Chile stocks up with retailer Cencosud, peso dips

SANTIAGO Dec 4 (Reuters) - Chile's blue-chip IPSA stock index .IPSA closed higher on Friday, led by retail shares ahead of a 2010 investment plan announcement by top retailer Cencosud, while the peso CLP=CL slipped, traders said.

The IPSA rose 0.62 percent to close at 3,349.73 points, while the all-market .IGPA advanced 0.49 percent to 15,717.51 points. The IPSA is up more than 41 percent on the year.

"Chile's market has been positive, driven principally by energy and consumer stocks," said Cesar Perez-Novoa, executive director of Celfin Capital shortly before the market's close. "In fact, Cencosud was going to hold a press conference later today on capital expenditures and I think that was a positive development that has lifted other retailers today."

After the markets closed, Cencosud owner Horst Paulmann told reporters the company would invest over $700 million in 2010 and revive a $600 million mega-mall project suspended in January that was emblematic of the global crisis.

Cencosud CEN.SN, one of Latin America's largest retailers, rose 3.57 percent to 1,675 pesos per share, while rival La Polar LAP.SN, edged up 0.86 percent at 2,560 pesos.

Chilean regional energy group Enersis ENE.SN advanced 0.92 percent to 196 pesos per share, while electric generator Endesa <END.SN, rose 0.53 percent to 810 pesos.

The peso CLP=CL dipped 0.28 percent to 502.20/502.70 per U.S. dollar, compared to Thursday's close of 500.80/501.30. The peso is up 27.6 percent against the dollar so far this year.

"Despite a positive external environment, dollar gains against other major currencies, such as the yen and the euro, had an even greater impact in the local market amid increased demand for dollars to close positions," said a trader who asked not to be named.

Elsewhere in the region, Mexico's peso surged to a fresh 13-month high on positive U.S. job data boosted confidence in the economic recovery. ((Reporting by Froilan Romero and Aaron Nelsen; Editing by Alonso Soto, Gary Crosse)) ((aaron.nelsen@thomsonreuters.com; +562-370-4252))