Ibovespa broke a new record this Wednesday (28). It closed at 184,691.05 points, a new record for closings, after highs recorded on the day. During the year, the stock exchange has already renewed records in 8 out of 11 sessions. Financial turnover continued to increase, at R$34.1 billion. During the week, the Ibovespa rose 3.26% and, in January, it accumulated an increase of 14.63%, for now on its way to the best month since November 2020 (+15.90%), for more than five years.
As expected, the Federal Reserve this afternoon maintained the United States’ benchmark interest rate in the range of 3.50% to 3.75%, after a sequence of three reductions last year, in September, October and December. This Wednesday’s decision did not come unanimously: two members of the Fed’s monetary policy committee, Stephen Miran and Christopher Waller, voted for a 25 point reduction – or 0.25 percentage point – in interest rates
In a statement after the decision, the Fed pointed out that economic activity continues to expand at a solid pace in the United States. The American BC also noted that the unemployment rate showed signs of stabilization, and that inflation remains at a somewhat high level. The outlook remains dependent on the evolution of data, the Fed further indicated, in a scenario of persistent uncertainty.
Here in Brazil, the Monetary Policy Committee (Copom) maintained the Selic rate at 15% per year, for the fifth time in a row. Despite the maintenance, the Committee reported that in March it may relax monetary policy.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
