MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Hot News from Chile.

Headlines:
Chilean peso eases appreciation; Lawsuit against Lan Chile.

Chilean peso eases appreciation

The Chilean currency after several months of sustained appreciation against the United States dollar this week bounced back when foreign companies began purchasing the greenback.

The US dollar last Monday was operating at 612/615 Chilean pesos, but beginning Tuesday started to increase and is now selling in the range of 625/630 Chilean pesos.

Operations this Wednesday in Santiago's currency market reached the equivalent of 568 million US dollars, 123 million more than Tuesday and Monday that averaged 445 million US dollars.

The Chilean Central Bank also revealed this week that Chile's pension funds in October 2003 had 10,5 billion US dollars invested in foreign assets, a 64% increase over a year ago (6,36 billion US dollars).

Assets of Chilean pension funds total 46,7 billion US dollars of which 22,39% are invested overseas.

Lawsuit against Lan Chile

A Chilean journalist is demanding compensation from Lan Chile claiming he was "discriminated" from an Iquique-Santiago flight given his disability condition.

Journalist Toberto Cárcamo alleges he was returning October 26 from the north of Chile after his honey moon, when the pilot of flight 369 impeded his boarding.

The demand was presented in a Santiago court arguing three major offences had been committed involving consumer rights, air passenger rights and his disability condition.

"I expect a positive ruling to my demand", said Mr. Cárcamo who added that he suffered "moral" damage before the rest of the passengers when the pilot impeded him from flying because of his right hand prosthesis which was described as a "sharp and cutting element".

Furthermore Mr. Cárcamo argues that he was unable to complete his return flight, "a basic right for any consumer that has acted within the framework of the law".