News of default

UNITED NATIONS

UN warns it may default on salaries by November

09-10-2019 11:35 Argentina among countries that have yet to pay their 2019 dues, says UN Secretary General António Guterres, as he warns of a cash crisis.

Bloomberg

Government says it has met targets to receive more IMF money

30-09-2019 17:58 “Argentina, as I’ve said many times, has complied with all targets required for this disbursement to happen,” says Central Bank chief Guido Sandleris.

PAYMENTS

Difficult to find 'quick path forward' for Argentina, says IMF

26-09-2019 15:21 IMF officials refused to say Thursday when it will disburse last US$5.4 billion of loan to Argentina that was originally planned for mid-September, as reports suggest World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank may also delay payments.

ARGENTINA & THE IMF

New IMF chief meets briefly with Finance Minister Lacunza

26-09-2019 09:29 "I look forward to working with the authorities when I assume my duties on October 1. Argentina is an important member of the IMF and we want it to do well," Kristalina Georgieva posts on Twitter after meeting Finance Minister Hernán Lacunza.

BLOOMBERG

IMF’s Lipton says relationship with Argentina ‘may have to wait’

25-09-2019 15:27 "Argentina’s situation right now is extremely complex," Acting IMF head tells Bloomberg.

BLOOMBERG

Lagarde: IMF did 'best we could' given Argentina's 'difficult situation'

25-09-2019 12:55 Former IMF managing director and soon-to-be European Central Bank chief says the IMF is often unfairly blamed when things go awry.

IMF CREDIT-LINE

IMF: We will continue to support Argentina in its 'difficult situation'

24-09-2019 20:31 IMF acting chief David Lipton said he had "a constructive meeting" with President Mauricio Macri, Finance Minister Hernán Lacunza and Central Bank Governor Guido Sandleris in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

ECONOMIC TEAM IN NYC

Lacunza, Sandleris look to charm investors, IMF in New York

24-09-2019 10:34 With President Mauricio Macri mixing with world leaders at the UN General Assembly, finance minister and Central Bank chief are looking to persuade key stakeholders that Argentina deserves their backing.

BLOOMBERG

Hernán Lacunza: Government's debt plan needs approval from opposition

20-09-2019 16:49 Government sent a bill to Congress late Thursday to kick start talks around extending maturities on local law bonds to alleviate fears of a looming default.

IMF BAIL-OUT

Lagarde: Argentina crisis would have been much worse without IMF

20-09-2019 16:08 Crisis would have been much worse had the International Monetary Fund not stepped in with a massive rescue programme, outgoing IMF chief declares in interview.

CREDIT-LINE

IMF likely to withhold loan tranche for Argentina until policy fog lifts

15-09-2019 08:31 Next US$5.4 billion disbursement is scheduled for on or after Sunday, but IMF will postpone until greater clarity appears over likely policy landscape moving forward.

IMF CREDIT-LINE

Reports: IMF to delay Argentina's next loan tranche until after election

13-09-2019 13:39 Local and international outlets says officials evaluating how to push the next US$5.4-billion tranche back, with IMF prepared to adopt "all possible bureaucratic measures" to "stretch deadlines as much as possible."

CREDIT-LINE

Finance Minister Lacunza to meet with IMF in Washington next month

12-09-2019 15:38 An IMF spokesman on Thursday said the institution was still in negotiations with Argentina, but noted that market conditions and political uncertainty had cast a cloud over the talks.

IMF LOAN

'We've complied with everything' – Macri confident over next IMF loan tranche

05-09-2019 13:55 The IMF is currently assessing whether to pay out a further US$5.4 billion to the government, the latest phase of its record US$56-billion loan to Argentina.

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Will the crisis in Argentina hurt the IMF's reputation?

05-09-2019 09:47 Experts say a fundamental mistake by the IMF was to push for too-strict cuts even when the Argentine economy entered recession.

BLOOMBERG

The US$15 billion of distressed provincial bonds that no-one is talking about

04-09-2019 09:13 Argentina's provinces were among the most prolific issuers when international capital markets reopened to Argentina. By offering interest rates in excess of 9%, they were able to lure yield-hungry investors to little known and sparsely populated corners of the country.

BUENOS AIRES CITY

Bank queues return to BA as currency controls kick in

03-09-2019 08:03 Queues outside banks seen once again outside branches, as Argentines get used to new capital controls.

BLOOMBERG

Government and IMF in talks over September monetary policy target

03-09-2019 07:32 Gustavo Sandleris said the Central Bank had failed to meet its monetary base goals for July and August, allowing the total amount of cash in circulation to rise above its target of 1.34 trillion pesos.

LEGISLATION

Government to seek support before submitting bill to 'reprofile' local debt

02-09-2019 16:46 After talks with the legislative branches of the Cambiemos coalition, Executive decides to seek consensus with opposition lawmakers beforehand submitting project.

BLOOMBERG

Argentina returns to capital controls as Macri fights to survive

02-09-2019 09:16 Decision to impose currency controls represents a bitter irony for the pro-market President Macri, who set about dismantling them as soon as he took office in 2015.

