BREXIT British, Euro leaders sign Brexit deal as MPs approve ratification 30-12-2020 14:15 Britain and the European Union sign post-Brexit trade deal, setting their seal on a drawn-out divorce just hours before the looming deadline.
COVID-19 VACCINE Pfizer applies for vaccine approval in Argentina as government details targets 05-12-2020 08:28 President Alberto Fernández says 300,000 could be vaccinated using Russian vaccine in next few weeks, followed by 10 million more by end of February.
Coronavirus pandemic Education minister targets March 1 for return of face-to-face classes 02-12-2020 00:05 Education Minister Nicolás Trotta says face-to-face classes will be "essential" next year and says government is targeting March 1 return for classes in 17 provinces.
Bloomberg Guzmán plays down prospects of an early IMF deal 29-11-2020 23:08 In an interview with the Financial Times, Economy Minister Martín Guzmán plays down the chances of an early agreement with the International Monetary Fund over repayment of US$44-billion loan.
CABINET CHANGE María Eugenia Bielsa out as housing minister, Ferraresi to replace her 12-11-2020 00:22 The first Cabinet change in 11 months of the Alberto Fernández presidency materialised Wednesday with the resignation of Housing Minister María Eugenia Bielsa, following several days of rumours.
BLOOMBERG BlackRock's Fink says Argentina won't soon regain investor trust 06-11-2020 08:15 Blackrock Inc. CEO Larry Fink said Argentina has a long way to go before it can regain investor confidence.
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 Government mulling incentives for job growth, says Labour minister 27-10-2020 13:16 Argentina is considering fiscal incentives to encourage companies to hire workers after unemployment spiked to the highest in at least 16 years amid the pandemic, says Labour Minister Claudio Moroni.
TRAVEL & TOURISM Domestic flights restart in Argentina after seven-month stoppage 23-10-2020 02:14 Argentina resumed regular domestic flights on Thursday after an interruption of seven months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Services are limited to essential workers and those needing medical treatment for now, with only Formosa maintaining ban on aviation.
Coronavirus pandemic Government approves return of domestic flights 16-10-2020 03:07 Transport Ministry authorises restricted return of domestic flights. Initially services limited to essential workers, exceptional circumstances and those needing medical treatment, with tourism and trips abroad unlikely before December at the earliest.
BREXIT Brexit talks' fate hangs in balance at EU summit 14-10-2020 17:38 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared himself disappointed in the progress of post-Brexit trade talks Wednesday, but he will wait for news from an EU summit before deciding whether to pull the plug.
TRAVEL & TOURISM Argentina eyes return of regular commercial flights, initially at weekends 12-10-2020 18:40 Transport Ministry working on the possible return of commercial weekend flights, both domestic and international, after seven months of standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic.
BLOOMBERG - OPINION El-Erian: Argentina and Ecuador diverge after bond restructurings 11-10-2020 09:18 A month after finalising historic “zoom” debt restructurings, Argentina and Ecuador find themselves on starkly different paths toward economic and financial improvements.
Asia Yoshihide Suga named Japan's prime minister, succeeding Abe 16-09-2020 15:54 Japan's Parliament elected Yoshihide Suga as prime minister Wednesday, replacing long-serving leader Shinzo Abe with his right-hand man.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Argentina exits default after US$65-billion debt deal 07-09-2020 21:53 Nation officially emerges from its ninth default after Standard & Poor's Global raised its credit rating following the restructuring of US$65 billion of overseas debt.
BLOOMBERG Guzmán says Argentina must work to cut bond yields 04-09-2020 17:53 Country must reduce its bond yields before returning to international capital markets in a process that will likely take some time, says Economy Minister Martín Guzmán in interview.
Human rights Former Spanish minister questioned by local judge over Franco-era deaths 04-09-2020 14:20 Rodolfo Martín Villa, 85, served as Spain's interior minister in the late 1970s. On Thursday, during a five-hour session, he testified over his alleged role in 12 deaths during Spain's transition to democracy.
