Overview
- The informal 'dólar blue' reached about ARS 1,555–1,560 for sale, setting a new nominal record as official wholesale and retail rates inched up but stayed far below parallel quotes.
- The Central Bank continued to buy dollars but reported a US$352 million drop in gross reserves to roughly US$48.68 billion, reflecting external payments and valuation losses on assets such as gold.
- Financial-dollar measures widened: the MEP traded near ARS 1,512–1,520 and the CCL near ARS 1,569–1,579, while the JP Morgan riesgo país climbed to roughly 435–437 and Argentine bonds and ADRs fell.
- Markets blamed renewed Middle East tensions and a surge in oil for triggering risk-off moves that strengthened dollar demand and raised borrowing costs for Argentina, reducing investor appetite for local assets.
- Domestic data show weak consumption, and market surveys project gradual peso depreciation toward year‑end with a FocusEconomics median near ARS 1,659 while some firms forecast higher levels, which could squeeze household purchasing power and import costs.