Most viewed of Buenos Aires Times

Peso depreciates 8.4% in initial trading after foreign exchange controls lifted

Peso depreciated 8.4% against the US dollar at the open of markets on Monday, following the partial removal of foreign exchange controls in place since 2019.

Argentina’s peso slides, bonds jump after FX rules lifted

Argentina’s sovereign debt climbed Monday while the peso slipped after the country lifted most of its currency-market restrictions.

Milei tells Argentina's farmers to sell soy now as peso slides 12%

Farmers are starting to harvest their soy crop, worth billions of dollars in export revenues that Milei desperately needs at the Central Bank. But, so far, they have traded it at a crawl.

Bessent expects Argentina to be able to pay off China swap

Scott Bessent hails Argentina as a free-market beacon in Latin America; US Treasury secretary said he expects Argentina to be able to pay off its swap line with China, but that US government isn’t considering providing any direct credit.

Milei’s party finishes third as election year kicks off in Santa Fe

Pullaro celebrates victory in Santa Fe constituent assembly vote; Milei’s La Libertad Avanza finishes in third, narrowly trailing Peronist candidate.

US Treasury Secretary Bessent offers 'full support' to Milei at Casa Rosada

US Treasury Scott Bessent visits Buenos Aires for talks with Javier Milei, his economic team and private-sector representatives; Official tells President he wants Washington to be Argentina's "partner of choice".

Milei in solitude at Olivos? Probing entry logs for absentees, regular visitors

Official records show President Javier Milei receives very few officials at the Olivos presidential residence, not even from his partner or sister. The surprise is digital influencer Iñaki Gutiérrez, a regular visitor.

IMF bets billions on Milei’s chainsaw to avert past debacles

Frontloading disbursements is a controversial move that increases the IMF’s exposure to its biggest debtor, just as Milei faces the same policy dilemmas that have doomed his predecessors.

Daniel Noboa declared winner of Ecuador presidential vote, Luisa González demands recount

Election authorities declare incumbent Daniel Noboa to be the winner of Ecuador's presidential run-off vote, with the 37-year-old leader defeating his leftist rival by bigger-than-expected margin; Challenger Luisa González expresses concern over fraud.

#10

Elections begin: First regional ballot test for Milei in Santa Fe Province

Sunday's election in third-most-populous province of 2.8 million voters will pick delegates to a convention set to reform the regional constitutional assembly.

#11

Mario Vargas Llosa, one of the Latin America's literary heavyweights, dies at 89

Mario Vargas Llosa has died in Lima at the age of 89, confirms family; Nobel literature laureate is considered to be one of the greats of Latin America's literary "boom" of the 1960s and 1970s.

#12

Mario Vargas Llosa, Peruvian Nobel-winning novelist, dies at 89

As one of Latin America’s foremost writers and intellectuals, Mario Vargas Llosa defended individual liberty, democracy and the free market, which often put him at odds with his peers and political leaders in the region.

#13

Another IMF loan: for Argentina, it’s Groundhog Day

Generations of Argentines feel their country is trapped in a recurring cycle: yet another loan from the International Monetary Fund to rescue a volatile economy.

#14

Careful Javier, the ‘caste’ smells blood

Legislators who had until now been cooperative or aloof toward confrontation with Milei are changing their tune, in line with what they hear from their constituencies.

#15

Milei gains 'breathing room' from his ties with Trump

The support President Milei has garnered from the Trump administration stands in stark contrast to the mounting challenges on the home front.

#16

Trump, Milei and how to lose the trust of markets and voters

Trump stepped back from the edge, at least momentarily, even though he is keeping his finger on the trigger.

#17

Argentina and the International Monetary Fund: A long, tricky history

Argentina, which has a track record of economic crises and hyperinflation, is already the IMF's biggest debtor, ahead even of war-torn Ukraine.

#18

Midterms 2025: And so it begins

This year’s midterm voting begins tomorrow in the major province of Santa Fe with the constituent assembly elections.

#19

Trump has China in the crosshairs

The 19th century belonged to the United Kingdom, the 20th to the United States. And the 21st?

#20

Ecuador imposes state of emergency before razor-close election

On the eve of a too-close-to-call presidential run-off and reacting a dramatic rise in drug-linked violence, Ecuador declares a state of emergency in seven of its 24 provinces, including the capital.

