Shares Drop As Commodity Saga Continues, Finance Minister Out?

Some headlines from Brazil, with the iShares MSCI Brazil Capped exchange-traded fund (EWZ) down 2.4%
Local press reports in Brazil Wednesday said Brazil’s Finance Minister Joaquim Levy could be replaced within months as the economy and currency collapse. Brazil President Dilma Rousseff may choose Henrique Meirelles, a former central bank president.
Brazil’s government says it will fine mining companies BHP Billiton (BHP) and Vale (VALE) for a disastrous mine dam collapse. BHP shares are down 2.4% this morning while Vale shares are down 1.5%. “The government is increasingly concerned over the rising death toll and contaminated mud flowing through two states as a result of the disaster,” Reuters reports in the story, “Brazil vows to make BHP, Vale pay for deadly mine disaster.”