Merval closes slightly lower

The panel of leading stocks index dropped 0.2 percent to 3,467.72 points.

Meanwhile, Argentina's country-risk rose 8 points and stood at 561 basis points in the JP Morgan EMBI index.

The American currency traded for AR$4.06/AR$4.02, remains unchanged compared to the previous closing price in the main banks and bureaux de change in Buenos Aires downtown.

The main indicator of the Brazilian stock market's average performance declined 0.2 percent to 68,012.13 points. It has dropped 1.7 percent so far in 2011.

Meanwhile, the US dollar fell 0.42 percent to R$1.645 on the local spot market.