UPDATE - ECB'S Paramo says eurozone rates appropriate-paper - at Reuters - Sun 4:45 am ET
The European Central Bank believes eurozone interest rates are "now appropriate", Executive Board member Jose manuel Gonzalez-Paramo said in a press interview published on Sunday.

Chavez says Venezuela in recession, by US yardstick - at Reuters - Sun 12:32 am ET
Oil-exporting Venezuela is in recession, its socialist President Hugo Chavez said on Saturday, adding that the capitalist system of measuring economic growth was established in the United States.

Colombia's Uribe seeks to ease Venezuela tensions - at Reuters - Sat 7:33 pm ET
* Colombian president vows no aggression against Venezuela * Bridge incident follows tensions over Colombian plan By Jose Miguel Gomez

Obama asks Americans for patience on economy - at Reuters - Sat 6:00 am ET
President Barack Obama on Saturday urged Americans to show patience over the economy and argued that his just-concluded Asia trip was critical for U.S. exports, countering criticism he had returned empty-handed.

UPDATE - Colombia says will not be provoked by Venezuela - at Reuters - Fri 10:55 pm ET
* Chavez's insults, dynamited bridges raise tensions * Colombian military chiefs meet, no troop build-up seen * Chavez says U.S. preparing for war in Latin America

Mexico FDI plunges 37 pct in first 9 months of 2009 - at Reuters - Fri 9:40 pm ET
Foreign direct investment in Mexico plunged 37 percent in the first nine months of 2009 as the world financial crisis bit into capital flows, according to data released by the government on Friday.

Obama job approval rating drops under 50 percent - at Reuters - Fri 6:23 pm ET
President Barack Obama's job approval rating has dropped below 50 percent in a second major poll in an indication he is suffering from the long healthcare debate and weakness in the economy, Gallup said on Friday.