Overview
- The central bank said it signed a bilateral currency-swap framework with the U.S. Treasury for up to $20 billion to expand policy tools and strengthen reserve liquidity.
- Despite the announcement and ongoing U.S. market operations estimated near $340 million, the official dollar rose: the wholesale rate closed at ARS 1,475, about 1.1% below the band ceiling of ARS 1,490.6, and the retail rate neared ARS 1,495.
- Analysts emphasize the line will not add to gross reserves unless drawn, with key details on activation, timing and accounting still unspecified.
- Finance Secretary Pablo Quirno said the government began talks to repurchase sovereign bonds in the secondary market with J.P. Morgan advising, a move that helped bonds recover late in the session.
- Heavy portfolio dollarization persists, with reports of a roughly ARS 2.4 trillion drop in peso term deposits and a risk premium above 1,000 basis points as markets position for potential post-election changes to the exchange-rate regime.