Coronavirus pandemic Patricia Bullrich tests positive for coronavirus 03-09-2020 19:29 Former security minister and leader of PRO party confirms she has tested positive for Covid-19. She is receiving medical attention at the Azcuénaga branch of Medicus healthcare firm.
HUMAN RIGHTS Ex-Spanish minister to testify over Franco-era deaths before Argentine judge 03-09-2020 17:06 Rodolfo Martín Villa, 85, who served as Spain's interior minister in the late 1970s, will testify from the Argentine Embassy in Madrid, answering questions from Buenos Aires over alleged role in 12 violent deaths dating back to end of Franco dictatorship.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Guzmán confirms 99% of overseas debt restructured in swap 31-08-2020 17:52 Argentina wins "massive" bondholder support to restructure overseas debt, exchanging 99% of debt held under international law.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Creditors reiterate support for Argentina’s debt restructuring offer 18-08-2020 16:08 Two of three main bondholder groups confirm they will accede to revised proposal, which was filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Government files official debt offer with SEC, extends deadline 17-08-2020 14:50 Amended debt restructuring offer filed with US Securities and Exchange Commission, extending deadline for investors to accept until August 28.
Coronavirus pandemic Transport minister hopeful flights in Argentina 'will return in 60 days’ 16-08-2020 08:51 Mario Meoni rules out chances of planes returning to skies on September 1 and says decision will depend on “how the pandemic evolves.”
BLOOMBERG Argentina’s creditors will get better debt deals from provinces 14-08-2020 15:16 National government’s debt restructuring accord was a benchmark, setting a minimum, not a maximum for what investors can expect.
AS I SEE IT Culture matters more than computers 08-08-2020 09:51 The technology that provides people with the equivalent of dozens of huge libraries is certainly marvellous, but only those who have already been fairly well educated are able to benefit from having the accumulated wisdom of humankind there at their fingertips. by James Neilson
ENVIRONMENT Marshlands of Paraná Delta hit by worst fires in decades 07-08-2020 16:56 Ravaged by drought, the Paraná Delta is burning like never before. During the first seven months of 2020, more than 11,000 fires were detected in the region.
BLOOMBERG Government seeks to reach new IMF agreement before April 07-08-2020 00:49 Government seeks deal with the International Monetary Fund over a new financing programme before the end of March, in order to renegotiate US$2-billion payment owed to the Paris Club that matures in May.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING DEAL Support – and silence – from opposition economists in wake of debt deal 05-08-2020 00:31 Luis Caputo the most effusive in celebrating the government's deal with creditors, while Hernán Lacunza and Lucas Llach also express support. Alfonso Prat-Gay, the former official who was most critical of the deal, leads the criticism. by Andrés Fidanza
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Creditors 'pleased' with 'preliminary agreement' on debt restructuring 04-08-2020 23:43 IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva welcomes debt deal reached by Argentina and its creditors as a "very significant step."
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Economists praise debt deal but warn challenges on horizon 04-08-2020 18:38 Experts welcome government's agreement with creditors, but warn that Argentina must now correct imbalances and other issues.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING 'We resolved an impossible debt,' declares delighted Fernández 04-08-2020 14:19 President Alberto Fernández hails government after officials confirm Argentina has reached an agreement with three major creditors over restructuring of US$66-billion debt.
DEBT DEAL AGREED Government hails ‘significant debt relief’ in accord with creditors 04-08-2020 09:44 Deal involves the Ad Hoc, Argentina Creditor Committee and Exchange Bondholder groups, as well as "certain other significant holders," Economy Ministry confirms in a statement.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Argentina reaches US$65-billion debt restructuring deal with creditors 04-08-2020 08:59 Government says in a statement that deal with key creditors would provide “significant debt relief.” While it statement didn’t provide a net-present value for the agreement, sources say the deal is worth about 54.8 cents on the dollar.
