Brazil

2009 growth: 37.32%
Decline from 52-week high: -30.18%

Bolsa de Valores, Mercadorias & Futuros de Sao Paulo the Sao Paulo-based stock exchange is the fourth largest bourse in The Americas in terms of market capitalisation, behind NYSE, Nasdaq, and the Toronto Stock Exchange. It is also the thirteenth largest in the world in terms of market capitalisation.

On May 8, 2008, the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa) and the Brazilian Mercantile and Futures Exchange merged, creating the new BM&F Bovespa. Four-fifty companies traded at Bovespa as of April 30, 2008.

Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets.

In 2007, its GDP (purchasing power parity) stood at $1.838 trillion. However, in 2009 it has slipped into recession as its economy contracted by 0.8 per cent in the first three months.