EMERGING MARKETS-Brazil's real gains after GDP data; Latam markets broadly set for weekly gains

* Argentina markets rise ahead of president's speech * Brazilian homebuilder MRV&Co down after results * Chile's Empresas Copec gains after record quarter profit * Stocks up 0.5%, FX adds 0.2% (Updated at 3 pm ET/2000 GMT) By Shashwat Chauhan and Lisa Pauline Mattackal March 1 (Reuters) - Brazil's real rose on Friday after data showed economic growth beat expectations, while most currencies in resources-rich Latin America eyed weekly advances. Latin America's largest economy ended 2023 with economic growth of 2.9%, beating expectations, despite slowing in the fourth quarter. "Having grown surprisingly quickly during the post-pandemic recovery, these latest GDP growth figures confirm a marked slowdown in the second half of 2023," said William Jackson, chief emerging markets economist at Capital Economics. Brazil's real led daily gains among its regional peers, up 0.3% and set for its first weekly advance in three weeks. Additionally, the country's central bank monetary policy director said that "at some point" policymakers will need to tweak monetary easing guidance, which has been flagging 50 basis point cuts for upcoming meetings. MSCI's gauge for Latin American currencies rose 0.2%, on track for its best week in two months as prices of top exports of the region, including copper and oil, rose this week. More broadly, an index of Latin American stocks rose 0.5% as global sentiment remained upbeat after weaker than expected U.S. manufacturing data kept bets on for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in June. Latin American stocks were about flat for the week as investors were cautious on risk assets ahead of and after an in-line U.S. inflation data print on Thursday. MSCI's index of global emerging market stocks was set to slip 0.3% on the week, as weaker data from China, the world's second-largest economy, weighed on bourses in Asia and raised concerns about spillover impacts on global demand. Argentina's benchmark stock index jumped 3.8% ahead of a Friday speech by libertarian President Javier Milei, where comments addressing recent Congressional pushback against his economic reform bill will be closely watched. The black market peso rose to near 1,000 per dollar, further narrowing the gap with the controlled official rate at 843 pesos. Declining copper prices weighed on Chile's peso, which lost 0.1% against the dollar. Despite Friday's losses, the currency of the world's biggest copper producer is set to gain 1.5% on the week, snapping an eight-week losing streak. Higher crude oil prices supported the Mexican peso, up 0.2%. The Colombian peso fell 0.6% while Peru's sol rose 0.4%. HIGHLIGHTS ** Global factories struggle for growth as China demand remains weak ** Nigeria's central bank revokes licences of 4,173 exchange bureaus ** Colombia's Grupo SURA sees higher 2024 earnings per share Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies at 2000 GMT: Latest Daily % change MSCI Emerging Markets 1024.91 0.39 MSCI LatAm 2531.86 0.44 Brazil Bovespa 129260.53 0.19 Mexico IPC 55677.05 0.47 Chile IPSA 6481.25 0.49 Argentina MerVal 1054066.11 3.878 Colombia COLCAP 1288.59 1.14 Currencies Latest Daily % change Brazil real 4.9581 -0.08 Mexico peso 17.0157 0.20 Chile peso 966.2 -0.07 Colombia peso 3942.98 -0.57 Peru sol 3.7554 0.36 Argentina peso 842.0000 0.05 (interbank) Argentina peso 1030 0.00 (parallel) (Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Marguerita Choy)