
The European Central Bank (ECB) has signalled that it will raise interest rates next month, from 1.25%. Earlier on Thursday, the ECB kept rates unchanged for the second month in a row, after increasing them in April for the first time in almost two years.

Dollar inflows into Brazil are returning to normal levels, and the Brazilian Real will start to depreciate once interest rates in the US and Europe start to rise, said Brazil Finance Minister Guido Mantega. He also anticipated tax reforms to boost Brazilian competitiveness.

Brazil's federal public debt rose in March as the government issued more debt than it redeemed and paid higher servicing costs, the national treasury said on Monday.

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.

With Brazil’s benchmark interest rate at 11.75% and prospects of further increases Latin America’s largest economy poses a challenge to economists and analysts. The answers are not only economic but also political.

China’s central bank announced Tuesday it would raise the benchmark one-year borrowing and lending interest rates by 25 basis points beginning Wednesday. This is the second time that The People’s Bank of China raises the benchmark interest rate this year and the fourth such increase since the start of last year.

Brazil’s Central bank on Wednesday raised its benchmark overnight rate by a half-point for a second straight meeting to cool inflation that is approaching the upper limit of the government’s target range.

Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has kept UK interest rates on hold at 0.5%, and unveiled no new quantitative easing (QE) measures.

European Central Bank (ECB) has kept interest rates in the Euro zone unchanged at a record low 1%, despite fears of increasing inflation. Speaking at a press conference after the rate decision, the ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet claimed that inflation pressures remained contained.

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.