Bradesco, Coca-Cola Femsa, Ecopetrol: Latin Equity Preview

By Paulo Winterstein and James Attwood

Aug. 4 (Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may have significant gains or losses in Latin American markets. Symbols are in parentheses after company names, and stock prices are from the last session.

The MSCI index of Latin American shares fell 2.5 percent to 4,229.30 yesterday. In Brazil, preferred shares are the most commonly traded class of stock.

Brazil

Banco Bradesco SA (BBDC4 BS): Brazil's biggest non- government bank by assets reports earnings today before markets open. Second-quarter net income may have fallen to 2.1 billion reais ($1.3 billion) from 2.3 billion reais a year earlier, according to the average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Bradesco fell 2.5 percent to 32.33 reais.

Marcopolo SA (POMO4 BS): Latin America's biggest maker of bus parts and chassis reported ``weak'' second-quarter operating results on higher costs and a stronger currency, Itau Corretora analyst Renata Faber wrote on Aug. 1. She also reiterated her ``hold'' rating on the stock. Caxias do Sul, Brazil-based Marcopolo fell 4.4 percent to 6.07 reais.

Colombia

Ecopetrol SA (ECOPETL CB): Colombia's state-run oil company said first-half profit more than doubled on record oil prices, rising production and an increase in exports. Net income rose to 5.65 trillion pesos ($3.11 billion) from 2.04 trillion pesos a year earlier, Bogota-based Ecopetrol said Aug. 1 in a statement, which didn't include per-share data. Ecopetrol rose 0.4 percent to 2,570 pesos.

Textiles Fabricato Tejicondor SA (FABRI CB): The textile company had its share price estimate cut to 30 pesos from 44 pesos by brokerage Bolsa y Renta, according to a research note distributed Aug. 1, which cited ``weak'' second-quarter earnings. Fabricato rallied 6.3 percent to 28.6 pesos.

Mexico

Coca-Cola Femsa SAB (KOFL MM): Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates's private investment fund raised its stake in Coca-Cola Femsa SAB, the largest Coke bottler in Latin America, to 20 percent from 14.6 percent in April. The fund holds 54.2 million shares, according to an Aug. 1 U.S. regulatory filing. Coca-Cola Femsa fell 0.5 percent to 57.01 pesos.

To contact the reporters on this story: Paulo Winterstein in Sao Paulo at pwinterstein@bloomberg.net; James Attwood in Santiago at jattwood3@bloomberg.net.