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☆ Explainer: What you need to know about Argentina's presidential election run-off
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Maximilian Heath | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BUENOS AIRES, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Argentina will vote in a run-off presidential election on Sunday, with Peronist Economy Minister Sergio Massa taking on libertarian outsider Javier Milei to determine the future of the region's second largest economy. It has one of the largest reserves of electric vehicle battery lithium, and huge shale gas and oil potential. Massa, the current government's wheeler-dealer 51-year-old economy chief, represents the ruling Union por la Patria (UP) coalition. The registry for the 2023 election is 35.4 million people and Argentines abroad can vote. In the runoff, the candidate who obtains the greatest number of total votes wins and would govern for a four-year term.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Javier Milei, Alberto Fernandez, Juan Peron, Evita, Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, Massa, Milei, Patricia Bullrich, Juan Schiaretti, Pollsters, Maximilian Heath, Adam Jourdan, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Peronist Economy, Peronist, CARE, Monetary, WHO, La Libertad Avanza, U.S, la Patria, Pellegrini, Argentine Ministry of, REUTERS, Massa, WHAT'S, Investors, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, China, Latin America, Brazilian, Peronism, Buenos Aires, Milei, Peronist

Which is stronger will tip the balance of the South American country's presidential election on Sunday and may reshape its diplomatic ties, economic future, and the wider region's political fault lines. 'NOT MY FIRST CHOICE'Neither Massa or Milei goes into the second round with a strong mandate. "For me, neither of them represents the hopes that I have for the future of the country. This would likely put a brake on more radical reforms and force Massa or Milei to moderate. The powerful regional governors are also split between the Peronists and the main conservative coalition, with none allied to Milei.

Persons: Javier Milei, Matias Baglietto, Sergio Massa, Massa, Donald Trump, Raquel Pampa, " Massa, Fernando Pedernera, Milei's, Mario Vargas Llosa, Milei, Nicolas Troitino, Valentina, Gonzalo, Benjamin Gedan, Wilson, Adam Jourdan, Horacio Soria, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Argentine, REUTERS, American, International Monetary Fund, Mercosur, Massa, Milei, America, Thomson Locations: Cordoba, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Buenos Aires, China, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Chile, Colombia

☆ Argentina election: Will Milei’s plan to ditch peso for the dollar be a vote-winner against Massa?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Analysis Stefano Pozzebon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

To fix the problem, Argentina should abandon the peso and adopt the dollar, whose value is set by the US Federal Reserve and cannot be printed at will. Massa has criticized the plan for dollarization as a surrender of national sovereignty and attempted to show that the government’s current actions are already paying dividends. Other mainstream politicians, including former the President Mauricio Macri and another former election candidate, Patricia Bullrich, have endorsed Milei despite sharing some reservations on dollarization. ET) and the vote count is expected to be quick – barring any unforeseen problems or objections, that is. Milei appeared to question the results of the first round of voting in October, although his party did not formally appeal.

Persons: Argentina’s, Sergio Massa, Javier Milei, Milei, Massa, dollarization, Pope Francis, “, Satan ”, Francis, Tucker Carlson, Milton Friedman, Argentinians, Mauricio Macri, Patricia Bullrich, Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, Spain’s José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Jair Bolsonaro, Mario Vargas Llosa, Mariano Rajoy, Donald Trump Organizations: CNN, Massa, Union por la Patria, Union, La Libertad, US Federal Reserve, Cato Institute Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America, Latin America, Ecuador, El Salvador, US, Argentina’s, Peruvian, Spanish

☆ Argentina's conservatives gamble for survival on odd couple Milei and Macri
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Luis Robayo/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBUENOS AIRES, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Javier Milei shot to prominence lambasting Argentina's traditional political elite. Now the radical presidential election frontrunner is the mainstream conservatives' best shot at clinging onto power. If Milei loses, it could precipitate the fracturing of the conservative coalition between more right-wing and moderate wings. "There may be some Milei voters who get angry at an alliance with the 'caste', just as there may be Macri voters who get angry at an alliance with Milei," said Fornoni. "We don't know today what power Macri will have, if Macri will end up absorbing Milei or Milei absorbing Macri.

