Finance

Colpensiones to raffle two $217 million housing vouchers in January 2027
Colpensiones will raffle two vouchers of $217 million each on January 21, 2027, in Bogotá, for home purchase, equipment or remodeling, as part of the Ahorrar es Ganar 2026 campaign linked to the BEPS program and authorized by Coljuegos. The initiative, running until December 31, 2026, includes 1,002 prizes: it also offers 1,000 consumption vouchers of $1,580,000 in three regional raffles. To join BEPS, applicants must be Colombian, at least 18 years old and earn less than one monthly minimum wage.
FinanceColombiaEl ColombianoOct 22AI
Argentina's country risk tops 700 points and the official dollar hits a nominal record of 1,550 pesos
The country risk index compiled by JP Morgan rose 35 units to 709 points, a one-year high, while the official dollar sold at 1,550 pesos at Banco Nación, a nominal record, and the blue dollar at 1,570. Argentine bonds fell as much as 1.5% and Argentine stocks in Wall Street dropped as much as 6%, with Ternium (-5.9%), Tenaris (-4.3%) and Banco Macro (-3.4%) among the hardest hit. The rise deepened after August economic activity data showed stagnation.
FinanceInternationalTNOct 22AI
Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro head into Brazil's runoff with opposing economic plans
Brazil faces its runoff with two distinct visions for the country. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) proposes continuing and expanding social policies, public investment and employment, education and health programs, plus environmental protection. Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) centers his plan on hardline security, shrinking the public administration and greater fiscal austerity. The election is scheduled for October 25 and the latest poll shows a technical tie after the first debate. On October 15 the Senate approved Lula's proposal to cut the workweek from 44 to 40 hours.
FinanceInternationalEL PAÍSOct 22AI
Aluar opens Argentina's largest wind farm in Chubut with $743 million in accumulated investment
Aluar, controlled by the Madanes Quintanilla family, inaugurated Argentina's largest wind farm in Puerto Madryn (Chubut). The fifth stage, La Flecha, required about $400 million and added 56 turbines. The complex reaches 582 MW, close to 12% of the country's wind capacity, and will supply its primary aluminium plant, the only one in Argentina, with capacity for 460,000 tonnes a year.
FinanceInternationalEl CronistaOct 22AI
Villar: to cut rates in Colombia, the fiscal problem must be solved first
Banco de la República governor Leonardo Villar said at the Colombian Construction Congress in Cartagena that high interest rates hurt home purchases but are necessary to control inflation. According to Villar, high public spending made the central bank's task harder, and he noted the budget envisions a deficit of 9.4% of GDP, which would fall to 7.2% after the adjustment law. He called for fiscal policy to move in the same direction as monetary policy.
FinanceColombiaBlu RadioOct 22AI
ICO Crecimiento Audiovisual: 300 million euros for film, video game and culture SMEs
Spain's Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) launched ICO Crecimiento Audiovisual, a program with an initial endowment of more than 300 million euros from the NextGenerationEU European funds. It offers loans of between 50,000 euros and 2.5 million per operation, with a cap of 3 million per company or group, and repayment terms adapted to the industry's pace. It is part of España Crece and applications are open until December 31, 2027.
FinanceInternationalPlan de Recuperación, Transformación y ResilienciaOct 22AI
Milan stock exchange falls 2.54% weighed down by tech stocks and doubts over AI
The Milan stock exchange closed lower, with its benchmark FTSE MIB index down 2.54% to 48,383.66 points, dragged by the poor performance of the technology sector and doubts over artificial intelligence, according to EFE.
FinanceInternationalSWI swissinfo.chOct 22AI
NVR reports net income of $248.6 million in the third quarter, down from a year earlier
NVR posted net income of $248.6 million in the third quarter of 2026, or $89.45 per diluted share, compared with $342.7 million and $112.33 a year earlier. Consolidated revenue was $2.40 billion, versus $2.61 billion in the third quarter of 2025. Results reflected lower homebuilding activity and lower margins, while mortgage banking revenue increased.
FinanceInternationalTradingViewOct 22AI
Oil and fears of an AI bubble drag global stock markets down
Brent crude surpassed $111 a barrel after a 2.3% rise ahead of the European open, following Iran's report that seven tankers were damaged in the Strait of Hormuz. WTI rose 2.1% to $99.1. Stocks fell: the Ibex 2.12%, the Cac 40 1.39% and the Dax 1.07%. Energy tensions were compounded by uncertainty over AI after Meta announced higher capital spending, and by losses in Asia and on Wall Street.
FinanceInternationalEl MundoOct 22AI
Yen strengthens against the dollar and the euro on risk aversion
The Japanese yen is appreciating against the dollar, the euro, the pound and the Australian dollar in a session of lower risk appetite, in which the Swiss franc was also advancing. The text attributes the move to the unwinding of yen-funded positions, doubts about large artificial intelligence investments, elevated oil prices, the war in the Middle East and concerns over French public finances. The Bank of Japan keeps its rate at 1.25% and the market expects it to leave it unchanged at next week's meeting.
