Latin America News
LAST UPDATE: July 24, 2025
Canada New House Prices Continue to Fall, Slipping 0.2% in June
Canada’s New Housing Price Index declined 0.2% in June 2025, marking the third consecutive monthly decrease and signaling cooling in the new-home market.
Insight
The price drop may ease affordability strains but also signals waning demand that policymakers will need to monitor for broader housing and economic impacts.
Brazil’s WEG reports second‑quarter earnings miss amid geopolitical uncertainty, shares fall
Brazilian industrial firm WEG saw Q2 net profit rise 10.4% year-on-year to 1.59 billion reais, but missed analysts’ expectations and saw EBITDA margins dip amid global volatility.
Insight
Despite resilience in long-cycle infrastructure projects, miss on earnings and shrinking margins underscore vulnerabilities from geopolitical tensions, like looming U.S. tariffs.
Luxury Boom in Milei’s Argentina Masks Despair Among the Masses
Though high-end luxury consumption surges under President Milei, severe inflation and unemployment plague most Argentines, exposing a stark economic divide.
Insight
The trend illustrates growing inequality: display of elite wealth obscures deep social stress, which may erode social cohesion and challenge the government’s populist agenda.
Top copper producer Chile still without details on U.S. tariffs, officials say
Chile’s mining minister and the head of Codelco have not received U.S. guidance on the 50% tariff scheduled to start August 1 on copper imports. They note that uncertainty has already driven record-high U.S. copper prices and increased market volatility.
Insight
The lack of clarity from the U.S. has left Chile exposed to price volatility and complicates any governmental or corporate response. This opacity could strain policy planning and global supply chains.
Argentina suma dólares a la espera del FMI, que advierte por nivel “crítico” de las reservas
Last week, Argentina’s Treasury added US$868 million to its FX reserves while awaiting IMF review. The IMF warns reserves remain “critically low,” covering only 49% of the optimal range.
Insight
The aggressive accumulation of reserves signals urgency in shoring up fiscal buffers, but the IMF’s critique highlights vulnerability and ongoing external financing risks.
