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☆ Argentina to freeze fuel prices until Oct 31 to curb inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Aug 17 (Reuters) - Argentina's economy ministry said on Thursday it will freeze fuel prices until October 31 after an agreement with the industry as a measure to help tamp down triple-digit inflation. In a statement, the ministry said the government will cut taxes in exchange for the price freezes, but added that the tax benefits can be "taken away" if companies violate the agreement. The agreement followed a meeting between economy minister Sergio Massa and executives from oil companies such as YPF (YPFD.BA) and Vista (VIST.BA) earlier in the afternoon. The South American nation has been battling against sky-rocketing annual inflation which topped 113.4% through July, with monthly inflation set to rise again in August. Reporting by Carolina Pulice; Editing by Brendan O'BoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Carolina Pulice, Brendan O'Boyle Organizations: Thomson

"Simply put, Mr Massa is the rightful 2008 Driver's Champion, and F1 and FIA deliberately ignored the misconduct that cheated him out of that title," said the letter. There was no immediate response from the FIA and Formula One, which is currently on an August shutdown. PIQUET CRASHMassa was leading the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix from pole position when fellow Brazilian Piquet crashed into the wall on lap 14 of 61. The lawyers' letter warned that, without a satisfactory response, Massa intended to "pursue legal action in order to seek compensation for the harm he has suffered." Massa did not win again after 2008, with the Brazilian suffering a near-fatal head injury at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Persons: Driver Felipe Massa, Hamad, Mohammed, Massa, Ecclestone, Felipe Massa, Stefano Domenicali, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Law, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, Mr Massa, " Massa, supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Max Mosley, Nelson Piquet's, PIQUET, Piquet, Fernando Alonso, insider.com Ecclestone, Hamilton, Mosley, Charlie Whiting, Rory Carroll, Alan Baldwin, Ken Ferris Organizations: Saudi, Prix, Jeddah Corniche, Driver, Grand Prix REUTERS, FIA, Reuters, Formula, Formula One, F1, supremo, Renault, Briton, F1 supremo, Liberty Media, Thomson Locations: Jeddah, Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Saudi Arabia, Paris, London, Singapore, Switzerland, Spanish

A one hundred Argentine peso bill sits on top of several one hundred U.S. dollar bills in this illustration picture taken October 17, 2022. The Sunday primary vote saw outsider candidate Javier Milei, who has pledged to dollarize the economy and eventually scrap the central bank, win the largest share of the vote. Analyst Salvador Vitelli, however, said that despite the new measures a further devaluation was expected, even after the central bank pegged the official exchange rate at 350 pesos per dollar until the election. "The market does not seem to believe that they will be able to maintain the exchange rate until October," he said. Reporting by Walter Bianchi, Jorge Otaola and Lucinda Elliott; Editing by Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Gustavo Ber, Javier Milei, Salvador Vitelli, Milei, Patricia Bullrich, Sergio Massa, Milei's dollarization, Peter West, Walter Bianchi, Jorge Otaola, Lucinda Elliott, Jamie Freed Organizations: Argentine, REUTERS, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Peronist, Economy, Monetary Fund, Sovereign, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, MERV

REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/Illustration/File PhotoNEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Investors in Argentina's financial markets, where bonds and the peso slid on Monday after central bank moves following a surprise primary election result, said the vote had a silver lining: it would likely hasten long-called-for economic reforms. The result initially introduced uncertainty into asset pricing, with traders selling stocks and dollar bonds - but prices later stabilized and the local stock market closed over 3% higher. Investors said this would outweigh any worries about Milei, despite some of his heterodox pledges, including to axe the central bank and dollarize the economy. Milei faces a significant challenge still to turn the primary election win into a successful run to the presidency. The central bank also increased the benchmark interest rate to 118% from 97%.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Javier Milei, Patricia Bullrich, Milei, Kimberley Sperrfechter, Sergio Massa, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Milei's, Walter Stoeppelwerth, Shamaila Khan, Rowe Price, Samy Muaddi, Rodrigo Campos, Adam Jourdan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Argentine, REUTERS, Economics, Kimberley, Peronist, Investors, Gletir SA, Emerging Markets, Asia Pacific, UBS Asset Management, Jorgelina, Thomson Locations: Argentina, Argentine, MERV, Rosario

