
Brazilian blue-chip shares closed on Friday at a 14-month high as global investors continue to flock to the country. The benchmark Ibovespa stocks index closed 0.8% higher at 60,703 points, up from Thursday's close at 60,236 points and breaking through the psychologically important 60,500-point mark.

Brazil's JBS, the world's biggest beef producer, agreed this week to buy a controlling take in bankrupt US poultry producer Pilgrim's Pride and JBS' Brazilian beef rival Bertin.

United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk said on Thursday the administration of President Barack Obama was interested in promoting a bilateral trade agreement with Brazil, even when it could mean bypassing Mercosur.

Brazil will have crude for half a century and become a leading oil exporter and “an important player in international geopolitics” the country’s energy minister said during a congressional hearing.

Brazilian government managed oil and gas company Petrobras will freeze overseas investments as the company concentrates on its primary role to develop recently discovered offshore oil reserves, CEO Jose Sergio Gabrielli said Thursday.

Defence minister Nelson Jobim said that Brazil “is not a Venezuela that goes around shopping in the world’s arms supermarkets”. Brazil targets policy on technical training and technology transfer so “we can develop a sound, autonomous defence industry”, underlined the top official from President Lula da Silva administration.

President Barack Obama decision to extend for another twelve months the 47-year-long US trade embargo on Cuba has “disappointed” Brazil and Latinamerica” said President Lula da Silva’s main foreign policy advisors.

Brazilian president Lula da Silva came out strongly in support of Internet for political campaigning when the Senate is ready to vote a bill which establishes serious restrictions to such a communications tool.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva has heavily criticised the rich countries, the G8 and other international bodies over the global economic crisis.

French unions are not pleased with the transfer of military technology to Brazil recently agreed between presidents Nicholas Sarkozy and Lula da Silva, according to press reports.