Exclusive - Brazil's Levy says he has president's backing, isn't quitting

Brazil's Finance Minister Joaquim Levy (R) listens as Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff speaks during the signing ceremony for the concession contract of the BR-101 Rio-Niteroi Bridge at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia in this May 18, 2015 file photo. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

LIMA (Reuters) - Brazilian Finance Minister Joaquim Levy told Reuters on Saturday that President Dilma Rousseff backed his policies, and he intends to stay on the job as long as needed to put the books in order and pull the economy out of its slump.

Market speculation that Levy, an orthodox economist widely respected among investors, was considering quitting her administration has added fuel to a political and economic crisis that has driven down the Brazilian real currency and pushed up Brazilian interest rate futures.