A general view of the facade of Banco de la Nacion Argentina (Bank of the Argentine Nation), in Buenos Aires, Argentina December 7, 2021. The official FX rate will be fixed at 350 pesos per dollar until the October elections, the central bank said. The country's sovereign dollar bonds fell as much as 2 cents on the dollar, with the 2038 note leading the slide, according to MarketAxess data. Latin America's third-largest economy has been grappling with a severe economic crisis with sky-high inflation and falling central bank reserves. A candidate needs 45% of the Oct. 22 vote to win outright or 40% and a 10-point lead over second place.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Javier Milei, William Jackson, overvalued, Sunday's, Goldman Sachs, Patricia Bullrich, Sergio Massa, Ricardo Delgado, Eliana Raszewski, Rodrigo Campos, Jorge Otaola, Medha Singh, Adam Jourdan, Bernadette Baum, John Stonestreet, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: de la Nacion Argentina, Bank of, Argentine, REUTERS, LONDON, Capital Economics, Investment, JPMorgan, Gross, Milei, Peronist, Economy, Analytica, Reuters Graphics Reuters, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Qatar, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Agustin Marcarian BUENOS AIRES, MERV, Argentine, refinance, Washington, Rosario

☆ Javier Milei: Far-right outsider posts shock win in Argentina election
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

With some 90% of ballots counted, far-right libertarian economist Javier Milei had 30.5% of the vote, far higher than predicted, with the main conservative opposition bloc behind on 28% and the ruling Peronist coalition in third place on 27%. The result is a stinging rebuke to the center-left Peronist coalition and the main Together for Change conservative opposition bloc with inflation at 116% and a cost-of-living crisis leaving four in 10 people in poverty. “We are the true opposition,” Milei said in a bullish speech after the results. This speaks of people’s anger with politics,” said former conservative President Mauricio Macri as he arrived at Together for Change’s election bunker. Turnout was under 70%, the lowest for a primary election since they started to be held in Argentina over a decade ago.

Persons: Reuters —, Javier Milei, ” Milei, ”, Adriana Alonso, Mauricio Macri, Patricia Bullrich, Horacio Larreta, Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, JUAN MABROMATA, Sergio Massa, Donald Trump, Jorge Boloco, Maria Fernanda Medina Organizations: Reuters, Peronist, International Monetary Fund, Conservative, Change, Buenos Aires, Argentine, el Cambio, Getty Images Locations: Argentina, Buenos Aires, Buenos, AFP, Tigre

☆ Argentina markets face election hangover after far-right primary bombshell
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Argentina's markets face an election hangover on Monday after a shock primary election win for far-right libertarian Javier Milei, who wants to axe the central bank and dollarize the economy, shook up the race towards general elections in October. The primary to elect party candidates acts as a dress rehearsal for the general election in two months time. Markets had hoped for a strong performance by more moderate candidates, who had a bad night. After a similar primary election shock result in 2019, bonds and the currency crashed and remain in distressed territory, with the peso now held in check by capital controls the government has been unable to unwind. A candidate needs 45% of the Oct. 22 vote to win outright or 40% and a 10-point lead over second place.

Persons: Javier Milei, Milei, Dante Sica, Milei's, Goldman Sachs, Patricia Bullrich, Sergio Massa, Ricardo Delgado Organizations: Markets, Peronist Locations: Argentine

A general view of the facade of Banco de la Nacion Argentina (Bank of the Argentine Nation), in Buenos Aires, Argentina December 7, 2021. REUTERS/Agustin MarcarianBUENOS AIRES/LONDON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Argentina's markets face an election hangover on Monday after a shock primary vote win for far-right libertarian Javier Milei - who wants to axe the central bank and dollarize the economy - shook up the race towards presidential elections in October. Rock-singing, wild-haired economist and lawmaker Milei far outperformed forecasts to win some 30% of the vote, the largest share with over 90% of ballots counted. Latin America's third-biggest economy has been grappling with a severe economic crisis with sky-high inflation and falling central bank reserves. A candidate needs 45% of the Oct. 22 vote to win outright or 40% and a 10-point lead over second place.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Javier Milei, Milei, Diego Pereira, Milei's, Goldman Sachs, Patricia Bullrich, Sergio Massa, Ricardo Delgado, Eliana Raszewski, Jorge Otaola, Adam Jourdan, Stephen Coates, Bernadette Baum Organizations: de la Nacion Argentina, Bank of, Argentine, REUTERS, LONDON, Investment, JPMorgan, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Gross, Peronist, Economy, Analytica, International Monetary Fund, Qatar, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Agustin Marcarian BUENOS AIRES, U.S, Argentine, refinance, Washington, Rosario

