Company inquiries about tapping Brazil's BNDES state development bank for loans is up 30% the past two months, a strong sign of potential growth in the near future for a sluggish economy, the bank's president revealed in the US.
Brazil increased gold reserves for a second month in October to the highest level in more than 11 years as emerging nations from Kazakhstan to Russia boosted holdings by more than 40 metric tons.
The Brazilian economy gained speed in the third quarter central bank data showed on Wednesday, but weaker activity in September suggests that there are still many question marks ahead.
Brazil announced on Monday its first agreement on combined operations with Argentina which will allow the two countries forces to act jointly in catastrophe situations and peace missions.
The chief of staff to former President Lula da Silva, and fellow founder of Brazil's ruling Workers' Party, was sentenced to over 10 years in prison for running a congressional vote buying scheme almost a decade ago.
A wave of killings and attacks which is pounding the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo became even more violent over the weekend with at least twenty homicides reported in the metropolitan area according to the Military Police and Civilian Police releases.
Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said on Wednesday that inflation has peaked and indicators are pointing to a retreat to a lower level. Consumer prices rose in October at their fastest pace since April due to higher food prices, government data showed, though a measure of wholesale costs suggested relief should arrive in coming months
Transparency International described corruption as “a plague which destroys lives, communities and countries, and feeds armed conflicts and wars”, during the opening in Brazil of the 15th International Anti Corruption Conference.
South America’s crop prospects deteriorated because of excessive rainfall in Argentina and dry conditions in central Brazil, according to Oil World. Argentina’s estimated 55/56 million tons soybean crop could drop anywhere from 3 6o 6 million tons because of delays in sowing caused by torrential rains and flooding.
Brazil announced on Tuesday it will create a new police agency, boost surveillance operations and mull transferring inmates to more secure prisons as it battles killings of police in surging violence blamed on a jail-based drug gang.