FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Lula gathers South American peers with integration on agenda Yesterdat 14:43 South American leaders meet in Brasília on Tuesday for an informal summit at which Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's government hopes to revive regional integration.
HEALTH One suicide every three hours in Argentina, Health Ministry reveals 04-05-2023 13:57 Figure emerged from the portfolio’s latest epidemiological report, where it is given as "the fourth cause of death in the 15 to 29 age group.”
POLITICS – ANALYSIS Hanging on in quiet desperation 29-04-2023 05:35 The chain of events that will be most consequential in delivering the next inhabitant of the Casa Rosada have already been set in motion. They are irreversible. by Agustino Fontevecchia
ECONOMY MINISTRY Government raises income-tax floor to half a million pesos 25-04-2023 13:29 Government raises income-tax floor to 500,000 pesos as inflation bites into pockets of workers.
POLITICS ‘Plan Platita II’? Government to stuff pockets as inflation bites 18-04-2023 14:02 To mitigate the coalition friendly fire that has been rekindled by the confirmation of accelerating price hikes, Serio Massa’s economic cabinet is drawing up a new programme to stimulate consumption.
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.
LOCAL DEBT PILE Argentina sells US$2 billion in peso debt after ordering bond swap 22-03-2023 21:56 Argentina sells close to 417 billion pesos (US$2 billion) in peso-denominated notes and bonds via auction, latest step in managing a massive local debt pile as the government seeks to extend maturities until after October elections.
Central Bank reserves Government obliges state bodies to convert dollar bonds into pesos 22-03-2023 17:00 State entities are to sell their dollar bonds on the market in return for peso debt bonds issued by the Treasury with the aim of taming surges in the CCL and MEP parallel but legal exchange rates.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Fernández announces Argentina's return to UNASUR 22-03-2023 15:46 President Alberto Fernández has confirmed Argentina's re-entry into the UNASUR political bloc, almost five years on from its controversial departure.
MARKETS Bonds slide after government orders public sector sale 22-03-2023 12:17 Argentina’s sovereign-risk spread over US Treasuries widened as many as 126 basis points on Wednesday to almost 2,500, its widest in four months.
Bloomberg Government wants to swap public sector local debt for 2026 bonds 21-03-2023 13:10 Officials want to sell new bonds maturing in 2026 and 2027, lengthening the sovereign debt maturity curve as a way of sending a signal to the private sector to also extend their maturities.
Oil production Shale oil exports to spur Argentina's trade surplus, official says 07-03-2023 17:07 Booming oil production out of shale patch Vaca Muerta will create surpluses in energy trade for Argentina to the tune of US$8 billion within a few years, says top official.
HUMAN RIGHTS Honduras human rights campaigners awarded Emilio Mignone prize 23-02-2023 20:49 Human rights campaigners from Honduras awarded with this year’s Emilio F. Mignone International Human Rights Prize. by James Grainger
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
ENVIRONMENT Government creates new unit to probe ‘environmental crimes’ 16-01-2023 16:50 Argentina’s government has created a new unit to investigate and prevent environmental crimes, responding to the deliberate destruction of terrain for commercial purposes.
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Sergio Massa: ‘Argentina is a country which has a lot to offer a world in crisis’ 14-01-2023 06:38 In his first long interview since assuming office as Argentina’s ‘super economy minister,’ Sergio Massa analyses his first few months in office and outlines his goals for 2023. by Jorge Fontevecchia
Bull vs. bear Is it Massa, the bull market, or are we about to implode again? 14-01-2023 06:25 We are not walking on the edge of the precipice, but we’re still awfully close, and a small breeze could be enough to destabilise us. by Agustino Fontevecchia
EXCHANGE MARKET Argentina’s black-market peso slumps to record ahead of holidays 29-12-2022 15:33 Argentina's black market exchange rate plunged to a record low this week, with the blue dollar hitting 357 pesos per greenback.
HEALTH & SOCIETY Covid surge: Officials recommend use of face-masks on public transport 11-12-2022 09:04 Rise in coronavirus cases in Buenos Aires City and Province prompts Transport Ministry officials to call on passengers to return to wearing face-masks.
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.
INTERVIEW Todesca Bocco, Argentina's candidate for IDB chief, calls for its ‘transformation’ 17-11-2022 16:17 Cecilia Todesca Bocco, Argentina's Secretary for International Economic Relations and candidate for the presidency of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), outlines her vision for the institution.
THE ECONOMIC INSIDERS Meet the trio of key players backing Massa at the Economy Ministry 16-11-2022 10:54 Gabriel Rubinstein, Guillermo Michel and Lisandro Cleri are the officials who represent the eyes of Argentina’s Economy Minister Sergio Massa. Longtime and low-profile backers of the Tigre leader, their support is unconditional.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Alberto Fernández eyes progress in Bali at G20 summit 14-11-2022 13:37 Russia-Ukraine talks and IMF surcharges on the agenda for the president, who will attend event hosted by US leader Joe Biden and hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Xi Jingping.