☆ One eve of vote, Argentina's Massa announces $500 mln in new loans
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Argentina's Economy Minister Sergio Massa departs after attending a meeting with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva at the IMF headquarters in Washington, U.S., September 12, 2022. In a ministry statement laying out economic policies to be formally rolled out next week, Massa also pledged to propose a "zero deficit" government budget for next year that would not overspend. The $500 million in loans will be signed with the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank, according to the statement, which will boost the central bank's critically-low foreign reserves. Argentine traders are keeping a close eye on Sunday's election, which could point to the likely outcome of the general election in October. Reporting by Lucila Sigal; Writing by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Kristalina Georgieva, Evelyn Hockstein, Massa, Lucila Sigal, David Alire Garcia, Sandra Maler Organizations: Monetary Fund, IMF, REUTERS, Voters, Peronist, Inter, American Development Bank, World Bank, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, BUENOS AIRES, Argentina

☆ Argentina set for primary vote with ruling Peronists fighting for survival
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Nicolás Misculin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"I am thinking of leaving my vote blank," said Micaela Panzera, a 22-year-old employee of a food company in Buenos Aires. We have seen warning signs of this in the provincial elections held up to now," said political analyst Carlos Fara. Pollsters see the combined Together for Change opposition candidates just ahead of the ruling Peronist bloc, with Milei pulling close to 20%. In the 2019 primary the polls were proved badly wrong. Reporting by Nicolás Misculin; Additional reporting by Candelaria Grimberg; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Horacio Larreta, Sergio Massa, Micaela Panzera, Patricia Bullrich, Javier Milei, Goldman Sachs, Carlos Fara, Nicolás Misculin, Candelaria Grimberg, Adam Jourdan, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Peronist, International Monetary Fund, Buenos Aires, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Change, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Buenos Aires

[1/5] Cattle run in front of Juan Carlos Ardohain, 49, on a farm he rents in San Vicente, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina August 10, 2023. REUTERS/Tomas CuestaSAN VICENTE, Argentina, Aug 12 (Reuters) - In Argentina's grains fields and cattle ranches, farmers are hoping upcoming elections will bring political change and an end to years of economic uncertainty, ushering in freer markets with fewer currency controls and export limits. "I think Larreta could be a good candidate for what he's promising," said Juan Carlos Ardohain in a field he rents in San Vicente for cattle. Argentina's currency controls, which tightly limit access to dollars, have stoked a flourishing black market for foreign currency where greenbacks command over twice the official price, distorting import and export markets. Reporting by Maximilian Heath and Miguel Lo Bianco; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Juan Carlos Ardohain, Tomas Cuesta, It's, Horacio Deciancio, Horacio Larreta, Patricia Bullrich, Sergio Massa, Mauricio Macri, Ricardo Firpo, Massa, Deciancio, Maximilian Heath, Miguel Lo Bianco, Adam Jourdan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, VICENTE, Peronist, Reuters, Argentine Rural Society, Thomson Locations: San Vicente, Buenos Aires, Argentina, breadbasket, Santa Fe, Ukraine

A man wearing a face mask as a protective measure against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) walks past the entrance of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, a day after midterm primary elections, in Buenos Aires, Argentina September 13, 2021. The primary, which unusually is an obligatory nationwide vote, defines internal leadership battles and acts as a dry run for the general election. The primary vote four years ago delivered a shock landslide defeat to the government of conservative then-President Mauricio Macri, sparking a crash in bonds, equities and the peso currency that Argentina has yet to fully recover from. Ex-security tsar Patricia Bullrich and Buenos Aires city Mayor Horacio Larreta are vying to lead the opposition, and Economy Minister Sergio Massa is a unity candidate for the Peronists. The country's S&P Merval (.MERV) stock market index, meanwhile, has been soaring, seen as a safe haven for local investors and a refuge from the damaging impact of inflation.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Mauricio Macri, it's, Mauro Natalucci, Rava Bursátil, Patricia Bullrich, Horacio Larreta, Sergio Massa, Javier Milei, Jorge Otaola, Walter Bianchi, Adam Jourdan, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Peronist, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Argentine, SBS Group, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, MERV

