Brazil

J. Malucelli, intends to offer insurance against damages caused by insolvent debtors, as well as policies insuring working capital and company cash flow.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has taken steps to ease the credit crunch that's hurting Brazil's small and medium-size lenders

Brazilian national development bank BNDES has increased its export financing program by BRL5bn (US$2.28bn)

Spain's Crédito y Caución (CyC) predicts continued growth in Brazil's burgeoning credit insurance market and plans to beat the market growth rate with its local unit, sasy CyC country manager Jesús Angel Victorio Cano.

Brazil's factoring sector has been growing steadily over the past few years.

Non-profit microcredit lender Accion International is currently investigating how to expand its scheme for funding to microfinance institutions (MFIs) to Brazil.

Santander increased lending in Brazil 16.6% to reais 43.7bn (US$24.6bn) at end-2007 compared to the same time in 2006.

Coface Brazil expects written premiums to rise 25% next year compared to 2007.

Coface is near to signing a deal to become the largest shareholder in SBCE. 

Brazil's national development bank BNDES handed out reais57.7bn (US$30.4bn) in loans in the 12 months to end-May, up 26% on the previous 12-month period, the bank announced.