Brazil stocks surge in July, best in 14 months

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Brazilian equities rose Friday, leaving the market's key stock index with its 10th consecutive win, and with its biggest monthly percentage gain in 14 months. The Bovespa index rose 0.8% at 67,515. For the month, the index rose 10.8%, its best performance since May 2009. Elsewhere in Latin America, Mexico's key index closed down 0.5% on Friday, but ended July with its best monthly performance since March. Chile's IPSA, which hit a number of record closings this month, ended July up more than 7%, its strongest gain since December. Argentina's Merval closed Friday with a 0.5% loss, but ended July up 9.6%, its best month since September 2009.

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