VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Google grants UNICEF a total of $1.5 million in its battle with Zika virus which has been declared an epidemic by WHO last month. The virus has been linked with microcephaly and neurological illness called Guillain-Barre syndrome. UNICEF and the tech giant will collaborate to map and anticipate the spread of the virus.

Canada-based Bank of Nova Scotia witnessed a strong profit surge as banking activity in domestic and international operations rose. Scotiabank has increased provision for bad loans in the oil and gas sector. The bank is expanding in Mexico, Chile, Columbia and Peru.

Led by new President Mauricio Macri, economy recovery in Argentina is anticipated during 2016. Argentina registered $3 billion trade deficit for 2015. Exports too fell over 50 percent during 2015.

Latin America experienced a phenomenal growth in the last decade. However, according to World Bank, the economic growth has not reached some people.Meanwhile the region's economy is slowing down in the last three years.

Standard & Poor has trimmed Brazil's loan rating into "junk territory' following the nation's failure to reduce its fiscal risks and the political hurdles facing the economy of Brazil. The government is hopeful to reform its fiscal strategy amid political challenges and economic slowdown.

Zika has appeared as a nightmare to many Latin American countries. The number of Zika infected has reached 4 million landmarks since reporting of the first case just eight months earlier. Absence of proper vaccine has made the situation much more terrible. Recently, scientists have escalated the fears revealing climate change may also contribute to the spread of Zika and other mosquito borne diseases.

Aedes mosquitoes are the bearer of Zika virus which is available across the US. WHO warns the US for a probable Zika virus induced epidemic. Brazil has appeared as the most Zika affected country. The US and other governments have issued a travel alert for the pregnant women forbidding to visit the Zika prone region. The travel alert has offbeat the organizers of the Rio de Janeiro olympic scheduled to be held in August.

On Thursday, the new market forecast said that global smartphone sales growth will cool to single digits for the first time amid the China's economic slowdown. IDC predicted the 9.8% increase in global smartphones shipment to a total of 1.43 billion units. Android dominates the market share with 81.2% with Apple holding only 15.8%.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), the Italian-US automobile company being the parent company of Ferrari, floated to the public 17.18 million shares accounting for nearly 10% of Ferrari at $52 a share at its IPO at the NYSE.

Starbucks, the most popular coffee brand in the world, has a special treat for both Halloween lovers and coffee enthusiasts as they announced plans on releasing a new vampire-inspired beverage, the Frappula.

Considering the adverse conditions being faced by the Brazilian oil and gas company, Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras' price estimate has been revised down to $7.41 a share from $10.80.

The 40-year record high of US dollar against some major currencies is ringing alarm bells for another currency crisis. The ongoing situation could also trigger for another round of crash in the emerging markets. The world is more integrated now than in those days of 1980s and 1990s that witnessed major currency crisis.

Citigroup Inc (C.N) and rivals in the commodity trade finance sector are facing headwinds of weak oil prices, sanctions on Russia and stiff competition, which have pressured fees.

China and Peru have agreed to study the feasibility of a controversial 5,300 km (3,300 miles) transcontinental railroad that will connect Peru's Pacific coast with Brazil's Atlantic coast, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Manufacturing activity growth remained sluggish in some of the world's major economies in April, suggesting that global economic growth remains "moderate and uneven," as the International Monetary Fund described it in its World Economic Outlook in April.