Trump delays tariff increase to August 1, deal hopes rise
Trump threatens extra 10% tariffs on BRICS
Colombia's inflation data awaited
MSCI Latam FX down 0.7%, stocks shed 1.2%
By Ragini Mathur
July 7 (Reuters) - Most Latin American currencies weakened against the dollar on Monday, while stocks were mixed as markets awaited clarity on U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff plans.
Trump threatened an additional 10% tariff on any countries aligning themselves with the "Anti-American policies" of the BRICS group of developing nations, whose leaders are meeting in Brazil.
The nations brushed away the accusation, but their assets took a hit.
South Africa's currency ZAR= fell 1%, putting it on course for its steepest single day fall in more than two weeks.
Brazil's real BRL= weakened 0.7%, while heavyweight Brazilian stocks .BVSP slipped 0.6%.
Trump said on Sunday the U.S. was close to finalising several trade pacts in the coming days and would notify other countries by July 9 of higher tariff rates, that would not come into effect until August 1.
In April, Trump announced a base tariff rate of 10% on most countries and additional duties of up to 50%, although he later delayed the effective date for all but the 10% until July 9. The new date offers countries a three-week reprieve.
The back and forth on how U.S. trade policy would be implemented has revived uncertainty, pushing traders to sell off riskier assets and buy safer ones.
The dollar index =USD gained 0.3%, leaving it poised to recoup some of its declines from the last week, and pressuring many emerging market currencies.
Juan Perez, director of trading at Monex, said the threatened BRICS tariffs showed how anyone trying to trade against U.S. dominance of the global financial system would be punished.
"It just boils down to uncertainty and the idea that there can always be unilateral decisions from the United States to do something and to increase the cost or to force people to the table," he said.
MSCI's index tracking Latin American currencies .MILA00000CUS dropped 0.7%.
The currency in the world's largest copper producer, Chile CLP=, depreciated 1.2%, with a drop in copper prices also adding to declines. Peru's sol PEN= was down 0.3%.
Mexico's peso MXN= was down 0.4%, while its stocks .MXX were flat.
Colombia's peso COP= was 0.2% lower, with rising oil prices limiting declines in the oil-export-heavy economy.
The stocks gauge for the region .MILA00000PUS was down 1.2%, on track for its biggest single-day percentage decline in more than a month.
Elsewhere, Turkey's international bonds and lira TRYTOM=D3 weakened on Monday, and the cost of insuring government debt against default rose, following weekend detentions of opposition mayors.
Highlights:
** Bank of Israel keeps rates on hold as inflation stays just above target range
** China's central bank asks financial institutions about dollar weakness, sources say
Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies around 1447 GMT:
Latin American market prices from Reuters | ||
Equities | Latest | Daily % change |
MSCI Emerging Markets .MSCIEF | 1226.85 | -0.39 |
MSCI LatAm .MILA00000PUS | 2362.49 | -1.16 |
Brazil Bovespa .BVSP | 140407.87 | -0.61 |
Mexico IPC .MXX | 57982.11 | 0.01 |
Chile IPSA .SPIPSA | 8248.04 | -0.45 |
Argentina Merval .MERV | 2052646.33 | -1.25 |
Colombia COLCAP .COLCAP | 1687.43 | 0.03 |
Currencies | Latest | Daily % change |
Brazil real BRL= | 5.46 | -0.72 |
Mexico peso MXN= | 18.6736 | -0.41 |
Chile peso CLP= | 939.78 | -1.16 |
Colombia peso COP= | 4006.58 | -0.18 |
Peru sol PEN= | 3.556 | -0.25 |
Argentina peso (interbank) ARS=RASL | 1251 | -0.64 |
Argentina peso (parallel) ARSB= | 1230 | 0 |
(Reporting by Purvi Agarwal and Ragini Mathur in Bengaluru; editing by Barbara Lewis)
((Ragini.Mathur@thomsonreuters.com;))
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