DECEMBER 2008 EDITION ARCHIVE
Legal Updates
300 PALABRAS - Bill Richardson, Mexico's Ally
Opinion by Dr. Mario Melgar-Adalid The governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, has been very busy. After running for president in the primaries and eventually dropping out of the race, he supported the eventual winner, President-elect Barack Obama. Richardson was considered as a possible vice-presidential candidate, as a possible Secretary of State, and finally as the Secretary of Commerce. Mexico is following with interest what happens to Richardson, who is the most distinguished politician of... [Read More]Jurisprudence on Economic Agents
During the month of September of this year, Mexico's Supreme Court published opinion number 72/2008 with a heading that reads "Economic Agents. In order to be considered as such, their activity must transcend the economic activity of the State," which was issued by the First Chamber of said court on July 2nd of this year, and by which the superior court held that, as provided in the Federal Antitrust Law, the operations and practices carried out by such agents must be examined in order... [Read More]Maternity Protection Law in the State of Coahuila
In late October 2008, the Official Journal for the State of Coahuila published a decree enacting the Maternity Protection Law in the State of Coahuila, which protects the rights of pregnant women by safeguarding their health, the health of their unborn children and the health of newborns. Under the new law, physicians providing medical services, whether at public or private settings, will have the duty of informing their pregnant patients of the existence of the law, its purposes and the protection... [Read More]Business & Politics Outlook
Electoral Preferences Change In Mexico
The most recent polls on political preferences for the mid-term elections of 2009 mark a notable change in the sentiments of Mexicans. While in 2006, the PAN and the PRD were the main contestants for first place in political power, the PRI fell to third place. But in less than three years the polls suggest that there has been a change in direction. If elections were to be held in December, the PRI would obtain 38% of the electoral vote, the PAN 32 % and the PRD 21%. Research studies on preferences... [Read More]Macroeconomic Deterioration of the Mexican Economy
Analysts and official sources of economic data indicate there is a significant deterioration of several macroeconomic indicators of Mexico. According to the Bank of Mexico's November report on inflation, prices increased 1.14% during the month of November, which amounts to a yearly increase of 6.23%, Mexico's highest inflation rate in the last seven years. The Bank of Mexico singled out in such report increases in the prices of goods and utilities such as fuel, electricity and gas, and fruits... [Read More]The Mexican Auto Industry Requests Financial Assistance
Mexico's automotive industry requested three billion dollars in financial assistance from various banking institutions, including Mexico's development bank Nacional Financiera, in order to facilitate the financing of vehicle purchases by distributors and consumers. Such industry currently faces a restriction of credit, according to Jose Gomez, President of the Mexican Association of Automobile Distributors (AMDA). In addition to the difficulties distributors face, the President of the National... [Read More]Economic Indicators
Pesos/Dollar Exchange Rate
The quoted exchange rate as of December 11, 2008 was $13.1821 pesos per dollar.
Mexican Stock Exchange
The Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) closed on December 11, 2008 at 21,367.75 points.Interest Rates
On December 11, 2008, the Average Interbank Interest Rate (TIEE) for a 28-day period was at 8.7450%.Mexico IP Info
New Regional Court for Intellectual Property Matters at the Federal Court for Fiscal and Administrative Justice
On December 3, 2008, an en banc decree from the Superior Chamber of the Federal Court for Fiscal and Administrative Justice provides such court the jurisdiction to adjudicate appeals challenging rulings issued by the Mexican Institute of Intellectual Property (IMPI), the agency responsible for ruling on matters concerning trademarks, patents, and intellectual property rights, starting on January 5, 2009, pursuant to the Federal Administrative Litigation Procedure Law. Such appeals shall be carried... [Read More]