Investing.com – Brazil stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Electric Power, Public Utilities and Financials sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sao Paulo, the Bovespa rose 0.14% to hit a new 6-months high.
The best performers of the session on the Bovespa were Cia Paranaense de Energia (SA:CPLE6), which rose 8.92% or 2.34 points to trade at 28.58 at the close. Meanwhile, Cia Energetica de Minas Gerais (SA:CMIG4) added 7.69% or 0.55 points to end at 7.70 and Banco do Brasil SA (SA:BBAS3) was up 6.28% or 1.35 points to 22.85 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Oi SA (SA:OIBR3), which fell 10.17% or 0.12 points to trade at 1.06 at the close. Estacio Participacoes SA (SA:ESTC3) declined 9.57% or 1.46 points to end at 13.79 and ALL America Latina Logistica SA (SA:RUMO3) was down 6.56% or 0.25 points to 3.56.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange by 165 to 152 and 25 ended unchanged.
Shares in Oi SA (SA:OIBR3) fell to 5-year lows; losing 10.17% or 0.12 to 1.06.
The CBOE Brazil Etf Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Bovespa options, was down 1.18% to 51.17.
Gold for April delivery was down 1.73% or 22.00 to $1250.80 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in April rose 1.85% or 0.70 to hit $38.54 a barrel, while the May US coffee C contract rose 2.99% or 3.66 to trade at $125.88 .
USD/BRL was down 1.09% to 3.5817, while EUR/BRL fell 1.32% to 3.9945.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.04% at 96.23.