Chile

The Chilean government transferred nearly 300 of the country’s most dangerous inmates to a new maximum-security prison. This action was taken as President José Antonio Kast seeks to regain momentum regarding his key campaign pledge to combat organized crime.

Ancient DNA recovered from mummies in Chile has provided strong evidence that smallpox arrived in the Americas following European colonization. Researchers analyzed bone samples from Camarones, northern Chile, finding indications of infections dating to the early colonial period. This discovery marks the first evidence of the disease found in that part of South America.

Chilean mall operator Mallplaza reported a 9.6% year-on-year increase in Q2 2026 EBITDA and an 8.7% rise in quarterly revenue. However, its first-half net profit attributable to controllers fell 35% to CLP319.1 billion (US$332 million) from CLP492.1 billion (US$513 million) in the prior year.

Compania Cervecerias Unidas (CCU) reported a $23 million loss in its second quarter, with a 12-cent per-share loss. The company generated $674.7 million in revenue during the period.

Codelco temporarily suspended the Andes Norte project at its El Teniente mine in central Chile due to an emerging deep-seismicity risk. The state miner cited the phenomenon as behaving differently from historically managed risks.

The US launched an 18-nation anti-cartel coalition across the Americas on August 4, 2026, with the activation of Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere in Miami. The coalition includes partner nations such as Chile, Ecuador, and Peru, led by the U.S. Southern Command.

Chile’s Kast tax reform has passed Congress but faces a presidential veto and a Constitutional Court challenge. Argentina’s Monotributo deadline is today, Brazil’s Copom will decide interest rates this evening, and Colombia’s Cali handover occurs in two days.

Cape Verde's veteran goalkeeper Vozinha signed with Chilean first division club Colo-Colo on a six-month contract with a potential one-year extension. He is expected to debut on August 16 and gained a cult following during the FIFA World Cup for helping Cape Verde reach the round of 32.

Chile's Kast tax 'megareforma' is set for a decisive Senate vote, though potential presidential vetoes and a Constitutional Court challenge remain. Argentina's Monotributo deadline is approaching, and Colombia's incoming cabinet is now complete ahead of the Cali event.

Chile's S&P IPSA increased by 0.30% and the peso strengthened to 925.48 per dollar, driven by a global risk-on mood. Retail and bank stocks were the leading contributors to the market gains.

The Global X Lithium ETF remained near US$69 amid Chilean policy discussions, while Albemarle's stock increased. Steady electric vehicle demand contributed to a subdued market session for lithium-related assets.

Copper proxies rose as the CPER fund increased by 0.20%, with Southern Copper and Freeport-McMoRan gaining 1.75% and 1.61% respectively. Chile and Peru are leading efforts to boost copper supply.

Chile's peso borrowing costs could reach annual highs in August due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has lasted six months. The country's economy is also struggling to gain momentum.

Copper futures declined due to weaker Chinese manufacturing data, with Southern Copper and Freeport-McM shares falling. Chile and Peru's supply dynamics are highlighted as key factors influencing the market.

Chile lithium stocks SQM and the LIT ETF declined as concerns over Chile's Codelco handover impacted market confidence. SQM dropped 2.00% to US$67.06, while the LIT ETF fell 0.85% to US$69.22.

Chile's Kast tax 'megareforma' has advanced but remains pending final Senate approval, delayed to early August due to a single article. Cali prepares for a secured August 7 transition, and Argentina's Monotributo deadline arrives on Tuesday.

Ari, a Magellanic penguin chick, made his debut at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach after hatching in May. He is the first chick raised at the aquarium in eight years and the offspring of two penguins rescued in Brazil in 2010. The event highlights a conservation effort through a cooperative breeding program to maintain genetic diversity.

Chile's unemployment rate remained at 9.4% in the April-June 2026 quarter, marking a 0.5 percentage point annual increase and the highest level in nearly five years. The labor force grew 1.5%, but employment rose only 0.9%, leading to a 7.7% rise in unemployed individuals. Informality in the workforce also surged during the period.

Ancient mummy DNA from Chile provides the strongest evidence yet that European colonization introduced smallpox to the Americas. The discovery highlights smallpox as one of history's deadliest diseases before its eradication.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Chilean President José Antonio Kast agreed to revive stalled negotiations to modernize their free-trade agreement during a meeting in Santiago on July 30, 2026. They also committed to enhancing cooperation on critical minerals and defense.

