Finance

BBVA Spark grants COP37.45 billion structured loan to Colombian fintech Bold
BBVA Spark, BBVA's arm offering debt solutions and financial services to startups, scaleups and venture capital funds, granted 37.45 billion Colombian pesos (about 11.9 million dollars) to Bold, a fintech that manages loans for micro, small and medium-sized companies. The deal, announced on October 23, consisted of a secured senior loan that expands Bold's financing capacity and facilitates its access to working capital. Cuatrecasas - Bogotá advised Bold and Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero Du & Uría advised BBVA Spark.
FinanceColombiaLexLatinOct 26AI
South Korean economy grows three times faster in Q3 thanks to chips
South Korea's GDP grew 1.0% in the third quarter compared with the previous three months, according to preliminary figures from the Bank of Korea, above the 0.3% the central bank had forecast in August. Growth was supported by a 2.3% rise in exports, driven by semiconductors, machinery and electrical equipment, and by a 4.1% jump in infrastructure investment. Year on year, the economy grew 3.4%.
FinanceInternationalRFIOct 26AI
South Korean economy grows three times faster in Q3 thanks to chips
South Korea's GDP grew 1.0% between July and September compared with the previous quarter, according to preliminary figures from the Bank of Korea, above the 0.3% the central bank had forecast in August. Growth was supported by a 2.3% rise in exports, driven by semiconductors, machinery and electrical equipment, and by a 4.1% increase in infrastructure investment. Year on year, the economy grew 3.4%.
FinanceInternationalFrance 24Oct 26AI
South Korean economy grows three times faster in Q3 thanks to chips
South Korea's economy grew three times faster than expected in the third quarter, driven by growing demand for semiconductors, according to central bank data published this Tuesday.
FinanceInternationalSWI swissinfo.chOct 26AI
US prepares restrictions on tech investments tied to Cuba, including biotechnology
The US Treasury Department presented on October 22, 2026, a draft of restrictions on certain US investments in sensitive technologies linked to countries of concern, including Cuba, China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. The proposal, published in the Federal Register on Monday, October 26, implements the COINS Act approved in December 2025 and adds biotechnology alongside semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, supercomputing and hypersonic technologies. It is not yet in force: Treasury will receive public comments until December 7.
FinanceInternationalDirectorio CubanoOct 26AI
Dollar rises to 843 pesos and euro slips to 929 in Cuba's informal market
Cuba's informal currency market closed on Monday, October 26, with the U.S. dollar at 843 Cuban pesos (CUP), five pesos more than the previous day and 30 more than a week earlier, according to CiberCuba's exchange rate index. The euro fell one peso to 929 CUP, though it is up 23.5 pesos over the week. The MLC stood at 597 CUP as an indicative value. The Central Bank of Cuba's official rate (Segment III) remains at 743 CUP per dollar and 832 per euro.
FinanceInternationalCiberCubaOct 26AI
No-conditions term deposits improve their yields after the ECB's latest meeting
The European Central Bank's latest meeting has driven a wave of launches of no-conditions term deposits and an improvement in the yields of existing ones, according to Expansión. The move affects mid-sized Spanish banks and European institutions betting on higher rates in the euro zone. EBN Banco pays 3.10% APR at 12 months; Pibank and MyInvestor reach 3% at one year, and Belgium's Bank b offers 3.75% APR at seven years.
FinanceInternationalExpansiónOct 26AI
Fed debates pausing rates despite rising inflation in the U.S.
The Federal Reserve meets to decide what to do with interest rates, a week before the November 3 midterm elections. The market largely expects it to keep rates in the 3.75%-4% range set in September, even though September inflation stood at 3.7% year-on-year, against the 2% target. FOMC minutes attribute the surge to tariffs, energy, inputs and technology goods linked to AI.
FinanceInternationalExpansiónOct 26AI
Colombian peso: dollar fell 15 pesos to close at 3,145, away from 3,200
The dollar in Colombia fell 15 pesos on Monday and closed at 3,145, its lowest value of the day, with an average price of 3,156.99 and a high of 3,179.75. The session recorded a volume of US$1,197 million across 1,552 transactions, with a previous market representative rate of 3,157.57. The decline came despite the currency opening higher, in a session marked by the Finance Ministry's sovereign bond issuance in dollars and a nearly flat DXY index around 101.65.
FinanceColombiaPulzoOct 26AI
Nevis, the AI system for wealth management, raises US$70 million Series B
Nevis, a New York-based startup building an artificial intelligence operating system for wealth management, raised US$70 million in a Series B round led by EQT Ventures. With the deal, the company founded in 2024 has raised US$110 million in two years. New investors include The Charles Schwab Corporation, which according to the release serves more than 48 million client accounts and more than 17,000 independent registered investment advisors. QuantumLight and existing investors Sequoia, ICONIQ and Ribbit also participated.
FinanceInternationalEl Ecosistema StartupOct 26AI
California plant consolidates production of paper bottles for beverages
Monterey Wine Company marks two years producing Frugal Bottle paper bottles at its King City, California plant, the first US facility dedicated to this packaging since 2024. Its bottles are used for wines and spirits sold in chains such as Target, Whole Foods Market, 7-Eleven and Total Wine & More, and already reach Mexico and Australia. The installed machine has capacity for up to 2.5 million bottles a year, and Frugalpac reports more than four million produced worldwide.
