MONETARY POLICY Central Bank cuts key rate to 29% as peso depreciation slows 30-01-2025 23:43 Central Bank cuts benchmark interest rate by 300 basis points to 29%.
ECONOMY – ANALYSIS Argentina and the IMF – scenarios for a possible new agreement 28-01-2025 10:04 Milei government and IMF continue to fine-tune a future agreement which is likely to include a remittance of some US$11 billion to bolster Central Bank coffers, allowing Argentina to remove the ‘cepo’ currency and capital controls. by Gonzalo Martínez
CENTRAL BANK MANOUEVRES Argentina takes steps to dollarise and holds key rate 17-01-2025 11:49 Argentina’s Central Bank said payment intermediaries will have to enable debit card transactions in US currency by February 28, marking a key step in President Javier Milei’s pledge to dollarise the economy.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK World Bank forecasts 5% growth for Argentina in 2025 17-01-2025 09:52 After two years of recession, President Javier Milei’s government will see approximately five percent in GDP this year, followed by a further 4.7 percent in 2026, predicts World Bank.
ECONOMIC FORECASTS Central Bank poll predicts 2025 inflation rate of 25.9% 09-01-2025 14:22 Projections for last year’s inflation rate dips to 117.8% in Central Bank’s market expectations survey.
WHERE'S THE GOLD? Argentina refuses to disclose location of Central Bank’s gold 09-01-2025 13:13 Lawyers representing Argentina in a New York court have refused to reveal the location of the Central Bank’s (BCRA) gold reserves.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENT Milei scores win with US$1-billion repo from five top banks 05-01-2025 09:47 Milei administration announces US$1-billion repurchase agreement with five international lenders that will help replenish foreign reserves at its Central Bank.
CENTRAL BANK RESERVES Argentina spent US$803 million this week on importer dollar demand 27-12-2024 18:42 Central Bank’s operations risk denting Milei's government’s efforts to replenish its treasure chest of reserves
CENTRAL BANK RESERVES Argentina sells most FX reserves since 2019 on importer demand 26-12-2024 19:14 Central Bank sells most foreign reserves in one day since October 2019 after officials eliminate PAIS tax on imports, igniting corporate demand for dollars.
MONETARY POLICY Argentina weighs managed exchange rate once it lifts currency controls 16-12-2024 19:44 President Javier Milei's government is weighing whether to introduce a managed exchange rate regime — a “dirty float” — once it lifts its current foreign exchange controls in 2025.
365 days of Javier Milei One year in, Milei yet to fulfill key economic campaign promises 09-12-2024 12:53 Dollarisation, the removal of the ‘cepo,’ and the closure of the Central Bank – though he has tamed inflation, President Javier Milei has yet to deliver on key economic promises in his first year in office.
INTEREST RATES Central Bank lowers rate to 32% on price expectations 06-12-2024 00:10 Argentina’s Central Bank cut its benchmark interest rate by 300 basis points to 32 percent as inflation expectations fall.
G20 SUMMIT IN BRAZIL Argentina snubs G20 summit launch of Brazil's global anti-hunger alliance 18-11-2024 11:05 Argentina the only G20 country not to sign up to a global anti-hunger initiative set to be launched at the opening of leaders summit in Brazil.
NEW BANKNOTES Milei administration introduces 20,000-peso bill to Argentina 13-11-2024 00:38 A dinner in an average restaurant costs around 20,000 pesos and it can now be paid with this banknote bearing the image of liberal politician and writer Juan Bautista Alberdi.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK Argentina in ‘transition’ to growth, says top World Bank official 12-11-2024 22:21 Top World Bank official William Mahoney praises advances by President Javier Milei's government and says Argentina is "in transition" towards the recovery of growth.
MONETARY POLICY Central Bank lowers benchmark rate to 35% from 40% 01-11-2024 12:46 Argentina’s Central Bank lowers benchmark interest rate for the first time in nearly six months.
