According to Argentina's Ministry of Economy, the country's total gross debt rose in October to US$442.196 billion and decreased by US$11.835 billion. These data, accessed by the Argentine News Agency, are derived from the report issued by the Secretariat of Finance, headed by appointed Secretary Alejandro Lew. The drop of over US$11 billion occurred during a month marked by political and economic uncertainty, due to the legislative elections on the 26th of the same month. The debt stock in 'normal payment' situation stood at US$439.688 billion, after decreasing by US$11.187 billion (-2.62% versus September). Of the total gross debt, 76.3% corresponds to National Treasury Bills and Letters, while 22.3% is attributed to obligations with Official External Creditors, which include international organizations. 0.6% are Temporary Advances—loans from the Central Bank that it grants to the Treasury to finance the State—and the remaining 0.8% corresponds to other instruments. When considering the type of currency, the debt stock in foreign currency amounts to US$250.845 billion and represents 57% of the total debt. Within that percentage, 75% belongs to instruments issued in dollars and totals US$187.668 billion. In second place are Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), the IMF's asset, at US$56.763 billion (23%), while at the end, there is a 2% in euros, equivalent to US$6.024 billion. The remaining 43% of October's debt is linked to instruments and letters in pesos for a total of US$188.843 billion. In that measure, US$101.050 billion are in variable rate (54%) and US$87.793 billion in fixed rate (46%). At the end, the Secretariat of Finance detailed the payment of public debt of the central administration: US$10.959 billion in October, of which 96% were made in national currency and the remaining 4% in foreign currency. The largest part of those payments made was destined for the payment of capital, for US$10.715 billion.
