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Brazil real ends unchanged after see-saw 1

SAO PAULO: Brazil's real currency ended Monday unchanged from Friday's close at 1.769 per dollar, its strongest level since July, traders said. (Corrects figure.)

They said despite the end-day quotation, the real fluctuated between negative and positive territory throughout the day with support coming from optimism on Brazil's economy.

"After going up and down, the currency close the day stable," a trader said. He added the real's 0.57 percent rise at the open was eroded by midday dollar outflows.

Traders said the real could continue to rise in the upcoming weeks on the rosier economic outlook, which was highlighted by reports Monday that Brazilian vehicle production and sales rose in January from a year ago. Auto sales were hurt in 1999 by high interest rates and a slump in demand following Brazil's currency devaluation.

At Monday's closing level, the real was 31.6 percent weaker compared to its pre-devaluation level.-Reuters