Argentina stocks set record, index smashes 6000 mark

Argentine stocks surged to a new record Friday with the Bolsa index topping the 6,000 mark for the first time, despite turmoil that has raised concerns about the country's economy. The key index gained 2.74 percent to 6,018.65 points, taking the week's gains to 8.5 percent. The gains came after the peso was effectively devalued nearly 15 percent last week as the central bank refrained from defending the currency to protect its reserves. On the main board 58 shares gained, 15 lost and seven were unchanged, with turnover at 121.2 million pesos ($15.1 million). Petrobras Brasil gained 7.1 percent and Banco Macro 5.6 percent. Oil company YPF fell 2.2 percent.