PRICE HIKES Argentina’s latest unorthodox tool to combat inflation: Artificial intelligence 05-02-2023 08:31 Argentina has come up with a new tool to keep track of price increases: artificial intelligence.
BOOKS & LITERATURE Publisher brings LatAm's best lit to English-speaking audiences 04-02-2023 06:30 Only around three percent of books published each year in the English-speaking world are translations, but some are attempting to rewrite that wrong. Charco Press, a small Argentine-led Edinburgh-based publishing house, wants to make Latin American literature more accessible, and it’s bringing big hitters like Claudia Piñero to shelves in the United States and the United Kingdom. by Erica Davis
Global economic outlook From impending catastrophe to moderately optimistic? 04-02-2023 06:09 Just as the global economy was heading into an unavoidable recession, sentiment seems to have been reversed and optimism is taking over. by Agustino Fontevecchia
EDITORIAL Sense and the census 04-02-2023 06:00 What this census is providing are updated figures on the population of Argentine provinces, which should at least serve to remove any excuse for not making the final reform of federal revenue-sharing stipulated for the year 1996 by the 1994 constitutional reformers.
THE WEEK IN REVIEW What we learned this week: January 28 to February 3 03-02-2023 09:30 A selection of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina...
BILLS, BILLS, BILLS Central Bank approves higher denomination 2,000-peso bill 02-02-2023 17:43 Monetary authority approves move to accommodate the needs of banks and shopkeepers; More than eight billion banknotes in circulation in Argentina, with inflation eating away at value of each.
ART & CULTURE Clickbait or creativity? The art world wrestles with AI 02-02-2023 16:14 Online tools like table Diffusion and DALL-E 2 that can create wonderful, absurd and sometimes horrifying images using artificial intelligence have exploded in popularity, sparking debate over the nature of art.
BRAZILIAN ECONOMY Brazil holds rates and sounds the alarm on rising inflation bets 02-02-2023 00:03 Brazil’s Central Bank kept its key interest rate unchanged and expressed concern about the costs of taming rising inflation expectations that have been fuelled by tensions with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s new government.
Bloomberg Australian billionaire eyes investment in Argentina energy or mining 01-02-2023 23:50 Australian billionaire James Packer explored investment options during a dinner late last year at a race track in Buenos Aires with businessmen and politicians including Economy Minister Sergio Massa, according to sources.
EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL Mercosur seeking ‘revised agreement’ with EU, says Cafiero 01-02-2023 18:58 Foreign minister says ‘assymetries’ in deal must be resolved; Top EU officials pinpoint July summit in Brussels as potential completion date.
Price Hikes Report: Argentina has averaged 30% inflation a year over past two decades 01-02-2023 15:19 IDESA private consultancy firm says Argentine state persistently spends 11% above its means, a phenomenon it attributes to mismanagement.
IMF Debt Deal IMF presses Argentina on targets, forecasts 2% GDP growth for 2023 01-02-2023 15:14 International Monetary Fund officials reiterate importance of hitting fiscal and monetary targets; Lender’s forecast for 2022 growth now 4.6%, with Argentina’s economy expected to grow by just 2% this year.
ENERGY Vaca Muerta: Government's ace in the hole against energy price hikes 01-02-2023 10:37 Upward inflationary trend in first three months of year set to continue with further increases in utility prices on the way. But the government is banking on Vaca Muerta and the Néstor Kirchner gas pipeline continuing to pay off.
CENSUS 2022 RESULTS Census data update shows Argentina’s population is 46 million 31-01-2023 23:14 INDEC shares fresh data from last May’s census, showing national headcount of 46,044,703 – 1.2 million lower than previous estimate. According to statistics bureau, 51.76% of the population is female and 48.22% male.
EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL EU, Mercosur trade deal possible soon, says European official 31-01-2023 13:14 European Union hopes to finalise trade deal with Mercosur by July, says top EU official.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Germany vows millions for Amazon as Scholz meets Lula in Brazil 30-01-2023 22:12 Germany on Monday outlined more than US$200 million in contributions for environmental projects in Brazil as Chancellor Olaf Scholz met President Lula.
BLOOMBERG Disappearing barbecues show global beef demand is under pressure 30-01-2023 17:09 It’s not uncommon to see meat-buying slide during downturns for the economy. What’s striking is that demand is falling faster in many of the countries where beef has traditionally been the protein of choice
Bloomberg Paul Krugman: Argentina, Brazil’s joint currency is terrible idea 30-01-2023 16:02 Nobel-Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman said the proposed currency union between Argentina and Brazil is a “terrible idea” dreamed up by someone with a limited understanding of economics.
