Global Economy Briefing — August 11, 2026
Global economy: Wall Street dipped from records as a cooler-than-expected Brazilian inflation print and the Copom minutes focused the view on Latin
Rio Times Global Economy Briefing
The Big Three
- S&P 500 edges back from the record The index slipped 0.06% to 7,753, pausing for breath after a run of all-time highs as traders waited for Wednesday’s US CPI report.
- Brazil inflation cools sharply in July The IPCA index rose just 0.03% on the month, pulling the annual rate down to 4.4% and giving the BCB room to hold the Selic at 14.00%.
- Dollar firms, gold climbs ahead of CPI The dollar index climbed 0.21% to 99.748 and gold gained 1.40% to $4,402/oz as the market trimmed some rate-cut bets in front of the key inflation number.
United States
| Indicator | Actual | Prior | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPI YoY (Wed est) | 3.4% | 3.5% | Easing expected |
| Core CPI YoY (Wed est) | 2.5% | 2.6% | Progress watched |
| Monthly Budget (Wed est) | -$294.6B | -$120B | Deficit balloons |
Europe & United Kingdom
| Indicator | Actual | Prior | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany Current Account (Wed est) | €16.2B | €10.4B | Surplus widens |
Asia-Pacific & Emerging Markets
| Indicator | Actual | Prior | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil IPCA Inflation YoY (Tue) | 4.4% | 4.64% | Big downside surprise |
| Brazil IPCA MoM (Tue) | 0.03% | 0.16% | Prices nearly flat |
| Mexico Industrial Production (Tue est) | 1.1% YoY | -0.7% | Sharp rebound seen |
| Japan PPI YoY (Wed est) | 7.4% | 7.1% | Wholesale heat persists |
| Instrument | Level | Session |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 (US) | 7,753 | -0.06% |
| Ibovespa (Brazil) | 172,180 | -0.19% |
| USD/BRL | 5.11 | +0.56% |
Global economy — Source: RT close, 2026-08-10. Figures rendered directly from the feed.
Today’s Economic Calendar — Tuesday, August 11, 2026
| Time | Country | Event | Consensus | Prior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:30 | DE | 5-Year Bobl Auction | — | 2.89 |
| 10:00 | US | NFIB Business Optimism Index | 97.8 | 97.4 |
| 11:00 | BR | BCB Copom Meeting Minutes | — | — |
| 12:00 | BR | Inflation Rate | 0.03 | 0.16 |
| 12:00 | BR | Inflation Rate | 4.4 | 4.64 |
| 12:00 | MX | Industrial Production | 1.1 | -0.7 |
| 12:00 | BR | Brazilian IPCA Inflation Index SA | — | 0.23 |
| 12:00 | MX | Industrial Production | 0.3 | -0.8 |
| 12:55 | US | Redbook | — | 8.7 |
| 14:00 | US | Existing Home Sales | -0.7 | -2.4 |
| 14:00 | US | Existing Home Sales | 4.04 | 4.09 |
| 15:00 | US | Total Household Debt | — | 18.8 |
| 17:00 | US | 3-Year Note Auction | — | 4.179 |
| 20:30 | US | API Crude Oil Stock Change | — | 2.69 |
| 23:00 | JP | Reuters Tankan Index | 14 | 13 |
| 23:50 | JP | M3 Money Supply | — | 2327.9 |
| 06:00 | JP | Machine Tool Orders | 42 | 52.8 |
| 09:30 | DE | 30-Year Bund Auction | — | 3.64 |
Live Market IntelligenceGlobal Markets — Live Board
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Global Markets — Live Board
| Instrument | Last | Change | YoY | Prev. | High | Low | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPX | 7,751 | +0.29% | — | — | — | — | — |
| NDX | 29,799 | +0.93% | — | — | — | — | — |
| DJI | 53,810 | +0.03% | — | — | — | — | — |
| RUT | 3,041 | +0.46% | — | — | — | — | — |
| US10Y | 4.6760 | -0.17% | — | — | — | — | — |
| VIX | 14.60 | -4.45% | — | — | — | — | — |
| DAX | 26,331 | -0.23% | — | — | — | — | — |
| FTSE | 10,833 | -0.10% | — | — | — | — | — |
| CAC | 8,675 | -0.46% | — | — | — | — | — |
| STOXX | 659.48 | -0.16% | — | — | — | — | — |
| NIKKEI | 67,524 | +0.83% | — | — | — | — | — |
| HSI | 25,440 | -0.83% | — | — | — | — | — |
| KOSPI | 6,579 | +3.68% | — | — | — | — | — |
| CSI300 | 4,691 | +0.58% | — | — | — | — | — |
| NIFTY | 24,436 | -0.15% | — | — | — | — | — |
| TSX | 36,619 | +0.39% | — | — | — | — | — |
| GOLD | 4,461 | +1.78% | +33.20% | 4,383 | 4,503 | 4,421 | 139,824 |
| SILVER | 65.59 | +1.26% | +73.05% | 64.77 | 66.98 | 64.81 | 46,406 |
01 A deep breath before the CPI storm
Wall Street took a small step back on Monday, with the S&P 500 slipping 0.06% to 7,753 and the Nasdaq losing 0.32% to 26,605. The moves were tiny—more of a pause than a reversal—as the entire Street waits for Wednesday’s US consumer price report.
