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☆ The US dollar is central to Argentina's plan to fix its broken economy. There's just one hitch.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Argentina's new president Javier Milei wants to adopt the US dollar to tame sky-high inflation. There's a major problem with his plan to revive the ailing South American economy. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementRight-wing economist Javier Milei won Argentina's presidential runoff Sunday – and that means the country could soon ditch the peso for the US dollar. Under the president-elect's plan, the government would scrap the peso and replace it with the dollar.

Persons: Javier Milei, doesn't, —, Milei, Mary, Read, John Hopkins, Steve Hanke, Guillermo Ortiz, Nora Mazzini, Lucila Bonilla Organizations: Service, Central Bank of, US Federal Reserve, International Monetary Fund, Bank, Reuters, Bloomberg, Bank of Mexico, Economics, Oxford Economics Locations: Central Bank of Argentina, Ecuador, El, Panama, Argentina, Mar del Plata, Argentine

☆ Qatar economic growth has normalised in 2023 following World Cup boom - IMF
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | 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 Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Nov 21 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tuesday that Qatar’s economic growth has normalised in 2023 following the World Cup-driven boom. The IMF added that the economy of the world's top LNG exporter had a favourable medium-term outlook supported by LNG production expansion and intensifying reform efforts. "Broad fiscal discipline amid hydrocarbon windfalls in 2022-23 resulted in sizeable surpluses and rapid central government debt reduction," IMF said. Reporting by Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yuri Gripas, Nayera Abdallah, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Monetary Fund, REUTERS, Rights, IMF, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Rights DUBAI

☆ Zambia's troubled debt restructuring efforts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Zambia's debt restructuring has been a complex, three-year process, which suffered a serious setback on Monday when bilateral creditors, including China, effectively ordered it secure more debt relief from international funds that hold its sovereign bonds. 2020: The country requests to have its debt payments frozen under the G20-led Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) due to COVID-19. In May, Zambian President Edgar Lungu’s government hires French firm Lazard to advise on restructuring the cash-strapped southern African nation’s $11 billion worth of foreign debts. 2022: Negotiations continue with bondholders for debt relief and restructuring deals. Angry bondholders say the OCC is demanding debt relief from them that is materially higher than either Zambia's government or the International Monetary Fund deem necessary.

Persons: Yuri Gripas, Edgar Lungu’s, Lazard, Lungu’s, Hakainde Hichilema, Marc Jones, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Monetary Fund, REUTERS, Zambian, China, Export, Import Bank of China, OCC, International, Fund, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, China, Zambia

The South American country's markets are closed on Monday for a local holiday, so will only fully trade on Tuesday. Overseas-listed sovereign bonds and some equities will trade, mainly in Europe and the United States. In his first speech Milei pledged speedy reforms to fix an economy mired in crisis. If Milei can convince the market that the chainsaw (fiscal discipline) is the heart and soul of his presidency then bonds rally," he said. But he still faces a divided Congress where his Liberty Advances bloc only has a small share of seats.

Persons: Javier Milei's, Sergio Massa, Juan Manuel Pazos, Milei, Mauricio Macri, Patricia Bullrich, Martin Castellano, Walter Stoeppelwerth, Gletir, Gustavo Ber, Jorgelina, Walter Bianchi, Jorge Otaola, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Peronist, FX, Institute of International Finance, Liberty, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Argentine, American, Europe, United States, Buenos Aires, Rosario

The IMF approved a tweaked deal, but official creditors again rejected it, Zambia said. The country's External Bondholder Steering Committee said it was deeply concerned with recent developments and that its latest offer would provide more debt relief than official creditors on a net present value basis, as well as a principal haircut when official creditors were offering none. The Common Framework has been severely criticised, as it is yet to provide any countries with debt relief. "If the OCC does not row back, sovereign debt restructuring would have taken a huge step backwards," said a second source familiar with the situation. Ghana, which is also undergoing Common Framework debt treatment, saw its international bonds slump up to 1.4 cents on the dollar .

Persons: Yuri Gripas, Rachel Savage, Karin Strohecker, Bhargav Acharya, Marc Jones, Libby George, Alexander Winning, William Maclean, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Monetary Fund, REUTERS, International Monetary Fund, IMF, OCC, Government, Paris Club, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Zambia Zambia, Ghana, Sri Lanka, JOHANNESBURG, Zambia, China, Base, France, India, London

☆ Can Argentina really move from the peso to the dollar?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

2 economy and ditch its peso currency in favor of the US dollar. Milei must tackle inflation above 140%, a shortfall in foreign currency reserves and the prospect of another painful recession. Argentina’s financial markets are closed Monday for a local holiday, but the peso weakened slightly in partial trade to stand at around 353.58 to the US dollar. Bruno Gennari, Argentina expert at fixed income broker dealer KNG Securities, said the peso was trading at $1,009 versus the dollar on crypto exchanges Monday, considerably weaker than the $869 and $975 rates seen on Friday. Dollarization means Argentina would give up the peso and use the US dollar as its currency, effectively wresting control of monetary policy from the country’s central bank and handing it to the US Federal Reserve.

