BUENOS AIRES, Dec 27 (NNN-Xinhua) — The U.S. dollar closed in Argentina on Thursday at 81.90 pesos per unit, a price that includes the new 30-percent tax for the purchase of foreign currency by private citizens, stipulated by the recently passed economic emergency law.
The official price of the dollar without the tax closed at 62.99 pesos, according to the Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA).
The Argentine government officially put into effect on Monday the Social Solidarity and Productive Reactivation Law, which includes a 30-percent tax on the purchase of foreign currency in an attempt to avoid hoarding.
In the black market, the parallel dollar, or the “blue,” increased 1.26 pesos to reach 78 pesos per unit.
Financial analysts say they expect the “blue” dollar’s value to increase over the next few days until it reaches a price similar to that of the official rate.
On the first day of the enforcement of the new law, the wholesale dollar, used only for interbank operations, ended at 59.92 pesos per unit.
Meanwhile, Argentina’s Country Risk Index dropped 3.4 percent to the level of 1,810 basis points, its lowest level in the last four months.
The new law grants President Alberto Fernandez greater economic, financial, fiscal and tax powers to confront the country’s complex economic and social situation. — NNN-XINHUA
