The Brazilian Ministry of Economy released the result of the country's October trade balance, US$ 5.5 billion surplus, but lower than market expectations. The result was again leveraged by the significant retraction in imports, while market expectations were forecasting a US$ 6.1 billion surplus.
The world's largest operational hydroelectric dam, Itaipu Plant announced that starting next Monday, May 18, it will open its spillway to help Paraguay and Argentina, which are suffering from a drought and hence having problems transporting their grain harvest.