Argentina's Peso And Markets Catch A Breath After Policy Jolt

(MENAFN- The Rio Times) Argentina's peso firmed this morning after the central bank intervened to curb its slide. The official rate settled at 1,367.50 pesos per dollar following a stock of reserve sales.

In the informal“blue” market, the rate eased toward 1,450 pesos after peaking at 1,475 last week. This tightening cut the gap between official and parallel rates to about 6 percent, offering relief to businesses scrambling for dollars.

Behind these movements lie deeper pressures. High inflation of roughly 160 percent year over year forces policymakers to act. To cool demand for dollars, the government suspended export taxes on grains and beef until October.

Those steps eased spot-market demand, but they cannot erase the heavy toll of chronic deficits and soaring prices. Traders say each policy tweak delivers only a short-lived reprieve unless Argentina tackles its fiscal and transparency challenges.

The broader market found modest support from a dip in the US Dollar Index to 97.28. That global slowdown in dollar strength gave emerging currencies some breathing room.



Yet Argentina's unique funding gaps kept bond yields elevated above 1,200 basis points, signaling that lenders still demand steep premiums.

Local equities rose alongside the peso's rebound. The S&P Merval climbed back above 1.815 million points after dipping below its 50-day moving average of 1.830 million.

Technical indicators showed the daily Relative Strength Index climbing from oversold levels to 43, and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence histogram turning positive.

On shorter four-hour charts, analysts noted a bullish crossover and support around 1.753 million, though clear resistance sits at 1.832 million.



Trading volumes underscored cautious sentiment. Futures on the ROFEX platform surged 45 percent above their 20-day average as shorts covered positions.

Yet the Global X MSCI Argentina ETF saw outflows of $6.1 million, marking its fifth day of net redemptions. That mix suggests traders engaged in tactical shifts rather than genuine bets on a sustained rally.

Underneath the surface, global liquidity remains stable-measured near 100.29 on the widely followed index-but hasn't sparked a broader influx into risk assets.

Market participants now await clearer signals on IMF funding disbursements and political stability before making decisive moves. In essence, Argentina's financial markets caught a brief pause.

Authorities used reserve sales and tax relief to tighten the peso's trading band and stanch panic. Stocks enjoyed a technical rebound.

Yet the underlying story of high inflation, fiscal shortfalls, and policy uncertainty means this relief could prove fleeting without deeper reform. Traders and businesses alike watch closely, hoping the next policy steps build real, lasting confidence.

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