German Chancellor in Brazil Lula receives Scholz on German leader's last leg of regional tour 30-01-2023 15:29 Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received Olaf Scholz on Monday, with the German chancellor becoming the first Western leader to visit Brazil since 2015.
German chancellor in Buenos Aires Fernández, Scholz meet with trade, investment, lithium on agenda 29-01-2023 10:56 Alberto Fernández and Olaf Scholz call for swift approval of stalled free-trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc; Two leaders ink agreements on lithium, investment and renewable energy.
Lithium in Latin America Scholz visits South America in a race with China to get lithium 29-01-2023 10:37 Chancellor hoping his trip to Latin America this weekend will help Germany secure additional supplies of the lithium that German car giants need for their electric-vehicle batteries.
EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL Fernández expects Mercosur, EU to close trade deal soon 29-01-2023 10:31 The Mercosur trade group and the European Union will reach a trade agreement soon, declares president during German chancellor's visit to Buenos Aires.
CHANCELLOR IN LATAM Germany's Scholz eyes opportunities on Latin American tour 28-01-2023 14:31 Accompanied by a delegation of business leaders, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit Argentina, then Chile, before heading to Brazil.
As I see it On Planet K, inflation is all in the mind 28-01-2023 00:33 To bring things under control, Alberto’s government would have to slow down the printing presses and greatly reduce public spending, measures that, needless to say, it refuses to contemplate. by James Neilson
FOREIGN POLITICS & DIPLOMACY German Chancellor heads to Argentina with investment on agenda 27-01-2023 16:44 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will stay in Argentina for 48 hours as part of a Latin American tour designed to secure the flow of raw materials for German industry and revitalise the EU-Mercosur agreement.
Debt bond buyback What’s a default? Argentina’s debt buyback splits S&P, Moody’s 27-01-2023 14:35 The world’s most-watched credit assessors are split after Moody’s Investors Service classified Argentina's plan to repurchase its debt in the open market as a distressed exchange.
Bilateral relations Lula and Fernández hail ‘new history’ as Argentina and Brazil reunite 27-01-2023 14:20 Brazil leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva underlined the significance of his visit to Argentina on Monday, declaring it marked “the beginning of a new history” between the two nations.
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero: ‘Argentina needs a dynamic Brazil’ 27-01-2023 14:04 Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero on Lula’s visit to Argentina, the revival of bilateral relations following Bolsonaro’s departure from office and the president’s re-election hopes. by Jorge Fontevecchia
THE WEEK IN REVIEW Stories that caught the eye: January 20 to 27 27-01-2023 13:55 A selection of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.
AND THAT REMINDS ME… Oktoberfest in January 27-01-2023 10:59 With German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in town this coming week, the Teutonic presence in Argentina seems as good a topic for today’s column as any. by Michael Soltys
BOND BUYBACK Argentina’s bond buyback plan sets off Moody’s default alarm 26-01-2023 15:10 Plan to repurchase US$1 billion of overseas bonds meets the definition for a default, according to Moody’s.
MERCOSUR TENSIONS Lula urges sealing of EU-Mercosur trade deal before China talks 26-01-2023 00:49 Lula demands Mercosur seal a free-trade agreement with the European Union before moving onto talks with China.
Tourism Cruise ships flock to capital, with 50,000 tourists visiting Buenos Aires in two-week spell 25-01-2023 13:36 Cruise tourism season, which started in October and ends in April, will see the arrival of more than 120 luxury liners, which translates into almost 350 thousand passengers and an average daily expenditure of 90.6 dollars per traveler.
Diplomacy & Trade Lula in Uruguay: Meeting with Lacalle Pou and a wink to the opposition 25-01-2023 13:10 Brazilian president arrived in Montevideo on Wednesday to meet with Luis Lacalle Pou; Talks regarding the Mercosur trade bloc dominate, but Lula also delivers a nod to the country’s opposition by meeting major figures of the left.
INVESTMENT IN ARGENTINA 2023: Interesting challenges for investors in the year to come 25-01-2023 12:56 Having a global vision helps us understand that there are economic problems that transcend borders and the mechanisms used to solve them have consequences in different geographies.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS INDEC: Economy grew 5.9% year-on-year in first 11 months of 2022 24-01-2023 21:59 November data shows Argentina’s economy contracted for a third straight month, further dampening the annual outlook for the coming 12 months.
