AND THAT REMINDS ME... Your petrol frizzled Today 10:19 If Vaca Muerta is indeed a dead cow, then Argentina will end up importing fuel, a move which will surely cost more dollars than those denied YPF to service its debts. by Michael Soltys
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Pandemic costs sent primary fiscal gap to 6.5% of GDP Today 09:59 Fiscal deficit skyrocketed last year to highest since 1993, as the pandemic forced increase in social spending.
UNITED STATES New US president gets to work rolling back Trump-era policies Today 09:54 Biden issues flurry of executive orders, warns that Covid-19 is expected to kill "well over 600,000" in the United States.
BIDEN INAUGURATION Biden, facing historic challenges, vows to end ‘uncivil war’ Today 09:32 Trump era finally draws to close as Joseph Biden is sworn-in as 46th president of United States, two weeks after deadly attack on US Capitol.
US-LATIN AMERICAN RELATIONS Biden to adopt ‘dramatically different’ approach to Latin America Today 08:57 With President Joe Biden now in the White House, three respected experts offer their opinions on what lies ahead for US-Latin American relations over the next four years. by Jennifer Heiman
IMF DEBT TALKS President Fernández holds talks with IMF chief Georgieva Yesterdat 02:25 The government is hoping to renegotiate repayments on a US$44-billion loan granted to the Mauricio Macri administration by the Fund in 2018.
UNITED STATES Biden facing 'competing crises' as he takes office 18-01-2021 23:57 Joe Biden has his work cut out for him as he prepares to be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday.
Bloomberg Oaktree, BlackRock are among YPF creditors organising 18-01-2021 17:25 Investment firms including Oaktree Capital Management and BlackRock Inc are organising into two groups to negotiate with YPF SA after the state oil producer proposed a debt swap that would saddle them with losses.
AND THAT REMINDS ME... Grain means pain, corn meets scorn 16-01-2021 09:13 Maize in a maze would be as good a way as any of describing the government’s slapdash suspension of corn exports early in this new year. by Michael Soltys
BLOOMBERG Bolsonaro government’s message to Biden: Trumpism lives on in Brazil 16-01-2021 04:04 Brazil's Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo wants Joe Biden to know that it’s not about to reverse course in response to the change of US leadership.
AGRO TENSIONS Argentina eases protectionist corn curbs by lifting export ban 11-01-2021 09:23 Government ends temporary ban on grain exports and will instead set a daily sales limit to guarantee domestic supply, as producers begin three-day strike
AS I SEE IT Too many very angry people 09-01-2021 09:21 Millions of people who are neither that well-off nor desperately poor think the current economic arrangements are not working for them. by James Neilson
MALVINAS ISLANDS Filmus renews Malvinas claim with eye trained on Brexit fallout 09-01-2021 09:10 Government official says sovereignty claim over disputed islands is once again “state policy” under President Alberto Fernández
THE WEEK What we learned this week: January 2 to 9 09-01-2021 08:24 Our pick of the headlines from the last seven days in Argentina.
EDITORIAL A freezing summer 09-01-2021 08:04 The government’s actions speak louder than his words – the elections above all else.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Economy posts sixth straight month of growth post Covid-Plunge 26-12-2020 10:25 Argentina’s economy continued to recover slowly from its historic Covid-19 plunge earlier this year, posting the sixth straight month of growth.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Economic activity contracted 7.4% in October year-on-year 24-12-2020 02:47 Economic activity contracted by 11.3% in the first 10 months of 2020, compared to the previous year, the INDEC national statistics bureau reports.
POLITICS AND THE PANDEMIC The vaccine conversation 19-12-2020 08:42 These glitches and delays add up to negative headlines. Opposition leaders accused the government of deliberately keeping the public in the dark about the pending approval of the vaccine for those over 60. by Martín Gambarotta
MARTÍN GUZMÁN Should he stay or should he go? 19-12-2020 08:31 The series of reversals of Martín Guzmán’s 2021 policies sends a clear message: austerity will not be tolerated, much less so in an electoral year. by Agustino Fontevecchia
Mercosur 'Distrust' of Brazil stalls EU-Mercosur trade deal 13-12-2020 19:45 Concerns over Amazon deforestation under Bolsonaro are delaying the ratification of a two-decades long negotiated trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur.
IMF DEBT TALKS Guzmán expects new program with IMF in March or April 2021 10-12-2020 02:11 Economy Minister Martín Guzmán says talks with the IMF will still "take a while," hinting a deal would be likely in March or April next year.
Congress Senate approves one-time levy on assets for Argentina's richest 06-12-2020 17:50 Senate approves government-backed bill to introduce so-called 'wealth tax' on 12,000 of the country's richest citizens late Friday night.
Bloomberg Fintech firm Ualá takes mobile payments to small businesses 06-12-2020 16:59 Ualá, the mobile payments company backed by heavyweight investors, is expanding into merchant services in Argentina, launching a number of services for small businesses.
POLITICAL BREAKDOWN A growing sense of incompetence 05-12-2020 09:58 Public perception has worsened from one where Cristina was calling the shots from the background, to one where no-one is even in control. by Agustino Fontevecchia
economy Government officials to meet IMF in Washington in 'coming days' 04-12-2020 13:07 Government officials will meet with staff from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) soon to continue talks on a new aid programme, a Fund spokesman said Thursday.
FOOD PRICES UN: World food prices jump to six-year high 03-12-2020 19:26 Global food commodity prices rose sharply in November to their highest level in nearly six years, the UN food agency said Thursday, due in part to adverse weather conditions.
