Chile's Finance Ministry published the details on Friday of a draft law to be sent to Congress to raise limits on private pension fund investments abroad to 45 percent from 30 percent. If passed as is, the law will raise the limit on investments abroad in three stages, the finance ministry said in a statement.
Changes to the law were announced by Chile President Michelle Bachelet during her state of the nation address on Monday, and markets reacted by falling initially and then recovering strongly later in the week. Limits will be raised to 35 percent for the first four months that the law is in place, the finance ministry said.
Pension funds will be allowed to invest up to 40 percent in months five through eight after the law is enacted, and will be permitted to invest up to 45 percent after the ninth month. "The bill contemplates a gradual implementation of the range and reserves the right of the central bank to determine limits," the finance ministry said.
Analysts saw the proposed law as positive for markets, although the proposal would change current limits faster than expected, and rejected speculation it would lead to a flight of capital abroad. "I think this (timetable) is a little faster than the market had expected," said Lorena Pizarro, head of research with the Alfa brokerage. "But I think it is good to set these limits quickly to avoid speculation," she said.
The IPSA fell 4.35 percent on Tuesday after Bachelet announced plans to send the law to Congress. The trade-weighted blue chip IPSA index rose 1.79 percent on Friday and the all-market IGPA index advanced 1.49 percent.
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