FX.co ★ Ibovespa Drops as Investors Eye Presidential Runoff

The Ibovespa fell 1.1% on Thursday, closing at 204,120 points, pressured by uncertainty over the presidential race and corporate earnings. On Wednesday, a Quaest poll showed Flávio Bolsonaro’s advantage over Lula shrinking to just one percentage point, leaving the two candidates statistically tied only four days before Sunday’s presidential runoff. Many market participants see a Flávio Bolsonaro administration as more inclined to curb public spending, although neither the candidate nor his economic team has presented detailed fiscal adjustment plans. A new presidential voting-intention survey by Datafolha is scheduled for release after Thursday’s market close.

Financial stocks retreated, with Itaú down 1.8%, Itaúsa off 2.6%, and Bradesco losing 2.1% ahead of its earnings report later in the day. Vale dropped 4% amid lower iron ore prices, with the company due to publish quarterly results next week. WEG slipped 2.7%, extending Wednesday’s 7% plunge following weaker-than-expected earnings.