FinanceInternationalXTB.comOct 22AI
Venezuela suspends mandatory use of fiscal machines for small merchants
Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, announced the immediate suspension of the mandatory use of fiscal machines in commercial establishments, aimed at reducing operating costs and administrative barriers for small and medium-sized businesses. The tax package, formalized alongside Seniat superintendent Román Maniglia, includes a 67% reduction in the registry of special taxpayers, which fell from more than 132,000 registrants to about 44,000. The government clarified that it is not a tax exemption.
FinanceInternationalEl País (Cali)Oct 22AI
Great Southern Bancorp reports $1.27 earnings per share in the third quarter
Great Southern Bancorp reported preliminary net income of $14.0 million in the third quarter of 2026, or $1.27 per diluted share, compared with $17.8 million, or $1.56 per diluted share, a year earlier. Results included a non-cash hedge accounting charge of about $2.5 million after taxes; excluding that adjustment, net income was $16.5 million, or $1.50 per diluted share. Net interest income was $50.3 million and the net interest margin was 3.75%.
FinanceInternationalTradingViewOct 22AI
Yen strengthens against the dollar and the euro on risk aversion
The Japanese yen is appreciating against the dollar, the euro, the pound and the Australian dollar in a session of lower risk appetite, in which the Swiss franc was also advancing. The Bank of Japan keeps its rate at 1.25%, versus the ECB's 2.50% deposit rate and the Federal Reserve's 3.75% to 4% range. Japanese investors have spent five consecutive weeks selling long-term foreign bonds, worth about 3.43 trillion yen.
FinanceInternationalXTB.comOct 22AI
Villar: high rates hurt housing but are needed to control inflation
Banco de la República Governor Leonardo Villar said at the Camacol Congress that high interest rates are bad for housing but necessary to control inflation and bring it to target. He attributed the sector's sharp declines to multiple circumstances, including the change in subsidy policy and, in particular, high rates. He noted that, since housing loans are long-term, an expectation of controlled inflation will help lower interest rates.
FinanceColombiaRevista SemanaOct 22AI
Venezuela's central bank sets official dollar rate at 884.74 bolívares for Thursday, October 22
The Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) published the official dollar rate for Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 884.74 bolívares per dollar, compared with the October 21 report, reflecting a declining movement of the bolívar. The BCV also set the euro at 993.21 bolívares, the Chinese yuan at 132.54, the Turkish lira at 17.83 and the Russian ruble at 10.80. It also reported buy and sell rates at banks including Banesco, Mercantil, BBVA Provincial, BNC and Banco Exterior.
FinanceInternationalCaracol RadioOct 22AI
Mexican peso: dollar rises about 0.2% to 18.72 pesos after inflation and jobs data
The dollar in Mexico (USDMXN) gains about 0.2% to 18.72 pesos, after approaching 18.85 before the local data. Biweekly inflation was 0.41%, above the 0.37% expected, and annual inflation rose from 3.42% to 3.62%. Unemployment fell from 3% to 2.8% in September. The peso initially strengthened and then pared part of the gain, in a market still watching the Federal Reserve.
FinanceInternationalXTB.comOct 22AI
Iberdrola signs new 128 million green loan with EIB to modernize Brazil's power grid
Iberdrola, through its Brazilian subsidiary Neoenergia, signed a green loan with the European Investment Bank worth 857 million reais (about 128 million euros) to expand and modernize Neoenergia Elektro's distribution grids in São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul. The financing, guaranteed by Cesce, will fund the renewal of lines, substations and control systems, increase automation and reduce technical losses. It is the second green agreement with the EIB in less than a year.
FinanceInternationalTradingViewOct 22AI
Hormel Foods names Joe O'Connor group vice president for enterprise performance
Hormel Foods Corporation appointed Joe O'Connor as group vice president for enterprise performance, effective October 26, 2026. In the role he will lead cross-functional initiatives aimed at improving decision-making and planning. The announcement is based on the company's original press release, distributed by PR Newswire.
FinanceInternationalTradingViewOct 22AI
PepsiCo extends its beverage partnership with Taco Bell through 2036
PepsiCo renewed its beverage partnership with Taco Bell in the United States for 11 more years, extending the agreement through 2036. The company will keep exclusive drinks such as Mountain Dew Baja Blast at the chain's locations. It also extended the agreements in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Thailand. The announcement is based on PepsiCo's original press release, distributed by PR Newswire.
FinanceInternationalTradingViewOct 22AI
Spain's Ibex 35 wavers on losing 19,000 points amid AI fears and European bank selloff
European stocks face a fresh wave of selling that drags the Ibex 35 and the EuroStoxx 50 down more than 1.5%, and the Spanish index wavers on giving up 19,000 points amid renewed investor fears over the artificial intelligence sector and its high valuations. Eurozone sovereign debt yields and a rising Brent, up more than 2.5% to $112, also weigh. Pressure in fixed income hits banks, with Bankinter down 6%.
FinanceInternationalTradingViewOct 22AI