Bolivia’s government is preparing a new economic decree to replace a previous one that had sparked nationwide protests and road blockades, though the elimination of fuel subsidies will remain in place, President Rodrigo Paz said in a webcast press conference Sunday evening. “Nobody invests in a country under blockade,” Paz said. Road blockades led by the national labor union had strained the econo...
Bolivia’s government is preparing a new economic decree to replace a previous one that had sparked nationwide protests and road blockades, though the elimination of fuel subsidies will remain in place, President Rodrigo Paz said in a webcast press conference Sunday evening. “Nobody invests in a country under blockade,” Paz said. Road blockades led by the national labor union had strained the economy and disrupted transport across nationwide. Union leaders said they support ending fuel subsidies and maintaining social benefits, including a 20% increase in the minimum wage to 3,300 bolivianos ($479), but want congressional debate on other provisions related to private investment, economic management and tax regulation. The government initially refused to repeal the decree, but stepped back Sunday following an agreement with union leaders. Authorities reported more than 50 blockade points nationwide and deployed the military to rescue tourists stranded near the Uyuni salt flats and Lake Titicaca. The repealed decree had authorized the central bank to secure financing, including currency swaps, to stabilize the balance of payments and transition toward a “new exchange-rate regime.” It also included tax guarantees aimed at encouraging private investment. The new decree will focus on eliminating fuel subsidies, preserving social benefits and safeguarding the financial system’s stability, Finance Minister José Gabriel Espinoza told UNITEL. He said the decree is expected to be issued before Tuesday. Paz said a delegation from the Inter-American Development Bank will arrive in Bolivia this week and mentioned new loans for the country. He said international support reflects confidence in the government’s reforms, warning that protests and blockades put those prospects at risk. As of Monday morning, Bolivia’s road authority reported 26 blockade points, mostly in the Cochabamba region even after labor unions ordered an end to the blockades and suspended protests.
Aclara Resources Inc. sees room to speed the development of a Chilean rare-earth project, potentially bringing it online around the same time as a more advanced operation in Brazil. The push comes as Chile prepares to inaugurate pro-investment president-elect José Antonio Kast , whom executives from the Toronto-listed company met with recently, Chief Executive Officer Ramon Barua said in an interv...
Aclara Resources Inc. sees room to speed the development of a Chilean rare-earth project, potentially bringing it online around the same time as a more advanced operation in Brazil. The push comes as Chile prepares to inaugurate pro-investment president-elect José Antonio Kast , whom executives from the Toronto-listed company met with recently, Chief Executive Officer Ramon Barua said in an interview. Kast, set to take office in March, has pledged corporate tax cuts, a smaller government and fewer regulations to spur investment and growth. That agenda could help Aclara secure permits and funding for the $150 million to $175 million mine, according to Barua. “There’s a lot of support that we could potentially receive from the government in order to expedite what we’re doing,” he said. “We thought that Brazil was taking the lead but now we are very enthusiastic about the possibility of Chile also being developed in a fast-tracked manner.” Aclara, which is 57.7% owned by the Hochschild Group, is seeking to raise about $1 billion to build mines in Latin America and processing facilities in the US, as President Donald Trump moves to loosen China’s grip on critical mineral supply chains. The company has already secured US funding for its Brazilian project, long seen as more advanced than the Chilean deposit. That assessment may change if Kast’s policies reduce red tape and legal uncertainty, Barua said. Aclara wants to start producing in mid-2028, contingent on securing offtake agreements and financing. Talks with potential buyers of the magnets made from the heavy rare earths have picked up as the company moves closer to securing approvals, Barua said. Automakers from the US, Europe, Japan and South Korea are among potential offtakers that could hold a stake in the company, the CEO said. Recent changes to US development-finance rules could further speed Chilean projects by expanding eligibility to higher-income countries, Barua said.
Analysts warn that White House pressure on US central bank to cut interest rates could put economy in danger Business live – latest updates Donald Trump’s attempts to influence the US Federal Reserve could risk plunging America into a period of 1970s-style inflation and trigger a global backlash in financial markets, economists have warned. After the US Department of Justice (DoJ) launched a crimi...
Analysts warn that White House pressure on US central bank to cut interest rates could put economy in danger Business live – latest updates Donald Trump’s attempts to influence the US Federal Reserve could risk plunging America into a period of 1970s-style inflation and trigger a global backlash in financial markets, economists have warned. After the US Department of Justice (DoJ) launched a criminal investigation into Jerome Powell , the current Fed chair, investors said efforts by the White House to pressure the US central bank to cut interest rates would put the world economy at risk. Continue reading...
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is among the best software infrastructure stocks to buy according to hedge funds. On Thursday, January 8, Wells Fargo trimmed its price target on the stock from $700 to $665 while maintaining its Outperform rating, according to The Fly. The revision followed the publication of Wells Fargo’s software-sector update for 2026, in which […]
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is among the best software infrastructure stocks to buy according to hedge funds. On Thursday, January 8, Wells Fargo trimmed its price target on the stock from $700 to $665 while maintaining its Outperform rating, according to The Fly. The revision followed the publication of Wells Fargo’s software-sector update for 2026, in which […]
For more than two years, an app called ClothOff has been terrorizing young women online — and it’s been maddeningly difficult to stop. The app has been taken down from the two major app stores and it’s banned from most social platforms, but it’s still available on the web and through a Telegram bot. In […]
For more than two years, an app called ClothOff has been terrorizing young women online — and it’s been maddeningly difficult to stop. The app has been taken down from the two major app stores and it’s banned from most social platforms, but it’s still available on the web and through a Telegram bot. In […]
Shares of Upstart Holdings (NASDAQ: UPST) , the volatile fintech stock, finished lower last year after a series of up-and-down movements. Despite strong growth in the underlying business due to the rollout of a new AI model and falling interest rates, fears about rising credit risk seemed to overcome the positive signs in the business. As a result, the stock finished the year down 29%, according t...
Shares of Upstart Holdings (NASDAQ: UPST) , the volatile fintech stock, finished lower last year after a series of up-and-down movements. Despite strong growth in the underlying business due to the rollout of a new AI model and falling interest rates, fears about rising credit risk seemed to overcome the positive signs in the business. As a result, the stock finished the year down 29%, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence . As you can see from the chart below, the stock was up more than 25% on two separate occasions last year, though it lost those gains both times. Continue reading