CURRENCY CONTROLS

Lacunza: Currency controls 'necessary to avoid greater evils'

02-09-2019 08:52 "It is an uncomfortable measure for us that Argentina has already had," declares finance minister, who describes new restrictions as "transitory."

Turbulence

The campaign or the nation?

31-08-2019 01:30 Argentina’s ninth debt default in its history is but one more stain in an already tarnished reputation.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

FINANCIAL TURMOIL

Government tells banks they need approval to move profits overseas

31-08-2019 00:25 Brutal week for peso and reserves closes with first capital control after Central Bank orders financial institutions to seek authorisation before transferring.

BLOOMBERG

Argentina says it will buy bonds from local funds hit by withdrawals

30-08-2019 14:02 Central Bank tries to stem investor panic and stabilise mutual fund industry.

BLOOMBERG

'Selective Default': Standard & Poor's cuts Argentina’s debt rating

29-08-2019 20:40 “The Argentine government unilaterally extended the maturity of all short-term paper on August 28. This constitutes default under our criteria,” says ratings agencies.

BLOOMBERG

Carmen Reinhart: Full Argentine default is just a matter of time

29-08-2019 13:58 Harvard University economist Carmen Reinhart – who was also deputy director of the IMF’s research department during Argentina’s 2001 crisis – says the government’s re-profiling plan is already a default on domestic debt, which rating companies will likely promptly respond to.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Peso continues to fall, despite plan to delay debt payment

29-08-2019 12:50 National currency traded at the opening at 62.33 per US dollar, which marks a depreciation of almost 3.5 percent compared to Wednesday.

Bloomberg

To stave off default, Argentina asks bondholders for more time

29-08-2019 12:31 Argentina’s overseas bonds careened toward 40 cents on the dollar after President Mauricio Macri asked creditors for more time to repay them amid a growing economic crisis.

BLOOMBERG

Investors bank on IMF support as bets on a default grow

29-08-2019 09:19 IMF officials' decision to release more funding could determine whether Argentina enters a chaotic default in the next few months – or if the government gets more breathing room to shore up its finances and potentially seek a negotiated restructuring.

RESTRUCTURING

IMF says it will 'stand with Argentina' amid restructuring request

28-08-2019 22:50 "The Fund will continue to stand with Argentina during these challenging times," IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said in a statement.

Bloomberg

Government seeks to extend maturity of US$101 billion of debt

28-08-2019 22:38 Macri administration to postpone US$7 billion of payments on short-term local notes held by institutional investors this year and will seek the “voluntary reprofiling‘’ of US$50 billion of longer-term debt. It will also start talks over the repayment of US$44 billion it has received from the IMF.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Peso slumps to 60 per dollar, country risk rating hits 14-year high

28-08-2019 15:57 Currency has slumped against the dollar again over the last few days, just as tensions between the government and the opposition have picked up.

PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL

No chance of a default if I'm president, declares Alberto Fernández

22-08-2019 17:09 The Frente de Todos candidate, speaking at an event at MALBA hosted by Clarín, delivered his clearest pledge yet to repay the country’s debt while trying to reassure investors who fear his government could implement capital controls.

PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL

Alberto Fernández: We're 'virtually' in default and must renegotiate IMF deal

19-08-2019 09:19 Fernández, now the clear favourite to win upcoming presidential elections October 27, laid out his views of the economic situation in a series of newspaper interviews over the weekend.

BLOOMBERG

Fresh turmoil on cards after Dujovne resignation, debt downgrades

19-08-2019 08:11 Negative headlines may unleash a fresh bout of market turmoil after a brief respite at the end of last week. Argentina’s global bonds will be the first to react, while the nation’s currency and stock markets remain closed on Monday due to a local holiday.

THE COST OF CRISIS

Argentines continue to pay the price of economic meltdowns

17-08-2019 11:14 While investors, creditors and businesspeople lament the potential departure of Mauricio Macri, many voters – hit by spiralling inflation and the economic downturn – are nostalgic for the days of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and her late husband.

by Lucas Robinson

PASO FALL-OUT

Alberto Fernández: 'Two-thirds of the population rejected the government'

13-08-2019 14:39 In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with NET TV, Frente de Todos presidential candidate detailed his views on the economy, Roberto Lavagna, 'la grieta,' his relationship with CFK and Venezuela.

Black monday

Country risk soars, traders dump assets as fears of Argentina default loom

13-08-2019 12:56 The implied probability of an Argentine default over the next five years skyrocketed after Sunday’s shocking blow to President Mauricio Macri’s election campaign.

BLOOMBERG

Alberto Fernández tells markets he won't lead Argentina into default

04-06-2019 12:58 Seeking to reassure investors, presidential hopeful tells reporters he won’t lead the country into default if he wins the presidential election in October.

ECONOMIC TURBULENCE

Analysts: Little risk of 2001-style default

08-09-2018 09:20 According to official estimates, Argentines are holding US $300 billion outside of their country’s financial circuit, mostly in Uruguay and the US.