IMF DEBT TALKS IMF: Argentine team expected to hold loan talks in mid-March 25-02-2021 18:22 Economy Minister Martín Guzmán will visit Washington in mid-March, confirms IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice.
BLOOMBERG IMF’s woes in Latin America set to grow after Ecuador vote 09-02-2021 17:01 IMF risks having to renegotiate its second multi-billion dollar loan in Latin America in as many years following Ecuador’s presidential election.
IMF DEBT TALKS IMF official: Argentina deal by May is an ambitious timeline 08-02-2021 22:11 IMF Western Hemisphere Director Alejandro Werner says May target for new financing programme is "clearly ambitious," though not "unviable."
IMF DEBT TALKS President Fernández holds talks with IMF chief Georgieva 22-01-2021 02:25 The government is hoping to renegotiate repayments on a US$44-billion loan granted to the Mauricio Macri administration by the Fund in 2018.
IMF DEBT TALKS Guzmán expects new program with IMF in March or April 2021 10-12-2020 02:11 Economy Minister Martín Guzmán says talks with the IMF will still "take a while," hinting a deal would be likely in March or April next year.
economy Government officials to meet IMF in Washington in 'coming days' 04-12-2020 13:07 Government officials will meet with staff from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) soon to continue talks on a new aid programme, a Fund spokesman said Thursday.
IMF DEBT TALKS IMF and Argentina making 'good progress' on new financing plan 22-11-2020 15:13 IMF mission team ends visit to Buenos Aires, saying that talks over a new financing plan are progressing well, with the two sides beginning to “delineate the contours” of a new deal.
IMF DEBT TALKS Peronist senators amp up rhetoric with scathing letter to IMF chief 16-11-2020 18:05 With government in talks over new financing programme, senators from ruling Frente de Todos coalition fire off letter to IMF chief Kristialina Georgieva demanding organisation “refrain from conditioning economic policy.”
BLOOMBERG Argentina hikes rates after prices surge past expectations 12-11-2020 23:56 Central Bank hikes interest rates after October inflation report showed consumer prices surged at the fastest pace this year.
IMF DEBT TALKS Argentina will ask IMF for Extended Fund Facility programme, says Guzmán 09-11-2020 21:55 Government will ask IMF for an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme as part of the government's efforts to delay repayments on the US$44 billion it owes, Economy Minister Martin Guzman confirms.
IMF DEBT TALKS IMF to launch talks with Argentina over new loan next week 06-11-2020 18:27 IMF confirms mission team will arrive in Argentina to start talks with the government over a new financing programme next week.
BLOOMBERG As devaluation talk swirls, Argentine traders rush into new bond 02-11-2020 19:18 Amid fears of a steep devaluation, traders in Argentina are falling over themselves to snap up local government notes that are linked to the US dollar.
BLOOMBERG Argentina can avoid a devaluation, says Domingo Cavallo 30-10-2020 14:35 Former economy minister Domingo Cavallo tells Bloomberg in an interview that it’s still possible to avoid a one-off devaluation of the peso.
BLOOMBERG Creditors blast Argentina for post-restructuring bond blow-up 22-10-2020 22:22 Argentina Exchange Bondholders group and the Argentina Creditor Committee rip government for mismanaging the economy, saying country is headed for disaster just seven weeks after restructuring US$65 billion in debt.
Business departure? French multinational Danone announces strategic review of activities in Argentina 19-10-2020 09:43 French food multinational Danone plans biggest shake-up in years with portfolio review; changes could involve sale of Vega protein powder brand as well as a unit in Argentina.
TALKS OVER IMF PROGRAMME IMF: Argentina needs 'credible' plan to overcome crisis 14-10-2020 15:00 Argentina's "top priority ought to be to put in place a credible and comprehensive economic agenda that balances supporting the economy and people," says IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva.
