EU referendum: Vote Leave’s John Longworth slams IMF as “wrong consistently” and claims there is no evidence Brexit vote is causing investment delays April 13, 2016 John Longworth, the former head of the British Chambers of Commerce turned Brexit campaigner, has denied there is any evidence investment decisions are being held up by the looming EU referendum. He was speaking after the International Monetary Fund yesterday warned that a so-called Brexit would cause major instability to the UK, European and world economies. [...]
Should we trust today’s forecasts from the IMF? April 12, 2016 The half-yearly growth forecasts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are a big deal. They move markets, shape local politics and are generally relied upon around the world. But how accurate are they? Depending on your take, today's substantial revisions are either an indicator or rapid change and sharp volatility, or bring into question the [...]
Osborne welcomes Brexit warning from IMF as it cuts outlook for UK growth April 12, 2016 Brexit could cause major instability to the UK, European and world economies, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned in its latest forecasts for global growth, as Brexit campaigners rounded on the group for "talking down Britain". "A 'Brexit' could do severe regional and global damage," the IMF predicted, as it cut its outlook for growth [...]
George Osborne backs IMF’s growth warnings over Brexit, but won’t talk about austerity April 12, 2016 George Osborne has seized upon the latest evidence that instability ahead of the EU referendum could be weighing on the UK economy – but chose to ignore statements from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that his austerity programme is also dampening UK growth. In its world economic outlook, launched today, the IMF, downgraded its forecast for the British [...]
Mapped: How the world economy will fare in 2016 April 12, 2016 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released a gloomy global outlook for the world economy today and warned of a series of risks on the horizon which could upset the fragile recovery. The map below shows the Fund’s latest forecasts for major countries around the world. Though beware, they’ve been subject to some substantial revisions in the past. [...]
IMF slashes world growth forecasts and sounds alarm over fragile recovery – as well as warning on Brexit April 12, 2016 The world is facing an onslaught of risks which could upset the economic recovery, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned, as it cut its forecasts for growth in the global economy – and raised alarm bells about the impact of Brexit for the UK. The IMF’s half-yearly world economic outlook, published today, said everything [...]
Fitch has downgraded Saudi Arabia’s credit rating due to expectations the oil price will stay low April 12, 2016 Saudi Arabia’s credit rating has been lowed be ratings agency Fitch due to the slump in the oil price expected to go on for longer than was previously thought. The kingdom’s rating was knocked down a notch to AA-, from AA previously. In a note Fitch warned that the low price of oil, expected by the agency to continue [...]
Pound jumps against the dollar as UK inflation figures beat expectations in March April 12, 2016 The pound jumped against the dollar this morning, after UK inflation for March beat economists' expectations, data released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has shown. British consumer prices rose 0.5 per cent year-on-year in March, ahead of expectations for a 0.4 per cent increase, and up from 0.3 per cent a month earlier. Read more: Inflation basket [...]
Shops failing to cash in on low inflation as British Retail Consortium sales monitor shows no growth in March April 12, 2016 Retail sales flat-lined in March, according to the latest sales monitor from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), in an early sign that a wobble in the consumer-led recovery could be on the cards. Total retail sales were unchanged on March 2015, compared to a 4.7 per cent annual increase registered in this month last year. [...]
Central and eastern Europe should adopt the euro to boost their credit ratings April 11, 2016 Adopting the euro would be good news for central and eastern Europe, according to credit ratings agency Fitch, which has said that joining the Eurozone could help lower government debt costs and help attract external financing. Croatia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania could all see their credit scores move up a notch or two if they [...]