Argentina Requests Over 40% in First Disbursement Under $20 Billion IMF Deal:

Economy Minister Luis Caputo stated that Argentina is attempting to receive more than 40% of the $20 billion it is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for. Caputo made this known on Sunday.

He affirmed that the South American nation had removed the fiscal deficit and was also reducing public expenditure. His comments came as the government tries to increase the reserves of the central bank and initiate the loosening of foreign exchange restrictions that, in some cases, stifle business and investment opportunities.

“We’ve requested more because, traditionally, these are made in exchange for monetary and fiscal targets,” Caputo said in remarks on television, adding that first disbursements were usually between 20% and 30%. "We've already done everything."

The government together with the IMF disclosed in the preceding week that the director’s council of the lender still needs to sanction the four- year plan that accompanies the $44 billion deal from 2018.