Exchange Rates on August 19, 2026
The Argentine foreign exchange market closed with widespread increases on August 19, 2026. The official dollar (retail) ended at 1,470 pesos for buying and 1,520 pesos for selling at Banco Nación, while the blue dollar—Argentina's informal market rate—rose to 1,513.20 pesos buying and 1,560 pesos selling. The wholesale dollar traded at 1,497 pesos.
Key Exchange Rates
| Type | Buy | Sell |
|---|---|---|
| Official Dollar | 1,470.00 | 1,520.00 |
| Blue Dollar | 1,513.20 | 1,560.00 |
| Dollar Tarjeta (Credit Card) | — | 1,976.00 |
| CCL (Contado con Liquidación) | — | 1,575.73 |
| MEP (Bolsa) | — | 1,521.08 |
| Wholesale Dollar | — | 1,497.00 |
| Euro | 1,720.00 | 1,780.00 |
Economic Context
The country risk index continues to climb, approaching 500 basis points—a level not seen in months. Investors are closely monitoring inflation trends and potential signals from the government on exchange rate policy.
According to INDEC (Argentina's statistics agency), wholesale inflation for July rose only 0.8%, the lowest figure in 14 months. Meanwhile, retail inflation was 2.1% in July, accumulating 19.3% for the year and 22.8% year-over-year.
Understanding Argentina's Dollar Variants
For those unfamiliar, Argentina has multiple exchange rates due to strict capital controls. The blue dollar operates in the informal market, often used for savings and transactions that avoid official channels. The MEP (Bolsa) and CCL (Contado con Liquidación) are legal mechanisms to buy dollars through the stock market, with CCL allowing funds to be sent abroad. The tarjeta dollar applies to credit card purchases abroad and includes taxes.
Financial and Crypto Markets
In the crypto sphere, stablecoins traded at the following levels: DAI at 1,563.40 pesos, USDC at 1,563.47 pesos, and USDT at 1,564.82 pesos.
The euro sold for 1,780 pesos at Banco Nación, while the Brazilian real was offered at 300 pesos.
Stock Market Performance
On the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, the Merval index mostly declined. The biggest losers were SUPV (-4.6%), TGNO (-4.6%), TRAN (-4.8%), and VALO (-4.0%). In contrast, CRES gained 5.3% and COME rose 3.8%. The energy sector showed mixed results, with YPFD up 1.9% during the session.
The trading day reflected investor caution amid rising country risk and uncertainty over global interest rates.
Source: Imago News