Entel, Gerdau, Lupatech, Mirgor, Usiminas: Latin Equity Preview

By Paulo Winterstein and James Attwood

Jan. 7 (Bloomberg) -- The following companies may have unusual price changes today in Latin America trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses and share prices reflect the previous close.

The MSCI Latin America Index rose 3.9 percent yesterday to 2,365.53.

Argentina

Mirgor Sacifia (MIRG AF): Argentine automobile sales fell the most in at least four years in December as a global financial crisis reduced exports and discouraged domestic sales. Mirgor, which makes climate-control systems for vehicles, rose 5.7 percent to 47 pesos.

Brazil

Cia. Siderurgica Nacional SA (CSNA3 BS), Gerdau SA (GGBR4 BS) and Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA (USIM5 BS): Falling vehicle sales and a drop in industrial production in Brazil are negative for Brazil’s three largest steelmakers, Fator Corretora said in a note to clients yesterday. CSN rose 5.9 percent to 36.59 reais. Gerdau rose 4.1 percent to 17.70 reais. Usiminas rose 1.9 percent to 31.17 reais.

Chile

Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones SA (ENTEL CC): JPMorgan Chase & Co. recommends an “overweight” position in the stock. Entel, Chile’s second-biggest wireless phone company, rose 0.7 percent to 6,848.1 pesos.

Mexico

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB (GAPB MM) and Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte SAB (OMAB MM): The largest and third-largest airport operators in Mexico, respectively, were cut to “hold” from “buy” by Banco Santander SA in a research note yesterday. Aeroportuario del Pacifico rose 0.5 percent to 30.84 pesos. Aeroportuario del Centro Norte fell 1.6 percent to 18.8 pesos.

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