Argentine Stocks: Banco Macro, Galicia and Boldt Are Active

The following companies are having unusual price changes in Argentine trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses and share prices are as of 3:49 p.m. in Buenos Aires. The Merval (MERVAL) index fell 2.4 percent to 2,369.11.

Banco Macro SA (BMA) , Argentina’s largest lender by market share, slumped 7.2 percent to 8.25 pesos, its biggest drop since October on a closing basis. Bank stocks fell today after the government said it plans to force financial institutions to provide loans for corporate investments.

Grupo Financiero Galicia SA (GGAL) , Argentina’s largest consumer lender, retreated 5.1 percent to 2.95 pesos, while BBVA Banco Frances SA (FRAN) fell 5 percent to 7.55 pesos.

Boldt SA (BOLT AF), an Argentine information technology services company, advanced 3.4 percent to 2.15 pesos, its highest price in four weeks on a closing basis. Boldt said in a statement posted on the website of the stock exchange that the government of the City of Buenos Aires had approved its plan to acquire the stake it didn’t own in a joint venture that processes and manages fines for the city.

To contact the reporter on this story: Eduardo Thomson in Santiago at ethomson1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: David Papadopoulos at papadopoulos@bloomberg.net