Argentina Central Bank Hikes Interest Rate to 60 Percent

Argentina’s Central Bank on Thursday increased its benchmark interest rate to 60 percent — the world’s highest — in an effort to halt a sharp slide in the value of the peso, which plunged to a new record low.

The peso has tumbled more than 50 percent so far this year, prompting Argentina to seek a $50 billion financing deal with the International Monetary Fund.

But President Mauricio Macri has struggled to calm markets and bring confidence to Argentines who continue to lose purchasing power to one of the world’s highest inflation rates. Macri said Wednesday that he is now is asking for an early release of the IMF funds.

The peso slipped about 7 percent against the dollar Wednesday and was down another 15 percent by midday Thursday, when it was trading at 39.6 to the dollar.

The Central Bank said in a statement that it was hiking its benchmark interest rate in response to the current currency scenario and the risk of greater impact on local inflation. The rate had been set to 45 percent earlier this month.