Argentine shares rise

Argentine stocks closed 1.38 percent firmer on Friday, thanks to bargain hunting and a dose of optimism over the country's complicated sovereign debt restructuring, traders said.
The MerVal leading share index ended the day at 970.42 points, or a 5.39 percent gain in the last week.
Trade totalled a low 52 million pesos ($17.5 million).
Among leading shares, power generator Central Puerto rose 5.96 percent to 1.60 pesos and Group Financiero Galicia ended up 3.07 percent at 1.68 pesos.
Shares have still lost 10 percent so far this month on fears of an interest rate hike in the United States, sky-high international oil prices, and market losses in neighbouring Brazil.
"The exaggeration of the last falls is causing a reaction. The index could reach 1,000 points," said Marcelo Cobas, a trader at the Cohen brokerage.
Reports that the government will sweeten its offer to creditors holding $88 billion in defaulted debt also boosted investor sentiment, traders said.