Carlos Slim goes global:

WSJ: Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, the world's richest man, is increasing his global reach with two significant acquisitions in European telecommunications and a stake in Argentine oil company YPF SA.

MercoPress: Last week it was announced that one of Slim's companies bought 8.4% of YPF shares, according to the information provided by the oil company, 51% of whose shares was seized by the Argentine state from the Spanish company Repsol last April.  The Mexican businessman stated it is "a long-term investment in one of the most relevant companies of the hydrocarbon sector in Latin America" and he pointed out that the company has a "big potential." The price tag was 343.9 million dollars.

Brazil vs. Mexico:

MEXICO CITY -- Mexicans looked on with envy in recent years as Brazilians won a reputation as Latin America's chosen people. With a surging economy and a prominent place on the world stage, Brazil was the country poised for greatness while Mexico remained mired in bloodshed and destitution. (...) Last year, Mexico's economy grew faster than Brazil's, and it looks set to outpace its larger Latin rival again in 2012.

CEPR: It is worth noting that Brazil grew considerably more rapidly since 2000, so Mexico would have a long way to go to make up lost ground, although its initial GDP was considerably higher than Brazil's.

MercoPress: The Peruvian government has approved private mining projects worth 28 billion dollars out of 52 billion dollars of projects planned over the next five years, Peru's Energy and Mines Minister Jorge Merino said.

MercoPress: Brazil and Argentina agreed on Monday "to oppose any financial adjustment plan" and sponsor development and growth policies to face the world crisis, in the framework of the two-day G20 summit taking place in Mexico.

MercoPress: The technical teams of Argentine nationalized hydrocarbon companies YPF and Russia's Gazprom will begin to do joint work in the area, said Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman.

MercoPress: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is to attend the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Rio De Janeiro, and pay official visits to Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile from June 20 to 26, it was announced in Beijing the Foreign Ministry