The ‘blue’ or parallel dollar in Argentina beat a new record on Tuesday by breaking the 10 Pesos milestone and ending trading at 10.08 Pesos. The official rate meantime remained relatively stable and closed at 5.16 and 5.21 Pesos (buying and selling price).
The International Monetary Fund Director for the Western Hemisphere, Alejandro Werner, warned on Monday about the “negative effect” that the existence of two foreign currency exchange markets and protectionist policies bring to Argentina.
The Buenos Aires media is reporting a potential incident situation in South Georgia waters which could erupt into something more complicated from the moment the Argentine research vessel ‘Eduardo Holmberg’ has been involved in scientific activities in a zone which last year was declared by the UK as a Maritime Protected Area, MPA, and which Argentina does not recognize since it considers it ‘an area in dispute’.
In a clear signal to the markets, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner strongly rejected on Monday a possible devaluation of the Argentine Peso and targeted sectors advocating for such a measure, as she warned that “those hoping to profit from it will have to wait for a different Government.”
“British sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands as such is not accepted by the European Parliament”, according to a visiting delegation of EU lawmakers who met with their Argentine peers in Buenos Aires.
Italy’s news daily “Corriere della Sera” said it will appeal a decision by that country’s court which ruled in favour of Argentine President Cristina Fernández in a “defamation” case involving alleged “luxury” purchases at Bulgari shops in Rome.
Brazil and Argentina are trying to address their economic and trade differences so that they can reach a long-standing, long term solution, said Marco Aurelio García, the Brazilian Executive advisor on foreign issues and trouble shooter for this kind of conflicts.
Brazil has virtually frozen political and economic relations with Argentina following serious discrepancies that were confirmed during the recent summit of presidents Cristina Fernandez with Dilma Rousseff who cut short the originally scheduled two-day visit to Buenos Aires.
Vice-president Danilo Astori admitted on Friday that economic-trade relations with Argentina continue to deteriorate and seriously question Mercosur and Uruguay must therefore speed the search for other alternatives.
The Argentine radical group ‘Resistencia Malvinas’ protested on Thursday midday before the Lan Chile offices in downtown Buenos Aires to demand the end of the weekly air link between Punta Arenas and the Falkland Islands. The group led by Toni Lopez and with drums banging displayed banners, distributed pamphlets and burnt Union Jacks.