Chile Equity Movers: Colbun, Copec, CMPC, Masisa, Multiexport

By James Attwood and Nathan Gill      Nov. 25 (Bloomberg) — The following companies had unusual price changes in Chilean trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and share prices are as of 3:44 p.m. in New York.      The Ipsa index fell 0.2 percent to close at 2,413.01.      Colbun SA (COLBUN CC) gained for… Read More Chile Equity Movers: Colbun, Copec, CMPC, Masisa, Multiexport

Santander Chile Rises on Recommendation, Citigroup (Update1)

By James Attwood and Nathan Gill      Nov. 24 (Bloomberg) — Banco Santander Chile rose the most in five weeks in Santiago after JPMorgan Chase & Co. recommended owning Chilean banking stocks and the U.S. rescue of Citigroup Inc. eased investor concerns about the global financial system.      The country’s biggest lender rose 8.8 percent… Read More Santander Chile Rises on Recommendation, Citigroup (Update1)

Chile May Use Police to Find HIV Patients After 512 Not Told

By Sebastian Boyd and Nathan Gill      Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) — Chilean health authorities may use police databases to track down people infected with the AIDS virus after the government failed to notify 512 patients that they had the illness, denying them access to treatment.      In more than half those cases, there’s no record… Read More Chile May Use Police to Find HIV Patients After 512 Not Told

Chile Retailer Cencosud Rises After Pricing Shares (Update3)

By James Attwood and Nathan Gill      Nov. 19 (Bloomberg) — Cencosud SA rose for the first time in three days in Santiago trading after pricing new shares at a 12 percent premium to yesterday’s closing price.      Chile’s biggest retailer advanced 2.1 percent to 1,005 pesos, recovering most of the ground lost in the… Read More Chile Retailer Cencosud Rises After Pricing Shares (Update3)

Velasco Says Chile Better Prepared Than Many Nations for Crisis

By Nathan Gill      Nov. 17 (Bloomberg) — Chile’s Finance Minister Andres Velasco comments on the central bank’s decision to cut 2009 economic forecasts Nov. 14. Velasco spoke to reporters in Santiago today. On the central bank’s revised 2009 economic estimates:      “We know the numbers released by the central bank last week and these… Read More Velasco Says Chile Better Prepared Than Many Nations for Crisis

Argentina Vows to Maintain Value of Pensions’ Stocks (Update1)

By Nathan Gill and James Attwood      Nov. 14 (Bloomberg) — Argentina will defend the value of domestic stocks currently held by private pension funds once the retirement system is nationalized, according to the head of the country’s social security agency.      “The first thing is to maintain their value because it is Argentine capital… Read More Argentina Vows to Maintain Value of Pensions’ Stocks (Update1)

Chile’s Concha Rises After Addition to MSCI Index (Update2)

By James Attwood and Nathan Gill      Nov. 12 (Bloomberg) — Vina Concha y Toro SA, Chile’s biggest wine exporter, rose the most this year in Santiago after it was added to an emerging-markets index and a weakening local currency signaled higher export revenue.      The Santiago-based winemaker gained 6.1 percent to 987 pesos, the… Read More Chile’s Concha Rises After Addition to MSCI Index (Update2)

Chile Inflation Rate Rose to 14-Year High in October (Update2)

By Nathan Gill and Sebastian Boyd      Nov. 5 (Bloomberg) — Chile’s annual inflation rate rose to a 14-year high in October, led by rising costs for food and transportation, increasing pressure on policy makers to raise interest rates this month.      Consumer prices jumped 9.9 percent last month from the same month a year… Read More Chile Inflation Rate Rose to 14-Year High in October (Update2)

Socovesa Rises on $1.15 Billion Chilean Aid Program (Update1)

By Nathan Gill      Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) — Socovesa SA, Chile’s biggest homebuilder, rose the most in three weeks after the government announced plans to spend $1.15 billion to help the economy withstand the global financial crisis.      Shares advanced 5.7 percent to close at 92.99 pesos, the biggest gain since Oct. 13.      Chile’s… Read More Socovesa Rises on $1.15 Billion Chilean Aid Program (Update1)

Dr. Death Appearance in Chile Has Nazi Hunters Dangling Reward

By Nathan GillNov. 3 (Bloomberg) — Forty-six years after he disappeared, the Nazi fugitive known as Dr. Death may be  within reach of Chilean police tracking him down. A police task force is following leads in southern Chile that Aribert Heim, an SS officer accused of performing experiments on inmates at the Mauthausen concentration camp,… Read More Dr. Death Appearance in Chile Has Nazi Hunters Dangling Reward

Chile’s Construction Chamber, Citigroup Halt AFP Habitat Talks

By Nathan Gill     Oct. 30 (Bloomberg) — Chile’s Chamber of Construction andCitigroup Inc. halted negotiations over control of AFP Habitat,a Chilean pension fund, Diario Financiero reported, citingunidentified sources involved in the talks.     Negotiations over the chamber’s offer to buy Citigroup’s 40percent stake in the fund for about $300 million were stoppedbecause of liquidity concerns at… Read More Chile’s Construction Chamber, Citigroup Halt AFP Habitat Talks