☆ Factbox: Who are the candidates in Argentina's primary elections?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Maximilian Heath | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The polls will open at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) with results coming in from 9 p.m. (0000 GMT). All candidates need a minimum 1.5% of the vote to be eligible for the general election, while the two main political blocs face internal leadership battles. JUAN GRABOIS AND JUAN SCHIARETTIGrabois, 40, a lawyer and labor activist, will compete with Massa for main Peronist nomination but lags well behind in polls. Schiaretti, 74, a regional governor, is a moderate with ties to Peronism running for a coalition of smaller parties. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsReporting by Maximilian Heath; Editing by Nicolas Misculin and Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: SERGIO MASSA, Massa, PATRICIA BULLRICH Bullrich, Horacio Larreta, HORACIO LARRETA Larreta, Larreta, JAVIER MILEI, JUAN GRABOIS, JUAN SCHIARETTI Grabois, Maximilian Heath, Nicolas Misculin, Diane Craft Organizations: Peronist coalition's, la Patria, Peronist, Buenos Aires, Change, Bullrich, Harvard, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Buenos Aires, Argentina

☆ Voter anger, apathy hang over Argentina primary elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Nicolás Misculin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Pollsters, however, said voter apathy could mean big shifts late in the race, with many people still undecided. The primary election will give the clearest indication yet of what the October general election result is likely to be. "I still don't know who I'm going to vote for and I think we're all in the same position. "I'm going to vote because I don't want to pay the fine, but I still don't know who. Despite voting being obligatory by law, voter turnout is also expected to be down and could affect the result.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Kristalina Georgieva, Evelyn Hockstein, Javier Milei, Pablo Vairo, Facundo Nejamkis, Horacio Larreta, Patricia Bullrich, Cristian Guardo, Maximiliano Herrera, Karina, Nicolas Misculin, Juan Bustamante, Adam Jourdan, Diane Craft Organizations: Monetary Fund, IMF, REUTERS, Peronist coalition's, Economy, Peronist, Reuters, Primaries, pollster Opina, Milei, Reuters Graphics Reuters, la Patria, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Buenos Aires, pollster, pollster Opina Argentina, Peronist, Candelaria

[1/5] A priest blesses Argentine faithfuls during San Cayetano's (Saint Cajetan) feast day, the patron saint of labour and bread, at San Cayetano church in Buenos Aires, Argentina August 7, 2023. "Walking around this neighborhood, there are many people who have come from other parts of the country to ask for work. People are asking a saint because they can't ask the politicians," said retiree Juan Mura, 58. "I would like the politicians to come here and see the reality of the people." He said he had come to pray to St. Cayetano for years and he hadn't been let down so far, despite the country's long-running economic woes.

Persons: Mariana Nedelcu, Cayetano, Juan Mura, Sergio Massa, Massa, Betina Basanta, Armando Villar, hadn't, I've, Claudia Martini, Miguel Lo Bianco, Horacio Soria, Adam Jourdan, Conor Humphries Organizations: San, REUTERS, Peronist, Thomson Locations: Argentine, Cayetano's, San Cayetano, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mariana Nedelcu BUENOS AIRES

☆ Argentina agrees $775 million loan with Qatar to make IMF repayment
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File PhotoAug 4 (Reuters) - Argentina's government on Friday agreed with Qatar a $775 million loan to use to make an International Monetary Fund (IMF) repayment due this Friday. Argentina is grappling with a severe economic crisis with sky-high inflation and falling central bank reserves and is facing IMF repayments. The country's Economy Minister Sergio Massa said on Monday Argentina would not use "a single dollar of its own reserves" to make the IMF repayment. The Qatar loan will have the IMF's variable interest rate applicable to SDRs (IMF currency), which is currently 4.033% per annum, a presidential decree said.

