Colombian peso leads Latam gains as dollar languishes

Rising oil prices bolstered the Colombian peso's move away from seven-week lows on Wednesday, leading gains among Latin American peers as the dollar extended losses following reassurances that the US Federal Reserve would not rush into policy tightening.

The Andean country's currency firmed up to 0.9% as crude prices hit their highest since late 2018, after an industry report on US crude inventories reinforced views of a tightening market as travel picks up in Europe and North America.

That also helped lift fellow oil exporter Mexico's peso to its third straight session of gains leading up to a central bank meeting on Thursday.

The central bank is seen keeping its benchmark interest rate steady at 4.0% amid persistently high inflation levels in the economy as it recovers from a coronavirus pandemic slump.

"We believe that the trend in hawkishness from Banxico should continue, but the devil will be in the details," said Sacha Tihanyi, head of emerging market strategy at TD Securities, citing the recent uptick in inflation trajectory.

"We ... expect any positive increment in hawkish sentiment to help underpin a stabilization and rebound in the peso".

As the dollar looked to extend losses to the third straight session, Brazil's real shrugged off early losses to rise 0.4% to hit its highest in a year, while Peru's sol stayed close to two-week lows.

The sol has lost nearly 9% this year, weakened by presidential election uncertainty. A final winner is yet to be declared amid accusations of fraud by conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori. Washington on Tuesday called the elections fair.

Argentina said on Tuesday it had reached an understanding with the Paris Club group of lenders for a payment bridge until March 2022 to settle some $2.4 billion it owes, and it would make a partial payment in the interim period. Mired in recession since 2018, the country is racing to push back some $45 billion in repayments owed to the Fund.