Rio Times Global Economy Briefing
The Big Three
Wall Street rallies as tariff whiplash fades The S&P 500 climbed 1.66% to 7,437.63 in a broad advance, with the Dow up 1.19% and the Nasdaq surging 2.78% as AI-driven megacaps led the charge, even as traders squared positions ahead of a US inflation gauge that could cement or crack the soft-landing thesis.
Dollar index slides below 101, easing pressure on EM FX The US dollar index fell 0.76% to 100.12, a move that offers breathing room for the Brazilian real and other Latin American currencies, while gold slipped 0.63% to $4,059.17 as haven demand waned.
Volatility collapses on the eve of a data deluge The VIX tumbled 17.28% to 17.09, signalling deep complacency, yet a packed Friday of Brazil GDP, Chile unemployment and a Colombia rate decision means Latin American assets will face their own reality check.