Persons: Javier Milei, Luis Robayo, Sergio Massa, Milei, Mauricio Macri, Patricia Bullrich, Donald Trump, Shila Vilker, Trespuntozero, Mariel Fornoni, GAMBLE, Massa, Pope Francis, Milei's, Macri, it's, Ezequiel Salinas, Fornoni, Lucila Sigal, Nicolás Misculin, Adam Jourdan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Argentine, La Libertad, University of Buenos, Law School, Peronist, Management, Bullrich, Reuters, Milei, Thomson Locations: University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, China, Candelaria

☆ Argentina's presidential rivals clash in key voter battlegrounds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Lucinda Elliott | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Argentina's presidential candidate Sergio Massa addresses supporters as he reacts to the results of the presidential election, in Buenos Aires, Argentina October 22, 2023. Center-left Peronist economy chief Sergio Massa faces libertarian outsider Javier Milei in the Nov. 19 vote, with polls suggesting a likely photo finish. "Both are scary," said Gonzalez, adding that most people she knew were planning to cast their votes for Milei. Massa pulled off a surprise win in the October first round, attracting 9.6 million votes, ahead of Milei on 7.9 million. There were nearly 10 million votes for other candidates, people who voted blank or spoiled ballots.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Martin Cossarini, Javier Milei, Pragmatist Massa, Fatima Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Massa, Joaquin Gonzalez, Milei, Patricia Bullrich, Mauricio Macri, Juan Schiaretti, Maria Elena Bazzano, Argentine Pope Francis, Luiz Inacio, Lula, da Silva, Romina Viola, Alberto Fernandez, Fernandez, Lucinda Elliott, Adam Jourdan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Peronist, Milei, Massa, Reuters Graphics, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Cordoba province, Milei, Cordoba, China, Argentine, Brazilian

☆ Argentina retail prices seen slipping under double digits in October
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Hernan Nessi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Matias Baglietto/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBUENOS AIRES, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Argentina's consumer prices likely rose by less than double digits in October, a Reuters poll showed on Friday, slowing down after hitting a three-decade high in September. The poll, which surveyed 19 analysts, showed consumer prices increasing by 9.9% in the month, slowing from the 12.4% rise in August and 12.7% climb in September, though they warned the slowdown would be temporary. "However, consumer prices are still going up quickly, especially considering the official exchange rate and government controls." The tightly controlled official exchange rate was devalued to 350 pesos per greenback in August, though it currently trades for nearly three times that on the informal parallel market. "The effect of August's peso devaluation was diluted, but it seems more inertia is building now than from before the previous exchange rate shock."

Persons: Matias Baglietto, Sergio Massa, Javier Milei, Lucio Garay Mendez, Massa, Garay Mendez, Jeronimo Montalvo, Hernan Nessi, Kylie Madry, Chizu Organizations: Mercado Central, REUTERS, Economy, U.S, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Empiria

[1/4] Argentina's presidential candidate Sergio Massa speaks during a press conference a day after the first round of Argentina's presidential election, in Buenos Aires, Argentina October 23, 2023. But they are cautious about making hard predictions on the back of two bruising election surprises. However, pollsters Reuters spoke to said it was a "wide open" race and that either candidate could triumph. Lautaro Díaz, 35, who intends to vote for Milei, said Bullrich's backing had made the "possibility of (Milei) winning more real." Federico Aurelio, head of pollster Aresco, said the race was wide open, with plenty of time for skeptical voters to change their minds.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Cristina Sille, Javier Milei, Milei, pollsters, Vilker, Trespuntozero, Massa, Patricia Bullrich, Analogias, Bullrich, Lautaro Díaz, Matteo Bettini, Federico Aurelio, pollster Aresco, Nicolas Misculin, Horacio Soria, Adam Jourdan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, pollsters Reuters, Milei, Massa, University of San, Atlas Intel, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Massa, University of San Andres, Peronist

☆ Argentina used Chinese yuan for part of its payment to the IMF as US dollars remain scarce
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Argentina leaned on its $18 billion currency swap line with China to cover part of an IMF payment, sources told Reuters. This isn't the first time yuan was used to help meet IMF debt requirements. Argentina had 1.4 billion in SDR available last month, and used Chinese yuan to help close the gap, according to Reuters. Between June and July, $2.8 billion worth of yuan was used to help meet IMF obligations. And as Argentina taps Chinese yuan to repay the IMF, it's also using IMF money to repay China.

