Brasília, September 25, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Foreign direct investments in Brazil amounted to US$ 980 million in August, for a cumulative total of US$ 5.7 billion so far this year. For their part, current transactions (foreign trade and service operations) registered a US$ 1.2 billion surplus, for a cumulative balance of US$ 2.5 billion since the beginning of 2003.

These data appeared ahead of schedule, in the minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee (Copom), released today by the Central Bank. (DAS)