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Foreign Currency Update

Optimism that Europe's leaders could come up with a solution to the debt crisis has risen in recent days, and the news continues to dominate currencies around the world. On Wednesday last week, central banks around the world announced that a new wave of cheap USD liquidity would be provided to Europe's banks, which gave us a stronger (more expensive) Euro and a weaker (cheaper) US Dollar, with better...

Vale To Invest US$ 563 in Pecem, Ceara Steel Mill

Rio de Janeiro, RJ 29 November, 2011 Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Vale, the Brazilian mining giant and largest producer of iron ore in the world, released its investment plan for 2012 with US $ 563 Million marked for the new steel Mill at Pecém, Ceará. Vale will own 50% of a joint venture called CSP, Pecém Steel Company, together with two South Korean firms, Dongkuk with a 30% stake, and...

Homes for sale in Brazil in one of worlds only growing markets

Homes for sale in Brazil are in one of the world’s only growing markets, according to the latest report from Global Property Guide. The survey of house prices by the property portal, which analyses price indices from 44 countries around the world, found that in the third quarter of 2011, prices had dropped in 25 countries and increased in just 19. 26 housing markets performed more poorly...

Government Looks to Stimulate Slowing Economy, Cutting Rates, Boosting Wages

Government Benchmark Selic Rate Cut 0.5% to 11%-Minimum Salaries Up 14.3% to R$622.73 in January São Paulo and Brasilia- Two moves to stimulate the economy were announced today as the year ending will produce growth figures below those of the last few years. The Central Bank decided to reduce the benchmark Selic rate, a bellwether similar to Prime Rate, by half a percentage point, from 11.5% down...

Saving for that first step on the housing ladder

In many areas of the country, the housing market has been in the doldrums. Many people hoping for a quick sale have seen their home languish on the market for many months. While the most recent data suggests that average prices are rising, the gap between the North and the South is wider than ever – a divide that has been exacerbated since the effects of the 2008 banking crisis became...

Luxury house in Florida to feature robotic arm

A new luxury development in Florida will feature a robotic arm, reports have revealed. The block of apartments, located in Sunny Isles Beach, has been designed by Porsche in co-operation with developer Gil Dezer and will incorporate the mechanical limb into its structure to transport residents’ cars from the road outside to the internal parking lot, via their front door. Cars will be scooped...

David Chipperfield chosen to curate Venice Architecture Biennale

David Chipperfield has been chosen to curate the Venice Biennale in 2012. The British architect, who recently spoke to Yale design students about the challenges of working in architecture in modern society, has been picked to oversee the 2012 Biennale, the world’s largest architecture exhibition. His appointment, although not yet officially announced, was reported by the Guardian and...

Millionaires homes seem to be missing owners

One Hyde Park in London is the world’s most expensive residential block of apartments. Flats in the complex, developed by brothers Christian and Nick Candy, sell for an average of £3.7 million each but according to recent reports, many of the millionaires’ homes are empty. 60 of the 86 properties have been sold, according to agent Knight Frank, but only nine of those 60...

Petroleum, Not Football, Drives Brazilian Development

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