Brazil
Fraga - Single digit real interest rates feasible
BRAZIL - Central Bank Chairman Arminio Fraga said it is feasible for the next administration to achieve single-digit real interest rates, official news agency Agencia Brasil reported.
Brazil cb to wait to sell long term debt next year
BRAZIL - The Brazilian central bank is likely to wait until 2003 until it begins selling its longer-dated public debt again. Two weeks ago the government began to swap long-dated government securities for short-term debt to counter the growing reluctance…
Brazil lands $10bn loan from IMF
BRAZIL - After nearly a week of falling currency, stock and bond markets, Brazilian central bank president Armenio Fraga and finance minister Pedro Malan announced that the country would tap into $10 billion of IMF loans. The World Bank also joined in…
Vote of confidence for Brazil governor
BRAZIL - The Brazilian government's candidate for presidential elections, Jose Serra, said on Tuesday he hopes to keep Arminio Fraga as president of the central bank if he wins the October vote.
IMF Research Bulletin, June 2002
RESEARCH - The report includes summaries of IMF research on the empirical analysis of exchange rates and on pension reform, a country study on Brazil, as well as coverage of conferences on National Poverty Reduction Strategies and Macroeconomic Policies…
Brazil central bank sees '02 inflation over 5 pct
BRAZIL - Brazil's central bank projected inflation this year of "slightly above" 5 percent, according to minutes of its rate-setting meeting last week released Wednesday.
Brazil central banker dampens rate cut talk
BRAZIL - Brazil Central Bank President Arminio Fraga on Friday watered down his own remarks on the possibility of future interest rate cuts, just as the market was doubting any such decision next week.
Banco de Brasilia fails central bank online test
BRAZIL - Brazilian bank Banco de Brasilia topped the central bank's online consumer complaint ranking in April, knocking financial group Grupo Santander Brasil from first to second place, according to information published on the central bank's site.
Brazilian bank chief's warning
BRAZIL - Arminio Fraga, president of Brazil's central bank, said yesterday that he was worried by "a certain lack of coherence" in the economic programmes offered by candidates for the October presidential election.
Brazil's central bank calms inflation fears
BRAZIL - Arminio Fraga, the president of the Brazilian central bank, on Friday sought to alleviate concern over accelerating inflation after the consumer price index posted a 0.8 per cent increase in April. This brings the increase in consumer prices…
Brazil's Fraga says rates may be cut further
BRAZIL - Central bank chairman Arminio Fraga said he has indications that demand is falling and GDP growth is weakening in Brazil, which would justify new interest rate cuts.
Fraga sees crisis in Argentina as "worrying"
BRAZIL - Central Bank chairman Arminio Fraga said on Friday that the crisis in neighboring Argentina is "extremely worrying". He compared Argentina to Brazil, stating the former has yet to restructure its state finances, which he said was carried out…
Brazil's central bank plans new payments system
BRAZIL - The Central Bank of Brazil will put in place a new payments system for large transactions, Sistema de Pagamentos Brasileiro, in 2002, following guidelines from the Basel-based Bank for International Settlements.
Brazil clearance system up and running
BRAZIL - A new Brazilian bank clearance network designed to increase efficiency and reduce risk in the financial system of Latin America's No.1 economy got off to a smooth start on Monday.
Brazil's central bank aids debut of new SPB today
BRAZIL - The Central Bank reduced the interest rate charged banks in one-day rediscount operations from 6% to 1% a year, plus the variation of the Selic basic interest rate.
Floating ex affects competitiveness, says Franco
BRAZIL - Gustavo Franco, ex-president of BC (Brazilian Central Bank) said at a seminar Thursday in Sao Paulo, that the floating exchange now adopted by the federal administration may be a problem for Brazilian companies to keep competitive, and may…
Brazil's central bank - a question of independence
FEATURE - Brazil's central bank president, Arminio Fraga, may appear the only sure thing in Brasilia these days as election fever grips the capital of South America's number one economy. But the question to be asked is, for how long?
Energy prices expected to spur Brazil's inflation
BRAZIL - Strong energy prices are likely to drive Brazil's inflation higher than initially expected this year and next, the country's central bank said Wednesday.
Central bank free to sell exchange swaps
BRAZIL - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) discloses today a memorandum revising its accord with Brazil.
Fraga defends more flexible account inviolability
BRAZIL - More flexible rules for breaking bank account inviolability, allied with a solid international cooperation among banks and government financial institutions, is a fundamental weapon to combat money laundering in the world, according to Central…
SPB to stimulate debit card use in Brazil
BRAZIL - Brazil's inter-bank settlement program (SPB) is expected to cause a rise in debit card use and a corresponding decrease in check use due to high pre-funding fees, Bradesco technology director Osmar Roncolato Pinho told participants of a…
Dallas Fed's Economic and Financial Review
RESEARCH - "Banking and Currency Crisis Recovery: Brazil's Turnaround of 1999" analyzes the Brazilian recovery, focusing on the freedom Brazilian bank health gave the central bank to pursue a postcrisis monetary policy.
Fraga sees room for more interest rate cuts
BRAZIL - Brazilian central bank governor Arminio Fraga said there's room for more cuts in interest rates following the 20 February decision to slash the key Selic lending rate target to 18.75% from 19%.
Rate cut by Brazil's central bank chief
BRAZIL - Central bank governor Arminio Fraga's surprise move to cut interest rates marks a shift in strategy, and a gamble, as he weighs the need to contain inflation yet entice investors in a presidential election year.