Banco Santander completes IPO for Brazilian unit as it looks to expand in South America

October 7th, 2009 Verisk Analytics IPO soars in trading debutNEW YORK — Shares of Verisk Analytics Inc., an insurance data specialist that first signaled that it planned to offer shares to the public shortly before the collapse of Lehman Brothers, soared Wednesday in their trading debut. The Jersey City, N.J., company, whose selling stockholders include insurance giants American International Group and Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.

September 14th, 2009 Brazil and Guyana inaugurate border bridgeGEORGETOWN, Guyana — The leader of Brazil and Guyana met Monday to inaugurate a border bridge that is expected to boost trade between the giant South American country and the Caribbean. The $5 million Takutu River Bridge, paid for by Brazil, opens a trade route between landlocked areas of the country's interior and Guyana, a nation on South America's northeastern shoulder that is more aligned with the Caribbean.

August 21st, 2009 News Corp. unit prices $1 billion of new debtNEW YORK — News Corp. subsidiary News America Inc.

August 21st, 2009 Ciber completes credit financing dealGREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — Ciber Inc., facing tougher terms on its borrowing, said Thursday it completed a 3-year, $155 million financing package led by Bank of America.

August 16th, 2009 Mexico's president favor trade deal with BrazilSAO PAULO — Mexican President Felipe Calderon says he supports the idea of a free trade agreement between Brazil and Mexico, the two biggest economies in Latin America. Calderon says he's enthusiastic about the idea of a deal proposed by Brazilian business executives to push for a commercial accord for the two nations.

August 15th, 2009 TIRUCHIRAPALLI - Power equipment major Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) will invest Rs.485 crore ($100 million) to expand its boiler division, a senior official said here Saturday. "The expansion will be completed by 2011 and the division's capacity will go up to 15,000 MW per annum," BHEL executive director A.V.

July 29th, 2009 Spain's Santander Q2 net profit down 4 pctMADRID — Spain's Santander, the euro zone's largest bank, said Wednesday that net profit fell 4 percent in the second quarter as an increase in revenues was wiped out by a surge in bad loans amid the economic crisis. Santander said net profit was €2.42 billion ($3.44 billion), compared to €2.52 billion during the same period in 2008.

July 4th, 2009 Venezuela assumes control of Spanish-owned bankCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez's government assumed control of Venezuela's third-largest bank on Friday — making the state the largest player in the nation's banking system. The purchase of the Spanish-owned Banco de Venezuela gives Chavez's socialist government control over more than one-fifth of bank deposits as he tightens his grip over the economy.

June 3rd, 2009 Chavez threatens private banks with sanctionsCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday threatened to sanction private banks that fail to collaborate with his government's regulations as it moves toward a socialist economy. Chavez says that banks are designed to intervene in the financial system and provide credit to people buying houses or producing food, rather than generating massive earnings for their owners.

June 1st, 2009 Timeline of disappearance of Air France jetTimeline of events surrounding the disappearance of Air France Flight 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, according to Air France, Brazilian Air Force. All times in Brazilian local time: — 7:03 p.m.

May 9th, 2009 Brazilian stocks fall in early tradingMEXICO CITY — Brazilian stocks are falling as investors lock in gains from weeks of large advances. Sao Paulo's Ibovespa index is down 2.3 percent to 50,315 after the first hour of trading on Thursday.

May 1st, 2009 Sovereign Bank laying off 950 workersPHILADELPHIA — Sovereign Bank officials say they will cut 950 jobs, or almost 9 percent of its work force, as part of cost-saving measures in response to the economic downturn. The cuts come just a few months after Philadelphia-based Sovereign Bank, the banking unit of Sovereign Bancorp Inc., laid off 1,000 workers in December.

April 23rd, 2009 Official: Negotiate end to Brazil custody battleBRASILIA, Brazil — A Brazilian official says there should be a negotiated end to a custody battle between a U.S. father and a Brazilian stepfather over a boy.

April 21st, 2009 Treasury completes $29.8B boost to AIG rescueWASHINGTON — The government has completed the transaction providing nearly $30 billion more in support to American International Group Inc., minus $165 million in bonus payments. The Treasury Department also announced Tuesday that it has added Bank of America Corp.

March 3rd, 2009 RIO DE JANEIRO - Pele, the Brazilian considered by most soccer fans the world's greatest player ever, has said that he is collecting a government pension, and added that he'd like to have a cup of coffee with US President Barack Obama 'when he's a little calmer'. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known universally as Pele, said that he officially retired in October 2008, 31 years after hanging up his cleats, adding that he was collecting a government retirement cheque of 3,000 reais (about $1,265) per month.