Brazil Dec Current-Account Swung to $5.4 Billion Deficit From $202 Million Surplus in Nov

By Jeffrey T. Lewis

SAO PAULO--Brazil recorded a current-account deficit of $5.4 billion in December, the first monthly deficit in nine months, from a surplus of $202 million in November, the country's central bank said Wednesday.

The 12-month current-account deficit reached $12.5 billion in December, from $12.2 billion in the prior month, the bank said. The 12-month current-account deficit was equal to 0.87% of gross domestic product in December, versus 0.82% of GDP reported for the previous month.

Net foreign direct investment reached $739 million in December, down from $1.5 billion in November, the bank said. FDI reached $34.2 billion for the 12 months through December, compared with $36.3 billion in the 12 months through November.

Write to Jeffrey T. Lewis at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-27-21 0805ET