Finance

Silver falls to its lowest since November 2025 on pressure from the Fed, the dollar and tech selling
Silver trades around $53.80 an ounce, its lowest level since November 2025, with a 15% drop over the past month and 27% so far in 2026 from the $74.22 it opened the year at. The pressure comes from a restrictive Fed with rates at 3.75% to 4.00%, a strong dollar and selling in technology and artificial intelligence stocks, which pushed funds to liquidate precious metals. Gold also lost the $4,000 mark.
FinanceInternationalXTB.comOct 23AI
US consumer sentiment falls to its second-lowest level on gas prices and inflation
The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for October was the second lowest since 1978, according to data released Friday. A gallon of unleaded gasoline costs 40% more than a year ago and diesel nearly 75% more. 56% of respondents said rising prices are hurting their personal finances, a share that has risen for four consecutive months. One-year inflation expectations rose from 4.6% to 4.7%.
FinanceInternationalCNN en EspañolOct 23AI
Mabel Lara resigns from Cali Mayor's Office cabinet after nearly three years
Mabel Lara announced her resignation from the cabinet of the Cali Mayor's Office, closing a cycle of nearly three years in Alejandro Eder's administration. She made the announcement through a video on her social media and a statement thanking the mayor, the team and citizens. She was Tourism Secretary in 2024, then took over the Economic Development Secretariat on April 1, 2025, and in January 2026 moved to coordinating strategic projects. Her replacement is not yet known.
FinanceColombiaPulzoOct 23AI
Argentina's country risk consolidates above 700 points while ADRs rise up to 3.3%
Argentina's country risk rises 0.9% to 710 basis points, consolidating above 700, with a 77% surge over three months. Global bonds fall up to 0.6% on Wall Street and accumulate declines of up to 6.6% in a month. In contrast, Argentine stocks and ADRs trade mostly higher: Cresud (+3.3%), Grupo Supervielle (+3.2%) and BBVA (+2.5%), while the MSCI Merval gains 2.8% to 100,736.190 points.
FinanceInternationalAmbitoOct 23AI
Asoexport: dollar decline has cost coffee exporters nearly $2 billion
Gustavo Gómez, president of Asoexport, said the dollar's decline has cost the coffee sector close to $2 billion in exports. The peso has appreciated nearly 20% since the start of the year, with the exchange rate moving from levels of $5,000 to below $3,200. Production fell to 8.94 million bags, 10% less than a year earlier, and the guild expects to close 2026 at 12 million bags versus 13 or 14 million in 2025.
FinanceColombiaVanguardiaOct 23AI
Grupo Cibest chairman proposes adjusting Colombia's 2027 minimum wage by inflation and productivity, with a rise of 8% to 9%
Juan Carlos Mora, chairman of Grupo Cibest, said at the Camacol 2026 Colombian Construction Congress that the 2027 minimum wage adjustment should follow inflation plus productivity, with "a few small points" on top. Under those criteria, he estimated the increase could land between 8% and 9%. Mora said the social component of the minimum wage must also be considered. Formal talks are due between November and December at the Permanent Commission for the Coordination of Salary and Labor Policies.
FinanceColombiaEl País (Cali)Oct 23AI
Niagara Energy buys an additional 5.12% of Orygen Perú for USD 117.2 million
Niagara Energy, a company of Peru's Grupo Romero, acquired an additional 5.12% stake in power generator Orygen Perú for USD 117.2 million. The transaction took place on the Lima Stock Exchange through a tender offer for 7.06% of the shares held by minority investors, valued at USD 161.5 million, and ran from September 9 to October 6. In March, Grupo Romero had completed the purchase of 92.35% of Orygen, formerly Enel Perú.
FinanceInternationalLexLatinOct 23AI
América Móvil notifies dispute to Chile and opens door to international arbitration over WOM case
América Móvil, owner of ClaroVTR in Chile, notified a dispute against the Chilean State over the agreement the Consejo de Defensa del Estado signed in 2025 with WOM, which paid US$52.75 million for breaches in its 5G rollout and had its antenna schedule adjusted. Carlos Slim's company considers those conditions discriminatory. A 90-day negotiation window opens; if no deal is reached, it could turn to the World Bank's ICSID.
FinanceInternationalBioBioChileOct 23AI
Restrepo pushes the Misión Crecer plan in Medellín and Urabá with a goal of 6% GDP growth
Vice President José Manuel Restrepo continued his regional tour under the Misión Crecer strategy, part of the National Development Plan, which seeks to raise GDP growth to 6%. From Medellín he reiterated the need for a collectively built national roadmap, after visiting the Urabá region of Antioquia, which he described as key due to its potential in infrastructure, agro-industry and tourism. Restrepo said work is underway with local authorities and business leaders to attract investment and jobs, and that restoring investor confidence is essential.
FinanceColombiaPulzoOct 23AI
Argentine fintech industry expects to invest USD 2.2 billion and raise revenue 28% in 2027
According to the Industria Fintech Argentina 2026 report by the Cámara Argentina Fintech, companies in the sector project investments of USD 2.2 billion for 2027, within a range of USD 1.8 billion to USD 2.65 billion, and expect revenue to grow 28% in real terms. Technology accounts for the investment plans of 68% of those surveyed. 49% of fintechs already operate outside the country and 71% reached break-even.
