As of 1:30 a.m. US Eastern Time (ET) · 2:30 a.m. Brasília, Sunday 25 October 2026 · storm advisory to 11:00 p.m. ET Saturday, rates to the latest published fixing, prediction markets at 1:35 a.m. ET
The Short Version
In short: Brazil votes today in its presidential runoff, so expect closed bars and heavy news traffic from 7:00 a.m. ET. Hurricane Vance is holding steady off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, and Colombia’s permanent-visa transfer must be done before 31 October.
01
Brazil: the runoff is today. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, and most foreign residents cannot vote. Visas, Residency and Tax
02
Mexico: Hurricane Vance is holding steady at 90 mph. It is about 320 miles (515 km) south-southwest of Acapulco, and no coastal watches or warnings are in effect. Weather Watch
03
Brazil: prediction markets still favour Flávio Bolsonaro. Kalshi prices his runoff win at 82%, against 18% for Lula. What Prediction Markets Say
What changed since yesterday: The Brazilian runoff moved from one day away to election day, and Hurricane Vance held steady overnight, as Weather Watch shows. The official Brazilian and Chilean rates are unchanged because no new fixings were published over the weekend, as Money Today explains.
00Do Today
Countries are sorted by urgency, and each checklist runs visa, weather, authorities, then money. Every item links to the block with the details.
Brazil Act Now
AuthoritiesToday is election day: polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, and most foreign residents cannot vote. Visas, Residency and Tax
MoneyOfficial rates are unchanged from Friday, and the next official dollar rate comes Monday. Money Today
Mexico Today
WeatherOn the southern Pacific coast, expect life-threatening surf and rip currents, and check local weather-office notices. Weather Watch
MoneyThe peso’s latest figure is Friday’s market close. Money Today
Colombia Before 31 Oct
VisaTransfer an older permanent-resident visa before 31 October 2026, online. Visas, Residency and Tax
MoneyThe official weekend rate stays in force through Monday. Money Today
Argentina Note
MoneyThe official dollar rate is Friday’s 1,550 pesos, and the blue (informal) rate is 1,565. Money Today
AuthoritiesThe country-risk gauge stood at 707 points on Friday. Status Board
01Weather Watch
Hurricane Vance South of Mexico Hurricane: 90 mph (150 km/h)
PositionAbout 320 miles (515 km) south-southwest of Acapulco and 370 miles (595 km) south of Manzanillo
StrengthMaximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h), moving north-northwest at 5 mph (7 km/h)
ForecastStrength is likely to fluctuate through Monday, followed by steady weakening
Next update5:00 a.m. ET · 3:00 a.m. Mexico City, Sunday
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said no coastal watches or warnings were in effect. Through Thursday, Vance is expected to bring 4 to 6 inches (100 to 150 mm) of rain, with isolated totals near 10 inches (250 mm), to Colima and western Michoacán and Jalisco, with flooding and mudslide risk on steep terrain.
Swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents along southern and southwestern Mexico into next week. Consult your local weather office.
Source: US National Hurricane Center, Public Advisory 15, 11:00 p.m. ET Saturday 24 October 2026
Atlantic Basin Quiet
The hurricane center’s Atlantic outlook says tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days. That covers the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of America.
Outlook issued 2:00 a.m. EDT Sunday 25 October 2026
02Today’s Clock
Every time is shown in US Eastern Time first, then in local time. Today the clock follows Brazil’s voting hours and the hurricane bulletins.
PTAX sell rate (the central bank’s reference dollar rate), Fri 23 Oct
−0.0006 (−0.01%) vs 5.0383 on Thu 22 Oct · real firmer
R$1,000 ≈ US$199
Source: Banco Central do Brasil, 23 Oct 2026
Mexican Peso MXN
18.6500pesos per US$1
Market close, Fri 23 Oct, not the central bank’s official FIX rate
−0.0625 (−0.33%) vs 18.7125 on Thu 22 Oct · peso firmer
MXN 10,000 ≈ US$536
Source: RT market data, 23 Oct 2026
Colombian Peso COP
3,158.43pesos per US$1
TRM (Colombia’s official reference rate) for Sat 24 to Mon 26 Oct
−26.58 (−0.83%) vs 3,185.01 for Fri 23 Oct · peso firmer
COP 1,000,000 ≈ US$317
Source: Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia via datos.gov.co, read 25 Oct 2026
Peruvian Sol PEN
3.4458soles per US$1
Market close, Fri 23 Oct; the central bank’s interbank rate could not be read
+0.0102 (+0.30%) vs 3.4356 on Thu 22 Oct · sol weaker
PEN 1,000 ≈ US$290
Market close, 23 Oct 2026, same provider as the peso card
Argentine Peso ARS
1,550pesos per US$1
Official sell rate (Banco Nación), updated Fri 23 Oct; blue (informal) 1,565 sell and CCL (dollars obtained by trading securities) 1,654 sell, both updated Sat 24 Oct
Official sell rate as of Fri 23 Oct · wholesale reference rate 1,529.5 on Fri 23 Oct
ARS 1,000,000 ≈ US$645 at the official sell rate, US$605 at the CCL sell rate
Source: DolarApi, read 25 Oct 2026; wholesale rate from the Banco Central de la República Argentina
Chilean Peso CLP
986.58pesos per US$1
Dólar observado (the central bank’s official daily rate) for Fri 23 Oct; the next fixing is Monday
+9.76 (+1.00%) vs 976.82 on Thu 22 Oct · peso weaker
CLP 1,000,000 ≈ US$1,014
Source: Banco Central de Chile via mindicador.cl, read 25 Oct 2026
The Brazilian and Chilean official rates are not published on weekends, so those figures are Friday’s. Colombia’s weekend rate is new, while the Mexican and Peruvian figures are market closes, not official fixings.
