Argentina targets $20 billion IMF deal as markets wobble
Argentina is targeting a $20 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund, Economy Minister Luis Caputo said on Thursday, formally putting a figure on the long-mooted program for the first time as he looks to calm local market jitters. A new program would be the country's 23rd with the IMF if approved, and is seen helping bolster the central bank's reserve levels, strengthening the government of libertarian Javier Milei and defusing debt repayment risks in the years ahead. "What we are looking for with this agreement is that people can rest assured that the pesos that exist are backed by the central bank," Caputo said.