Brazil's Bovespa Stock Index Ends Higher on OGX, Mild Inflation

BRASILIA--Brazil's Bovespa stock index advanced strongly to end higher Friday, lifted by large gains from local private oil heavyweight OGX and still moderate monthly inflation data.

The main Sao Paulo index advanced 2.7% to 53,749 points. Volume was moderate, with 8.1 billion Brazilian reais ($3.5 billion) in shares changing hands.

Traders noted the index began the session extending a recent rally after the country's IPCA consumer-price index for August failed to fuel concerns over stronger-than-projected interest-rate tightening ahead.

The country's IBGE statistics institute reported inflation of 0.24% in August, leaving 12-month inflation still below the country's target ceiling at 6.1%.

Analysts noted local inflation rates still appeared to be leaving margin for profitability, especially in commodities-related industries.

"If, on one hand, price increases stoke inflation, on the other hand they help boost the revenues of companies that produce in these sectors," said Paulo Gala, strategist at Banco Fator.

Meanwhile, the star performer of the session was private oil and gas company OGX Petroleo e Gas Participacoes SA (OGXPY, OGXP3.BR), whose ordinary shares rose 24.4% to BRL0.51 after the company took the surprise step of demanding $1 billion in fresh capital from its controlling shareholder, Eike Batista.

Also advancing strongly Friday was local airline Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA (GOL, GOLL4.BR), which rose 12.8% to BRL10.66 on a report the country's secretary of civil aviation could unveil measures to help struggling airlines deal with rising dollar-denominated fuel costs. Gol shares have suffered in recent months from the effect of local currency as the company has about 60% of costs tied to the dollar.

In the meantime, banking sector shares were higher, with leading retail bank Itau-Unibanco SA (ITUB, ITUB4.BR) up 2.0% to BRL29.99 and rival Banco Bradesco SA (BBD, BBDC4.BR) up 2.0% to BRL28.66.

Materials sector shares ended the day slightly lower, with mining giant Vale SA (VALE, VALE5.BR) down 0.3% to BRL32.22, and steelmaker Gerdau SA (GGB, GGBR4.BR) down 0.9% to BRL16.85.

Elsewhere, telecom heavyweight Oi SA (OIBR, OIBR4.BR) rose 2.3% to BRL3.96, state-controlled oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PBR, PETR4.BR) rose 1.2% to BRL7.75 and ordinary shares of plane manufacturer Embraer SA (ERJ, EMBR3.BR) fell 0.2% to BRL19.68.

All quotes refer to companies' preferred shares, unless otherwise stated.

Write to Gerald Jeffris at [e-mail]

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