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Mexican stocks finished flat on Friday as investors took profits in companies like cell phone operator America Movil and home construction company Homex but bid up shares of airport holding company Cintra. The benchmark IPC stock index finished down a scant 0.09 percent at 13,580.26 points after spending most of the day as low as 13,501. The peso picked up 0.18 percent to 11.0770 per dollar, adding to gains in recent sessions.

The Mexican currency has strengthened in recent weeks to levels not seen since March 2004, helped by a weak dollar and an accumulation of speculative bets on the peso by futures traders in Chicago.

Higher interest rates stemming from tighter monetary policy are also boosting the peso.

America Movil, the most heavily weighted stock in the IPC index, lost 1.62 percent to 30.97 pesos, down for a third session after hitting a record high on Tuesday.

The company's American Depositary Receipt was 1.36 percent lower at $55.88.

Homex dropped 2.19 percent to 51.48 pesos, adding to a string of recent losses after the company reported strong, but lower than expected, fourth-quarter profit this week.

Coca-Cola Femsa, the largest Coke bottler in Latin America, slumped 6.47 percent to 28.06 pesos, and its ADR moved 1.58 percent lower to $25.49.

The company is expected to show signs of pressure on its operating profits from a price war when it reports its fourth-quarter results on February 25.

Mexican stocks have hit a string of record highs this year on expectations of continued economic growth and strong corporate profits, and many traders said a bit of profit-taking is warranted.

"The adjustment we are seeing appears to be very healthy, given the levels the market has reached," said Rogelio Gallegos, a portfolio manager at Actinver fund company. "I think there is still some money coming into the market that could push it up a bit next week."

Leading gainers, holding company Cintra soared 7.92 percent to 7.90 pesos on renewed investor hopes it will be able to sell its two main airlines at an attractive price, traders said.

Copyright Reuters, 2005


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