BUENOS AIRES (Dow Jones)--The Argentine government is willing to discuss changes to the country's capital controls but only if the volatility fueled by speculative capital can be avoided, President Cristina Fernandez said Tuesday.
The government currently requires foreign investors to deposit 30% of any funds they bring into the country in a zero-interest account at the central bank for 12 months.
Speaking at the anniversary celebration of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, Fernandez said that any changes would have to prevent the kinds of bubbles that rocked Wall Street last year. Such volatility in capital flows "puts the economic system, all of society and the stock market at risk," she said.
The Buenos Aires exchange, or BCBA, has been desperate for the removal of the capital controls, which were the main reason why Argentina was demoted to "frontier" status by index provider MSCI Barra in May 2009. The BCBA believes some $10 billion could be allocated back into the Argentine market if the country can recuperate its "emerging market" status.
Adelmo Gabbi, head of the BCBA, met recently with Fernandez to discuss this issue, and then presented a formal proposal to the government which would remove the 30% deposit rule, but still require investors to leave their money in Argentina for at least one year.