Investing.com – Brazil stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Basic Materials, Public Utilities and Electric Power sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sao Paulo, the Bovespa gained 0.32%.
The best performers of the session on the Bovespa were Cia de Saneamento Basico do Estado (SA:SBSP3), which rose 5.10% or 0.92 points to trade at 18.97 at the close. Meanwhile, Smiles ON (SA:SMLE3) added 4.50% or 2.50 points to end at 58.00 and Companhia Brasileira deDistribuicao (SA:PCAR4) was up 3.15% or 2.30 points to 75.30 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Tim Participacoes SA (SA:TIMP3), which fell 3.91% or 0.38 points to trade at 9.35 at the close. Natura Cosmeticos SA (SA:NATU3) declined 3.83% or 1.10 points to end at 27.59 and Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais (SA:USIM5) was down 3.49% or 0.15 points to 4.15.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange by 180 to 128 and 5 ended unchanged.
Shares in Smiles ON (SA:SMLE3) rose to all time highs; rising 4.50% or 2.50 to 58.00.
The CBOE Brazil Etf Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Bovespa options, was down 1.93% to 28.52.
Gold for August delivery was down 0.32% or 3.70 to $1143.80 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in August fell 0.01% or 0.01 to hit $50.87 a barrel, while the September US coffee C contract fell 0.83% or 1.07 to trade at $128.65 .
USD/BRL was up 0.52% to 3.1553, while EUR/BRL fell 0.17% to 3.4327.
The US Dollar Index was unchanged 0.00% at 97.77.