WASHINGOTN: Brazil stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Financials, Public Utilities and Electric Power sectors led shares higher. At the close in Sao Paulo, the Bovespa added 1.19%. The best performers of the session on the Bovespa were CEMIG – Companhia Energetica Minas Gerais Pref (SA:CMIG4), which rose 4.68% or 0.50 points to trade at 11.18 at the close. Meanwhile, Banco do Brasil SA (SA:BBAS3) added 4.51% or 1.50 points to end at 34.76 and Cielo SA (SA:CIEL3) was up 3.99% or 1.09 points to 28.44 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Marfrig Alimentos SA (SA:MRFG3), which fell 2.08% or 0.13 points to trade at 6.11 at the close. Cosan SA Industria e Comercio (SA:CSAN3) declined 1.93% or 0.76 points to end at 38.55 and Qualicorp SA (SA:QUAL3) was down 1.42% or 0.29 points to 20.08. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange by 201 to 146 and 30 ended unchanged.
Shares in Banco do Brasil SA (SA:BBAS3) rose to all time highs; rising 4.51% or 1.50 to 34.76. The CBOE Brazil Etf Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Bovespa options, was down 0.81% to 33.19. Gold Futures for April delivery was up 0.09% or 1.15 to $1234.05 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in April rose 1.12% or 0.59 to hit $53.20 a barrel, while the May US coffee C contract fell 0.72% or 1.04 to trade at $143.23 . USD/BRL was down 1.29% to 3.1157, while EUR/BRL fell 0.39% to 3.3038. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.65% at 101.50.
