RATINGS AGENCy Argentina default on foreign currency debt 'imminent,' says Fitch 25-03-2023 09:34 Fitch Ratings downgraded Argentina's foreign currency debt on Friday by two notches to leave it hovering one level above default.
Bloomberg Argentina's credit rating cut by Fitch on public-sector debt swap 24-03-2023 19:09 Argentina's credit rating has been downgraded by Fitch Ratings to the lowest level above default as the government plans to force state institutions to dispose of their holdings of dollar-denominated bonds.
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.
CENTRAL BANK Argentina raises key rate to 78% for first time since September 16-03-2023 17:43 Argentina raised its benchmark rate on Thursday for the first time since September after annual inflation surpassed 100%.
IMF DEBT REVIEW IMF ready to ease targets after review of Argentina's debt deal 13-03-2023 21:11 International Monetary Fund confirms staff-level agreement with Argentina on fourth review of debt programme and calls for “modification of net international reserve accumulation target”; News paves way for new US$5.3-billion disbursement later this month.
IMF DEBT PROGRAMME IMF sees ‘policy setbacks’ in review of US$44-billion deal 13-03-2023 20:01 International Monetary Fund calls on Argentina to make stronger efforts to address foreign reserve losses, galloping inflation and other “policy setbacks” amid a severe drought that’s hitting the commodities sector.
DEBT SWAP OFFER Argentina's officials, analysts disagree on results of debt swap 12-03-2023 08:56 Participation in last Thursday's debt swap may have been less than reported, with government officials and analysts disagreeing on how the results should be counted.
DEBT SWAP OFFER Government hails ‘success’ of 4.34-trillion local debt swap 10-03-2023 10:52 Argentina swaps 4.34 trillion pesos ($21.66 billion) in domestic debt, exchanging 64% of maturing notes for new ones due in 2024 and 2025.
DEBT SWAP Government swaps US$21.7 billion of debt, easing default fear 09-03-2023 23:11 Argentina exchanges 4.34 trillion pesos (US$21.7 billion) in a local debt swap, alleviating immediate concerns of a potential local debt default.
DEBT SWAP Argentina looks to buy time on US$37 billion of maturing debt 09-03-2023 13:27 Argentina is expert at buying itself time to pay off debt that’s coming due, and on Thursday it plans to use its hard-earned skills to delay bond repayments of an estimated US $37 billion until after a presidential election.
DEBT SWAP Argentina to swap peso debt to ease US$35-billion default fear 07-03-2023 11:04 Argentina will give investors the chance to exchange holdings of local debt into new bonds; Government wants to ease fears of a default on US$35 billion of local debt due in second quarter.
DEBT SWAP Argentina to offer local debt swap to ease default fears 06-03-2023 16:46 Government will offer investors chance to swap local debt holdings for new bonds in a bid to calm fears of a default.
POLITICS & ECONOMY Opposition slams government’s plans for peso debt swap 06-03-2023 14:41 Opposition economists slam impending peso debt swap between the government and local banks, saying it will add to the fiscal problems facing next administration in December.
DEBT DEBATE 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.
IMF DEBT DEAL Argentina to change IMF net reserve target for third time 26-02-2023 08:46 Argentina and the IMF are discussing a smaller figure for net reserve accumulation in 2023, a cornerstone of the deal seen as the only major anchor providing some stability to the economy.
IMF DEBT DEAL Argentina seeks fresh IMF approval – and US$5 billion in funds 21-02-2023 15:58 Top officials head to Washington for talks with IMF over latest quarterly review; Government needs to boost reserves amid strong foreign currency outflows and punishing drought that has wrecked agricultural harvest projections.
Bloomberg Argentina looks to roll over US$1.6 billion of local debt mountain 15-02-2023 11:48 Local debt auction will serve as a final test of local investors' appetite for government peso debt as annual inflation continues to soar.
BLOOMBERG - ANALYSIS 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.
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.
Debt intervention Argentina to buy back US$1 billion in foreign debt 18-01-2023 09:15 Economy Minister Sergio Massa says Argentina’s government will buy back US$1 billion of foreign debt in bid to improve the country’s debt and risk profile; Measure, confirmed via resolution published in Official Gazette, focused on global bonds maturing in 2029 and 2030.
MARKETS Venezuela’s nine-cent bonds lure a distressed-debt veteran 28-12-2022 14:16 Trader raising money to buy defaulted Venezuelan bonds amid signs of easing tensions between President Nicolás Maduro, the political opposition and the United States.
DEBT DEAL IMF board approves US$6 billion in fresh funds for Argentina 23-12-2022 00:50 International Monetary Fund announces that its board of directors has signed off on third review of Argentina's debt assistance programme and releases new US$6-billion disbursement of funds.
MARKETS Latin America debt set for a comeback as politics give a break 12-12-2022 09:59 Dollar-denominated debt from Latin American governments and companies has handed investors returns of more than 10% so far this quarter, outperforming all other regions in an emerging-market index.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS UCA report puts poverty rate at 43.1% 06-12-2022 14:07 More than 17 million people in the country are poor, according to the latest report by the influential Social Debt Observatory of the UCA Catholic university; Figure would rise to 50% without existing state assistance, concludes study.
IMF DEBT PROGRAMME IMF clears way for latest US$6-billion disbursement 03-12-2022 23:17 "Prudent macroeconomic management and efforts to mobilise external financing are supporting stability," declares IMF mission team as latest staff review is signed off.
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.
