Airbus announced orders and commitments for 280 airliners from around the world. The 280 orders and commitments are worth around $33.5 billion. Customers in the Middle East and India have made up the bulk of the orders and commitments, with Qatar Airways announcing it would acquire 60 Airbus A350s, while startup Indian carrier IndiGo will be accounting for the largest single deal with a hundred Airbus A320 Family aircraft.

The Puerto Rican agency´s budget will reach $119 million in fiscal 2006, from $104.3 million in fiscal 2005, an increase of 14%. Since fiscal 2001, the Tourism Co.´s total budget has increased by a whopping 59 percent, from $74.7 million to $119 million. Despite its multimillion-dollar budget, the Tourism Co. has fallen short of its expectations to increase the island´s tourism industry and its contribution to the local economy. Stats obtained from the Tourism Co. indicate a mere 10.3 percent increase in hotel stays from fiscal 2001 to fiscal 2004.

According to a report from the Dominican Central Bank, inflation during the first five months of the ongoing year went down to 0.77 percent, fulfilling the expectations of the International Monetary Fund in a drastic change to the elevated numbers from 2004. During the same five month period in 2004, inflation had reached 28.53 percent, finishing the year at 28.73 percent. The Central Bank reports the country is in very good shape to finish the year with single-digit inflation.

Argentina´s GDP expanded 8 percent in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the same period a year ago, and 0,5 percent over the fourth quarter of 2004, according to the latest release from the Statistics and Census Office. However, the Argentine economy´s overall performance also showed that gross domestic investment expanded at an annual 13,9 percent which represents a considerable slowdown compared to other previous quarters.

A controversy over corruption allegations that has dogged the Brazilian government and spooked investors showed signs of waning earlier this week. Many investors have been overweight in Brazil for much of the past two years. Brazil´s stocks, bonds and currency slumped as investors scrambled to reduce their exposure. There were even fears that further revelations would implicate senior ministers or President Lula himself, prompting a run on Brazilian assets. When no such revelations emerged, investors are now returning.

Expanding its operations in the Asia Pacific region, Pegasus Solutions, Inc has appointed Olivier Dombey as its vice president of sales and account management for the Asia-Pacific region and also opened an office in Beijing, China. Pegasus´ chief operating officer Bob Boles says one of company´s primary growth initiatives for 2005 is expansion in the Asia-Pacific region and he termed the signing of its electronic distribution agreement with consolidator of hotel and flight accommodations in China, Ctrip.com, in December last year as an important step towards the same.