Brazilian exports contributed to a record-breaking trade surplus of US$ 33.081 billion, with one week left before the final figures are in for the year. The year-end balance will be presented next Monday, January 3, by the Minister of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, Luiz Fernando Furlan.

Nutrella, a traditional maker of breads, is getting ready to enter the foreign market. Ever since the company released a cake with maize, chocolate, orange, pineapple and coconut flavors, in the beginning of 2004, importers from Saudi Arabia, Uruguay and Argentina have been contacting them.

Brazilian stocks reached record levels, despite the thin volume characteristic of the period between the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Also, global oil prices plunged, as traders noted that winter supplies appear sufficient to meet demand and on forecasts of milder Northeast U.S. temperatures later this week.

Tourism will earn Brazil a recording-breaking US$ 4 billion in 2004, corresponding to the amount spent by 4 million 900 thousand foreign visitors. This information was provided by the president of the Brazilian Institute of Tourism (Embratur), Eduardo Sanovicz, who was interviewed on the "Brazil Magazine" program on National AM Radio.