IN BRIEF (Page 16)

Brazil injects billions

Brazil's central bank agreed to inject as much as 100 billion reais ($46 billion) into the financial system, helping restore confidence in banks and spur the currency's biggest gain in six years. Policy makers eased bank reserve requirements for a fourth time in three weeks and expanded a program under which lenders can use part of such reserves to buy loans from other banks.

Rudd encourages spending