Brazil's currency extends losses, down 3 pct

SAO PAULO, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Brazil's currency weakened 3 percent in afternoon trading on Wednesday, slumping in line with the local stock market as fears about the health of the U.S. economy battered global financial markets.

The real BRBY tumbled to 2.397 per U.S. dollar from 2.325 on Tuesday, when it weakened 2 percent. The real has shed more than a third of its value since touching a nine-year high in early August.

The benchmark Bovespa index .BVSP of the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange was down 2 percent, reversing gains earlier in the session. (Reporting by Todd Benson; Editing by Tom Hals)