Argentina Markets: Merval & the Peso — August 11, 2026
Argentina's Merval index rose 1.14% on Monday, driven by a 3.7% surge in YPF after record quarterly earnings, even as country risk climbed to 465 points. The post Argentina Markets: Merval & the Peso — August 11, 2026 appeared first on The Rio Times .
Argentina's stock market delivered a strong performance on Monday, led by the energy giant YPF. The state-owned oil producer reported a record quarterly profit of US$1.2 billion and announced plans to increase investment in the Vaca Muerta shale play. The news sent YPF shares soaring overnight on US exchanges, and the momentum carried over to Buenos Aires.
The Merval index, which tracks the largest and most liquid Argentine companies, rose 1.14% to 3,122,064 points. Despite a rough day for sovereign debt, the Merval index still managed to add 1.14% and close at 3,122,064 points. The peso remained relatively stable, slipping only 0.04% to 1,498 per dollar, which benefited exporters like YPF.
The country risk gauge, which measures Argentina's debt risk relative to safe US Treasuries, rose to 465 points, indicating ongoing concerns about the central bank's dwindling reserves. However, the rally in YPF's shares and the company's pledge to accelerate spending in Vaca Muerta helped shield the market from a broader sell-off in Argentine debt.
Investors rotated into energy and materials exporters, while trimming bets on utilities and domestic-facing stocks. The session highlighted the mixed signals surrounding Argentina's economy: on the one hand, YPF's strong earnings suggest that deregulation and investment incentives are working; on the other hand, the country risk gauge remains high, reflecting ongoing concerns about Argentina's economic stability.
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