By Carla Mozee
Equities in major Latin American markets fell Tuesday in the
wake of a downbeat outlook for crude demand and a report that U.S.
consumers are still on edge about economic conditions.
Brazil's Bovespa fell 0.5% to 54,276, putting it on track for
its first decline in three sessions.
The benchmark was weighed in large part by a 2.4% fall in shares
of oil firm Petrobras (PBR). Oil prices fell $1.15 to $67.23 a
barrel after the chief executive of British oil giant BP PLC (BP)
said recent economic data suggested the global economy could
stabilize this summer but that any recovery, whenever it comes,
would likely be sluggish.
Metals prices were lower as the U.S. dollar gained strength
against its rivals. Brazilian steel stocks were mixed, with Gerdau
(GGB) lower by 0.9% and Usiminas rose 2.2%.
The dollar rose after the Conference Group said its index of
U.S. consumer confidence fell more by a more-than-expected amount
in July, to 46.6, from June's reading of 49.3 in June.
"Clearly the very weak employment situation is taking its toll,"
wrote Jennifer Lee, an economist at BMO Capital Markets in a note.
"Especially with Fed officials of late warning that the jobless
rate is headed higher."
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 Index (SPX) fell 0.5% and the
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) lost 0.4%.
Signs of continued weakness in the U.S. economy are closely
tracked by investors in Latin America, particularly those
participating in Mexico's markets as Mexico ships about 80% of its
products to its northerly neighbor.
In Mexico City, the IPC slipped 0.2% to 26,750.93, with shares
of America Movil (AMX) down 1.4%, cement maker Cemex (CX) down 1%
and electronics retailer Grupo Elektra lower by 1.6%.
Shares of Urbi fell 4.7% after the home builder reported a 28%
decline in second-quarter earnings to 414 million pesos as sales
fell 19%. The shares gained more than 7% ahead of the results.
Urbi's EBITDA fell 14% from the year ago period to 899 million
pesos, which was 18% below a forecast from Deutsche Bank.
But shares of Femsa (FMX) rose 0.9% after the beverage maker
posted a 19% increase in second-quarter sales to 48.18 billion
pesos on flat net earnings.
Back in Sao Paulo, shares of iron ore giant Vale (RIO) slipped
0.4%. The company is expected on Wednesday to report earnings of
$1.34 billion on net revenue of $4.92 billion, according to a
survey of analysts by Dow Jones Newswires.
Revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization is expected to come in lower than the first quarter
period because of lower average sales prices of iron ore and flat
growth in volume sales, according to Banif Securities in a note to
clients.
"Furthermore, Vale suffered from the appreciation of the
[Brazilian currency] real against the U.S. dollar, which should
erode its net revenues...and put some pressure on costs," said
Banif.