The Ibovespa advanced 0.5% on Friday, closing at 205,430, supported by fresh economic activity data and a pause in the recent oil rally. The Central Bank of Brazil’s Economic Activity Index (IBC-Br) rose 0.3% month-over-month in August, matching market expectations and reversing a 0.2% contraction in July. The improvement was driven by sectors oriented toward the domestic market, especially those tied to household income, which benefited from slower price increases in essential items such as food.
Utilities finished mostly higher, with Axia up 0.6% and Sabesp gaining 1%. Retailers and non-durable goods producers also moved higher, including a 0.9% rise in Ambev and a 4.2% jump in Assaí. Meanwhile, Petrobras climbed 4% as oil prices stayed elevated amid growing supply risks stemming from escalating tensions in the Middle East and in the Russia–Ukraine conflict. Despite Friday’s gains, the Ibovespa ended the week down 0.5%.
