Finance

Manizales seeks investment in Barranquilla through contacts with about 25 companies
Invest in Manizales led a business mission to Barranquilla on October 27 and 28, together with Manizales' ICT and Competitiveness Secretariat and the Manizales Chamber of Commerce, to contact about 25 companies, including Tecnoglass and Atlantic Quantum Innovations. The goal is to attract investment, encourage the opening of corporate offices and facilitate distribution centers, with a focus on technology, metalworking, agro-industry and tourism.
FinanceColombiaLa PatriaOct 30AI
Colombia's central bank to buy US$2 billion from the government to strengthen reserves
The board of Banco de la República authorized the direct purchase of US$2 billion from the national government to strengthen international reserves and complement the foreign currency accumulation program in place since August 2026. The operation will be carried out through the Ministry of Finance's Directorate General of Public Credit and National Treasury during the remainder of 2026, at the exchange rate (TRM) in force on the transaction date, according to governor Leonardo Villar.
FinanceColombiaEl ColombianoOct 30AI
Bogotá resists the national slowdown: industry, transport and retail lead the regional economic pulse
According to the Banco de la República's Regional Economic Pulse, Colombia's economy stalled in the third quarter of 2026, with growth close to zero shaped by the August 10 earthquake and high temperatures. Bogotá stayed in positive territory, driven by industry, transport and retail, although its pace fell from 0.10 in the second quarter to 0.05 in the third. Cundinamarca led retail sales with 22.4% annual growth and Bogotá was second with 21.5%.
FinanceColombiaEl TiempoOct 30AI
US judge lets lawsuit over McDonald's McRib proceed
A federal judge rejected McDonald's request to dismiss a proposed class action accusing it of defrauding consumers about the content of its McRib sandwich. Plaintiffs allege the chain shapes the patties with ridges to resemble pork ribs and uses lower-grade cuts, causing them to overpay. Judge April Perry, in Chicago, called it premature to accept the company's argument and noted its website describes the sandwich only as containing pork. McDonald's denies the claims and calls the lawsuit meritless.
FinanceInternationalReutersOct 30AI
Colombia's central bank to buy US$2 billion from the government in 2026
The board of Banco de la República authorized the direct purchase of US$2 billion from the Colombian government before the end of 2026, using dollars available at the Ministry of Finance and at the exchange rate (TRM) in force on the day of each operation. Governor Leonardo Villar said the decision seeks to strengthen international reserves amid high global uncertainty, elevated interest rates and tight financial conditions. The operation adds to the reserve accumulation program the central bank has run since August, through which it has bought about US$1.1 billion.
FinanceColombiaVanguardiaOct 30AI
Economic Rescue Bill 477 of 2026 filed with a 70.2 trillion peso fiscal adjustment
The Economic Rescue Bill 477 of 2026, with 105 articles, was filed on October 29 before the Chamber of Representatives. It concentrates 70% of the adjustment on public spending cuts and seeks a 70.2 trillion peso adjustment (4.1% of GDP) between 2027 and 2030. It proposes cutting corporate income tax from 35% to 33% in 2027 and to 31% from 2028, eliminating the reduced 5% VAT rate on several products from 2028 and lowering the income tax filing threshold from 57 to 35 million pesos.
FinanceColombiaEl Nuevo DíaOct 30AI
Bogotá Comptroller's Office reviews $1.4 trillion bond issuance and its impact on debt and inflation
Bogotá's Comptroller's Office is reviewing the District's public debt bond issuance worth more than 1.4 trillion pesos, carried out on October 20, to assess its fiscal impact. The body clarified that it does not currently involve fiscal responsibility proceedings or sanctions. It will convene a technical meeting with the Finance Secretariat to examine rates, terms and the structure of the securities. About 80% of the bonds are linked to CPI and UVR, and the cut-off rate for ten-year bonds was 13.82%.
FinanceColombiaPulzoOct 30AI
Gold falls below $3,900 and silver tumbles 6% amid Wall Street liquidation
Spot gold ended Friday near $3,879.90 an ounce, down $141.60 (3.52%), while spot silver fell to $49.015, down 6.06%, according to Kitco. The precious metals selloff coincided with heavy selling in Wall Street technology shares and a more than 2% rise in crude oil after another tanker attack in the Strait of Hormuz. The Federal Reserve kept its rate in the 3.75%-4.00% range.
FinanceInternationalKitcoOct 30AI
Colombia's central bank to buy $2 billion from the government to strengthen international reserves
The board of Banco de la República authorized the direct purchase of $2 billion from the government, an operation to be executed before the end of 2026 that adds to the foreign currency accumulation program the central bank has run since August. The purchase will be made through the Ministry of Finance's Directorate General of Public Credit and National Treasury, at the exchange rate in force on the day of each operation. Governor Leonardo Villar said the decision seeks more reserves amid high international uncertainty.
FinanceColombiaZona CeroOct 30AI
Colombia's central bank holds interest rate at 12.25%
Banco de la República decided this Friday, October 30, to keep its monetary policy interest rate at 12.25%, amid concerns over inflation and the performance of Colombia's economy. The board adopted the decision by majority, with four votes to hold and three in favor of a 25-basis-point hike. Among the factors analyzed was annual inflation in September, around 6.3%, above the central bank's 3% target.
