EMERGING MARKETS-Latam FX mixed, Mexican peso at strongest level since late 2015

* Brazil's IGP-DI price index falls 0.3% in March * Colombia CPI due * Zimbabwe to introduce new currency linked to FX and gold By Ankika Biswas April 5 (Reuters) - Latin American currencies were mixed against a strong dollar on Friday, with investors assessing strong jobs data from the world's largest economy, the United States, while the Mexican peso touched its strongest level since November 2015. Top crude exporter Mexico's peso strengthened 0.9% against the dollar, also aided by strong oil prices. Data showed U.S. employers hired far more workers than expected in March while raising wages, suggesting the economy ended the first quarter on solid ground and potentially delaying anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts this year. The dollar index was last up 0.44% after a turbulent week, falling from a five-month high to a two-week low after an unexpected slowdown in services growth supported expectations of rate cuts. "Higher-for-longer U.S. rates should exert downward pressure on Latam currencies, although the risk profile varies considerably by market," said Joaquin Kritz Lara, chief economist at Numera Analytics. "So far, currency depreciation has occurred in countries further along the easing cycle (Brazil, Chile), as narrower interest spreads reduce the incentive for 'carry' trades." The MSCI Latam currencies index was set for its second consecutive weekly advance, while the stocks gauge was poised for weekly losses. The Brazilian real was up 0.1% against the dollar. Brazil's inflation, as measured by the IGP-DI price index, fell 0.30% in March, compared to a 0.41% gain in February, private think tank Getulio Vargas Foundation said. Further, Central Bank director Gabriel Galipolo said the bank was a long way off foreseeing the end-cycle interest rate. He also said there is no need for new intervention in the foreign exchange market after the redemption of a dollar-linked bond. Investors will also monitor Colombia's consumer prices inflation data, due later in the day. The peso was up 0.6% against the dollar, also supported by strong oil prices. Meanwhile, top copper producers Chile's peso and Peru's sol fell 0.4% and 0.1% respectively, owing to weak copper prices. Argentina's U.S. dollar bonds rallied, with the 2030 bond up more than 3 cents to 54.85 on the dollar. Elsewhere, Zimbabwe will introduce a new "structured currency" linked to foreign currencies and gold that it expects to provide more stability than its weakening dollar and help rein in inflation. Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies: Stock indexes Latest Daily % change MSCI Emerging Markets 1044.56 -0.4 MSCI LatAm 2530.27 -0.47 Brazil Bovespa 126811.30 -0.48 Mexico IPC 57746.58 -0.24 Chile IPSA 6563.26 -0.39 Argentina MerVal 0.00 0 Colombia COLCAP 1397.90 -0.71 Currencies Latest Daily % change Brazil real 5.0452 0.10 Mexico peso 16.4540 0.78 Chile peso 946 -0.43 Colombia peso 3756.53 0.64 Peru sol 3.677 -0.08 Argentina peso (interbank) 862.5000 -0.06 Argentina peso (parallel) 980 2.55 (Reporting by Ankika Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Kevin Liffey)