Argentina and the International Monetary Fund have reached an understanding on when the nation will achieve a balanced primary budget, marking a first key step to renegotiating more than $40 billion of debt, Bloomberg News reported. The agreement comes after talks intensified in the past week following months of delays, and Argentina plans to make a payment of more than $700 million due on Friday. The parties have agreed for the country to reach a balanced primary budget -- that is, a budget without including interest payments -- in 2025.

Argentina’s looming deadline to make a payment of over $700 million to the International Monetary Fund on Friday is exposing a growing divide within the ruling coalition, Bloomberg News reported. The public disagreements in the government of President Alberto Fernandez, with its more radical wing suggesting the country could default on the Washington-based organization, come as Economy Minister Martin Guzman leads negotiations with IMF staff for a new program to reschedule payments on over $40 billion in outstanding debt.

Argentina sharply reduced its budget deficit in 2021 as President Alberto Fernandez tries to cut down on spending amid talks with the International Monetary Fund, Bloomberg News reported. The so-called primary deficit, which excludes interest payments, fell to 3% of gross domestic product from 6.5% in 2020. The figure, boosted by proceeds from a wealth tax, was also below the economy ministry’s estimate for a 3.5% gap. Economy Minister Martin Guzman says he wants to eliminate primary fiscal deficits by 2027 as part of a deal to refinance about $40 billion owed to the IMF.

Investors have long been confident about at least one thing in wild and unpredictable Argentine markets: A big peso devaluation was coming, and the best place to take refuge was dollar-linked bonds. Now, after piling into the trade for two straight years, they are throwing in the towel, Bloomberg News reported. They were so surprised that the devaluation didn’t come in the immediate aftermath of November congressional elections -- politically, the most logical time to do it -- that they have begun to give credence to the government’s pledge that there’s no such plan in the works.

Argentine dollar bonds fell the most since September after Economy Minister Martin Guzman criticized spending cuts proposed by the International Monetary Fund, highlighting the difficulties ahead in securing a new agreement, Bloomberg News reported. Notes maturing in 2041 dropped 1 cent to 32.8 cents on the dollar, the biggest decline since Sept. 20, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Credit-default swaps widened the most in five weeks.

Argentine dollar bonds fell the most since September after Economy Minister Martin Guzman criticized spending cuts proposed by the International Monetary Fund, highlighting the difficulties ahead in securing a new agreement, Bloomberg News reported. Notes maturing in 2041 dropped 1 cent to 32.8 cents on the dollar, the biggest decline since Sept. 20, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Credit-default swaps widened the most in five weeks.

Argentina’s economy expanded more than expected in September as tourism, manufacturing and construction picked up, offsetting political volatility that followed the government’s defeat in primary elections, Bloomberg News reported. Economic activity rose 1.2% from the previous month, double the median estimate of economists in a Bloomberg survey. From a year ago, growth slowed to 11.6%, according to government data published Tuesday. The government’s loss in the Sept.

Argentina's government plans to agree on its new multiyear economic plan with International Monetary Fund staff before sending the proposal to Congress, Economy Minister Martin Guzman said on local radio on Friday, Reuters reported. "First, we will seek to reach an agreement with IMF staff, and then it will be sent to Congress for ratification," the minister said in comments to local station Radio Con Vos. Earlier in the day, a government source, who asked not to be named, outlined the same plans in an interview with Reuters. The IMF did not respond to a request for comment.

Argentina, one of the world’s most prominent defaulters, is pushing for a new way to service debt: Instead of paying creditors with cash that’s on short supply in Buenos Aires, it wants them to recognize the country’s efforts to tackle climate change, Bloomberg News reported. “We need more flexibility to honor that debt,” President Alberto Fernandez said, at a United Nations climate summit, of about $46 billion that Argentina owes to the International Monetary Fund.

Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez said the country is “absolutely” committed to reaching a deal with the International Monetary Fund, Bloomberg News reported. Fernandez at the same time made clear that his government won’t risk rushing into an agreement if it’s a poor one for Argentines, in comments delivered at the closing of an event with top business leaders. “We’ll keep discussing until we’re sure we’ll have the resources to make Argentina stand on its own two feet again,” he said.