Persons: —, it's, Javier Milei, Sergio Massa Organizations: Reuters, Service, International Monetary Fund, IMF, People's Bank of, Development Bank of Latin Locations: Argentina, China, Buenos Aires, American, People's Bank of China, Qatar, Development Bank of Latin America, Argentine

Argentina's presidential candidate Sergio Massa addresses supporters, as he reacts to the results of the presidential election, Argentina October 22, 2023. Bonds have also been slipping, while the stock market - seen as a relative safe haven for local investors - has been jittery. A local market operator, who asked not to be named, agreed there would likely not be a big market slide on Monday. "I believe the market will open downwards but there will be a floor at which there would be some demand," he said. Reporting by Jorge Otaola and Walter Bianchi; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Mariana Nedelcu, Javier Milei, Salvador Vielli, Vielli, Bonds, Patricia Bullrich, Roberto Geretto, Adcap, Milei, Jorge Otaola, Walter Bianchi, Adam Jourdan Organizations: REUTERS, Peronist Economy, Massa, Thomson Locations: Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Milei

☆ Javier Milei wants Argentina to swap the peso for the US dollar. Here's what that would mean
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

For years, Argentinians have preferred to pay for many goods and services in greenbacks, rather than with their own collapsing currency, as part of an informal “blue dollar” currency market. To dollarize its economy, Argentina would need to exchange all pesos held by its people and businesses for US dollars, and assign a dollar value to all of its assets and contracts. The Fed would continue to set the cost of borrowing based on the needs of the US economy, not Argentina’s. Practical headacheThere’s another significant snag in Milei’s plan: Argentina doesn’t have enough dollars to ditch the peso. “People would need to take wheelbarrows of cash to convert to dollars,” Sabatini said.

Persons: Javier Milei, Sergio Massa, Argentina’s, JP Morgan, Argentinians, Milei, Natacha, Matias Baglietto, Reuters “ That’s, ” Christopher Sabatini, Kimberley Sperrfechter, ” Sperrfechter, It’s, ” Sabatini, Luis Robayo, Sabatini, ” Organizations: London CNN, National Institute of Statistics, Argentina’s, US Federal Reserve, Economic, Reuters, America, Chatham House, CNN, Capital Economics, International Monetary Fund, Getty, IMF Locations: Argentina, greenbacks, Washington, El Salvador, Panama, Ecuador, United States, Buenos Aires, AFP

☆ Explainer-Argentina Presidential Election: Key Takeaways From First-Round Vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Massa and Milei will go to a run-off vote on Nov. 19 to take the presidency from mid-December, replacing outgoing center-left Peronist President Alberto Fernandez. Massa ended the night with 36.7% of the vote versus Milei on around 30%. Juan Schiaretti, who got a higher-than-expected vote share of nearly 7%, could also play an important king-maker role. Argentina's election race comes at a time of major uncertainty for the South American country facing its worst economic crisis in two decades. Any incoming government will have to resuscitate an economy facing triple-digit inflation, negative net foreign exchange reserves, and a sliding currency.

Persons: Maximilian Heath BUENOS, Sergio Massa, Javier Milei, Massa, Milei, Alberto Fernandez, Conservative Patricia Bullrich, Milei's, Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, Juan Schiaretti, pollsters, Maximilian Heath, David Holmes Organizations: Reuters, Peronist Economy, Milei, Conservative, La Libertad Avanza, U.S, la Patria, Peronist, BE, WHAT'S, South, International Monetary Locations: Maximilian Heath BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Brazilian, Massa, South American

☆ Argentine voters, fired up by anger, ready to leap into the political void
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Nicolás Misculin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBUENOS AIRES, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Argentina may be about to leap into the political unknown. Many blame the political elite and have latched on to Milei's burn-it-all-down rhetoric. That will impact the make-up of Congress, which is being partially renewed and will likely end up fragmented. Many voters, however, appeared resigned to a Milei win - a reflection of how the former television pundit has managed to take hold of the political narrative, leveraging memes and videos online that have resonated with younger voters. "I'm going to vote for Massa, but Milei is going to win," said Stella Buk, 65, who has a book stall at the Parque Centenario fair.

Persons: Javier Milei, Agustin Marcarian, Sergio Massa, Patricia Bullrich, I'm, Sebastián Pizzo, Milei, Mariel Fornoni, Massa, Carlos Fara, Milei's, Mariel Segovia, Adriana Schedfin, Mabel Baez, Baez, Stella Buk, Nicolas Misculin, Adam Jourdan, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Argentine, La Libertad, REUTERS, International Monetary Fund, Management, Massa, Parque Centenario, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Brazil, Asia, Europe, China, Tapiales, Argentine

☆ Argentine Voters, Fired up by Anger, Ready to Leap Into the Political Void
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By Nicolás MisculinBUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina may be about to leap into the political unknown. Many blame the political elite and have latched on to Milei's burn-it-all-down rhetoric. That will impact the make-up of Congress, which is being partially renewed and will likely end up fragmented. Many voters, however, appeared resigned to a Milei win - a reflection of how the former television pundit has managed to take hold of the political narrative, leveraging memes and videos online that have resonated with younger voters. "I'm going to vote for Massa, but Milei is going to win," said Stella Buk, 65, who has a book stall at the Parque Centenario fair.

