Brazilian stock market index rises 6.5 percent

The benchmark index of Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa) registered a rise of 6.56 percent in the March 19-23 period.

The highest gains took place on the first three weekdays, prior to the statement on interest rates from the U.S. Federal Reserve released on Wednesday.

On Friday, the index rose only 0.24 percent, reaching 45,532 points. According to Bovespas press office, 2.57 billion reais (1.24 billion U.S. dollars) in stocks were traded during the day.

The rise in oil and gas prices also boosted an increase in the value negotiated for shares of companies in the energy sector. Brazil's state-owned Petrobras stocks were up 0.41 percent on Friday.

Petrochemical company Braskem, which participated in the consortium that acquired oil and gas distributor Ipiranga last weekend, presented an accumulated rise of 18.42 percent in the price for its shares, the highest increase registered this week.

Source: Xinhua