Latam markets rise after U.S. inflation data keeps rate-cut bets on track
Brazil retail sales slip in June
Argentina inflation slows to 4% in July
Mexican c.banker warns of headline inflation 'contagion effect
Stocks up 1%, FX up 0.5%
Updated at 1935 GMT/3:35 p.m. ET
By Lisa Pauline Mattackal
Aug 14 (Reuters) -Latin American stocks and currencies largely rose on Wednesday after a closely watched U.S. inflation print came in broadly in line with expectations, keeping a September start to policy easing by the Federal Reserve firmly on the table.
The U.S. inflation report showed consumer prices rebounded as expected in July, but the trend remained consistent with subsiding inflation.
The signs of moderation in price pressures kept a September start to U.S. policy easing alive, boosting emerging market assets that typically benefit from lower borrowing costs in the world's largest economy.
MSCI's index of stocks in Latin America .MILA00000PUS jumped 1%, while an index of currencies in the region .MILA00000CUS rose 0.5% against a subdued dollar =USD. Both the indexes were trading at their highest levels in nearly amonth.
"The data came in pretty much in line ... it gives the Fed space to not have to make any panicked moves," said Ben Pace, CIO of Cerity Partners.
The U.S. data was a welcome signal as worries about a slowdown in the world's biggest economy have sent tremors through emerging markets recently, even as investors look to the start of the Fed's easing cycle.
However, traders trimmed bets on a larger-than-expected interest-rate cut of 50 basis points, according to CME's FedWatch.
Leading regional gains, Mexico'speso MXN= climbed 0.8% and rose for the second day.
Bank of Mexico Deputy Governor Jonathan Heath said a recent rise in headline inflation could hit other prices, adding that he viewed the central bank's recent interest rate cut as premature.
Colombia's peso COP= and Peru's sol PEN= rose 0.4% and 0.1%, respectively, buoyed by higher copper prices .
Data showed Colombia's retail sales grew by 1.5% year-on-year in June, while industrial output fell 4.8% over the same period.
Meanwhile, Brazil's real BRL= fell 0.4% against the dollar, after hitting a near one-month high intraday, and on track to snap an eight-day winning streak. Data showed June retail sales volumes slipped 1%, down for the first time in six months.
Chinese industrial output and retail sales data are on deck Thursday, and will be closely watched for signals on demand and likely government stimulus in the world's second-largesteconomy.
"We'vedecreased our weighting to emerging markets, there's concern about a full weighting because China's so important to whatever else happens in the emerging market space," Pace said.
Elsewhere in Latam, Argentina'smonthly inflation stood at 4.0% in July, in line with a Reuters forecast and returning to slowdown after speeding up in June.
Argentina's peso ARS=RASL was largely flat on official markets.
Meanwhile,Brazil's benchmark stocks index .BVSP outperformed regional peers, hovering at its highest level since January.
Shares of Colombia's Ecopetrol ECO.CN lost 3% after the state-owned oil firm reported a 17% fall in second-quarter net profit.
Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies at 1935 GMT:
Equities | Latest | Daily % change |
MSCI Emerging Markets .MSCIEF | 1076.59 | 0.52 |
MSCI LatAm .MILA00000PUS | 2297.05 | 0.97 |
Brazil Bovespa .BVSP | 133668.23 | 0.96 |
Mexico IPC .MXX | 53573.55 | -0.19 |
Chile IPSA .SPIPSA | 6365.55 | -0.06 |
Argentina Merval .MERV | 1600101.93 | 0.528 |
Colombia COLCAP .COLCAP | 1349.02 | 0.38 |
Currencies | Latest | Daily % change |
Brazil real BRL= | 5.473 | -0.35 |
Mexico peso MXN= | 18.8285 | 0.89 |
Chile peso CLP= | 934.05 | -0.38 |
Colombia peso COP= | 4016.45 | 0.37 |
Peru sol PEN= | 3.725 | 0.09 |
Argentina peso (interbank) ARS=RASL | 940 | 0 |
Argentina peso (parallel) ARSB= | 1335 | 1.872659176 |
Battling inflation in Argentina Battling inflation in Argentina https://tmsnrt.rs/36BZUr1
Reporting by Lisa Mattackal and Ankika Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Jan Harvey and Marguerita Choy
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