SAO PAULO- Brazil's biggest exporters, including Vale SA and Suzano SA, are demanding 19 billion reais ($3.77 billion) from 19 banks in a class action that accuses them of manipulating foreign exchange rates, newspaper Valor Economico reported on Tuesday.
Exporters association AEB, which filed the class action, said Brazilian exporters took losses of 107.4 billion reais with the alleged manipulation of currencies by banks, according to the report. AEB's compensation calculations took into consideration that the association represents 20% of Brazilian exporters.
Among the banks included in the class action are Itau Unibanco Holding SA , Banco Santander Brasil SA, HSBC (acquired by Banco Bradesco SA), Citigroup and BNP Pariba .
Citi declined to comment, adding its conduct complies with rules. Santander said it is still unaware of the class action, while Itau said it will contest the accusations. Other banks did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comments on the matter.
Compensation demanded by Brazilian exporters is another development of a global foreign exchange scandal, which has led to billions of dollars in penalties for banks worldwide. Allegations of widespread manipulation in the spot foreign exchange market were first reported in 2013.
($1 = 5.0437 reais)
(Reporting by Carolina Mandl Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Steve Orlofsky) ((carolina.mandl@thomsonreuters.com; +55 11 5644 7703; +55 11 97116-3806;))
