The renewed fears of investors regarding the impacts of the new omicron variant of Covid-19, amid measures in several countries to try to stop the spread of the disease, set the tone in global stock exchanges this Monday (20).
On the Brazilian stock exchange, the B3, the Ibovespa stock index operated with a drop of approximately 1.9%, around 10:55 am, to 105,199 points.
The dollar recorded gains of around 0.28% against the real, traded at R$ 5.70 for sale.
The movement of greater risk aversion is in line with that observed in international markets — in Europe, the broad Euro Stoxx 50 index retreated 1.3%, while in Asia, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange had losses of 1.9% in the session.
In recent days, the fight against the pandemic has brought back restrictive measures imposed by governments and, along with them, a worsening in the market’s perception of the scenario for 2022.
“Global markets are opening the week in a risk-off tone [fuga do risco], with investors eyeing the worsening of the global health situation, as well as the worsening prospects for the approval of the Biden government’s trillion-dollar economic package in the US”, points out the Guide Investimentos analysis team in a report.
In Holland, non-essential activities have been closed since Sunday (19) to try to stop the advance of the omicron variant. “Closing again is inevitable given the fifth wave heading towards us with the omicron variant,” Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Saturday at a news conference.
The country, which had already restricted the opening hours of stores and bars, will now adopt a tougher rule for stores, restaurants, beauty salons and gyms until the 14th of January. Schools will remain closed until January 9th.
Germany started to impose from this mandatory second two-week quarantine on travelers from the United Kingdom, days after France announced it would ban most trips to the United Kingdom or arriving from the country, at a time when the British set records for coronavirus infections.
In addition, the city of Paris announced on Saturday the cancellation of fireworks and concerts that were scheduled to take place during the New Year’s celebrations on Avenue Champs Elysées, the postcard of the French capital.
Even the World Economic Forum was postponed because of the omicron variant. The annual meeting would take place between January 17th and 21st of next year in Davos, and is now scheduled for the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere, which starts at the end of June.
On the domestic agenda, the highlight of the day was the release of the Focus report by BC (Central Bank). For the tenth time in a row, the market has reduced expectations for the growth of the Brazilian economy this year, slightly adjusting the accounts for inflation.
According to the survey, the Brazilian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should grow 4.58% in 2021, compared to the expectation of a 4.65% increase in the previous week.
(With Reuters)
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