Jan 8 (Reuters) - Venezuela on Friday devalued the bolivar currency, setting two new rates of 2.6 and 4.3 to the dollar. [ID:nN08193490]
The bolivar had been fixed at 2.15 to the dollar since 2005, though it trades much higher on a secondary, black market. Chavez aims to cut imports with the dual rate, the lower one for basic food and medicine, the other for "non-essential" products.
Following are the latest stories on the Venezuelan government's recent actions and the political ramifications for Chavez:
(To read each item, please double-click on the codes in brackets. Note that not all reports will be available to all subscribers.)
OVERVIEW: > Venezuela devalues currency, sets dual rate [ID:nN08193490] > SNAP ANALYSIS-Venezuela devalues bolivar [ID:nN0856590] > Venezuela stagflation persists, prices up 25 pct [ID:nN07187396] > Venezuela sent jets to intercept US plane [ID:nN08264246] > Venezuela economy shrinks 2.9 pct 2009 [ID:nN29202281] > Venezuela responds to disquiet over power crisis [ID:nN0552758] > Chavez stronger from bank moves, faces tough year [ID:nN08139869] > Venezuela opposition blames Chavez for bank woes [ID:nN03498553]
FACTBOXES: > Venezuela devalues bolivar currency [ID:nN08258526] > Venezuela's oil-based economy [ID:nN08260293] > Key facts about Venezuela's bank sector [ID:nN06143072] > Venezuela's state takeovers under Chavez [ID:nN04152862] > Risks to watch in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador [ID:nN07170379]