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* Brazil’s inflation rises in December * Mexico’s unemployment rate in November rises to 2. 8% * Chilean lithium miner SQM joins merger with Codelco * Both inventories and currencies fall 1% each By Siddharth S Dec 28 (Reuters) – Brazil’s real fell on Thursday after higher-than-expected domestic inflation data, while Argentine inventories rose after President Javier Milei sent a plans bill in Congress as it seeks to combat the country’s worst economic crisis in decades. Consumer prices in Brazil rose more than expected in the month to mid-December, data showed, likely confirming the central bank’s decision not to accelerate the speed of its interest rate cuts for now. “In our assessment, moderating inflation, coupled with core inflation, supports the continuation of a cycle of slow easing,” Goldman Sachs economists said in a note. The real index was down 0. 2%, while Brazil’s Bovespa index fell 0. 1%, as its bullish advance paused to catch its breath, after hitting all-time highs in the previous survey. Brazil’s central bank considers the speed of interest rate cuts from five foundational issues to be consistent with the appropriate setup for existing conditions, said Governor Roberto Campos Neto. The MSCI index tracking Latin American inventories fell 0. 1% at 1512 GMT, while a basket of regional currencies was down 0. 1% against the dollar. Assets in Latin American markets are heading for a satisfied end to the year after a dovish Fed and a weaker inflation report last week boosted threat sentiment. The broader inventory index is poised for an annual gain of more than 25%, its most productive year since 2016, while the currency index is expected to post annual gains of 23%, its most productive in more than a decade. Argentina’s Merval index rose 1. 2% after President Javier Milei sent a spending package to Congress on Wednesday aimed at addressing the economic crisis. The official peso stood at 807. 95 per dollar, with the aim of signaling the economic emergency until December 31, 2025. The Mexican peso and inventories recovered little as the country’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2 . 8% in November, according to knowledge. Among regional stock markets, Chilean inventories rose 0. 6%, while Colombia’s Colcap index fell 0. 1%. Lithium miner SQM rose 7. 8%, reaching its highest point since August, after the lithium miner announced on Wednesday that it would partner with giant Codelco for future growth and steel production in the Salar de Atacama . Main stock indices and currencies of Latin America at 15:12 GMT: last updated daily percentage MSCI Emerging 1022. 73 1. 28 MSCI LatAm Markets 2674. 90 -0. 02 Brazil Bovespa 134003. 9 -0. 14 1 Mexico CPI five7647 , five6 0. 16 Chile IPSA 6234. 59 0. 53 Argentina MerVal 883918. 6 1. 2five4 five Colombia COLCAP 1187. 03 -0. 1 Currencies Last daily replacement in % Genuine Brazilian 4. 8347 -0. 07 Mexican peso 16. 9040 0. 08 Chilean peso 88fiveArray4 -0. 34 Colombian peso 3 816. 78 0. 31 Peruvian Sol 3. 6993 -0. 44 Argentine Peso 807. 9five00 -0. 06 (interbank) Argentine Peso 98cinco 1 . five2 (parallel) (Report via Siddharth S to Bengaluru; Editing via Angus MacSwan)