FinanceColombiaDiario del SurOct 30AI
Colombia's central bank holds interest rate at 12.25% in split vote
The board of Colombia's Banco de la República voted by majority to keep the monetary policy interest rate unchanged at 12.25%. Four directors backed holding steady and three voted for a 25-basis-point increase. The announcement was led by general manager Leonardo Villar, without Finance Minister Miguel Gómez present. The decision comes with annual inflation at 6.3% in September and core inflation at 6.0%. The board also authorized buying US$2 billion from the government for the rest of 2026.
FinanceColombiaEl TiempoOct 30AI
Colombia's central bank to buy $2 billion from the government to boost reserves
The board of Banco de la República authorized the direct purchase of $2 billion from the national government as a complement to its international reserves accumulation program, an operation to be executed before the end of 2026. The purchase will be made through the Ministry of Finance's Directorate General of Public Credit and National Treasury, at the exchange rate in force on the day of each operation. Governor Leonardo Villar said the decision comes amid high international uncertainty and that the amount considered its impact on peso liquidity.
FinanceColombiaELHERALDO.COOct 30AI
Banco de la República holds rates steady: three directors wanted another hike
The Banco de la República's board kept the policy rate at 12.25% at its October 30 meeting, with four votes in favor and three against. The three dissenting directors voted for a 25-basis-point increase. The decision came with annual inflation at 6.3% in September, far from the 3% target, and signs of slowing growth in the third quarter. Governor Leonardo Villar presented the decision.
FinanceColombiaMinuto 30Oct 30AI
Colombia's central bank holds interest rate at 12.25% despite expectations of a hike
Banco de la República decided to keep its interest rate unchanged at 12.25%, even though the market expected an increase of at least 25 basis points. The vote was split: four members backed holding the rate and three asked for a 0.25 percentage point hike. Factors considered include September's annual inflation of 6.29%, far from the 3% target, inflation expectations near 6% and the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on food prices.
FinanceColombiaVanguardiaOct 30AI
Colombia's central bank holds rate at 12.25% and will buy US$2 billion from the government
The board of Colombia's Banco de la República decided to keep its policy rate at 12.25%, the level held since October, without raising or cutting it for now. It also announced the purchase of 2 billion dollars from the national government to build up international reserves. In the operation the state sells those dollars to the central bank and receives the equivalent in Colombian pesos, more than 6 trillion pesos depending on the exchange rate used, to meet its liquidity needs.
FinanceColombiaNoticias RCNOct 30AI
Fiscal Rescue Bill would raise VAT on electric and hybrid cars to 19%, making them 14% more expensive
The Fiscal Rescue Bill filed by the Ministry of Finance before Congress would eliminate the reduced 5% VAT rate for electric and hybrid vehicles and move them to the general 19% rate, a 14 percentage point surcharge for buyers. Electric vehicles currently pay 0% tariffs and HEV and PHEV models 5%, under Decrees 2051 of 2019 and 1116 of 2017. The bill also repeals Article 468-1 of the Tax Statute.
FinanceColombiaEl ColombianoOct 30AI
Colombia's central bank holds interest rate at 12.25%
The Board of Banco de la República voted by majority to keep the monetary policy interest rate at 12.25%, with four votes in favor and three directors backing a 25-basis-point hike to 12.50%. The central bank attributed the restrictive stance to recent consumer price behavior and risks to the cost of living, with annual inflation at 6.3% in September. It also flagged El Niño as the main upside risk for food and regulated services.
FinanceColombiaBlu RadioOct 30AI
ExxonMobil and Chevron post strong refining profits as gasoline tops $4 a gallon
ExxonMobil and Chevron booked billions of dollars in third-quarter profits, driven by refining, amid rising oil prices due to supply constraints linked to international conflicts. ExxonMobil earned more revenue from refining than from exploration and drilling for the first time in at least six years, and Chevron's downstream earnings also hit their highest level in that period. The U.S. national average price of regular gasoline was $4.20 a gallon, according to AAA.
FinanceInternationalFox BusinessOct 30AI
Colombia's central bank holds interest rate at 12.25% in majority vote
The Board of Directors of Banco de la República decided to keep the interest rate unchanged for November, leaving it at 12.25%. Four directors voted to hold it and three voted for a 25-basis-point increase. The decision took into account that annual inflation in September edged up to 6.3%, below market expectations, and that analysts' expectations for December 2026 rose slightly to 6.9%.
FinanceColombiaZona CeroOct 30AI
Banco de la República to buy USD 2 billion from the government to bolster international reserves
The board of Banco de la República authorized the direct purchase of USD 2 billion from the national government as a complement to its international reserves accumulation program. The operation will be carried out through the Public Credit and National Treasury Directorate of the Ministry of Finance, will be executed over the remainder of 2026 and will be priced at the exchange rate in force on the day of the operation. The central bank is also considering offsetting measures to keep short-term interest rates in line with the policy rate.
FinanceColombiaEl EspectadorOct 30AI