Chile’s Banco Santander Says High Inflation Slows Loan Growth

By Nathan Gill     Oct. 30 (Bloomberg) — Banco Santander Chile, the country’sbiggest lender, said consumer lending has slowed as higherinflation hurt lower-income customers.     Raimundo Monge, corporate director of strategy and financialplanning at the bank, said the company will compensate forfalling revenue from personal lending by focusing on moreaffluent consumers as well as local corporations.     “We… Read More Chile’s Banco Santander Says High Inflation Slows Loan Growth

MY FIRST CORRECT: Soquimich Comercial Nine-Month Net Rises (Correction)

      (Corrects company name in first paragraph.) By Nathan Gill     Oct. 28 (Bloomberg) — Soquimich Comercial SA, a Chileanfertilizer maker, said profit more than tripled for the firstnine months of this year as prices for its products rose.     Net income rose to 9.08 billion pesos ($13.4 million) from2.78 billion pesos a year earlier, the Santiago-based… Read More MY FIRST CORRECT: Soquimich Comercial Nine-Month Net Rises (Correction)

Chile Will Meet Long-Term Budget Surplus Goals, Velasco Says

By Nathan Gill     Oct. 24 (Bloomberg) — Chilean Finance Minister AndresVelasco comments on Chile and the international financialcrisis. He spoke to reporters today in Santiago. On the 2009 budget surplus:     “The important thing is the structural surplus, not theactual surplus. We have a long-term goal of the equivalent of0.5 percent of gross domestic product. We… Read More Chile Will Meet Long-Term Budget Surplus Goals, Velasco Says

Chile’s Cencosud Delays Projects Due to Credit Crisis (Update1)

By Nathan Gill     Oct. 23 (Bloomberg) — Cencosud SA, Chile’s biggestretailer, has delayed some projects because of the credit crisis,Chief Executive Officer Laurence Golborne said.     Cencosud’s home-improvement chain Easy has been “affected”by the global economic slowdown and is revising its investmentplans for 2009, he said.     “We have delayed a series of projects and we are… Read More Chile’s Cencosud Delays Projects Due to Credit Crisis (Update1)

Latin America Needs Market Confidence, IOSCO’s Tanzer Says

By Nathan Gill     Oct. 22 (Bloomberg) — Greg Tanzer, secretary general of theInternational Organization of Securities Commissions, comments onregulation and transparency in Latin American markets. Tanzerspoke at an interview in Santiago. On steps Latin American securities regulators should take toimprove their markets:     “For Latin American securities regulators, and forregulators in other parts of the world… Read More Latin America Needs Market Confidence, IOSCO’s Tanzer Says

Chile’s Central Bank May Sell Dollars If Needed, Corbo Says

By Nathan Gill     Oct. 16 (Bloomberg) — Chile’s former central bank PresidentVittorio Corbo comments on the effect of the financial crisis onChile’s economic outlook. Corbo spoke to reporters after aseminar in Santiago today. On the possibility that the Chilean central bank will selldollars to increase the value of the peso:     “The central bank will evaluate… Read More Chile’s Central Bank May Sell Dollars If Needed, Corbo Says

Chilean Retailer D&S Rises on Acquisition Speculation (Update2)

By Nathan Gill     Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) — Distribucion y Servicio D&S rose inSantiago trading, helping limit a decline in Chile’s main stockindex, on speculation it will be acquired by another retailer.     D&S, which operates Chile’s biggest supermarket chain,climbed 3.7 percent to 195 pesos. A 19 percent gain so far thisweek is the steepest weekly rise… Read More Chilean Retailer D&S Rises on Acquisition Speculation (Update2)

Santander Chile Extends Rally as Credit Concern Eases

By Nathan Gill     Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) — Banco Santander Chile, the country’sbiggest lender, extended its biggest gain in a decade in Santiagoas analysts recommended buying the shares on valuation and as theU.S. bank bailout plan eased credit concerns.     Santander gained 12 percent to 21 pesos, after surging 14percent yesterday in the steepest rally since shares… Read More Santander Chile Extends Rally as Credit Concern Eases

Torrijos Says Panama Secures $2.3 Billion for Canal Expansion

By Nathan Gill     Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) — Panamanian President Martin Torrijossaid the country reached agreements with international lenders,such as the Inter-American Development Bank, for $2.3 billion infinancing to expand capacity of the Panama Canal.     Panama will borrow $500 million from the European InvestmentBank, $800 million from the Japan Bank for InternationalCooperation, $400 million from the… Read More Torrijos Says Panama Secures $2.3 Billion for Canal Expansion

Cencosud Extends Gain on Plans to Shore Up Finances

By Nathan Gill     Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) — Cencosud SA, Chile’s biggestretailer, extended its steepest gain in four years in Santiagotrading after Banco Santander SA said a plan to raise capital mayreduce the company’s financial “uncertainty.”     The shares rose 9.8 percent to 1,100 pesos after jumping 15percent yesterday in the biggest gain since trading began in… Read More Cencosud Extends Gain on Plans to Shore Up Finances

