RBC Capital Markets Views Colombia as Top Investment Choice in Latin America

A recent report by RBC Capital Markets named Colombia, as one of the “most attractive investment opportunities” in Latin America.

Peru's Economy to Outpace Chile's in 2010

According to data from Latin American Consensus Forecast, Peru should report economic growth of 4.9% in 2010, ahead of Chile, which is expected to report GDP growth of 4.8% for the year.

LAN Airlines' Holding Company Suspended from Trading and Placed Under Investigation in Chile

After its shares jumped by 101%, Axxion S.A. a holding company that is a partial owner of Chile's LAN Airlines S.A., and is controlled by the country's newly elected president, Sebastian Pinera, has been suspended from trading and placed under investigation by the country's financial market regulator, the SVS.

After Chile's Presidential Election, Shares in Axxion S.A. Suspended from Trading

After jumping more than 80% so far in 2010, shares in Axxion S.A., a chilean holding company owned by the country's newly elected president, Sebastian Pinera, were suspended from trading, amid speculation that Pinera would sell his stake.

Colombian Government Considers Sale of 15% Stake in State Oil Company, Ecopetrol

Press sources have reported that Colombia's government is considering a proposal that would lower the government's ownership requirement to 65% and permit the sale of a 15% stake in the country's state-owned oil company Ecopetrol S.A. (Bogota Stock Exchange: ECOPETROL).

Press Sources Report that Mexico's Grupo Televisa is Seeking to Compete with Carlos Slim in Telecom Market

Although no official sources have confirmed the story, several press sources have reported that Mexican television giant Grupo Televisa S.A. (BMV:TLEVISA) and French telecom giant Vivendi SA (EPA:VIV) are discussing a joint bid for mobile-phone airwaves that the Mexican government plans to auction this year, a venture that would increase competition for Carlos Slim's America Movil (BMV:AMXA) and Telmex (BMV:TELMEXA).

Shares in Axxion Jump On Speculation that Presidential Candidate Pinera will Sell LAN Airlines Stake

Ahead of the January 17, 2010 second round of Chile's presidential elections shares of Axxion, an investment company that controls 72.3% of presidential candidate Pinera's 26.33% stake in LAN Airlines S.A. (Santiago Stock Exchange:LAN), jumped 36.4%, as investors speculate on the likely sale of Pinera's LAN stake following a victory in the election.

FEMSA Cerveza - Heinken Merger Agreement Does Not Include Opt-out Clause, CEO Says

Jose Antonio Fernandez, the CEO of Fomento Economico Mexicano S.A. (BMV:FEMSAB) told Mexican press sources that after "meticulously" discussing every detail involved in the sale of the company's beer business, FEMSA Cerveza, Mexico's second largest beer company, to European beer conglomerate Heineken N.V. (AMS:HEIA), executives at the two companies chose not to include traditional "opt out" or merger dissolution clauses.

Investor Alert: Carlos Slim's America Movil Seeks to Acquire Telmex Internacional

Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim's America Movil, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV:AMXA), a company that is currently Latin America's largest wireless telephone service provider, filed a statement with Mexico's securities market regulator, the BMV, saying that the company is seeking a merger with Telmex Internactional S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV:TELINTL) and Carso Global Telecom S.A. de C.V. (BMV:TELECOMA1), in order to cut costs and follow a broader industry trend of consolidation.

Retail Sales Rise 8.7% in Brazil, Driving Economic Growth

In November, as in the previous six months, Brazil reported retail sales growth, this time by 8.7% (year on year), adding fuel to claims by analysts that local demand will continue to drive economic growth.

LAN Airlines' Brazilian Affiliate Under Investigation in Brazil

ABSA, Aerolinhas Brasileiras S.A., a Brazilian affiliate of LAN Cargo a division of LAN Airlines (NYSE:LFL) could be hit with fines totaling as much as 30% of the company's 2005 revenues, according to Chilean press sources.

Lawsuit Threatens to Block Femsa Cerveza Sale to Heineken

According to local press sources, the Williamson family, the former owner of several key Fomento Economico Mexicano S.A (BMV:FEMSAB) subsidiaries, including Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, is filing a lawsuit that seeks to derail the sale of FEMSA's beer division to Heineken N.V.(AMS:HEIA), the world's third largest beer company.

Mexican Press Sources Report InBev to Increase Stake in Grupo Modelo

Mexican press sources reported that global beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev NV (NYSE:BUD), the world's largest beer producer, will seek to increase its stake in Grupo Modelo S.A. (BMV:GMODELOA), Mexico's largest beer company, after rival beer giant Heineken NV (AMS:HEIA) acquired FEMSA Cerveza, Mexico's second largest beer company, a subisdiary of Fomento Economico Mexicano S.A. (BMV:FEMSAB).

Citi Says Latin American Stocks Should Rise by 10-15% in 2010

In a recent note, Citigroup (NYSE:C) said that as lending costs rise Latin American stocks, which almost doubled in value in 2009, may return 10-15% this year

Heineken Agrees to Buy Mexico's FEMSA Cerveza for US$7.7B in Stock

Heineken NV (AMS:HEIA) has agreed to acquire the beer operations of Fomento Economico Mexicano S.A.B. (BMV:FEMSAB) "FEMSA", Mexico's second largest beer producer, in all stock deal worth an estimated US$7.7 billion.

Interest Rate Hike Expected in Mexico as Inflation Increases to 4%

Even though growth is slowing to 3% in Mexico, the country's central bank will likely raise interest rates in order to stamp down inflation and help control rising tortilla and fuel prices.