Financial turmoil Fernández: Currency market is messy, it needs order 11-10-2020 17:22 In the wide-ranging interview with El Cohete a la Luna, president says Argentina's currency market is messy and must be “ordered.”
BLOOMBERG Argentina’s currency woes show no sign of easing 10-10-2020 08:31 Argentina’s hodge podge exchange rate regime is running out of steam.
SENATE ADDRESS Cafiero confirms government wants to postpone IMF debt repayments 07-10-2020 17:56 In address to Senate, Cabinet Chief Santiago Cafiero confirms government will ask the International Monetary Fund to postpone scheduled repayments on a US$44-billion loan.
IMF TEAM IN TOWN IMF vows not to put 'pressure' on Argentina over loan 07-10-2020 00:52 Kristalina Georgieva says IMF has "no intention of putting pressure on Argentina at this time," as negotiators from Fund arrive in Buenos Aires for talks.
IMF DEBT TALKS IMF team arrives in Argentina with Fernández seeking deal ASAP 05-10-2020 10:07 President Alberto Fernández says he’s seeking an agreement with Fund “as soon as possible,” in order to "clear up any doubts.”
Economic policy Government cuts reduces key export taxes for agriculture, mining 02-10-2020 11:09 Government to reduce export taxes on several key commodities over the next three months, in an effort to boost dollar inflows as Central Bank reserves decline.
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.
New financing programme IMF says it will send mission team to Argentina in October 24-09-2020 18:50 IMF says a mission team will visit Argentina at the start of next month, as talks over a new financing programme begin in earnest.
Bloomberg Argentina won’t seek fresh IMF funding in upcoming talks 27-08-2020 22:48 Argentina's representative to IMF, Sergio Chodos, says country won't seek fresh funding during talks over new financing programme.
IMF DEBT TALKS Government formally opens debt rescheduling talks with IMF 27-08-2020 02:30 Government formally opens talks with IMF over new terms for repayment of record US$57-billion bailout agreed in 2018 by Macri administration.
ECONOMIC POLICY Central Bank optimistic over post-bond swap future 25-08-2020 19:20 Central Bank Governor Miguel Ángel Pesce says closure of the debt swap deal would relieve pressures on exchange markets and improve economic expectations.
World News Ex-Spanish king flees to United Arab Emirates amid scandal 17-08-2020 12:02 Whereabouts of former king Juan Carlos I of Spain had been unknown for two weeks.
CORRUPTION SCANDAL Mexico: Odebrecht allegedly paid for slick 2012 campaign 12-08-2020 13:41 Mexicans were inundated by a slick, expensive ad campaign on behalf of Enrique Peña Nieto for the 2012 election. Prosecutors now say it was funded by Odebrecht, the Brazilian construction giant linked to widespread corruption in Latin America.
Bloomberg Investing legend uses distressed debt to hunt for next Messi 24-07-2020 15:26 Martin Schubert, the pioneer of emerging-market debt swaps, is searching for the next Lionel Messi though an out-of-the-box trade combining distressed notes and sports.
G20 MEET Argentina asks for help as Saudi hosts G20 virtual talks on virus recovery, debt crisis 18-07-2020 07:00 Foreign Minister Felipe Solá says he will urge the G20 to set up a global "solidarity-based fund" to address the increase in poverty in virus-battered countries.
Videoconference Latin American leaders ask IMF, IDB, World Bank officials for support 25-06-2020 01:34 Presidents of nine Latin American nations ask International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank for support during virus crisis, including restructuring of debt.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING IMF backs Argentina's debt offer, saying only 'limited scope' to improve it 01-06-2020 15:21 IMF makes another public push to support the government’s debt restructuring offer, saying there's here’s little room to further increase payments to private creditors.
BLOOMBERG Argentina would ease currency controls if debt talks are successful 29-05-2020 14:56 Central Bank leaders implemented new controls Thursday night, restricting companies’ access to the foreign exchange market to pay for obligations overseas in dollars or other currencies.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING TALKS Argentina aiming to sign new IMF programme in 2020, says Guzmán 28-05-2020 23:30 "It is something that is going to happen in the course of 2020," says Economy Minister Martín Guzmán.
