21. For that, Duarte sold a big block of his stock in Endesa, the Chilean electric company. 22. Higher rates would increase borrowing costs for Chilean companies planning to finance expansion plans with debt, he said. 23. If stocks in Brazil reverse course, some investors will likely sell shares of Chilean companies that have invested heavily in Brazil and Argentina in recent years. 24. Increased investments by Chilean companies in Brazil make them more vulnerable to instability there, said Guillermo Tagle, head of research at Santander Investment in Chile. 25. Investors are also concerned that a weaker peso may reduce fourth-quarter profit of Chilean companies with dollar-denominated debt, such as Endesa. 26. Lower growth is likely to reduce earnings for Chilean companies with investments or export markets in Brazil.there. 27. Many Chilean companies have expanded rapidly in Brazil, building new plants, buying government-owned utilities and expanding exports. 28. Most Chilean companies are expected to report earnings tomorrow. 29. Most Chilean companies report the last day of July. 30. Nittetsu Mining Co. and Itochu Corp. plan to mine copper in Chile in a joint venture with Chilean mining company El Bronce SA. |