Chile peso, stocks fall on global market pessimism

SANTIAGO, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Chile's peso and stock indexes fell on Thursday, following slumping global markets, as more disappointing economic data rolled in and investors sought refuge in the dollar.

The peso <CLP=CL> CHILJ fell 0.93 percent to close at 664.50/664.00 per dollar compared with Thursday's close at 657.30/657.80.

"The global economic outlook is pretty bleak and world markets are reflecting a pessimism that seems to be getting worse every day, with stocks, raw materials and emerging currencies all dropping," one trader said.

Year to date the peso has lost near 25 percent versus the dollar, which has surged in recent months on global recession fears compounded by an ongoing financial crisis.

"The worse part is that even though we know exactly when the problems began and why, we have no idea if we've touched bottom or when the recovery will begin. When it does, it's sure to be a long, slow process that will leave lots of victims," the trader added.

Chile's blue-chip IPSA index .IPSA slid 2.55 percent to 2,426 in afternoon trade, while the all-market IGPA index .IGPA fell 1.95 percent to 11,598.

Global stock markets also slumped, with the S&P 500 hitting a six-year low as jobless claims climbed to a 16-year high.

Blue-chip losses on the Santiago Stock Exchange outnumbered gains by over 16 to 1 in afternoon trade.

Loss leaders included fertilizer exporter Soquimich SQM_pb.SN with a slide of 3.54 percent, and dominant air carrier LAN LAN.SN (LFL.N), down 3.68 percent.

Endesa Spain (ELE.MC) regional investment arm Enersis ENE.SN (ENI.N) saw its shares fall 3.41 percent, while generating affiliate Endesa Chile END.SN fell 2.33 percent. Together, the two companies comprise about 20 percent of market capitalization on the IPSA.

Forestry companies also weighed, with wood pulp exporter Copec COP.SN down 2.89 percent, while pulp and paper producer CMPC CAR.SN traded 2.69 percent lower. (Reporting by Froilan Romero; Writing by Lisa Yulkowski)