((Automated translation by Reuters, please see disclaimer https://bit.ly/rtrsauto))
(Added additional information, Central Bank Governor context, paragraphs 3-11 from Google) by Marcela Ayres
Brazil's central bank sold $3 billion in a spot auction on Thursday, extending a series of foreign exchange market interventions amid a flight of greenbacks from America's largest economy Latin.
Following the auction, which was announced late on the Monday before the Christmas holiday, the Brazilian real strengthened by 0.5% against the US dollar, before limiting its gains.
Since the start of the year, the Brazilian currency has lost more than 21% against the dollar, representing one of the weakest performances among emerging markets.
Last week, central bank Governor Roberto Campos Neto said policymakers had seen an unusually large outflow of dollars at the end of the year (as companies increased dividend transfers abroad and individuals who transferred funds through investment platforms.
He said the interventions were not aimed at defending a specific rate, but at avoiding dysfunctions in currency trading.
Faced with the spiral of depreciation exacerbated by budgetary difficulties, the total amount of dollars sold on the spot market has approached $20 billion in recent days. The bank also held several dollar auctions with repurchase agreements totaling $11 billion.
The Brazilian real has been under severe pressure since a government fiscal package disappointed markets in late November, further weakening the currency amid a strengthening global dollar.
The real has hit record lows several times this month, intensifying inflationary pressures and fueling market discontent with the government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, despite strong economic growth and a low unemployment rate.
On Wednesday, while Brazilian markets were closed, Alphabet-owned Google search engine GOOGL.O showed the Brazilian real trading at an all-time low of 6.38 per dollar, well above Monday's close at 6.185, drawing criticism from the government.
Brazil's attorney general has asked the central bank to provide him with information on the key rate as he considers possible legal action against Google, according to a statement.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
