Las Améяicas Weekly Business Brief is a collection of the most important events from the past week as reported by select open-source media platforms and governments in the Améяicas.
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The Week’s Key Takeaways
Economics & Privatization: Brazil’s Copom cut the Selic 25bp to 14% on 5 August, its fourth consecutive reduction, keeping real rates near 10% and carry attractive despite industry complaints of restrictive policy.
Energy & Minerals: Petrobras (PBR) posted a near-record Q2 net profit of R$52.4 billion on record output of 2.7 million bpd, underpinning dividend capacity amid U.S.-Brazil trade friction.
Foreign Investments: The U.S. Department of War committed $85.5 million to acquire a Guyanese bauxite mine to secure supply away from Chinese reliance.
Domestic Politics: Colombia’s Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in 7 August in Cali—the first inauguration outside Bogotá since 1898—launching a hard-security, pro-Washington agenda.
External Powers & Geopolitics: The U.S. State Department designated five Cuban entities and eight MINFAR-linked officials on 6 August under E.O. 14404, extending secondary-sanctions exposure to GAESA-linked counterparties.
This Week’s Five
Economics & Privatization
Brazil’s Copom Cuts Selic to 14% in Fourth Straight Move as Industry Calls Pace Insufficient [High]
Brazil’s Copom cut the benchmark Selic rate by 25bp to 14% on 5 August 2026, its fourth consecutive reduction and 100bp of cumulative easing since March, with the Galípolo-led board leaving its next move data-dependent.
The National Confederation of Industry (CNI) and Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Firjan)welcomed the direction but called the pace insufficient, noting real rates near 10% remain roughly double the central bank’s estimated 5% neutral rate and have kept credit expensive for 55 months.
Key Takeaways
The watch is changes between now and the upcoming presidential election in October, and any fiscal slippage that reverses the disinflation narrative and hits local-currency bonds first.
Sources: Agência Brasil · Latin America Daily Briefing · Barbershop Whispers…Las Américas Daily
Energy & Minerals
Petrobras (PBR) Posts Near-Record R$52.4 Billion Q2 Profit on Record 2.7 Million Bpd Output [High]
Petrobras reported Q2 2026 net profit of R$52.4 billion (US$10.4 billion) on 6 August, up 97% year-on-year and among its largest quarterly results ever, as oil output hit a record 2.7 million barrels per day and refinery utilization reached 101%.
Exports climbed to nearly one million barrels per day, aided by a rising Brent price, while capex ran at R$26.7 billion with 82% directed to exploration and production.
Robust cash generation supports dividend capacity and BRL inflows, a positive for oil-linked credit and equity (PBR) exposure.
Key Takeaways
Petrobras appears insulated from US – Brazil trade and diplomatic friction. PBR equity and credit holders win on sustained dividend capacity; the swing variables are Brent and BRL rather than the U.S.-Brazil tariff friction.
Sources: Agência Brasil · Barbershop Whispers…Las Américas Daily
Foreign Investments
U.S. Department of War Commits $85.5M for Guyanese Bauxite Mine to Cut China Reliance [Medium]
Three months after publicly flagging interest in Guyana’s bauxite reserves, the U.S. Department of War said on 8 August 2026 it is investing US$85.5 million to help acquire a mine in the South American country to guarantee supplies rather than turning to Chinese sources. The move extends Washington’s critical-minerals securitization drive in the Western Hemisphere, paralleling the contested U.S.-backed bid for Sherritt’s Cuban nickel/cobalt platform and ExxonMobil’s Stabroek offshore boom.
For dealmakers, the transaction signals that U.S. strategic-minerals capital is now flowing directly into upstream acquisition rather than offtake alone underwritten by the US government.
Key Takeaways
Guyana wins as a dual-commodity U.S. strategic partner (offshore oil plus bauxite); Chinese bauxite suppliers lose hemispheric ground as Washington underwrites Western supply security.
Sources: Demerara Waves
Domestic Politics
◆ LEAD STORY OF THE WEEK
De la Espriella Sworn In as Colombia’s President in Cali, Launching Hard-Security, Pro-Washington Pivot [High]
Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in 7 August 2026 in Cali—the first Colombian inauguration outside Bogotá since 1898—delivering his first address at an Army battalion and pledging up to 40% state-spending cuts, an oil-and-gas revival, an Israel rapprochement including an embassy move to Jerusalem, and ruptures with Cuba and Nicaragua.
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