PRICE HIKES Argentina’s latest unorthodox tool to combat inflation: Artificial intelligence 05-02-2023 08:31 Argentina has come up with a new tool to keep track of price increases: artificial intelligence.
Bloomberg Argentina must avoid ‘hot money’ pitfall, top economist says 28-12-2022 18:17 Influential Carlos Melconian details recommendations he is drafting for a more business-friendly government to enact following the 2023 elections.
BATTLE AGAINST INFLATION Fuel suppliers join price control scheme with 4% monthly cap 29-11-2022 11:07 Major oil firms sign up to Sergio Massa’s new price control scheme, agreeing to cap increases in a bid to tackle inflation and keep costs at the pump down.
PRECIOS JUSTOS Massa confirms price controls for 1,400 products on way 11-11-2022 10:40 Economy Minister Sergio Massa reveals that more than 100 companies have signed up to ‘Precios Justos’ price controls scheme, as he admits “the situation is critical.”
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.
EDITORIAL Stating the less than obvious 22-10-2022 06:20 Understanding a problem is the most important half of the solution.
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND IMF urges Argentina against ad-hoc FX policy with 100% inflation 14-10-2022 10:40 With inflation forecasts reaching 100% for the year, IMF Western Hemisphere Director Ilan Goldfajn cautions Argentine officials against “different FX measures or prices."
NEW MEASURES Argentina slaps new taxes on concerts, travel before World Cup 12-10-2022 08:17 Argentina's government is applying new taxes on travel abroad ahead of the World Cup, and on concerts by artists who charge in foreign currency, as it seeks to protect its low reserves and avoid a devaluation.
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.
Currency crisis Economy Ministry set to introduce ‘tech dollar’ exchange rate for freelancers 26-08-2022 10:24 Portfolio headed by Sergio Massa is moving forward with plans to introduce a "monotributo tech" exchange rate for freelancers in the knowledge economy.
LIVING WITH CRISIS Argentina remains hooked on ‘dollar-dependence’ 30-06-2022 00:37 Argentines do their accounts in dollars, traumatised by recurrent economic crises and tormented by the inflation that is eating away at their pockets and is projected to exceed 60% this year.
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Hernán Lacunza: 'The healthy antidote for avoiding capital flight is confidence' 03-06-2022 10:27 Former economy minister Hernán Lacunza on the IMF debt agreement, eyeing short-term fetishes instead of solutions and capital flight. by Jorge Fontevecchia
And that reminds me… Not getting the hang of it 28-05-2022 01:00 The Kirchnerite wing of the Frente de Todos coalition has come to the final conclusion that the “war on inflation” is irreversibly lost, leading to a refusal to have any official of its kidney attached to that failure. by Michael Soltys
BLOOMBERG Hunt for lithium sparks frantic rush into Argentina's mountains 24-05-2022 13:20 Looming shortage of lithium, key for electric vehicles, gives Argentina a chance to become a mining mecca.
BLOOMBERG - ANALYSIS Price control chief quits in latest sign of infighting 24-05-2022 09:41 Resignation of Domestic Trade Secretary Roberto Feletti is the latest sign of infighting over the government’s economic strategy as annual inflation approaches 60 percent.
BLOOMBERG As rivals turn screws on mining, Argentina puts out welcome mat 11-05-2022 23:35 Government turns to capital-control loopholes and tax breaks, eyeing export boost as neighbours look to raise mine taxes.
TECH & TAX 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.
IMF DEBT TALKS Guzmán, Feletti spoke to IMF staff on price controls 14-01-2022 21:06 Economy Minister Martín Guzmán and Internal Trade Secretary Roberto Feletti spoke with IMF staff on Friday about the latest phase of the government's price control programme.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Inflation slowed to 2.5% in November, reveals INDEC 14-12-2021 22:56 Price increases slowed from previous month yet have risen 45.4% since January and by 51.2% over the last year, according to official data.
NEW CENTRAL BANK RESTRICTIONS Kulfas defends new rules: ‘Middle class has many options for the summer’ 28-11-2021 09:08 Productive Development Minister Matías Kulfas becomes the latest government minister to take to the airwaves to defend new Central Bank rules on credit card purchases in dollars.
EXCHANGE CONTROLS Argentina tightens exchange controls to curb outflows of dollars 26-11-2021 03:06 Argentina’s Central Bank publishes two new measures intended to curb access to hard currency amid expectations for a devaluation.
FINANCIAL TURBULENCE Currency turbulence continues: Blue dollar closes at 199 05-11-2021 18:26 In the last three weeks, the 'blue' dollar has soared 15 pesos, widening the gap over the official exchange rate and adding to inflationary pressures.
