The Ibovespa advanced 1.2% on Tuesday, closing at 187,367 points in a broad-based rally following Monday’s holiday. Petrobras climbed 2.1% as oil prices jumped after attacks on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia amid renewed hostilities in the Middle East. Banks also outperformed: Bradesco gained 1.8% and Itaú rose 1.2%, supported by the latest Focus survey, which projected lower inflation and reinforced expectations of further interest-rate cuts.
On the political front, a BTG/Nexus poll indicated a technical tie in a potential presidential runoff between Flávio Bolsonaro and President Lula, with Flávio holding a narrow one-point lead. A Quaest poll released on Monday likewise showed both candidates tied at 41% in a second-round scenario. Markets tend to view Flávio Bolsonaro as more fiscally conservative, a stance that resonates in an environment of elevated yields and weak business activity.
In corporate news, Sabesp added 1.1% after several brokerages raised their price targets on the stock following a meeting with the company’s management.
