Aracruz, Chocolates, Endesa, Parana Banco: Latin Equity Preview

By William Freebairn and James Attwood

Jan. 29 (Bloomberg) -- The following companies may have unusual price changes today in Latin American trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses and share prices reflect the previous close.

The MSCI Latin America Index rose 4.4 percent to 2,152.33 yesterday. In Brazil, preferred shares are usually the most- traded class of stock.

Brazil

Aracruz Celulose SA (ARCZ6 BS): The Brazilian pulp maker’s Ba2 debt rating may be raised by Moody’s Investors Service after Votorantim Celulose e Papel SA agreed to buy control of Aracruz, which finished restructuring debt. The shares gained 1 percent to 2.12 reais.

Parana Banco SA (PRBC4 BS): The Brazilian bank that specializes in payroll-deductible loans plans a 1-for-5 reverse split for Parana’s American depositary receipts. The shares rose 0.7 percent to 3.10 reais.

Chile

Empresa Nacional de Electricidad SA (ENDESA CC): Chile’s biggest power generator reported fourth-quarter earnings that matched estimates of Celfin Capital, which reiterated that the stock is a “buy.” Endesa rose 1.4 percent to 760 pesos.

Colombia

Grupo Nacional de Chocolates SA (CHOCOLA CB): Colombia’s biggest food company agreed to buy Mexican chocolate maker Nutresa SA for $95.3 million yesterday. Chocolates added 2.6 percent to 15,100 pesos.

Mexico

Embotelladoras Arca SAB (ARCA* MM): Mexico’s second- biggest Coca-Cola bottler said fourth-quarter net income increased 16 percent and sales volume rose 7 percent. Arca rose 1.6 percent to 25.48 pesos.

To contact the reporters on this story: William Freebairn in Mexico City at wfreebairn@bloomberg.net; James Attwood in Santiago at jattwood3@bloomberg.net