Apr.21 (Bloomberg) --Codelco, the world’s biggest copper producer, holds its inaugural shareholder meeting under new corporate governance guidelines from 7.30 a.m. New York time. Chairman Gerardo Jofre and Finance Minister Felipe Larrain may speak to reporters after the meeting.

EQUITIES: *The Ipsa index rose 0.9 percent to 4,718.51. *AES Gener SA gained 0.8 percent to 276.61 pesos. The local unit of Arlington, Virginia-based AES Corp. began operations at its Central Termica Angamos in northern Chile. *Cap SA rose 2.6 percent to 24,803 pesos. Chile’s largest steel producer and iron miner climbed as base metal prices increased. *Cia. Cervecerias Unidas SA increased 2.3 percent to 5,682.3 pesos, the steepest increase in four weeks. Chile’s largest brewer was initiated coverage at “hold” by Santiago-based brokerage firm IM Trust SA.

MARKETS: *Chile’s peso climbed the most in three weeks, closing in on the level where it ended last year, as higher copper prices signaled an increased trade surplus for the metal’s top-producing nation. The currency strengthened 0.9 percent to 469.25 per dollar. *Foreign investors in the Chilean peso forwards market had a $1.6 billion bet that the peso would fall against the U.S. dollar as of April 18, according to central bank data. *Chile’s government sold 37.5 billion pesos ($79.8 million) of seven-year bonds and $143 million of inflation-linked bonds due in five and seven years, the central bank said on its website.