PUBLIC ARENA  (24 HOURS 23) (MILENIO DIARIO DE MONTERREY 0)

They come in and out.Grupo Industrial Maseca, a subsidiary of the GRUMA giant, announced the decision made by the Board of Directors to haveJuan Antonio González Moreno fill the role of chairman currently held by Roberto González Valdés. The new appointee is the son of Don Roberto González Barrera and will serve as the Mexican issuer's new CEO. 

MEXICO IS ALREADY GUATEMALA'S SECOND BUSINESS PARTNER (EL FINANCIERO 28) 

The proximity, similarity of habits, language and bilateral agreements have made Mexico Guatemala's second largest trading partner, after the United States and displacing neighboring countries such as El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Six months after the implementation of the Single Free Trade Agreement signed between these two countries, Mexico reaffirmed its interest in conquering the Guatemalan market, which is reflected in its increase in exports (more than US $2 billion in 2013) and its investment in different sectors ... The presence and consolidation of more than 80 Mexican companies, including Grupo Bimbo, Teléfonos de México, Cemex, GRUMA, La Moderna, Rotoplas and Devlyn, is notable for their employment of more than 5,000 Guatemalan workers and investments in excess of US $3 billion per year.

BMV CREATES ITS ÓPTIMA BURSA INDEX (EL ECONOMISTA 2-4)

The Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) yesterday launched a new indicator, called the Optimal Bursa Index, comprised of the 30 issuers considered to be the most representative of the market, and with which it aims to balance the relative weight of the largest companies listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange. On its first day of trading, the Optimal Bursa Index ranked 14th in the group of the BMV indicators, closed with 173.10 points, representing a 0.28% decrease. This indicator is made up of Alfa, Alpek, Alsea, América Móvil, Arca Continental, Bimbo, BMV, Cemex, GRUMA, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, Homex, ICA, ICH and Kimberly Clark de México... 

AS THE STORY GOES (SOL DEL BAJÍO.COM).

The exhibition “Masterpieces of Mexican Folk Art” opened in the “Don Roberto González Barrera” hall at Universidad De La Salle Bajío. The event was attended by university officials, and the GRUMA and Banorte Foundation representatives. The pieces, which will remain on display through May 30th, are a selection of works from the GRUMA collection and consist of handicrafts made all over Mexico, in which each creation of Mexican folk art tells a story. 

IRASEMA ANDRÉS DAGNINI / CUENTAS CLARAS (CLEAR ACCOUNTS) (LA RAZÓN 19) (EL SOL DE MEXICO 1-4)  

The Mexican stock market performs best when linked to economic growth in the United States and is in better spirits after the millionaire amounts the government spent in February. Several brokerage firms have modified their stock market targets based on new growth estimates due to internal or external impacts, and/or new acquisitions. LALA's 25% potential is notable for the remainder of the year, as well as GRUMA'S 16.13% potential, in addition to the 9.84% it has accrued so far this year. GRUMA shares in 2013 were up 151%, reflecting the company's trade flows. Its products have earned a place at the table of European households and today, British magazine Te Europea dedicated the cover of its March-April edition to its 65th anniversary... 

TRENDS AND SIGNALS  (EL ECONOMISTA 7)  

GRUMA. Analysts at Barclays started to cover the shares of the largest corn flour producer with a target price of 126 pesos and an “equal weight” recommendation. Its shares rose 3.4% in March. 

DUNCAN TAYLOR, THE UK AMBASSADOR TO MEXICO (EXCELSIOR)

Iconic Mexican company GRUMA currently has factories in Coventry and Seaham, besides its headquarters in Brentford, all in the United Kingdom. In 2012, GRUMA announced an injection of £ 42 million for its facilities in Coventry as part of a massive expansion plan that generated 120 jobs. The Seaham plant it acquired in 2006 employs 260 people. This expansion will continue due to the success this Mexican company has enjoyed in the UK, which is an example of how the bilateral relationship between our countries that creates jobs and growth. This is also a tangible sign that the UK is one of the best wagers for foreign investment... 

