Given the mounting difficulties with Mercosur Uruguay is quietly considering different options for different scenarios including the possibility of abandoning the South American customs union, revealed the Uruguayan press in Montevideo. “For the current Uruguayan government, Mercosur is a strategic priority and we are looking forward to a larger and better Mercosur, not the one we have now plagued with difficulties. Uruguay wants a Mercosur that fairly contemplates all countries, no matter the asymmetries”, said Vazquez Wednesday in Caracas during a meeting with President Hugo Vázquez.

AeroRepublica, a subsidiary of Copa Holdings, S.A.A announced last week a fleet modernization and expansion plan that includes firm orders for five Embraer 190 aircraft, representing an investment of $ 175 million at list price. The order also includes options to buy 20 additional aircraft. AeroRepublica joins a select group of airlines that have acquired the Embraer 190 aircraft, equipped with state-of-the-art aviation navigation technology, directly from the manufacturer.

Barclays, the third-biggest British bank, said Monday that it has signed a letter of intent to sell its 43.7-percent stake in FirstCaribbean International Bank for about $1.08 billion to Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). CIBC owns already 43.7 percent of FirstCaribbean, which was formed in 2002 through the merger of the Caribbean businesses belonging to Barclays and CIBC. The remaining 12.6 percent of FirstCaribbean is publicly held.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A. de C.V. (ASUR) today announced that total passenger traffic for the month of February 2006 decreased by 16.7 percent when compared to February 2005. All figures in this announcement reflect comparisons between the 28-day period February 1 through February 28, 2005 and 2006. Transit and general aviation passengers are excluded.

The US dollar spiked higher last week as 10-year Treasury yields hit a 21-month high, sending a number of emerging market currencies spinning lower. Treasury yields rose to 4.8 percent, their highest level since June 2001, as the market moved to price in a 35 percent probability that short-term rates, currently 4.5 percent, would reach 5.25 percent later in the year.

GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes, Brazil´s low-fare, low-cost airline, today released preliminary passenger statistics for the month of February 2006. System-wide passenger traffic (RPK) increased 58 percent, while capacity (ASK) increased 60 percent. GOL´s system load factor for the month of February 2006 was 70 percent. Domestic passenger traffic (RPK) for January ramped up 56 percent, and capacity (ASK) hiked 56 percent. GOL´s domestic load factor for the month of February 2006 was 71 percent.