MEXICO CITY: Latin American stocks and currencies remained muted on Friday as a US holiday provided few trading cues, but were set to end the week with gains as bets grew for a recovery from the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Strong economic readings from China and the United States through the week had helped bolster risk appetite, although a drastic rise in coronavirus cases capped broader gains.
Still, the positive news drove gains in commodity markets, which in turn saw oil and metal-linked assets in Latin America outperform for the week. It also helped regional risk assets weather a raft of weak local economic data.
The currencies of oil exporters Colombia and Mexico were set to outperform regional peers for the week, riding on strength in the crude market as bets for demand recovery grew.
Brazil's real edged up for the day, while stocks fell after data showed economic activity in the country shrank in June for a fourth straight month due to coronavirus.
The reading was slightly stronger than the prior month, as Latin America's largest economy slowly ground back into gear from coronavirus-related lockdowns.
The real and Brazilian stocks added 3% for the week.
Copper exporter Chile's stocks outperformed regional peers for the week with a 5.3% gain. The peso had also benefited from stronger copper prices through the week.
Argentine stocks and the peso were the sole weekly losers in Latin America. Investors continued to fret over the country's negotiations over the repayment of its distressed bonds, with a deadline for a deal looming later in the month.
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