Chile and Venezuela announced a gradual process to normalize ties starting with consular services on July 30, 2026. This follows the suspension of diplomatic relations two years prior due to Venezuela's disputed 2024 election.

Chilean presidential candidate Johannes Kaiser proposed partly privatizing state copper company Codelco and providing each citizen with a one-time payment of up to 2 million pesos. The plan equates to approximately US$2,150 per person.

Deadly storms in Chile have disrupted mining operations, increasing strain on copper supply and potentially raising prices. A global supply squeeze is also contributing to the surge in copper prices.

Chile's S&P IPSA rose 0.87% on July 31, 2026, with bank stocks surging while SQM declined due to lithium uncertainty.

Ancient mummy DNA from Chile provides genetic evidence that smallpox was introduced to the Americas through European colonization. The study, published in Science, identified smallpox infections in two individuals who died between 1492 and 1631, linking the virus to European strains and confirming historical accounts of its devastating impact on Indigenous populations.

Ancient mummy DNA from Chile provides genetic evidence that smallpox was introduced to the Americas through European colonization, with infections dating between 1492 and 1631. The study links the virus to European strains, confirming historical accounts of its deadly impact on Indigenous populations.

DNA analysis of Inca mummies in Chile revealed a smallpox strain originating from Europe, confirming the virus was introduced to the Americas through colonization. The study identified smallpox in two individuals who died between 1492 and 1631, linking the virus to European strains and highlighting its devastating impact on Indigenous populations.

Latin American nomad visa costs vary significantly in 2026, with monthly income requirements ranging from US$1,400 in Colombia to US$4,400 in Mexico. Panama’s remote-worker visa requires an annual US$36,000 payment and no tax on foreign income, while Colombia, Brazil, and Chile have the lowest entry costs at US$1,400–1,500 monthly.

dLocal and ACI Worldwide have formed a strategic partnership to provide global merchants access to Latin American payment methods like Pix in Brazil and Mercado Pago in Mexico. The partnership, dated July 28, 2026, initially targets Brazil and Mexico before expanding to Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru.

The S&P IPSA closed at 10,935.89 with a 0.52% increase on July 29, 2026, while the USD/CLP exchange rate rose to 933.63 (+0.29%), indicating a stronger Chilean peso. Data is sourced from verified end-of-day market data (EODHD) and reported by The Rio Times.

Latin America pre-open shows B3 futures declining in line with Wall Street. Market attention is on Chile's copper and retail data, Mexico's GDP figures, and Brazil's budget announcement.

Chile's SQM rose 1.02% to US$67.55 while the LIT ETF dipped 0.33% to US$66.74. Albemarle added 0.64% to US$113.88 as investors assessed Latin American policy risks.

Chile's private mining sector will pay a record US$8.039 billion to the state in 2026, a 32% increase from 2025. This amount represents 9.1% of the projected central government revenues for the year, driven by high copper prices and strong export volumes.

Chile’s private mining companies are projected to pay US$8.0 billion in taxes and royalties in 2026, driven by high copper prices and the first full year of the new Mining Royalty Law, which imposes a 1% ad valorem tax.

Mexico sets export records but faces an 86% profit drop from Herdez. Chile celebrates a port development after 12 years, and Colombia's Ecopetrol undergoes leadership changes.

Lithium miners and the LIT ETF declined as investors reacted to reduced EV-battery demand, Chile's new lithium policy, and supply risks in Argentina and Bolivia.

Presidents from Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Honduras, Argentina, Uruguay, Panama, and Ecuador are attending Keiko Fujimori's inauguration in Lima for Peru's 2026-2031 presidential term. The event brings together Southern Cone and Andean leaders for the handover ceremony.

Latin America is set to face a Chile interest-rate decision and mid-month Brazil inflation data ahead of the US Federal Reserve's day of focus.

A retired military colonel convicted in the 1973 murder of Chilean singer-songwriter Víctor Jara was arrested after evading justice for three years. The colonel, Nelson Haase Mazzei, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the crime, but the victim’s family expressed mixed reactions, acknowledging the arrest while questioning its significance as justice.

Chilean police have arrested a retired military colonel for the killing of singer-songwriter Víctor Jara over 50 years ago.