Whirlpool posts unexpectedly low first-quarter earnings on soft emerging market demand

In Latin America, weak demand in Brazil and the negative impact of currency exchange pulled sales down to $705 million, from about $900 million a year ago, the company said. Many U.S.-based manufacturers' sales have been hit by weakness in Brazil's currency and the country's unstable political environment. "There is some concern about European market loss," Gabelli analyst Alvaro Lacayo said.