Brazil's central bank kicked off an interest rate-hiking cycle on Wednesday with a 25 basis-point increase, as expected, and signaled more increases ahead to tackle a challenging inflation outlook driven by stronger-than-expected economic activity.

Brazil’s central bank raised its interest rate by a quarter-point and said more hikes are coming on resilient growth and inflation expectations, moving in the opposite direction of the Federal Reserve and regional peers.

The Central Bank of Brazil (BCB) has raised its policy rate by 25 basis points in a unanimous decision. Hours after the US Federal Reserve began its easing cycle, Brazil’s central bank moved in the opposite direction on September 18 and lifted its key Selic rate to 10.75%.

Brazil’s central bank will likely raise interest rates for the first time since 2022 as a heated economy and above-target inflation forecasts make it an outlier in a global easing push emboldened by the Federal Reserve.

Officials in some countries started cutting rates last year, but others, including those in Europe and the United States, have taken a more cautious approach.

The new power broker in Brazil’s central bank, Gabriel Galipolo, has made a radical transformation to anti-inflation crusader over the past few weeks. In so doing, Galipolo, who’s been tapped to take the top job at the bank,

Brazil's central bank will raise its benchmark rate by 25 points next Wednesday at what will likely be the start of a short tightening campaign to quash persistent inflationary trends, moving the opposite way to its peers,

Brazil’s central bank increased its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point in the first hike since 2022, as a jump in consumption and above-target inflation expectations forced policymakers to move in the opposite direction of the Federal Reserve and regional peers.