Brazil’s April export value hit $34.148 billion, the highest monthly figure ever recorded since the historical series began in 1989, with the trade surplus reaching $10.537 billion (+37.5% YoY) on the back of an oil-price surge tied to the Middle East war and a record soy harvest. Oil-price increases pushed average crude export values up […]

The post Brazil Sets All-Time Export Record in April on Oil and Soy Surge appeared first on The Rio Times.

The Banco Central do Brasil bought $500 million in dollar futures on May 6, marking its first reverse-swap auction since November 2016 and signaling a turn in FX policy as the real surged 11% year-to-date and emerged as the best-performing major currency of 2026. Through the operation the BCB took the buy side of dollar […]

The post Brazil Central Bank Buys Dollars in Futures First Time in 10 Years appeared first on The Rio Times.

The Neoenergia concession renewal triggered a R$47 billion ($9.5 billion) five-year investment commitment announced on May 8 across four Brazilian electricity distributors as their 30-year concession contracts move toward signature. Coelba in Bahia leads the package with R$25 billion ($5.1 billion) in capital expenditure through 2030, followed by Cosern in Rio Grande do Norte at […]

The post Spain’s Iberdrola to Invest $9.5 Billion in Brazil Grid Renewal appeared first on The Rio Times.

Peru’s energy and economic outlook deteriorated sharply this week as state oil firm Petroperu faces refinery shutdowns and the BCRP three-month business confidence index fell to 44.6 points in April, the first negative reading in 2 years. The Iquitos refinery has paralyzed for lack of crude, and Talara (95,000 barrels per day capacity) and Conchán […]

The post Peru Confidence Drops as Petroperu Refineries Risk Halt appeared first on The Rio Times.

The Rio Times — USA & Canada Pulse Issue Nº 18 · ~3,800 words · 14 minute read US nonfarm payrolls rose 115,000 in April against a 65,000 consensus while unemployment held at 4.3 percent, but the BLS revised February down a further 23,000 to minus 156,000 and trimmed the three-month average to 48,000 jobs […]

The post USA & Canada Intelligence Brief for Friday, May 8, 2026 appeared first on The Rio Times.

Embraer (NYSE: EMBJ, B3: EMBR3), Brazil’s flagship aerospace company and the world’s third-largest commercial aircraft manufacturer, reported Q1 2026 adjusted net income of R$145.4 million ($29M), down 51.5 percent year-on-year from R$299.9 million, while delivering record first-quarter revenue of R$7.6 billion ($1.45B, +18% in BRL, +31% in USD), according to the SEC 6-K filing released […]

The post Embraer Q1 Profit -51% but Record R$7.6B Rev, US$32B Backlog appeared first on The Rio Times.

The Rio Times — Europe Pulse Friday, May 8, 2026 · ~3,400 words · 12 minute read Today’s Europe intelligence brief opens with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suffering disastrous local-election losses across England, Scotland, and Wales as Nigel Farage’s Reform UK swept up hundreds of council seats and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband was reported […]

The post Europe Intelligence Brief for Friday, May 8, 2026 appeared first on The Rio Times.

Argentina’s industrial production rebounded 5% year-on-year in March 2026 according to INDEC data published May 7, ending eight consecutive months of decline, while construction (ISAC) surged 12.7% YoY in a parallel rebound that vindicated Economy Minister Luis Caputo’s pre-publication forecast. The seasonally-adjusted print showed industry rising 3.2% month-on-month and construction 4.7% MoM, with the trend-cycle […]

The post Argentina Industry and Construction Surge to End 8-Month Slump appeared first on The Rio Times.

The Rio Times — Asia Pulse Friday, May 8, 2026 · ~3,400 words · 12 minute read Today’s Asia intelligence brief opens with the 48th ASEAN Summit closing in Cebu under Marcos chairmanship with concrete deliverables: a joint Middle East statement, accelerated APSA fuel-sharing ratification, a new regional oil stockpile system covering crude and refined […]

The post Asia Intelligence Brief for Friday, May 8, 2026 appeared first on The Rio Times.

The Rio Times — Africa Pulse Friday, May 8, 2026 · ~3,400 words · 12 minute read Today’s Africa intelligence brief opens with Mali Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop ruling out any negotiation with jihadist groups as Bloomberg confirms the junta’s hardline stance two weeks after the April 25 coordinated JNIM-FLA offensive killed Defense Minister Sadio […]

The post Africa Intelligence Brief for Friday, May 8, 2026 appeared first on The Rio Times.

Colombia’s pension industry association Asofondos warned this week that Decree 415 of 2026 will force private pension funds (AFP) to transfer COP$5 trillion (US$1.3 billion) to state-run Colpensiones by May 14, creating fiscal risk and a potential precedent for moving the country’s COP$500 trillion (US$129 billion) private pension pool. The decree originally ordered COP$25 trillion […]

The post Colombia Pension Funds Face $1.3B Forced Transfer to Colpensiones appeared first on The Rio Times.

The best Caribbean festivals 2026 are far more than music events: they reflect the history, culture, and identity of each island, with roots in post-emancipation traditions dating to 1834 or in older harvest celebrations. Five stand out this year, from Carriacou Maroon (April 24-26) to Saint Lucia Jazz (April 30-May 10), Aruba Soul Beach (May […]

The post The Five Best Caribbean Festivals 2026 Travel Guide appeared first on The Rio Times.