Brazil central bank's caution has paid off amid rising uncertainties, director says

BY Reuters | ECONOMIC | 05:30 PM EDT

SAO PAULO, April 15 (Reuters) - The approach currently adopted by Brazil's central bank of operating with caution amid rising uncertainties, which includes the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, has paid off, Nilton David, the bank's monetary policy director, said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a JPMorgan event in Washington, David said the central bank's approach means that it does not take action based on a single piece of data, but has the calm to assess the construction of all economic indicators available.

After months of holding interest rates at a near two-decade high of 15% to curb inflation, Brazil's central bank began an easing cycle in its March meeting by cutting the benchmark Selic rate in 25 basis points, a move markets widely saw as cautious.

David said the bank has entered the easing cycle to calibrate the level of interest rates, adding that policymakers aim to keep the monetary policy at a restrictive stance, as they remain committed to bringing inflation back to the 3% target.

Brazil's monetary authority also is ready to act in any scenario that may come up, the director said, noting policymakers have seen signs that the current monetary policy is working. (Reporting by Fernando Cardoso, Editing by Franklin Paul and Alistair Bell)

In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

fir_news_article