Argentina

• Thursday, January 11th 2018 - 07:02 UTC

  Timerman barred from flying to US; Argentine government will appeal decision on humanitarian reasons

  

  The United States barred former Argentine Minister of Foreign Relations Hector Timerman from entering the country because of several pending court cases. The Argentine government said it would appeal the decision, and request a new visa, since Mr. Timerman, who was under house arrest, was allowed by Federal Judge Sergio Torres to travel overseas for medical reasons.

• Wednesday, January 10th 2018 - 09:52 UTC

  Argentine central bank cuts basic rate to 28%; annual inflation target 15%

  

  Argentina’s central bank cut its policy rate to 28% from 28.75%, two weeks after relaxing its 2018 inflation target, the bank said on Tuesday. The bank’s first rate cut in 14 months came after a December 28 news conference announcing an official inflation target for this year of 15%, up from the bank’s previous target range of 8% to 12%.

• Tuesday, January 9th 2018 - 07:54 UTC

  Governor Maria Eugenia Vidal fighting corruption and graft in Buenos Aires province

  

  Buenos Aires province governor Maria Eugenia Vidal said that the union boss arrested in Uruguay is one of “the many Balcedo and Caballos Suarez”, who before were protected, and today are behind bars”.

• Monday, January 8th 2018 - 09:19 UTC

  Argentina and Chile forecasted to lead global lithium production

  

  A new report by BMI Research states that based on project pipelines, Chile and Argentina will lead lithium production in coming years, with the bulk of new capacity coming online in 2019.

• Monday, January 8th 2018 - 05:53 UTC

  Argentina dismantling the extortive power of the corrupt unions

  

  A member of Argentina's elite of powerful union sharks has been arrested in Uruguay at his Great Chaparral ranch and is awaiting extradition to Buenos Aires to face charges of corruption, money laundering, extortion, stealing funds and links with the drugs business, among others.

• Saturday, January 6th 2018 - 09:45 UTC

  Argentine stock market reaches a new record, 13th session running of gains

  

  Good and not so good news from Argentina. Merval, the main index of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, rose 0.79% to 32,505.59 points on Friday, a new settlement record that marked the 13th consecutive session of gains to the Argentine stock market. Merval had a weekly gain of 7.11%.

• Friday, January 5th 2018 - 10:44 UTC

  Crackdown on phantom employees, “gnocchi”, in the Argentine Congress

  

  Nearly 200 phantom workers at Argentina's parliament have been caught in a crackdown on employees who only show up sporadically for their jobs, it has been reported. According to La Nacion, the Argentine Congress implemented a new attendance control system for employees two months ago, and it has already caught 190 who had not shown up for long periods without a good explanation.

• Friday, January 5th 2018 - 10:39 UTC

  Chinese locomotives to revive Argentina's cargo train network

  

  A new shipment of Chinese-made locomotives arrived in the Port of Buenos Aires on Wednesday to revive Argentina's key Belgrano Cargas cargo train network. The eight locomotives will form part of a strategic rail line that traverses northern Argentina's agricultural heartland and connects producers with the eastern exporting hub of Rosario, a port located 300 km north of the capital.

• Friday, January 5th 2018 - 10:25 UTC

  Drought in north Argentina seriously delaying plating of soy and corn

  

  The drought in Argentina continues in several regions and has generated a delay of planting for the 2017-18 season. A report authored by the institution AgroEducación indicated that La Niña, though subtle, already impacts the region with temperatures above normal and scarce rains.

• Friday, January 5th 2018 - 10:20 UTC

  Argentina sells US$ 9bn in bonds, “at the lowest yields in the country's history”

  

  Argentina sold US$ 9 billion in a three-part dollar bond issuance that was oversubscribed on Thursday, covering nearly a third of its expected financing needs for 2018 early in the year. Latin America’s third largest economy sold US$1.75 billion in five-year bonds at a yield of 4.625%, US$ 4.25 billion of 10-year bonds at 6% and US$3 billion in 30-year bonds at 7%, the ministry said. It said the yields were the lowest in Argentina’s history.