Peru

The billions of dollars generated by the mining sector have been a principal driver of wider economic growth in Peru over the course of the past decade. Revenues from the sector have increased several times over as Peru continues to ride the wave of a commodities “super-cycle”. This has not only filled government coffers, bringing foreign...

With its expanding middle class and relatively high degree of social mobility, Peru represents a solid growth opportunity for the banking industry. Lending activity jumped by 23% in 2012, with much of this coming from a rise in consumer and retail loans. International players are abuzz with hopes of entering the South American country, and with...

In comparison to neighbouring bourses in Chile and Colombia, the Lima Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Valores de Lima, BVL) is a minor player in terms of both market capitalisation and volume traded. Despite top performing stocks in retail and finance, the BVL remains highly concentrated in mining, which accounts for 41.5% of total market...

Though improving rapidly, there are several obstacles to the development of the labour market in Peru ranging from brain drain and recurring strikes to inflexible hiring and firing practices and an inadequate amount of qualified staff. However, these challenges generally pale in comparison to the task of formalising the workforce. According to...

With nearly double-digit growth in premiums over the last several years, Peru’s insurance sector is gaining strength. However, penetration rates in the country remain among the lowest in the region. Insurance premiums constitute only 1.5% of GDP, compared with a regional average of 3%. The government is attempting to address this shortfall...