DEBTORS & CREDITORS IMF ‘stands ready to help Argentina’ through ‘difficult times’ ahead 09-05-2020 07:57 Fund spokesperson Gerry Rice ‘hopeful’ deal can be reached with creditors to avoid default.
Bloomberg - Opinion Helicopter money won’t ease Latin America’s pandemic pain 08-05-2020 09:25 Along with Covid-19, a fever of wonkery has broken out over how to reverse the collective economic contraction and to carry on once the health emergency has passed. As the worst of the pandemic is yet to come. by Mac Margolis
Bloomberg Peru’s 35-year-old finance minister is suddenly a rock star 04-05-2020 13:49 Everyone calls her Toni. Mothers take selfies of her with their children, and street hawkers push bracelets into her hand as presents. TV networks vie for interviews and run profiles asking, “Who is Maria Antonieta Alva?”
Pandemic fight ‘Homeland tax’ plan proposed to finance fight against coronavirus 08-04-2020 08:38 Unionist wing of Frente de Todos coalition proposes one-time levy for Argentines who have assets of more than 10 million pesos in bid to boost coffers for fight against coronavirus. Government does not support move at present.
Bloomberg WeWork in crisis: ‘Workplaces will never be the same after this’ 25-03-2020 19:32 WeWork’s strategy consisted in packing the most people in the less space possible to maximise revenue from each co-working office. Now, this approach seems obsolete with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bloomberg US$100 billion of debt from emerging-markets is now distressed 19-03-2020 18:47 The bonds of emerging-market nations are entering distressed territory at an alarming rate as the soaring dollar raises the prospect of government defaults.
Bloomberg Central Bank to pause run of rate cuts 12-03-2020 22:33 Central Bank plans to keep its policy rate unchanged, as it weighs the impact of sell-off on world markets.
BLOOMBERG New investment: the latest victims of Coronavirus pandemic 12-03-2020 17:48 The fast-spreading coronavirus that has killed thousands, derailed financial markets and shattered global growth expectations could be about to claim another victim: new investment.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Government proposes US$69-billion debt restructuring plan 10-03-2020 08:15 With Decree 250/2020, government confirms proposal to restructure US$69 billion of public debt.
RATE CUT Central Bank cuts interest rate to 38% 06-03-2020 08:00 In its statement, the Central Bank’s committee said cooling prices justified the rate cut but that the economy wasn’t in the clear yet.
Bloomberg Green Bonds are selling like ‘ice cream’ – Latin America wants in 24-02-2020 15:39 At least five Latin American governments and several companies are considering debt sales to fund environmentally friendly projects in what is expected to be the region’s most active year for issuance of so-called green bonds since 2017.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING IMF says Argentina's debt burden is 'unsustainable' 19-02-2020 18:27 Review by International Monetary Fund mission team paves the way for the government to ask private bondholders to take on losses, as it prepares to renegotiate its obligations.
RATE CUT Central Bank lowers key rate to 40%, extending cuts 19-02-2020 18:15 Central Bank chief Miguel Pesce justifies the rate cuts as a tool to help turn around Argentina’s economy, which is expected to contract for the third straight year in 2020.
BOND PAYMENT DELAY Further 're-profiling' of maturities in pesos looms, analysts predict 18-02-2020 12:00 Next key date for government be March 6, with A2M2 payments worth about US$1 billion due that day. Government may have to resort to the issue as Martin Guzmán’s credibility is being tested by the markets. by Mirta Fernandez, Perfil
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Debt talks with IMF begin in Buenos Aires 13-02-2020 10:11 About 6,000 people demonstrated in front of Congress in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, shouting "IMF get out!" as negotiations over debt restructuring begins in earnest.