(Updated at 1515 GMT)

*

Colombia GDP data on deck

*

Peru GDP growth slows in June

*

Gaza ceasefire talks begin

*

PBOC pledges to keep policy supportive

By Lisa Pauline Mattackal

Aug 15 (Reuters) - Stocks and currencies in Latin

America rose on Thursday after stronger than expected U.S.

retail sales data calmed fears about a slowdown in the world's

largest economy, while gains in commodity prices lifted regional

currencies.

MSCI's index of Latin American stocks jumped 0.8%

and was on track for an eighth session of gains.

Local bourses rose, with Argentina's Merval,

Brazil's Bovespa, Colombia's Colcap and

Mexican stocks up between 0.5% and 1.9%.

U.S. retail sales data jumped more than expected in July and

jobless claims slipped, pointing to a still-resilient economy.

That soothed worries about slowing demand which had unnerved

markets over the past few weeks, while reinforcing the case for

the Federal Reserve to ease policy in September.

"Investors are breathing a sigh of relief this morning,

letting recent worries of economic softness subside ... today's

reports should buy (the Fed) some time until the September

meeting," said Bret Kenwell, U.S. investment analyst at eToro.

Most Latin American stock indices have all but recovered

losses from a steep selloff earlier in the month.

Currencies in the region also gained, as rising prices of

oil and copper boosted producers.

Brazil's real gained 0.2%. Mexico's peso rose

0.7%, while Colombia's peso edged 0.1% higher ahead of

the release of gross domestic product data, with both currencies

trading at multi-week highs.

Analysts forecast Colombia's economy grew 2.2% in the second

quarter of 2024 from the same period a year earlier.

"I think there are some reasons for optimism, to see even a

little improvement in some industries will be a very welcome

development in a country that has failed recently to provide

many positive announcements," said Carlos Huesca, LatAm director

at research firm EmergingMarketWatch.

Peru's sol lagged, however, slipping 0.3%. Data

showed the country's GDP rose 0.2% in June on an annual basis,

slowing from 5% in the prior month.

The U.S. data also soothed concerns about a slowdown in

China's economy after weaker data earlier in the day.

China's central bank governor said policymakers would stick

to supportive monetary policy and aim to help consumers'

financing needs.

Israel's shekel strengthened to a near three-week

high against the dollar as a new round of Gaza ceasefire talks

began in Qatar.

Elsewhere, Nigeria's headline inflation rate fell in July

for the first time in well over a year, potentially signaling

inflation has peaked as currency devaluation effects start to

fade.

Local markets in Chile were closed for a holiday.

HIGHLIGHTS

** BHP strike in Chile enters third day, buoying global

copper price

** WEEKAHEAD-AFRICA-FX-Kenya and Ghana currencies seen

steady

** Ethiopia bondholders disappointed by proposed bond

haircut

Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies

MSCI Emerging Markets 1075.13 -0.13

MSCI LatAm 2324.53 0.77

Brazil Bovespa 134277.61 0.72

Mexico IPC 54013.79 0.55

Argentina Merval 1637872.4 1.901

3

Colombia COLCAP 1357.56 0.51

Currencies Latest Daily %

change

Brazil real 5.4596 0.24

Mexico peso 18.6541 0.67

Chile peso 932.4 0.12

Colombia peso 4010.21 0.1

Peru sol 3.7329 -0.28

Argentina peso (interbank) 940.5 0

Argentina peso (parallel) 1330 1.8796992

48