President Mauricio Macri said on Monday that Argentina was close to a deal with the International Monetary Fund to bolster a US$ 50 billion credit line, while a government source said US$ 3-US$ 5 billion in additional funds could be announced this week.
The International Trade Union Conference, ITUC’s affiliates in Argentina, CGT, CTA-A and CTA-T have announced a general strike for 24-25 September in opposition to expected sweeping austerity measures being developed by the government and the International Monetary Fund.
Argentina's peso currency fell 3.51% on Thursday to close at a new record low of 39.9 per U.S. dollar, as market confidence ebbs away despite President Mauricio Macri's efforts to reassure investors. Dollar demand had risen on Thursday due to high liquidity sparked by an auction of treasury notes, traders said.
S&P said on Friday it may lower Argentina's long-term foreign currency rating from its current B+ grade, which is four notches below investment grade -- and on par with Turkey, Greece and Fiji. The ratings company cited the risk of worsening creditworthiness and exchange rate volatility as potential threats to the economic adjustment measures undertaken by Mauricio Macri’s administration.
Argentina’s central bank on Tuesday rolled over billions of dollars in short-term debt, providing President Mauricio Macri’s government with a shot of confidence after weeks of economic volatility. In a statement, the Argentine central bank said it refinanced all of the US$ 26 billion of peso-denominated short term bonds that matured on Tuesday. Investors were attracted by renewal rates of 40% for 36-day Lebac and 38% and 38,5% for 90 days and plus, Lebacs.
Supporters of former President Cristina Fernandez gave her a hero's welcome Monday night at a Buenos Aires metropolitan airport before she faces a court over her possible role in an alleged scheme to manipulate Argentina's currency.
The US dollar kept climbing in Argentina and ended trading on Tuesday above the 15 Pesos threshold after having advanced 30 cents on Monday and 54 cents today. Sunday's electoral result in the City of Buenos Aires where the pro-business PRO party just managed to scrape by with victory, has triggered growing nervousness and speculation among savers and traders.
The Argentine currency ended trading on Friday, the first month of 2014, at 8.01 Pesos to the US dollar with an accumulated devaluation in January of 18.63%, the greatest loss in a single month since 2002. However market analysts described the situation as a depreciation 'sustained and managed' by the government of President Cristina Fernandez.
Despite the tax amnesty bill and investment options pledged by the government of President Cristina Fernandez, the dollar kept climbing in Argentina. After breaking the key psychological barrier of 10 Pesos to the dollar on Tuesday, the blue dollar which trades on the parallel market climbed again on Wednesday another 37 cents to reach 10.45 Argentine Pesos.
Three Argentine economists, particularly close to the government of President Cristina Fernandez have admitted that the Argentine Peso is overvalued and is causing problems for non commodity exports which need to be addressed.