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Scotiabank in deal with Citi Colombia; Bradesco's Q4 profit jumps 10.9%

* Bank of Nova Scotia's Colombian unit, Banco Colpatria Multibanca Colpatria SA, has signed an agreement to acquire Citibank - Colombia SA's consumer business and small and medium-sized enterprise operations. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

* Banco Bradesco SA posted recurring net income of about 4.86 billion Brazilian reais for the fourth quarter of 2017, up 10.9% from 4.39 billion reais in the year-ago period. The bank's loan-loss allowance expenses fell 16.3% year over year to reach 4.62 billion reais in the fourth quarter.

MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA

* Banco Aliado SA said it will offer series BM bonds worth about $1.4 million on Feb. 2. The corporate bonds will have a term of six months and will yield a fixed annual interest rate of 3.00%.

* Banco Nacional de Obras y Servicios Públicos SNC Director General Alfredo Vara said the development bank has identified 19 energy projects that it could finance for up to 15.50 billion Mexican pesos in 2018, El Economista reported.

* The credit portfolio of Mexican commercial banks for the private sector grew 5% year over year in December 2017, accelerating from annual growth of 3.7% in the previous month, El Economista reported, citing central bank data.

* BBVA Bancomer SA Institución de Banca Múltiple Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer Director General Eduardo Osuna said the bank will provide 60.00 billion Mexican pesos of loans for the housing sector in 2018, El Economista reported.

* Banco Santander (México) SA Institución de Banca Múltiple booked net income of 4.52 billion Mexican pesos for the fourth quarter of 2017, falling slightly from 4.54 billion pesos in the year-ago period.

CARIBBEAN

* Fitch Ratings revised Jamaica's outlook to positive from stable and affirmed the country's long-term foreign currency issuer default rating at B. The rating agency attributed the outlook revision to Jamaica's reduced refinancing risks and fiscal financing needs.

* The European Union has offered to help the Cuban government with its plan to unify its two currencies, the peso and the convertible peso, Reuters reported. Stefano Manservisi, the head of International Cooperation and Development of the European Commission, said the EU has "perhaps the most significant experience worldwide in monetary transformation."

* The Dominican Republic's central bank held its benchmark interest rate steady at 5.25%, noting that annual inflation at the end of 2017 was within the bank's target range of 3% to 5%.

BRAZIL

* Julius Bär Gruppe AG said it will acquire 95% of São Paulo-based independent wealth manager Reliance Group, which has client assets of about 17 billion reais. The purchase price for the deal was not disclosed and is subject to certain performance conditions.

* Banco Santander (Brasil) SA will not hold an IPO of card payment processor Getnet Tecnologia, nor will it sell a stake in the unit despite the recent successful listing of competitor PagSeguro Digital Ltd., Valor Econômico reported, citing the bank's CEO Sergio Rial. Getnet is integrated into the bank's structure and has room to boost its market share, the executive said.

* The unemployment rate in Brazil closed 2017 at a 14-month low of 11.8%, Reuters reported, citing government statistics agency IBGE.

* Brazil's public sector registered a primary budget deficit, before interest payments, of about 110.58 billion reais in 2017, representing the fourth consecutive year in which it posted a deficit, Reuters reported, citing the country's central bank.

* Brazil's CVM securities regulator has accused BTG Pactual Group and asset management firm Garde of manipulating prices in the dollar futures market through "spoofing," an illegal practice that involves placing bogus orders in order to influence the market, Valor Econômico reported. The two companies did not comment on the case.

* Banco BTG Pactual SA sees an opportunity to grow its loan portfolio as state-run banks in Brazil retrench. Bloomberg News reported, citing Vice Chairman Huw Jenkins. "The opportunity for us in the credit market is very attractive," the executive was quoted as saying.

ANDEAN

* Peruvian banking regulator SBS has authorized Scotiabank Perú SAA to issue corporate bonds worth up to $300 million, or its equivalent in Peruvian soles, as part of a debt program approved by the bank's board in 2015, SEMANAeconómica reported.

SOUTHERN CONE

* Toyota Compañía Financiera de Argentina SA said it plans to offer negotiable bonds worth 300 million Argentine pesos on Feb. 6. The 24-month notes will carry a variable interest rate.

* Banco Santander Chile's fourth-quarter 2017 net income attributable to shareholders reached about 134.68 billion Chilean pesos, up 24.0% from 108.63 billion pesos in the year-ago period. The bank's net interest income expanded 9.4% to 346.50 billion pesos, while net fee and commission income ticked 5.0% higher to 66.30 billion pesos.

* Ernesto Martí Reta, who is in a relationship with the Argentine labor minister's sister, resigned as a board member of state-run Banco de Inversión y Comercio Exterior SA following a government crackdown on nepotism, La Nación reported.

* Chile's banking sector earned about $3.63 billion in overall net profit in 2017, up 11.9% from the previous year, while the industry's aggregate loan portfolio grew 2.54%, Diario Financiero reported, citing regulatory data.

* Banco Santander Chile plans to open 100 new branches in the next five years, including 20 new café-style branches in 2018, Diario Financiero reported, citing comments from bank executives during a conference call.

* Banco de Credito e Inversiones SA reported net income of about 56.63 billion Chilean pesos for the fourth quarter of 2017, down 34.16% from the 86.00 billion pesos earned in the year-ago period. The bank's operating expenses ticked 8.39% higher year over year, while net fees fell 6.58%.

PAN LATIN AMERICA

* UnitedHealth Group Inc. closed its acquisition of Empresas Banmédica and now owns 96.8% of the healthcare provider and insurer that serves Chile, Colombia and Peru. The deal valued Empresas Banmédica at about $2.8 billion.

IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

* Asia-Pacific: South Korea files charges against 5 banks; Chinese bank raises 2.53B yuan in IPO

* Middle East & Africa: Capitec shares fall after Viceroy report; Commercial Bank sets focus on Turkey

* North America: Morgan Stanley removing 600 funds; BB&T sells domestic factoring portfolio

* North America Insurance: MetLife's credibility dented with reserve charge; Anthem Q4'17 net income grows

Helen Popper contributed to this article.

The Daily Dose has an editorial deadline of 8:00 a.m. São Paulo time, and scans news sources published in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Some external links may require a subscription.