News of payments

Millions relying on food banks and soup kitchens as prices surge

29-04-2022 14:51 More than four million people depend on food banks and soup kitchens to eat in Argentina, and although the country has a well-oiled welfare network, the fight against high prices is tough and uncompromising.

BLOOMBERG

Ualá launches mobile payments for small businesses in Mexico

28-04-2022 10:19 Argentina’s Ualá mobile payments company is expanding into merchant services in Mexico.

Brazil election 2022

Cash handouts are saving Brazil’s poorest — and Bolsonaro’s campaign

18-04-2022 16:56 Jair Bolsonaro trails in polls for Brazil's upcoming presidential election. The outcome may hinge on government subsidies in a nation riven by inequality.

EDITORIAL

Picky with the pickets

09-04-2022 00:01 Civic patience in Argentina is being increasingly strained by escalating social protests.

DEBT RESTRUCTURING

Argentina to resume Paris Club talks over US$2-billion debt

22-03-2022 15:50 Argentina is resuming negotiations this week with a wealthy group of nations known as the Paris Club over US$2 billion in outstanding debt as a grace period ends.

BLOOMBERG – ANALYSIS

IMF-backed subsidy cuts are boon to power producers

10-03-2022 18:10 Energy producers in Argentina are poised to fare best from the agreement with the International Monetary Fund.

IMF DEBT DEAL

Argentina would receive US$9.8B in first IMF disbursement, says Guzmán

04-03-2022 23:00 Argentina's government will receive about US$9.8 billion in a first disbursement from the International Monetary Fund if its new financing programme is approved, Economy Minister Martín Guzmán said on Friday.

BLOOMBERG

Argentine fintech Ualá launches in Colombia amid LatAm expansion

27-01-2022 16:42 Mobile payments startup Ualá is kicking off operations in Colombia, its third market in Latin America after Argentina and Mexico.

BLOOMBERG

Argentina asks China to expand yuan swap to strengthen reserves

26-01-2022 13:48 Argentina has already requested the increase and the topic will be discussed next week in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping when President Alberto Fernández travels there for the Winter Olympics, a second person said.

BLOOMBERG

Argentine fintech Ualá buys Mexican bank ABC Capital

05-11-2021 02:07 Argentine financial services startup Ualá has reached an agreement to buy Mexican bank ABC Capital SA, as part of its bid to keep growing abroad.

BRAZIL UNDER BOLSONARO

Bolsonaro welfare plan shakes Brazil markets, sparks resignations

22-10-2021 10:36 Brazilian president's move to dramatically increase welfare payments to the country's underprivileged groups, a year ahead of crucial elections, shakes up markets and triggers resignations.

Bloomberg

Argentina’s Ualá valued at US$2.45 billion after financing round

13-08-2021 12:16 Pierpaolo Barbier's Ualá valued at US$2.45 billion in a financing round led by Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp and Chinese Internet giant Tencent Holdings.

IMF DEBT TALKS

Guzmán discusses IMF debt With US Treasury Secretary Yellen during G20 meeting

10-07-2021 18:53 Economy Minister Martín Guzmán says he had a “valuable” discussion about IMF debt with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

IMF debt talks

IMF official says timing of new debt deal depends on Argentina

16-04-2021 13:55 IMF Western Hemisphere Director Alejandro Werner says a lot of “advanced work” on a new financing programme for Argentina has been completed. But the timing of a new deal depends on the Alberto Fernández administration, he adds.

IMF DEBT TALKS

Guzmán: IMF credit line deal will not be finalised before May

05-04-2021 10:28 Economy Minister Martín Guzmán says a plan with the International Monetary Fund to repay US$45 billion in debt won’t be finalised by May or June.

DEBT WOES

Buenos Aires Province sued in US for missed debt payments

23-03-2021 18:56 Creditors submit a legal claim against the province of Buenos Aires in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

IMF DEBT RESTRUCTURING

Government considers using new IMF reserves for loan payment

26-02-2021 16:58 Argentina is considering using new reserves to be issued by the International Monetary Fund to make a payment due to the lender in September, according to a person with direct knowledge.

CONGRESS

Congress approves bill blocking debt issuance without legislative approval

13-02-2021 10:26 New law will apply to any new debt agreements, including with the International Monetary Fund.

Coronavirus pandemic

Government doesn't expect to resume IFE payments this year

25-01-2021 23:31 Argentina will not need a new version of the Ingreso Familiar de Emergencia (IFE) scheme, implemented last year during the coronavirus pandemic, a senior government official has told Bloomberg.

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.

Global pandemic

Poverty-stricken Brazilians fear looming end of Covid-19 emergency cash

02-12-2020 14:58 More than 67 million low-income workers receive Covid-19 relief payments in Brazil, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Many of them are fearing what lies ahead.

BLOOMBERG

Billionaire-backed Argentine fintech Ualá launches in Mexico

29-09-2020 15:30 Ualá, the mobile payments startup backed by heavyweight billionaire investors George Soros and Steve Cohen, expands beyond Argentina into Mexico.