The Brazilian real has plunged to its lowest levels since the currency was introduced some two decades ago. The real fell to 3.9851 per U.S. dollar on Monday, a record closing low, and is slipping further on Tuesday. It has shed about 34 per cent of its value versus the dollar this year. Brazil is reeling from lower commodity prices, a corruption scandal at state-controlled oil giant Petrobras and eroding confidence in the country's political leadership. Standard & Poor's cut the nation's credit rating to junk on Sept. 9.