Persons: Yuri Gripas, Sergio Massa, Massa, Nicolas Misculin, Natalia Siniawski, Jason Neely, Jane Merriman Organizations: Monetary Fund, REUTERS, Qatar, Argentina, IMF, CAF, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Argentina, Qatar, China

☆ Argentine polls give slight edge to opposition ahead of uncertain primaries
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Matias Baglietto/File PhotoBUENOS AIRES, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Argentina's opposition is polling with a slight lead for the upcoming August primaries, usually a reliable bellwether for the outcome of the presidential election, but with many voters ready to snub the ballot box the results are far from certain. Most polls peg the center-right opposition alliance Together for Change (JxC) with a slight edge against the center-left ruling coalition Union for the Homeland (UP). Over 10 percentage points behind is political outsider Javier Milei's Liberty Advances party, which hopes to win votes from those disillusioned with politics. The primaries will decide the candidates who will compete in the Oct. 22 elections, but polls vary on which candidates will win a place in the race. Massa is seen as likely to win a place in the presidential vote, but the country's severe economic crisis has favored Milei, who carries an "emotional vote".

Persons: Javier Milei, Matias Baglietto, Carlos Fara, Javier Milei's, Mariel Fornoni, Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, Patricia Bullrich, Bullrich, Sergio Massa, Juan Grabois, Massa, Milei, Pollsters, It's, Lucila Sigal, Juan Bustamante, Sarah Morland, Sandra Maler Organizations: 135th Argentine, REUTERS, Union for, Homeland, Management, Economy, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, UP, Fara

"China is not trying to supplant the IMF," said Matthew Mingey, a senior analyst with Rhodium Group. "When China has allowed these swap lines to be tapped, in many cases it's to unlock an IMF bailout or ensure an IMF programme stays on track." In turn, China is a major customer for Argentina's soy, corn and poultry exports. "China has every incentive to tightly manage Argentine drawings under the swap lines as the risks are very high." The swap line that the People's Bank of China (PBOC) signed in 2009 with Buenos Aires was the first agreed with a Latin American country.

Persons: Matthew Mingey, Buenos, Mark Sobel, Sobel, Sergio Massa, Martin Castellano, Alejandro Werner, Werner, Mingey, Jorgelina, Rosario, Karin Strohecker, Jorge Otaola, Joe Cash, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, U.S . Treasury, Reuters, World Bank, TAG, People's Bank of China, Buenos Aires, Economy, Institute of International Finance, Relations, Georgetown Americas Institute, Western Hemisphere Department, Thomson Locations: China, Argentina, Beijing, Washington, Latin America, Buenos Aires, U.S, Buenos, American, United States, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Ukraine

☆ Argentina won't use 'one dollar' of reserves to repay IMF, says Massa
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BUENOS AIRES, July 31 (Reuters) - Argentina's Economy Minister Sergio Massa said on Monday the country will not use "a single dollar" of its own reserves to make a $2.7 billion repayment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) due this week. Argentina, which has been grappling with a severe economic crisis with sky-high inflation and falling central bank reserves, needed to avoid a default with the Fund, with maturities of $2.6 billion due on Monday and almost $800 million due on Tuesday. "I want to bring you peace of mind - Argentina is not going to use a single dollar of its reserves to pay today's maturity," Massa said in a televised speech. The challenge for Argentina now, he added, is to "continue to take care of the (foreign currency) reserves while maintaining the economic activity levels." Reporting by Eliana Raszewski and Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Alexander VIllegasOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Massa, Eliana Raszewski, Gabriel Araujo, Bernadette Baum, Alexander VIllegas Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Development Bank of Latin America, CAF, IMF, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, China, Buenos Aires, Argentina

☆ Michelle Yeoh marries longtime partner Jean Todt
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh has married her longtime partner Jean Todt in a ceremony in Switzerland – nearly two decades after the French businessman first proposed to her. We love you and here’s to many more to come,” the Malaysian actress wrote. The post included images of the two exchanging rings and another of them sitting snuggled together on a bed decorated with flower petals. Todt posted the framed image on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, over the weekend, thanking long-time Bond producer Barbara Broccoli for the “touching” wedding gift. Todt, who made his name as a World Rally Championship co-driver, is also a former president of Formula 1’s governing body, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile.

