EMERGING MARKETS-Brazil stocks edge lower after U.S. data, Oi jumps

* Brazil Bovespa falls 0.2 pct, Mexico IPC down 0.77 pct

SAO PAULO, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Brazilian stocks fell slightly

on Wednesday after strong employment data in the United States

boosted expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve would soon

begin tapering its monetary stimulus program.

Mexico's IPC index and Chile's IPSA index

both dropped for the third straight day.

The ADP National Employment Report released early Wednesday

showed private employers in the U.S. added more jobs than

expected in November. The Fed has said it would slow its

stimulus program - which has helped underpin demand for Latin

American equities - when certain economic measures meet its

targets, including an improving labor market.

Brazil's benchmark Bovespa stock index fell for the

third straight day, losing 0.2 percent to 50,246.73.

Shares of state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA

, known as Petrobras, fell 0.5 percent, contributing

most to the index's losses. The company said on Wednesday that

the fuel-pricing policy approved by its board last week would

not automatically adjust prices in relation to international

levels.

Preferred shares of telecommunications firm Grupo Oi SA

rose 6.8 percent after the company announced a deal

on Wednesday to sell control of its cell towers for 1.525

billion reais ($647 million) to pay down debt.

Shares of education firms Anhanguera Educacional

Participações SA and Kroton Educacional SA

slipped 3.6 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively, after a

regulator raised antitrust concerns about their merger.

Mexico's IPC index fell 0.77 percent to 41,554.28

after data showed Mexican consumer confidence fell in November

for the third month in a row to its lowest level in nearly two

years.

Telecommunications firm America Movil, controlled

by billionaire Carlos Slim, fell 1.47 percent, while bottling

group Femsa lost 0.8 percent.

Chile's IPSA index fell 0.38 percent to 3,704.62 as

shares of Banco Santander Chile dropped 1.06 percent.

Latin America's key stock indexes at 1451 GMT:

Stock indexes Latest daily % YTD %

change change

MSCI LatAm 3,141.28 -0.8 -16.62

Brazil Bovespa 50,246.73 -0.2 -17.56

Mexico IPC 41,554.28 -0.77 -4.92

Chile IPSA 3,704.62 -0.38 -13.87

Chile IGPA 18,251.32 -0.52 -13.38

Argentina MerVal 5,309.62 0.35 86.02

Colombia IGBC 13,119.43 -0.15 -10.85

Peru IGRA 14,780.94 0.09 -28.35

Venezuela IBC 2,579,114.72 0 447.08