BARBARA ANDERSON / NOTHING PERSONAL, JUST BUSINESS. (MILENIO DIARIO 3) (MILENIO DIARIO DE MONTERREY 0)  

Days ago, the board of directors of Grupo Industrial Maseca decided to consolidate the offices of the GRUMA CEO and President under the single command of Juan González Moreno. He has chaired the board since December 2012. “This practice has yielded excellent results in the business. The global operation is already on track and now wants to focus on the operation in Mexico,” confirmed a group source. The first year the son of Don Roberto González Barrera spent leading the consortium was his best passport: the value of the shares on the BMV were up 150%, he accelerated payment of the Group's debt to improve its financial structure, he rationalized costs and concentrated in markets that offered greater advantages. GRUMA share listing levels reached a record high of 110.33 pesos per share last year (these sold at 39.94 pesos in 2012). It is expected to reach 130 ... Juan González Moreno was shaped in the GRUMA 'International' market and has now set the goal of maximizing the company's 'domestic' market. He was one of the key executives in the development of the company's operations in the United States since the eighties, where he served as Director of Special Projects for GRUMA Corporation, and CEO of Azteca Milling; deputy director of the Mission Foods central and eastern regions; Sales director and deputy director of Azteca Milling, and CEO of GRUMA Asia & Oceania. The word from GRUMA is that “It expects to grow between 3% and 4% this year in both the domestic and the external market.” 

WELCOME BACK TO MONTERREY (EXPANSIÓN 6-28-30)

Monterrey, Mexico's leading industrial city, recovered from one of its worst periods of violence and lack of safety, according to figures from the state government ... Given this nascent recovery, Alberto Santos Boesch, CEO of Empresas Santos, led a group of entrepreneurs from this northern city who organized an event to promote “the Monterrey brand” and attract foreign investment to the capital of Nuevo Leon. The destination chosen in mid-March was the New York Palace Hotel on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. For two days, CEOs like Fernando Turner, at the head of Katcon auto parts, Juan Garza Herrera, of the Xignux industrial consortium, and Eugenio Garza y Garza, of the Javer construction firm, listed the benefits of doing business in the capital of the State of Nuevo León before Mexican, Asian and U.S. bankers and business men and women. They were accompanied by the Minister of Economy, Ildefonso Guajardo, and the president of the Mexican Stock Exchange, Luis Téllez.GRUMA, Axtel, Cemex and FEMSA also sent representatives. All shared the goal of convincing the attendees that the violence and lack of safety are things of the past.

TAX REFORM HURTS QUARTERLY PROGRESS (CAPITAL DE MÉXICO 4)

Expectations for the year's first quarter results will be affected primarily by the low consumption of Mexican families who have limited their spending in light of the new taxes derived from the tax reform. “The companies comprising the IPC will have a median sales growth of 2.6% and a drop of 0.8 units in EBITDA,” said Monex Financial Group analysts... Experts noted that the best reports on an EBITDA level would be Genomma Lab, Pinfra, GRUMA and the only energy company IEnova while weaker reports come from the mining and petrochemical sectors. Also, América Móvil, the leading telecom company will report low figures.

IRASEMA ANDRÉS DAGNINI / CLEAR ACCOUNTS. (LA RAZÓN 19)

One week ago I talked about the new trading instrument developed that should, theoretically, offer higher returns to the performance of the Price and Quotes Indexes. The new Trac (securities to linked to indexes or shares) SMARTRAC designed by the Actinver Financial Group replicates the BURSA ÓPTIMO index developed by the Mexican Stock Exchange at the end of March this year, should reflect the profits the companies obtained after each quarter and their weighting in the index will be based on their performance ... The new BURSA ÓPTIMO indicator began operations with shares from Alfa, Alpek, Alsea, América Móvil, Arca Continental, Banorte, Bimbo, Cemex, Coca-Cola Femsa, Comercial Mexicana, Elektra, Femsa, Genomma Lab, Gentera, GRUMA, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (the Pacific Airports Group), Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (the Southeast Airports Group), Grupo México, Homex, ICA, ICH, Inbursa, Kimberly Clark de México, the Mexican Stock Exchange, Mexichem, OHL, Peñoles, Santander, Televisa and Walmart Mexico... 

TRENDS AND SIGNALS  (EL ECONOMISTA 7)  

GRUMA. The value of this retailer's market capitalization totaled 42.747 billion pesos at the end of Friday, representing a 138% increase compared to the last quarter of 2013. The price of its stock was up 9.3% in 2014. 

THE SEVEN COMPANIES WITH THE MOST PROMISING RESULTS IN Q12014  (EL FINANCIERO PP-30)  

While economic weakness and the fiscal reform made things difficult for the companies comprising the IPC on the Mexican Stock Exchange in Q1 2014, the consolidation of new business, organic growth, cost efficiencies and favorable comparison bases will put consumer and construction companies at the lead with good operating results. A survey of seven brokerage firms by El Financiero reveals that the companies with higher growth in terms of operations (EBITDA) will be: ICA with 40%, Alsea with 20% and Genomma Lab with 18% and GRUMA with 17%, Cemex with 13%, and Bimbo and Pinfra with 11% each... 

