Buenos Aires, Feb 25 (NA) -- The Central Bank bought USD 85 million this Wednesday, bringing its total reserves to USD 46.905 billion, a new record since September 2023. So far this year, it has accumulated a total of USD 2.640 billion in acquisitions, according to data obtained by the Argentine News Agency. The MULC market operated a total of USD 496 million today, below the average volume of the last five rounds, which stood at USD 429 million, and the BCRA took 17% of the total traded, slightly below what it had accumulated in the last five sessions, when it made purchases equivalent to USD 471M, or 22%. The official dollar rebounded after a decline and closed at ARS 1392, after having been at ARS 1448 at the end of January. In recent days, the floating exchange rate that began in January has risen again due to official activity in the MULC. February 11 was the most prolific day for reserve accumulation in the MULC that the BCRA achieved in the month, with USD 214 million. In two previous sessions, it had bought 176 and on the 20th it gathered 167 million. Thus, it has been buying currencies for 36 consecutive days, both in the foreign exchange market and outside of it. The appreciation of gold against the weakness of the US dollar and the debt placements of provinces, such as the recent entry of USD 800 million from Santa Fe, contributed to the book valuation of the reserves. The goal set by the Government of Javier Milei is to buy USD 1,000 million per month, and of the commitment assumed with the International Monetary Fund, 20% has already been raised. Beyond the signed papers, analysts estimate that Argentina needs to add up to USD 40,000 billion to face debt maturities. Immediately, the Central Bank will face on Monday, March 2, the payment of USD 1000 million of the Bopreal 2026, which will require dipping into the reserves since the IMF has not yet released the disbursement of some USD 1,000 million. While awaiting the result of the technical mission of the Ministry of Economy that traveled to Washington to advance in the second review of the program between Argentina and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the monetary authority is adding currencies that it pays at USD 1,400. And it is gauging how the market would receive the new bond that it will place with a monthly interest payment.
