Corporate defaultsacross Brazil rose 6.8% in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period in2015, data from credit research firm Boa Vista SCPC shows.

The corporatedefault indicator closed at around 8% as an average over the last four quarters,which is considerably high compared to the last three years, Boa Vista said.

Strong economicuncertainty still abounds in Brazil, which makes the expectation for default stillhigh until 2017, the research firm added.