* Chile's Banco de Credito e Inversiones SA, or BCI, plans to establish a new banking unit in Peru as part of the company's broader international expansion strategy. BCI will own 99.9% of the Peruvian unit's shares, while BCI Asesoría Financiera SA will hold the remaining 0.1% stake. Separately, BCI unit City National Bank of Florida agreed to purchase Miami-based Executive Banking Corp. BCI said the deal represents an investment of US$75 million, an amount it will fund with internal resources.
* Argentina will have to wait before its $57 billion rescue package with the International Monetary Fund can continue as uncertainty continues to cloud the country's political and economic future, David Lipton, the IMF's acting managing director, said in an interview with Bloomberg Radio. The IMF will "work toward an eventual resumption of a relationship" with Argentina, but the country "may have to wait awhile," Lipton said.
MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA
* Banco Santander México SA, through venture capital fund Santander Innoventures, is investing $57.5 million in financial technology startup Klar, El Economista reported. Santander México described the investment as the largest seed round in Mexico's history.
* U.S. President Donald Trump said an impeachment push against him could jeopardize congressional ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade pact, Reuters reported. The Mexican peso weakened up to 0.9% against the dollar on Sept. 25 while Mexico's benchmark stock index declined up to 1.24%, although both improved slightly in later trading.
BRAZIL
* The extension of Caixa Econômica Federal's insurance distribution agreement with France-based CNP Assurances SA is a credit positive for the Brazilian state-owned development bank, Moody's said. The renewed deal will raise Caixa's earnings generation and provide support to its insurance business.
* Banco do Brasil SA said it will proceed with the sale of 64 million shares held in the treasury if Brazil's FI-FGTS investment fund opts to sell its stake in the bank through a secondary public offering. A recent media report said a follow-on offering of Banco do Brasil shares could be priced in October.
* The total credit stock in Brazil's financial system increased 1.1% in August from the previous month to about 3.3 trillion reais and grew 5.1% compared to a year earlier, the central bank said in a report.
ANDEAN
* Colombia completed the early repayment of 4 trillion Colombian pesos, or about US$1.16 billion, of so-called TES local treasury bonds, Reuters reported, citing the finance ministry. The notes were set to mature in July 2020.
* Banco Davivienda SA plans to issue 500.00 billion Colombian pesos of ordinary bonds on Sept. 26, extendable up to 700.00 billion pesos. The bank will use proceeds from the offering for working capital.
* Colombia's Banco Finandina SA will receive US$25 million from the World Bank on Sept. 30 and an additional US$25 million at the start of 2020 to support Finandina's technological capacity, La República reported.
* Fitch Ratings affirmed Peru's long-term foreign currency issuer default rating at BBB+, with a stable outlook. The rating reflects the country's strong public and external balance sheets and its longstanding and credible macro policies.
* Credicorp Ltd. announced a special cash dividend of about 755.1 million Peruvian soles, payable Nov. 22 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 23. The dividend will be paid in U.S. dollars.
* Banco Internacional del Perú SAA said it will issue US$400 million of 3.250% senior notes on Oct. 4. The debt will mature in October 2026.
* Peru's central bank has changed the way it sets the maximum interest rates that can be charged by non-financial entities, including financial technology firms, El Comercio reported. The move effectively raises the ceiling on the rates to account for the additional risk these companies assume when they lend to clients without a credit record, for example.
SOUTHERN CONE
* Argentina will be a "top priority" for Kristalina Georgieva, the International Monetary Fund's incoming director, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the Argentine treasury ministry's press office. "I look forward to working with the authorities as I take on my duties on October 1," Georgieva said on Twitter. "Argentina is an important member of the #IMF and we want to see it succeed."
* Argentine presidential front-runner Alberto Fernandez will pursue "friendly" debt negotiations with creditors if he wins elections scheduled for Oct. 27, Reuters reported, citing senior adviser Matías Kulfas. "The idea is to be able to achieve a voluntary renegotiation with the market players, so that the debt as a whole can be re-profiled, and so we see that debt being sustainable in the future," Kulfas said.
* Argentine banks are working with the government's financial information unit as part of a crackdown on clients who appear to be buying U.S. dollars at official prices and then selling them on the black market, El Cronista reported. The government's currency controls limit monthly dollar purchases to $10,000.
IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD
* Asia-Pacific: Japan Exchange nears merger; Indian bank loans fall by 900B rupees
* Middle East & Africa: Netanyahu to form Israel's new government; Old Mutual-Moyo dispute continues
* Europe: Deutsche raid; ex-Danske exec found dead; Credit Suisse spy drama deepens
Helen Popper contributed to this article.
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