News of economy

CGT confirms 36-hour strike, starting next Wednesday

Today 15:58 Confederación General del Trabajo (CGT) umbrella union grouping, Argentina’s largest labour federation, confirms third general strike of President Javier Milei’s government will take begin April 9 and last 36 hours.

In focus: Cryptocurrencies

Political support leading to increasing fall-out for crypto

Today 00:42 Experts say recent support from Donald Trump and Javier Milei for memecoin cryptocurrencies has led to losses of several billion dollars for investors, weakening a sector still is seeking legitimacy.

TRADE WARS

Trump tariffs everyone, with rate on China set to soar above 50%

Today 00:24 US President Donald Trump announces steepest US tariffs in a century, unnerving investors who see a trade war ahead.

MULTILATERAL FUNDING

World Bank promises ‘significant support’ for Milei's Argentina

Yesterday 17:33 "Significant support" promised by Ajay Banga, head of the World Bank, as he meets with President Javier Milei at the Casa Rosada.

TRADE WARS

Trump attempting to be an ‘emperor,’ says Chile's Boric

Yesterday 15:19 Chilean President says that at Trump’s inauguration, billionaires and tech gurus were “paying homage to someone who seems to pretend to be a new emperor.”

MILEI TO AMERICA

Milei heads to Trump’s home base with IMF feal near finish line

Yesterday 08:52 President Javier Milei will reportedly travel to Florida on Wednesday for talks with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

POVERTY ASSESSMENT

‘Not much to celebrate’ despite fall in poverty, says expert

01-04-2025 13:13 Leading poverty expert Agustín Salvia, of UCA’s prestigious social debt observatory, digs into the figures after INDEC reports dramatic fall in numbers of poor.

POLLING & SURVEYS

Latin Americans split on retaliation as Trump’s tariffs loom

01-04-2025 12:19 Half of Mexicans, Argentines and Brazilians want their governments to retaliate to Trump’s tariffs, with slightly smaller shares of Colombians and Chileans saying the same.

BLOOMBERG REPORT

Milei charged executives US$20,000 for private dinners as he ran for president

01-04-2025 11:59 Executives bought access to Argentina’s rising political star; Milei likened the dinners to the consulting work he used to do.

BLOOMBERG - ANALYSIS

Poverty falls sharply as prices cool under Milei

31-03-2025 17:02 About 38.1% of Argentines fell under the poverty line in the second half of last year, according to government data published Monday.

IMF PROGRAMME

Caputo: Argentina wants a ‘high’ first disbursement from IMF

31-03-2025 14:04 Economy Minister revealed last week that Argentina is seeking around US$20 billion in fresh financing from the IMF, on top of its existing US$44-billion debt.

Editorial

Into More Frenzy

29-03-2025 06:11 Perhaps today’s economic situation is best explained by saying: “It’s the elections, stupid.”

Analysing Argentina

Will Elon Musk’s plumber pay for Milei’s trips abroad?

29-03-2025 06:11 There is reason behind the IMF’s decision to throw its weight behind President Milei, which means partnering with his political objectives too.

by Marcelo J. García

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Towards a smarter state

29-03-2025 06:11 The libertarian government seems intent on cutting back a bloated state to its right size without having any clear idea what that size might be.

by Michael Soltys

IMF PROGRAMME

IMF confirms Argentina has requested new US$20-billion loan programme

28-03-2025 18:10 "Progress on the new programme is very advanced and engagement continues at all levels to finalise an agreement," says IMF in a statement.

IMF PROGRAMME

Argentina seeks large portion of US$20-billion IMF deal up front

28-03-2025 12:00 The size of Argentina’s first disbursement has become the most important issue of negotiations at this stage, with President Milei's government seeking a large portion up front.

'CRYPTOGATE' SCANDAL

Prosecutor probes Milei assets in ‘$LIBRA’ Cryptogate case

27-03-2025 21:16 Federal prosecutor Eduardo Taiano gathering information regarding the assets of President Javier Milei, his sister Karina Milei and three businessmen.

