Colombian stocks ended lower Friday as persistent concerns about Europe’s debt woes kept global investors reluctant to renew their bets in emerging markets.
The Colombian Stock Exchange’s benchmark Colcap index ended 0.21% lower at 1,636.50 points.
Shares of oil companies led decliners, with Toronto-based Pacific Rubiales (PEGFF, PRE.T) falling 1% to COP45,480, while state-controlled Ecopetrol slipped 0.3% to COP4,055. A labor union that represents some of Rubiales’ contracted workers began a strike Monday over salaries paid by the oil company. But the company and the union both say production is yet to be impacted by the work stoppage.
The Colombian peso, meanwhile, weakened slightly to close at COP1,864.50 to the dollar from COP1,861.00 a day earlier. Thursday’s closing level was its strongest this month.
The yield on Colombia’s peso-denominated bond due July 2024 closed at 7.486%, after opening the session at 7.492%.