CENTRAL BANK MANOUEVRES Milei taps unseasonal source in search of dollars 30-10-2024 10:06 Faced by a shortage of foreign reserves, the Central Bank is turning to an unusual source of funding for this time of year: a risky trade by crop exporters.
'Shock Therapy' Clamour for pesos leads banks to tap repo market 23-10-2024 12:47 A surge in demand for local currency in recent months has left Argentina's commercial banks needing access to pesos.
COURT BLOW Milei officials rage at opponents as UK court rules against Argentina 17-10-2024 12:00 Argentina loses bid for UK Supreme Court to hear its appeal on a ruling that will force the nation to pay $1.5 billion in damages to holders of the country’s growth-linked bonds.
MULTILATERAL FUNDING Latin American development bank announces US$3.8 billion in aid 14-10-2024 11:57 Ilan Goldfajn, head of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) voices clear support for President Javier Milei’s reforms and quest for fiscal balance.
BANKING & FINANCE Central Bank working to enable dollar debt cards 14-10-2024 11:13 Argentina’s Central Bank is working with banks and credit card companies to enable debt cards denominated in dollars.
INTERVIEW Latin America’s fiscal policies risk inflation, World Bank says 09-10-2024 18:25 Fiscal imbalances could threaten Latin America’s success in taming inflation, warns top World Bank economist.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK World Bank highlights falling inflation but warns of economic decline 09-10-2024 17:23 Latest report forecasts 3.5% contraction for Argentina's economy, but says GDP will soar by 5% in 2025.
ECONOMY & POLITICS Banco de la Nación wants to sell debt after a 30-year hiatus 09-10-2024 12:11 Daniel Tillard, the new head of Argentina’s largest bank, wants state-run Banco de la Nación to re-enter international capital markets for the first time in three decades.
DOLLARISATION ON THE CARDS? Milei wants Argentines to dollarise the economy for him 02-10-2024 13:16 Argentina’s President seems to have abandoned his vision of dollarisation of the economy. Instead, he wants his countrymen to do the job for him: dollar by dollar, peso by peso.
BUSINESS Havanna, maker of Argentina’s famed alfajor treats, explores unit sale 13-09-2024 08:00 Havanna, maker of Argentina’s most famous brand of the dulce de leche-infused confections known as alfajores, is exploring a sale of its operations in Latin America, including Argentina.
ECONOMY & FINANCE Argentina ships gold bars abroad to be financially certified 02-09-2024 20:30 Argentina’s Central Bank sent part of its gold reserves abroad in recent weeks to be validated for financial use.
CRIME & INSECURITY Authorities prevent ‘heist of the century’ copycat bank robbery in San Isidro 08-08-2024 15:58 Authorities discover an elaborate tunnel more than 150 metres long, presumably built to rob Banco Macro branch in the town of San Isidro, in a case echoing the famous “Heist of the Century.”
AGRO Agro dollars: the countryside liquidated US$2.61 billion in July 01-08-2024 16:08 The data of agro dollars come from the CIARA Argentine Chamber of the Oil Industry and the CEC Cereal Exporting Centre, two entities which combined account for nearly 50 percent of Argentine exports.
YPF CASE Could Argentina's gold reserves be seized due to YPF debt? 25-07-2024 18:02 The government’s plan to get liquidity and show financial fortitude has opened a window of uncertainty in the face of possible international suits. There are priors which support the alert, and others that play it down. by Ariel Maciel
MONETARY POLICY Argentina overcomes key hurdle impeding end of currency controls 20-07-2024 17:53 Central Bank buys back majority of put options from financial entities, bringing President Javier Milei one step closer to lifting currency controls.
MONETARY POLICY Argentina to sell dollars in parallel FX market to shore up peso 14-07-2024 09:31 Central Bank will sell US dollars in the country’s parallel foreign exchange markets starting Monday, says Economy Minister Luis Caputo.
ECONOMY & POLITICS Argentina officials move to shore up bank support for debt plan 01-07-2024 15:35 Economy Minister Luis Caputo and Central Bank Governor Santiago Bausili sought to shore up support Monday in a meeting with executives from private banks for a monetary policy pivot announced late Friday.
