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Argentina deposits debt payment in defiance of US ruling | Argentina deposits debt payment in defiance of US ruling |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Argentina has deposited $161m (£99m) in bond interest payments with the state-controlled Nacion Fideicomisos bank, in an effort to skirt US court rulings. | Argentina has deposited $161m (£99m) in bond interest payments with the state-controlled Nacion Fideicomisos bank, in an effort to skirt US court rulings. |
The country had previously kept its funds with US-controlled Bank of New York Mellon. | The country had previously kept its funds with US-controlled Bank of New York Mellon. |
The move comes a day after a US judge ruled Argentina was in "contempt of court". | The move comes a day after a US judge ruled Argentina was in "contempt of court". |
That ruling stated Argentina must repay two US hedge funds before repaying other bond holders. | That ruling stated Argentina must repay two US hedge funds before repaying other bond holders. |
"By making this deposit, Argentina confirms once again its unshakeable commitment to meet its obligations to bondholders," said Argentina's finance ministry in a statement. | "By making this deposit, Argentina confirms once again its unshakeable commitment to meet its obligations to bondholders," said Argentina's finance ministry in a statement. |
Argentina is attempting to pay its bondholders in a second tranche of debt known as the Par series so as to avoid defaulting once more. | Argentina is attempting to pay its bondholders in a second tranche of debt known as the Par series so as to avoid defaulting once more. |
However, experts caution that simply placing the debt payment in a non-US controlled bank is probably not sufficient to allow Argentina to avoid a US court ruling barring it from repaying certain debts above others. | However, experts caution that simply placing the debt payment in a non-US controlled bank is probably not sufficient to allow Argentina to avoid a US court ruling barring it from repaying certain debts above others. |
Long fight | Long fight |
Argentina has been trying to repay the holders of its debt from when the country defaulted in 2001. | Argentina has been trying to repay the holders of its debt from when the country defaulted in 2001. |
The majority of those bond holders have agreed to lower payments as a result of Argentina's bankruptcy. | The majority of those bond holders have agreed to lower payments as a result of Argentina's bankruptcy. |
However, two hedge funds - NML Capital and Aurelius Capital Management - have demanded full repayment of the $1.5bn (£920m) they are owed, and have sued to prevent the country from paying back only its restructured bonds. | However, two hedge funds - NML Capital and Aurelius Capital Management - have demanded full repayment of the $1.5bn (£920m) they are owed, and have sued to prevent the country from paying back only its restructured bonds. |
After Judge Thomas Griesa sided with the hedge funds in a July ruling, Argentina was forced to default on its debt for a second time after refusing to repay the hedge funds. | After Judge Thomas Griesa sided with the hedge funds in a July ruling, Argentina was forced to default on its debt for a second time after refusing to repay the hedge funds. |
Industrial woes | |
Argentina's flagging economy received further bad news on Tuesday, as figures showed industrial output fell at double the predicted rate in August. | |
Output shrank by 2.9% in seasonally adjusted terms, marking the 13th month of consecutive decline. | |
Analyst had forecast a drop of approximately 1.5%. | |
The fall is partly due to the weakness of the country's car-making industry. |