BLOOMBERG Argentina, creditors inch closer on US$65-billion debt deal 03-08-2020 17:47 The sides have moved closer over the weekend and are discussing a deal where creditors would receive about 54.8 cents on the dollar, according to three people with direct knowledge of the talks.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Ecuador wins bondholders’ approval for debt restructuring 03-08-2020 15:26 Creditors vote in favour of a restructuring plan for US$17.4 billion of debt that will see the South American country's capital and interest payments reduced.
BLOOMBERG Creditors seek international backing on debt clauses 02-08-2020 17:01 Bondholders approach several international organisations, including IMF and US Treasury, to seek endorsement for a proposal to change the rules that govern some of the country’s overseas securities.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Government to seek new IMF plan, regardless of outcome of debt talks 28-07-2020 14:43 Argentina will seek a new programme with the IMF whatever the outcome of talks with bondholders, says Economy minister Martín Guzmán.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Creditors once again reject government's debt restructuring offer 28-07-2020 14:36 In a letter sent to Economy Minister Martín Guzmán, signed by 30 funds, main bondholder groups reiterate rejection of deal on table and say they hold veto power over any agreement.
BLOOMBERG Argentina's creditors boost bargaining power with new funds 27-07-2020 23:21 Main bondholder groups now say they represent 50% of Argentina's overseas debt, potentially strengthening their bargaining power against the government.
council of the americas Fernández asks creditors for 'understanding' on debt offer 22-07-2020 01:18 Argentina simply cannot pay more than the offer that is on the table, president says during Council of the Americas event.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Debt deal at impasse as creditors unite to reject government's offer 20-07-2020 23:50 Three groups of creditors announce they have rejected Argentina's proposal to restructure US$66 billion of debt and delivered a counter offer to government – which President Alberto Fernández promptly dismisses out of hand.
Bloomberg Creditors join forces to demand better terms on debt deal 20-07-2020 21:54 Three largest creditor groups join forces in negotiations, rejecting government's "final" offer and submitting their own counter proposal.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING The ball is in the creditors' court, says Guzmán 16-07-2020 16:55 Economy Minister Martín Guzmán says Argentina is not seeking a "confrontational" relationship in debt talks and says the onus to make a deal is now on the country's creditors.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING 'We can't do more than this,' Fernández tells Argentina's creditors 13-07-2020 23:54 President says in a radio interview that Argentina has made its "maximum effort" to reach an agreement with bondholders, reiterating that what's on the table is the country's "final offer."
BLOOMBERG Ecuador’s speedy debt deal underscores Argentina’s hang-ups 10-07-2020 17:31 President Lenín Moreno’s administration struck an agreement with some of its top bondholders this week ahead of a mid-August deadline, when a moratorium on payments ends. By contrast, Argentina has presented a second binding offer to creditors after pushing back its deadline five times.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Guzmán rules out changes to offer, but creditors say proposal 'falls short' 09-07-2020 02:37 Economy Minister Martín Guzmán rules out further changes to government's debt restructuring offer as offer wins support from IMF and some G20 finance ministers. Large creditors, however, aren't impressed.
BLOOMBERG Malbec bonds beat defaulted Argentine peers on investor hope 09-07-2020 02:26 A glimmer of hope is lurking within Argentina’s default-ravaged debt landscape: Bonds sold by Mendoza, the Andean-bordering province famed for exports of full-bodied Malbec wine.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING This is Argentina's final debt offer, Guzmán tells creditors 08-07-2020 17:33 Economy minister describes talks as "a cold shower of reality for creditors," as they've come to realise Argentina's limitations.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Favourable initial reaction to Argentina's new debt swap offer 08-07-2020 16:58 Two investment funds, Gramercy and Fintech Advisory, express approval for Argentina's new debt restructuring offer. Creditors entering the swap stand to obtain 53.5 cents for every dollar loaned as against 39 cents in the first offer rejected by most creditors.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING Government files new debt restructuring offer with SEC 07-07-2020 14:04 Argentina formally presents its new proposal to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, extending deadline for acceptance to August 4.