BUENOS AIRES, March 21 (Reuters) - Argentina posted a primary budget surplus of 1.44 billion pesos ($346 million) in February, up 19 percent from the 1.21 billion peso surplus a year earlier, the government said on Monday.
The primary budget figure shows government savings before debts are paid. It is an important measurement of fiscal health in Latin America's No. 3 economy, which has been virtually shut out of global credit markets after a massive 2002 default.
($1 = 4.1625 Argentine pesos)
(Reporting by Helen Popper; Editing by Andrew Hay) Keywords: ARGENTINA ECONOMY/BUDGET (luis.a.henao@thomsonreuters.com; +54 11 4318-0655; Reuters Messaging: luis.a.henao.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The primary budget figure shows government savings before debts are paid. It is an important measurement of fiscal health in Latin America's No. 3 economy, which has been virtually shut out of global credit markets after a massive 2002 default.
($1 = 4.1625 Argentine pesos)
(Reporting by Helen Popper; Editing by Andrew Hay) Keywords: ARGENTINA ECONOMY/BUDGET (luis.a.henao@thomsonreuters.com; +54 11 4318-0655; Reuters Messaging: luis.a.henao.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.