Latin American growth this year should stay under the 4% estimated previously at 3.6% since the region is susceptible to the slowing down of the world’s economy and increasing risks of the financial crisis on the Euro zone, according to the IMF World Economic Outlook released Tuesday.
The Euro zone debt crisis is escalating and dragging down the world economy, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday, as it sharply cut its outlook for global growth and called for policies to restore confidence.
The International Monetary Fund is seeking to boost its war chest by 600 billion dollars to help countries reeling from the Euro zone debt crisis, but some nations insist Europe must first do more to support its ailing members, international financial sources said on Wednesday.
Credit ratings agency Standard and Poor’s downgraded the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) from “AAA” to “AA+,” although it does not rule out it would increase it again if it bolsters its funds, according to a communiqué released on Monday.
Ratings downgrades in the Euro zone by S&P underline why Europe must seal a pact to tighten fiscal rules quickly and get its permanent bailout fund up and running as soon as possible, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday.
The European Central Bank's flood of cheap three-year money is helping the Euro zone's banking system substantially and supporting confidence in the bloc's economy which is showing some signs of stabilisation, president Mario Dragui said on Thursday.
Euro zone inflation eased from last year's peaks of 3.0% in December, the first sign of a fall in price growth this year that analysts expect will create room for more interest rate cuts to help the weakening economy.
Denmark has assumed the presidency of the European Union as the 27-member bloc continues efforts to tackle the crisis ravaging the continent. Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt has said Denmark aspires to strengthen the EU in a difficult time.
Europe's banks borrowed nearly 490 billion Euros from the European Central Bank at its first-ever offer of three-year loans on Wednesday, encouraging demand for the Euro and stocks on hopes the funding will ease the two-year old debt crisis.
Ratings agency Moody's has given the UK high scores for economic governance but warns the country it faces formidable and rising challenges.