Banxico sells US$200 million after peso hits record low

Mexico's central bank said on Monday it had sold US$200 million in an auction after a sharp drop in the peso to a record low.

The central bank sold dollars at a weighted average of 17.1518 pesos per dollar. The central bank offers US$200 million whenever the peso slumps more than 1 percent from the previous day's fix rate. It sells another US$200 million every day without a minimum price trigger.

Yesterday Mexico's peso slipped to a new low against the dollar, breaching the 17 pesos per dollar mark for the first time.

Reuters data showed the peso fell to 17.100 per dollar just before 8.40 p.m. local time. The currency also hit a record low on Friday.

Finance Minister Luis Videgaray said on Saturday authorities wanted to ensure there was sufficient liquidity in the peso market, but that they were not seeking to target a particular level against the greenback.