IS WALL STREET MORE PROFITABLE THAN THE MEXICAN STOCK EXCHANGE  (EL ECONOMISTA 2-4)

Mexican issuers listed both on the Mexican Stock Exchange and Wall Street have done better in New York, through American Depository Receipt (ADR) certificates, primarily because international investors find their instruments attractive. The New York Stock Exchange, with its listing of nine Mexican companies, reports an 11.7% advance in the Cementos Mexicanos ADRs from January through the second week of April this year, by reaching a price of US $13.21, while Grupo Televisa reported a 9.72% surge, as the price of its shares is slightly above US $33. Another prominent company in New York is GRUMA -a national leader in the production of corn flour and tortillas-, as it has seen its ADR grow 8.4% so far this year, to US $33.05... 

GRUMA CENTRAL AMERICA RECEIVES THE 2014 CSR AWARD(TERRA.COM).

The Mexican Center for Philanthropy Cemefi, announced that it gaveGRUMA Central America, the Corporate Social Responsibility 2014 award, which is given to all companies that publicly commit to practice corporate social responsibility ... It is important to note that GRUMA has been known as a company that has practiced corporate social responsibility for over 40 years because it has focused its efforts and commitment on ecological, social, nutritional and economic areas.

HORNO3 TO CREATE THE EARTH HOUSE (EL NORTE 0)

The new attraction currently under construction at the Horno 3 Steel Museum at Fundidora Park is called “The Earth House Planet Observatory,” which was announced in the 2013 Annual Report this cultural space distributed in print. The document provides details about the new space, but does not provide an opening date. It is important to note that the document says that the project is sponsored by GRUMA, and will work with the Climate Institute for content generation, which will be supported by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

FEMSA AND GRUPO MASECA WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON ITS NUMBERS (MILENIO DIARIO DE MONTERREY 0)  

After the new taxes on sugary drinks and high-calorie foods were put into effect, analysts expect Fomento Económico Mexicano (FEMSA) and Grupo Maseca to clear the first quarter results with positive numbers. For GRUMA, Actinver Analyst Gustavo Terán expects its net profit to rise 170%, although its subsidiary Gimsa will do the contrary by falling 9%.

THE MARKETS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE APPLE REPORT  (EL FINANCIERO 48)

There will be less economic information this week, but not less important. Company reports keep dominating a great part of the stage ...GRUMA, Comerci and Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste could announce their results on Wednesday ...

HANK GOES AFTER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS (CAPITAL DE MÉXICO pp-16-17)

As a connoisseur of specialized banking, Carlos Hank González, CEO of the Interacciones Financial Group, said that the country's financial system is in a position to meet the challenges the structural changes will require. In an interview, he said that Interacciones is a specialized bank with a strong technical area that analyzes the information to determine the requirements customers must face to finance their projects. Carlos Hank González was raised by a family with deep roots in politics and business. His paternal grandfather, Carlos Hank González, was a man linked to political power while his maternal grandfather, Roberto González Barrera, created a business empire that includes Grupo Maseca and Banorte, among others. For Carlos Hank, surnames have nothing to do with the everyday work at Interacciones and the competition he faces against the other players in the Mexican financial system. 

WEAK REPORTS BY COMPANIES LISTED ON THE BMV (EL UNIVERSAL 5)  

Companies listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange have started to deliver their financial reports with results for the first quarter, a period that was marked by economic weakness, higher taxes and a moderate foreign demand, so experts estimate that overall growth in both sales revenue and operating cash flow or EBITDA behavior to be weak. A report from the Monex Financial Group says that the larger companies will present weak results, and companies like LAB, Mega, Ienova, GRUMA and Pinfrawill announce the best results in terms of EBITDA while the weakest results will be seen from Peñoles, Minera Frisco, Elektra and América Móvil.

THE U.S. AND EFFICIENCIES 'INFLATE' GRUMA FLOWS  (EL FINANCIERO 35)  

GRUMA the world's largest producer of corn flour and tortillas reported strong results for the first quarter of 2014 with a 32 growth in its EBITDA operational flows and 197% net profit growth. The transnational directed by Juan González Moreno benefited from the strong performance of its operations in the United States and greater cost and expense efficiencies in addition to a tax cut. The company's net sales totaled 13.398 billion pesos in the January-March 2014 period, which represented a three% increase. 

GRUMA PROFITS GROW 44% IN THE FIRST QUARTER (MILENIO DIARIO 28)  

IRASEMA ANDRÉS DAGNINI / CLEAR ACCOUNTS  (LA RAZÓN 19)  

A good business strategy is reflected in each company's the financial statements, such as the GRUMA reports that have been positive in the last four quarters, which is very attractive to stock market investors. The multinational again reported positive figures in the first quarter of this year; net sales were up 340 million pesos to 13.398 billion from 13.058 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013 ... It is important to note that its operations outside of Mexico represent 63% of the total operation and GRUMA Corporation played a very important role in the quarter with its 1% growth ... 