The VIX, Wall Street’s fear gauge, rose 3.76% to 15.46, still low by any historical measure but hinting that traders are not entirely relaxed. The US dollar index edged up 0.21% to 99.748, steadying after its recent slide toward the 99 handle, which has been a tailwind for emerging-market currencies like the Brazilian real.
02 Brazil delivers a welcome inflation surprise
Brazil’s IPCA consumer price index rose just 0.03% in July, far below the 0.16% recorded in June and well beneath any whisper on the Copom trading desk. The annual rate fell to 4.4% from 4.64%, moving decisively toward the central bank’s tolerance band ceiling of 4.5%.
The cooler print gives the Banco Central do Brasil breathing room after it cut the Selic by a quarter point to 14.00% at its 5 August meeting, the fourth straight cut in this cycle. “The disinflation process is gaining traction, but the committee remains vigilant about unanchored expectations,” the Copom minutes noted, a phrasing that leaves the door open for further easing if the data flow stays friendly.
03 The real and the rate differential math
For foreign investors in Latin America, the equation is coming into sharper focus. A 14.00% Selic against a US 10-year Treasury yield of 4.698% still offers a colossal carry, and the falling Brazilian inflation rate makes that carry look even juicier in real terms.
The dollar side of the trade matters too. If Wednesday’s US CPI comes in at or below the expected 3.4% annually, markets will likely price a more aggressive Fed easing path, which would weaken the dollar further and light a fire under the real. Conversely, a hot US print could spoil the party quickly—and the 3.76% pop in the VIX suggests a few traders are hedging against exactly that.
What to watch today and this week
- Tuesday: Brazil July IPCA inflation (actual 0.03% MoM, 4.4% YoY), Brazil Copom minutes, Mexico June industrial production (1.1% est)
- Wednesday: US July CPI (3.4% YoY est), US monthly budget statement (-$294.6B est), Germany June current account (€16.2B est), Brazil June services sector growth, Chile monetary policy minutes
- Thursday: US 10-year note auction (prior 4.58%), Japan July PPI (7.4% YoY est), US weekly EIA crude oil stocks, Thomson Reuters IPSOS PCSI for US, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina
- Ongoing: Brazil real/US dollar reaction to the 4.4% CPI print and Copom minutes, positioning ahead of Wednesday’s US CPI, crude oil’s impact on Petrobras and Mexican fiscal dynamics
Frequently Asked Questions
What moved the S&P 500 overnight?
The index dipped 0.06% to 7,753, a tiny retreat from its all-time high, as traders squared positions ahead of Wednesday’s crucial US CPI report.
What did Brazil’s inflation data show?
The July IPCA rose just 0.03% month-on-month, taking the annual rate down to 4.4% from 4.64%—a surprisingly soft print that gives the BCB more flexibility on rates.
Why does the Selic at 14.00% matter for the real?
The wide spread between Brazil’s 14.00% Selic and a 4.698% US 10-year yield creates a powerful carry-trade magnet for global capital, supporting the real when US rate expectations turn dovish.
What is the key event driving global caution?
Wednesday’s US July CPI release. The consensus expects 3.4% annually and 0.1% monthly, and any deviation will swing Fed rate-cut pricing—and the dollar—sharply.
How is Mexico positioned in the regional picture?
Mexico reports June industrial production today with an estimate of 1.1% year-on-year, a sharp recovery from -0.7% prior, which would support the narrative that nearshoring is boosting factory output.
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