Real’s (BRL) Worst-in-World Currency Slide Attracts CTAs Bears

Foreign funds are stepping up bets against the Brazilian real, turning the currency into the worst major performer in the world amid a mix of negative local news and a massive repricing of the outlook for global interest rates.

The real is down 4.5% this month, by far the weakest showing among all major currencies tracked by Bloomberg. Using derivatives, foreign funds have added the equivalent of $9.4 billion in real shorts since April 9, increasing positioning against the currency to $70.3 billion on Tuesday. That’s the highest level going back to at least 2012.