FinanceInternationalInterempresas MediaOct 26AI
China tightens yttrium supply and Japan seeks U.S. help as inventories run down within months
Japan's inventories of yttrium, a rare earth metal used in aircraft engines, car sensors and chip manufacturing, are shrinking and could prove insufficient within months, according to the Financial Times. Tokyo asked Washington to intervene with Beijing, which since April 2025 has required licences to export products of seven elements in that group, including yttrium. Exports of yttrium oxide to Japan fell from 51,000 to 4,000 kilograms between September 2025 and September 2026.
FinanceInternationalXatakaOct 26AI
Brazilian markets fall after Lula's victory; analysts warn about fiscal outlook
Brazilian markets plunged on Monday after Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a fourth term, reversing an upward trend driven by hopes of a victory for his conservative rival, Flavio Bolsonaro. The real suffered its biggest single-day drop since 1999 and the Bovespa index briefly triggered an automatic trading halt after falling more than 10%. Investors showed concern over Lula's fiscal plans and the cost of his campaign promises.
FinanceInternationalCNN en EspañolOct 26AI
Colombia's central bank could raise its interest rate to 12.50% next Friday
Banco de la República could raise its benchmark interest rate again at next Friday's meeting to control inflationary pressures. According to a Reuters poll published Monday, 17 of 31 analysts expect a 25-basis-point hike to 12.50%; 13 expect it to stay at 12.25% and one projects a 75-basis-point increase to 13%. Concerns include the slower decline in inflation expectations, the effects of El Niño on food prices, a possible depreciation of the peso and delays in fiscal adjustment.
FinanceColombiaDiario del SurOct 26AI
Banco del Chubut closes its General Mosconi branch in Comodoro Rivadavia and relocates services
Banco del Chubut confirmed the definitive closure of its branch in the General Mosconi neighborhood of Comodoro Rivadavia starting November 3, following seismic movements recorded in that area. Cash operations and pension payments at the counter will be handled at the Centro branch, at San Martín 833, and commercial procedures at the Km 5 Commercial Office, at José Ingenieros 1287, until the entity leases or acquires a new space. The bank urged customers to prioritize Home Banking and the AppBCH app.
FinanceInternationalADNSUROct 26AI
Argentina's Central Bank did not buy reserves and the Treasury reportedly sold dollars to contain the exchange rate
Argentina's Central Bank abstained from buying reserves in a session with a heavily demanded dollar following the election in Brazil. The wholesale rate closed at $1,532 bid and $1,541 ask, up $11.50 (0.75%) from Friday. According to traders, the rise was not larger because of Treasury sales to contain it; the market estimates the government used about US$100 million. With the abstention, the BCRA ended a streak of 20 spot interventions with a positive balance.
FinanceInternationalLa NaciónOct 26AI
Rents in Greater Mendoza rose 15% in 2026, below 23.5% inflation
The first Zonaprop Index Mendoza, based on listings published in September, shows that rents in Greater Mendoza rose 0.4% that month and are up 15% so far in 2026, against 23.5% inflation. A one-bedroom, 50-square-meter apartment costs an average of $504,300 per month, and a two-bedroom, 70-square-meter unit, $653,376. Average gross annual rental yield stands at 7.05%.
FinanceInternationalMDZ OnlineOct 26AI
Fed decides rates with a pause priced in: the three scenarios markets are watching for stocks, the dollar and gold
The Federal Reserve meets on October 27-28 with inflation still high and employment losing strength. Futures assign an 89.5% probability of holding rates at 3.75%-4.00% and a 10.5% chance of a 25-basis-point hike. For December, 73.1% points to a 4.00%-4.25% range. The analysis lays out three scenarios: a pause with a restrictive message, a pause with a more cautious tone on December, and a surprise hike, each with a different impact on the Nasdaq 100, the dollar index and gold.
FinanceInternationalXTB.comOct 26AI
Bovespa falls 13.88% and Brazil's real plunges after Lula's victory
Brazil's main stock index, the Bovespa, closed down 13.88% after Lula da Silva's election victory, in a session that triggered the circuit breaker. Before the halt, index futures neared losses of 20% and Brazilian ETFs in Tokyo and in Wall Street premarket trading showed declines of between 15% and 27%. The Brazilian real plunged 12% against the dollar. MercadoLibre, Petrobras, Itaú and Bradesco saw massive sell orders.
FinanceInternationalRTVE.esOct 26AI
Colombian peso closes lower on Monday, October 26, averaging $3,157.56
The dollar closed Monday, October 26, with a slight decline in Colombia. According to Bolsa de Valores de Colombia data, the currency averaged $3,157.56, below the TRM in force, with lows of $3,130 and highs of $3,179.75. The move comes as Brent trades above US$110 and ahead of the Banco de la República board meeting on Friday, October 30, where analysts expect another interest rate hike from the current 12.25%.
FinanceColombiaVanguardiaOct 26AI