Aracruz, Atacocha, Positivo, Sadia: Latin Equity Preview

By William Freebairn and Alexander Ragir

Sept. 26 (Bloomberg) -- The following companies may have unusual price changes today in Latin America trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and share prices are from the previous close. Preferred shares are usually the most-traded class of stock in Brazil.

The MSCI Latin America Index rose 3.8 percent yesterday to 3,450.21.

Argentina

Pampa Energia SA (PAMP AF): Argentina's biggest electricity holding company had its ``buy'' rating and 3.3 peso price estimate reiterated at brokerage Grupo SBS, analyst Mariano Kruskevich wrote in a note to clients yesterday, citing prospects for new expansion projects. Pampa rose 2.9 percent to 1.42 pesos.

Brazil

Aracruz Celulose SA (ARCZ6 BS): The world's biggest eucalyptus-pulp maker said it's assessing the size of losses caused by derivatives investments and a strengthening dollar. Chief Financial Officer Isaac Zagury resigned. Aracruz rose 3.5 percent to 8.50 reais.

Positivo Informatica SA (POSI3 BS): The Brazilian computer maker said controlling shareholders may acquire an additional 2.3 percent stake. The holders may buy as many as 2.01 million shares, Positivo said yesterday in a statement to the Brazilian securities regulator. Positivo rose 0.1 percent to 8.10 reais.

Sadia SA (SDIA4 BS): Brazil's second-largest food company said it lost 760 million reais ($416 million) after it pulled out of a currency investment early because of turmoil in financial markets, the company said yesterday in a statement on the Brazilian securities regulator Web site. Sadia fell 2 percent to 9.30 reais.

Votorantim Celulose e Papel SA (VCPA4 BS) was downgraded to ``neutral'' from ``buy'' by analyst Edmo Chagas at UBS. VCP fell 0.9 percent to 34.90 reais.

Vivo Participacoes SA (VIVO4 BS): Brazil's largest mobile- phone company said it may sell 1 million of Apple Inc.'s iPhones in the country. The company, which began offering the iPhone today, has placed orders for 200,000 handsets, Vivo Chief Executive Officer Roberto Lima told reporters in Sao Paulo. Vivo gained 4.6 percent to 8.25 reais.

Chile

Cia de Telecomunicaciones de Chile SA (CTCA CC): The country's biggest fixed-line carrier known as Telefonica Chile expects to book a profit of 9.5 billion pesos to 11 billion pesos ($17.7 million to $20.5 million) in fourth-quarter results from the sale of a unit. The company gave the estimate in a statement posted on the regulator's Web site yesterday after announcing the sale of the unit, Telefonica Asistencia y Seguridad SA, in a Sept. 22 filing. Telefonica Chile shares were unchanged at 970 pesos.

Mexico

America Movil SAB (AMXL MM): Latin America's biggest mobile-phone company does not expect to have enough of Apple Inc.'s iPhone handsets to meet demand when they go on sale today in Brazil, Reuters reported. Demand is higher than the initial shipments America Movil received from Apple, Brazil unit Chief Executive Joao Cox said on a conference call, the news agency reported yesterday. America Movil rose 5.6 percent to 25.71 pesos.

Peru

Cia. Minera Atacocha SAA (CMA/B PE): Peru's securities regulator asked Atacocha, Peru's fifth-largest zinc producer, to explain recent share moves. The company should clarify whether there have been developments in the talks between shareholders and an unnamed potential buyer, which Atacocha announced Aug. 28, the regulator said in a statement on its Web site yesterday. Atacocha rose 7 percent to 3 soles.

To contact the reporters on this story: William Freebairn in Mexico City at wfreebairn@bloomberg.net; Alexander Ragir in Rio de Janeiro at aragir@bloomberg.net;