#21

Marcelo Gallardo remains untouchable, but questions should be asked

Almost a year after his triumphal return to the Monumental, Gallardo and River Plate cannot help but be concerned at how the team is performing.

#22

Into More Frustrations

A Ruby Tuesday for President Javier Milei while the world at large is in an acute age of uncertainty thanks to Donald Trump’s tariff onslaught.

#23

Milei predicts bright future as IMF board approves US$20-billion bailout for Argentina

Milei declares "cepo is gone for good" as IMF unlocks US$12 billion in immediate funding and Argentina lifts capital controls in 48-month US$20-billion programme.

#24

'Fin de cepo': Argentina overhauls exchange rate access ahead of new IMF deal

President Javier Milei’s government to lift capital and currency controls as of Monday, with exchange rate of between 1,000 and 1,4,00 per greenback; ‘Phase Three’ of economic programme will see monthly cap lifted for individuals and firms.

#25

Argentina lands US$20-billion IMF agreement and eases FX rules

Central Bank says it will let peso trade within a range of 1,000 pesos to 1,4000 pesos per dollar in what’s called a dirty or managed float.

#26

New peso-greenback currency band could mean 23% devaluation

Argentina has announced the introduction of a new exchange rate band for the peso, ranging from 1,000 to 1,400 per US dollar, following the removal of currency controls next week.

#27

Caputo announces US$20-billion IMF deal, end to exchange controls

President Javier Milei's government announces elimination of foreign exchange controls ahead of confirmation of new US$20-billion IMF programme.

#28

Milei launches new economic phase, with nod to the middle class

Casa Rosada expresses satisfaction as alignment with Trump bears fruit and secures an unprecedented initial disbursement from the International Monetary Fund.

#29

Ángel Di María, Leandro Paredes under investigation for illegal betting in Italy

World Cup-winning national team stars Leandro Paredes and Ángel Di María among dozen footballers suspected of using clandestine platforms to bet on poker and other sports.

#30

Trump’s tariffs may speed EU–Mercosur deal, says Uruguay's Orsi

Uruguay’s president sees US protectionism pushing Europe to compromise on stalled trade pact

#31

INDEC reveals uptick in inflation: Prices up 3.7% in March

Inflation soared in March, accelerating to 3.7% – a second straight monthly rise; Consumer prices up 55.9% over the past 12 months, by 8.6% so far this year.

#32

Brazil’s inflation hits two-year high amid rate hike debate

Brazil’s annual inflation rate at its highest level in two years.

#33

Argentina's Central Bank sells up to US$400 million to defend peso

Argentina's Central Bank sold as much as US$400 million to defend the peso on Friday – the most in a day since mid-March.

#34

Mercosur to expand common tariff exemptions as trade war rages

Mercosur countries have decided to relax common external tariffs on 50 products of the choice of each of its members, giving them more flexibility to negotiate deals.

#35

Argentina inflation picks up more than expected before IMF deal

President Javier Milei said recently he only expects inflation to fall below two percent in May or June, blaming the sticky inflation on political volatility.

#36

EU races to expand two-trillion-euro trade network as US links sour

The European Union is racing to clinch trade deals with countries around the world in an effort to diversify away from an increasingly protectionist United States.

#37

‘I’m not well,’ Diego Maradona told a doctor, weeks before death

Doctor Flavio Tunessi said the late footballing icon had told him "I’m not well," a few weeks before star's death.

#38

Stories that caught our eye: April 4 to 11

A selection of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina and beyond.

#39

Argentina's government brushes off general strike as workers walk off job

Public-sector workers fail to turn up, complying with CGT-led call for third strike of Milei Presidency; Many shops remained open and public transport still an option with buses running nationwide;

#40

US Treasury secretary offers 'full support' to Milei ahead of Buenos Aires visit

In a show of support for President Javier Milei's "bold economic reforms," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will travel to Buenos Aires next week for meetings with government officials and business leaders.

#41

Argentina renews part of China swap ahead of Bessent visit

Argentina renews a portion of its US$18-billion currency swap line with China; Activated part being extended for another 12 months amounts to US$5 billion.

#42

IMF deal fine print could disrupt China swap renewal

In June, the grace period China granted Javier Milei expires. Washington is already pressuring Buenos Aires over the currency swap, with US$6.5 billion remaining frozen.

