ILF•Following is a summary of key Latin American stock indexes and currencies:
| Latin American market prices from Reuters | ||
| Equities | Latest | Daily % change |
MSCI Emerging Markets .MSCIEF | 1662.67 | 6.38 |
MSCI LatAm .MILA00000PUS | 3101.15 | 0.24 |
Brazil Bovespa .BVSP | 178546.19 | 0.78 |
Mexico IPC .MXX |
| 67155.37 |
| -0.2 |
Chile IPSA .SPIPSA | 10965.66 | -0.59 |
Argentina Merval .MERV | 3304245.37 | -0.02 |
Colombia COLCAP .COLCAP | 2386.33 | 1.87 |
| Currencies | Latest | Daily % change |
Brazil real BRL= | 5.0725 | -0.27 |
Mexico peso MXN= | 17.316 | 0.04 |
Chile peso CLP= | 928.13 | -0.27 |
Colombia peso COP= | 3151.68 | -0.74 |
Peru sol PEN= | 3.3895 | -0.17 |
Argentina peso (interbank) ARS=RASL | 1485 | 0.30 |
Argentina peso (parallel) ARSB= | 1540 | 1.62 |
In Brazil, the real BRL= slipped 0.3%, while stocks were trading 0.8% higher after a delayed market opening on Friday.
The gains were led by a 13% jump in lender Santander Brasil SANB11.SA after its parent Santander SAN.MC offered to acquire the remaining stake it does not already own in the Brazilian unit.
Brazil's overall budget deficit widened to nearly 10% of gross domestic product (GDP) in the 12 months through June, data showed, as higher interest costs weighed on the public finances.
"A deterioration on the fiscal (position) means that there could be a delay in rates coming down, which means that it's likely to be a headwind to growth," said Rohit Chopra, portfolio manager at Lazard Asset Management.
In a potential boost for Brazil's left-wing party and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the country's largest right-wing party said on Friday it would stay neutral in October's presidential election.
Meanwhile, Chile's copper output rose in June, while manufacturing production fell 3.2%. The Andean nation is the world's largest copper producer.
The Chilean peso CLP= edged 0.3% lower, while its stocks .SPIPSA fell 0.6%, tracking lower copper prices.
Unemployment in Chile was recorded at 9.4% in the second quarter, data showed, while Colombia's urban jobless rate fell to 8% in June.
The Colombian peso COP= fell 0.7%, ahead of the central bank's interest rate decision later in the day, with the bank widely expected to raise rates to curb inflation.
Still, the peso was on track for its biggest monthly gain in a decade, boosted by the victory of a conservative party in June.
Rachel Ziemba, founder of Ziemba Insights, said the Colombian peso's strength reflects optimism over the incoming government, stronger investment prospects and higher oil prices, with Colombian assets recovering after years of weakness.
Local stocks .COLCAP advanced 1.9%.
The Argentine peso ARS=RASL gained 0.3%, while its equities .MERV were flat.
Meanwhile, in Argentina, President Javier Milei unveiled a bill to reform the central bank's charter on Thursday, to strengthen the bank's independence and restrict its ability to finance government spending.
July 31 (Reuters) - Most Latin American currencies weakened against the dollar on Friday and equities in the resource-rich region were mixed on easing metal prices, while investors assessed developments in the Middle East.
MSCI's index tracking Latin American currencies .MILA00000CUS was muted, easing after strong gains in the previous session.
Regional stocks were a mixed bag, with the MSCI Latin American equities gauge .MILA00000PUS rising 0.2%, and heading for monthly gains, as higher commodity prices supported sentiment.
Ziemba said higher oil prices have benefited Latin American oil exporters and helped shield some economies in the region from the broader impact of the shock.
Oil prices gained 1.1% as traders assessed shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthis. O/R
