# Plunge in Brazil’s Real Shows Risk of Chasing Big Returns

> The Brazilian real plunged on Thursday, a reminder of the risks of chasing high yields in emerging markets. Investors had enjoyed a period of unusual calm in foreign exchange markets before the sell-off.

- Date: 2017-05-18 · published 2017-05-18T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: macro · region Brazil · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/71196-plunge-in-brazil-s-real-shows-risk-of-chasing-big-returns
- Commodities: [Brazilian Real (BRL per USD)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/USDBRL.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

A weaker real lowers the dollar cost of Brazilian soybeans, corn and meal, which can pressure US and global feed prices. Continued currency volatility also affects Brazilian export pricing decisions.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: bearish ▼
- CORN: bearish ▼
- USDBRL: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| USDBRL | 2024-12-19 | [Why Brazil’s currency is plunging](https://feedsoft.ai/events/27149-why-brazil-s-currency-is-plunging.md) | -0.5% | -2.5% |
| USDBRL | 2018-06-07 | [Brazil's Real Is in Free Fall - Bloomberg](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5377-brazil-s-real-is-in-free-fall-bloomberg.md) | -2.8% | +2.8% |
| USDBRL | 2026-06-30 | [Brazilian Real: Rising rates signal currency risk – Commerzbank](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19017-brazilian-real-rising-rates-signal-currency-risk-commerzbank.md) | -0.6% | -1.3% |
| USDBRL | 2021-10-19 | [Brazil's real slumps on fiscal concerns, Petrobras slides](https://feedsoft.ai/events/44780-brazil-s-real-slumps-on-fiscal-concerns-petrobras-slides.md) | +1.4% | -0.4% |
| USDBRL | 2020-04-29 | [Decline in Brazil’s Real Underscores Need for Hedging](https://feedsoft.ai/events/53837-decline-in-brazil-s-real-underscores-need-for-hedging.md) | -0.0% | -5.1% |
| SOY | 2021-02-27 | [Commodity returns plunge the most in months amid stronger dollar](https://feedsoft.ai/events/48541-commodity-returns-plunge-the-most-in-months-amid-stronger-dollar.md) | +2.1% | -0.3% |
| SOY | 2018-10-08 | [Brazil's real, stocks rally on Bolsonaro win](https://feedsoft.ai/events/7665-brazil-s-real-stocks-rally-on-bolsonaro-win.md) | -0.2% | +0.7% |
| SOY | 2020-03-05 | [Brazilian Real (BRL USD) Plunges to Record Low as Rate Cut Seen - Bloomberg](https://feedsoft.ai/events/9274-brazilian-real-brl-usd-plunges-to-record-low-as-rate-cut-seen-bloomberg.md) | -3.4% | -4.0% |

## Sources

- wsj.com: https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-MBB-60207

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.