The boom in commodities and credit has played a part in fuelling the rise of Bovespa, the Brazilian stock market.
"The market capitalisation is $1.4 trillion (£700bn)," says Joao Batista Fraga at the stock exchange. "In the last 10 years it has increased nine fold."
But it is the structural changes in the economy that are creating the most excitement.
In the days of hyper-inflation, everyone spent their money the moment it was paid and no one was willing to lend.
All property had to be bought with cash.
Now that stability has returned to the economy, the sector that is causing so many problems in the US and UK - consumer credit and mortgages - is beginning to create real opportunities in Brazil.
In shops, credit is just emerging, albeit at horrendous rates: 70% is not an unusual figure, and mortgages are also becoming available.
Little surprise, then, that property prices are booming, both in the domestic and commercial sectors.
In Sao Paulo, for example, office rents have tripled in three years.
Massive growth
The boom in commodities and credit has played a part in fuelling the rise of Bovespa, the Brazilian stock market.
"The market capitalisation is $1.4 trillion (£700bn)," says Joao Batista Fraga at the stock exchange. "In the last 10 years it has increased nine fold."
But it is the structural changes in the economy that are creating the most excitement.
In the days of hyper-inflation, everyone spent their money the moment it was paid and no one was willing to lend.
All property had to be bought with cash.
Now that stability has returned to the economy, the sector that is causing so many problems in the US and UK - consumer credit and mortgages - is beginning to create real opportunities in Brazil.
In shops, credit is just emerging, albeit at horrendous rates: 70% is not an unusual figure, and mortgages are also becoming available.
Little surprise, then, that property prices are booming, both in the domestic and commercial sectors.
In Sao Paulo, for example, office rents have tripled in three years.
