Just when Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff had started making progress in getting her political alliance to fall in line behindspending cuts, she faces fresh headwinds. Pending testimony by the heads of Brazil’s largest construction companies on graft at state-run oil producer Petroleo Brasileiro SA threatens to drag the ruling Workers’ Party deeper into Brazil’s largest... Continue Reading →
Brazilian Real Rallies on Higher Interest Raters Possibilities
Brazil’s real rose for the first time in three days on speculation the nation’s higher interest rates will attract foreign investors even as Latin America’s largest economy shrinks. Read More
Brazil’s May Current Account Shows Slight Improvement
The deficit in the current account, the broadest measure of trade in goods and services, narrowed in May to $3.4 billion from $6.9 billion a month earlier, the central bank said in a report distributed today in Brasilia. The gap was smaller than estimated by all 19 economists surveyed by Bloomberg, whose median forecast was... Continue Reading →
Fitch Cuts BP Outlook
BP Plc’s rating outlook was downgraded by Fitch Ratings because it expects lower crude prices and fines related to the Macondo oil spill to cut cash flows and drive up debt. Read More
Oh No!! It’s Monday….
Brazil economists raised their 2015 inflation forecast, dimmed their outlook for economic activity and boosted their estimate for the benchmark rate this year after three sets of worse-than-expected data came out June 19 and construction executives were arrested. Read More
Odebrecht Bond Holders Suffer with Arrest
Just when bond investors were getting comfortable with the idea that most of the fallout from Brazil’s largest bribery probe was behind them, new arrests are sending a painful reminder that it isn’t over yet. Bonds issued by Odebrecht SA plunged on Friday after Chief Executive Officer Marcelo Odebrecht was detained by police investigating allegations... Continue Reading →
Poll Shows Dilma’s Approval Lowest Ever
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s approval rating dropped to the lowest level of any leader since the impeachment of former president Fernando Collor de Mello in 1992, amid corruption scandals and a slowing economy. Read More
It is a New Ball Game
In arresting Marcelo Odebrecht, Brazilian federal prosecutors have netted themselves a whale. Odebrecht’s journey from heir and leader of one of Brazil’s largest family business empires and most influential companies to a jail cell in Curitiba is an economy-shaking development in the unfolding Petrobras bribery scandal that suddenly shows no signs of abating. Read More
Pre Salt Bill Has Support in the Lower House
The Brazilian Congress’s lower house will “easily approve” a bill to relieve Petrobras of its obligation to operate new oilfields in the so-called pre-salt offshore area, according to the chamber’s president. Read More
Odebrecht Arrest Might Cause Banks to Increase Provisions
Brazilian banks will need to increase provisions set aside for losses on loans to Odebrecht SA after its chief executive officer was arrested Friday, people familiar with Brazil accounting requirements said. Read More