Sao Paulo: Latin American currencies fell on Thursday as the dollar gained on dwindling risk sentiment due to rising conoronavirus cases globally, while Chile's peso hit its lowest level in nearly two months ahead of a central bank policy meeting.
The MSCI's index for Latin American currencies fell 0.8%, in what is shaping up to be its first weekly decline in three weeks. The halting of two high-profile Covid-19 vaccine trials this week and the lack of more promising economic data have investors avoiding riskier assets.
Brazil's real fell 0.2% against the dollar, but most declines were limited after a central bank indicator showed domestic economic activity rose 1.06% in August. The country's central bank also said in a report on financial stability that more Brazilian companies were likely to file for bankruptcy protection by year-end.
Sao Paulo stocks dropped more than 1%, falling for the first time in three days. The Chilean peso fell 0.5%, extending its declines to the fourth straight day, ahead of a policy decision by the country's central bank, with analysts expecting the benchmark rate to left unchanged at 0.5%.
Mexico's peso and Colombia's peso gave back gains made in the previous session as both currencies of the oil-producing countries fell on weaker crude prices. The Argentine peso steadied after dropping on Wednesday when President Alberto Fernandez said the country will not devalue its currency or seize bank deposits despite a financial crisis compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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