Argentina's informal dollar weakened on the morning of Thursday, November 5, 2026, dropping 10 pesos in early trading to reach 1,550 pesos for sale, according to Clarin.com. The official rate, meanwhile, opened unchanged from the previous close at 1,570 pesos for sale and 1,520 for purchase on the Banco Nación board. The parallel market quoted 1,540 pesos for buying and 1,560 for selling earlier in the session, Clarin.com reported.
Why it matters
The gap between the two rates is a daily barometer of strain in Argentina's currency market, and Thursday's move narrowed it slightly as the parallel bill softened. The day also carried a practical wrinkle for ordinary savers and businesses: bank branches are set to shut for five consecutive days, which pushes anyone needing in-person foreign exchange or counter service to act before the close of business on Thursday.
Private banks quote above the state board
Retail dollar prices varied across private institutions on Thursday morning. Santander and Galicia both offered the dollar at 1,570 pesos for sale and 1,520 for purchase, matching the Banco Nación board. BBVA quoted 1,579 for sale and 1,515 for purchase, while ICBC listed 1,575 and 1,515 respectively, Clarin.com reported.
The crypto dollar, a separate reference price tracked in the market, rose 0.38% on Thursday to 1,678.51 pesos.
Branches shut from Friday until Wednesday
Banks will keep their doors closed on Friday, November 6, and will not reopen until Wednesday, November 11, according to Clarin.com. That leaves five straight days without access to branch counters. The report did not specify the reason for the closure.
Argentine bonds diverge from a global rally
Wednesday's session laid out a sharp contrast between Argentina and the rest of the world. Global markets rallied after the results of the United States midterm elections, with the S&P 500 climbing nearly 2%, the Dow Jones gaining 3% and the Nasdaq up 1.3%, Clarin.com reported. Markets had initially fallen on caution after Donald Trump's defeat in Tuesday's vote before reversing course as the hours passed.
Argentina moved the other way. Dollar-denominated bonds lost value throughout Wednesday, and the country risk premium climbed to 852 points, according to the report. The official rate itself did not move on Wednesday, finishing at 1,520 for purchase and 1,570 for sale on the Banco Nación board, while the blue dollar shed 10 pesos that day.
What to watch
Attention now turns to whether the blue dollar holds near 1,550 through Thursday's close and how the market behaves during the five-day branch shutdown, with the next in-person banking window opening on Wednesday, November 11.
