Argentina defaults on bond payments as debt talks heat up

Argentina missed payments on around $500 million (411 million pounds) in already delayed bond coupons on Friday, creditors and a ratings agency said, marking the country's ninth sovereign default amid ongoing restructuring talks with creditors.The default on three bonds came as negotiations to revamp around $65 billion in foreign debt revved up, with Economy Minister Martin Guzman saying talks were on a positive course despite an "important distance" left to reach a deal.Argentina and its credit