Officer's Quoted Price and Parallel Dollar Cost, ONLINE: Minute-by-minute details of the amount the officer quoted and the price of the parallel dollar on Monday, August 4
In August 2025, the official exchange rate of the US dollar to the Argentine peso (ARS) is approximately around 1,360 ARS per USD, with daily fluctuations between about 1,300 and 1,400 pesos per dollar.
However, the official rate is not the whole story. Argentina also experiences parallel market rates, such as the "blue dollar" rate and the MEP (ley de Mercado Electrónico) rate. The blue dollar rate is substantially higher than the official exchange rate, often reaching values around 1,180 ARS/USD or more, reflecting increased demand and restrictions on official dollar purchases. The MEP rate, used for foreign credit card transactions, closely aligns with the blue dollar rate.
The economic instability in Argentina, marked by high inflation exceeding 100% in 2023, significant overnight government-ordered devaluations, and ongoing currency controls, has contributed to this volatility. The government, under President Javier Milei, has implemented monetary tightening and currency policy changes to stabilise the peso, but with limited immediate effect.
This week, the blue dollar opened in the red, trading at $1.325 for sale in the first operations of this Monday in the informal market. However, it recovered ground near the close of the session, regaining 10 pesos and trading at $1.325. The official dollar, on the other hand, fell 5 pesos this Monday on the official board, to $1.370 for sale and $1.320 for purchase.
Financial dollars operated with minimal changes, with the dollar MEP closing at $1.356, one peso less than Friday, while the dollar CCL fell five pesos to $1.361. The wholesale market also fell 0.7% to $1.364 after a hot week.
Meanwhile, the Nikkei 225 index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange closed with a fall of 1.22% this Monday 4th August, and Argentine ADRs rose up to 4.7%. Banco Supervielle, Irsa, BBVA, and Cresud were the Argentine companies operating on Wall Street that reported the most gains.
Dollar bonds also operated in the green, with GD30, AL30, and AL29 being the debt titles that rose the most this Monday. The author of this article, a reporter for the Último Momento section, can be reached at [email protected].
Horacio Riggi, an economist, noted that the Argentine's tendency to buy dollars when they are cheap or expensive is a cultural issue. He stated, "There are economic issues that are cultural. The best example is the dollar. In fact, the Argentine buys dollars when they are cheap because they believe they can rise, and they also buy them when they are expensive because they think they can continue to rise."
In private banks, Santander quotes the currency at $1.335 for purchase and $1.375 for sale, while in BBVA it does so at $1.330 and $1.370, respectively. In ICBC, the dollar is bought at $1.315 and sold at $1.382, and in Supervielle at $1.349 and $1.389.
In conclusion, Argentina's currency crisis continues to unfold, with the peso depreciating sharply, multiple exchange rates, and strong inflationary pressures. The government's efforts to stabilise the currency have had limited immediate effect, and the situation remains volatile.
French investors might find interest in Argentina's finance sector, given the volatility of the Argentine peso and the existence of parallel market rates like the blue dollar and MEP rate. The blue dollar rate, in particular, has often exceeded the official exchange rate, making it an attractive target for speculators.
