IMF slashes US growth forecast June 4, 2015 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has slashed its forecast for US growth in 2015 to 2.5 per cent, from its previous estimate of 3.1 per cent. Its forecast for growth in 2016 was cut to three per cent, from 3.1 per cent. The news comes after the US delivered its worst quarter in a year, [...]
European markets fall on Greece jitters ahead of IMF payment deadline June 4, 2015 European markets opened lower this morning after last-minute talks between European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras failed to reach a conclusion ahead of a crucial deadline on Friday. The FTSE 100 was down 0.84 per cent in early morning trading, while Germany's Dax fell 0.68 per [...]
How to make George Osborne happy: The IMF thinks the UK could live with higher debt “forever” June 3, 2015 Could this be the economic argument George Osborne has been waiting for? Our obsession with clearing the UK's debt could be more trouble than it's worth, according to a new paper published by the IMF. Although high levels of debt are generally viewed as problematic, advanced economies such as the UK's could “simply live [...]
G7 agrees Chinese currency should be in IMF currency reference basket May 29, 2015 The G7 has agreed that the Chinese yuan should be part of an international basket of reference currencies. German Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, announced the decision after a meeting of G7 finance ministers and central bank governors. However, he told a press conference that there was no need to rush the process. He said: There [...]
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 [...]
Greece slams IMF: Yanis Varoufakis hits out at creditors for deal stalemate May 26, 2015 Greece's firebrand finance minister yesterday blasted the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for playing hardball in negotiations, as fears the country will default on its debt sent up the interest rate on its government bonds. “It’s about time the institutions, in particular the IMF, get their act together, and come to an agreement with us,” [...]
IMF tells China to let currency trade freely May 26, 2015 China’s government is being urged to liberalise more of its economy, and let markets operate more freely in its finance sectors. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday urged the authorities to let its currency, the renminbi, trade freely, and asked the government to target a free-floating exchange rate in the next two to three years. [...]
What will happen if Greece defaults on its loan repayment to the IMF? May 26, 2015 Over the course of June, Greece must make four payments totalling €1.6bn (£1.1bn) to the IMF, starting with €300m (£212m) on 5 June. But whether it will meet all these obligations is far from certain, as the country is struggling to reach a deal with its European creditors to unlock crucial bailout funds. It managed [...]
Greek shares drop despite pledge to keep paying IMF May 25, 2015 Stocks in Athens sank three per cent yesterday despite the government reiterating that it would meet its intention to pay its creditors on time. The euro also sank to a one-month low against the dollar, trading at $1.097 last night. At the weekend one of the country’s ministers claimed that Greece would refuse to – [...]
Greece has no money to pay the IMF this June, says interior minister Nikos Voutsis May 24, 2015 Greece’s interior minister has said that the country cannot afford its 5 June payment to the International Monetary Fund. Greece owes the IMF €1.6bn (£1.1bn) in June, but Nikos Voutsis said on Greek TV that Athens simply doesn’t have the money to pay: The four instalments for the IMF in June are €1.6bn, this money [...]