Access Brazil 2011 - Special Report

Nothing inspires more passion in Brazil than soccer.  But the nation is dramatically behind schedule in putting in place the infrastructure required for when 600,000 visitors descend on the country.

There are 210 million registered cell phones in Brazil, 10 million more than the estimated population of the entire country, more proof to this traveler that Brazil is a country bursting at the seams.

Brazilian oil giant Petrobras is confident the type of drilling accident BP faced in the Gulf of Mexico last year would not happen in its offshore operations, a company official said recently.

In the scenic resort town of Angra dos Reis in Brazil, Petrobras is nearing completion of its latest oil platform, the massive P-56. When it is moved out to sea in May, it will produce 100,000 barrels of oil per day.

"In the past, Brazil's reach has always exceeded its grasp," says one former U.S. official. "It always saw itself as a leader, but has been frustrated that the world saw it another way. The Brazilian economy is developing to the point where it does have the global heft that people have to take it seriously."

It is not possible to control the value of Brazil's currency through taxes on foreign capital, former President Fernando Cardoso told CNBC Monday.  He thinks it "better to leave the capital flow more open."

As the U.S. Fed moves closer to winding down some of its extraordinary easing, in Brazil, the impact of easy money policies in the developed world is felt every day.

Nothing epitomizes Brazil's tremendous growth and tremendous challenges more than the helicopter. You see them by the dozens every day over Sao Paulo, and they are not filled with sightseers but commuters trying to get to work on time.

Brazil’s oil giant Petrobras is taking advantage of the BRIC country summit in China to test the waters for Chinese financing.

Brazilian companies, armed with a strong Real, are hunting for acquisitions across the globe , while U.S. private equity and sovereign wealth funds turn their attention to red hot Brazil.

The market hasn't realized the significance for the dollar of last week's meeting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, this analyst says.

Brazilian policymakers are trying to find the sweet spot for their monetary policy. For now, interest rate hikes are more likely than not. But their impact for currency traders is less certain.

Of the 4 BRIC economies, where does trader Brian Stutland suggest putting money to work?

Good news drove Brazilian stocks higher for the second session in a row and drove bullish option activity yesterday (Thursday).

In a report from Brazil, Fast Money trader Tim Seymour looks at the impact of the Japan crisis on emerging markets.

It's in Russia, Brazil and in the developing markets where the automakers will lay the groundwork for their success later this decade.