FinanceInternationalInfobaeOct 23AI
Blue dollar rises to 1,565 pesos and country risk nears 720 points in Argentina
The official dollar trades at 1,500 pesos for buying and 1,550 for selling at Banco de la Nación Argentina, while the blue dollar operates at 1,545 for buying and 1,565 for selling in Buenos Aires, a 0.97% gap against the official rate. The MEP stands at 1,554.35 and the contado con liquidación at 1,651.28. The JP Morgan country risk index rises 13 units to 717 points, its highest level in 12 months.
FinanceInternationalTNOct 23AI
A basket of AI-linked assets hits 0.97 correlation with the dollar index
A basket of assets linked to artificial intelligence reached a 0.88 correlation with the yield on the ten-year US Treasury bond and 0.97 with the dollar index over five sessions, while its relationship with Brent crude fell to nearly zero. Analyst David Scutt of Forex.com argues that sentiment on AI is now the main macroeconomic driver. On Thursday the Nasdaq 100 fell 2.90% and two- and ten-year yields dropped 17.49 and 18.69 basis points.
FinanceInternationalEl Ecosistema StartupOct 23AI
Spain's Ibex 35 ends the week down 1.74% despite Friday's 0.40% rebound
Spain's Ibex 35 closed the week down 1.74% at 18,989.80 points, weighed by rising crude prices near $117 and by the jump in France's risk premium to 15-year highs. On Friday the Spanish index rose 0.40%, driven by Repsol (+4.25%). Brent was up 2.77% at the European close to $116.30 and WTI up 2.72% to $101.18, after intensified Houthi attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia.
FinanceInternationalValencia PlazaOct 23AI
EPM halts new funding for Afinia and asks the government for a structural solution to the Caribbean energy crisis
EPM stopped injecting resources into its subsidiary Afinia and asked the national government for structural measures to address the Caribbean energy crisis. Its general manager, John Maya Salazar, said the company cannot make further investments without a structural solution and faces a liquidity problem. Afinia required about 1.5 trillion pesos from EPM last year and would demand a similar amount this year, with average collection at 57%. Medellín requested an 800 billion peso aid package, already authorized.
FinanceColombiaEl ColombianoOct 23AI
Colombia's dollar opens near COP 3,190 and later falls toward COP 3,156
The dollar in Colombia opened this Friday near COP 3,190.60, about COP 5.59 above the TRM of COP 3,185.01, which fell COP 6.46 from the previous session. As the session progressed, the exchange rate dropped to COP 3,156, approaching the COP 3,150 support despite the dollar's international strength. The dollar index is around 101.7 points and Brent trades near US$115 per barrel. Fedesarrollo reported that analysts expect the dollar at COP 3,190 for October and COP 3,250 for December.
FinanceColombiaXTB.comOct 23AI
Crude freight rates top $20 per barrel, up from $3 a year earlier
The global average rate for seaborne oil transport exceeded $20 per barrel, compared with $3 in the same period a year earlier, according to analysis by Goldman Sachs. The rise began with operational tensions in the very large crude carrier fleet in the Middle East and spread to other ocean routes. Goldman attributes the increase to the war risk premium in the Strait of Hormuz, ship-to-ship cargo transfers, higher marine fuel costs, route diversions and restrictions on the Iranian fleet.
FinanceInternationalInspenetOct 23AI
InfraBridge sells its stake in a 5.4 GW North American energy portfolio to ArcLight
InfraBridge sold its 50% stake in the joint venture Invenergy AMPCI Thermal Power (IATP) to funds of ArcLight Capital Partners. The company owns 11 power generation assets in the United States and Canada with roughly 5.4 GW of capacity. The deal amount was not disclosed. Invenergy keeps the remaining 50% and remains the operator. The agreement, announced in March, is subject to customary regulatory approvals. InfraBridge had invested in the joint venture in 2018.
FinanceInternationalLexLatinOct 23AI
Spain's Ibex 35 closes flat and holds up against declines elsewhere in Europe
The Ibex 35 closed flat for the session and stood out against declines in the rest of the European stock markets, in a negative week for markets. Repsol led the index with a gain of more than 2% after the Audiencia Nacional suspended its payment of 120.3 million euros under the 2024 temporary energy levy, while Indra was the worst performer with drops of more than 3%. In Europe, Germany's DAX fell 1% and France's CAC was weighed down by luxury.
FinanceInternationalXTB.comOct 23AI
Moderna falls 17.6% despite positive data from its cancer vaccine
Moderna shares fell 17.6% to US$202.63 after phase 3 data for intismeran autogene, its personalized cancer vaccine developed with Merck, leaked early. The trial, with 1,137 high-risk melanoma patients, showed a 42% reduction in the risk of recurrence or death when combined with Keytruda, versus 49% in phase 2b. The market had expected a more convincing confirmation. The stock is up 587.1% in 2026.
FinanceInternationalXTB.comOct 23AI
Saipem and MDC sign memorandum to explore offshore drilling in Egypt
Italy's Saipem and Egypt's Modern Drilling Company (MDC) signed a memorandum of understanding, announced on October 22, 2026, to explore offshore drilling opportunities in Egypt and, later, in other Middle East and North Africa markets. The agreement is non-exclusive and envisages possible consortia, joint ventures and technical cooperation. A joint committee will coordinate the projects. No drilling contracts or concrete investments stemming from the alliance have been announced yet.
FinanceInternationalInspenetOct 23AI