*

MSCI Latam stocks up 0.3%, FX up 0.1%

*

Brazil services activity grew less than expected in March

*

Bolivian debt steady with President Arce not seeking

re-election

*

Trump meets Syrian president, urges ties with Israel

(Updates with mid-session prices)

By Nikhil Sharma, Johann M Cherian and Purvi Agarwal

May 14 (Reuters) - Latin American currencies were mixed

on Wednesday, as investors looked for hints on any upcoming

trade deals, while major political developments in the region

were also in focus.

MSCI's index for regional currencies rose

0.1% to trade near a one-year high, as recent trade deals signed

between the U.S. and two of its trade partners helped soothe

some concerns over the global trade war.

Alejandro Cuadrado, global head of FX and LatAm Strategy at

BBVA, said some assets were testing levels from pre-tariff

announcements.

"Once you start hitting these kind of goal posts, there's a

bit of questioning as to how much more risk you can

accumulate... the market is taking a bit of a breather and

trying to decide if this (gains) can continue."

In Mexico, the peso firmed 0.1% against the dollar.

The country's central bank is set to meet on Thursday, where it

is expected to deliver a 50-basis-point cut.

Mexico hopes to start a review of its trilateral trade

agreement with the U.S. and Canada in the second half of this

year, ahead of schedule, its economy minister said.

Colombia's peso strengthened 0.8%, hitting its

highest in more than a month earlier in the session. China and

Colombia signed a joint cooperation plan on the Belt and Road

Initiative, state media said.

Beijing has been growing its influence in Latin America and

the Caribbean, a region of strategic significance for the U.S.

following the trade standoff between the world's two largest

economies.

Most other currencies were lower against the dollar, with

the Chilean peso and the Brazilian real down about

0.3% each.

Data showed services activity in Brazil grew at a slower

pace than expected in March amid indications that its central

bank could keep interest rates higher for longer.

Argentina's peso was down 0.5%. Data showed

monthly inflation slowed down to 2.8% in April, below estimates.

Peru's sol slipped 0.5% and hard-currency bonds were

marginally lower after Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen resigned

on Tuesday, and President Dina Boluarte tapped the justice

minister for the role.

A gauge for regional stocks was 0.3% higher.

Gains in indexes in Mexico and Chile offset a

1.2% and 0.4% decline in Colombia's COLCAP and

Brazil's Bovespa, respectively.

Elsewhere, Bolivian dollar bonds maturing in 2030

rose about one cent on the dollar. The

country's President Luis Arce said he would not run for

re-election in August voting.

Korea's won appreciated 0.9% after an official said

representatives of South Korea and the U.S. met to discuss the

dollar/won market on May 5.

U.S. President Donald Trump's tour of the Middle East region

was also in focus where he met with Syrian counterpart Ahmed

al-Sharaa and urged him to establish ties with longtime foe

Israel, after a surprise announcement that the U.S. would lift

all sanctions on the Islamist-led government.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund is set to release

$1.3 billion to Bangladesh in June following the fourth review

of its loan programme and a breakthrough in talks on exchange

rate reforms.

Latin American market

prices from Reuters

Equities Latest Daily %

change

MSCI Emerging Markets 1173.5 1.44

MSCI LatAm 2277.45 0.32

Brazil Bovespa 138403.39 -0.4

Mexico IPC 57508.23 0.26

Chile IPSA 8467.58 1.18

Argentina Merval 2309968.4 1.071

3

Colombia COLCAP 1680.56 -1.14

Currencies Latest Daily %

change

Brazil real 5.6261 -0.32

Mexico peso 19.3842 0.12

Chile peso 941.51 -0.27

Colombia peso 4183.5 0.78

Peru sol 3.673 -0.49

Argentina peso (interbank) 1131 -0.486295

314

Argentina peso (parallel) 1145 1.3100436

68