BEIJING & BUENOS AIRES Argentina renews China currency swap deal to strengthen reserves 02-06-2023 16:39 Government renews three-year currency swap line with China in bid to boost Central Bank reserves.
BRAZILIAN ECONOMY Brazil 'finfluencers' bring finance to the favelas 17-05-2023 15:05 So-called 'finfluencers,' or financial influencers, are going viral in Brazil, delivering financial education to the masses in a country known for its gaping inequalities.
BLACK TUESDAY Massa’s disobedience, Kirchnerite fury and inflation fears 26-04-2023 11:05 Economy Minister Sergio Massa will force a political debate in the wake of exchange rate crisis. Kirchnerism once again points finger at agricultural producers. by Ariel Maciel
Bloomberg Brazil’s inflation expectations level off after fiscal plan 03-04-2023 12:08 President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government presents a highly-anticipated fiscal rule proposal to help control the growth of public debt.
FINANCE & LENDING Credit agencies disbursed a record amount to Argentina in 2022 10-02-2023 11:26 More than US$5 billion in funds were transferred to Argentina last year from multilateral lenders, declared Economy Ministry in new report.
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.
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.
ANALYSIS Lula tests markets, picking leftist ex-mayor Haddad as finance boss 12-12-2022 09:53 Former São Paulo Mayor Fernando Hadda, a 59-year-old party loyalist, named as finance minister, following weeks of speculation about who would take on the most challenging job in Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's incoming administration.
Markets Argentina AySA deal said to have critical mass to deter holdouts 03-12-2022 08:14 Any creditors considering holding out for a better deal in a debt restructuring offer from Argentina’s state-owned water utility AySA should probably think again.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK Analysts forecast 6% November inflation for Argentina 01-12-2022 11:35 Experts in the private sector believe inflation has cooled slightly from previous month, but it won’t be such a marked slowdown. by Lorena Rodríguez
INTEREST RATES Central Bank poised to hold the key rate at 75% into next year 30-11-2022 08:34 Central Bank tracking suggests monthly inflation could slow to about 5.5% in November, down from 6.3% in October.
El Salvador Salvadoran president vows to buy "one #Bitcoin every day' 17-11-2022 16:04 Bitcoin traded at about $16,500 per unit on Thursday, down from $45,000 in September 2021 when El Salvador adopted the cryptocurrency.
Argentina Templeton’s Hasenstab exits Argentina bet after losing billions 15-11-2022 12:33 Firm’s retreat may complicate the rollover of large debt maturities due next year, squeezing the country’s tiny local market.
ECONOMY & POLITICS Government creates new exchange rate for provincial economies 07-11-2022 17:13 Economy Minister Sergio Massa says government will create new temporary exchange rate for provincial economies.
LATIN AMERICA Brazil to propose IMF’s Goldfajn to lead regional bank IDB 17-10-2022 13:57 Top Brazilian officials look to former central bank president to head the multilateral lender.
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Henrique Meirelles: ‘Whether the president-elect is Lula or Bolsonaro, they face a difficult situation’ 30-09-2022 09:32 Brazil's former economy minister and Central Bank governor Henrique Meirelles on the challenges facing his country, Lula’s run for office and whether Jair Bolsonaro is a threat to democracy. by Jorge Fontevecchia
ECONOMY IMF agrees second Argentina loan review, backs US$3.9B payment 19-09-2022 14:33 Multilateral lender reaches staff-level agreement with Argentina over second review, praises "decisive" steps taken by Economy Minister Sergio Massa; Once approved by Fund's executive board, deal paves way for release of US$3.9 billion in funds.
economy Central Bank hikes interest rates to 75% as inflation nears 100% 15-09-2022 23:17 Central Bank boosts benchmark Leliq rate by 5.5 percentage points to 75% in a bid to prop up its currency and curb inflation.
INTEREST RATES Central Bank set to hike rates again on price spike 01-09-2022 01:54 Central Bank set to increase benchmark Leliq rate again next month as annual inflation rises above 70%.
FINANCE PIX, the e-payment system revolutionising Brazil 29-08-2022 16:13 In under two years, PIX has become the most popular form of payment in Brazil, surpassing credit and debit cards.
Ukraine IMF-Ukraine talks to be overseen by veteran Argentina negotiator 18-08-2022 18:22 The negotiator who led IMF-Argentina talks, Juli Kozack, will lead International Monetary Fund loan discussions with Ukraine.
CENTRAL BANK Argentina raises key interest rate to 69.5% in biggest hike since 2019 11-08-2022 16:40 Argentina’s Central Bank raises benchmark Leliq rate in largest hike in almost three years, signalling a more aggressive stance against surging inflation.
Finance & Markets 'Blue dollar' continues to rise amid financial turbulence 28-06-2022 17:46 Parallel dollar quoted at 239 for sale, reaching 242 in some provinces; Country risk soars to record high.
UNITED STATES Ghislaine Maxwell sentenced to 20 years for sex crimes 28-06-2022 17:06 A friend to British royalty who romanced billionaires and dazzled elites, Ghislaine Maxwell was once the toast of the jet-set party circuit, a knows-everybody socialite with an aura of mystique. But now she will spend 20 years in prison.
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Nicolás Dujovne: ‘This government’s economic programme is inflationary’ 17-06-2022 08:00 Former economy minister Nicolás Dujovne on the Cambiemos administration, the IMF debt deals and Argentina’s ongoing struggle with inflation. by Jorge Fontevecchia
MONETARY POLICY Argentina raises benchmark rate to 52% as inflation stays hot 16-06-2022 16:54 Central Bank raises benchmark interest rate for the sixth time this year as the government struggles to cool inflation expectations.
