Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Bus plunges into river in Peru's Andes, killing at least 29

At least 29 people have died in Peru's Andes after a passenger bus went off a road and fell 300 feet (100 meters) into a river. Police Col. Jose del Rio says the bus plunged in the Canete river about two hours before it was due arrive at its destination in the city of Yauyos, 90 miles (140 kilometers) southeast of Lima. (AP - click here to read complete article)


Peru's Central Bank May Keep Rate at 5.5% as Inflation Slows

Peru's central bank will probably keep its benchmark lending rate unchanged at the highest since 2001 at its monthly meeting today after inflation slowed in April. All 14 economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect the bank to leave the reference rate at 5.50 percent, after an unexpected increase at the April meeting. Annual inflation last month slowed for the first time since August. (Bloomberg - click here to read complete article by Alex Emery)


UPDATE 2-Peru Credicorp's 1st-qtr profit soars 125 pct

Peru's Credicorp (BAP.LM: Quote, Profile, Research)(BAP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday its first-quarter net income rose 125 percent to $178 million from the same period a year earlier, lifted by booming economic growth in the Andean country. Credicorp has a 97.3 percent stake in Banco de Credito, Peru's largest bank, which also operates in Bolivia. (Reuters - click here to read complete article)


Luis Carranza Ugarte, Peru's Minister of Finance, on Lima's Economic Growth

Speaking at the Washington Conference on the Americas, Peru's Minister of Finance Luis Carranza discussed his recent impressive growth—noting that the country’s GDP grew by 9 percent last year—as well as the obstacles to consolidating such gains. Challenges facing Peru include high financial volatility, poverty, and social inequality. But, said Carranza, Peru can achieve success through structural reforms, improved commercial ports, and trade liberalization. (Americas Society - click here to read complete article by Carin Zissis)


Peru prepares for Latin America-European Union summit

Police mapped out traffic detours and readied roadblocks in Peru's capital Wednesday ahead of a summit of European and Latin American leaders expected to address trade, climate change, poverty and the global food crisis. Some 6,000 police officers were being transferred to Lima for next week's summit, in anticipation of protests seen at such meetings before, police said. (AP - click here to read complete article)