Central banks moving ‘cautiously’ towards digital currencies January 8, 2019 Around 70 per cent of central banks are researching how to use digital currencies, according to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), however they are “proceeding cautiously” with plans. Almost a quarter of the 63 survey participants have or will soon have the authority to issue a central bank digital currency (CBDC), the research found. [...]
Euro at 20: Time for ‘close and candid introspection’ rather than celebration January 1, 2019 The 20th anniversary of the euro should not be cause for celebration but for “close and candid” introspection. European Central Bank president Mario Draghi admitted he was a biased observer when proclaiming the euro had been a success ahead of its 20th birthday yesterday. But he stopped short of celebrating and said the anniversary was [...]
Central banks could issue state-backed digital currencies, says IMF November 14, 2018 Central banks could issue digital currency, International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde said today. Speaking at an event in Singapore, Lagarde mooted a state-backed digital token, or an account held at the central bank for consumers and firms to use for retail payments. As the demand for cashless payments increases, digital currency could provide security [...]
Argentine peso falls despite IMF loan increase to $57bn September 27, 2018 The Argentine Peso opened low against the dollar today despite the International Monetary Fund boosting the country's loan to $57.1bn. The peso opened at 39.25 against the dollar today as it edged back towards record lows. The IMF funding, which was secured last night, is an increase of $7.1bn on the deal that was [...]
China’s economic slowdown: IMF warns central banks not to raise interest rates September 3, 2015 The IMF has warned the world's biggest economies not to raise their interest rates in the near future, as China's economic struggle could have far-reaching consequences. In a pessimistic report released last night, the international lender said the risk of a global slowdown was increasing, and that in most cases economies are falling short [...]
Greek debt crisis: German chancellor Angela Merkel says there’s “no doubt” IMF will join third bailout August 16, 2015 In an attempt to assuage fears that a third bailout package for Greece will not have support from international creditors, German chancellor Anglea Merkel went live on national television today to express confidence in the IMF's involvement. Read more: IMF says Greece needs debt relief after new bailout deal In an interview on ZDF, [...]
IMF’s Christine Lagarde says Greek plan not viable without debt reduction July 17, 2015 IMF chief Christine Lagarde has said that the deal between Greece and its creditors will be "categorically" impossible without some form of debt relief. "The answer is quite categorically not," she said in response to questions on the viability of the €86bn (£59.8bn) three-year aid package on France's Europe1 radio station. Lagarde added any debt [...]
Greece falls back into recession as IMF chief Christine Lagarde warns on Grexit May 29, 2015 New data published this morning has confirmed Greece plunged back into recession last quarter – just as International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde said this morning that a comprehensive deal with Greece to avoid it defaulting on loan repayments is "very unlikely… in the next few days". Read more: What happens if Greece defaults [...]
IMF boss Christine Lagarde: The world needs more women with top jobs in finance May 6, 2015 The bad culture in banking is still not fixed, and more women at the top of the industry could help, International Monetary Fund boss Christine Lagarde said yesterday. “Several studies have shown that female leadership is more inclusive,” she told an audience in Washington DC. “You may be familiar with a question I have posed in the [...]
IMF’s Christine Lagarde on the three big risks to the global economy April 9, 2015 Christine Lagarde, managing director of the IMF, has said that the global economy risks slipping into a "new mediocre" which implies a prolonged period of low economic growth. "[The] global recovery continues, but it is moderate, and uneven," she said ahead of the release of the IMF's economic forecasts next week. The last forecasts released in [...]