CELAC SUMMIT 2023 Lacalle Pou voices discontent at CELAC summit 24-01-2023 21:35 Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou delivers forceful remarks at “ideological” CELAC summit, declaring that “there are countries here that do not respect democracy or human rights.”
CELAC SUMMIT 2023 Brazil 'is back' hails Lula at Latin American leaders summit 24-01-2023 16:43 "Brazil is back in the region," declares Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as Latin American and Caribbean leaders meet in Buenos Aires for CELAC summit.
Economy & Inflation Venezuela closed 2022 with an inflation rate of 234% 24-01-2023 13:41 Government officials in Venezuela reveal inflation has dropped from 130,000% per annum in 2018 to 234% in 2022, though private forecasters warn hyperinflation remains a threat.
AGRICULTURE & ECONOMY Argentine meat-packing heir wants to embed crops with animal DNA 24-01-2023 12:57 Newly listed Moolec Science SA is inserting pork and beef genes into soybeans and peas to create hybrid proteins that are both plant- and animal-based.
CELAC SUMMIT 2023 Latin American leaders host CELAC summit with Brazil back in the fold 24-01-2023 09:23 Latin American heads of state and government meet Tuesday in Buenos Aires for a regional summit welcoming back Brazil into the fold.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Relaunching the strategic alliance between Argentina and Brazil 24-01-2023 00:17 In a special text for PERFIL, the Argentina and Brazilian presidents detail the strategic alliance which they signed Monday in Buenos Aires, defending democracy, Mercosur and economic integration.
LULA IN BUENOS AIRES Brazil, Argentina eye common unit for trade, not a single currency 23-01-2023 21:49 Brazilian finance minister says plan is to introduce a common unit to settle trading operations between the two countries without relying on the dollar.
LULA IN BUENOS AIRES Brazil to finance Argentine importers in bid to boost trade ties 23-01-2023 21:42 Loans to Argentine companies will be given by public and private banks in Brazil and covered by guarantees from both governments.
Trade Agreements Brazil: Uruguay's agreement with China would 'destroy' Mercosur 23-01-2023 15:57 Free-trade agreement between Uruguay and China would destroy Mercosur by contradicting the bloc's integration policies, declares Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Maduro's trip to Argentina in doubt as he pulls out of Lula meeting 23-01-2023 15:13 Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro pulls out of scheduled meeting with Lula in Buenos Aires, putting his planned trip to Buenos Aires for CELAC summit in doubt.
BRAZIL LEADER IN ARGENTINA Lula lands in Buenos Aires seeking rebuild bridges in Latin America 23-01-2023 09:56 Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira says Lula's visit to Buenos Aires and attendance at CELAC summit is part of a foreign policy that will seek to "rebuild bridges" with the international community.
JOINT CURRENCY PLAN Brazil and Argentina are discussing whether to combine currencies 23-01-2023 09:31 Argentina and Brazil are in the preliminary stages of renewing discussions on forming a common currency for financial and commercial transactions, the leaders of the two nations reveal.
And that reminds me… Court between a rock and a hard place 21-01-2023 06:56 Both the 1947 and the 2002-2003 purges accomplished their missions but we may well be taking current events too seriously if we expect a similar outcome now.
EDITORIAL For a few dollars less 21-01-2023 05:53 Sergio Massa looks no closer to gaining market confidence nor Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to advancing the impeachment of the Supreme Court beyond committee stage in Congress.
Plan Massa Peronist gradualism 21-01-2023 05:46 Once again Sergio Massa has taken the spotlight. As the electoral year gets going, he seems to be placing his bets on managing to bring inflation down while keeping the economy in positive territory to become the main candidate for the pan-Peronist coalition, Frente de Todos. by Agustino Fontevecchia
Society Social volunteering at highest level since 2001 crisis 20-01-2023 13:07 Amid rising poverty and increasing hunger in Argentina, new survey by the Voices consultancy firm reveals that 36% of Argentines now volunteer with social organisations – the highest level since the 2001-2002 crisis. by Enrique Garabetyan
AGRICULTURE & ECONOMY Report: Losses from severe drought could exceed US$10 billion 20-01-2023 13:00 Economy Minister Sergio Massa meets with Mesa de Enlace to discuss the situation as soybean crop estimates are slashed; Agricultural losses for farmers expected to total US$10 billion, could knock two points off GDP this year.