Persons: CNN — Oscar, Michelle Yeoh, Jean Todt, Yeoh, Todt, Felipe Massa, “, M.Y, Oscar, ” Yeoh, don’t, Marvel, Rich Asians ”, ”, Pierce Brosnan, James Bond, Barbara Broccoli, General’s Organizations: CNN, Switzerland –, Ferrari, Academy, Rich Asians, Formula, Internationale de, United Nations Locations: Switzerland, French, Malaysian, Shanghai, J.T, Geneva, Hong Kong

WASHINGTON/LONDON, July 28 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund said on Friday that it has reached a staff-level agreement with Argentina to unlock about $7.5 billion and complete the fifth and sixth reviews of the struggling country's $44 billion loan program. Reuters first reported that the agreement would combine the fifth and sixth reviews of Argentina's IMF program -- a move that provides additional loan funds sooner. The IMF said its board would meet to consider the agreement in the second half of August. The Fund said that the program will need waivers because these measures are "against the introduction of multiple currency practices." Argentina is set to have another three reviews on its 2022 IMF programme by September 2024, though the IMF statement didn't specify what would happen with those.

Persons: Sergio Massa, David Lawder, Hugh Lawson, Alistair Bell Organizations: WASHINGTON, Monetary Fund, Reuters, IMF, Argentine, Thomson Locations: LONDON, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Beijing, Washington, Rosario, London

☆ Argentina reach staff deal on loan reviews to unlock $7.5 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The International Monetary Fund said on Friday that it has reached a staff-level agreement with Argentina to unlock about $7.5 billion and complete the fifth and sixth reviews of the struggling country’s $44 billion loan program. Reuters first reported that the agreement would combine the fifth and sixth reviews of Argentina’s IMF program — a move that provides additional loan funds sooner. The IMF said its board would meet to consider the agreement in the second half of August. The agreement calls for Argentina to tamp down import demand with new foreign exchange taxes for imported goods and to strengthen expenditure controls. Argentina is set to have another three reviews on its 2022 IMF program by September 2024, though the IMF statement didn’t specify what would happen with those.

Persons: Sergio Massa Organizations: Monetary Fund, Reuters, IMF, Argentine Locations: Argentina, Buenos Aires, Beijing

THE REVIEWUnder the terms of the $44 billion program agreed in 2022, the funds are released in tranches based on regular reviews of steps Argentina takes to shore up its economy. The IMF did not respond to a request for comment on the likelihood of a board meeting soon to discuss the Argentina program. Argentina made the last IMF payment due end-June partially with its holdings of IMF special-drawing rights (SDRs), but analysts calculated that this has wiped out the country's $1.65 billion in IMF reserve assets. Argentina used $1.1 billion in yuan from a recently extended and expanded swap line with China to complete the June payment to the IMF. Reuters GraphicsFALLING INTO ARREARSMissing payments would automatically put Argentina in default with the IMF because there is no grace period with the multilateral lender.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Sergio Massa, Gordian Kemen, Kemen, Gross, Jorgelina, Rosario, Rodrigo Campos, Karin Strohecker, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, Standard Chartered Bank, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Argentina, Buenos Aires, Beijing, China

If it cannot secure fresh funds before an approaching deadline, Argentina risks defaulting on repayments to the IMF. Analysts say the central aim of these economic adjustments is to signal to the IMF that Buenos Aires is committed to the program. The left-wing administration has been locked in negotiations with the IMF for months over whether to front-load tranches of the $44 billion program. Both parties said on Sunday that an agreement on the fifth IMF review was close, but not yet finalized. Reporting by Lucinda Elliott in Montevideo, Anna-Catherine Brigida in Buenos Aires, Rodrigo Campos in New York.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Eduardo Levy Yeyati, Eyeing, Marina dal, EcoGo, Alejo Czerwonko, Yeyati, Lucinda Elliott, Catherine Brigida, Rodrigo Campos, Jorgelina de, Karin Strohecker, Catherine Evans Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Economy, Peronist, IMF, Reuters, Emerging, UBS, Analysts, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Buenos Aires, Argentina, refinance, Washington, Beijing, Montevideo, Anna, New York, Jorgelina de Rosario, London

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