Chile stocks rise on Enersis and Santander, peso firms

SANTIAGO, May 16 (Reuters) - Chilean stock indexes traded higher in afternoon trade on Friday, led by electric utility Enersis and dominant bank Santander.

The peso rose for a third day against the dollar after the central bank executed its daily purchase of greenbacks.

The all-market IGPA index .IGPA traded 1.07 percent higher at 13,869 points, while the blue-chip IPSA index .IPSA advanced 1.42 percent to 2,960 points. It was the third consecutive advance for both indexes.

"U.S. markets are down, but our bourse is up because of strong gains by Enersis and Santander. That's what's fueling the rise and nothing more," one trader said.

Of Chile's 40 blue-chip stocks, 24 traded higher in afternoon trade, 10 fell and six traded flat.

Gains were led by Endesa Spain's (ELE.MC: Quote, Profile, Research) regional utilities, with Enersis ENE.SN jumping 3.92 percent and generator Endesa Chile END.SN, up 2.75 percent. The two issues are weighted at about 15 percent of the IPSA.

Leading bank Santander Chile STG.SN also weighed in with a surge of 4.21 percent to 23.75 pesos a share.

Other gaining shares included chemical and fertilizer exporter SQM SQM_pb.SN, up 4.77 percent, iron ore exporter CAP CAP.SN with an advance of 3.48 percent.

The Chilean peso CHILJ <CLP=CL> edged 0.15 percent higher to close at 466.20/467.50 per dollar compared with Thursday's close at 466.90/467.20.