Argentina lures wary investors with dollar-linked bond as IMF arrives

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina, struggling with a domestic currency crisis, stringent capital controls and tumbling foreign reserves, is looking to tempt wary investors with a dollar-linked bond being auctioned on Tuesday.

The bond is part of a series of measures by the government and the central bank to revive confidence in the peso and encourage local savings. Argentina restructured over $100 billion in foreign-currency debt in recent months.

The restructurings, including $65 billion in foreign-law debt, helped pull the grains producing nation out of default, but its access to global markets is very restricted. A mission from the International Monetary Fund arrived in the country on Tuesday to start talks for a new deal.

"The government has to show a change of direction quickly," said Federico Furiase, director of consultancy Eco Go, adding Argentina had "very little gasoline in terms of reserves."

"The government is trying to buy some time but these are all patches that are unfortunately arriving late."

Argentina has temporarily cut export taxes on industrial, mining and agricultural products to boost sales and international reserves.

The IMF team was to begin meetings in Buenos Aires as the government seeks a new program to replace a failed $57 billion facility.

"The objective is to know in greater detail the authorities' plans and priorities and to have a deeper knowledge about the socio-economic situation," an IMF official told Reuters. "The mission is in listening mode."

Bank of America said in a report the new bond was aimed at stimulating peso savings by giving holders some protection against fluctuations in the currency, but it was no miracle cure.

"Dollar-linked securities are imperfect substitutes of USD assets," it said.

Argentina's peso was 0.09% weaker at 77.09 per dollar, while in the black market it weakened further, creating a historic 97.1% with the official rate. Over-the-counter bonds dipped an average 1%.

Trading volume of the dollar-linked bond will help gauge confidence in the policies of President Alberto Fernández as his administration looks to take pressure off the peso, traders said.

The government was expected to announce results of the auction for about $500 million worth of the bond later on Tuesday. The notes will mature on Nov. 30, 2021.

Argentina is headed for an economic contraction of about 12% this year, which would be the third straight year of recession.