#43

Argentina’s shale patch a sure thing even at $45 oil, YPF says

Falling oil prices won’t derail Argentina’s burgeoning shale boom unless they plunge below US$45 a barrel, says chief executive of state-run YPF SA.

#44

Is the United Nations on course to elect its first-ever female secretary-general?

Latin American and Caribbean nations will seek to unite behind a single candidate in the contest to lead the United Nations, a move that see the first-ever female secretary-general.

#45

EU offers timeline for final Mercosur deal proposal

Top EU spokesperson says he wants to present a proposal for sweeping free-trade agreement before “end of summer,” with legal review ongoing.

#46

Trump stuns with tariff backtrack, rocking global markets, trade

US President Donald Trump upends global markets and trade by U-turning on proposed tariffs; Benefit for Argentina is only temporarily, unless new deal reached.

#47

CONMEBOL proposes one-off 64-team World Cup in 2030

CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez argues increasing the number of teams in the tournament would allow for a broader celebration of the World Cup.

#48

Milei faces third general strike in Argentina with IMF deal pending

Argentina braces for general strike as Milei administration awaits confirmation of new IMF loan programme.

#49

Milei needs rush of soy dollars to calm peso sell-off in Argentina

Like his predecessors, President Javier Milei is depending on the soy harvest to manage one of the word’s most volatile currencies.

#50

Forensic experts identify remains of law student who disappeared in 1977

Activist and law student Virginia Beatriz Tempone, 21, was abducted and forcibly disappeared in Mar del Plata in 1977 during the dictatorship’s time in power.

#51

IMF confirms preliminary agreement with Argentina for US$20-billion loan

Multilateral lender says it has reached a staff-level agreement with President Milei's government on a new 48-month US$20-billion programme, subject to approval by executive board.

#52

Argentina in talks with US to cut tariffs, says Trump official

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says Argentina and others may ease trade restrictions to align with Trump’s policy.

#53

Axel Kicillof defies Cristina Fernández de Kirchner: Buenos Aires Province decouples election

Partido Justicialista chair Cristina Fernández de Kirchner wanted Buenos Aires Province governor to schedule region’s elections for the same date as the national vote, but Axel Kicillof decides to break.

#54

Mercado Libre to invest US$2.6 billion in Argentina this year

US$2.6-billion investment marks a 53% increase on last year’s figure and forms part of a wider regional expansion drive.

#55

Milei nears US$20-billion Argentina loan as IMF staff sign off

Members of the Washington-based lender’s executive board are expected to vote on the agreement Friday.

#56

Axel advances elections, disobeying CFK – has a new Peronist leader been born?

As in any risky play, the decision has an effect of uncertainty and could expose the governor to undesired consequences.

#57

Strength in numbers: Latin America urges unity in face of Trump tariffs

Latin American leaders at CELAC summit in Honduras call for a united front to tackle US President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught.

#58

Milei hails shared values during Ascunción talks with Paraguay’s Peña

President met up with his Paraguayan counterpart, holding various meetings in Asunción during brief overseas trip.

#59

Maradona was ‘held like a hostage’ before death, says ex-partner

Diego Maradona was “held like a hostage” and living in squalid conditions in the final weeks of his life, his former partner Verónica Ojeda tells court.

#60

Trump pauses tariffs for 90 days but hits China harder

In the midst of Donald Trump's rising tariffs he has called for quite a radical shift within his global trade war, which will affect many countries.

#61

Milei caught in Trump-China spat over US$18-billion FX swap line

Javier Milei is caught between US President Donald Trump and China’s communist government.

#62

‘El Eternauta’: Secrets behind Argentina’s most long-awaited adaptation

Eagerly awaited adaptation of Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Francisco Solano López’s classic comic 'El Eternauta' débuts on Netflix on April 30. A look behind-the-scenes of the new series starring Ricardo Darín.

#63

Blow for Milei as Argentina’s lower house approves probe into $LIBRA crypto scandal

Lawmakers vote to summon key ministers as fallout grows over so-called ‘Cryptogate’ scandal.

#64

Uruguay President Orsi calls for Latin American unity in face of economic uncertainty

Uruguay's left-wing President Yamandú Orsi calls for regional integration in the face of economic uncertainty from the United States.

#65

Maradona's former doctor bemoans 'neglect of care' before star's death

Dr Mario Schiter, Diego Maradona's former doctor, says there was a "neglect of care" in late star's medical treatment in the period leading up to his death.