South America
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BHP Billiton, the world's biggest mining company, boosted its iron ore output by 3 percent in the December quarter, as it races to supply more of the raw material to Chinese steelmakers despite signs of a softening market.
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*Opportunity for Pena Nieto to show a more transparent PRI. MEXICO CITY, Feb 3- A deadly blast at Mexican state oil firm Pemex's headquarters is the first key test of new President Pena Nieto's promise that his party has broken with a past of shady cover-ups, and if handled properly, could help him overhaul the lumbering giant.
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BUENOS AIRES, Feb 2- Argentina has made its final written arguments ahead of a Feb. 27 U.S. courtroom showdown against "holdout" bondholders demanding 100 cents on the dollar for debt that the South American country defaulted on more than a decade ago.
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SAO PAULO, Feb 2- Brazil's Defense Ministry said it will recommend the government buy anti-aircraft defense systems from Russia pending advanced talks with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev this month.
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"It's inevitable that that's going to be on the table," said Jake Colvin, vice president at the National Foreign Trade Council, which represents major U.S. exporters such as Boeing Co, Microsoft Corp and Caterpillar Inc..
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NEW YORK, Feb 4- Oil, copper and gold prices jumped on Friday as stocks on Wall Street hit five-year highs after U.S. jobs and manufacturing data pointed to an economy on the mend. Soybean prices hit six-week highs after a slash in Argentina's harvest forecast.
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NEW YORK/ LONDON, Feb 1- Raw sugar futures on ICE rose to 19 cents for the first time in two weeks on Friday on short-covering and improving sentiment, although prices pared gains after hitting technical resistance.
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*January $4.0 bln trade deficit worse than expected. SAO PAULO, Feb 1- Brazil posted its worst monthly trade deficit on record in January due to a surge in imports of fuel and a slight drop in exports, trade ministry data showed on Friday.
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*Mexico is the world's No. 7 oil producer and a top exporter to the United States. The government warns that Mexico could become a net oil importer as early as 2018 if major new oil finds cannot be developed.
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HARTFORD, Conn.-- For the second year in a row, Connecticut's largest business group and labor advocates are digging in for a fight in the legislature over raising the minimum wage. Connecticut Working Families is backing legislation that would increase the minimum wage from $8.25 an hour to $9 on July 1 and to $9.75 a year later.
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Feb 1- Beam Inc reported a smaller-than-expected decline in fourth-quarter earnings and gave an optimistic 2013 forecast as it benefits from strong demand for bourbon and growth in emerging markets.
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The company earned $126.3 million, or 79 cents per share, up from $88.5 million, or 56 cents per share, in the same quarter last year. Revenue excluding excise taxes rose 11 percent to $709.1 million, from $637.5 million, beating Wall Street predictions of $706.2 million.
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SACRAMENTO, Calif.-- U.S. residents now make up the largest wine market in the world, consuming 13 percent of all that's produced globally, according to an analyst who spoke Wednesday at a major wine industry gathering. Bulk wine imports from Argentina helped slake the thirsts of U.S. consumers, followed by Chile and Australia.
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Feb 1- Beam Inc reported a smaller-than-expected decline in fourth-quarta9742reuff. On a net basis, the maker of Jim Beam, Maker's Mark and Knob Creek bourbons said on Friday that earnings were $126.3 million, or 79 cents per share, in the fourth quarter, up from $88.5 million, or 56 cents per share, a year earlier.
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Feb 1- MetLife Inc said it has agreed with BBVA to buy AFP Provida S.A., the largest private pension fund administrator in Chile, for about $2 billion in cash to expand its presence in emerging markets. MetLife said BBVA, Spain's second-biggest bank, has agreed to transfer its 64.3 percent stake to MetLife.
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The EPA wanted 8.7 million gallons in 2012, but actual production was near zero. Separately, renewable-fuel producer Amyris Inc. said Friday that its plant in Brazil made its first commercial shipment of farnesene, which is used in specialty chemicals and fuels. In afternoon trading shares of Amyris Inc. rose 23 cents, or 7.5 percent, to $3.27.
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SAO PAULO, Feb 1- Two hundred feet under Sao Paulo's most famous old-money neighborhood, home to artists, coffee barons and retired generals, a major breakthrough is about to take place in Brazil's quest to improve its dilapidated infrastructure.
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*Source says China eyes tougher $4 bln loan terms. CARACAS, Feb 1- Venezuela's government and state oil company PDVSA are in urgent talks over a long-expected $6 billion in loans from China and U.S. energy giant Chevron that would help relieve the nation's strained finances, sources close to the discussions said.
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LONDON, Feb 1- For all the frenetic activity in 2013 so far and in the face of a seemingly endless flood of newly-minted greenbacks, some of the world's biggest investors are already bracing for a rare U.S. dollar renaissance. To look at the 15 percent rise of the dollar against Japan's yen over in just three months, it's tempting to say the revival is already underway.
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WASHINGTON, Feb 1- The International Monetary Fund's board will consider on Friday whether to issue a so-called declaration of censure against Argentina for failing to fix economic data that many consider flawed, bringing the country a step closer to being sanctioned.
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CHICAGO, Feb 1- After nearly 100 years, researchers could be on the verge of finding a vaccine that would eradicate tuberculosis infections, a scourge that kills 1.4 million people a year. "In my own personal view, I will consider this to be a landmark or a watershed," said Peggy Johnston, senior program officer at the Bill& Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle.