Colombia Markets: COLCAP & the Peso — August 20, 2026
Key Facts
- Colombia’s COLCAP index, the country’s main stock benchmark, closed at 2,454 points, down 0.30% on the session.
- The Colombian peso gained 0.86% against the US dollar, with one dollar buying 3,106 pesos at the close.
- The peso’s move left it 22.4% below its 52-week high, with a 52-week range of 3,051 to 4,004 pesos per dollar.
- Ecopetrol, Bancolombia, ISA, Grupo Sura and GEB are the bellwether names that anchor the index, though no verified per-share moves are available for this session.
- The session played out against a steady US tape, with the S&P 500 up 0.21% and the US dollar index down 0.81%.
Today’s Focus
Colombia’s COLCAP index — the Bogotá stock exchange’s main benchmark — slipped 0.30% to 2,454 points on Tuesday, extending a muted run for local equities even as the peso bucked regional weakness.
The Colombian peso strengthened 0.86% against the dollar, closing at 3,106 pesos per greenback, a move that reflects a broader softening in the US dollar rather than a burst of local confidence.
Trading was thin and concentrated, with oil — the macro anchor for Colombia, given state-controlled Ecopetrol’s weight in the index — failing to provide a decisive lift. Global risk sentiment was steady, with the S&P 500 up 0.21% on the session.
What matters today. The peso’s strength came from the dollar’s broad retreat, while the COLCAP’s slip reflects thin, oil-pegged trading rather than any domestic panic.
01 The session in one read
Colombia’s stock market finished Tuesday in modestly negative territory, with the COLCAP — the index that tracks the most actively traded shares on the Bogotá exchange — closing at 2,454 points, a decline of 0.30%.
At the same time, the Colombian peso gained ground against the US dollar. One dollar bought 3,106 pesos at the close, a 0.86% improvement for the local currency.
That pattern — stocks soft, peso firmer — reflects a global dollar pullback more than a dramatic local story. The US dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of major currencies, fell 0.81% on the day.
Oil, the macro anchor for Colombian assets because of Ecopetrol’s dominant position in the index, was not a decisive force in either direction. Trading was steady but lacked conviction.
The divergence between a falling COLCAP and a firmer peso is telling. When the dollar weakens globally, commodity exporters often see their currencies gain; local stocks, however, still depend heavily on oil and the handful of large caps tied to it. With no verified single-stock moves available for this session, the index decline reads more like a lack of buyers than an outbreak of selling.
The key variable to watch is whether oil prices can hold their recent range and give Ecopetrol enough strength to pull the COLCAP out of its holding pattern.
02 The day’s numbers
| Measure | Level | Change | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| COLCAP index | 2,454 | −0.30% | Colombia’s main stock benchmark, tracking the most traded Bogotá shares |
| USD/COP | 3,106 | −0.86% | Pesos per dollar; a fall means the peso strengthened |
| S&P 500 | 7,708 | +0.21% | US stocks rose modestly, supporting global risk appetite |
| US dollar index | 98.845 | −0.81% | Broad dollar weakness against major currencies |
| Gold | $4,512/oz | +4.13% | Safe-haven buying and central-bank demand continued |
The COLCAP’s 0.30% slip to 2,454 points kept the index within its recent, tight range. It was a muted move with no dramatic driver.
On the currency side, the peso’s 0.86% gain to 3,106 per dollar is the more interesting story. The peso now sits 22.4% below its 52-week high, with its 52-week trading range spanning 3,051 to 4,004 pesos per dollar.
The US dollar’s broad weakness — down 0.81% on the dollar index — was the main force behind the peso’s strength. Gold’s 4.13% surge to $4,512 an ounce also underlined a market leaning away from the greenback. Rio Times · Live Market Intelligence
Live Market IntelligenceColombia — Live Market Board
Colombia — Live Market Board
Instrument Last Change YoY Prev. High Low Volume
COLCAP
2,453.87
-0.30%
—
9.04
9.05
9.02
4,133
USD/COP
3,140
+0.03%
-22.04%
3,139
3,141
3,105
—
BRENT
88.88
-0.03%
+34.42%
88.91
90.07
88.12
29,713
WTI
83.11
-0.11%
+31.57%
83.20
84.35
82.40
166,848
ECOPETROL
16.92
-0.53%
+98.01%
17.01
17.05
16.79
737,591
BANCOLOMBIA
95.87
-2.18%
+96.15%
98.01
100.36
95.73
188,740
GRUPO AVAL
5.40
+2.66%
+76.89%
5.26
5.49
5.32
146,447
TECNOGLASS
42.30
-1.10%
-48.04%
42.77
42.73
42.05
60,908
CREDICORP
375.17
-0.49%
+49.60%
377.00
384.43
372.27
88,375
BUENAVENTURA
34.45
-1.02%
+88.07%
34.80
35.62
34.33
275,831
SOUTHERN COPPER
193.97
-0.26%
+104.01%
194.48
199.36
192.59
367,102
03 Why it moved — dollar weakness and a quiet oil tape
The session’s dominant macro force was the soft US dollar. When the dollar index fell 0.81%, it automatically buoyed emerging-market currencies like the peso, even without a major domestic catalyst in Colombia.
Colombian stocks, by contrast, did not enjoy the same lift. The COLCAP’s small decline suggests oil failed to give the market a reason to buy.
Oil is the macro anchor for Colombian assets because Ecopetrol, the state-controlled producer, has an outsized influence on the index. Without a clear move in crude prices — and with no verified moves for the big local names — the index drifted modestly lower.
Global sentiment was steady rather than exuberant. The S&P 500 added 0.21%, and the VIX volatility index fell 6% to 14.89, indicating calm conditions.
04 The day’s movers
| Driver | Level / Move | Change | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| US dollar | 2,454 | −0.30% | Broad decline provided the main tailwind for the peso |
| Gold | $4,512/oz | +4.13% | Strong safe-haven bid reflecting dollar softness |
| Silver | $66.9704/oz | +6.39% | Outperformed gold, reinforcing the metals bid |
| COLCAP | 2,454 | −0.30% | Index slipped despite the weaker dollar |
| USD/COP | 3,106 | −0.86% | Peso strengthened on dollar weakness |
The biggest movers on the day were not Colombian stocks but global assets. Gold’s 4.13% jump and silver’s 6.39% surge underscored a market leaning away from the US dollar.
Within Colombia, the lack of a verified, timestamped mover table for this session means the index’s 0.30% slip must be read as broad and shallow, not driven by any single stock.
Ecopetrol, Bancolombia, ISA, Grupo Sura and GEB remain the bellwether names investors watch, but no reliable per-share figures were available for this particular close.
05 The regional scoreboard
| Index | Country | Change |
|---|---|---|
| COLCAP | Colombia | −0.30% |
| Ibovespa | Brazil | +0.90% |
| IPC | Mexico | +0.41% |
| IPSA | Chile | +0.49% |
| BVL Perú | Peru | +1.33% |
Colombia was the regional laggard on the day. The COLCAP’s 0.30% decline stood in contrast to positive moves elsewhere in Latin America.
Brazil’s Ibovespa — the region’s largest stock market — gained 0.90%, while Mexico’s IPC added 0.41% and Chile’s IPSA rose 0.49%. Peru’s BVL General was the standout, up 1.33%.
The live market board above carries the complete closes and intraday moves for these indices.
06 The technical picture
The COLCAP’s 0.30% slip to 2,454 points keeps the index within a narrow consolidation range. The 52-week range for the index is not explicitly sourced in today’s verified data, but the iShares COLCAP ETF, which tracks the benchmark, shows a 52-week range of 18,032 to 25,948 for its price.
For the peso, the technical picture is clearer. USD/COP’s 52-week range of 3,051 to 4,004 means the peso is trading near the stronger end of that band.
The peso’s current level around 3,106 places it 22.4% below its 52-week high — a sign of meaningful appreciation from the weakest point of the past year.
The key technical watch for traders is whether the peso can push toward the 3,051 low of its 52-week range, which would mark a new cycle high for the currency.
07 What to watch
- Oil prices: Any decisive move in crude will directly influence Ecopetrol’s share price and, through its index weight, the COLCAP.
- US dollar direction: The dollar index’s 0.81% slide drove the peso’s gain; a reversal could quickly unwind that move.
- Peso 52-week low test: USD/COP is near its 52-week low of 3,051; a break below would signal further peso strength.
- COLCAP breadth: With no single-stock movers verified, investors should watch whether the next session brings broader participation or another narrow drift.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the COLCAP?
The COLCAP is Colombia’s main stock-market index, tracking the most actively traded shares on the Bolsa de Valores de Colombia, the Bogotá stock exchange.
Why did the peso strengthen?
The peso gained 0.86% against the dollar because the US dollar broadly weakened, falling 0.81% against a basket of major currencies.
What is the 52-week range for USD/COP?
The peso has traded between 3,051 and 4,004 per US dollar over the past year, and it is currently near the stronger end of that range.
Which stocks matter most for Colombia’s market?
Ecopetrol, Bancolombia, ISA, Grupo Sura and GEB are the bellwether names, with oil producer Ecopetrol carrying the most weight as the macro anchor.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error
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