BLOOMBERG

AySA's bond rally faces key privatisation test

27-03-2025 17:45 Debt holders of state-owned water and sewage company AySA are reaping a windfall after President Javier Milei scrapped some price controls for public utility services.

IMF DEBT PROGRAMME

Argentina says its new IMF programme will total US$20 billion

27-03-2025 15:00 The economy minister added that funds combined from the IMF, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and regional bank CAF would put Argentina’s Central Bank reserves near US$50 billion.

NEW IMF DEAL

Caputo says Argentina’s new IMF deal includes US$20 billion

27-03-2025 10:30 Economy Minister Luis Caputo says new IMF programme for Argentina will include US$20 billion in fresh funding.

by James Grainger

ANALYSIS

How many dollars does Luis Caputo need to reach the midterms?

27-03-2025 00:39 The market is spotlighting fresh funds. The blend could be a bargaining-chip for exchange rate intervention. Central Bank reserves back to levels of late 2023.

by Eugenia Muzio

ANALYSIS: SHOCK THERAPY

Traders bet on weaker peso as Milei’s IMF deal looms

26-03-2025 21:39 Investors see Argentina’s peso on the verge of devaluation again, but for Javier Milei, such a step could prove costly – especially ahead of midterm elections in October.

MERCOSUR TRADE

Lula urges Mercosur-Japan deal to counter Trump protectionism

26-03-2025 08:38 Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva calls for new trade deal between Mercosur bloc and Japan during visit to Tokyo.

MARKET VIEW

Goldman says end of Argentina FX controls key to reviving IPOs

25-03-2025 12:20 President Milei needs to start getting rid of capital and currency controls to lure equity investors, according to Goldman Sachs.

SALE SUSPENDED

Milei blocks sale of Telefónica Argentina to Clarín’s Telecom

25-03-2025 11:02 Government explains why it has moved to halt purchase of Telefónica Argentina by Telecom; Guillermo Francos warns deal would create an oligopoly in the telecommunications sector.

POLITICS IN CHILE

Chile presidential candidate Evelyn Matthei lauds Argentina budget cuts

22-03-2025 09:13 “In Argentina, they’ve cut spending with a speed and determination that’s incredible,” says Chile presidential candidate Evelyn Matthei.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

'Cepo' in review

22-03-2025 07:53 It might well be argued that the ‘cepo,’ the seemingly endless set of currency and capital controls, has been a bane of Argentina’s existence.

by Michael Soltys

ANALYSING ARGENTINA

Autumn is coming for Javier Milei

22-03-2025 07:41 Last week, we discussed how an electoral agreement with the governor of Chaco signalled a possible pattern. This week, Chaco Governor Leandro Zdero received a 120-billion-peso transfer from the federal government. Just don’t tell the IMF.

by Marcelo J. García

POLITICS – ANALYSIS

Political hegemony turning to pathetic circus

22-03-2025 07:14 Market jitters have pushed the government into a defensive posture, in which Economy Minister Luis ‘Toto’ Caputo appears to have involuntarily flamed the fans of devaluation.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

Editorial

Forever Autumn?

22-03-2025 07:11 There is already too much polarisation in politics at large – instead of extremes clashing, there is a need to meet in the middle for a serious debate about a complex issue.

IMF DEBT TALKS

IMF to consider US$20-billion Argentina deal in informal meeting

21-03-2025 15:44 IMF intends to discuss a new loan for Argentina during an informal meeting between its staff and executive board next week in Washington.

POLITICS

No more JxC, PRO dispute – Electoral alliances in City confirmed

20-03-2025 23:48 City alliance deadline closes, Juntos por el Cambio no more, PRO goes it alone, also without Rodríguez Larreta; Leandro Santoro heads Peronists; Controversy over ‘Unión Porteña Libertaria’ slate.

