*MSCI Latin American stock index drops from six-week high

*Colombia taps 2019 bond for another $1 billion

*Russia says it may issue debt in 2010

By Daniel Bases

NEW YORK, April 14 (Reuters) - Latin American stocks ended
mixed on Tuesday, with some markets recovering from earlier
losses as investors generally hit the pause button on a rally
of nearly 40 percent over the last six weeks.

Sovereign emerging market debt prices were mostly higher
but could not keep up with gains in benchmark U.S. Treasuries,
leading to a moderate widening of credit spreads.

Given the better conditions, Colombia returned to the
credit markets, offering investors another $1 billion in debt
through its existing 2019 bond, according to Thomson Reuters'
IFR.

MSCI's Latin American stock index, which hit a 6 month high
on Monday, fell roughly 2 percent to 2,479.85 .MILA00000PUS.

"Even though we are down, the kind of down we are seeing is
so much different from what it was a couple of weeks ago. This
is a normal kind of retrenchment ... People are taking profits,
but no one is saying this is the end of the world," said
Alberto Bernal, head of macroeconomic strategy at BullTick
Capital Markets.

The broader MSCI emerging markets stock index .MSCIEF,
however, managed to rise 0.59 percent to 644.35, a six-month
high.

U.S. economic data did not help investment sentiment.
Retail sales fell 1.1 percent in March, while U.S. President
Barack Obama defended his economic strategy, saying there were
signs of progress but "by no means are we out of the woods just
yet."

The fall in retail sales confounded the consensus among
economists who forecast a rise of 0.3 percent.
[ID:nN14419657].

The initial reaction to U.S. data helped send stocks in
Latin America lower, but by day's end, Mexico, Chile and
Colombia closed higher, while Brazil fell 1.25 percent .BVSP
and Peru dropped 2.04 percent . Argentina and Venezuela
also lost ground.

In the credit markets, prices for benchmark cash bonds were
mostly higher. The yield spread on the benchmark JP Morgan
Emerging Markets Bond Index Plus 11EMJ.JPMEMBIPLUS widened
by 7 basis points to 564 basis points over U.S. Treasuries.

Sentiment toward emerging markets has improved over the
last two weeks after the International Monetary Fund was
promised more funds to help developing economies navigate the
economic crisis.

Mexico asked for a $47 billion credit line from the IMF on
April 1 and Poland on Tuesday said it will seek $20.5 billion
from the lender as part of a program to encourage countries to
act proactively to combat the financial crisis.

Mexico's benchmark 2022 Global bond MEXGLB22=RR was bid
up 0.94 point in price to bid 116.375, yielding 6.187 percent.

Poland's benchmark 2012 Global bond POLGLB12=RR was
unchanged in price to bid 107.625, yielding 3.707 percent.

Brazil's 2040 Global bond BRAGLB40=RR was bid down only
slightly to 129.813, yielding 5.38 percent.

"Credit markets still feel pretty firm here. Latin American
risk is pretty well bid and we're not paying too much attention
to the equities. Maybe they're taking some profits but it still
feels like a firm market," said one trader at a New York-based
hedge fund.

Russia's benchmark 2030 bond RUSGLB30=RR was up 0.50
point in price to bid 98.75, yielding 7.716 percent.

NEW ISSUES

Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said on Tuesday the
government may come back to the international markets and
borrow money for the first time in a decade next year.

The government could sell up to $5 billion in Eurobonds
with maturities of three to five years, a ministry official
told reporters in Moscow. [ID:nLE176320].

Colombia launched a $1 billion offering of additional 2019
bonds earlier on Tuesday with a yield of 7.375 percent, IFR
said, below the original guidance of 7.5 to 7.625 percent.

Other new debt issues coming to market include:

- Global mining company Rio Tinto Ltd.'s (RIO.AX: Quote, Profile, Research) Rio Tinto
Finance (USA) is offering a two-tranche $3.5 billion note sale
with maturities at five and 10 years. [ID:nN14389448]

- Brazil's JBS (JBSS3.SA: Quote, Profile, Research), the world's largest beef
producer and owner of JBS-Swift, is selling $400 million worth
of five-year notes through two subsidiaries. [ID:nN14446013].

- Brazilian telecommunications company Telemar Norte Leste
SA, a subsidiary of Tele Norte Leste Participacoes SA, plans to
issue $750 million worth of 10-year notes with initial price
guidance in the 9.75-10.00 percent range, according to a market
source (TNLP4.SA: Quote, Profile, Research).
(Editing by Dan Grebler)