De-Dollarization Continues:Russia, China agree on more trade currency swaps to bypass dollar

Rt.com

The Russian and Chinese central banks have agreed on a draft currency swap agreement, which will allow them to increase trade in domestic currencies and cut the dependence on the US dollar in bilateral payments.

“The draft document between the Central Bank of Russia and the People’s Bank of China on national currency swaps has been agreed by the parties,” and is at the stage of formal approval procedures, ITAR-TASS quotes the Russian regulator’s office on Thursday.

The Russian Central Bank is not giving precise details on the size of the currency swaps, nor when it will be launched. It says this will depend on demand.

According to the bank, the agreement will serve as an additional instrument for ensuring international financial stability. Also, it will offer the possibility to obtain liquidity in critical situations.

“The agreement will stimulate further development of direct trade in yuan and rubles on the domestic foreign exchange markets of Russia and China,” the Russian regulator said.


Currently, over 75 percent of payments in Russia-China trade settlements are made in US dollars, according to Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper.

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Argentina blames US for debt woes, denies default

By Paula Bustamante

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentina blamed the United States for the legal battle that forced it to miss a debt payment and, despite ratings agencies’ declarations to the contrary, denied being in default.

Ratings agency Fitch declared Argentina in "restrictive default" Thursday after 11th-hour talks failed to resolve the country’s dispute with two US hedge funds that refuse to accept a write-down on their Argentine bonds.

Fitch’s label echoed the "selective default" declared Wednesday by Standard & Poor’s. Both terms indicate that Argentina has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments but continues to meet others.

US District Judge Thomas Griesa has blocked Argentina from paying its "exchange creditors" — those who agreed to take a 70-percent write-down after the country’s 2001 default — without also paying two American hedge funds that took it to court demanding full payment.

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