Overview
- Argentina’s central bank reported a $596 million daily increase in gross international reserves to $43.61 billion, the highest level of the Milei administration.
- The BCRA unveiled a program to accumulate reserves by purchasing foreign currency within the exchange-rate bands, initially permitting buys up to 5% of daily market volume.
- Economy Minister Luis Caputo said the Treasury acquired nearly $900 million outside the official market to help pre-fund a roughly $4.1–$4.2 billion debt amortization due January 9.
- Analysts estimate net reserves under the IMF methodology remain around negative $15.8–$16.0 billion despite the rise in gross buffers.
- The official retail dollar held at ARS 1,475 at Banco Nación, while the ‘blue’ hovered near ARS 1,510–1,530 and climbed about ARS 25, with CCL around ARS 1,527, underscoring persistent market segmentation.