Brazil real ends firm

27 Nov, 2005

Brazil's currency ended firmer on Friday despite a central bank intervention to buy dollars, while the benchmark stock index dipped from all-time record highs set in the previous session.
The Brazilian real gained 0.45 percent to 2.233 a dollar in light volume, leaving it almost 19 percent stronger than where it started the year as exporters repatriate dollars.
The central bank bought dollars for the 35th time since resuming purchases last month as part of a broader effort to build up foreign reserves. Exporters favour the interventions, which have totalled some $5 billion, as they could pull the real back from four-and-a-half-year highs.
Central Bank President Henrique Meirelles on Friday said net reserves would end the year at $48 billion, well above some $16 billion just several years ago. The interventions can weaken the real in the short term but most economists say will support the real over the long term.

Read Comments