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Patricia Bullrich: ‘Alberto Fernández, after the role he has played, cannot run again’ 12-11-2022 07:24 PRO party chair and 2023 presidential hopeful on candidacies, Mauricio Macri’s role moving forward and the failed attack on Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. by Jorge Fontevecchia
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Kelly 'Raquel' Olmos: ‘Argentina has an exemplary labour movement’ 05-11-2022 06:10 New Labour Minister Kelly 'Raquel' Olmos on Argentina’s labour movement, employment rights, collective bargaining, and Alberto Fernández’s re-election hopes. by Jorge Fontevecchia
POLITICS & ECONOMY Sergio Massa: Stuck between Cristina and Kristalina 02-11-2022 17:46 Argentina’s ‘super’ economy minister is torn between the demands of the International Monetary Fund and the wing of the ruling coalition led by Vice-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. by Carlos Claá
LABOUR TENSIONS Strike off as teamsters secure 107% pay hike in wage talks 27-10-2022 19:28 Threat of national strike extinguished as Camioneros, led by the Moyanos, secure 107 percent pay hike and a bonus of 100,000 pesos for union members.
INTERVIEW Victoria Tolosa Paz sets priorities: ‘There can be no excessive overlap of social plans’ 17-10-2022 17:32 New Social Development Minister is settling into her new office, anticipating a new line for her stewardship. “You’re going to have to go out to work if you want to earn more than a minimum wage,” assures Victoria Tolosa Paz. New official feels that she has the support of all internal sectors within Frente de Todos and that they will only manage to be electorally competitive if they can succeed in “sorting out the lives of those with work and those without.” by Rosario Ayerdi
AGRICULTURE Argentina mulls tighter wheat export controls as crop withers 13-10-2022 16:49 Argentina is considering tightening the screws on wheat exports as a drought withers plants.
BLOOMBERG – ANALYSIS From Coldplay shows to the World Cup, Argentina mixes exchange rates 12-10-2022 08:23 Government officials on Wednesday will roll out new taxes applied to the official exchange rate for foreign travel ahead of the World Cup in Qatar next month and for locals attending concerts by artists such as British rock band Coldplay.
CABINET RESHUFFLE ‘Kelly’ Olmos, PJ loyalist close to the president, takes on labour portfolio 11-10-2022 15:32 New Labour Minister referred to her relationship with Kirchnerism, Peronism, trade unions and vows to lead a portfolio that’s “on the side of the workers.”
GOVERNMENT & POLICY Massa unveils export stimulus programme for tech sector 05-10-2022 10:36 Scheme aims to boost technology exports to US$10 billion next year, says economy minister.
POLITICS Sergio Massa: from buying time to running out of time 01-10-2022 07:00 No-one should doubt Massa’s courage in taking on the Economy Ministry at a time of extreme crisis, nor his ambition, despite claiming he’s taking his final steps in the political realm. He’s eyeing 2023 and 2027. Both Fernándezes know this, and they don’t like it. by Agustino Fontevecchia
ARGENTINA Students square off with City Hall as school seizure movement grows 29-09-2022 20:19 No end in sight to tensions, with as many as 20 schools throughout Buenos Aires now occupied by student demonstrators; City education minister points finger at Kirchnerism and warns parents will pay for losses. by Sam Forster
SOCIAL UNREST Protesters set up camp on Avenida 9 de Julio as picketers demand social aid 27-09-2022 21:49 Militants of the Unidad Piquetera grouping set up tents on 9 de Julio Avenue as members vote to spend the night and extend protest demanding greater social aid from government.
2023 Budget Government's budget bill forecasts 60% inflation in 2023 16-09-2022 09:01 Argentina's government will forecast inflation hitting 60% in 2023 in its proposed budget, according to sources in Economy Ministry.
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%.
GENDER VIOLENCe Survey: Almost half of women in Argentina have experienced gender violence 30-08-2022 22:07 Study, carried out by the Women, Gender & Diversity Ministry Ministry and part of an EU-UN initiative, quizzed more than 12,000 people across 12 provinces nationwide.
NEW MEASURES Argentina seeks to shift all-cash workers into payroll jobs 30-08-2022 15:06 Policy aims to target welfare recipients who opt for informal, all-cash jobs to avoid losing government benefits and persuade them to stay in the system.
NEW MEASURES Yachts, whiskey, bull semen land on Argentina’s import blacklist 28-08-2022 09:47 New restrictions on imports form part of the government’s frantic attempt to stabilise currency and curb inflation.
Food and Drink 'Ultra-processed' foods law comes into force in Argentina 22-08-2022 12:54 A law to label foods as ultra-processed came into force in Argentina on Saturday, although it initially only covers a limited range of products and will not apply to all until the end of 2023.
EDITORIAL Biting (or braving) the bullet 19-08-2022 13:24 The renunciation of populist utility bill freezes should be hailed. The Frente de Todos government is at least knocking on the door of the real world even if it has yet to make an entrance.
BLOOMBERG Argentina asked crop exporters to bring US$1 billion next week 12-08-2022 14:34 Government asks top crop export and processing firms to make sales equivalent to US$1 billion over the next week as it seeks to bolster Central Bank reserves.
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.