TRAVEL & TOURISM Verano Certificate: Travelers need certificate for summer holidays 03-12-2020 15:06 National Tourism Ministry launches an online registration system for tourists ahead of summer vacation season. Pre-booked details obligatory in several provinces. by Clara Fernández Escudero
LATIN AMERICA UN: Foreign direct investment in Latin America to fall by up to 55% 02-12-2020 13:39 Foreign direct investment in Latin America will fall by up to 55% in 2020, the UN's regional economic commission said Wednesday.
Bloomberg Guzmán plays down prospects of an early IMF deal 29-11-2020 23:08 In an interview with the Financial Times, Economy Minister Martín Guzmán plays down the chances of an early agreement with the International Monetary Fund over repayment of US$44-billion loan.
Congress Senate begins analysing 'wealth tax' bill, vote likely early December 25-11-2020 07:52 Senate begins analysing 'wealth tax' bill to impose a one-off levy on Argentina's richest citizens on Tuesday, following last week's approval of the initiative in the lower house.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Economic activity shrank 6.9% in September year-on-year 24-11-2020 19:12 New data from INDEC national statistics bureau shows economic activity has declined 11.9% since the turn of the year.
EU-MERCOSUR DEAL Without environmental guarantees, EU-Mercosur trade deal faces uncertain future 23-11-2020 15:51 Historic free-trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur regional bloc, announced more than a year ago after more than two decades of negotiations, stuck in limbo due to environmental concerns.
IMF DEBT TALKS IMF and Argentina making 'good progress' on new financing plan 22-11-2020 15:13 IMF mission team ends visit to Buenos Aires, saying that talks over a new financing plan are progressing well, with the two sides beginning to “delineate the contours” of a new deal.
Congress Chamber of Deputies approves government’s ‘wealth tax’ bill 19-11-2020 02:05 Lawmakers in Argentina’s lower house approve move to introduce one-off levy affecting those with largest fortunes. Bill, which Peronist lawmakers hope will raise US$3 billion, now goes to Senate.
'Wealth tax' Lower house opens debate on government's 'wealth tax' bill 18-11-2020 00:50 Argentina’s lower house is expected to approve a bill to introduce a one-off capital levy on more than 9,000 of the country’s wealthiest citizens on Wednesday morning.
ECONOMIC MEASURES Ban on lay-offs and dismissals extended until end of January 17-11-2020 16:33 Government publishes decree in Official Gazette extending ban on dismissals and lay-offs until January 29
IMF DEBT TALKS Peronist senators amp up rhetoric with scathing letter to IMF chief 16-11-2020 18:05 With government in talks over new financing programme, senators from ruling Frente de Todos coalition fire off letter to IMF chief Kristialina Georgieva demanding organisation “refrain from conditioning economic policy.”
Coronavirus pandemic Guzmán, Pesce, Massa in isolation after IMF officials gets Covid-19 15-11-2020 20:55 A number of government officials – including Martín Guzmán, Miguel Pesce and Sergio Massa – went into preventative isolation on Sunday, after a member of a visiting IMF mission tested positive for Covid-19.
US ELECTION 2020 'Time will tell': Trump hints at election loss, talks up vaccine efforts 14-11-2020 11:01 President comes close but stops just short of acknowledging he lost the November 3 election to Democrat Joe Biden.
US ELECTION 2020 Biden faces tall order reviving Washington's global role 14-11-2020 10:49 US President-elect Joe Biden has vowed to restore America’s moral authority in the world but after four years of norms-shattering by Donald Trump, he will have his work cut out for him.
IMF TALKS Government to request Extended Fund Facility programme from IMF 14-11-2020 10:26 Guzmán tells reporters Argentina will seek an Extended Fund Facility programme, a scheme that normally implies a commitment to significant economic reforms.
THIS WEEK What we learned this week: November 7 to 14 14-11-2020 10:21 A round-up of some of the key stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.
EDITORIAL No Trump card in the disunited states 14-11-2020 09:09 When Charles I met his end, his studied dignity evoked that Shakespearian Macbeth line: “Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it” – today in the United States, Donald Trump continues to resist any such epitaph to his presidency.
BLOOMBERG CEOs frustrated with Argentina rattle off list of problems 13-11-2020 19:02 Global companies are growing ever more frustrated with Argentina. The specific gripes vary, but broadly speaking executives say it’s hard to make money given the multitude of challenges facing the nation.
BLOOMBERG Argentina hikes rates after prices surge past expectations 12-11-2020 23:56 Central Bank hikes interest rates after October inflation report showed consumer prices surged at the fastest pace this year.
Bloomberg Argentina goes all-in to cut record gap with parallel peso 12-11-2020 16:42 Argentina is resorting to all necessary means to reduce the gap between its official and parallel exchange rates.
IMF DEBT TALKS Argentina will ask IMF for Extended Fund Facility programme, says Guzmán 09-11-2020 21:55 Government will ask IMF for an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme as part of the government's efforts to delay repayments on the US$44 billion it owes, Economy Minister Martin Guzman confirms.
PRESIDENT SWORN-IN Luis Arce takes power in Bolivia facing deep challenges 09-11-2020 14:46 Luis Arce assumed the Bolivian presidency on Sunday in a ceremony attended by foreign leaders including President Alberto Fernández.
IMF DEBT TALKS IMF to launch talks with Argentina over new loan next week 06-11-2020 18:27 IMF confirms mission team will arrive in Argentina to start talks with the government over a new financing programme next week.
BLOOMBERG Argentina turns to orthodox policy signals to ease dollar craze 06-11-2020 09:12 After tightening capital controls several times, Argentina's government has surprised investors by altering its tack in what appears to be an incipient effort to restore confidence.