04Status Board
Brazil Runoff
One day left (Sat 24 Oct)Election day (Sun 25 Oct)Voting today
Brazil’s presidential runoff is today, Sunday 25 October 2026, and most foreign residents cannot vote. Voting runs from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Brasília time, which is 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
Source: Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE), electoral calendar
Colombia Before 31 October
Holders of a permanent-resident visa issued under the earlier rules must transfer it before 31 October 2026, under Resolution 9316 of 2024. The transfer is required for the foreigner ID card from Migración Colombia and is done online.
Source: Cancillería de Colombia (Foreign Ministry), notice on the visa transfer deadline
File photo: a Brazilian UE2020 electronic voting machine, the type used in elections.
RT
Ask Rio Times
Straight answers about living in Latin America, from our reporting.
As of 1:35 a.m. ET (2:35 a.m. Brasília), 25 October 2026
Brazil Presidential ElectionKalshi (regulated in the US by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission): Flávio Bolsonaro 82%, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva 18%. about 9.1 million contracts traded.
Brazil Presidential Election on PolymarketPolymarket: Flávio Bolsonaro 79.8%, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva 20.5%. US$196.8 million traded.
Bank of Mexico Decision in NovemberPolymarket: no change 83.0%, a 0.25-point cut 15.8%. US$100,050 traded.
How to Read ThisPrices are real-money bets, not polls, and each price is the implied probability of that outcome.
Why We Show ThisPrediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
Source: Kalshi and Polymarket, 25 Oct 2026
07The Calendar Ahead
Tue 27 Oct
5:00 p.m. ET · 6:00 p.m. Santiago Chile: central bank rate decision; the previous rate was 4.5%
Thu 29 Oct
7:00 a.m. ET · 8:00 a.m. Brasília Brazil: IGP-M inflation for October (a price index); forecast 1.7% vs 1.57% before
Thu 29 Oct
8:00 a.m. ET · 9:00 a.m. Santiago Chile: unemployment for July to September; forecast 9.6%, unchanged
Fri 30 Oct
8:00 a.m. ET · 9:00 a.m. Brasília Brazil: unemployment for the July to September quarter; forecast 5.5% vs 5.3% before
Fri 30 Oct
11:00 a.m. ET · 10:00 a.m. Bogotá Colombia: September unemployment; forecast 9.2% vs 9.4% before
Fri 30 Oct
Hour not confirmed Colombia: central bank rate decision, as listed by the Rio Times economic calendar; the rate was 12.25%
Sat 31 Oct
Hour not confirmed Colombia: the Foreign Ministry’s notice says the visa transfer must be done before this date
Sun 1 Nov
Early morning United States: clocks go back one hour, so the time gap between Eastern Time and our countries changes by an hour
Forecasts: Rio Times economic calendar, 25 Oct 2026
08Frequently Asked Questions
When Do Brazil’s Polls Open and Close Today?
Voting runs from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Brasília time, which is 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, and anyone in line at closing time can still vote. Most foreign residents cannot vote.
How Strong Is Hurricane Vance Now?
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) at 11:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, with the center about 320 miles (515 km) south-southwest of Acapulco. No coastal watches or warnings were in effect.
How Long Do I Have to Transfer a Colombian Permanent Visa?
Holders of a permanent-resident visa issued under the earlier rules must transfer it before 31 October 2026, which is less than a week after Sunday 25 October. Colombia’s Foreign Ministry says the process is done online.
Sources: US National Hurricane Center; Banco Central do Brasil; RT; Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia; DolarApi; Banco Central de la República Argentina; Banco Central de Chile; ArgentinaDatos; Kalshi; Polymarket; Cancillería de Colombia; Tribunal Superior Eleitoral; Rio Times economic calendar.
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