Alexandre Schwartsman

Brazil Bulls Capitulate as State Intervention Spurs Outflows

Brazil’s efforts to boost economic growth with the most aggressive interest rate cuts are driving away investors, reducing equity valuations to five-year lows and fueling the world’s biggest currency tumble.

Brazil Inflation May Exceed Target This Year, Schwartsman Says

Brazil’s inflation may surpass the upper range of the country’s target this year because of “inconsistencies” between monetary and currency policies, said Banco Santander SA’s chief economist in the country.

Brazil Suffers Assault on Central Bank Integrity With Tombini Pushing Cuts

Brazilian central bank board member Carlos Hamilton so disagreed with a surprise interest-rate cut in August that he slammed phones and stomped through hallways, according to three bank officials familiar with his reaction.

Brazil to Cut Spending by $5.7 Billion to Cool Demand

Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said the government will cut spending by 10 billion reais ($5.7 billion) to cool the economy before the effect of interest rate increases can take hold.

Rousseff's Professor Must Wean Brazil Off Cheap Credit

Luciano Coutinho oversaw a surge in lending as president of Brazil’s development bank that increased the country’s debt during the global financial crisis. Now he may need to help Dilma Rousseff restrain government spending when she becomes president.

Brazil Said to View Credit Curbs as Equivalent to 50-100 Point Rate Rise

Brazil’s central bank estimates that an increase this month in reserve and capital requirements is equivalent to lifting the benchmark interest rate by 0.5 percentage point to a full point, said a person familiar with the bank’s decision-making process.

Brazil Inflation Quickened to Fastest Pace Since 2005

Brazil’s consumer prices rose in January at the fastest pace since 2005, fueled by food prices and an increase in bus fares at the start of the year.

Lula Rates Subsidy to Hand Successor Inflation `Challenge': Brazil Credit

Brazil’s state development bank is charging the least relative to the country’s benchmark interest rate in 18 months, a sign President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ’s successor may struggle to keep inflation in check.

Tombini Signals Credit Curbs to Help Fight Inflation as Brazil Raises Rate

Brazil’s central bank raised its benchmark interest rate yesterday for the first time since July, and signaled it will also rely on administrative steps to curb the growth of credit to fight the fastest inflation in two years.

Brazil's Central Bank Says Increase to 11.75% Part of `Adjustment Process'

Brazil’s central bank signaled it will raise the benchmark interest rate for a third straight meeting next month, after pushing borrowing costs yesterday to a two-year high to cool inflation.

"We continue to believe that the consensus call, pushing the Selic rate to 12.25 percent, seems too shy to cope with the current and expected inflationary pressure."

- Alexandre Schwartsman on Jan 19, 2011

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