Brasília, June 23, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The financial market's projects for this year's inflation fell once again. The Central Bank's weekly survey of the sector reveals that, even though the projection is still far from 2003's adjusted target of 8.5%, analysts and investors forecast a drop in the IPCA (Broad Consumer Price Index) for the third consecutive week, from 11.84% to 11.59%. The forecast for the next 12 months was reduced from 7.76% to 7.44%. For June, the expectation fell from 0.44% to 0.40%.

The survey also registers an improvement in the estimates for the trade balance surplus, from US$ 16.30 billion to US$ 16.50 billion. However, projections were reduced for foreign direct investments, from US$ 10.1 billion to US$ 10 billion, and estimates for the current account deficit rose from US$ 3.80 billion to US$ 3.90 billion. (DAS)