It wasn’t long ago that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s decision to nationalize state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) resulted in a failed coup that very nearly cost him his post.

We recall a meeting, back in the ’90s, with Mr. Carlos Menem. “Can investors rely on Argentina’s commitment to keep the dollar and the peso linked together?” we asked.

Industrialized countries are dropping like flies into recession. So far, emerging markets have avoided the economic meltdown. But that is changing, says David Newman. He says investors should not be tempted by the huge bond yields on offer in countries like Argentina. In today’s climate, knowing you will get your money back is much more valuable.

Paola Pecora asks: “The inevitable moment arrived: higher inflation in Brazil continues rising dangerously, although it remains within the inflationary goals for the year… what can Brazil do regarding this matter?”

Paola Pecora says: ¨With such favorable external conditions prevailing, many in Argentina say that even a robot could have run the country successfully the last few years.  Latin America… is it doing well because of its leaders or because it is coasting on a good tailwind¨

Yesterday I wrote to you about the pessimism within the Argentine business community. However, Argentine businessmen are not the only ones in a bad mood… The Chilean businessmen are also more than a little bit worried about the situation the Chilean economy is going through.

The Canadian Markets starting the trading month off on a quiet note with investors electing to focus in on the bigger brand names.

A typical financial tale – where nothing goes as hoped for, and everything goes as it should…*** The rise of speculative capital…pumping up a bubble with a chip on its shoulder…*** The three vicious cycles we must face…an interesting TIME cover…and more!

‘Argentina’s foreign reserves…this is one of the main subjects of concern here in these times of uncertainty and political unrest,’ says Paola Pecora.

A new community in South America is born with a variety of diverse and complex objectives spanning cultural, social and economic realms… another aim is the social inclusion, the civic participation, the strengthening of democracy for all.