Brasília, November 20, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Today, the Economic Department of the Central Bank (BC) released October's Report on the External Sector, according to which the balance of payments recorded a US$ 1.7 billion surplus. Current transactions registered a positive balance of US$ 82 million, and the capital and financial account received net inflows of US$ 1.5 billion. The report also highlights the trade balance surplus (US$ 2.5 billion) and foreign portfolio investments (US$ 984 million).

According to the BC, international reserves, as determined by the concept of liquidity, grew US$ 1.4 billion in October and ended the month with a balance of US$ 54.1 billion, compared with US$ 52.7 billion in September. The increase is the result of operations abroad, notably a US$ 1.5 billion bond issue and a US$ 91 million credit from returns on reserve accounts.

The figures for the consolidated foreign debt through August reveal a 2.3% drop in relation to July, for a total of US$ 213.8 billion. The reduction came to US$ 3.2 billion (-1.6%) in medium and long-term debt, and US$ 1.8 billion (-8.4%) in short-term debt. (DAS)