Bimbo, Clarin, Energisa, Exito, Walmex: Latin Equity Preview

By Emily Schmall

Sept. 4 (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 1.4 percent to 3,245.20.

Argentina

Grupo Clarin SA (GCLA AF): Argentina’s government rejected plans by the country’s biggest media company to merge its Cablevision SA and Multicanal SA cable television units, according to a statement posted on the Communication Secretariat’s Web site. Clarin dropped 7.4 percent to 6 pesos.

Brazil

BM&FBovespa SA (BVMF3 BS): Brazil’s biggest securities exchange operator will have a proposal for a cross-trading agreement with stock exchanges in Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru by the end of the year, Chief Executive Officer Edemir Pinto said. Negotiations are “very advanced” with Chile’s exchanges, central banks and regulators to allow trading shares freely on both exchanges, he told reporters yesterday at an event in Rio de Janeiro. The exchange operator rose 2.5 percent to 11.30 reais.

Energisa SA (ENGI3 BZ): The owner of five electricity- distribution utilities in Brazil will submit to shareholders and to the company’s board a plan to issue units, as securities representing a group of shares are known. Energisa rose 0.9 percent to 10.90 reais when the shares last traded Sept. 2.

Colombia

Almacenes Exito SA (EXITO CB): Colombia’s biggest publicly traded retailer was upgraded to “buy” from “hold” at Interbolsa SA. The Medellin-based brokerage increased its share price estimate for Exito by 8.2 percent to 18,574 pesos, it wrote in an e-mailed note. Exito fell 1.9 percent to 16,160 pesos.

Mexico

Grupo Bimbo SAB (BIMBOA MM): Mexico’s Congress may apply sales tax to junk foods in an effort to raise in revenue in the 2010 budget, according to a legislator from President Felipe Calderon’s party. Mexico’s largest producer of bakery products rose 2.7 percent to 75.07 pesos.

Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB (WALMEXV MM): Latin America’s largest retailer said sales at stores open at least a year rose 5.6 percent in August. UBS AG said the figures exceeded investor expectations. Walmex rose 1.1 percent to 47.02 pesos.

To contact the reporter on this story: Emily Schmall in Mexico City at eschmall@bloomberg.net