Protected from the subprime chaos

The Latin American region has suffered its fair share of financial difficulties - most of them self-inflicted - but a period of economic stability and rebuilding has left many LatAm countries well equipped to withstand the fallout from the recent subprime-related turmoil. Josh Goodman reports

It was a most unusual reversal. Across markets worldwide, asset prices were in freefall. But contrary to many financial crises in the past quarter of a century, this time the firestorm had its origin elsewhere.

In the aftermath of the US subprime mortgage meltdown, Latin America is limping like markets everywhere. But the damage so far seems contained and although certain countries - Argentina, Ecuador and Venezuela - have been hit harder, for the most part the region can boast unprecedented