IMF DEBT PROGRAMME Argentina’s US$44-billion IMF deal gets latest staff approval seal 03-12-2022 08:07 Third review of nation's US$44-billion debt programme now goes to the IMF’s executive board for approval, which is expected to meet this month; Upon completion, Argentina will have access to about US$6 billion, the IMF said.
DEBT TALKS Massa: Argentina has reached debt agreement with Paris Club 28-10-2022 15:50 Economy minister Sergio Massa says government has "successfully" reached an agreement with the Paris Club to restructure just under US$2 billion in debt.
MARKETS Argentina downgraded by Fitch on rising debt repayment risk 26-10-2022 17:14 Nation's credit score cut by a notch to CCC- from CCC as Fitch Ratins agency warns of “highly constrained” external-liquidity position will undermine its ability to repay debt.
INTERNATIONAL DEBT United Nations: 54 poor nations urgently need debt relief 11-10-2022 12:56 United Nations Development Programme warns dozens of developing nations are facing a rapidly deepening debt crisis and that "the risks of inaction are dire."
ARGENTINA Argentina 'must maximise resources to defend human rights,' says UN expert 06-10-2022 16:33 Visiting United Nations envoy Attiya Waris calls on authorities to ensure financial pressures do not affect the defence of human rights. by Sam Forster
ARGENTINA & THE IMF Lula criticises Alberto Fernández for sticking to IMF debt deal 29-09-2022 14:11 Former Brazil president and candidate in this Sunday’s election says Argentina’s leader is “in a bind” and has disappointed voters by attempting to resolve the nation's US$44.5-billion debt deal.
MARKETS Investors dodge Argentina bond pain by buying up YPF, provinces 27-09-2022 13:18 Quasi-sovereigns posting best returns in emerging markets; Meanwhile, Argentina’s sovereign bonds slumped more than 35%.
WHEN ALBERTO MET KRISTALINA ‘Doing well’ – IMF chief backs Argentina's course in meeting with president 19-09-2022 17:05 IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva briefs media on “excellent” meeting with President Alberto Fernández; Reiterates praise for Economy Minister Sergio Massa, declaring: “Three ministers, one programme.” by Rosario Ayerdi
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 MINISTER IN WASHINGTON IMF chief praises Massa's 'stabilising plan,' talks over review continue 12-09-2022 22:03 Argentina and the IMF to continue talks over latest disbursement of funds, says multilateral lender’s chief after high-level talks with Sergio Massa.
ECONOMY MINISTER IN WASHINGTON New economy chief wins IMF praise on first trip 12-09-2022 20:59 IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva praises "strong steps" Economy Minister Sergio Massa has taken to stabilise the economy following meeting in Washington.
ECONOMY MINISTER ABROAD In Washington, Massa secures loan boost from World Bank, IDB 09-09-2022 09:42 Argentine delegation meets with officials from the Joe Biden administration and secures vital funding from Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank in lead-up to talks with IMF.
POLITICS – OPINION Massa: imagination in power 03-09-2022 13:53 Trips and cuts: Argentina’s new Economy Minister sees his visit to the United States as a milestone of his stewardship. by Roberto García
increasing debt Debt has grown almost US$3 billion a month for last year 26-08-2022 11:11 Last month, the gross debt in a situation of normal payment rose to US$378.307 billion – around US$17 billion more than at the start of the year and US$35.747 billion more than July last year. In other words, the current fiscal deficit is close to three percent of gross domestic product, far from the targets pledged to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), whose review will begin in a few weeks. To meet them, the Central Bank would have to recover almost US$6 billion of reserves by December.
Bloomberg Argentine bond rebound stalls as new minister faces a mountain to climb 18-08-2022 16:53 Initial market confidence in Sergio Massa has faltered. New “super” minister must prove he can turn his promises to slow inflation into reality, as debt rebound decelerates.
Markets Argentine debt plumbs new depths as political tensions mount 11-07-2022 15:43 Even by the standards of Argentina’s debt crisis and default of 2020, the nation’s sovereign bonds are now trading at unprecedented lows.
BLOOMBERG - ANALYSIS Argentina needs to stick to IMF agreement, says minister 11-07-2022 15:32 In her first press conference, Silvina Batakis said Argentina would continue working to balance its fiscal accounts, promote positive real interest rates, and move forward with reducing energy subsidies.
NEW ECONOMY MINISTER Batakis: Argentina will honour economic goals agreed with IMF 11-07-2022 13:34 New Economy Minister Silvina Batakis tells the press that Argentina is “not going to spend more than we have," but experts warn that “seeing is believing.”
THE CHALLENGES AHEAD New minister Batakis takes office in an Argentina full of uncertainty 07-07-2022 23:34 Silvina Batakis faces a number of key challenges and decisions; Issues like inflation, the IMF deal, the fiscal deficit and subsidies top her in-tray.
IMF DEBT DEAL IMF ‘looking forward’ to working with Batakis at ‘difficult moment’ 07-07-2022 16:06 New economy minister speaks with multilateral lender’s chief Kristalina Georgieva, who says Batakis confirmed her “commitment” to IMF refinancing programme.
DEBT TALKS Paris Club requires Argentina stick to IMF deal to rework debt 07-07-2022 14:20 Paris Club group of wealthy creditors says government must give assurances that it will comply with IMF deal if talks over restructuring of debt are to continue.
Bloomberg Government meets June debt rollover goal in key local auction 28-06-2022 21:48 Government sells enough securities to roll over its debt coming due in the month of June in a local debt auction, easing concerns of an immediate financing shortfall.