Persons: London CNN — Javier Milei, Sergio Massa, Milei, ” —, —, ” Milei, ”, “, Bruno Gennari, Javier Milei, Natacha, dollarization, ” William Jackson, “ It’s, Thierry Larose, ” Larose, Kristalina Georgieva, Jackson, — Valentina Gonzalez, Stefano Pozzebon, Olesya Dmitracova Organizations: London CNN, Libertad Avanza, Peronist, “, ” Financial, Argentine, State, Banco, Grupo Financiero Galicia, KNG Securities, US Federal Reserve, AP, Capital Economics, Vontobel, Management, CNN, Monetary Fund, Bank, IMF, Reuters Locations: Argentina, New York, Brazil, Mexico, Dollarization, Argentina’s, Zurich, dollarization, Washington, DC, Argentine

Milei, who is pledging economic shock therapy such as shutting the central bank and dollarization, won a second-round runoff vote on Sunday with some 56% to rival Sergio Massa's 44%. Milei now faces the huge challenge of turning around the economy once he takes office on Dec. 10. "It is an economy that is in intensive care," said Miguel Kiguel, a former undersecretary of finance at the Economy Ministry in the 1990s. A central bank poll of analysts forecast 185% inflation by the end of the year. 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.

Persons: Javier Milei, Sergio Massa's, Milei, Miguel Kiguel, Lucio Garay Mendez, Vaca Muerta, Eugenio Marí, Hernan Nessi, Adam Jourdan, Daniel Wallis, Chris Reese Organizations: Economy Ministry, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Coldplay, Reuters Graphics, CENTRAL, International Monetary Fund, Libertad y Progreso Foundation, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, dollarization, Argentina, China, Brazil

☆ IMF, China ready to work with new Argentina leader Milei
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Argentine president-elect Javier Milei waves to his supporters after winning Argentina's runoff presidential election, in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 19, 2023. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Kristalina Georgieva, head of the International Monetary Fund, and a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said on Monday they were ready to work with Argentina's president-elect Javier Milei. Argentina elected right-wing libertarian Javier Milei as its new president on Sunday, rolling the dice on an outsider with radical views to fix an economy battered by triple-digit inflation, a looming recession and rising poverty. The IMF has a $44 billion loan program with Argentina. Reporting by Karin Strohecker and Liz Lee in Beijing; editing by Marc Jones and Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Javier Milei, Agustin Marcarian, Georgieva, Mao Ning, Karin Strohecker, Liz Lee, Marc Jones, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Argentine, REUTERS, International Monetary Fund, IMF, South, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, China, Beijing

☆ Argentina investors on edge as Milei decides who to put in economic hot seat
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Jorgelina Do Rosario | Thomson Reuters | Jorgelina Do Rosario Is Emerging Markets Correspondent At Reuters Based In London | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Who is appointed...as central bank president and economy minister, and the details of an urgent economic stabilization plan without a majority in Congress, will be the key for asset prices in the days ahead." The Economy Ministry is always a hot seat, with Argentina a nine-time debt defaulter caught in a decades-long boom-and-bust cycle. Milei will take office on Dec. 10 after beating ruling Peronist coalition Economy Minister Sergio Massa. "Milei said that he is going to reorganize the central bank instead of imploding it or shutting it down. The new economy minister will have to negotiate a new programme with the IMF "relatively quickly" to avoid entering arrears with the fund, Morgan Stanley said on Monday.

