News of rates

UN development chief sounds alarm over debt distress

06-03-2023 12:23 A top United NAtions official has warned that "urgent" measures are needed to help 52 countries, including Argentina, facing debt repayment problems that put some at risk of default.

Argentina is buckling under strain of US$174-billion debt mountain

10-02-2023 14:36 Cut off from global credit markets, Argentina’s government is selling ever more local currency bonds, amassing a debt load that already totals 33 trillion pesos and is rising almost exponentially.

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.

Cash-strapped Argentina goes all or nothing on new economy chief

15-09-2022 15:55 New ‘super’ minister has undoubted political clout and scored early wins in Washington – but Sergio Massa’s presidential ambitions depend on avoiding economic meltdown

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. 

Central Bank holds key rate at 52% amid faster inflation

15-07-2022 13:11 Decision to maintain the key rate at 52% takes financial markets by surprise.

Colombians set to vote in high stakes presidential run-off

17-06-2022 18:22 Colombians vote Sunday in a presidential run-off. Opinion polls have leftist Gustavo Petro and businessman Rodolfo Hernández neck-and-neck.

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. 

Colombia’s number one banker has no fear of leftist front-runner

19-05-2022 08:00 Luis Carlos Sarmiento Gutiérrez would figure to be one of the people fretting the most about the looming election of the first left-wing leader in Colombia’s modern history. But, at least publicly, he betrays little angst about the outcome of the vote this month. 

Kirchnerites told to resign if they won’t approve gas, electricity hikes

13-05-2022 00:06 Challenging critical Kirchnerite voices, sources close to the Presidency said this week that any public official that opposes rises in utility prices “will not be able to continue in the government.”

Argentina's tech industry earning billions of dollars off the books

22-04-2022 16:30 Billions of dollars in Argentine technology exports are going unreported as companies and freelance workers skirt currency controls, according to an industry group. 

Central Bank raises key rate to 47% as inflation soars

13-04-2022 20:52 Central Bank raises interest rates for the fourth time this year after inflation data shows prices increasing at the fastest monthly pace in 20 years. 

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.

Brazil posts highest January inflation rate since 2016

09-02-2022 16:50 Brazil's inflation rate slowed in January, but still came in at the highest level for the month since 2016, the government said Wednesday.

Colombia presidential front-runner Gustavo Petro seeks global anti-oil bloc

17-01-2022 06:59 Colombia’s presidential front-runner Gustavo Petro is calling on ideological allies across Latin America and the world to join him in forming a new bloc to lead the economy away from fossil fuels. 

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. 

The problem with Latin America’s rate hikes: they barely work

09-09-2021 14:25 From Brazil to Mexico, banks tighten faster than global peers; Unstable politics and off-the-books economies limit the impact

The challenge of reducing the gap between exchange rates

04-09-2021 10:39 Continuing the current chasm is a recipe threatening economic revival and halting investments.

by Miguel Kiguel

Six sovereign defaults in 13 months roil Latin American markets

13-05-2021 10:21 Sovereign bond defaults have piled up at a dizzying clip in Latin America since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Frente de Todos puts on show of ‘unity’ as problems mount

07-05-2021 01:05 President Alberto Fernández hails the strength of his ruling coalition in wake of Supreme Court ruling.