Recession-hit Brazil offers $20 bn in stimulus loans

Brasília (AFP) - Brazil's government Thursday said it would offer $20 billion worth of special loans to stimulate the recession-stricken economy. It will extend credit lines of up to 83 billion reals ($20.4 billion) for farming, housing and infrastructure and for small and medium-sized companies, Finance Minister Nelson Barbosa said. The credit will be offered via public banks and other bodies "using existing resources in the best way possible" so as not to weigh on the public finances, h