GRUMA REPORTS EARNINGS DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2014  (MILENIO NEWS (4 to 8 p.m.))  

Héctor Diego Medina: GRUMA announced the results of its operations at end of Q1 2014, which maintain a constant improvement, thanks to the initiatives passed by the Board of Directors in December 2012 ... 

FALLING CORN PRICES DO NOT AFFECT TORTILLAS  (EXCÉLSIOR 7)  

Although the price of corn has fallen in the past year, the price of a kilogram of tortillas for consumers has registered an increase. According to Grupo Maseca, the ton of corn sold for 4,961 pesos in 2012, while in February this year, the cost of the grain fell to 4,343 pesos, while the kilogram of tortillas rose 0.11 cents going from 12.29 to 12.40 pesos. In the same period, a ton of Maseca corn flour fell 13%, going from 9,944 to 8,642 pesos; that is to say, 1,302 pesos less per ton, which has resulted in a benefit to consumers. In this regard, Juan Carlos Anaya, CEO of the Agricultural Market Advisory Group, said there is no direct correlation between the price adjustment of the grain and tortillas, He said that tortilla makers argue other costs associated with production, such as electricity, rent and labor. Instead, cornmeal, representing a small market share, has fallen 14% in one year, based on the drop in the price of corn in the domestic market. “Although corn, in the domestic market has dropped about 15% in one year, which equivalent to 800 pesos per ton, this has not resulted in a lower cost to consumers because they are imperfect markets,” he said. Instead, cornmeal, representing a small market share, has fallen 14% in one year, based on the drop in the price of corn in the domestic market. The specialist explained that for every kilo of tortillas, corn represents 33% of tortilla producer costs. Meanwhile, Carlos Salazar, president of the National Confederation of Corn Producers, said that tortilla retailers often increase their prices without associating their price hikes to their raw input, which is corn. (A graph on “market inputs for making tortillas” was published with the following data: 65% tortilla dough, .1% white, .4% Macsa, 1% Harimasa 8% Minsa, and 25% Maseca) 

ACTIONS AND REACTIONS  (EL ECONOMISTA 30)

Tons of corn. Shares of the corn flour and tortilla producer GRUMA recorded a strong 6.24% increase listed at 115.61 pesos in stock market trading this Thursday, after announcing a 197% increase in its profits equal to 622 million pesos. With this increase, the shares of corn flour and tortilla marketer GRUMA has accrued a 17.5% gain so far this year, due to its improved operating performance and lower taxes, to a lesser extent; however, it is important to note that it saw a remarkable increase of 152.2% last year and analysts expect more.

THE SECTOR SEEKS TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF IEPS ON JUNK FOOD  (MILENIO DIARIO 23)

The formal snacks and food industry and the Mexican Tax Administration Service (SAT) agreed to actions to minimize the impact of the eight% Special Tax on Products and Services (IEPS) effective as of the year 2014 on junk food or high-calorie foods ... At the meeting, industry representatives from the Mexico National Chamber of Industry Transformation and companies like Barcel, Totis, Grupo Bimbo and GRUMA, among others, expressed concern about migration that has occurred and continues to increase as formal companies move to informality because of the IEPS ...

TRENDS AND SIGNALS  (EL ECONOMISTA 7)  

GRUMA. Shares of the corn flour and tortilla producer led the gains last week in the Mexican Stock Exchange Price and Quotations Index, by registering a 7.14% increase this period...

POSITIVE ISSUER REPORTS (EXCÉLSIOR 3)  

The companies comprising the IPC, the BMV's main indicator are reporting in line or better than expected, said Financial Group Monex ... Another company that already presented its report is GRUMA,The flour manufacturer stated that its operation flows grew 32%; although sales grew just 3%, the company focused on improving operations to reduce costs. 

FROM THE FOOTBALL FIELDS TO THE CHAIR OF GRUMA CA (LA PRENSA HONDURAS.COM)

The Costa Rican professional that manages the office of one of the largest food companies on the isthmus has two passions in his life: one, football, and other business administration. In both, he has managed to succeed in life. As a football player he was part of his national team, and as a business manager, he leads one of the most successful food companies of America, Grupo Maseca (GRUMA),We are talking about José Antonio Jaikel Aguilar, a native of San José, Costa Rica, where he directs the GRUMA division for Central America, GRUMA is ranked as the food company world leader in the production of corn flour and tortillas, as well as an important producer of wheat products like breads, and other foods plus consumer staples like rice, snacks, seasonings and palmetto.