January 3

 REGIO INDEX EXCEEDS CPI PERFORMANCE. (EL NORTE (ONLINE) 0) In 2017, the Regio Index rose 8.47%, compared to the 8.13% recorded in the Mexican Stock Exchange’s Index of Prices and Quotations, according to a report by Monex Grupo Financiero. Last December, the Regio Index rose 5.03%, also surpassing the Mexican Stock Exchange indicator, which rose 4.80%. Last month, Cydasa, Femsa, andGruma posted the highest yields, increasing by 9.9%, 9.2%, and 7.9%, respectively...

January 4

 SEVEN ISSUERS WITH STRONG POTENTIAL IN 2018. (EL FINANCIERO PP-17) In a year in which the first half was characterized by volatility and uncertainty in financial markets, seven issuers who offer the attractive potential for increase on the Mexican Stock Exchange are: Banorte. Cemex,Gruma, Liverpool, Nemak, Santander, and Volaris. GBM experts expectGruma to maintain its improved profitability in the United States and to win more market share. They expect it to be revalued at 20.2%...

January 12

 100 MEXICAN COMPANIES IN THE AGRIBUSINESS SECTOR (EXPANSIÓN 70-74). Within the agribusiness sector, certain companies stand out who have taken their operations global, such as Grupo Bimbo,Gruma, and SuKarne. These companies blaze the trail for others to avoid exclusive dependence upon trade with the United States. In 2016,Gruma, the largest producer and marketer of flour and corn tortillas in the world, consolidated its operations in the United States and Europe with the inauguration of production plants in those regions. “One of our challenges is to develop strategies that contribute to higher per capita consumption of tortillas around the world,” statesGrumaPresident and CEOJuan Antonio González Moreno. The company also opened its 75th plant worldwide win Moscow, Russia, with an investment of USD $50 million...

 THE MOST GLOBAL MEXICAN COMPANIES (EXPANSIÓN 1-60-63) Agribusiness companies increasingly stand out in the ranking of “The 100 Most Global Mexican Companies.” Today, Mexico ranks 12th largest in the world in terms of agribusiness exports; this growth was spurred by opening up trade in the nineties. Most of these sector exports are destined for the United States, a market which in recent years has bet heavily on agri-food businesses such asGruma, Grupo Bimbo, José Cuervo, La Costeña, and SuKarne. The U.S. country represents between 40% and 80% of foreign sales for these companies.Gruma is ranked 12th among companies with the strongest international presence.

January 18

  CAPTAINS. (REFORMA 3) (EL NORTE (ONLINE) 0) Russian Market- In the midst of a World Cup year and trade disputes with the U.S., kids at the National Association of Importers & Exporters of Mexico, led by Arturo Pérez Behr, are not wasting any time. The group opened rep offices in Moscow, with the hope of strengthening trade relations with Russia. The betting is serious...Don’t forget that last year, ProMéxico, led by Paulo Carreño King, launched a campaign to sell spirits, such as mezcal and tequila, andGruma opened a plant close to Moscow just last October...

January 19

 5 MEXICAN COMPANIES WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM DONALD TRUMP’S TAX REFORM. (EL FINANCIERO 22) The tax reform in the United States introduced by President Donald Trump will not only benefit American companies; it will also benefit Mexican companies who are operating inside the U.S. Starting January 1, 2018, companies operating within American territory will enjoy an income tax reduction from 34% to 21%, and for those with brands destined solely for America, the tax rate could drop to 13.12%. There are at least 18 Mexican companies on the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV,Bolsa Mexicana de Valores) with operations in the United States, five of whom receive a significant percentage of their revenue from that market: Alpek,Gruma, Grupo Bimbo, Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua, and José Cuervo. Of these, some have brands solely for the American market. Gruma has 20 factories for the Mission Foods brand, and six for Azteca Milling in the U.S....

January 20

 THERE IS A LIMIT FOR RESPONDING TO THE US TAX ADJUSTMENT: BARCLAYS. (EL UNIVERSAL 16) Mexico has limited space for responding to the tax reform approved in the United States that was introduced by President Donald Trump, according to Barclays. Analysts from the English bank said that due to the recent approval of structural changes to the tax system that will be used to offset the drop in oil prices, it will be very difficult to introduce a new reform. Mexico would have to react by hiking taxes such as the VAT and by squeezing more out of property taxes, but it is believed that Mexico would benefit much more by strengthening the rule of law. Benjamin M. Theurer, Senior Capital Analyst at Barclays México, believes that that some multinational companies may consider the option of changing their corporate address to the U.S. However, he said that most companies with operations on the other side of the border already have their “tax account over there.” “Companies such as Bimbo, Chedraui,Gruma, who are responsible for paying taxes in the United States, will benefit from the reform; since they were penalized in previous years, they will now receive benefits and may achieve their effective tax rate at the consolidated level”...

January 29

 US TAX REFORM WILL HELP MEXICAN COMPANIES (EXCÉLSIOR 1-13) (EL NORTE (ONLINE) 0) (MILENIO DIARIO 29) (REFORMA 7) Donald Trump’s tax reform is designed to boost the competitiveness of American companies located in the U.S.; however, these changes will also help Mexican companies with operations in the U.S. such as Bimbo, Cementos Chihuahua, Cemex,Gruma, and La Costeña. According to Manuel Rico, Corporate Tax Partner at KPMG México, the reform was expected to be much more protectionist in terms of imports to the United States while favoring its exports, but it ended up not being quite so aggressive.Gruma, the corn flour and tortilla producer, has plants in the United States within its Azteca Milling and Mission Foods divisions...

 IPC UP 8.44% IN TWO MONTHS. (EL ECONOMISTA 4) The main index on the BMV, the S&P/BMV IPC, has risen 8.44% since the end of November. On November 30, the index stood at 47,092.45 units. At the end of last Friday’s session, the S&P/BMV IPC had risen to 51,065.49 points. Arca Continental,Gruma, and Pinfra appear to be the most attractive options in 2018, according to Ve por Más (Bx+) and its Ponk analysis: Snakes and Ladders 2018.Gruma would rank second with a potential increase of 28.49% to MXN $290.73.

 JUAN GONZALEZ’ GRUMA TRANSFORMS PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION PATTERNS WORLDWIDE. (LA PRENSA ON LINE) Gruma’s growth structure, with innovation and a growth strategy, investment in technology, new plants, product differentiation, and exploration of new markets, has allowed it to enter 112 countries around the world, with 75 plants in operation. During the fourth quarter of 2017, the 75th plant was opened in Russia, and will produce 50,000 tons of wheat tortillas and corn snacks each year. That plant required an investment of USD $50 million and will generate 265 direct jobs and more than 900 indirect jobs. The regional location translates into lower costs for transporting raw materials, since Russia is the fourth largest wheat producer in the world, and for exporting to retailers, fast food establishments, and restaurants located in countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States. This has allowedGruma to consolidate its presence in Europe, with two plants in the United Kingdom, two in Spain, and one each in Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia.

January 31

 ROBERTO AGUILAR / CORPORATE MOMENT (EL SOL DE MÉXICO 21) Favorites for 2018. UBS updated the list of its favorite Mexican shares as part of an analysis in which it compared the stock markets of Mexico and Brazil—which historically behave very similarly—and considered a series of factors that would support a positive outlook for the domestic share market to the extent that UBS recommended that its clients increase their share. In the review, it added certificates from Alfa, América Móvil, Banco del Bajío, Cemex, Gruma, Inbursa, and Rassini to its portfolio...