Chilean Pension Funds Suffer Worst Declines Since Asia Crisis

By Nathan Gill     Oct. 10 (Bloomberg) — Chile’s pension funds have sufferedtheir worst losses this year since the Asian financial crisis ofa decade ago, Alejandro Charme, the country’s superintendent ofpensions, said.     All of Chile’s pension funds have dropped, with the“riskiest” plans suffering losses of about 25 percent this yearthrough Sept. 30, Charme said. Plans with… Read More Chilean Pension Funds Suffer Worst Declines Since Asia Crisis

Telefonica Chile Falls After Purchase Offer Rejected (Update4)

By Nathan Gill and James Attwood      Oct. 7 (Bloomberg) — Cia. de Telecomunicaciones de Chile SA fell to the lowest in a month in Santiago trading after minority shareholders blocked an offer by controlling shareholder Telefonica SA to buy shares it doesn’t already own.      Telefonica Chile, as the country’s biggest fixed-line carrier is… Read More Telefonica Chile Falls After Purchase Offer Rejected (Update4)

Chile Posts First Monthly Trade Deficit in Six Years (Update1)

By Sebastian Boyd and Nathan Gill      Oct. 7 (Bloomberg) — Chile posted its first trade deficit in six years in September as prices for copper, the country’s biggest export, tumbled.      Chile imported $319 million more than it exported, the central bank said on its Web site. The median estimate of 15 economists polled… Read More Chile Posts First Monthly Trade Deficit in Six Years (Update1)

Chilean Government Deposited $1.05 Billion in Banks on Interest Rates

By Nathan Gill and Sebastian Boyd      Oct. 6 (Bloomberg) — Chile’s Finance Ministry deposited $1.05 billion in local banks last week, Minister Andres Velasco told reporters today.      The ministry was taking advantage of interest rates offered locally, Velasco said. Chilean banks raised interest rates on term deposits as they sought to overcome a… Read More Chilean Government Deposited $1.05 Billion in Banks on Interest Rates

Chile Inflation Accelerates on Food, Transportation

By Sebastian Boyd and Nathan Gill      Oct. 3, 2008 (Bloomberg) — Chilean consumer prices rose more than forecast by economists last month, led by electricity and food, boosting expectations that the central bank will raise interest rates for a fifth month next week.      Inflation accelerated 1.1 percent in September, compared with 0.9 percent… Read More Chile Inflation Accelerates on Food, Transportation

Chile Budget Surplus to Shrink in 2009 on Slow Growth

By Nathan Gill and Sebastian Boyd      Sept. 29, 2008 (Bloomberg) — Chile, the world’s biggest copper producer, expects to post a budget surplus equivalent to 3.7 percent of its gross domestic product next year, the lowest since 2003, as economic growth slows to 4 percent.      Copper may average $2.90 per pound in 2009,… Read More Chile Budget Surplus to Shrink in 2009 on Slow Growth

Chile Stocks May Gain on Slower Inflation: JPMorgan

By James Attwood and Nathan Gill      Sept. 23, 2008  (Bloomberg) — Chile, the best-performing Latin American stock market this year, probably will remain a relative safe haven and may benefit from easing inflation, JPMorgan Chase & Co. said.      Chile’s Ipsa index has fallen 10 percent this year, about half the decline of Brazil’s… Read More Chile Stocks May Gain on Slower Inflation: JPMorgan

Chile’s Cap Rebounds as Analysts Cite Inexpensive Stock, Profit

By James Attwood and Nathan Gill      Aug. 14, 2008 (Bloomberg) — Cap SA, Chile’s biggest iron-ore and steel producer, rose for the first time in six days in Santiago trading after analysts said the stock was undervalued and that rising metal prices may keep boosting earnings.      Cap climbed 1.9 percent to 18,270 pesos… Read More Chile’s Cap Rebounds as Analysts Cite Inexpensive Stock, Profit

Andina Rises as Brazil Growth Signals Increased Sales

By Nathan Gill      Sept. 10, 2008 (Bloomberg) — Embotelladora Andina SA, which distributes Coca-Cola products in Chile, Brazil and Argentina, gained the most in two months in Santiago trading on prospects of increased sales of its soft drinks, after Brazil said its economy is expanding faster than economists estimated.      Andina rose 3.5 percent… Read More Andina Rises as Brazil Growth Signals Increased Sales

Bachelet Authorizes Emergency Funds for Transantiago

By Nathan Gill and Sebastian Boyd      Sept. 5, 2008 (Bloomberg) — Chilean President Michelle Bachelet authorized the use of emergency funds to shore up Santiago’s public transport system after a loan to the system of buses and subway lines was declared unconstitutional.      This is the first time since Chile returned to democracy in… Read More Bachelet Authorizes Emergency Funds for Transantiago

Chile’s Government Pledges Support for Transantiago

By Nathan Gill and Sebastian Boyd      Sept. 2, 2008 (Bloomberg) — Chile’s government pledged to fund Santiago’s public transportation system after a newspaper reported that a loan made to develop the capital’s transit network was unconstitutional.      President Michelle Bachelet will ask the country’s Constitutional Tribunal to clarify its decision on the $400 million… Read More Chile’s Government Pledges Support for Transantiago