Merval, Bovespa fall

The panel of leading stocks index dropped 0.5 percent to 3,648.26 points.

It has increased 3.5 percent so far in 2011.

The US currency traded for $4.001/$3.97 pesos, remaining unchanged compared to the previous closing price in the main banks and foreign exchange houses in Buenos Aires downtown.

The main indicator of the Brazilian stock market's average performance fell 0.6 percent to 69,133.09 points.

It has dropped 0.2 percent so far in 2011.