Corona Capital: Latin America and Covid-19 8 Apr 2020 Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Six Latin American countries want a $15 billion loan to help fight Covid-19. "There's no harm in trying" says Peru's president, a sad sentiment reflecting the global shortage of needed equipment.
Bolivia’s president snared by his own success 11 Nov 2019 Evo Morales stepped aside after weeks of protests over vote-rigging claims. Growing the country’s middle class helped him score three terms. But with democratic norms under threat, that same precarious class may have stopped him from getting a fourth.
Macri’s likely defeat a warning to LatAm reformers 25 Oct 2019 Argentines are expected to oust would-be reformer Mauricio Macri in Sunday’s elections, which follow weeks of violent protests across the region. In the post-commodity-boom era, Latin American reformers need to find a new identity that is neither leftist nor too austere.
Latam’s poor need institutions more than saviors 26 Feb 2016 Leftist Bolivian leader Evo Morales, in office since 2006, lost a referendum that could have let him preside over the Andean nation until 2025. Self-perpetuation in power, even by pragmatists who slash poverty, shortchanges the poor. Good governance and rule of law matter more.
Bolivia leader shows socialism has its advantages 9 Oct 2014 President Evo Morales is expected to win a third term on Sunday. While in office he has denounced capitalism, torn up mining and energy contracts and forged close ties with Cuba and Venezuela. Yet annual GDP growth averages 5 pct, thanks to the economic power of the underclass.
Buyers too soft on first Bolivian bond in 90 years 24 Oct 2012 The Andean nation’s $500 mln bond carries a 5 pct yield. That’s half what investors charge richer Venezuela on similar debt. They may be putting too much faith in Evo Morales. They’d better hope Bolivia’s president respects debt obligations more than private property.
Bolivia’s nationalizations leave no room for error 11 Jul 2012 President Evo Morales has seized a second mine in a month and already taxes natural gas producers heavily. High prices allowed such antics and kept foreign firms onside. But slowdowns in Argentina and Brazil, Bolivia’s main customers, could whack revenue. Morales needs a Plan B.
Warning: emerging economies can go backwards, too 3 May 2012 Bolivia has followed Argentina in the pointless nationalisation of Spanish-owned assets. Argentina is fiddling with its central bank, as Hungary tried to. The obstacles to growth in emerging economies can be large. Investors should beware. Emerging economies can go down as well as up.
Bolivia shows funny way of wooing investors 2 May 2012 President Evo Morales’ seizure of the biggest local power grid operator from Spain’s Red Electrica pales next to Argentina’s move on YPF. But for a nation preparing its first global bond sale since the 1920s, Bolivia’s decision sends a strong warning signal to prospective buyers.