Egypt's central bank left its overnight interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, saying inflation had stabilised and the economy was showing signs of recovery after more than a year of the coronavirus pandemic.
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MOSCOW, April 27 (Reuters) - Russian oil exporters may suspend supplies to Belarus’s Naftan refinery after the United States tightened sanctions on Belarus over alleged human rights violations and abuses, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Washington last week revoked authorisations for certain U.S. transactions with nine sanctioned Belarusian state-owned enterprises, including Naftan and its owner Belneftekhim.
While not directly affected by the move, Russian companies are concerned they could be penalised if they continue dealing with the Belarusian businesses.
Apart from loans, Russia supports its neighbour and fellow former member of the Soviet Union with oil supplies on beneficial terms.
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BUENOS AIRES, April 26 (Reuters) - Argentina’s Central Bank (BCRA) said on Monday it will suspend Argentine soy crusher Vicentin from operating in exchange markets and making payments abroad until it settles its debts.
The BCRA said Vicentin would be allowed to access the international banking system to settle pending exports. It had also instructed Argentine customs not to process new shipments of goods until the once-dominant soy giant complies with existing obligations.
Vicentin was the main exporter of soybean oil and flour in Argentina but started running out of cash last year, leaving farmers and banks holding more than a billion dollars in bad debts.
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SYDNEY, April 27 (Reuters) - The Australian and New Zealand dollars fell against the greenback on Tuesday, as caution reined in markets ahead of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy meeting on Wednesday.
The Australian dollar was last down 0.21% at $0.7784, partially offsetting gains of half a cent in the previous day’s session, which were underpinned by near-record high iron ore prices.
The currency faces resistance at $0.7816 it reached last week, but analysts believe it would likely continue to benefit from strong commodity prices in the near future.
“The close above 0.7790 is an important one and, if sustained, suggests that this move can extend towards the February highs at 0.80,” Westpac Banking Corp strategists said.
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BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Health workers blocking roads near Argentina’s large Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas deposit on Monday rejected a government wage offer and vowed to continue a three-week protest that is threatening a national fuel shortage.
Workers in the region are demanding higher wages amid a fierce second wave of the country’s COVID-19 epidemic. They include hospital orderlies, maids, nurses and doctors who have erected some 25 roadblocks around the town of Anelo, in Neuquén province, about 1,000 km south-west of Buenos Aires.
Argentine state-run YPF produces nearly 13% of the country’s oil output at Vaca Muerta and there are fears that local fuel shortages could soon extend nationwide.