Investing.com – Brazil stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Public Utilities, Financials and Electric Power sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sao Paulo, the Bovespa gained 0.32% to hit a new all time high.
The best performers of the session on the Bovespa were Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais (SA:USIM5), which rose 4.57% or 0.50 points to trade at 11.43 at the close. Meanwhile, Braskem SA (SA:BRKM5) added 4.56% or 2.21 points to end at 50.71 and Viavarejo Unt (SA:VVAR11) was up 4.26% or 0.96 points to 23.48 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Metalurgica Gerdau SA (SA:GOAU4), which fell 3.67% or 0.25 points to trade at 6.57 at the close. Telefonica Brasil SA (SA:VIVT4) declined 2.68% or 1.36 points to end at 49.35 and Gerdau SA Pref (SA:GGBR4) was down 2.61% or 0.38 points to 14.16.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the BM&FBovespa Stock Exchange by 230 to 193 and 46 ended unchanged.
Shares in Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais (SA:USIM5) rose to 3-years highs; rising 4.57% or 0.50 to 11.43.
The CBOE Brazil Etf Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Bovespa options, was down 1.24% to 32.67.
Gold Futures for February delivery was up 0.47% or 6.20 to $1333.40 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February fell 0.63% or 0.40 to hit $63.55 a barrel, while the March US coffee C contract rose 0.12% or 0.14 to trade at $121.17 .
USD/BRL was down 0.36% to 3.1950, while EUR/BRL fell 0.43% to 3.9073.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.10% at 90.40.