Can you imagine how much money would be lost if all economic activity was halted in Mexico City?

Mexico City is home to some 20 million people, and right now, it’s the epicenter of a swine flu outbreak that has countries all over the world ready to cut off access to the country and its pork industry.

At least 1,614 people in Mexico have been infected by the virus, and an estimated 103 have died, though at last count only 20 of them have been confirmed swine-flu deaths. But the Mexican government is taking no chances, and schools are closed until May 6, and even the bars and night clubs in the popular resort town of Puerto Vallarta have been ordered to close.

Mexico City might even halt all economic activity of the outbreak is not contained.

The airline and pork industries have been hit pretty hard, too, so traders and investors alike might want to keep an eye on these two industries as this story develops.

Today, leaders from the 34-member Organization of American States met in Trinidad for the Summit of the Americas.

These are 34 countries with democratically elected officials, so that, of course, doesn’t include Cuba…

Yet.

President Obama recently announced an easing of the travel restrictions between the United States and Cuba, though he didn’t go so far as to lift the trade embargo…

Yet.

But this thaw in relations is being looked at positively by all Latin American nations, and many hope that discussions about the “exiled” country will be much more open and fruitful during this Summit. Cuba herself is open to discussions.

Raul Castro, Cuba’s president, said in a statement made in Venezuela at a conference meant to counter the Summit of the Americas, “We are willing to discuss everything, human rights, freedom of press, political prisoners, everything, everything, everything they want to talk about, but as equals, without the smallest shadow cast on our sovereignty, and without the slightest violation of the Cuban people’s right to self-determination.”

The move to warmer relations is welcomed by both the United States and Cuba, but both acknowledge that it will take a lot of time and mutual respect before Cuba is officially back in the fold.

There is no other way to describe it. Pucon means Villarica… With about 10,000 to 20,000 residents, Pucon turns into an absolute Mecca for adventurers in high season.

With vistas like this, how can it not?

Aside from tour companies offering everything from rafting to volcano climbing, supermarkets are probably the most common store in the town. Everything from small, local shops to big national chains, there’s places to buy food everywhere.

Most of the hostels here have a kitchen, so it’s a heck of a lot cheaper to make your own meals than eat out at a cafe every night. Continue Reading »

When Starbucks (NasdaqGS: SBUX) announced on July 1 it was closing 600 U.S stores, Big Media played it up with an apocalyptic gusto. The Starbucks meltdown was portrayed as divine retribution for our yuppie excess — the Angel of Doom descending on every street corner in America where BMW owners doubled parked for their $5 White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccinos.

Take a look at the chart, and you’ll see that SBUX looks like a massive cardiac arrest…

But there’s a much bigger part of the story that, in fact, Starbucks played down. Like a good corporate lap dog, Big Media ignored this important piece of news — depriving investors of a key piece of market intelligence that could make Starbucks a good long-term play.

Continue Reading »