BRASÍLIA: Brazil stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Consumption, Industrials and Real Estate sectors led shares higher. At the close in Sao Paulo, the Bovespa gained 0.01%. The best performers of the session on the Bovespa were Marfrig Alimentos SA (SA:MRFG3), which rose 5.23% or 0.29 points to trade at 5.84 at the close. Meanwhile, Natura Cosmeticos SA (SA:NATU3) added 2.37% or 0.65 points to end at 28.10 and Companhia Brasileira deDistribuicao (SA:PCAR4) was up 2.22% or 1.35 points to 62.24 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Metalurgica Gerdau SA (SA:GOAU4), which fell 3.14% or 0.17 points to trade at 5.24 at the close. Gerdau SA Pref (SA:GGBR4) declined 2.47% or 0.29 points to end at 11.45 and EcoRodovias SA (SA:ECOR3) was down 2.18% or 0.19 points to 8.52. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange by 216 to 150 and 29 ended unchanged. Shares in Companhia Brasileira deDistribuicao (SA:PCAR4) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 2.22% or 1.35 to 62.24.
The CBOE Brazil Etf Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Bovespa options, was up 3.87% to 35.68 a new 1-month high. Gold Futures for April delivery was down 0.32% or 3.95 to $1245.75 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in May fell 0.71% or 0.34 to hit $47.70 a barrel, while the May US coffee C contract fell 0.79% or 1.12 to trade at $140.48 . USD/BRL was up 1.53% to 3.1352, while EUR/BRL rose 1.50% to 3.3825. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.06% at 99.54.