Brazilian stocks rallied to their highest close in more than six months on Friday, as optimism about the world's largest economy boosted appetite for riskier assets and lifted the national currency. Brazil's national currency, the real, strengthened 1.26 percent to 2.191 reais per dollar as the greenback fell against a basket of currencies.
Interest rate futures traded broadly higher as separate data showed inflation in Brazil quickened in the month to mid-April as prices of cooking gas, cigarettes and housekeeping services surged. Brazil's central bank is widely expected to cut interest rates next week by at least 100 basis points to a new record low of 10.25 percent.