90-day freeze AmCham warns government that price controls are 'time bomb' 26-10-2021 14:08 US companies warn in an emailed statement issued via American Chamber of Commerce in Argentina that “price freezes do not solve the problem" of runaway inflation, rather "they transform it into a time bomb that will explode sooner or later.”
BATTLE AGAINST INFLATION Argentina freezes prices on over 1,400 goods ahead of elections 20-10-2021 10:11 The government is freezing prices on 1,432 household items in an effort to cool accelerating inflation ahead of November’s midterm election.
AND THAT REMINDS ME… Price controls without IDEA(s) 16-10-2021 00:01 The holes in price controls are an all too familiar story in Argentina. All sorts of routes for bypassing them, but the ultimate problem confounding price controls is that even their success against all the odds also contains the seeds of failure. by Michael Soltys
NEW PRICE CONTROLS Government agrees 90-day price freeze for more than 1,200 products 14-10-2021 17:12 Government reaches agreement with retailers and business leaders to freeze prices of more than 1,200 household goods for 90 days – latest attempt to win back voters and tackle runaway inflation.
BLOOMBERG In home of Malbec, eyes turn toward idled US$5-billion potash mine 09-09-2021 14:52 Mendoza Province in talks with some of world’s top producers of potash to revive Río Colorado mine.
BLOOMBERG Cuba lays groundwork to legalise cryptocurrency transactions 30-08-2021 10:43 Communist government is trying to legalise and regulate the growing use of cryptocurrencies on the island as citizens ramp up transactions to evade state controls.
BLOOMBERG Argentina tightens capital controls ahead of midterm elections 13-08-2021 14:11 Regulators tighten screws on so-called blue-chip operations, where investors buy assets in pesos and sell them abroad in dollars to obtain foreign currency.
BLOOMBERG Debt rollover flops as investors eye midterms 04-08-2021 20:47 Investors sent a warning message to Argentina’s Treasury on Tuesday night – don’t expect us to finance the government’s increased spending ahead of November’s midterm elections unless interest rates go up.
BLOOMBERG Central Bank sells dollars for first time since April 03-08-2021 14:53 Central Bank sells greenbacks for the first time in three months, amid electoral nervousness and high inflation.
'FREEDOM DAY' IN ENGLAND England lifts Covid curbs as scientists warn of surge in cases 19-07-2021 11:21 British government lifts pandemic restrictions on daily life in England, scrapping all social distancing rules in a step slammed by scientists and opposition parties as a dangerous leap into the unknown.
Bloomberg Argentina spawns another FX rate as government clamps down 15-07-2021 14:49 Government steps to regain control over Argentina’s chaotic currency market has led a new unofficial exchange rate to rise to prominence.
Bloomberg Yields topping 14% lure investors to world’s best utility bond 14-07-2021 10:14 The world’s best performing utility bonds come from an unlikely corner of emerging markets – Argentina.
Bloomberg Argentina loses emerging market status on FX controls 25-06-2021 01:55 Argentine stocks were cut from emerging market status by index provider MSCI Inc on the country’s continued capital controls.
Bloomberg Crypto mining booms on cheap, subsidised energy in Argentina 31-05-2021 10:41 Bitcoin miners are capitalising on the inefficiencies of the country’s interventionist economy to reap outsize returns, fuelled by memories of currency busts and powered by government-subsidised electricity.
POVERTY & THE PANDEMIC Government extends food aid to four million kids under 14 09-05-2021 09:20 President Alberto Fernández says government will extend Tarjeta Alimentar food card scheme to four million children aged under 14, with poverty on rise among youngsters.
Bloomberg Government's plan to stabilise rents sends prices skyrocketing in BA 16-04-2021 10:58 Landlords in Buenos Aires have raised the rent on apartments more than 60% ahead of a new law that gives the government control over price increases.
BLOOMBERG Argentina’s peso mess is delivering windfall profits to brokers 14-04-2021 15:12 In Argentina, financial markets are all but dead. From stocks to bonds to traditional foreign-exchange venues, trading volumes are razor thin. Except, that is, in one unusual corner.
BLOOMBERG - ANALYSIS Argentina resorts to unorthodox tools to fight 40% inflation 17-03-2021 13:24 Argentina is once again turning to a combination of unconventional policy tools to curb inflation, which is expected to near 40 percent this year.
EDITORIAL Menem: A man of his times – and ours 20-02-2021 06:08 Despite his passing, Carlos Menem’s spirit remains very much around, in both the current government and the country as a whole.
PRICE CONTROLS Government to investigate food companies amid price clampdown 17-02-2021 14:28 Production & Development Ministry plans to investigate several food companies for not “increasing production to its highest level of installed capacity” and ensuring proper delivery.