The Ibovespa, Brazil’s main stock market index, experienced a rise as the US dollar fell to its lowest level of the month against the Brazilian real. The dollar decreased by 1.02% against the real, reaching R$ 5.0367 per dollar. This drop in the value of the dollar can be attributed to investors’ increased appetite for risk abroad. Despite rising tensions in the Middle East, the recent spike in commodity prices and a global trend towards greater risk-taking led to the decrease in the value of the dollar.
The B3’s main cyclical index, Ibovespa, closed at a record high on the B3 exchange, finishing up 0.67% at 116.534 points. This positive result aligns with the new inflation forecasts provided in the latest issue of Boletim Focus. The Brazilian Central Bank’s annual report, which compiles forecasts from economists in the financial sector, indicated for the first time that the country’s consumer price index is expected to end 2023 within the government’s target range.
The trading day concluded with the dollar falling by 1.02% and being valued at R$ 5.0367. The highest value reached during the day was R$ 5.03375. This decline follows last Friday’s increase of 0.78% when the dollar was selling for R$ 5.0885. As a result of these recent events, the dollar has experienced a weekly decline of 1.02%, a monthly increase of 0.20%, and an annual decrease of 4.57%.
As for the Ibovespa, the main stock market index in Brazil, it closed the day with a 0.67% increase at 116.534 points. On Friday, it had closed with a 1.11% decrease at 115.754 points. These figures translate into a weekly growth of 0.67%, a monthly increase of 0.03%, and an annual growth of 6.20%.
The latest inflation projections provided in the report suggest that inflation is expected to reach 4.75% by the end of 2023, surpassing the government’s target. These projections were revised after data from Brazil’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography showed that the increase in the Broad Consumer Price Index (IPCA) in September was lower than expected at 0.26% month-over-month. However, the projected inflation rate for 2024 remains unchanged at 3.88%. The target inflation rate for next year is set at 3%, with a range of 1% to 4% representing success.
Controlled inflation is beneficial for the economy as it allows the Central Bank to lower the basic interest rate, known as the Selic. Currently, the Selic stands at 12.75% per year after two consecutive reductions of 0.50 percentage points.
The remarks made by Mauricio Moura, the Director of Relationships, Citizenship, and Conduct Oversight at the Central Bank, have also garnered attention. Moura reiterated the recent signaling of a 0.50 percentage point cut in upcoming monetary policy meetings and expressed the Bank’s commitment to continue cutting the Selic as long as it deems it feasible.
Investors abroad are eagerly awaiting 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 of particular interest. The Federal Reserve Bank is expected to provide fresh insights into the future of US monetary policy. Currently, the standard rate of taxation in the US ranges between 5.25% and 5.50% per year.
Lastly, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas remains a prominent issue in global headlines. The conflict, which started ten days ago, has resulted in countless lives lost and injured. Countries and authorities have been engaged in diplomatic efforts to prevent the war from spreading to other parts of the region. The economic impact of the conflict is especially concerning for the oil industry, as the Middle East is a major producer and exporter of oil.