Persons: Milei, Macri, Javier Milei, Milei's, embolden Milei, Armando Armenta, defaulter, Sergio Massa, Hans Humes, Humes, Carlos Rodriguez, Roque Fernandez, Dario Epstein, Emilio Ocampo, Mauricio Macri, Juan Manuel Pazos, Pazos, Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley ´, Massa, Jorgelina, Adam Jourdan, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Monetary, Ministry, Peronist, Economy, Greylock Capital Management, Reuters, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, South, AllianceBernstein, New York, Argentina, Argentine, Buenos Aires, Washington, refinance, Santiago del Estero, Formosa, Rosario

☆ IMF may need to augment Egypt program amid Gaza war impacts, Georgieva says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, addresses the media on the fourth day of the annual meeting of the IMF and the World Bank, following September's deadly earthquake, in Marrakech, Morocco, October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Susana Vera/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSAN FRANCISCO, Nov 17 (Reuters) - International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told Reuters on Friday the Fund was "seriously considering" a possible augmentation of Egypt's $3 billion loan program due to economic difficulties posed by the Israel-Hamas war. Georgieva told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit that the conflict is "devastating" Gaza's population and economy and has "severe impacts" on the West Bank's economy and is also posing difficulties for neighboring countries Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan through the loss of tourism and higher energy costs. Reporting by David Lawder Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kristalina, Susana Vera, Kristalina Georgieva, Georgieva, David Lawder, Chris Reese Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, World Bank, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, Monetary Fund, Reuters, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Morocco, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan

☆ Exclusive: IMF chief says Biden-Xi engagement an important signal for world to cooperate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Biden-Xi meeting is "important at a time when geo-economic fragmentation has indeed deepened with negative consequences for the prospects for accelerating growth," Georgieva said. U.S.-China engagement also will be an important factor on negotiations over World Trade Organization reform, including restoration of its dispute settlement system. "We are already seeing the impact of antisemitism and Islamophobia, raising their ugly heads all over the world. IMF SHAREHOLDING REFORMSU.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said during meetings last week with her Chinese counterpart that a key outcome of U.S.-China economic engagement was Beijing's support for a 50% increase in IMF quota-based resources, without an immediate rise in shareholding for China. Georgieva said it was important for the IMF to start quickly on revamping its shareholding formula to boost the representation of fast-growing developing economies: "The world needs an IMF that is financially strong, and that is also legitimate."

Persons: Joe Biden, Kristalina, Dina Boluarte, Loren Elliott, Kristalina Georgieva, Xi Jinping, Georgieva, Biden, Xi, Janet Yellen, David Lawder, Chris Reese, Tom Hogue Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, Monetary Fund, Reuters, Biden, U.S ., APEC, U.S, World Trade Organization, United, Hamas, IMF, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, China, United Arab Emirates, GAZA, Gaza, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel

☆ Take Five: Black Friday is (almost) here
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 17 (Reuters) - U.S. retailers are gearing up for Black Friday, marking the start of the shopping season that follows the Thanksgiving holiday, while business activity data should gauge the temperature elsewhere. 1/ BARGAIN HUNTINGThe crucial holiday shopping season kicks off with Black Friday on Nov. 24 at a time when investors are questioning whether the consumer-driven U.S. economy can remain resilient. This year's Black Friday comes as Americans grapple with soaring interest rates and inflation that, while easing, remains above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. Already, data for October showed U.S. retail sales fell, pointing to slowing demand, although the decline was less than expected. As long as that's not the case, pressure is on the Kishida cabinet since a weak yen is unpopular politically.

Persons: Kamil Krzaczynski, Lewis Krauskopf, Kevin Buckland, Naomi Rovnick, Dhara Ranasinghe, Karin Strohecker, There's, PIMCO, Rishi Sunak, David Cameron, Jeremy Hunt, Hunt, bode, Sergio Massa, Javier Milei, Pragmatist Massa, Prinz Magtulis, Sumanta Sen, Kripa Jayaram, Pasit, Mark Potter Organizations: Walmart, REUTERS, Black, Nvidia, Insider Intelligence, European Commission, PMI, Fed, European Central Bank, Reuters Graphics Reuters, DOWNING STREET, Labour, gilts, Natwest, Reuters, Bank of Japan, Peronist, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Argentina, Lewis, New York, Tokyo, London, Britain, Japan, Egypt, Taiwan, South Africa, India

☆ 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

"We will continue working to better facilitate high-standard trade that advances workers' rights through strong enforcement of labor standards." Biden was also to take part on Thursday in an event for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), a 14-nation group his administration established. Hopes for an IPEF trade deal were dashed this week. Asked how long an IPEF trade agreement could take to conclude, an administration official said most negotiations take years but the White House intended to work on an "accelerated timeline." "A stable relationship between the world's two largest economies is not merely good for those two economies but for the world," Biden said to applause.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, White, Donald Trump, Republican Trump, Fumio Kishida, Xi Jinping, Justin Trudeau, Anthony Albanese, Dina Boluarte, Srettha Thavisin, Hassanal, Gina Raimondo, Xi, Trevor Hunnicutt, David Brunnstrom, Nandita Bose, Katharine Jackson, Andrea Shalal, Heather Timmons, Josie Kao, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: FRANCISCO, Asia, Economic Cooperation, Economic, Democrat, Republican, APEC, IMF, Amazon.com, Delta Air Lines, PepsiCo, Apple, Boeing, Japan's, Canada's, Australia's, Brunei's, Monetary Fund, . Commerce, Trans, Pacific, Trump, U.S, Thomson Locations: Pacific, San Francisco, Asia, ASIA, U.S, Thailand, China, United States

