Brazil’s central bank indicated on Wednesday it will keep cutting interest rates at the current pace after it reduced borrowing costs by a half-point to 10.5%, for a fourth straight meeting.
Brazilian consumer prices rose faster than expected in November. Inflation as measured by the benchmark IPCA index, quickened to 0.52% last month from 0.43% in October.
Economic activity in Brazil expanded 0.17% in May over the previous month, the slowest pace this year, according to the Central Bank’s seasonally adjusted index. As direct reference growth in April was 0.44%. However the May figure is 4.25% over a year ago.
Brazil's central bank increased late Wednesday its benchmark interest rate for the fourth straight meeting after consumer prices exceeded the upper limit of its target range for the first time since 2005.
Brazil’s central bank raised its benchmark interest rates a quarter of a percentage point from 11.75% to 12%. The decision surprised the market since it was a smaller raise than two previous hikes of half a percentage point earlier this year.
Brazilian Central bank President Alexandre Tombini admitted inflation forecasts may “worsen”. Consumer prices in the 12 months through mid-March rose 6.13%, the biggest jump in more than two years.
Brazil's forex reserves surpassed the 300 billion US dollars mark for the first time ever this week according to the country's central bank as a result of recent heavy foreign exchange inflows and accelerated US dollar buying by the institution.
Brazil’s Central Bank has increased its key interest rate to 11.25% in the hope of halting inflation. The rate has gone up from 10.75% and is the first under the Government of President Vilma Rousseff, who came in to office earlier this month.
Brazil Finance minister Guido Mantega is proposing a “dehydrated” inflation index with the purpose of reducing interest rates faster under the incoming administration of president-elect Dilma Rousseff, reports the influential O Estado de Sao Paulo.
Brazilian president-elect Dilma Rousseff press office announced Thursday that economist Alexandre Tombini will be the next president of the central bank; economist Guido Mantega will continue as Finance minister and engineer Miriam Belchoir coordinator of PAC (program to bolster growth) will become Planning and Budget minister.