Archive for July, 2010

Vale’s earnings up 369% to US$3.71bn in Q2

Brazilian iron ore giant Vale (NYSE: VALE) posted net income of US$3.71bn in Q2, up 369% year-on-year, according to the company’s quarterly results released late Thursday after markets closed. Read more: Vale’s earnings up 369% to US$3.71bn in Q2

Repsol closer to IPO of Brazil upstream assets

Spain’s Repsol (REP.MC: Quote) is close to choosing to float part of its reserve-rich Brazilian upstream assets rather than sell a stake to finance development of the oilfields, a company executive said on Thursday. Read more: Repsol closer to IPO of Brazil upstream assets

Brazil’s Redecard Q2 net up 9 pct, beats estimates

Redecard (RDCD3.SA), Brazil’s second-largest charge card operator, said on Friday its second-quarter profit rose 9 percent, slightly beating analysts forecasts, due to a surge in debit and credit card usage. Read more: Brazil’s Redecard Q2 net up 9 pct, beats estimates

Brazil Traders Wager Meirelles Ending Rate Increases Too Soon

Brazilian traders are betting central bank President Henrique Meirelles will end increases in borrowing costs too soon to keep inflation in check. Read more: Brazil Traders Wager Meirelles Ending Rate Increases Too Soon

Hornbeck’s Brazil vessels to idle longer; shares fall

Marine-transportation firm Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc (HOS.N) said it expects five vessels in Brazil to be out of service longer than expected and the resulting increase in costs would lead to a third-quarter charge, sending its shares down 7 percent. Read more: Hornbeck’s Brazil vessels to idle longer; shares fall

Foreign firms sink teeth into Brazil mobile market

Multi-billion-dollar deals by Spain’s Telefonica and Portugal Telecom in Brazil’s booming cellphone market this week underline the growth potential of Latin America’s biggest economy, analysts say. Read more: Foreign firms sink teeth into Brazil mobile market

Vale Says Global Steel Demand to ‘Heat Up’ as Profit Quadruples

Vale SA, the world’s largest iron- ore producer, sees continued “strong” demand for the steelmaking raw material this year as Chinese economic growth accelerates. Read more: Vale Says Global Steel Demand to ‘Heat Up’ as Profit Quadruples

Brazil’s Pao de Acucar Cut to ‘Neutral’ at JPMorgan on Earnings

Cia. Brasileira de Distribuicao Grupo Pao de Acucar, Brazil’s biggest retailer, was cut to “neutral” from “overweight” at JPMorgan Chase & Co., which said second-quarter earnings fell short of expectations. Read more: Brazil’s Pao de Acucar Cut to ‘Neutral’ at JPMorgan on Earnings

Usiminas Cut to ‘Neutral’ at BTG Pactual on Domestic Exposure

Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA, Brazil’s second-biggest steelmaker, was lowered to “neutral” from “buy” at Banco BTG Pactual SA, which cited its dependence on the domestic market. Read more: Usiminas Cut to ‘Neutral’ at BTG Pactual on Domestic Exposure

Brazil’s TAM orders 25 Airbus aircraft

European jet maker Airbus says Brazil’s TAM Airlines has placed an order for 25 planes, including five of its A350-900 widebody aircraft being developing to compete with Boeing Co.’s 787. Read more: Brazil’s TAM orders 25 Airbus aircraft

Santander Second-Quarter Net Falls 8%, Hurt by Spain

Banco Santander SA, the biggest Spanish bank, said second-quarter profit fell 8 percent after a drop in earnings in its home market offset growth in Brazil. Read more: Santander Second-Quarter Net Falls 8%, Hurt by Spain

Telefonica Second-Quarter Net Rises on Latin America

Telefonica SA, Europe’s second- largest phone company, posted a better-than-expected 16 percent gain in second-quarter profit on units in Latin America, where it closed a 7.5 billion-euro ($9.8 billion) deal yesterday. Read more: Telefonica Second-Quarter Net Rises on Latin America

Brazil July IGP-M Price Index Slows for Second Month

Brazil’s monthly inflation as measured by the IGP-M price index rose 0.15 percent in July, the Getulio Vargas Foundation said in a statement on its website. Read more: Brazil July IGP-M Price Index Slows for Second Month

Portugal Telecom Squeezes $2.3 Billion Out of Alierta

Telefonica SA called its initial bid for Portugal Telecom SGPS SA’s stake in Vivo Participacoes SA of Brazil “fair, full and final.” Chairman Cesar Alierta paid 1.8 billion euros ($2.3 billion) more to close the deal. Read more: Portugal Telecom Squeezes $2.3 Billion Out of Alierta

Bradesco Net Rises 23% in Second Quarter on Lending

Banco Bradesco SA, Brazil’s second- biggest bank by market value, said second-quarter profit increased 23 percent as lending expanded in Latin America’s largest economy. Read more: Bradesco Net Rises 23% in Second Quarter on Lending

Telefonica, Portugal Telecom Agree on Vivo Stake; Oi Deal Seen

Telefonica SA reached an initial agreement to buy Portugal Telecom SGPS SA’s stake in Brazil’s Vivo Participacoes SA after raising its bid a third time to 7.5 billion euros ($9.8 billion), people close to the talks said. Read more: Telefonica, Portugal Telecom Agree on Vivo Stake; Oi Deal Seen

Sugar May Drop as Brazil, India Have ‘Bumper’ Crops, Bajaj Says

Raw-sugar prices may tumble as much as 25 percent in the next two months as output exceeds estimates in Brazil and India, the largest producers, according to Bajaj Hindusthan Ltd., the Asian nation’s biggest producer. Read more: Sugar May Drop as Brazil, India Have ‘Bumper’ Crops, Bajaj Says

Pao de Acucar Second-Quarter Net Falls 53% on Taxes

Cia. Brasileira de Distribuicao Grupo Pao de Acucar, Brazil’s largest retailer, posted a 53 percent decline in second-quarter profit after a one-off tax payment. Read more: Pao de Acucar Second-Quarter Net Falls 53% on Taxes

Banco do Brasil Unseats Itau in Corporate Debt Underwriting

State-run Banco do Brasil SA is overtaking traditional Brazilian bond underwriting leaders Banco Bradesco SA and Itau Unibanco Holding SA after acquiring four rivals and boosting lending to a record. Read more: Banco do Brasil Unseats Itau in Corporate Debt Underwriting

Brazil Financials ETF to Trade in New York, Global X Says

The first Brazilian exchange-traded fund tracking financial shares will begin trading in New York on July 29, said the chief executive officer of Global X Management Company LLC, the asset manager overseeing the fund. Read more: Brazil Financials ETF to Trade in New York, Global X Says