Chile stocks and peso up on global bourses gains

SANTIAGO Dec 10 (Reuters) - Chile's blue chip IPSA share index .IPSA and peso CLP=CL rose on Thursday, boosted by retail stocks and gains on global bourses as investors grew more optimistic about global economic recovery, traders said.

The IPSA rose 1.16 percent to close at 3,361.08 points, while the all-market .IGPA ended 0.89 percent higher at 15,750.16 points. The IPSA is up around 41 percent on the year.

"Retailers have had several days of gains ... the fourth quarter is always an important quarter for retailers," said Roberto Guzman, head of investment for FIT brokerage. "The local exchange has been rising in line with global bourses."

Leading gains was department store retailer Falabella FAL.SN, surging 4.22 percent to 2,718 pesos per share, while rival La Polar LAP.SN rose 2.86 percent to 2,845 pesos, and Ripley RIP.SN rose 2.78 percent to 406 pesos per share.

Chilean regional energy group Enersis ENE.SN rose 3.03 percent to 196.99 pesos, while electricity generator Endesa END.SN climbed 0.99 percent to 814 pesos per share.

Chile's peso CLP= closed 1.01 percent stronger on wider U.S. dollar weakness and rising global stocks after a week of mostly stable trading.

The peso rose to 495.50/496.00 per dollar compared with Wednesday's close of 500.50/501.00. The peso has gained more than 29 percent year-to-date.

"All markets (abroad) are positive. That is clearly hitting our currency," said one trader, who asked not to be named. "We see our currency continuing to appreciate."

The dollar fell against the euro for the second straight day on Thursday after a narrower-than-expected U.S. trade deficit for October and improvements in jobless claims lowered safe-haven demand for the greenback. [ID:nN10173879]

Chile's peso tends to rise when global stocks advance because it boosts confidence in local equities and investors are more willing to take risks than seek safety in the dollar.

In late November, the Chilean peso reached 17-month highs, raising the specter of possible central bank intervention to tame the currency's rapid appreciation.

Analysts say the central bank is likely to intervene in the currency markets if the peso hits 480 per dollar. (Reporting by Froilan Romero, Maria Jose Latorre and Aaron Nelsen; Editing by Andrew Hay)