BRAZILIAN ECONOMY Brazil hikes key interest rate 10th straight time 04-05-2022 21:13 Brazil's Central Bank raises key interest rate for the 10th straight time, trying to tame surging inflation that has proved tough to slow for policy makers.
CENTRAL BANK Argentina's Central Bank raises key rate to 44.5% as inflation heats up 23-03-2022 15:42 Central Bank raises benchmark rate for the third time this year as inflation continues to speed up.
IMF DEBT DEAL Congress greenlights debt deal – ball now in IMF’s court 18-03-2022 21:46 US$45-billion agreement signed into law by president; Deal now needs approval by IMF’s Executive Board.
BLOOMBERG Argentina’s Central Bank raises key rate to 42.5% 18-02-2022 03:00 Second rate hike this year; IMF staff have called for interest rates in Argentina to exceed annual inflation.
CRYPTOCURRENCIES IMF urges El Salvador to remove Bitcoin as legal tender 25-01-2022 18:45 The IMF on Tuesday called on El Salvador to change course and stop using Bitcoin as legal tender, citing "large risks" posed by the cryptocurrency.
BLOOMBERG Central Bank hikes rate for first time in a year 07-01-2022 01:41 Argentina raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time in over a year as it faces calls from the International Monetary Fund to tighten its monetary policy.
IMF DEBT TALKS Argentina and the IMF: still bound in a love-hate relationship 21-12-2021 14:52 Argentina has long had a stormy relationship with the International Monetary Fund. Twenty years after a deep economic, political and social crisis shook the country, the nation is again traversing a tense financial patch.
EDITORIAL When budget rhymes with ‘fudge it’ 18-12-2021 07:32 In Argentina the budget continues to be something of a bad joke.
BLOOMBERG Argentine fintech start-up Ualá starts its own brokerage service 08-12-2021 08:51 Company to allow dollar purchases at parallel exchange rate; Start-up is ramping up investment after last funding round.
IMF DEBT TALKS Argentine officials travel to Washington for IMF talks 02-12-2021 16:15 A technical mission team with officials from Argentina's Economy Ministry and Central Bank will travel to Washington on Saturday to meet with representatives from the International Monetary Fund.
FINANCIAL TURBULENCE Central Bank reserves at the limit as rumours swirl around Argentina 30-11-2021 21:40 Ecolatina consultancy firm forecasts that Central Bank reserves could end the year lower than in December 2020. Concerns remain about the level of money available to the BCRA, but economists rule out a potential 'corralito.' by Brenda Funes
FINANCIAL TURBULENCE Government: New restrictions to protect reserves are ‘temporary’ 26-11-2021 22:41 Presidential Spokesperson Gabriela Cerruti slams opposition "fear-mongering" following introduction of new Central Bank rules on credit card purchases.
Guest voice We need archaeologists in Congress 02-11-2021 07:00 Argentina’s new legislators will be 'archaeologists' of the laws. by Federico Sturzenegger
Bloomberg In a win for Argentina, G20 statement to mention IMF surcharges 30-10-2021 17:15 In a diplomatic nod to Argentina, leaders at the G20 Summit in Rome are planning to task their finance chiefs to look at the surcharge policy at the International Monetary Fund.
BRAZIL CENTRAL BANK Brazil hikes interest rate by most in two decades 27-10-2021 21:42 Brazil's Central Bank raised its benchmark interest rate by 150 basis points Wednesday – its biggest hike since 2002 as it struggles to tame surging inflation.
BLOOMBERG – ANALYSIS Brazil tightens most in tears, with 150 points now and December 27-10-2021 21:40 Brazil’s Central Bank delivered its biggest interest rate increase in almost two decades and pledged another equally large move for December, as it fights alone against deteriorating inflation expectations and growing fiscal concerns.
ENVIRONMENT Climate talks in times of crisis: Your roadmap to COP26 25-10-2021 11:15 Glasgow will welcome world leaders and thousands of attendees for the crucial COP26 United Nations summit on climate change in November.
ENVIRONMENT As COP26 nears, the toughest goals are still out of reach 25-10-2021 09:51 With seven days to go until global climate talks kick off in Glasgow, the chances of success remain decidedly mixed.
CURRENCY Pre-election jitters send blue dollar, country risk rate soaring 22-10-2021 21:56 Peso weakens in parallel and informal exchange rates, sending JP Morgan ‘country risk’ rate soaring.
BLOOMBERG – ANALYSIS Argentines are desperate for dollars as bets on devaluation soar 21-10-2021 14:31 Argentine investors are growing increasingly pessimistic on the peso, betting it’s inevitable the government will be forced to speed up devaluation after November elections.
PANDORA PAPERS LEAK Ecuador's legislature to investigate president over Pandora Papers 11-10-2021 09:15 Ecuador's legislature votes to open investigation into whether Guillermo Lasso broke the law by keeping assets in tax havens.
BLOOMBERG Argentina to offer new liquidity Treasury notes called Lelites 07-10-2021 21:41 Economy Ministry announces it will offer new Treasury liquidity bills called Lelites.
PANDORA PAPERS LEAK Chile's opposition accuses President Piñera after Pandora Papers report 06-10-2021 13:01 Opposition lawmakers in Chile said Tuesday they will present a parliamentary charge that could lead to the removal of President Sebastian Piñera following allegations related to the Pandora Papers leak.
PANDORA PAPERS LEAK Pandora Papers: the latest mega leak on tax-dodging 06-10-2021 09:35 The Pandora Papers leak is the latest – and biggest – to shine a light on tax evasion of the rich and powerful from the whistleblowing International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).