BRAZIL'S LEADER WANTS MORE U.S. INVESTMENT

Washington, April 10- Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff called on the United States to invest more in the world's sixth-biggest economy and told President Obama that monetary conditions in rich nations may be hurting growth in emerging markets.

Rousseff, meeting with Obama Monday at the White House, said she was concerned about "expansionist" monetary policies that "lead to a depreciation in the value of the currencies of developed countries, thus impairing growth" in countries such as Brazil.

Obama said trade and investment between the United States and Brazil is reaching "record levels." He said the United States is opening two new consulates in Latin America's biggest economy and has "drastically" cut down visa wait times for Brazilian visitors to the United States.

Brazil's drive to develop offshore oil offers "tremendous opportunity" for expanding Brazil's relationship with the United States, as does expanded sales of defense equipment and ship building, Rousseff said. Direct investments by Brazilian companies in the United States equal only 40 percent of the overall level of American investments in Brazil, she said.

Still, echoing comments she made in Germany last month about the threat posed by a "monetary tsunami" coming from the United States and Europe, she said it was "very important" for the United States to take into account the currency concerns of faster-growing emerging markets even as it seeks to stimulate its own economy.

Brazil's trade balance with the United States swung from a $6.4 billion surplus for her country in 2007 to an $8.2 billion deficit last year as the real rallied and growth in Brazil spurred demand for imports.

Obama is seeking to help U.S. businesses profit from Brazil's oil discoveries, the biggest in the Americas since 1976, and from the $200 billion in road, airport and hotel improvements needed before the 2014 World Cup and 2016 summer Olympics.

There are opportunities for defense contractors in both countries. Rousseff will decide by mid-year on a fighter plane for her country, a contract for as much as $4 billion that Boeing is vying to win, a U.S. State Department official said March 1.

The two presidents met as they are preparing for the Summit of the Americas in Colombia beginning at the end of this week. The agenda there will include cooperation on education, energy and the battle against drug trafficking.

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