Persons: Javier Milei, Sergio Massa, Patricia Bullrich, I'm, Sebastián Pizzo, Milei, Mariel Fornoni, Massa, Carlos Fara, Milei's, Mariel Segovia, Adriana Schedfin, Mabel Baez, Baez, Stella Buk, Nicolas Misculin, Adam Jourdan, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Reuters, Argentine, International Monetary Fund, Management, Massa, Parque Centenario Locations: Misculin BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Brazil, Buenos Aires, Asia, Europe, China, Tapiales, Argentine

☆ Argentina’s far-right firebrand Javier Milei is the one to beat in a wide-open presidential race
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Javier Milei presidential candidate of the La Libertad Avanza (Freedom Advances) party, speaks at the campaign closing event on Oct.18, 2023. The first-round presidential vote follows a shock primary win for far-right frontrunner Javier Milei, a libertarian outsider who has pledged to dollarize the economy, abolish the country's central bank, and sharply reduce state spending. (L-R) Presidential Candidate for Juntos Por el Cambio Patricia Bullrich waves to supporters alongside Vice Presidential Candidate Luis Petri and former President of Argentina Mauricio Macri during her closing presidential rally on Oct. 19, 2023 in Lomas de Zamora, Argentina. The race to replace Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, who is not seeking re-election, is unlikely to be decided this weekend. Sergio Massa, Argentina's economy minister and presidential candidate of Unity for the Homeland party, speaks during a closing campaign rally in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023.

Persons: Javier Milei, Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, Sergio Massa, Patricia Bullrich, Jimena Blanco, Verisk Maplecroft, Massa, Luis Petri, Argentina Mauricio Macri, Marcos Brindicci, Mariano Machado, Mauricio Macri, Machado, Alberto Fernandez, Verisk Maplecroft's Blanco Organizations: La Libertad, Getty, La Libertad Avanza, la Patria coalition, el Cambio, Verisk, CNBC, Juntos, Lomas de Zamora, Americas, Milei, Argentine, Unity, Homeland, Bloomberg Locations: Argentina, Milei, Bullrich, Lomas de, Argentina's, Buenos Aires

Investors arrive to the election looking at an economy in recession as a crippling drought hit the key agricultural sector. The gap to the official rate is above 150%. On the line is the survival of the country's $43 billion program with the International Monetary Fund and the possibility that Argentina defaults on its debt for a 10th time. "Dollarization would not cure the main issue in Argentina, which is a really large fiscal problem." "Debt does not need to be an immediate priority," said Khan, who doesn't expect dollarization to top the near-term list either.

Persons: Patricia Bullrich, Martin Cossarini, Javier Milei, Sergio Massa, Alejandro di Bernardo, Bernardo, Milei, Massa, Gabriel Rubinstein, Elijah Oliveros, Rosen, Zulfi Ali, Shamaila Khan, Khan, Hans Humes, Humes, Rodrigo Campos, Karin Strohecker, Susan Fenton Organizations: el Cambio, REUTERS, NEW, International Monetary Fund, Jupiter Asset, Bullrich, WE, JPMorgan, China, Institute of International Finance, IMF, America, PGIM, Oxford Economics, Reuters, Emerging Markets, Asia Pacific, UBS Asset Management, Massa, Greylock Capital Management, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Washington

"He is the change that Argentina needs," said 28-year-old Milei voter Ayrton Ortiz at a recent rally in Buenos Aires province in support of the candidate. Those working with his campaign say it is his authenticity that has made him so successful, especially with two-fifths of the population in poverty and looking for a new voice. "You can like him or not, but he is himself," said Fernando Cerimedo, a political consultant who works on Milei's campaign. Many Milei voters say they are willing to take the risk. At the end of the month, you see how they count pennies and cry," said Milei voter Valentina Brites, 18.

