The Brazilian real finished 2009 as the best performing currency in foreign-exchange markets among 16 main traded currencies, as stocks had the highest rise in 6 year in the South American nation.

Brazil’s resilience concerning the global crisis, a wide availability of natural resources and an attractive equities market as well as higher than average interest rates helped the Brazilian currency to beat all other majors in foreign-exchange markets this year, and is likely to remain strong in 2010.

USD/BRL closed the year at 1.7400, gaining more than 30 percent versus the greenback in the past 12 months.

If you have any questions, comments or opinions regarding the Brazilian Real, feel free to post them using the commentary form below.