Brazil

Brazil

Profitability grade: 57
% companies expecting increased profits: 64%
% companies expecting increased revenue: 76%
% companies expecting to increase employment: 63%
Overall optimism rank: No. 5

After a six-month recession that caused the GDP to shrink last year, Latin America's largest economy is expected to grow 5.2% in 2010. According to Grant Thornton's survey, Brazil was No. 1 for companies expecting to boost investment in plants and machinery. The strengthening of the real by 34% against the dollar last year helped consumers but created problems for exporters. Brazil is the world's largest producer of coffee and a leading exporter of biofuel, namely sugarcane ethanol. — Venessa Wong