13/07/2026 19:07 - Economia
According to local media outlets such as Ámbito and Infobae, the official US dollar exchange rate in Argentina registered a drop for the second consecutive day on July 13, 2026, successfully erasing all the accumulated gains from earlier in the month.
For a foreigner in Argentina, understanding the exchange rates is key. The official dollar closed with slight variations depending on the bank: at Banco Nación (the state-owned National Bank), it was reportedly listed at 1,505 ARS for sale, while other reports placed it at 1,510 ARS. This allowed the gap with the ceiling of the currency band to be the highest in almost a month, a highly positive indicator of economic stability and exchange rate control.
In Argentina, the blue dollar refers to the informal, parallel exchange rate that locals and tourists frequently use to get better value for their foreign currency. On this day, it surprised the market with a jump of 15 ARS, reportedly closing at 1,520 ARS in the city of Buenos Aires and at 1,536 ARS in the city of Córdoba (Argentina's second-largest city).
Financial Exchange Rates: These are legal rates used to buy dollars through bonds or cryptocurrencies without leaving the local financial system.
The drop in the official dollar and the control of the exchange rate reopen the bet on investments in Argentine pesos, a financial strategy known globally as carry trade. In the local context, this means investing in high-yield local fixed-term deposits (known locally as plazos fijos) because they offer attractive interest rates ranging from 16% to 19.5% TNA (Nominal Annual Rate). This is especially lucrative when combined with a projected inflation rate for June of just 1.8% in CABA (the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires).
The BCRA (Central Bank of the Argentine Republic) reportedly continues to work proactively to anchor the dollar near 1,500 ARS, relying on a shield of measures and a firepower of 20 billion US dollars (USD). Furthermore, the country risk —a financial indicator showing the premium investors demand to hold Argentine debt— remains at optimistic levels, hovering around 404 points. This reflects the gradual but steady return of international market confidence in the national economy.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
