Loading…
Brazilian equities and the real fell on Tuesday after the government raised taxes on banks and the chemical industry and cut them on diesel and cooking gas. The dollar rose about 2% against the real, reaching a three-month low for the currency despite a $1 billion central bank spot sale.
The Bovespa index fell as much as 2.7% intraday before recovering to a 1.3% loss by midday.
The tax changes raised doubts about Brazil's fiscal and economic direction, which pushed the real weaker and makes Brazilian exports cheaper in dollar terms. A cheaper real can support export selling of soy and corn, while the diesel tax cut lowers fuel costs for farm and freight operations.
brecorder.comReutersMar 2, 2021After 12 past bullish policy events, Brazilian Real (BRL per USD) moved a median +1.5% over 5 sessions (58% higher; middle half -1.1% to +2.0%), and +2.3% over 20.
After 21 past bearish policy events, ULSD / Diesel moved a median -2.4% over 5 sessions (38% higher; middle half -6.5% to +4.7%), and -1.1% over 20.
Moves of each commodity's benchmark from the last close before the event. Historical reads pool past events of the same kind; they describe what happened, not what will. Not investment advice.
Tax changes (hikes on banks and chemicals, cuts on diesel and cooking gas) raised fiscal concerns and triggered real weakness and equity selling, contributing to the depreciation momentum, but the event is dated two days before the move.
