After weeks of bad news, the announcement that the IMF had granted Brazil a $30bn crisis rescue package brought a glimmer of light into the market. It not only boosted Brazilian bonds and stock market, but offered a ray of hope to international markets as well. Spreads on banking sector bonds rallied and equity markets also improved. Corporate spreads generally were a touch wider but bonds of companies with Brazilian exposure, such as Telefónica and Portugal Telecom, had a field day, both credits tightening by 50bp and 35bp respectively.
August 09, 2002