Oil and gas market have been tattering due to existing sharp downtrend in price. Many oil companies have been writing down the value of shale assets over the past 20 months since prices started crashing. BHP Billinton Ltd. has also become dependent on bank debts to maintain soaring expenses and plans to cut dividends for the first time in 25 years. Finally, following the industry trend, BHP has announced for writing down US energy assets worth $7.2 billion.
Brazil
Coffee Prices: Global Prices to be Affected as Coffee-Exporting Regions Suffer From Drought and Extreme Weather
Brazil, the world's number one coffee grower and exporter, has been hit by El Nino from last year, affecting the coffee crops and harvests. The weather has affected prices expectations and investors moves, as demand rise and supply declines. Coffee bean prices rise has been seen in Brazil.
Zika and Other Mosquito Borne Diseases’ Spreading May Turn Vigorous With Climate Changes
Zika has appeared as a nightmare to many Latin American countries. The number of Zika infected has reached 4 million landmarks since reporting of the first case just eight months earlier. Absence of proper vaccine has made the situation much more terrible. Recently, scientists have escalated the fears revealing climate change may also contribute to the spread of Zika and other mosquito borne diseases.
Oxitec’s Gene Modified Mosquitoes Appear As Lone Mean To Fight Against Spread of Zika Virus
WHO on Thursday has warned for probable spread of Zika virus across the North and Central American countries. Ahead of rising concerns for Zika spreading, drug makers and scientists have commented that manufacturing of an appropriate vaccine may even require a decade. These warnings has opened a huge business potential for Oxitec, an Intrexon subsidiary. Oxitec’s gene modified mosquitoes are capable of ensuring security against Zika for large populations.
WHO Warns Zika Virus To Spread Across The US, Scientists Require A Decade Making Vaccine Available For Public
Aedes mosquitoes are the bearer of Zika virus which is available across the US. WHO warns the US for a probable Zika virus induced epidemic. Brazil has appeared as the most Zika affected country. The US and other governments have issued a travel alert for the pregnant women forbidding to visit the Zika prone region. The travel alert has offbeat the organizers of the Rio de Janeiro olympic scheduled to be held in August.
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A number of concerns about the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio, have already been reported. These include supply of virus contaminated water, forcing to pay the athletes their air conditioning and television bill. Power cutting to Olympic 2016’s inaugural venue by Rio City due to unpaid bill has appeared to be the last blow for the Olympians.
The Brazil's central bank will be under pressure to raise interest rate in 2016 amid gripped into the deepening recession. The borrowing cost is expected to rise by 0.25 percent next year. Brazil is suffering from rising inflation and easing productivity.
A new study has found that deforestation could lead to the extinction of up to half the species of trees in the Amazon. According to the Washington Post a new study published Friday in the Journal Science Advances has found that 36 to 57 percent of all species of trees in the Amazon are at risk of extinction if deforestation continues.
Housing advocacy groups claim that local governments in Brazil are using the Olympics to defend forced evictions and segregation in Rio de Janeiro. In addition, the Ghana Olympic Committee has held a meeting with National Federation Presidents to prepare towards the2016 Games.
Brazil analysts expect faster inflation and lesser cuts in the base interest rate for 2016, as political crisis hinders the moves to strengthen fiscal accounts and avoid another sovereign downgrade to junk.
The labor market in Brazil, one of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations, is fast worsening owing to intensifying recession in the domestic economy. The unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent from the record low of 4.3 percent at the end of 2014. Many industrial estates in Brazil are running down signaling next big crisis for the economy.
The commodities-fuelled boom has transformed many millions of Brazilian poor people into 'the new middle class' and the ongoing recession is again eroding their spending and earning capacity. Middle-class people in Brazil find it difficult to sustain their living standards amid intensifying economy recession and soaring inflation rate. Many owners of small shops, coffee stalls and other small vendors see their dwindling earnings by more than half during the past three years. As a result, many middle-class people are slashing their spending levels, which result in a cascading impact on other segments.
Considering the adverse conditions being faced by the Brazilian oil and gas company, Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras' price estimate has been revised down to $7.41 a share from $10.80.
Brazil is to detach its internet connection with U.S., Telebras CEO Jorge Bittar said. A submarine cable with over 30 tbps will be installed from Lisbon to Fortaleza. This would boost Internet speed with Europe in 2017.
