Highlights from Valor's print edition

12:00 AM (GMT -03:00) - Mon, Mar 16th 2020 ECONOMYMarket expects rate cut this week Firms are split on where monetary officials will take base rate Selic, with a majority predicting 50-basis-point cut to 3.75% POLITICS President needs to command Brazil out of crisis, says House speaker Rodrigo Maia says Congress is ready to pass emergency measures and clear funds, but calls on Bolsonaro to set aside politics and act COMMENTARY Alex RibeiroForex is unlikely to limit Central Bank action on interest rate Rate differential doesn’t explain the recent devaluation of the Brazilian currency AGRIBUSINESSNorth’s meatpackers still face environmental challenges MARKETSBrazilian stock market’s tumble matches 2008 crisis BUSINESSAuto parts industry could benefit from weak real BUSINESSCompanies accelerate adoption of work-from-home policies BRIEFS Bolsonaro joins protest against Congress amid coronavirus crisis President Jair Bolsonaro surprised by joining demonstrations against Congress and the Federal Supreme Court (STF) on Sunday amid the coronavirus crisis, in a move that further raises tensions with lawmakers. The president spent about an hour with supporters in Brasília who attacked mainly the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Rodrigo Maia (Democrats, DEM, of Rio de Janeiro) and the press. “You put me here, now you must help me stay and rule,” he said to his followers. Mr. Bolsonaro broke medical protocol recommended by his own government after returning from the US with people infected by the coronavirus in his delegation. Some in the crowd downplayed the risk of spreading covid-19 saying “the most serious virus is corruption.” Others repeated conspiracy theories saying China is spreading the virus for economic reasons. In São Paulo, supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro rallied on the Paulista Avenue, totaling about 3,000 people at the peak, according to the Military Police. They said coronavirus pandemic is “a lie to empty protests” and referred to it as “comunavirus” in reference to communism. Acts took place in several cities across the country with a smaller audience than in other demonstrations led by Mr. Bolsonaro, though more radicalized — with some even calling for a new coup d’État in Brazil. Governments using Itaipu to finance other projects; R$800m spent Brazilian quant funds outperform amid crisis Death of Bebianno upends Doria’s 2022 strategy Sanitation companies clashing with city officials, regulators States bet on local development agencies to accelerate growth Pandemic, oil slump to reduce exports Golar announced natural gas terminal in Pernambuco