The Ibovespa edged 0.1% higher to close at 134,739 on Friday, as investors absorbed fresh inflation figures, evolving global trade developments and a batch of underwhelming earnings. Industrial champion WEG and meat producers JBS and BRF led the advance, rising between 2.1% and 4.4%, while mining behemoth Vale slid 2.4% after reporting a 17% year-on-year drop in first-quarter profits. April’s IPCA-15 mid-month gauge rose 5.49% year-on-year—in line with expectations but still elevated—and reinforced bets that Copom will press on with further rate hikes and maintain tight financing conditions. Simultaneously, tentative signs of U.S.–China tariff rollbacks failed to dispel broader uncertainty, keeping many investors sidelined. Despite Friday’s modest gains, the Ibovespa finished the week up 3.9%.

Ibovespa Edges Higher on Friday

The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 0.3% to close at 24,711 mark on Friday, as heavyweight mining names on the resource-heavy exchange came under pressure amid lingering uncertainty over U.S.–China tariff talks. Bullion-linked stocks led the retreat: Agnico Eagle dipped 0.8% after gold prices pulled back sharply despite the miner nearly doubling first-quarter profits on robust output and lower costs, while Wheaton Precious, Barrick Gold and Franco-Nevada slid between 0.6% and 1.8%. Tech shares proved more resilient—Shopify jumped 2.2%, cushioning the broader downturn. Economically, retail sales fell 0.4% in February, underscoring how higher borrowing costs are straining domestic demand. Traders also wrestled with mixed trade-war cues—reports that China might suspend its 125% tariffs on certain U.S. goods were quickly denied by Beijing even as President Trump asserted talks were ongoing—leaving investors cautious. Despite Friday’s pullback, the TSX posted a 2.1% weekly gain.

TSX Edges Lower as Mining Stocks Drop

US equities closed higher on Friday, marking a fourth straight session of gains, with the S&P 500 up 0.7% and the Nasdaq rising 1.1%, boosted by Alphabet’s strong quarterly results, while the Dow added 20 points. President Trump added to the uncertainty by suggesting tariffs as high as 50% could be a "total victory" a year from now, while Beijing disputed claims of ongoing negotiations—offsetting optimism after China exempted some US goods from steep tariffs. On the corporate front, Alphabet shares rose 1.5% after the company beat earnings estimates, announced its first-ever dividend, and unveiled a $70 billion stock buyback plan, while Tesla soared 9.8%, after DoT unveiled new self-driving car rules. Intel fell 7% on weak guidance and T-Mobile sank 11% on soft subscriber growth. Next week, Amazon, Apple, and Meta—fellow members of the “Magnificent Seven”—are set to report earnings. Wall Street posted solid weekly gains, with the S&P 500 up 4%, the Nasdaq rising 6%, the Dow adding 2%.

US Equities Rise as Alphabet, Tesla Boost Markets

Brent crude oil futures gained 0.5% to settle at $66.9 per barrel on Friday, but still posted a weekly loss of over 2% amid persistent oversupply concerns and uncertainty around U.S.-China trade talks. Market sentiment remained cautious as reports indicated the U.S. and Russia are making progress toward ending the conflict in Ukraine, though key terms have yet to be finalized. At the same time, several OPEC+ members are expected to advocate for a second consecutive month of accelerated output increases in June. Kazakhstan, a significant member of the alliance, signaled it would prioritize national interests and not cut production at its major fields. Conflicting statements from Washington and Beijing over tariff negotiations have added to the market’s volatility, despite indications that China may ease some levies on U.S. imports. Adding to the geopolitical tensions, the U.S. imposed fresh sanctions this week on a key Iranian figure involved in crude and LPG shipping.

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Ibovespa Edges Higher on Friday

TSX Edges Lower as Mining Stocks Drop

US Equities Rise as Alphabet, Tesla Boost Markets

Brent Settles Higher but Logs Weekly Loss