What Drives the Nominal Yield Curve in Brazil?

Abstract

This paper describes the dynamics of the level, slope and curvature of the Brazilian nominal yield curve using only observable macroeconomic indicators. The model is able to explain 94.5% of the variation in the yield curve. We find that the main drivers of the level factor is the Brazil risk premium (5-year CDS spread) and the unemployment rate. In turn, the slope steepens with increases either in the SELIC rate or in the spot exchange rate, and flattens with increases in unemployment rate and commodity returns. Lastly, the curvature increases with the unemployment, inflation and SELIC rates, but decreases with changes in the exchange rate.