By Alexander Ragir April 14 (Bloomberg) -- Bovespa stock-index futures gained as oil and metals prices climbed and retail sales increased more than economists projected. Vale SA, the world’s biggest iron ore miner, rose in U.S. trading as metals prices surged. Lojas Americanas SA and Cia. Brasileira de Distribuicao Grupo Pao de Acucar may lead gains for retailers after sales in February rose 12.3 percent from the year before, higher than the median estimated increase of 10.5 in a Bloomberg survey of 31 economists. Bovespa stock index futures rose 0.6 percent to 71,175 at 8:16 a.m. New York time. The real rose 0.3 percent to 1.7440 per dollar. Traders in the interest-rate futures market increased bets for higher borrowing costs this year, sending the yield on the contract due January 2011 up 4 basis points, or 0.04 percent, to 10.61 percent. The national statistics agency said today in Rio de Janeiro that retail sales increased 1.6 percent in February from the month before, more than the median estimated increase of 0.6 percent of economists in the survey. Copper and oil rose as the dollar weakened and on signs that the economy is recovering in the U.S. and Asia. The U.S. Dollar Index, a six-currency gauge of the greenback’s strength, fell for a fourth day, sliding as much as 0.4 percent. A slumping dollar makes metals priced in the currency cheaper. Reports this week may show that retail sales, industrial production and housing starts strengthened in the U.S., the biggest economy. The Bovespa index has climbed 3.2 percent this year, extending last year’s 83 percent gain, boosted by higher commodity prices and expectations gross domestic product will grow more than 5 percent this year, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists.

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