The economy is likely already in recession and is expected to contract again next year. Shortly after being sworn in as economy minister, Massa in August 2022 pledged to stop printing money to fight inflation. "Markets will likely prefer a Milei victory simply because he is more credible on delivering the fiscal adjustment." "Every investor understands that the macroeconomic adjustments that Argentina needs will inevitably translate into short-term pain." For investors, Argentine stocks traded in New York (.MIAR00000PUS) have been a beacon of hope, up near 15% year to date.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Javier Milei, Luis Robayo, Pilar Tavella, Alejo Czerwonko, Massa, Carlos de Sousa, UBS's, JPMorgan's Diego Celedon, Celedon, Rodrigo Campos, Adam Jourdan, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: por la Patria, La Libertad, University of Buenos, Law School, Global, Peronist, Barclays, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Argentina, Monetary Fund, Itau, IMF, Emerging, UBS Global Wealth Management, Vontobel Asset Management, Argentine, UBS, Thomson Locations: Argentina, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Argentina, New York, Argentine, outperforming

☆ IMF reaches deal with Kenya to raise current financing by $938 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows the Nairobi Expressway undertaken by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis, in Nairobi, Kenya May 8, 2022. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNAIROBI, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund has reached a staff-level agreement with Kenya for immediate access of $682.3 million and an increase in its current program's funding by $938 million, the fund said on Thursday. That will include a new augmentation to Kenya's access under the financing program by an equivalent amount of $938 million. The facility was bumped up in May by an extra $1 billion, including $544 million under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), and a new arrangement under the same RSF. Writing by George Obulutsa; Additional reporting by Bangalore Newsroom; Editing by Duncan Miriri and Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thomas Mukoya, George Obulutsa, Duncan Miriri Organizations: China, Bridge Corporation, REUTERS, Rights, Monetary Fund, East, Fund, Resilience, Sustainability, Bangalore, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Rights NAIROBI

☆ EU banks may face major hit if they need to sell bonds -Lagarde
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde delivers a speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, U.S., April 2, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsFRANKFURT, Nov 16 (Reuters) - European banks may suffer significant losses if they need to sell their bond holdings to raise cash, the European Central Bank's President Christine Lagarde said on Thursday. "EU banks’ holdings of fixed income securities could be marked down quite significantly, should they need to be sold," she told the annual conference of the European Systemic Risk Board, which she chairs. Reporting by Francesco Canepa; editing by Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Christine Lagarde, Kevin Lamarque, Francesco Canepa, Jason Neely Organizations: Monetary Fund, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, REUTERS, Rights, Central Bank's, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ IMF approves $35 bln credit line for Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Employees work at a stall in an outdoor market dedicated to the sale of fruits and vegetables, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico July 27, 2023. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMEXICO CITY, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund's executive board has approved a two-year, $35 billion flexible credit line for Mexico, it said in a statement on Thursday, noting the Latin American country's economy is undergoing a broad-based expansion. This is Mexico's tenth flexible credit line arrangement since 2009, and the country has reduced amounts of the lines granted in recent years, the IMF said. In 2017, the IMF granted Mexico a credit line worth around $88 billion, which by 2021 was reduced to $50 billion. Authorities will reassess the external risk outlook and their implications on access under the agreement in November 2024, the IMF added.

Persons: Jose Luis Gonzalez, Gita Gopinath, Gopinath, Kylie Madry, Valentine Hilaire, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Monetary Fund's, IMF, Thomson Locations: Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, MEXICO

☆ Argentina's presidential candidates face $12 bln energy subsidy conundrum
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Eliana Raszewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Milei has said he will cut all subsidies, but admitted it would have to be done slowly. He admitted hiking energy bills was tough medicine in a society already hurting, but argued it needed to be done. "If you increase energy prices today, there is an inflationary peak and it's over. Conservative leader Mauricio Macri (2015-19) cut energy subsidies back. "I don't think Milei will eliminate all subsidies," she said, adding she would likely vote for him for a "change".

