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The Ibovespa, Brazil’s benchmark stock market index, experienced a rise as the value of the US dollar fell to its lowest level of the month. This decrease in the value of the dollar can be attributed to investors’ increased appetite for risk abroad. The US dollar depreciated by 1.02% against the Brazilian real, settling at R$5.0367 per dollar. Meanwhile, the B3’s main cyclical index, the Ibovespa, closed with a 0.67% increase, reaching 116,534 points.
The decrease in the value of the dollar throughout the trading day reflects the recent surge in commodity prices. Despite rising tensions in the Middle East, there is a worldwide trend towards a greater willingness to take on risk. This positivity in the market was evident in the Brazilian stock market, as the Ibovespa reached an all-time high on the B3 exchange.
This upward trend in the market also aligned with the new inflation forecasts provided in the most recent issue of Boletim Focus. The Brazilian Central Bank’s annual report compiled forecasts from economists in the financial sector, and for the first time, indicated that the country’s consumer price index would end 2023 within the target range set by the government.
The value of the US dollar at market close was R$5.0367, with a peak during the day reaching R$5,033.75. This data reflects a weekly decline of 1.02%, a monthly increase of 0.20%, and an annual decrease of 4.57%.
Additionally, the Ibovespa, Brazil’s main stock market index, closed with a 0.67% increase at 116,534 points. In comparison to the previous week’s closing of 115,754 points, this represents a weekly growth of 0.67%, a monthly growth of 0.03%, and an annual growth of 6.20%.
The report also offered updated projections for inflation, revealing that the metric is expected to close 2023 at 4.75%, which is above the government’s target. This revision was made based on data from Brazil’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography, which showed that the increase in the Broad Consumer Price Index (IPCA) in September was lower than expected at 0.26% month-over-month. For the year 2024, the predicted inflation rate remained unchanged at 3.88%.
Controlled inflation is beneficial for the economy as it enables the Brazilian Central Bank to lower the basic interest rate, known as the Selic. After two consecutive reductions of 0.50 percentage points, the rate currently stands at 12.75% per year. Mauricio Moura, BC’s Director of Relationships, Citizenship, and Conduct Oversight, has reiterated the institution’s intention to continue cutting the Selic for as long as they see room for it.
Internationally, investors have eagerly awaited the release of new economic data and corporate results this week. Additionally, the upcoming remarks from Jerome Powell, the president of the Federal Reserve (Fed), the central bank of the United States, are anticipated to provide fresh clues about the future of U.S. monetary policy. The current standard rate of taxation in the United States lies between 5.25% and 5.50% per year.
Amidst all this, the conflict between Israel and Hamas remains a dominant topic in the global news. The conflict, which has been ongoing for ten days, has caused countless casualties and injuries. Other countries and authorities have been involved in intense diplomatic efforts to prevent the escalation of this war in the Middle East region. The economic implications of this conflict are particularly concerning, especially with regards to oil, as the Middle East is a major producer and exporter of oil.
In conclusion, the rise in the Ibovespa can be attributed to the fall in the value of the US dollar, driven by investors’ increased appetite for risk abroad. This positive trend aligns with the new inflation forecasts indicating that Brazil’s consumer price index is expected to end 2023 within the government’s target range. As investors eagerly await the release of economic data and corporate results, the remarks from the Federal Reserve president are anticipated to shed light on future monetary policies. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has also posed economic concerns, especially in relation to oil production and exports.