Persons: Javier Milei, Agustin Marcarian, Juan Luis Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Milei, Donald Trump, Beppe Grillo, Ayrton Ortiz, Sergio Massa, Patricia Bullrich, MURRAY, MILTON, ROBERT AND LUCAS Milei, Karina, Conan, Murray, Milton, Robert, Lucas, Milton Friedman, Eduardo Eurnekian, Fernando Cerimedo, Fernando Morra, Valentina Brites, Javier, Anna, Catherine Brigida, Eliana Raszewksi, Lucinda Elliott, Adam Jourdan, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Argentine, La Libertad Avanza, REUTERS, American, Peronist, Forces, Libertad Avanza, Reuters, Thomson Locations: La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Argentine, Candelaria

☆ Argentina braces for election with economy in 'intensive care'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Eliana Raszewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"It is an economy that is in intensive care," Miguel Kiguel, a former undersecretary of finance at the Economy Ministry in the 1990s, told Reuters. "The main challenge is to get Argentina out of stagnation, but to do that you have to lower inflation." J.P. Morgan has estimated inflation will end 2023 at 210%, while a central bank poll of analysts forecast 180%. In a bid to tamp down inflation Argentina's central bank has hiked the benchmark interest rate to 133%, which encourages saving in pesos, but hurts access to credit and economic growth. Milei wants to ditch the peso completely and dollarize the economy, while Bullrich says she favors a dual peso-dollar system.

Persons: Javier Milei, Sergio Massa, Patricia Bullrich, Miguel Kiguel, J.P, Morgan, Fernando Morra, Bullrich, Eliana Raszewski, Adam Jourdan, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Argentine, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Economy Ministry, Reuters, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Coldplay, Reuters Graphics, CENTRAL, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, China, Brazil

☆ China boosts Argentina's access to the yuan under currency deal as peso plummets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Aruni Soni | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

China boosted Argentina's access to the yuan under a currency swap deal. Argentina's president said the country can now tap $6.5 billion worth of yuan, up from $5 billion. AdvertisementAdvertisementArgentina will have more access to Chinese yuan under a currency exchange deal to help prop up a plunging peso. AdvertisementAdvertisementArgentina's swap deal with China will enable it to replenish foreign exchange reserves, which have all but vanished amid economic crisis. Russia has also been using the Chinese yuan to settle a growing number of trade transactions with other countries.

Persons: —, Alberto Fernandez, Xi Jinping's, Javier Milei Organizations: Service, Argentine, Radio, Reuters, greenback Locations: China, Argentina, Egypt, Russia

☆ Sergio Massa: can Argentine political wheeler-dealer save Peronism?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Nicolás Misculin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Argentina's Economic Minister Sergio Massa and Brazil's Finance Minister Fernando Haddad (not pictured) hold a news conference, at the Casa Rosada presidential palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, January 23, 2023. Massa has his own political structures," a spokesman for the ruling party told Reuters. He studied at a Catholic school in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, joined a conservative political party and then shifted to Peronism. He rose to chief of staff under Fernandez de Kirchner(2007-15), though later left her government under a cloud and set up his own political party. He finished third in the first round of voting when he ran for president in 2015, before he returned to the Peronist coalition as a congressman in 2019.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Fernando Haddad, Agustin Marcarian, Javier Milei, Massa, Julio Burdman, Agustin Rossi, Patricia Bullrich, Alberto Fernandez, grandee Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Kirchner, Fernandez de Kirchner, Nicolás Misculin, Adam Jourdan, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Argentina's Economic, Brazil's Finance, Casa, REUTERS, Peronist, Observatory, Reuters, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, U.S, Peronism, Tigre

☆ China activates $6.5 bln swap line with Argentina
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The agreement with China has helped Argentina increase its depleted foreign currency reserves as it undergoes a major economic crisis, with annual inflation above 130% and central bank dollar reserves hitting negative levels. The Wednesday move in practice increases the amount Argentina can access as part of the swap line formalized in early 2023. This is the second swap line with China activated during Fernandez's presidency. According to an official bank source, the total amount of the swap line stood at 47 billion yuans . Libertarian Javier Milei, who has vowed to dollarize the economy and shut down the central bank, is seen as the front-runner.