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Horacio Rodríguez Larreta: ‘I do not see any clear government plan to lower inflation’ 20-01-2023 12:53 Buenos Aires City Mayor and likely 2023 presidential hopeful Horacio Rodríguez Larreta on the Supreme Court’s federal revenue-sharing ruling, next year’s election and developments from the last 12 months. by Jorge Fontevecchia
Agriculture & Technology Davos backs an Argentine firm that optimises irrigation with new tech 20-01-2023 11:53 Kilimo, an Argentine company that uses data to optimise irrigation, received strong financial support at this year's Davos forum to continue developing a system that helps farmers in Latin America save thousands of litres of water.
THE WEEK IN REVIEW Stories that caught our eye: January 13 to 20 20-01-2023 11:02 A selection of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.
BLOOMBERG Rich investors pull out of Chile, leaving behind a US$50-billion hole 19-01-2023 14:45 Chile, Latin America’s stand-out economy for the better part of 50 years and a darling of Wall Street, is in many ways facing an existential moment.
TOURISM & TRAVEL Summer season off to bang in Argentina with 12.8 million taking trips 19-01-2023 14:45 Four-week period between the second half of December and the first half of January saw 2.3% more tourists on move than in the previous year, with travellers generally taking shorter trips but spending more.
DEBT INTERVENTION Argentina’s US$1-billion bond buyback is baffling investors 19-01-2023 14:25 While repurchasing the bonds at a fraction of their face value could ultimately save the country hundreds of millions of dollars in interest and principal payments, investors point out that the government doesn’t have very much room in Central Bank coffers to fund such a lavish buyback.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Brazil's unemployment continues to fall to seven-year low 19-01-2023 12:57 Brazil's unemployment continued to fall in the three months from September to November 2022, hitting a new seven-year low of 8.1%, official figures published on Thursday showed.
FIFAGATE CORRUPTION CONMEBOL officials took millions in bribes, New York court told 19-01-2023 10:58 Argentine businessman Alejandro Burzaco claims he and two former television executives had funnelled kickbacks to CONMEBOL chiefs to secure lucrative broadcasting rights.
Bloomberg Banks need more vault space to store piles of pesos 19-01-2023 03:02 Peso bills are depreciating so quickly that banks are running out of space to store bank notes.
MARKETS Bonds jump as government stuns market with billion buyback 19-01-2023 02:53 Economy Ministry is using dollars held by the Treasury to fund the buyback, including money it expects to save from energy imports it presumes it won’t need in 2023, according to sources.
BLOOMBERG - OPINION Argentina’s bond buyback seems to make little sense 19-01-2023 02:45 It is generally thought that it is better to buy back bonds when they are cheap than when they have just posted a sharp rise, but perhaps Massa knows something we don't.
FIFAGATE CORRUPTION Football scam jury hears of Fox TV rights bought with bribes 19-01-2023 02:22 Prosecutors said Hernán López and Carlos Martínez teamed up with the sports marketing firm Full Play Group SA to pay millions of dollars a year in bribes to officials of CONMEBOL, the governing body for South American football. Full Play is also a defendant in the case.
Corruption Scandal Ecuador president asks heads of all state firms to resign 18-01-2023 14:04 Director of state body overseeing public enterprises calls for "the availability of the positions of general managers" in all state institutions "by order of the president of the republic."
ECONOMY & SOCIETY Beef relief for butchers in Argentina? No more carrying half a cow 18-01-2023 12:27 Street scenes of butchers weighed down by half a cow carcass on their back could be a thing of the past after a new government ruling.
Debt intervention Argentina to buy back US$1 billion in foreign debt 18-01-2023 09:15 Economy Minister Sergio Massa says Argentina’s government will buy back US$1 billion of foreign debt in bid to improve the country’s debt and risk profile; Measure, confirmed via resolution published in Official Gazette, focused on global bonds maturing in 2029 and 2030.
SURVEY Poll: Almost 7 in 10 Argentines are unhappy with their jobs 17-01-2023 17:14 New survey by the Bumeran job portal shows that people living in Argentina are among the most dissatisfied workers in the region; 67% are unhappy with their jobs and 61% think their pay isn't enough.
AGRICULTURE Drought-busting rains come too late to salvage Argentina's soy 17-01-2023 16:31 Rains heralding the end of the devastating La Niña drought may come too late to prevent Argentina's soybean crop from withering.