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Brazil's real ends touch weaker on net dlr outflow

SAO PAULO: The Brazilian real ended on Thursday slightly weaker as the outflow of dollars outstripped the inflow, traders said.

The real closed at 1.749 per dollar, slightly weaker than Wednesday's close of 1.745 but stronger than the opening price Thursday of 1.754.

"We probably had a net outflow...and part of the dollars leaving was related to companies in the telephone sector," said a local trader who noted one remittance of $250 million.

Traders also noted that Friday's expiry of dollar futures contracts also put some pressure on the real as banks bought dollars to cover their positions.

The real has been trading in recent weeks at its strongest levels in nine months as a continuing inflow of foreign currency from bond issues and for investment props up the currency.-Reuters