ECONOMIC POLICY Milei says he would slow crawling peg if inflation cools further 01-07-2024 12:10 President Javier Milei says peso could weaken at a slower pace if inflation cools to a certain level.
MONETARY POLICY Milei shifts policy in second phase of Argentina plan 29-06-2024 15:30 Milei administration embarks on second phase of economic plan, announcing it will swap out notes held at the Central Bank for new Treasury debt.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Economy extended downturn in April amid Milei’s cuts 29-06-2024 13:09 Economy slumped slightly in April, marking four of the last five months in decline since President Javier Milei took office.
POLITICS & ECONOMY Milei says legislative win paves way for monetary policy pivot 28-06-2024 13:56 President Milei says government will change its monetary policy framework following his first major legislative victory.
FOREIGN CURRENCY RESERVES Milei’s push to rebuild Argentina’s foreign reserves grinds to a halt 26-06-2024 23:36 Argentina's Central Bank is struggling to rebuild its chest of foreign reserves as it starts to spend money in currency markets to defend controls propping up the peso.
ECONOMY – ANALYSIS Brazil Central Bank daces self-inflicted crisis 17-06-2024 11:57 Brazil’s Central Bank is facing an emergency of its own making that threatens to sabotage years of deft policy making and credibility gains.
MONETARY POLICY Central Bank to hold talks over risks from bond puts 14-06-2024 17:18 Argentina’s Central Bank is in talks with executives at commercial banks to reduce the overhang of puts on sovereign peso debts.
CURRENCY SWAP Central Bank says China currency swap renewed until July 2026 12-06-2024 22:26 Central Bank renews a roughly US$5-billion portion of its currency swap line with the People’s Bank of China for another two years.
CHINA CURRENCY SWAP IMF expects China to reschedule billions in Argentina’s debt 12-06-2024 11:34 IMF expects China to reschedule payments from the US$18-billion swap line that it has extended to Argentina.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Milei signs Biden’s statement calling for Hamas-Israel ceasefire deal 06-06-2024 12:20 President Javier Milei’s government co-signs US-led statement urging Hamas to accept a ceasefire deal and Israel to accept compromises in a bid to stop the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
ECONOMY Milei says Argentina is ‘very close’ to lifting FX controls 15-05-2024 17:00 “The truth is that we’re very close to lifting” currency controls, Milei said Wednesday at a conference in Buenos Aires, without providing more specifics on timing.
MONETARY POLICY Central Bank cuts interest rate for sixth time to 40% as inflation slows 14-05-2024 20:32 Argentina cut its benchmark interest rate Tuesday for a sixth time under President Javier Milei.
MORTGAGE MARKET MOVES Argentines flock to banks as Milei awakens mortgage market 14-05-2024 15:06 Argentines are rushing to banks to apply for mortgages as interest-rate reductions begin to wake the home-loan market.
BANKS PROBED Argentina questions three banks on puts, bond transactions 13-05-2024 20:36 Argentina’s Central Bank and regulators are looking into at least three of the nation’s banks – Galicia, BBVA, Banco Supervielle – for potential irregularities in transactions with government bonds and put options.
IMF DEBT PROGRAMME Milei wins IMF staff support to unlock US$800 million 13-05-2024 12:07 IMF staff sign off on eighth review of Argentina’s US$44-billion programme, endorsing President Milei’s shock therapy programme and freeing up access to nearly US$800 million.
INTEREST RATES Central Bank cuts rates to 50% as Milei wrestles inflation down 02-05-2024 14:04 Central Bank cuts key interest rate for the third time in three weeks as officials bet on a sustained slowdown in consumer prices.
Foreign relations & diplomacy Top officials to meet People's Bank of China chief amid swap talks 26-04-2024 17:20 Argentina’s Central Bank Governor Santiago Bausili and Finance Secretary Pablo Quirno are scheduled to meet with People’s Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng in Beijing on Monday.