Axtel, Banco Macro, Cementos Argos, Rossi: Latin Equity Preview

By Paulo Winterstein and James Attwood

Oct. 21 (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 8.1 percent to 2,330.64 yesterday.

Argentina

Banco Macro SA (BMA AF): Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner today will announce plans to overhaul the country's pension system, the national social security agency said. Banco Macro, the nation's fourth-largest lender, tumbled 13 percent to 3.8 pesos yesterday after Clarin reported the government will put funds held by private pension fund administrators under state management.

Brazil

Cyrela Brazil Realty SA Empreendimentos e Participacoes (CYRE3 BS) Gafisa SA (GFSA3 BS) and Rossi Residencial SA (RSID3 BS): Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said the government plans to inject as much as 4 billion reais ($1.89 billion) into homebuilders hurt by the credit crisis. Mantega said yesterday that federally run bank Caixa Economica Federal may buy stakes in the companies as part of the planned aid. Cyrela, the biggest Brazilian developer, rose 11 percent to 12.05 reais. Second biggest Gafisa rose 18 percent to 17 reais, while third-biggest Rossi rose 10 percent to 4.02 reais.

Positivo Informatica SA (POSI3 BS): Brazil's largest computer maker said third-quarter net revenue rose 36 percent from a year ago on increased sale of laptop computers. Positivo rose 6.3 percent to 4.25 reais.

Colombia

Cementos Argos SA (CEMARGOS CB): Building permits fell 24 percent in August from a year earlier, according to data released by the National Department of Statistics. Cementos Argos, Colombia's biggest cement producer, was unchanged at 6,400 pesos.

Mexico

Axtel SAB (AXTELCPO MM): Mexico's second-largest fixed-line telephone company connected fewer new customers than initially estimated, Actinver SA said. Average revenue per user has ``dropped drastically'' and third-quarter sales may decline 5 percent, analysts Francisco Suarez and Fernando Ramirez wrote. Axtel rose 5.4 percent to 7.99 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.