said Wednesday in an interview with Bloomberg TV that Colombia can produce two million barrels of oil per day, in the midst of US requests for the South American country to supply it with more crude oil in view of the supply difficulties caused by the war in Ukraine.
Costa Rica:
Ecuador:
- A UNICEF survey reveals that in 52% of Ecuadorian families with children, one family member lost their job as an impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, while 77% of households with children in Ecuador saw their income reduced as a result of the pandemic.
Mexico:
- Foreign-owned factories, or maquiladoras, in northern Mexico have lost more than $100 million due to the blockade of the border crossing by truckers, which entered its third day on Wednesday, in protest at the decision by Texas state governor Greg Abbott to increase inspections on incoming vehicles.
Uruguay:
- While inflation remains among the main issues of concern for Uruguayans, the government of President Luis Lacalle Pou is working on a series of measures to contain price increases.