Persons: Alberto Fernandez, Xi Jinping's, Fernandez, Javier Milei, Jorge Otaola, Steven Grattan Organizations: Argentine, Radio, Fernandez's, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, China, Argentina

☆ Argentina central bank hikes key rate to 133% as inflation worsens
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Jorge Otaola | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The facade of Argentina's Central Bank is pictured in the financial district of Buenos Aires, Argentina December 7, 2021. Argentina's central bank is struggling to keep the benchmark interest rate in line with inflation expectations, with a central bank poll of analysts later in the day forecasting inflation to end the year at more than 180%. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsThe impacts of inflation has been worsened by the government's near-18% devaluation of the peso in mid-August, which coincided with the prior central bank hike, where it increased the interest rate from 97% to 118%. Milei, who is seeking to shut the central bank and dollarize the economy to tame inflation, recently recommended depositors avoid renewing bank holdings in pesos, arguing that the peso does not even serve as "excrement." The central bank's rate change on Thursday came after a last-minute decision not to raise the rate to 145% "following a leak," after Reuters reported the higher figure, citing a source close to the bank.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Alberto Fernandez, Javier Milei, Jorge Otaola, Brendan O'Boyle, Isabel Woodford, Anthony Esposito, Richard Chang, Jamie Freed Organizations: Central, REUTERS, Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina’s firebrand populist presidential candidate Javier Milei, the front-runner to win the election later this month, is coming under fire from his rivals who blame him for a sharp depreciation of the local currency in the parallel market. Milei has continued to tout his controversial plan for dollarization of the South American country’s economy. With a little less than two weeks to go before the Oct. 22 presidential election, the Argentine peso has sharply depreciated over the past week. Milei, an anti-establishment candidate who admires former U.S. President Donald Trump, has said he wants to replace the peso with the dollar and says Argentina’s Central Bank should be abolished. Milei’s opponents in the presidential race sharply criticized his words, saying he’s fomenting a run on the peso.

Persons: —, Javier Milei, Milei, Donald Trump, ”, ” Ramiro Marra, Milei’s, Sergio Massa, ” Patricia Bullrich, “, ” Milei Organizations: Argentine, U.S, Bank, Buenos, “, Union, Homeland, United Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Argentine, Buenos Aires, Milei’s, Massa

☆ Argentine peso descent quickens, hits new record low
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

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. Since the primary vote, the currency has shed 44% of its value. "Everything is working against the peso because basically nobody wants to deal with them," a capital bank manager with business in Argentina said on condition on anonymity. "So it doesn't matter what you pay for a dollar, the objective is to dollarize before the elections and wait to see who becomes president." Reporting by Jorge Otaola and Walter Bianchi; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Alberto Fernandez, Javier Milei, Salvador Vitelli, Jorge Otaola, Walter Bianchi, David Alire Garcia, Richard Chang Organizations: Argentine, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Argentina

While most traders are waiting on the sidelines, anxious about the election and unsure of libertarian frontrunner Javier Milei, some daring bond investors are moving in. "There has been a lot of pain from being invested in Argentina over the past decade," Reed said. Rob Citrone, founder of U.S.-based hedge fund Discovery Capital Management, said Argentina presented one of the best opportunities in emerging markets. The depressed values offer another reason to be bullish on Argentina's debt, said Thomas Haugaard, a portfolio manager on the emerging markets debt hard currency team at Janus Henderson Investments in Copenhagen. Armando Armenta, an analyst for Latin American fixed-income and currency markets at AllianceBernstein in New York, said it was a mixed picture.

Persons: Javier Milei, Cristina Sille, Milei, Patricia Bullrich, Sergio Massa, Christine Reed, Reed, Bullrich, Mauricio Macri's, Massa, Rob Citrone, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Fernandez de Kirchner, Thomas Haugaard, Janus Henderson, Haugaard, Morgan Stanley, Armando Armenta, Milei's, Rodrigo Campos, Carolina Mandl, Adam Jourdan, Paul Simao Organizations: Argentine, REUTERS, Peronist, International Monetary Fund, U.S, Discovery Capital Management, Reuters Graphics Reuters, BancTrust, Reuters, Janus, Janus Henderson Investments, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, New York, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Copenhagen, Congress, AllianceBernstein

☆ Exclusive: Iraq to end all dollar cash withdrawals by Jan. 1, 2024, central-bank official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Timour Azhari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But dollars deposited in 2024 could only be withdrawn in local currency at the official rate of 1,320. The parallel market rate of the Iraqi dinar sat at 1,560 on Thursday, roughly 15% percent below the official rate. Here you go, you can use the card inside Iraq at the official rate, or if you want to withdraw cash, you can at the official rate in dinars," Ahmed said. "But don't talk to me about cash dollars anymore." He added: "As long as all transparent and legal financing operations happen via us (at the official rate), the rest does not matter."

Persons: Mazen Ahmed, It's, Ahmed, Timour Azhari, William Maclean 私たち Organizations: New York Federal Reserve, CBI, Reuters Locations: BAGHDAD, Iraq, Iran, Iraqi, U.S, Syria, Tehran, Baghdad

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