Chile stocks down on profit-taking, peso stable

SANTIAGO, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Chile's leading IPSA stock index closed lower on Thursday as investors booked profits from retail and banking shares, while the peso ended the day stable near 15-month highs after days of steep gains.

The IPSA .IPSA fell 0.88 percent to close at 3,343.85 points while the all-market IGPA .IGPA closed 0.79 percent lower at 15,729.72.

"The consumer sector has seen profit-taking over the last four days," said Roberto Guzman, head of investments at FIT Corredores de Bolsa brokerage.

He said investors were closely following Chilean holding group Dersa's sale of its 2.1 percent stake in leading retailer Falabella FAL.SN , which raised $237 million on Thursday.

Shares in Falabella fell 1.35 percent to 2,495 pesos while shares of rival La Polar LAP.SN fell 0.94 percent to 2,635 pesos.

The banking sector also led losses with the country's biggest bank, Banco Santander Chile STG.SN, down 3 percent to 29.39 pesos.

Shares in conglomerate Copec COP.SN, the most heavily weighted share on Chile's bourse, fell 0.93 percent to 7,300 pesos.

The peso CLP=CL closed 0.04 percent lower at 507.20/507.70 per U.S. dollar, compared to Wednesday's close of 507.00/507.50.

The peso has appreciated 26.38 percent this year, prompting the central bank to warn of possible intervention if the rally is too rapid. (Reporting by Luis Tapia and Froilan Romero; Editing by Leslie Adler)