In Venezuela, the deadline to withdraw from circulation the country's common currency note has again been extended to 20th January,2017. Earlier, the deadline had been set for 2 January, 2017. Announcing the extension, President Nicolas Maduro has said, he did not want citizens to worry about exchanging the currency near the New Year festivities. <br/><br/>Venezuelans had been initially given 72 hours in mid-December to swap their 100 bolivar notes, sparking chaos. The borders with Colombia and Brazil were also closed for eight days as part of a coordinated action against smuggling mafias.They sell products subsidised by Venezuela's socialist government, including petrol and medicines, at high profit margins.