Brazilian equities finished the trading session higher on Friday, with gains concentrated in Public Utilities, Electric Power and Financials names lifting the benchmark toward a new peak.
At the close in Sao Paulo the Bovespa rose 1.12%, registering an all-time high for the index.
The session's top performers included Hapvida Participacoes e Investimentos (BVMF:HAPV3), which jumped 13.05% - a gain of 1.53 points - to finish at 13.25. Raizen SA Preferred (BVMF:RAIZ4) also posted a strong advance, adding 7.41% or 0.04 points to end at 0.58. Companhia Brasileira De Distribuica (BVMF:PCAR3) rounded out the largest winners, rising 4.78% or 0.10 points to close at 2.20.
Conversely, several stocks registered steep losses. Azzas 2154 SA (BVMF:AZZA3) led declines, falling 10.88% or 2.54 points to close at 20.99. Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA USIMINAS Pref (BVMF:USIM5) dropped 6.12%, a fall of 0.47 points, to end at 7.23. Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (BVMF:CSNA3) declined 5.45% or 0.37 points to 6.46 at the close.
Market breadth on the B3 Stock Exchange showed more names falling than rising, with 544 decliners versus 431 advancers; 39 issues finished unchanged.
In a separate note on individual security performance, shares of Azzas 2154 SA (BVMF:AZZA3) traded at multi-year weakness, slipping to 5-year lows as they lost 10.88% or 2.54 points to close at 20.99.
Volatility and commodity moves accompanied the equity action. The CBOE Brazil Etf Volatility - a measure of implied volatility for Bovespa options - fell 4.44% to 34.21, marking a new one-month low.
Among commodities, Gold Futures for June delivery declined 1.02% or 49.00 to $4,769.00 per troy ounce. Crude oil for May delivery fell 2.29% or 2.24 to $95.63 a barrel. In agricultural markets, the May US coffee C contract rose 2.37% or 6.95 to trade at $300.65.
Currency moves included a stronger real against the dollar, with USD/BRL down 0.91% to 5.01, while EUR/BRL fell 1.47% to 5.88. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.13% at 98.46.
Market context and takeaways
- Brazilian equities closed higher with the benchmark reaching a record level after advances in utility, power and financial stocks.
- Top individual movers were Hapvida Participacoes e Investimentos, Raizen SA Preferred and Companhia Brasileira De Distribuica on the upside, and Azzas 2154 SA, Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA USIMINAS Pref and Companhia Siderurgica Nacional on the downside.
- Volatility eased as the CBOE Brazil Etf Volatility fell to a one-month low; several commodities and FX rates also moved meaningfully during the session.