Latin American currencies tumbled on Monday, led by the Brazilian real, as prolonged economic uncertainty in the region more than offset broader optimism about an imminent US-China trade deal. A basket of Latin American currencies shed 1.2% and was on course for its worst day in four-and-a-half months.
The Brazilian real lost about 0.9% to hit its lowest level in a month, while the Mexican peso shed 0.3% and the Chilean peso eased more than half a percent versus a stronger dollar.
Latin American equities were also down 0.4%, in sharp contrast to global stocks, which nudged higher to hover near all-time highs as investors awaited the signing of the Phase 1 Sino-US trade deal on Jan. 15.
Demand for riskier Latin American assets had waned last week as tensions between Washington and Tehran grew after the United States killed a top Iranian general in a drone strike, prompting a retaliation.
While global sentiment has since improved as both countries signaled no further escalation in military tensions, investors in Latin America have stayed on the sidelines as economies grapple with a clutch of weak data, including faltering regional inflation. Latest data from Mexico showed gross fixed investment fell 1.5% in October from September and 8.6% versus a year earlier.
Among individual stocks, Brazilian state-run power firm Cemig rose as much as 2.6% to a seven-month high after its board named Reynaldo Passanezi Filho as chief executive officer, effective Monday. The broader Brazilian equity index added about 1%.
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