The Financial Post reports in its Thursday, July 17, edition that Bank of Nova Scotia is building on its presence in Latin America with a new trading and equities brokerage in Colombia. A Canadian Press dispatch to the Post reports that Scotiabank says the opening is part of placing a priority on key countries in the region, which also include Peru, Mexico and Chile. Head of global equities Pruyn Haskins says Scotiabank believes the four nations have attractive economic fundamentals and growth prospects. He says together the four countries have 208 million people and represent about 40 per cent of gross domestic product and 50 per cent of trade in the region.