Persons: Marcos Brindicci, Sergio Massa, Javier Milei, Milei, Massa, Emilio Apud, Daniel Dreizzen, Peronist Massa, Mauricio Macri, Vaca Muerta, Aleph's, Raquel Ramírez, Eliana Raszewski, Adam Jourdan, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, International Monetary Fund, Aleph Energy, Reuters Graphics, Peronist, IMF, Conservative, Reuters, Massa, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, China, America

☆ IMF board approves $178 mln loan to Malawi
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Malawian Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Sosten Gwengwe speaks at the State Department in Washington, DC, U.S., September 28, 2022. Kevin Wolf/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBLANTYRE, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund's executive board has approved a loan of about $178 million for Malawi, with an immediate disbursement of about $35 million, the IMF said in a statement on Wednesday. "The decision is a big breather for us and our economy," Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda said in a telephone interview with Reuters. The IMF programme will unlock more financial support from development partners, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said in a televised national address late on Wednesday. The World Bank could give Malawi $60 million for trade finance, a $217 million package linked to fiscal reforms and $250 million for agriculture, Chakwera said.

Persons: Sosten Gwengwe, Kevin Wolf, Banda, Lazarus Chakwera, Chakwera, Frank Phiri, Anait Miridzhanian, David Gregorio, Sandra Maler Organizations: Finance, Economic Affairs, State Department, Rights, Monetary Fund's, Malawian, Simplex, Reuters, IMF, Bank, Thomson Locations: Washington , DC, Rights BLANTYRE, Malawi

☆ IMF says central bank digital currencies can replace cash: 'This is not the time to turn back'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE — Central bank digital currencies have the potential to replace cash, but adoption could take time, said Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund on Wednesday. "CBDCs can replace cash which is costly to distribute in island economies," she said Wednesday at the Singapore FinTech Festival. CBDCs are the digital form of a country's fiat currency, which are regulated by the country's central bank. They are powered by blockchain technology, allowing central banks to channel government payments directly to households. Several central banks have already launched pilots or even issued a CBDC," the IMF said in a September report.

Persons: Kristalina Georgieva Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, Singapore FinTech, Bank for International, Atlantic Council Locations: SINGAPORE — Central, Singapore

☆ China retail sales, industrial data grow faster than expected in October
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

(Photo by Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesBEIJING — China on Wednesday reported better-than-expected retail sales and industrial data for October, while the real estate drag worsened. Retail sales grew by 7.6% last month from a year ago, above the 7% growth forecast by a Reuters poll. watch nowWithin retail sales, sports and other leisure entertainment products saw sales surge by 25.7% in October from a year ago, the data showed. The International Monetary Fund last week cited Beijing's policy announcements as a reason to raise its China growth forecast for the year to 5.4%. Real estate and related sectors have accounted for about a quarter of China's gross domestic product.

Persons: Gita Gopinath Organizations: Getty, Nurphoto, Retail, Reuters, Investment, National Bureau of Statistics, Catering, Monetary Fund, IMF, CNBC, UBS Locations: CHONGQING, CHINA, Chongqing, China, BEIJING, Beijing

☆ IMF chief urges more proactive push for central bank digital currencies
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The head of the International Monetary Fund has urged countries to make a more proactive push to develop central bank digital currencies (CBDC). Eleven countries, including a number in the Caribbean, and Nigeria, have already launched CBDCs. Around 120 others are exploring them, although progress and approaches differ widely and a few have even abandoned the idea altogether. Georgieva said that with technology advancing so rapidly, countries needed to push ahead with development now to avoid getting caught out in future.

Persons: Yuri Gripas, Kristalina Georgieva, Georgieva, Marc Jones, Paul Simao Organizations: Monetary Fund, REUTERS, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Caribbean, Nigeria, Singapore

JOHANNESBURG/LONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Zambia's official creditors including China rejected a deal the country struck with its international bondholders because they believed its "base case" scenario did not deliver debt relief comparable to what they offered in a separate deal, two sources familiar with the talks said. Official creditors said the agreement in principle, which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also rejected, did not comply with "Comparability of Treatment", said the sources, who declined to be identified as the discussions are private. Both bondholders and official creditors had proposed extending the maturity of Zambia's debt and that it be paid back quicker if the country's economy performs better than expected. The bondholder deal proposed they would be paid more than $700 million before 2026 in the base case, while official creditors had offered a longer three-year grace period. Bondholders would need to offer more debt relief in the base case scenario for the deal to be acceptable to official creditors and the IMF, one of the sources said.

Persons: Rachel Savage, Karin Strohecker, Marc Jones, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, Paris Club, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: JOHANNESBURG, LONDON, China, Zambia

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