
Incoming European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde on Wednesday took aim at Germany and other thrifty Eurozone members running budgetary surpluses, saying they should increase their spending to shore up slowing growth.

Former IMF chief Christine Lagarde said President Donald Trump's trade offensive against China could slash global economic growth and she critiqued his Twitter habits in an interview with US television program 60 Minutes.

Christine Lagarde has defended the IMF decision to give Argentina a record credit line last year, even after the US$56-billion program fell short of stabilizing the nation’s troubled economy.

The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday formally selected Kristalina Georgieva of Bulgaria to be only the second woman ever to lead the 189-member institution. The selection had been all but guaranteed after the global crisis lender said earlier this month that Georgieva, a former World Bank CEO, was the sole candidate.

The top executive at the World Bank, Kristalina Georgieva of Bulgaria, now faces no opposition in her candidacy to lead the International Monetary Fund, the fund announced on Monday.

Known for rolling up her sleeves, Bulgaria's Kristalina Georgieva has been lauded as the life of the party, as well as for her tenacity. The guitar-playing environmental specialist, who was nominated on Friday as the EU's candidate to head the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

France is seen supporting Kristalina Georgieva to be the next head of the International Monetary Fund as the EU seeks to agree on a single candidate ahead of the lender's Sept 6 deadline, according to several European officials familiar with the deliberations.

Mauricio Macri’s Government must guarantee that with the new disbursement in favor of Argentina for USD 5.4 billion that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will sign this Friday will comply with all the deadlines agreed for this year. This new disbursement is given after the approval of the quarterly goals to March by the technical staff of the fund.

The nomination of Christine Lagarde as European Central Bank president on Tuesday has thrust the International Monetary Fund into an early, unanticipated search for a new leader amid a raging trade war that has darkened the outlook for global growth.

European Union leaders have agreed on Tuesday on who should fill the top jobs for its main institutions for the next five years after a marathon summit marred by disagreement.