Colombian stocks gained Friday following seven straight sessions of declines, led by a strong rebound in state-run oil firm Ecopetrol.
The Colombian Stock Exchange’s IGBC index of blue-chip stocks rose 0.60% to close at 15,099 points. Since hitting a high of 15,805 points Dec. 27, the IGBC has retreated 5%.
Ecopetrol shares rose 2.23% to COP3,890. Almacenes Exito, the country’s largest retailer, also surged, rising 3.48% to COP23,800.
Meanwhile, Colombia’s peso weakened slightly after several days of gains. The peso closed at COP1,872 to the dollar compared with COP1,867 Thursday.
Analysts said thin volume marked the peso’s trading session, but they said activity should pick up next Tuesday, when most traders return to work from vacations. Monday is a national holiday in Colombia. (Dan Molinski / Dow Jones Newswires)