LABOUR & POLITICS

CGT labour federation calls general strike on April 10

20-03-2025 20:10 The CGT umbrella union grouping on Thursday confirmed that it will call a general strike – the third of President Javier Milei’s time in office – on April 10.

IMF DEBT PROGRAMME

IMF deal will be agreed by mid-April, says Milei

20-03-2025 18:27 Lower house backs presidential decree authorising new deal with International Monetary Fund.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Rights body criticises Milei over policing of protests

20-03-2025 16:53 Inter-American Commission of Human Rights calls on President Javier Milei’s government to guarantee freedom of expression and association as it voices concerns; Weekly pensioners’ protest passes off without major incident.

DEBT & MARKETS

Argentina waiting on yields to fall below 10% before debt market return

20-03-2025 12:26 Argentina is waiting for yields on its sovereign bonds to edge below 10% before exploring return to international capital markets, says government official.

SCANDAL IN URUGUAY

Uruguay rocked by US$300 million in cattle fraud claims

20-03-2025 12:21 Urugauy is facing one of its biggest-ever retail investor fraud cases, with companies peddling cattle investments accused of bilking savers out of hundreds of millions of dollars.

IMF DEBT PROGRAMME

Milei wins lower house approval to agree new IMF loan

19-03-2025 17:52 Milei granted free hand in negotiations with International Monetary Fund over a new programme as lower house backs decree authorising talks.

Congress & Politics

Congress upholds Milei’s decree to back new IMF-Argentina deal

19-03-2025 17:44 Lower house lawmakers vote in favour of President Javier Milei’s emergency executive decree backing a new deal with the International Monetary Fund.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Economy extended expansion as new IMF accord nears

19-03-2025 17:27 Gross domestic product expanded 1.4% in the three months through December, compared with the previous quarter.

ANALYSIS: SHOCK THERAPY

Milei’s inflation miracle distorted by obsolete items in index

19-03-2025 17:12 Calls are getting louder for President Javier Milei’s government to redo the make-up of the consumer price index for the first time in two decades.

Labour unrest

Labour leaders plan general strike against Milei government

17-03-2025 09:10 CGT, Argentina's biggest umbrella union grouping, to call general strike for Tuesday, April 8; Details to be defined at the meeting this Thursday.

ECONOMY – ANALYSIS

Argentina disinflation stalled despite strength of the peso

15-03-2025 10:52 Economists surveyed by Argentina’s Central Bank expect year-on-year inflation to plunge to 23% this year.

OPINION & ANALYSIS

Is Donald Trump good for Argentina?

15-03-2025 07:40 Trump’s new transactional and short-term economic order overlaps with a new gangster-style and hyper-materialistic political order.

by Jorge Fontevecchia

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

The Ides of March

15-03-2025 07:21 While conspiracy theories are wildly fashionable in today’s world, accidents can also happen.

by Michael Soltys

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Consumer prices rose 2.4% in February, reveals INDEC

14-03-2025 18:11 Inflation inches up, rising 0.2 points from 2.2% recorded previous month; Prices up 2.4% in first two months of year, by 66.9% over last 12 months.

POLITICS & ECONOMY

Milei boosts budget of SIDE intelligence services by 7.3 billion pesos

14-03-2025 09:14 More funds for discretionary “reserved spending” for intelligence services; Increase in intelligence funding comes just days after President promised funds for storm-hit Bahía Blanca.

ENERGY & GAS

Petronas is evaluating exit from Argentina shale oil venture

13-03-2025 23:39 Petronas has begun a process that may result in a sale of its 50 percent stake in La Amarga Chica, a venture with state-run YPF in the oil production heartland of Vaca Muerta.

CLASHES WITH SECURITY FORCES

More than 120 detained, 20 injured as pensions protest turns violent

13-03-2025 01:54 Protesting pensioners joined by football supporters for anti-austerity demonstration; Security forces clash with hooligans; 124 detained and at least 20 injured in one of the most violent demonstrations against Milei’s austerity measures.

by Zella Milfred