UPDATE 1-Colombia denies Mexichem merger with Pavco

(Reuters) - Citing concerns that the merger would be bad for
competition and for consumers, Colombia's Industrial and
Commercial Superintendency issued a statement denying the
deal.




The decision can be appealed before the superintendency by
the companies.



Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Colombian says may up '08 external financing plan

(Reuters) - "Clearly, if we do not sell ISA and Isagen we will have to
think about increasing the amount of external indebtedness in
order to replace that loss in expected revenue," Julio Torres,
Colombia's director of public credit, told Reuters.




The Andean country plans $1 billion in external financing
next year. Should the ISA and Isagen deals be canceled, the
increase in indebtedness would not exceed $2 billion, meaning
that total new external debt next year would not be over $3
billion, Torres said.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Colombia Says Investors Offer to Sell Back More Than $800 Million of Debt

(Bloomberg) -- Colombia said that bondholders
offered to sell more than the $800 million of foreign debt the
South American country planned to buy back.

Colombia said in a statement that it will repurchase the
entire amount of the tendered bonds maturing in 2008, 2009, 2010
and 2011. It will buy back only half of the tendered 11 3/4
percent peso bonds due in 2010 and a quarter of the floating rate
notes maturing in 2013.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

Colombian Peso Falls to Two-Week Low Versus Dollar as Risk Aversion Rises

(Bloomberg) -- Colombia's peso fell to a more-than-
two-week low on speculation that rising global interest rates
may prompt a flight to quality away from riskier, emerging
market assets.

The peso fell 2 percent last week, the biggest decline
since August, when yields on U.S. Treasury 10-year notes jumped
to a five-year high.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

UPDATE 2-Colombia's peso at strongest close since March 2000

(Reuters) - The peso surged after Colombia's central bank hiked its key
interest rate on Friday by 25 basis points to 8.75 percent and
foreign capital kept up its strong flow into the country.




The local currency firmed 1.31 percent from the close of
trading on Friday last week and fluctuated between 1,968.05
pesos to 1,952 pesos against the greenback. Monday was a market
holiday.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

UPDATE 1-Colombia consumer prices rise 1.21 pct in March

(Reuters) - A poll of 32 analysts conducted by Reuters on Tuesday predicted the March 2007 rate would be 0.78 percent.

In 2006, inflation totaled 4.48 percent but it has speeded up since then to 5.78 percent in the 12 months through March, the government's statement said.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News