Brazil: Sorry For Your Losses

The Brazilian equity markets are in free fall. “Brazil is in a deepening recession, which may grow into depression, as unemployment continues to rise and corporate credit quality deteriorates. Those that made a bundle investing in Brazil’s commodity-driven export boom have been looking to cash out, if they haven’t already, and the real continues to weaken on deteriorating sovereign credit and rampant inflation. Any interest rate hike by the US could have the unintended effect of sending Brazil’s local yields to the mid-teens to account for incremental currency risk and credit deterioration, which would only exacerbate debt service costs as a percentage of the country’s shrinking GDP. This, in turn, could be the catalyst for even more asset flight out … Read more